Oct 3, 2009 Wester Carribean

[dismom73]

Norma, your cabin is right across from one we had last time, 5132. I loved that location! I wanted to do deck 5 again, but they don't have connecting cabins on deck 5.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Good Morning all!!! Norma I changed everything on our web page so U are officially in a room!! I can't wait till I get my room number!! I heard they assign GTY rooms about 30 days out! Come on 30 days!!! Today is the kids last day of school and then tomorrow is their first day of golf lessons! Nelia's soccer is over for now(till fall) and sydney still has tennis lessons. And I need to get a job, but seems harder in todays economy! Even the highly educated(yrs of college) are outta work.....boy does our country need help!

off to get Sydney to school.....TTFN

 

[dolphingirl47]

Morning all!
Michelle, I wouldn't worry about the passports...I'm getting them now as a precaution, and with the thought that we might do a "last minute" trip before my flight benefits run out. There are a lot of really good deals for airline employees on European cruises and I'm thinking that might be a good way to see a little bit of Europe in the spring. Also, the last time Disney went to the Med. they couldn't fill the ships (maybe it has something to do with the fact that for the price they are charging for a family you could buy a small house ) anyway, they ran some really good airline employee discounts at the last minute. So there ya have it! If something major happens, you would be able to fly home, you just wouldn't be able to go straight to the airport and hop on a plane you would have to go to the US embassy and do some paperwork and such, it would just take a little longer is all.

I am still hoping on cheap interline fares for the Eastbound Transatlantic. When we cruised on NCL last month, this was on an interline fare. We are also kind of hoping that there might be good interline fares available on the Wonder in November (early to mid of the month). I still have leave to take and if they right offer comes along we are on that ship. At the moment the good offers seem to go to the end of September.

I'm kinda confused. I was under the impression we had to get passports. For safety reasons with the little one and the adoption we're just going to go through it. I'd rather have my 100% guarantee that we can do whatever than get stuck somewhere. Plus, it's one little book versus an entire 1-inch thick packet of adoption documents to prove she's ours.

Richard is going to Social Security tomorrow morning so hopefully that will go smoothly (although it didn't with Lilli so I'm not holding my breath) Afterwards, we're going to get the passport done. If we get into a snag that is just too huge to handle, we may just get her a US passport with her Vietnamese name and then deal with the other stuff later. Guess we'll find out tomorrow huh.

Well, tonight we head over to the furniture store to do our commercial. Should be fun. Afterwards I'm taking the girls home and we're going to clean the house. They'll be thrilled! LOL

Well, I'm outta here in about 30 minutes. I'm gonna meet the gang at the house. It'll give me a chance to do my makeup. Gotta look good. LOL

Have a good night all! Kristi

I was also under the impression that passports were now required.

Kristi--for "closed loop" (cruises that start and finish at the same US port)cruises you don't need the passport yet. However, if something were to happen you wouldn't be able to fly home, at least not without some time delay at the US embassy. So, some of us are getting them as a precaution and some of us are not getting them yet...

Again, I was under the impression that that was supposed to change on June 1st. Has this been postponed again?

Good Morning all!!! Norma I changed everything on our web page so U are officially in a room!! I can't wait till I get my room number!! I heard they assign GTY rooms about 30 days out! Come on 30 days!!! Today is the kids last day of school and then tomorrow is their first day of golf lessons! Nelia's soccer is over for now(till fall) and sydney still has tennis lessons. And I need to get a job, but seems harder in todays economy! Even the highly educated(yrs of college) are outta work.....boy does our country need help!

off to get Sydney to school.....TTFN

The first people on the Westbound Transatlantic now had their room assignments. Somebody posted last week and somebody else today. That is still 15 months out. No such luck here yet. We are still GTY for that cruise.

Corinna

 

[dismom73]

Corinna, I've been watching the interline discounts (like a hawk) and you're right they are listed through September...come on Oct! For some reason the Sep. 5th sailing is REALLY cheap! If only we could switch Ryans vacation, and the kids had that week off school, and my brother and his family could switch...and all of you could switch .

