October 13, 2012--Magical Galveston Cruise!!!

[TCCDad]

The cruise has been booked. Room 8520. We need room for the play pen.

 

[TCCDad]

Welcome and glad to see another joining our cruise. Hopefully your wife can get her vacation worked out for it. I agree that the Galveston departure is just too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Did you see that they extended it into 2013.

 

[shaned]

What is a fish extender, we are first time cruisers

 

[ukintheus]

Did you see that they extended it into 2013.

Yes, AND the last cruise is a EBTA Talk about too good to pass up!! I may just have to do an onboard booking when we are on the Fantasy in May, just in case I can talk my DH into it. I had promised to try to not book anything in 2013 yet, but what's a girl to do!!

What is a fish extender, we are first time cruisers

It's something that people from the DIS boards have created. There are many (many,many,many ) threads that cover it, but to save you getting lost in a sea (pun intended ) of Fish Extender (known as FE) stuff, I'll give you the short version. Outside every cabin is a metal fish on the wall that DCL staff use to leave any messages that they might have for you. The DISboard peeps have created a game where you hang a "Fish Extender" which is basically something with a pocket or multiple pockets where people that are participating in the FE on your cruise leave you little gifts In turn, if you choose (ahead of time, and on this board) to participate, then you return the act of kindness by leaving a little goodie/s in everyone else's FE. The game is pretty much open to each individual cruiser group as to how many people are included, some groups that are large are split up so as not to be intimidating (note: this didn't happen to me on our 1st cruise! LOL ). The gift can be whatever you would like it to be. Candy is always popular. For the FE that I participated in, people often gave something from their home state.

That's it in a nutshell, if you have time, and the sanity to go through the FE threads you can find a ton of information in them.

Edited to add: I feel like I need to clarify that I think it was baptism by fire on our 1st cruise and FE experience. 31 cabins and 83 people were just overwhelming to me, and I think it's not usually the norm. But if we had kids, (it's just DH & I) I think they would have a blast with it for sure.

 

[2boogersmom]

Only 250 days to go!!!!!! Its getting closer.........

 

[shaned]

Thanks Jenny,

I should know the website almost by heart by now. Look at it almost every day. Will have to look for threads for the FE. For the first cruise might be fun. Although like you - just hubby and myself. Excited and nervous all at the same time about the cruise.


Dena -

 

[ukintheus]

Thanks Jenny,

I should know the website almost by heart by now. Look at it almost every day. Will have to look for threads for the FE. For the first cruise might be fun. Although like you - just hubby and myself. Excited and nervous all at the same time about the cruise.


Dena -

You should definitely do a FE at least once in a lifetime. First cruises are the bomb, and then you realize you have found yet ANOTHER thing to become obessed about.

 

[TCCDad]

Our family did FE on our last cruise and really loved it. We did glow stick bracelets for the kiddos and something else that I have forgotten with age. It was fun to go around to see the other FE and see the doors that that some of the families created. To save room in our luggage we mailed all of the FE stuff to the ship. Every bit of space counts. Looking forward to doing it again.

There is also someone who does really nice designs that incorporate your name. My son Travis had his done with Jedi Mickey above his name.

 

[_Crush_]

Booked our trip...ready to go! Me (38), Wife (not saying), DS (15), DS (10), and DD (7). Plus my wonderful sister (30). Can't wait!

Driving down to Galveston from OKC early Saturday morning, hoping to be on board by noon!

First Disney cruise, but we sailed Carnival last year out of Galveston to Cayman, Cozumel, and Jamaica. Grand Cayman might just be my favorite place on earth.

 

[shaned]

Crush, probably a good thing your not saying wife's age . You'll end up like Kevin in the movie Home Alone. You'll wake up and everyone is gone.

 

[ukintheus]

Booked our trip...ready to go! Me (38), Wife (not saying), DS (15), DS (10), and DD (7). Plus my wonderful sister (30). