October 12, 2013 - Western Caribbean on the Fantasy!!!

[HeddyRuth]

ditto on what mrssmiddy said!

I will have gradysmommy make mine, I'm just not that good. I suck at sewing The gifts however, are made by me. I hope everyone enjoys them!

I am sure we will enjoy them : ). I am also debating on getting one of the ikea organizers and then decorating it. I don't know....

 

[abitagirl916]

We had a wonderful visit with my Aunt Jeanette (who is sailing with us) to do some planning for the cruise. We have decided the only excursion we will do is the Seven Mile Beach Break in Grand Cayman. In Costa Maya we will just go ashore and shop and maybe swim in the pool at the port. Since we have all already been to Cozumel (more than once) we will probably just go ashore to shop a little, and then return to the ship to explore. We will then enjoy the day on Castaway Cay at the beach, and maybe explore the island a little. At least that is the plan at the moment. Once we get onboard, who knows!!! We could alter what we plan to do.....it is a vacation after all!!

 

[HeddyRuth]

We had a wonderful visit with my Aunt Jeanette (who is sailing with us) to do some planning for the cruise. We have decided the only excursion we will do is the Seven Mile Beach Break in Grand Cayman. In Costa Maya we will just go ashore and shop and maybe swim in the pool at the port. Since we have all already been to Cozumel (more than once) we will probably just go ashore to shop a little, and then return to the ship to explore. We will then enjoy the day on Castaway Cay at the beach, and maybe explore the island a little. At least that is the plan at the moment. Once we get onboard, who knows!!! We could alter what we plan to do.....it is a vacation after all!!

I like your thinking! I know I have gotten a bit obsessed about planning, perhaps I need to relax a bit. It is a vacation after all

 

[adrianna_sarah]

We had a wonderful visit with my Aunt Jeanette (who is sailing with us) to do some planning for the cruise. We have decided the only excursion we will do is the Seven Mile Beach Break in Grand Cayman. In Costa Maya we will just go ashore and shop and maybe swim in the pool at the port. Since we have all already been to Cozumel (more than once) we will probably just go ashore to shop a little, and then return to the ship to explore. We will then enjoy the day on Castaway Cay at the beach, and maybe explore the island a little. At least that is the plan at the moment. Once we get onboard, who knows!!! We could alter what we plan to do.....it is a vacation after all!!

We had a similar plan when we cruised a 7 day Bahamas/Key West on Carnival last year. The ship was brand new and had lots to do, but aside from Key West I knew the ports were going to be pretty boring. Key West was the only day we even bothered disembarking. It was a last minute booking for spring break out of Galveston, so not needing to purchase plane tickets made it very appealing even though we had been to all of the ports already.

This one is different for us though. When we did the Western on the Magic in 2008, we were cruising with an 11 month old, so most of the more daring shore excursions were off the table. She's big 6 now and he's 10, so both are more portable and fun. I think we're planning to something fairly "big ticket" at each port.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

I usually have a hot stone massage and a pedicure, and the last few times hubs and I have opted for the couples massage as well. I've had a facial once, which was heavenly and got me hooked on the Elemis moisturizer, and we tried the exotic rassoul once (not our thing--too hot!) I was thinking that it might to be fun to try a different massage... maybe Thai poultice or bamboo. Thoughts on this? Do you have a favorite spa treatment?

 

[abitagirl916]

I usually have a hot stone massage and a pedicure, and the last few times hubs and I have opted for the couples massage as well. I've had a facial once, which was heavenly and got me hooked on the Elemis moisturizer, and we tried the exotic rassoul once (not our thing--too hot!) I was thinking that it might to be fun to try a different massage... maybe Thai poultice or bamboo. Thoughts on this? Do you have a favorite spa treatment?

Have never tried the spa, but would like to at least get a manicure, and maybe a pedicure this time. We have a bit more time on this cruise since it is a 7 day. Our last one was a 5 day.

 

[kendzee94]

I usually have a hot stone massage and a pedicure, and the last few times hubs and I have opted for the couples massage as well. I've had a facial once, which was heavenly and got me hooked on the Elemis moisturizer, and we tried the exotic rassoul once (not our thing--too hot!) I was thinking that it might to be fun to try a different massage... maybe Thai poultice or bamboo. Thoughts on this? Do you have a favorite spa treatment?

I just like hanging out on the heated loungers in the spa, with the other half of my "couple" luvmygrljb!

 

[luvmygrljb]

I just like hanging out on the heated loungers in the spa, with the other half of my "couple" luvmygrljb!

We are a couple!!! You know...the couple that rain forests together goes on more cruise together...or so I've heard...

 

[kendzee94]

We are a couple!!! You know...the couple that rain forests together goes on more cruise together...or so I've heard...

Yay! 3 cruises in a row together!!!!!!

 

[HeddyRuth]

I usually have a hot stone massage and a pedicure, and the last few times hubs and I have opted for the couples massage as well. I've had a facial once, which was heavenly and got me hooked on the Elemis moisturizer, and we tried the exotic rassoul once (not our thing--too hot!) I was thinking that it might to be fun to try a different massage... maybe Thai poultice or bamboo. Thoughts on this? Do you have a favorite spa treatment?

