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

[Mozart]

Just wanted to warn everyone. Gecko1 is trying to cheat on the Palo's/spa/excurions bookings tonight. Telling me that SC residents won't be able to get into the system until 8 AM tomorrow morning.

If anyone can't get the time slots they want, blame it on him. Cheater.

 

[mimi'sgirl]

Shame, shame! Gecko1

born2cruise: Congrats at your deals at JCP. I just tried the khakis I bought for DS to wear to dinner and it is a horrible fit. I got them on sale from the Gap. They usually fit him well but not this time. I hope to catch a back to school sale. I'll have to check JCP. Thanks.

I forgot about Michael's for Disney stuff. Thanks for the reminder. Just an FYI a Disney bracelet craft was just recalled from Michaels.

Pixie Dust: I saw an iron on transfer for t-shirts at Walmart. It was in the craft aisle. I'll have to double check the next time I go. I was actually looking for magnetic paper.

Everyone enjoy your weekend.

 

[cheeringmom]

Hi everyone, cruise newbie here!! Taking our first Disney cruise with friends and neighbors on November 8. We are actually celebrating my dh's and my dd's 8th birthday on board. I have a ton of reading to do to get great tips and advice for our sailing. I will be checking back often. Looking forward to meeting you all! cmom

 

[1DisneyQueen]

I have been working o this for a few weeks and I am ready to scream. I cannot beleive how much the prices have gone up. I am sure that the gas is playing a part in it, but come on. Has anyone else experienced this?

Does anyone know how much the Disney transfers are? We are a large group and would like to travel together.

 

[1DisneyQueen]

Hi everyone, cruise newbie here!! Taking our first Disney cruise with friends and neighbors on November 8. We are actually celebrating my dh's and my dd's 8th birthday on board. I have a ton of reading to do to get great tips and advice for our sailing. I will be checking back often. Looking forward to meeting you all! cmom

Welcome. Please tell us that you dh is not going to be 8?

Some of us have cruised before and would be glad to share our experiences and tips. I am certain that they are unique to each of us, but it can be helpful if you have no other experience to draw from.

 

[Mozart]

I have been working o this for a few weeks and I am ready to scream. I cannot beleive how much the prices have gone up. I am sure that the gas is playing a part in it, but come on. Has anyone else experienced this?

Does anyone know how much the Disney transfers are? We are a large group and would like to travel together.

If you're talking about airport transfers, DCL is $69/person each way. For a large group it would be cheaper if you call a town car company and have them pick you up with a van or two.

Of course, that was before gas hit it's current prices. I'm not sure if the towncar companies have raised their prices so that it's higher than DCL's service is now.

 

[Gecko1]

Mozart....where are youuuuuu.

One hour to go.

Don't worry, I 'll save you a place in line....right behind me.

 

[Mozart]

Mozart....where are youuuuuu.

One hour to go.

Don't worry, I 'll save you a place in line....right behind me.

Don't know where you were, but I sure didn't see anything pop up as taken on my screen, and that's after the freakin' 10 minute delay I had getting started. (That one's gonna be good fodder for my TR once I figure out how to explain it.)

I would say I went 7.5/8 in making our reservations. DWs manicure didn't work out the way I would have liked it too, but other than that it was pretty smooth. Problem was I wanted to squeeze it in at a time when it turned out they didn't offer it. Had to punt and rework things.

How'd you (both mimi'sgirl & geico gekko included) do?

 

[Gecko1]

Done. Made my reservations.

This is the current plan

SAT:
SUN: PALO Tea 3pm
MON: PALO Brunch 10:30am
TUE: STM - Zipline Excursion (non-DCL)
WED: STT - Hopefully the Sea Lion Swim (non-DCL)
THU: PALO Dinner 8pm
FRI: REAS Breakfast; CC Stingray & Para-sailing, DW Spa time

Anyone joining us at these times?

