Oct 30 2010 7 Night Western

[podsnel]

Nenner was on a cruise this past week- she probably got back yesterday or today.

I'd be happy to help out with the TOT, too- if you need another body!

 

[lsjones]

Nenner was on a cruise this past week- she probably got back yesterday or today.

I'd be happy to help out with the TOT, too- if you need another body!

Yeah!! I'm sure we could use another helper! We'll have to have a planning pow-wow with nenner when she recovers !

 

[nenner1]

I think nenner is on a cruise right now - but i could be wrong .. .

Nope! You were right!!!

I also still need Nenners address to mail the halloween stuff to.

I'll PM ya Lynn!

Yeah!! I'm sure we could use another helper! We'll have to have a planning pow-wow with nenner when she recovers !

Yep...whoooooo what a great time we had! But yeah happy to have you help, Ellen!!! BTW, how was St. John? Was the weather gorgeous or WHAT!!! Wow.....beautiful!

Has anyone else done a stingray excursion in the Caymans? My friend recommended Moby Dick tours has anyone used them?

We have!

We originally booked with Moby Dick..but their hours did not work with the Magic and we had to cancel their tour. No problems with the cancellation, you don't actually have to give a deposit or credit card to hold your reservation with them. The cancellation was due to the ship/shore time difference...and was back in 10/08 so I don't know if they have changed their times since then.

So, we switched to Captain Marvins...which we loved. We loved it SO much, we are doing it AGAIN. We went on a snorkeling trip this week in St. Maarten and the snorkeling couldn't hold a candle to what we saw in the Caymans. It was amazing!!!!

I just briefly looked at their website. Would this be considered the 1/2 day excursion? If so, I think I can actually swing that cost for my family.

We did the three-stop (two snorkeling stops and stingray city) which I think was the half day. It was very reasonably priced~ appx. $40/adult and $28/kids

And the $70.00 you mentioned is for the DVD?

IIRC It cost $60+ something, yes.....

If it is DVD, perhaps as a group, one could be purchased and copies made and mailed to everyone else? Let us know too when you are ready to book. How many will fit on the boat?

I would be willing to go in on the video. We bought it last time, and we really enjoy having it. It is a good video, they have a diver that goes down and actually gets video of the sea life too! So yeah if we all pool in for it that is even better!!!!

The boats hold about 30 ppl. But be aware that booking for the same time won't guarantee we get on the same boat. There were literally hundreds of people there at the 10:00 meeting time. In fact Lois (Grandma4ever) and us were there at the same time in '08 and I just assumed we would be on the same tour...nope...we never even saw each other. So if we do all "go together" we should meet up beforehand and all check in together to ensure we are on the same bus (and boat!)

We had a wonderful cruise but I am glad to be back and ready to start really digging in to the planning of this one!

 

[knewton64]

Nope! You were right!!!




I'll PM ya Lynn!



Yep...whoooooo what a great time we had! But yeah happy to have you help, Ellen!!! BTW, how was St. John? Was the weather gorgeous or WHAT!!! Wow.....beautiful!




We have!

We originally booked with Moby Dick..but their hours did not work with the Magic and we had to cancel their tour. No problems with the cancellation, you don't actually have to give a deposit or credit card to hold your reservation with them. The cancellation was due to the ship/shore time difference...and was back in 10/08 so I don't know if they have changed their times since then.

So, we switched to Captain Marvins...which we loved. We loved it SO much, we are doing it AGAIN. We went on a snorkeling trip this week in St. Maarten and the snorkeling couldn't hold a candle to what we saw in the Caymans. It was amazing!!!!




We did the three-stop (two snorkeling stops and stingray city) which I think was the half day. It was very reasonably priced~ appx. $40/adult and $28/kids



IIRC It cost $60+ something, yes.....



I would be willing to go in on the video. We bought it last time, and we really enjoy having it. It is a good video, they have a diver that goes down and actually gets video of the sea life too! So yeah if we all pool in for it that is even better!!!!

The boats hold about 30 ppl. But be aware that booking for the same time won't guarantee we get on the same boat. There were literally hundreds of people there at the 10:00 meeting time. In fact Lois (Grandma4ever) and us were there at the same time in '08 and I just assumed we would be on the same tour...nope...we never even saw each other. So if we do all "go together" we should meet up beforehand and all check in together to ensure we are on the same bus (and boat!)

We had a wonderful cruise but I am glad to be back and ready to start really digging in to the planning of this one!

.....feeding the stingray. I actually know someone who didn't know this & got nipped a few times (last year) by the rays until she learned NOT to do this.