Sorry, but I have to ask what an "exotic rassoul" is. I don't remember seeing it and it sounds mysterious.

The Thai poultice sounded wonderful but i wasn't sure about the Bamboo.

I wish my husband could do anything spa. He tried once and giggled through the whole massage. He is very ticklish.

 

[froderfive]

This is a whole new world!
We have never been on a cruise, let alone a Disney cruise.
I've been excitedly scouring the internet for packing advice, etc.
Looking forward to experiencing the magic, and seeing what all the fuss is about!

froderfive + DH + DD9 + DS7 + DS4
Minnesota

 

[HeddyRuth]

Welcome! Great to have you join us

 

[abitagirl916]

Sorry, but I have to ask what an "exotic rassoul" is. I don't remember seeing it and it sounds mysterious.

The Thai poultice sounded wonderful but i wasn't sure about the Bamboo.

I wish my husband could do anything spa. He tried once and giggled through the whole massage. He is very ticklish.

I too am soooo ticklish that I don't think I could enjoy a massage. Except for a shoulder and neck message. I believe I would like that. But anywhere else on my body....forget it.

 

[abitagirl916]

This is a whole new world!
We have never been on a cruise, let alone a Disney cruise.
I've been excitedly scouring the internet for packing advice, etc.
Looking forward to experiencing the magic, and seeing what all the fuss is about!

froderfive + DH + DD9 + DS7 + DS4
Minnesota

Glad you and your family will be joining us. Where are you from?
There will be three of us: me, DD(24), and my Aunt. We are from Southeastern Louisiana. Look forward to meeting everyone.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Sorry, but I have to ask what an "exotic rassoul" is. I don't remember seeing it and it sounds mysterious.

The Thai poultice sounded wonderful but i wasn't sure about the Bamboo.

I wish my husband could do anything spa. He tried once and giggled through the whole massage. He is very ticklish.

They may be calling the exotic rassoul something different these days, but I'm pretty sure that they still offer it. It's a couples thing where they give you a set amount of time in a spa area with a multi head shower, a steam room, and an assortment of every Elemis product you might want to try. Also, you get a bowl of mud to smear on each other. Other than getting you set up, no staff person is present, so it is up to you to make your own fun. Unfortunately, the steam is controlled from the outside, and it was just too much for us. I found it really draining, rather than invigorating.

I found a video of the bamboo massage on youtube, and it looks very relaxing. I may try it. The Thai poultice appeals to me, too. My husband used to avoid massage, but he's become more flexible these last few years. I would love to try the couples cabana massage at Serenity Bay, but he is in go mode the entire time we are on Castaway Cay and won't slow down long enough to try it out. We are usually among the last families being chased back onto the ship.

 

[adrianna_sarah]

Yay! 3 cruises in a row together!!!!!!

Did ya'all meet on the DIS?

 

[adrianna_sarah]

HeddyRuth, I found this on the DCL site, but only under the spa listings for the classic ships. It seemed popular and was fairly difficult to book, but they may not have put on the new ships.

"This sensual body treatment, applied by you, conditions and nourishes your skin while uniting the 4 fundamental elements of water, fire, earth and air in one spiritually uplifting experience. Aromatherapy massage oils are worked gently into the body, and then you're invited to spread various miracle healing muds of different colors and grain sizes onto your limbs. Body and soul are elevated to a place of ethereal bliss. In the privacy of a secluded chamber and steam room, you can make liberal use of decadent facial care products, exfoliating creams and more."

 

[HeddyRuth]

HeddyRuth, I found this on the DCL site, but only under the spa listings for the classic ships. It seemed popular and was fairly difficult to book, but they may not have put on the new ships.

"This sensual body treatment, applied by you, conditions and nourishes your skin while uniting the 4 fundamental elements of water, fire, earth and air in one spiritually uplifting experience. Aromatherapy massage oils are worked gently into the body, and then you're invited to spread various miracle healing muds of different colors and grain sizes onto your limbs. Body and soul are elevated to a place of ethereal bliss. In the privacy of a secluded chamber and steam room, you can make liberal use of decadent facial care products, exfoliating creams and more."

"Secluded chamber". I am telling you, sounds mysterious . I will look for the bamboo video too, thanks!

 

[luvmygrljb]

Did ya'all meet on the DIS?

Yep! We were on a Disney cruise this past September to Canada and met on the Disboards. We became cruise buddies along with another couple that we will reconnect with on a cruise in October 2014! We have since met up a couple of times for shopping and lunch! We split costs of the rainforest room by sharing the couples package which we will probably do again as well as dining in Palo and sharing a cabana(hopefully) on Castaway Cay! She's my Disney BFF!

 

[froderfive]

Glad you and your family will be joining us. Where are you from?
There will be three of us: me, DD(24), and my Aunt. We are from Southeastern Louisiana. Look forward to meeting everyone.

We are from Minnesota, and greatly looking forward to seeing the sun! It has been a long winter, and a gloomy spring/summer!
The kids can barely handle their excitement for the cruise. It will be here before we know it!
Katie