I figured PALO dinner on semi-formal night would make sense. The only one I'm iffy on is having the Tea the same day as Formal night. I don't know how how DW will feel about those two event on the same day. But she is asleep, so there it is. She may change it in the morning.

I think the Thur/Fri combo looks good. Palo dinner on Thurs night with a full moon (yes, I think of everything) then relaxing with a full room service breakfast on the veranda while we pull into CC.

 

[Mozart]

I guess I could've just posted mine too:

Saturday : Nada
Sunday : 11:30 Brunch 3:30 Aroma Stone Massage for her 5:00 My Massage
Monday: 4:00 Manicure for her
Tuesday: 12 Metre Regatta
Wednesday: Palo Dinner - 7:30
Thursday: High Tea - 3:00
Friday: Her Pedicure - 6:30
Saturday: Drive I-95 for 6 brutally painful hours

 

[cheeringmom]

Welcome. Please tell us that you dh is not going to be 8?

Some of us have cruised before and would be glad to share our experiences and tips. I am certain that they are unique to each of us, but it can be helpful if you have no other experience to draw from.

oops please don't report me!! hehehe

it seems like you previous cruisers can start planning excursions etc earlier than the first timers. so...how difficult is it to get reservations for excursions, spa treatments etc? and what would be a great excursion for a first timer? Thanks in advance....I guess I can post this on the reg. crusie boards too....

 

[born2cruise]

Done. Made my reservations.

This is the current plan

SAT:
SUN: PALO Tea 3pm
MON: PALO Brunch 10:30am
TUE: STM - Zipline Excursion (non-DCL)
WED: STT - Hopefully the Sea Lion Swim (non-DCL)
THU: PALO Dinner 8pm
FRI: REAS Breakfast; CC Stingray & Para-sailing, DW Spa time

Anyone joining us at these times?

I figured PALO dinner on semi-formal night would make sense. The only one I'm iffy on is having the Tea the same day as Formal night. I don't know how how DW will feel about those two event on the same day. But she is asleep, so there it is. She may change it in the morning.

I think the Thur/Fri combo looks good. Palo dinner on Thurs night with a full moon (yes, I think of everything) then relaxing with a full room service breakfast on the veranda while we pull into CC.

Dh and I are wanting to do the Zipline, who did you book it through? And what time did you book? We are also planning on doing the Singray @ CC, we did the Para-sailing last time so will skip it this time and try sometihng else.

 

[Mozart]

oops please don't report me!! hehehe

it seems like you previous cruisers can start planning excursions etc earlier than the first timers. so...how difficult is it to get reservations for excursions, spa treatments etc? and what would be a great excursion for a first timer? Thanks in advance....I guess I can post this on the reg. crusie boards too....

Depends on the cruise. Sometimes it's difficult, sometimes it's easy. Just remember that they save roughly 50% of all bookings for onboard use only, so don't feel like you're totally locked out if you can't get one online. But you have to be at the port first thing in the morning and head straight for Palo's and the spa once you get onboard to get reservations. Palo's reservations are done in Rockin Bar D on the first day, and run out early.

As for excursions, that's up to your personal taste. Some people like sightseeing, some like snorkeling, etc. We like to do some a little adventurous if we can "think jetskis or parasailing at CC." The only thing we saw like that on St. Maarten was the 12 metre regatta. Then we found out that readers of Conde Nast's guide to cruising had rated it as the #1 cruise excursion in the world 12 years running. Couldn't resist after that.

 

[born2cruise]

Hi everyone, cruise newbie here!! Taking our first Disney cruise with friends and neighbors on November 8. We are actually celebrating my dh's and my dd's 8th birthday on board. I have a ton of reading to do to get great tips and advice for our sailing. I will be checking back often. Looking forward to meeting you all! cmom

welcome aboard.

 

[Gecko1]

it seems like you previous cruisers can start planning excursions etc earlier than the first timers. ...

We are first timers also but we booked the REAS (romantic escape at sea) package. That allowed us to book at 105 days out.