All of us going together as a group sounds good. I'm game - will talk more the closer we get to the sail date.
--------------------------


Nenner1: YYEEAAA!! U R back! Glad 2 c u had fun.



T.T.F.N.

 

[eyes4mickey]

Nope! You were right!!!




I'll PM ya Lynn!



Yep...whoooooo what a great time we had! But yeah happy to have you help, Ellen!!! BTW, how was St. John? Was the weather gorgeous or WHAT!!! Wow.....beautiful!




We have!

We originally booked with Moby Dick..but their hours did not work with the Magic and we had to cancel their tour. No problems with the cancellation, you don't actually have to give a deposit or credit card to hold your reservation with them. The cancellation was due to the ship/shore time difference...and was back in 10/08 so I don't know if they have changed their times since then.

So, we switched to Captain Marvins...which we loved. We loved it SO much, we are doing it AGAIN. We went on a snorkeling trip this week in St. Maarten and the snorkeling couldn't hold a candle to what we saw in the Caymans. It was amazing!!!!




We did the three-stop (two snorkeling stops and stingray city) which I think was the half day. It was very reasonably priced~ appx. $40/adult and $28/kids



IIRC It cost $60+ something, yes.....



I would be willing to go in on the video. We bought it last time, and we really enjoy having it. It is a good video, they have a diver that goes down and actually gets video of the sea life too! So yeah if we all pool in for it that is even better!!!!

The boats hold about 30 ppl. But be aware that booking for the same time won't guarantee we get on the same boat. There were literally hundreds of people there at the 10:00 meeting time. In fact Lois (Grandma4ever) and us were there at the same time in '08 and I just assumed we would be on the same tour...nope...we never even saw each other. So if we do all "go together" we should meet up beforehand and all check in together to ensure we are on the same bus (and boat!)

We had a wonderful cruise but I am glad to be back and ready to start really digging in to the planning of this one!

Welcome Back!!!!
We would love to go as a group. TJbaggot wants to go too. Captain Marvin's sounds great.

 

[Fastpaks]

We are the family on the left. My sister's family is on the right (not going on the cruise). We just finished making our blankets (12 in total) for our GAD benefiting Project Linus. It was a ton a fun. LOL Don't get used to this picture though. My wife and I are both losing weight this year. I am already down 17lbs and my wife is down about 8 1/2. I hope to lose about 85 more by the time we cruise and my wife... lol.. she can do whatever she wants. (she is already beautiful to me!!)

 

[knewton64]

Culture Monster
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A very familiar face returns to 'Mary Poppins'
January 23, 2010 | 5:53 am
No matter how much you like the stage version of “Mary Poppins,” the original 1964 Disney movie is never far from mind. Which is why the Ahmanson Theatre audience went crazy Friday night when it was told Richard M. Sherman, one of the film’s songwriters, was in the house and went even crazier when it learned Dick Van ****, one of the film’s stars, would make a surprise appearance during the show.

The effervescent actor did not portray Bert, the Cockney chimney sweep he made famous. Instead he reprised his other (and less well known) screen role–Mr. Dawes Sr., the crotchety bank president and boss of Poppins’ boss, Mr. Banks. Van **** had to cajole Walt Disney into giving him the part because Disney thought Van Dyke–then in his 30s– was too young to be the ancient moneyman. The actor reportedly won him over by acing a screen test, agreeing to portray Dawes for free and making a donation to the California Institute of the Arts, which Disney co-founded.

Van **** had a much easier time getting the chance to play the tottering, doddering banker at the Ahmanson. After seeing the Disney-Cameron Mackintosh production of “Poppins” when it opened here in November, he volunteered to join the cast for a cameo. Dawes--a character not included in the stage musical--was written into a pivotal scene in which Banks finds out whether he’s going to lose his job.

Although he’s 84, Van **** still cuts a spry figure and flashes a familiar impish grin. During his Big Moment late in the second act, he was easy to spot as he staggered through the bank’s doors, gummed and mugged to the crowd’s delight, sputtered a few choice words and then burst into “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” accompanied by a jig.

"Old actors don't die," Van **** quipped after the show. "They keep doing the same part over and over."

 

[lsjones]

nenner, can you tell me more about the Captain Marvins tour? My mom is coming with us and she's not too keen on swimming where she can't touch the ground, but do you think she would still have a good time if she didn't get off the boat? It's the climbing in and out that she has trouble with. We may be able to talk her into it when we get her out there!

