Oct 30 2010 7 Night Western (PART 2)

[JKSWonder]

so who is doing the dolphin swim and turtle farm in Grand Cayman? We booked it for the 2nd time slot (can not remember time). DD(12) is so excited about it.

kate

We are, though we chose the first time slot, the early one. My kids DD(9) and DS(4) are early risers. So, I figured we get up and running early.

About wanting to book a new cruise already: I booked two when we were on board in October 2009, this one and one for October 2011! If the 2012 dates are released by the time we cruise, I may shift our October 2011 cruise if there is a good 2012 itinerary that I would rather do instead.

 

[nenner1]

Hi there all!

My family is also going to be joining you all! There will be 9 of us total. Myself, hubby, daughter (16), son (14), brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephew (17), niece (15), neice (13). We've had this booked for over a year and I just logged into Disboards...oops. Anyway, just wanted to say hello!

aboard! We are glad to have you sailing with us!

This thread is growing fast! And I have noticed quite a few other usernames on the main boards that have not joined this thread but will be on this cruise as well, so it should be one huge Dis bunch!

As your [ GTY ] change to an actual number, please PM me so I can update the Roll Call. Thanks!

And if you are participating in Lanyards, be sure to let me know too!


Speaking of Lanyards! We are very close to placing the order! Over 2/3 of participants have already paid and several more checks are in the mail now! Wonderful! thank you all, the longer I have for assembly the better.

If you have signed up to participate in Lanyards and have not sent back your confirmation email, please check your PM inbox! There are a few folks I have not heard from yet. Payment instructions and details are in that PM! Thanks!

SOOOO, our FE group increased by 1 Family or 2 these last few days? I have Tara and her Family accounted for now on my list, but wanted to make sure I'm not missing anyone... ??

I was waiting until signup closed to get a final list, but I did notice we haven't heard from Leslie in a while. I do need to get with her and Ellen about ToT too....

 

[Beachbumpirates]

Wow, I slip out to the park with the kids for an hour and a bit, and this board goes and moves up two pages!!!

I was on the phone yesterday booking the Hotel for our trip to take DS off to College. SMALL WORLD!!! I WAS going to book online, but something tell me to call directly. The girl I spoke with at the desk at the hotel, made the booking for me, AND when she heard we were taking our son to College, asked where we are coming from. When I told her Ottawa, she told me SHE'S from Ottawa!! So then she asked me what route we were taking, and then we discussed the different routes.
The drive there is what has been keeping me stressed and full of anxiety, but NO MORE! The route we were planning, she told me, is a bit less in KM, but is acutally more in time Because there are more major cities to go through, and she pointed out that currrently there is major construction all along that very scenic Highway, and with it being a long weekend that we'll be travelling, she said thats the route all the transport trucks take and all the vacationers in there Winibago's with their kids and gramma and granpa hanging out the window (her words not mine ). She told the the other route, the one that Mapquest and the GPS actually pick for us, is longer in KM, but actually shorter in time. But that it does take us further up North before taking us down to Thunder Bay. And she informed me that if we take that recommended route, to keep in mind that once we hit the town of Hurst, that will be our last chance for hours to use a bathroom, fill up on gas, or eat! ALL good to know! So now we have a first hand recommendation from an experienced traveler on that route, I feel such a relief in the stress leavel!

I feel so happy this morning, I even got working on more of my FE gifts!

Judy - We like to refer to this in our home as the "karma train payback". You were kind yesterday in offering my parents a ride, kind of like paying it forward. As for your dress - go for it!

As hard as we try to not over pack we still always seem to have unworn clothes at the end of the trip. We keep saying that this time we are going to try and do a carryon each, one family garment bag and one family suitcase. Sure would be nice on the wallet and take up less room in the cabin. We will see.....

 

[AngolaHeartsDisney]

Is everyone getting excited? I have dropped out of the conversations but have trying to read what is going on. Life has been really hectic.

We have 11 people in our party.5 rooms.

Wanted to share some new I recieved today from my TA. There are only 20 cabins left on our cruise and expected to fully sell out..

Hopefully some people will get a nice upgrade!

 

[Fastpaks]

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

Can someone tell me if this is about right?

 

[Cmbar]

Is everyone getting excited? I have dropped out of the conversations but have trying to read what is going on. Life has been really hectic.

We have 11 people in our party.5 rooms.

Wanted to share some new I recieved today from my TA. There are only 20 cabins left on our cruise and expected to fully sell out..

Hopefully some people will get a nice upgrade!

OH wow. I wonder what it will be like to cruise on a crowded ship!! Are most of the sailings full I wonder!

Thanks for the update!

 

[kristieuk]

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

Can someone tell me if this is about right?

I understand the tip to be $12 per person per day, but I can't help with the suggested breakdown sorry. I was planning to pay our tips as one and let DCL allocate them - it was my understanding that they share them out more fully - say with staff that work on the buffets rather than just the dining room staff? Is this incorrect?

 

[kristieuk]

Is everyone getting excited? I have dropped out of the conversations but have trying to read what is going on. Life has been really hectic.

We have 11 people in our party.5 rooms.