I have been told that a large percentage of openings are held to book during boarding. If you don't get what you want during your booking window, try again when you first board the ship.

 

[Gecko1]

Dh and I are wanting to do the Zipline, who did you book it through? And what time did you book? We are also planning on doing the Singray @ CC, we did the Para-sailing last time so will skip it this time and try sometihng else.

We booked through http://stmaartencruiseexcursions.com/

They are picking us up at the dock and we have reservations for the zip line first thing in the morning. It is suppose to quite a work out and I would like to do it early in the day. Then decide if we eat there or head to Marigot.

 

[born2cruise]

We booked through http://stmaartencruiseexcursions.com/

They are picking us up at the dock and we have reservations for the zip line first thing in the morning. It is suppose to quite a work out and I would like to do it early in the day. Then decide if we eat there or head to Marigot.

thanks for the site. I will check it out. do you have small children going with you. I'm not sure what to do with Ds 5 and Dd 1 while we go on the zip line. We also have family traviling with us. But I'm sure they want to do thier own thing. I can't expect them to babysit while on vacation. Thanks again

 

[mimi'sgirl]

Congrats Mozart &Gecko1: I actually can't book anything until Aug. 25th. I thought you meant Aug. I believe that's 70 days out. Gecko: I sent you a pm. I was on a thread about door signs- thought you might be able to help me with the blank templates. Your schedules look good. I'm hoping to book Palo dinner or brunch and a pedi. for me. I'm in the mind set to just be one of the first at the Rockin D when we board. Last cruise I stressed (norwegian) about ressies and wound up getting everything we wanted. Since the kids are young we are just going to the beach. No excursions this time.

Welcome cheeringmom

Will check back. Bye for now.

 

[Zoom]

Hello! Congrats Mozart and Gecko1. We are CC members and i think we can be able to book on Aug.10th at 9pm PT please correct me if i'm wrong. Also, can someone please post which night is formal, semi-formal, casual etc.?
Mozart:I was reading your Pre TP and i'm glad you didn't have to cancel your cruise.
Gecko1:Say Hi to your wife(lilo-relocated right?), we exchanged PMs before. My son is the same age as yours, are you guys on the main/late seating for dinner? DH and DS also like to try parasailing at CC, did you get to pick what time you want to go?
Mimis girl: Dh and I loves entourage, don't know when the new season comes out.
Morgan4:Sent you a PM regarding gift exchange

 

[Pixie Dust II]

Hi everyone, cruise newbie here!! Taking our first Disney cruise with friends and neighbors on November 8. We are actually celebrating my dh's and my dd's 8th birthday on board. I have a ton of reading to do to get great tips and advice for our sailing. I will be checking back often. Looking forward to meeting you all! cmom

It is so nice to have you join our group and what a great way to celebrate birthdays! My dh will also celebrate his birthday the last night of the cruise!

Hello! Congrats Mozart and Gecko1. We are CC members and i think we can be able to book on Aug.10th at 9pm PT please correct me if i'm wrong. Also, can someone please post which night is formal, semi-formal, casual etc.?
Mozart:I was reading your Pre TP and i'm glad you didn't have to cancel your cruise.
Gecko1:Say Hi to your wife(lilo-relocated right?), we exchanged PMs before. My son is the same age as yours, are you guys on the main/late seating for dinner? DH and DS also like to try parasailing at CC, did you get to pick what time you want to go?
Mimis girl: Dh and I loves entourage, don't know when the new season comes out.
Morgan4:Sent you a PM regarding gift exchange

You know how Disney always says things can change and of course they can, but from previous Eastern Caribbean Cruises this is the schedule:

Saturday-Cruise Casual
Sunday-Formal Night
Monday-Cruise Casual
Tuesday-Pirate Night
Wednesday-Cruise Casual
Thursday-Semi-Formal
Friday-Cruise Casual

Remember, this is not carved in stone!