If there is a group that's in interested in doing the half day, we would love to join in! There would be 5 of us,. 3 adults and 2 kids. Is someone interested in organizing this?

 

[tjbaggott]

We've booked Captain Marvins!! EyesforMickey and I are in. If you wish to join us, just visit www.captainmarvins.com

We are booked for Tuesday November 2nd, on the 1/2 Day excursion from 10am to 1pm. This will be 3 stops (Coral Gardens, Barrier Reef and Sting Ray City)
You need to give a credit card number to hold the reservation, but once there can either have them charge your card OR pay in cash (Your card is not charged prior to arriving for the excrusion. There is a comment section at the bottom of the registration page, in there just ask them to link your reservation with the one made by Judy Baggott.

Check out Captian Marvin's video's on their site, you can see from there how deep the water is. In Stingray City, you are in pretty shallow water, standing on the bottom of the ocean. We're going to have a BLAST!!

 

[eyes4mickey]

nenner, can you tell me more about the Captain Marvins tour? My mom is coming with us and she's not too keen on swimming where she can't touch the ground, but do you think she would still have a good time if she didn't get off the boat? It's the climbing in and out that she has trouble with. We may be able to talk her into it when we get her out there!

If there is a group that's in interested in doing the half day, we would love to join in! There would be 5 of us,. 3 adults and 2 kids. Is someone interested in organizing this?

I believe the water is 3 feet deep. My DS10 and husband might be staying on the boat so, if your moms doesn't go in she could have some company. I'm thinking that once they see how much fun it is, my son will want to jump in the water.

 

[Grandma4ever]

We've booked Captain Marvins!! EyesforMickey and I are in. If you wish to join us, just visit www.captainmarvins.com

We are booked for Tuesday November 2nd, on the 1/2 Day excursion from 10am to 1pm. This will be 3 stops (Coral Gardens, Barrier Reef and Sting Ray City)
You need to give a credit card number to hold the reservation, but once there can either have them charge your card OR pay in cash (Your card is not charged prior to arriving for the excrusion. There is a comment section at the bottom of the registration page, in there just ask them to link your reservation with the one made by Judy Baggott.

Check out Captian Marvin's video's on their site, you can see from there how deep the water is. In Stingray City, you are in pretty shallow water, standing on the bottom of the ocean. We're going to have a BLAST!!

Janet and I plan to do this excrusion. I hope we will be able to join you. For those who have not done this before they do ask for a credit card number to reserve but on the day they perfer cash. If you read the small print on the site there is a small fee to use the credit card. We did this twice in 08 and they did not charge our card. I love this excursion and the company

I believe the water is 3 feet deep. My DS10 and husband might be staying on the boat so, if your moms doesn't go in she could have some company. I'm thinking that once they see how much fun it is, my son will want to jump in the water.

The depth of the water will depend on the level of the tide. If you are there during low tide it may only be about 3 feet but if we happen to hit high tide it will be much deeper.

I believe the morning tour is the best one for the time which we need. Would hate to spend the whole afternoon worring about being able to make it back to the ship in time. I am kinda OCD about that stuff. And since we cannot request that the ocean alter its tide we will need to go with whatever God has given us. I believe when we went we hit high tide as most adults could stand but were in water up to at least the shoulder. Kids (younger) on the other hand needed to be held. All had a great time. The snorkelling was awesome by the way.

I want in!

 

[knewton64]

We've booked Captain Marvins!! EyesforMickey and I are in. If you wish to join us, just visit www.captainmarvins.com

We are booked for Tuesday November 2nd, on the 1/2 Day excursion from 10am to 1pm. This will be 3 stops (Coral Gardens, Barrier Reef and Sting Ray City)
You need to give a credit card number to hold the reservation, but once there can either have them charge your card OR pay in cash (Your card is not charged prior to arriving for the excrusion. There is a comment section at the bottom of the registration page, in there just ask them to link your reservation with the one made by Judy Baggott.
Check out Captian Marvin's video's on their site, you can see from there how deep the water is. In Stingray City, you are in pretty shallow water, standing on the bottom of the ocean. We're going to have a BLAST!!

....I have made the request (& to also link it to your ressie) & am awaiting on e-mail confirmation, what not. Looking forward to meeting you & everyone else for the Stingray City half day 10am to 1pm adventure on Nov 2nd .


Oh well....so much for me me saying (in an earlier posting) on this pending issue to resolve, "awaiting until closer we get to date of sail."


T.T.F.N.