Wanted to share some new I recieved today from my TA. There are only 20 cabins left on our cruise and expected to fully sell out..

Hopefully some people will get a nice upgrade!

That is interesting! I was looking at the weekend out of curiosity as to the cost of our cruise if we booked now, and there were Cat 6, 5, 4 and 3 available to book for the 4 of us. I just looked now, and there are only Cat 4's (can't tell on DCL site how many cabins left) - and a huge $3000 more than we paid for our Cat 6!

If I take DD3 out of the equation (I think they let only so many 3 and unders on the ship) there is a Cat 10, 6, 5, 4 and 3 available, but again, not sure how many cabins, only that the cats I checked are GTY only, so it must be getting very full.

A little bit of to all those awaiting their GTY assignments!

 

[ginajanae88]

so who is doing the dolphin swim and turtle farm in Grand Cayman? We booked it for the 2nd time slot (can not remember time). DD(12) is so excited about it.

kate

Gina and Janae(4) are booked for the first time slot. I am going as an observer and to get some great pictures. We are all excited about this. I think we are all excited about everything!!!

 

[ginajanae88]

Thanks to all who sent thoughts and prayers for Janae. Things went very well. She will be in the hospital a few more days. We are so excited now for getting on with our planning.
We did get lucky and got Palo brunch on Tuesday. We did not go there on our first cruise so we are excited about that. I guess we are going to get busy now and really start getting ready for some fun!!!
Thanks again everyone!
Linda

 

[Pudo]

so who is doing the dolphin swim and turtle farm in Grand Cayman? We booked it for the 2nd time slot (can not remember time). DD(12) is so excited about it.

kate

We booked the Dolphin Extreme which starts at 10:45. I don't remember the time slots so I am not sure if that is first or second. My girls are really looking forward to this excursion.

~Jeff

 

[Pudo]

Do you all know if there is a Iron on board the ship???

There are three laundry rooms (decks 2, 6 & 7) and each one has one iron. Believe or not, the laundry room can get very busy so don't wait till the last minute if you need something.

The irons are used a lot on semi-formal and formal night. In a pinch, there are dry cleaning options, but they get busy too.

~Jeff

 

[Pudo]

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

Can someone tell me if this is about right?

Here are the tipping guidelines from the DCL website. I usually set aside about $100 or so for a 7 day cruise.

~Jeff

 

[morgansmom2000]

Here are the tipping guidelines from the DCL website. I usually set aside about $100 or so for a 7 day cruise.

~Jeff

$100/person? Stupid question - nevermind

When I paid off my cruise last week, the TA asked if we wanted to pre-pay - it was $252 for the 3 of us, so that's $12/day/person.

 

[tjbaggott]

For days I have been unable to access that tip calculator site. Something wrong with my internet or router I think, and not my computer. The page somewhat loads, or says it's done loading, but it's just a blank white page. Any computer geeks out there know what my problem might be? I also have issues seeing web pages with photos on them, but this if often fixed if I hit refresh.

Anyway, I also plan on (assuming we will have very Good service) allotting $100.00 per person for the cruise to leave for tips. How would you break that down though, as to who gets what? I could figure this out on my own if I could access that tip calculator.

My computer problems started after having new memory installed and a new processor, uggghhhhhh!

 

[AngolaHeartsDisney]

I just went on this morning at there are only category 4 staterooms. I tried both 2 people and 3 people!!! Boat is getting full!

Good LucK on the upgrades!

 

[Pudo]

$100/person? Stupid question - nevermind

When I paid off my cruise last week, the TA asked if we wanted to pre-pay - it was $252 for the 3 of us, so that's $12/day/person.

Yeah, it is kind of expensive. Recommended for my family of 4 is $336 and I like to have a few extra dollars just in case.

 

[dizney-cruiser]

OH wow. I wonder what it will be like to cruise on a crowded ship!! Are most of the sailings full I wonder!

Thanks for the update!

The ship was full on our Halloween 2008 Cruise - it was just as wonderful as every other one I have been on!!

Has anyone been able to take advantage of the latest offer:
Save at least 25% at Disney Resort Hotels for stays on limited and select nights October through February.

Looks like we are getting upgraded to "Deluxe Dining Plan" and might still be getting some cash back!!!

 

[dizney-cruiser]

Just read the post on the main board about kids wear in the dining room. Now I have a question and thought I'd ask my fellow travelers. I do plan on letting my boys wear shorts in the dining rooms on cruise casual nights. These are new and dressy shorts with a nice shirt. But my question if for DH. In your opinions, is he ok to pack the dressy shorts and polos for cruise casual for some nights? We have his semi formal and formal clothes and one pair of cream colored casual pants for cruise casual as well. I got those causal pants from Old Navy, and wonder if they are what you call Dockers? Can someone explain what Dockers are?

Well. . . we plan to cheat and wear shorts twice! We are each taking one pair of black shorts and wearing them to dinner on "pirate night" (with a pirate t-shirt and our disney pirate ears) & on Halloween (with regualar ears and Mickey Mouse Club t-shirts)

 

[Fastpaks]

I thought upgrades were less likely when the boat is fuller?