November 8, 2008 7 Night Eastern 11/8/2008 11-8-2008 FIRST POST UPDATED ON 10/16/08

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[Gecko1]

Just announced from Kennedy Space Center:

Space & Air Show at Kennedy Space Center

Just announced: The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline the 2008 Space & Air Show at Kennedy Space Center on November 8th and 9th.


No schedule published yet as to when the different air shows will be performing. If we are lucky we might get to see some fly overs.

 

[Mozart]

Just announced from Kennedy Space Center:

Space & Air Show at Kennedy Space Center

Just announced: The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline the 2008 Space & Air Show at Kennedy Space Center on November 8th and 9th.


No schedule published yet as to when the different air shows will be performing. If we are lucky we might get to see some fly overs.

Note to all: This could affect travel time to the port on that day. Traffic may be backed up in some spots. Make sure you're early!

 

[Morgan4]

Well, I hate to break it to you all, but we have to bow out the cruise this year. After 3 years of seeing what happens, we have been blessed with a pregnancy that puts my due date a week after sailing.

Congrats!!! That is wonderful news!! We wish you a very heathly and easy pregnancy!!

 

[Morgan4]

We suffered a string of losses in our household with two deaths in the past three weeks and a third that will almost certainly be this year as well.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

[Morgan4]

Our board has been very quiet. Are we getting bored with each other already?

I keep thinking that my girls have less than 2 months of school, then summer (and you all know how fast summer goes by.). Then the start of school and before we know it, we will be on the Magic!!!

Well, I keep telling myself that it will go that quickly.

Anyone worried about the airline problems lately? We are driving, but I was hoping for some great deals so that we wouldn't have to. Now I think that we will just drive.

 

[mimi'sgirl]

FantasticFour- So sorry to hear your news. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[mrsv98]

Got our passports yesterday! WoO HoO....makes it seem so much more real!

 

[GoofyFD]

Anyone worried about the airline problems lately? We are driving, but I was hoping for some great deals so that we wouldn't have to. Now I think that we will just drive.

Well.... My family and I just got back from Maui. We were going to fly out on the 31st and on the 1st…. you know the rest of the story. We all got stuck there for two more days. We had to pay for four ONE WAY tickets home two, more nights of hotel and the rent a car. We had a great time but it was ALOT more then what we were planning on spending. My DD missed her first Softball game etc. So now I pray we will not have lighting strike twice.

ONLY 206 more days!!!!

 

[Pixie Dust II]

FantasticFour--you are in our thoughts and prayers. Life sometimes seems to come at us all too fast. Only time can heal. We look forward to meeting you in November.

We just returned from South Carolina from a visit to our dd and son-in-law. It was great weather and good times.

I have sent several emails to DCL concerning all of the shops being closed on St. Maartin on the day we will be there. On the first note they seemed surprised and then I received an email yesterday that they confirm everything will be closed and they will do nothing to alter the cruise because of it as all shore excursions will be available. I told them that I hope they are prepared for a lot of negative feedback on the cruise. I am sure my complaining won't matter, but maybe if we all email and complain it might make a difference.

We have already purchased our airline tickets, we have booked rooms at Walt Disney World, our dd and son-in-law have already requested vacation time, which cannot be changed. I am sure there are many people who have done the same.

Don't you think about this time of year as being able to do some Christmas shopping if you see the right thing? Well, you aren't going to have to worry about that, because you aren't going to shop!

 

[Gecko1]

I never thought to complain about it, I have just taken it as the luck of the draw and not checking things out beforehand. Anyway, the shops will be open… on the French side. Only the Dutch side will be closed by law and that excludes the terminal shops, the restaurants physically attached to hotels, and who knows what else.

We booked an excursion on the French side and will most likely spend the majority of our time on that side of the island. I’m thinking the roads, beaches, etc. will be a madhouse with the schools, government offices, and half the rest of the island closed for business. I’m hoping the French side will be a little less congested, as the businesses there will be open.

One thing I am still wondering/worried about; How many ships will be in port on the 11th?

 

[Mozart]

One thing I am still wondering/worried about; How many ships will be in port on the 11th?

I know that the Liberty of the Seas will be in St. Maarten that same day. I'm looking forward to seeing that behemoth.

 

[Pixie Dust II]

I know that the Liberty of the Seas will be in St. Maarten that same day. I'm looking forward to seeing that behemoth.

I looked at Royal Caribbean web site and Liberty of the Seas is due in St. Maarten on November 10.- Carnival-November 10, 25-Norwegian-November 6 & 18. I can not find any other ship that is going to be there on the 11. When I looked at the web site they said both sides of the island will be closed.