 

[nenner1]

nenner, can you tell me more about the Captain Marvins tour? My mom is coming with us and she's not too keen on swimming where she can't touch the ground, but do you think she would still have a good time if she didn't get off the boat? It's the climbing in and out that she has trouble with. We may be able to talk her into it when we get her out there!

Sure!! I even have some pics in the bowels of my photobucket (LOL!) I'll dig them up!!!

When you arrive in GC you tender over to the main dock/port security area. After walking through the small shopping plaza you emerge on to a street. CM is across this street and to the left. The area is in sight when you emerge from the port area...so a very short walk (5 mins tops from the temder gates). When you arrive you check in at a window and then pay at a counter in the office itself which is a starlingly small and triangular room. (I have a picture of it since it was so intriguing!) There are huge amounts of people in this area outside the CM office. Hundreds- from all different cruise ships. There was quite a bit of a wait in the check in and payment lines(about 30 minutes). We used this time to get the kids sunscreened up, etc. Once they call you they will place you in a van. The van is air conditioned, large and comfortable. From there they will drive you on a short drive to the small dock they operate out of. The ride was about 20 minutes, and is narrated by the driver so you know which sights you are diving past (governors mansion and 7 mile beach for example) at the dock you will split up into differnt boats. I think there were 2 or 3. But we were on the same boat with the people in our van. From there the boats split up and go to the stops in different orders so that it isn't too crowded at each stop. We went to Stingray city first. We anchored there and the water was about 4 feet deep. Adults could easily stand. Getting in and out of the boat we had was easier than some boats I've been on, but it is still up a metal ladder in the water. On this boat however there was a large platform to climb up on so it wasn't too hard. But in my opinion this stop is worth it even if you are staying onboard. You can easily see the rays int he water (great photo ops) and the CM staff will go in and lift one out to show it to everyone so you can still see a ray outside of the water from the boat as well (not close up though if you are on the boat). You can also see everyone in the group interacting with the rays. So IMO this stop is very enjoyable from onboard the boat!

From there we traveled to Coral Gardens which was spectacular snorkeling. Fascinating sea life and gorgeous corals. This stop would not be much fun for those onboard since there is not much to look at (except the snorkels bobbing). Water is deep here and you can't really see anything on the bottom.

From there we went to the barrier reef. Here from onboard the boat you could see some sea life (starfish and the occasional ray) The water was deep in some areas and shallow in others (where the barrier reef streches up towards the surface) but that is corals and you cannot stand on it, so nowhere to stand here either since where it is sandy bottom in this area the water is deep. More spectacular snorkeling here...eels, lobsters, gorgeous fish and coral.

From there we traveled back to the dock. I would venture to say we spent about 30 minutes at each stop. It was so much fun and the staff is great. There is no pressure to buy the video and they play it right there on a TV as you ride back.

Here are some of our pics from our trip (at the bottom of my post)

We've booked Captain Marvins!! EyesforMickey and I are in. If you wish to join us, just visit www.captainmarvins.com

There is a comment section at the bottom of the registration page, in there just ask them to link your reservation with the one made by Judy Baggott.

Sweet! Count us in! (four of us, I think we will let Sarah relax in Flounders...the excursion we took her on this past week (the same kind of thing) was not too easy for her (and us!)

If you all want to, we will buy the video again and I will happily copy and send it out to you. Since I will already be handling money changing hands for the lanyards maybe that would be the easiest way to handle splitting the cost of the video. I don't mind getting cash when we are actually there if that is what you all prefer. But I do have the software to make copies (Nero) and plenty of DVD Roms! I can also put the file up (hopefully..if it is small emough of a file) on 4-shared which is a file sharing service so you can download a digital copy right to your computer as well so you'll have a backup. We got our video in about 3 weeks last time. One I get done working on my current project (video form the cruise this week) maybe I can edit out a small sample of my video for you so you all can see what you will get. I thought it was a great video and it was worth it to us to have it even at the high price!

Now the pics:

Captain Marvin Office (where you pay after signing in)

Stingray City:

I am standing here (holding Savannah) so you can see how shallow the water is:

Brendan going down the ladder at the platform on the back of the boat:

Here is a shot of the back platform of the boat and the bucket of snorkeling equipment:

The Barrier Reef stop:

Staff on our trip brought up some sea life for us to examine closely:

And passing rays and starfish (the odd shapes in the water) you can see fromt he boat (near the barrier reef stop):

Boat was a double decker:

Hope that helps give you guys an idea of what to expect, specifically Leslie!
I am looking forward to joining you guys! It will be great!!!

