October 11, 2014 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise on Disney Magic (San Juan)

[dizzi]

The one I need to start thinking about is the Panama Canal cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale on Princess with my DH and my father. We've haven't sail out of there before and we're just flying in the day before we sail. Any suggestions?

. If you are staying close to he Port, I would suggest the public beach closest to the port. It has everything you need, public restrooms, which are decent for public beach restrooms. There is plenty of picnic tables, and places to grill if you like.

If not here is plenty of places within waking distance t eat.
A local place right across from this beach is really cool (forgot the name) but I it is all outside dining and the tables are like picnic tables but they swing.

There are also plenty of shopping and bars and local eateries all up and down the strip. Most of of the bars have live music outside each night.

Very close on a side street (can get you address) is a place to rent motorized vehicles, little small 2 seaters, mopeds, etc....

On that beach as well you can find, jet skis to rent, or parasail.

There is also on the opposite side of street a large boat dock area, where you can find just about any kind of boat tour imaginable.......fishing, dining, sight seeing.

JUNGLE QUEEN is a local favorite. Dining and sight seeing.
DUCK TOURS also operates a tour out of that area.
If you have specific ?s let me know

 

[ACDSNY]

. If you are staying close to he Port, I would suggest the public beach closest to the port. It has everything you need, public restrooms, which are decent for public beach restrooms. There is plenty of picnic tables, and places to grill if you like.

If not here is plenty of places within waking distance t eat.
A local place right across from this beach is really cool (forgot the name) but I it is all outside dining and the tables are like picnic tables but they swing.

There are also plenty of shopping and bars and local eateries all up and down the strip. Most of of the bars have live music outside each night.

Very close on a side street (can get you address) is a place to rent motorized vehicles, little small 2 seaters, mopeds, etc....

On that beach as well you can find, jet skis to rent, or parasail.

There is also on the opposite side of street a large boat dock area, where you can find just about any kind of boat tour imaginable.......fishing, dining, sight seeing.

JUNGLE QUEEN is a local favorite. Dining and sight seeing.
DUCK TOURS also operates a tour out of that area.
If you have specific ?s let me know

Unfortunately we won't have any sightseeing time as it's a busy time of the year for me at work so we'll fly in the day before the cruise and stay one night. By the time we fly from CA to FL our day is spent traveling. What good hotels are near the port?

 

[kikjoy]

Yes, she is definitely wise beyond her years! !

She has been to WDW 5 times and the 1 year old has been there once. Thinking, depending on us buying a house and airline prices, of going back to WDW for October. It is my favorite time to go! Got married there in Oct 2007 and my family went every year in Oct when I was growing up. I took Riley, the 4 yr old, on a "big girl" trip just the two of us for a long weekend last Nov, while my husband stayed home with the baby! Riley talks about it all the time and asks us to have a big girl trip every weekend! I consistently try to convince Chris, DH, to move there!!!!

 

[dizzi]

We got married in Wilderness Lodge Feb 2012.

Then went on a DCL cruise for our honeymoon.

 

[Silverfox97]

Got married at Disney's GF wedding pavilion June 2005, honeymooned on the Wonder and moved to Tampa from Ohio in April 2007 with a 5-week old infant. Took a little convincing of DH but have NEVER looked back. Best decision of our lives

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[dizzi]

What made you want to move to Tampa? From Lorain ohio

almost silly question...........

I used to live in Cuyahoga falls, and akron.

 

[Silverfox97]

What made you want to move to Tampa? From Lorain ohio

almost silly question...........

I used to live in Cuyahoga falls, and akron.

Lol right?!?!

Actually we moved from Columbus; went to OSU and lived there for 10 years (1997-2007). Chose Tampa for the one hour to Gulf beaches on West, Disney on East & my job (Moffitt).

I wanted to move to FL since I was a junior in HS and my parents brought us down for a Disney Christmas. I'm all about accomplishing goals!

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[mom3girls2000]

Yes, she is definitely wise beyond her years! !

She has been to WDW 5 times and the 1 year old has been there once. Thinking, depending on us buying a house and airline prices, of going back to WDW for October. It is my favorite time to go! Got married there in Oct 2007 and my family went every year in Oct when I was growing up. I took Riley, the 4 yr old, on a "big girl" trip just the two of us for a long weekend last Nov, while my husband stayed home with the baby! Riley talks about it all the time and asks us to have a big girl trip every weekend! I consistently try to convince Chris, DH, to move there!!!!

Aww, how sweet ! We honeymooned (1984) at DW, but we never went back until 2007, and that's when we fell in love with it. We'd never been able to take our kids when they were little (or so we thought ::sigh:, so events conspired and we were able to take them when they were 16, 20, and 21 .

I actually got to take the *baby* on a Mommy-Daughter trip to Universal to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, she was 17yo and we both <3'd it!

Now, said *baby* just got accepted into the Disney College Program starting in August, so I imagine I'll be there a lot . Good thing I'm already an annual passholder.

{Besides Philly, we inherited my in-laws home in FL after they both passed away :sniffle::) but I think nothing happens by accident, and we're able to use it as a homebase for DW visits. (We're about 30 miles/minutes south of Tampa/Brandon.)}

 

[dizzi]

MAX

I forget.....are any of your kids coming with on this cruise?