Disney tried to charge the people on the Panama Canal Cruise $100 each extra to go through the canal and everyone on the boards got together and protested and they did not charge them!

I think it is Royal Caribbean that is charging $140.00 per person for a fuel surcharge. Be prepared

 

[Gecko1]

I have not heard of a DCL cruise where they changed the ports other than due to weather. Even so, lets dream a little...

I suppose they could shuffle the port days somehow or swap to another port. If they did change ports, they would likely stay within their normal ports of call. Alternate ports in the eastern would be to skip St. Maartin, go straight to St. Thomas, then stop in either Tortola or St. Croix. Remember, you would be an added ship to that location and lead to more crowding on the islands; what's another 2000 people

As for me, I would not mind if they rerouted to Tortola. That was our first choice but the cruises did not match our schedules.

Okay, done with the dreaming. If other cruise lines do reroute or shuffle their schedule to avoid the 11th and DCL does not, it could mean a much less crowded island dispite the holiday. If all of the cruises including DCL reschedule, I would imagine there are other boats already scheduled in port on the other days, that would mean increased crowds, but more shopping. I don't think I like that option! But then I'm not a big shopper.

For now, I will just plan on being there on the 11th.

 

[Pixie Dust II]

If they wanted to--- Disney could go to St. Thomas first stop and then St. Maartin. Whatever they want to do is what they will do and if the other ships have decided to change their schedule so that they will not be in St. Maartin on November 11, Disney may not have room to dock any place else on that date! Whatever happens, we will make the best of it and enjoy the cruise

 

[Gecko1]

Pixie Dust II - where did you find that these two changed their schedule?

The info below was found on porttime.com and confirmed on the web sites of Carnival and Royal Caribbean this morning.

Carnival's Spendor is scheduled to be there on the 11th as part of their 16 Day Transatlantic from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. It's their first port after five sea days in the atlantic. That ship will have 3000 passengers.

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas is also scheduled for the 11th. That ship will have 3600 passengers.

 

[GoofyFD]

It still will be fun. We plan on just hanging out at the beach.

 

[Stitch's O'hana]

It's been awhile since I have posted on here, but now that it's getting closer and closer, I need to start posting more often on here!

I am soooooooo excited as my mom and I, went to the post office today and applied for our Passports!!!!!! They lady said that we should get them back by June 9th

I know most people would think I am crazy for getting all excited over a Passport, but I know you Disney Cruise people would understand!

I hope Disney can change the schedule and have us go to St.Thomas first. Then go to St.Maartin

Either way I know we will will have a blast and make the best of it!

 

[Morgan4]

Hi everyone! I can't believe that it has been 3 weeks since I posted. My girls are in two different soccer leagues and they never have practice on the same day. So I guess I am the typical "soccer mom"

Our friends that are going with us finally signed on to post on disboards, but I don't think that they have yet. So if you are reading this, REPLY! You know who you are!

I wish that the Phillipsburg shops would not be closed, but I hope DCL doesn't change things at this point. We have our zip line excursion already booked for that day and I am hoping that there will be some special things to do/see that only happens on that day. Festivals, etc. I guess we will find out closer to the cruise. Only 6 Months!!

Where are the "Lost" people? How about last night's episode?

Let's get this board going again!!

 

[Pixie Dust II]

Pixie Dust II - where did you find that these two changed their schedule?

The info below was found on porttime.com and confirmed on the web sites of Carnival and Royal Caribbean this morning.

Carnival's Spendor is scheduled to be there on the 11th as part of their 16 Day Transatlantic from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. It's their first port after five sea days in the atlantic. That ship will have 3000 passengers.

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas is also scheduled for the 11th. That ship will have 3600 passengers.

After I re-checked schedules I did see Liberty to be there on the 11th, but I did not see Splendor's schedule. That is really going to be a lot of people wandering around with places closed. Disney suggested bars might be open. Now there is a real family adventure for you! . We were thinking about the Butterfly Farm as friends of ours did that in February and said it was very nice. We have never done that one, but I am not sure yet. Time will be here before we know it.

Our daughter and son-in-law are applying for their passports next week. I told them not to dare to wait until the last minute. Don't need those headaches! On our last cruise, one couple lost their passports at the airport. Anything can happen!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. We have opening day for Little League and Pony League baseball even though our kids have had three games each already and it is suppose to rain! Maybe it will cllear up by noon---I don't like a rainy day at the ball field, but boys don't care!