I copied this from a passport website:

Land & Sea Travel: U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda, by land or sea, will be required to present one of the travel documents listed below:
U.S. Passport
U.S. Passport Card
Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)
Trusted Traveler Program Cards

EXCEPTION: U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port) and visit Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and/or countries of the Caribbean will be able to enter or depart the US with a birth certificate and government issued photo ID.

So for our cruise they are not "required" just recommended. Hope that helps.

Well, we are going away for the weekend, to a remote cabin near Burney Falls so I will have no computer, so I hope everyone has a great weekend! I've got to get going on packing, and cleaning, and grocery shopping, and laundry....you get the idea.
Andrea

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

U already have ur room on deck 7 right Corinna?

 

[bean418]

Hi all,
I'm confused (not much new there) with the SM & FE and have a couple questions. For the SM does the family participate or is it each individual in the family? We've got 3 in our family so do we get 3 people to exchange with or just one family? My questions for the FE are: Do we give out one round of gifts or should it be a couple rounds and when do we do this? Sorry to be so dense! Thanks!
Liz

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Liz, it's all up to you. The FE people are making either a family group gift. Some are doing kids and adults. I for example am giving the adults one thing, a group kids gift and I made something individual for the boys and girls. It's whatever U can do. It's all about the fun and "Magic". Fun to see what people come up with! As for the SM, I am trying to pretty much pair up families based on size BUT really I think SM's are a family gift, I have seen people get ornaments for each person, etc. The SM cut off is July 28th (I believe) so once that date hits those participating will have to have returned the SM questionaire, you will get ur family to buy for questionaire to help ya along and I believe Aug 1st everyone will have there family and have ample time to get their SM gift. Sorry I rambled. I hope that helps. If you are doing the SM I will have to send ya a SM questionaire to fill out and return to me. OK well I am off to finish cleaning out my house of stuff to get rid of.....TTFN BBL

 

[bean418]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Michelle! You send us a questionnaire the other day so no need to send another. You probably need the rest of my info for the FE. Our room # is 7072 and my hubby's name is Ron and we've got the late seating.
Liz

 

[dolphingirl47]

Corinna, I've been watching the interline discounts (like a hawk) and you're right they are listed through September...come on Oct! For some reason the Sep. 5th sailing is REALLY cheap! If only we could switch Ryans vacation, and the kids had that week off school, and my brother and his family could switch...and all of you could switch .

I copied this from a passport website:

Land & Sea Travel: U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda, by land or sea, will be required to present one of the travel documents listed below:
U.S. Passport
U.S. Passport Card
Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)
Trusted Traveler Program Cards

EXCEPTION: U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port) and visit Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and/or countries of the Caribbean will be able to enter or depart the US with a birth certificate and government issued photo ID.

So for our cruise they are not "required" just recommended. Hope that helps.

Well, we are going away for the weekend, to a remote cabin near Burney Falls so I will have no computer, so I hope everyone has a great weekend! I've got to get going on packing, and cleaning, and grocery shopping, and laundry....you get the idea.
Andrea

For this cruise it is too late for me as I will have to make the final payment by this time next week the latest. As we have purchased the REAS package, I can make my reservations on June 20th.

Thanks for clarifying the passport situation.

U already have ur room on deck 7 right Corinna?

I am confusing everybody again. For our cruise I had a stateroom number as of day one on deck 6 (6521). For our Westbound Transatlantic cruise I have a category 11 GTY. It is for that cruise that people are already getting room assignments and I am rather jealous.

Liz, it's all up to you. The FE people are making either a family group gift. Some are doing kids and adults. I for example am giving the adults one thing, a group kids gift and I made something individual for the boys and girls. It's whatever U can do. It's all about the fun and "Magic". Fun to see what people come up with! As for the SM, I am trying to pretty much pair up families based on size BUT really I think SM's are a family gift, I have seen people get ornaments for each person, etc. The SM cut off is July 28th (I believe) so once that date hits those participating will have to have returned the SM questionaire, you will get ur family to buy for questionaire to help ya along and I believe Aug 1st everyone will have there family and have ample time to get their SM gift. Sorry I rambled. I hope that helps. If you are doing the SM I will have to send ya a SM questionaire to fill out and return to me. OK well I am off to finish cleaning out my house of stuff to get rid of.....TTFN BBL

In our case it is just me taking part in Secret Mickey, but both I and DH will take part in the fish extender.