PS- thanks for all the welcome backs!

 

[tjbaggott]

Thanks for posting all that nenner! Can't wait! I'm in for splitting on the DVD, I had suggested/offered, but if you want to handle it, I'm all for it!

I have the bubble wrap CD envelopes too that I can give you for mailing! Just remind me to pack them!

 

[tjbaggott]

Any chance anyone here would like a roomate for this trip?

My mother just got back from her trip to Punta Canta with my brother and his wife. It was their Christmas present to her.
Now I had always planned on surprising her with a trip on the DREAM in Sept 2011, but after her comments today, I'd LOVE to take her on our upcoming Magic trip.
1st, I've been at my brother for over 2 years about all of us going on a cruise together. My brother has always been "No Thanks", to the cruise part, not the vacationing together part. Well, mom is back and every 2nd sentance is "oh, I just have to go back, we should all plan the next trip together, to Punta Canta". I mentioned to her that I'd been saying the same thing about a Disney cruise for the past few years. She then responds by saying, "I don't know if I'm a cruise type person. It was SO much fun being in the carribean sea, the color of the water, the activities, oh and the food was ALL INCLUSIVE! If I went on the cruise, I'd probably enjoy the shore excursions, but beyond that, I'd feel like I was stuck on the boat"....... HMMMPHHHH!
See my point? The DREAM would mean seeing Nassau and CC. BUT the magic,,,,, CC, Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman. I'd love for her to see those places as well as enjoy the ship for longer than 4 days.

Well I've called my TA to ask her if she can find the cost difference from our current CAT 6 verandah room to a verandah room that will sleep 5 people. I don't know if she'll find one as I know the ship is filling fast.
Oh, I hope I can bring her!

UPDATE: TA just got back to me. ALL Cat 4 staterooms that accomodate 5 people ARE SOLD OUT! Yep, a very full cruise.
So any chance anyone here would take on a room mate? Could benefit someone paying the single traveller fee, or paying adult fare for a child.??

 

[eyes4mickey]

Thanks for posting all that nenner! Can't wait! I'm in for splitting on the DVD, I had suggested/offered, but if you want to handle it, I'm all for it!

I have the bubble wrap CD envelopes too that can give you for mailing! Just remind me to pack them!

We're in on splitting the DVD too. Does everyone get the same DVD that's in the group from the photographer? I know it worked that way when we swam with the dolphins but, I just want to make sure that I have it correct.

Thanks nenner, your pictures are awesome. Now I really can't wait!!!!!

 

[lsjones]

Any chance anyone here would like a roomate for this trip?

UPDATE: TA just got back to me. ALL Cat 4 staterooms that accomodate 5 people ARE SOLD OUT! Yep, a very full cruise.
So any chance anyone here would take on a room mate? Could benefit someone paying the single traveller fee, or paying adult fare for a child.??

If we had room, I would take her in! We already have 5 in a cat 4, as my mom is traveling with us.

I also booked the Captain Marvin's 1/2 day tonight!! Wow! We booked our first excursion !!

 

[tjbaggott]

I just received my email confirmation from Captain Marvin's!! They have different boats that seat from 20 - 45 people depending on what boat you are on. What boat they put us on depends on how many are in our group. So be sure to write in your comment section you want to be in the group orginially booked by "Judy Baggott", and we'll all end up on the same boat, up to 45.

 

[eyes4mickey]

I just received my email confirmation from Captain Marvin's!! They have different boats that seat from 20 - 45 people depending on what boat you are on. What boat they put us on depends on how many are in our group. So be sure to write in your comment section you want to be in the group orginially booked by "Judy Baggott", and we'll all end up on the same boat, up to 45.

Thanks for the update, that sounds great. We have a cat 6 or I would help you out with your mom. Would it pay to split your family into 2 lower cat rooms to fit all of you in?

 

[tjbaggott]

Thanks for the update, that sounds great. We have a cat 6 or I would help you out with your mom. Would it pay to split your family into 2 lower cat rooms to fit all of you in?

It wouldn't be that much different I suppose, except that I'm NOT willing to give up our verandah. Never had a verandah before and this is a longer cruise. She might enjoy Nassau, I would arrange the dolphin encounter for her and I, I know she'd LOVE that! I thought it would be nice though, to give her something close to what she just finished, more carribean tropical places to relax and enjoy the scenery. Castaway Cay alone just might do that. (and she'd get that twice, as we'll be booking a back to back!) Stuck on a ship, how can anyone say that though? (at least NOT about a Disney Ship)