Just seeing the ages of your kids made m homesick for all of mine.

Do your kids all live close to you?

My youngest DD wants to do the Disney College program too, but she still has 2 + Years of HS, but she has talked about it for years.

I know your DH had mentioned she got in over on the FB.

How long had she been in college before and what college does she go to?
Does she think or feel she will miss out on any "normal" college things by leaving it for the semester?

 

[kikjoy]

We got married in Wilderness Lodge Feb 2012.

Then went on a DCL cruise for our honeymoon.

We got married at the Boardwalk and then had our reception at American Adventure (had a dessert station on the isola in Italy during the fireworks in the middle of the reception) in Epcot. We made it a whole weekend: Friday was dinner at the Yacht & Beach (was supposed to be on the beach but rained so got moved inside), then the wedding on Saturday, and ended with a Sunday brunch at California Grill!!! I loved it!!!

For the honeymoon, we went for a few days in Grand Cayman, just to go somewhere right after the wedding. The real honeymoon was a few months later...almost 3 weeks in Australia and New Zealand!

 

[kikjoy]

Question...I know some of you are non-FB people, but how long do they usually take to ok your request to the group???

 

[TifffanyD]

If you PM me your email or facebook page I can try to add you

 

[gometros]

Thanks! I haven't given this trip much thought yet since I have a few more before it.

The one I need to start thinking about is the Panama Canal cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale on Princess with my DH and my father. We've haven't sail out of there before and we're just flying in the day before we sail. Any suggestions?

We sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale in 2010 on the Carnival Freedom. It's so convenient because it's right next to the airport. We got a good deal through Priceline on The Westin Beach Resort and through a recommendation we read on Cruise Critic, had a wonderful meal at the Casablanca Cafe, which was a short walk from the hotel.

 

[mom3girls2000]

MAX

I forget.....are any of your kids coming with on this cruise?

Just seeing the ages of your kids made m homesick for all of mine.

Do your kids all live close to you?

My youngest DD wants to do the Disney College program too, but she still has 2 + Years of HS, but she has talked about it for years.

I know your DH had mentioned she got in over on the FB.

How long had she been in college before and what college does she go to?
Does she think or feel she will miss out on any "normal" college things by leaving it for the semester?

Nope, not this time. Our oldest and youngest live in Philly, our youngest is still at home with us and the oldest lives 45 minutes away (near my parents' house, where I grew up). Our middle DD lives in Israel which is for her and for us.

Dani (Danielle) attended The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College (in Philadelphia; one of the top 3 culinary schools in the US). She majored in Pastry Arts; her program has ended, she is finished with all her classes. But to attend the DCP you have to apply BEFORE graduation. You can also reapply for a 2nd session. However, she hasn't graduated due to a technicality - she didn't complete enough internship hours during the required time frame. So if she can snag a pastry position FROM the DCP, that could count as her internship. The DCP only accepts kids into general restaurant positions, you can't specifically apply for pastry ::eyeroll:: The Restaurant School doesn't follow a typical 2-semesters/school year calendar, though, so she was finished in February, which is also when she applied. She actually started her college career right after high school at Drexel University, where she pledged a sorority immediately and became a member. She did a lot of the typical college things because of that, even after she transferred to TRS, because the two schools are close together and it was easy to go to sorority parties at DU right after TRS classes. She did do a stint in the dorm and decided it wasn't for her, so she's a little concerned about living in the DCP dorms, but she's going to have to bite the bullet and deal. Sorry if this is TMI lol.

 

[mom3girls2000]

Question...I know some of you are non-FB people, but how long do they usually take to ok your request to the group???

It depends on how long it takes for the group admin to get and see the notification that you've requested to join.

Have you been added yet?

Sorry if we missed your request. Idk about Steve Graham, but I've been busy getting ready for an out-of-town wedding tomorrow. I just checked and don't see any new requests, so perhaps you've already been added?

 

[ACDSNY]

We sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale in 2010 on the Carnival Freedom. It's so convenient because it's right next to the airport. We got a good deal through Priceline on The Westin Beach Resort and through a recommendation we read on Cruise Critic, had a wonderful meal at the Casablanca Cafe, which was a short walk from the hotel.

That sound great, are there any tricks or tips on getting the Westin on Priceline?

 

[TifffanyD]

It depends on how long it takes for the group admin to get and see the notification that you've requested to join.

Have you been added yet?

Sorry if we missed your request. Idk about Steve Graham, but I've been busy getting ready for an out-of-town wedding tomorrow. I just checked and don't see any new requests, so perhaps you've already been added?

I think I added her via her email...

 

[threewilmingtonwalls]

Depending on what day you plan to arrive in San Juan, I think the booking window for the Sheraton Old San Juan opens up tomorrow!

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[TifffanyD]

Wow that's really early!!

 

[threewilmingtonwalls]

Wow that's really early!!

Right?! I can't remember if it was 550 days out, but when I looked at the Sheraton page and it gave me the number of days, I calculated the date and set a reminder on my phone for tomorrow. I'll update after I try it for myself!

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