Corinna

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Ok dooly noted for all!

 

[dismom73]

Well, I just thought I would let you guys know, not that it matters to anyone, but it looks like we will be staying both thurs and fri nights at POR now, instead of heading to a hotel by the port. We got a really good airline employee rate, so it's actually cheaper for us to do it this way. We will just have to get up a little earlier on sat. so we can win the race of "who will get to the port first". This way we will get to enjoy the resort all day frid and get to bed early without having to reorganize and check into a new hotel. We are still planning on doing MNSSHP on thurs night, we'll see if that works out $$$wise. OK, off to do laundry and pack for this weekend.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Andrea....U are NOT winning the port race! I am gonna beat u there....ur kids are on the wrong time frame there is no way they will beat my kids up! Is Terri and Laura still at our hotel or switching? We will party without u! lol There goes your free breakfast...LMAO We will watch for you while we are at the port and wave with our Mickey hands as u arrive..=)~ I am getting my in laws up at 7am so we can eat and be at the port about 9:30....I am hoping for a 3 boarding pass. Our kids will be ready to get their grub up at the buffet...LOL Ok maybe thats the dads that will be starvin for the buffet...hehe

Well I am off to tuck everyone in for bed! Then out the clean the garage a bit. Neighborhood is having a garage sale so I am setting up for Sat. Figured maybe I could make a few to go towards Sydney's braces appt thurs. She needs to get pics and molds made....yummy! So hoping to make some money for that! TTFN

 

[MinFan55]

Michelle - we'll still be at the Residence Inn. And I'm sure I'll see you out at the pool because if Amaya has her way we'll be out there all afternoon and all night until I tell her it's time for bed.

And since it'll be our first DC I know I'm going to be so anxious to get to the port as early as I can. Andrea thinks she'll beat us there but we'll see.

Talk to you all soon.

Terri

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Terri....you and I will beat Andrea!!! Eat our dust I say!

 

[wareagle]

Well, I just thought I would let you guys know, not that it matters to anyone, but it looks like we will be staying both thurs and fri nights at POR now, instead of heading to a hotel by the port. We got a really good airline employee rate, so it's actually cheaper for us to do it this way. We will just have to get up a little earlier on sat. so we can win the race of "who will get to the port first". This way we will get to enjoy the resort all day frid and get to bed early without having to reorganize and check into a new hotel. We are still planning on doing MNSSHP on thurs night, we'll see if that works out $$$wise. OK, off to do laundry and pack for this weekend.

Andrea,

We drove from SSR last August and got a #2 boarding pass. We left between 8 and 8:30. When we arrived, DH dropped us and the luggage off and went to stand in line to park the car. The boys and I stood at the gate and waited-I think we were the second family in line. You could still win the race and beat everyone else to the port . I am just bummed that we will not arrive at the port until around 11:30, provided that our plane lands on time,we can get our luggage, and be on the road by 10:30. It is probably wishful thinking.

On a different note, has anyone used one of the towncar services from MCO? We are going to use one of these, but am not sure who is best. Any advice is greatly welcomed.

I'm off to finish cleaning the house. I've got a bunch of kids traveling here tonight from Tennessee to attend a weekend series at a church in Athens. Everyone have a great day!

Gena

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Ok i haven't used any car services yet, but when we come back from the cruise we are being picked up by Happy Limo!

Oh and Gena dont tell Andrea she can still win!!! Umm Terri and I are winning!!!! i will be there by 9am if I have to!!

 

[kpflillirpf]

Hi all! Gee, it sounds to me like a challenge has been called. LOL Seems to me there should be a prize for the person who gets the lowest number boarding card. LOL Certainly won't be me. Doubt I can get anyone in my group ready that fast.

Well, this weekend has certainly been busy (and it's still got one day left). I know a few of you facebook peeps know some of this already but I'm gonna share with the rest of the gang. My husband and my mother have been in cahoots for the past month to surprise me. Katelin turns 1 on June 15th. We had her birthday party today. Yesterday I was in a seminar all day learning about the probate process from beginning to end. (I do estate and trust administration as well as estate planning and tax planning; I'm a legal assistant.) Anyway, my husband texted me to say not to worry about picking up the girls and that one of his co-workers had a gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse that they couldn't use and that it expired tomorrow so she asked Richard if he could use it. So he said we'd go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Sounded reasonable to me. Sooooo, we get there and Richard talks to the hostess and next thing you know we're being seated at a table for six. I asked Richard who was joining us and he said don't worry about it. Now my initial thought with the way he said that was that Trina and Don (who are traveling on this cruise with us) were joining us. Then I thought that maybe my dad came up a day earlier and we were meeting them. NEVER in my wildest imagination did I think it would be my mom all the way from New Mexico. Needless to say, when I saw her round the corner I just cried. It meant so much to me to have her at Katie's 1st birthday. This was also the first time she got to meet Katelin.

So, anyway, I've had an exhausting but wonderful weekend. Today's party went very well (even with my dad and step-mom and my mom and step-dad all together in one place for the first time).

Tomorrow is church and I have to work in the nursery for first service and then hang around for 2nd service cause then we have our small group meeting where we're doing a pool party. After that we're all going to crash for the day.

Well, I've taken up WAAAYYYY too much time and space. Thanks for listening! Will share more later. Kristi

 

[2Pirates&1Princess]

Hey All, Michelle I know your going to kill me because I said I wouldnt change my room number but I did it again. My room is now 5135. That is the same number as my house, so I just had to have it. Can you make that change and I promise I wont change it again

Gena~are you definatley taking the town car service? How many ppl does that car hold. My family didnt book the transfers so we are trying to find the cheapest way to get to port. If someone wants to share a ride we could always split the fare to the port. I am still researching what the best deal is. Just throwing it out there.

Well, gotta go get ready for bed. I am exhausted!!! Goodnite all!!!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Norma----I am gonna kick your butt!! lol u are stuck in that room or else someone will get ur Fe gifts from everyone else, cause no more changing...LMAO If you can find another family to split with you, you can prolly have a service p/u in a 10 passanger van. We got that for the return from and it was only about $150 including the 20% tipSo thats only $75 a family....that wouldn't be bad!

Kristi---game on...LOL There should be a prize huh? Hmmmm <thinking> I will so have my family up at 7am...LOL Actually I will prolly be up at 6:30. Luckily I pack a bag for Florida days so I won't have to unpack all my luggage, just gonna leave it in the rental car. So I will just have a carry on to repack and then feed everyone and gt to the port. Del and my brother in law are dropping my SIL and myself with the kids at the port. We were told we could check in while they run the rental van back and all the need is their drivers license to get into the port. I love having everything done right away and then I just relax!!

So glad you are having a good time with your mom. Loved Katelin's 1st bday photos! She looked happy with all the dresses as her gifts.....girlie girl already. Is Lilli still missing some teeth? Gotta love the loosing of the teeth...they look so cute!

Well nothing much to report. Oh I have an interview at the hospital this tuesday for a part time job! Please pray I get it! Then Thurs Sydney gets her molds made for braces! Goodbye $376, EASY GO! I think thats all I have got right now! 19 days till I get my airline seat assignments and till we can register the kids for the clubs, book palo(not sure I am doing that) and just feel like it's getting so close! Well off to make up some grad gifts....one party today, one next weekend! TTFN

 

[dolphingirl47]

Hi all! Gee, it sounds to me like a challenge has been called. LOL Seems to me there should be a prize for the person who gets the lowest number boarding card. LOL Certainly won't be me. Doubt I can get anyone in my group ready that fast.

Well, this weekend has certainly been busy (and it's still got one day left). I know a few of you facebook peeps know some of this already but I'm gonna share with the rest of the gang. My husband and my mother have been in cahoots for the past month to surprise me. Katelin turns 1 on June 15th. We had her birthday party today. Yesterday I was in a seminar all day learning about the probate process from beginning to end. (I do estate and trust administration as well as estate planning and tax planning; I'm a legal assistant.) Anyway, my husband texted me to say not to worry about picking up the girls and that one of his co-workers had a gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse that they couldn't use and that it expired tomorrow so she asked Richard if he could use it. So he said we'd go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Sounded reasonable to me. Sooooo, we get there and Richard talks to the hostess and next thing you know we're being seated at a table for six. I asked Richard who was joining us and he said don't worry about it. Now my initial thought with the way he said that was that Trina and Don (who are traveling on this cruise with us) were joining us. Then I thought that maybe my dad came up a day earlier and we were meeting them. NEVER in my wildest imagination did I think it would be my mom all the way from New Mexico. Needless to say, when I saw her round the corner I just cried. It meant so much to me to have her at Katie's 1st birthday. This was also the first time she got to meet Katelin.

So, anyway, I've had an exhausting but wonderful weekend. Today's party went very well (even with my dad and step-mom and my mom and step-dad all together in one place for the first time).

Tomorrow is church and I have to work in the nursery for first service and then hang around for 2nd service cause then we have our small group meeting where we're doing a pool party. After that we're all going to crash for the day.

Well, I've taken up WAAAYYYY too much time and space. Thanks for listening! Will share more later. Kristi

I am glad that you had a great birthday for Katelin.

By the way, DH is in the probate/ estate and tax planning field as well.

Norma----I am gonna kick your butt!! lol u are stuck in that room or else someone will get ur Fe gifts from everyone else, cause no more changing...LMAO If you can find another family to split with you, you can prolly have a service p/u in a 10 passanger van. We got that for the return from and it was only about $150 including the 20% tipSo thats only $75 a family....that wouldn't be bad!

Kristi---game on...LOL There should be a prize huh? Hmmmm <thinking> I will so have my family up at 7am...LOL Actually I will prolly be up at 6:30. Luckily I pack a bag for Florida days so I won't have to unpack all my luggage, just gonna leave it in the rental car. So I will just have a carry on to repack and then feed everyone and gt to the port. Del and my brother in law are dropping my SIL and myself with the kids at the port. We were told we could check in while they run the rental van back and all the need is their drivers license to get into the port. I love having everything done right away and then I just relax!!

So glad you are having a good time with your mom. Loved Katelin's 1st bday photos! She looked happy with all the dresses as her gifts.....girlie girl already. Is Lilli still missing some teeth? Gotta love the loosing of the teeth...they look so cute!

Well nothing much to report. Oh I have an interview at the hospital this tuesday for a part time job! Please pray I get it! Then Thurs Sydney gets her molds made for braces! Goodbye $376, EASY GO! I think thats all I have got right now! 19 days till I get my airline seat assignments and till we can register the kids for the clubs, book palo(not sure I am doing that) and just feel like it's getting so close! Well off to make up some grad gifts....one party today, one next weekend! TTFN

I hope that you get the job at the hospital. How will you fit this in wit everything else that you have planned for the summer.

I have 6 days left until I can book Palo, excursions and spa treatments. I will probably book the dolphin excursion on Grand Cayman, definitely the Parasailing on Castaway Cay (booked it twice and it was cancelled twice) and the Rhassoul. I am also hoping to get brunch, dinner and high tea at Palo.

As to the race who is up first on embarkation day, we would win that hands down. Our body clocks will still be on UK time which means that we will be wide awake by 5 am. As we are taking DCL Transportation from MCO (spending the first three nights in FL at the Crowne Plaza Orlando Airport), we probably will only get to the port between 10:30 and 11:00 though.

Corinna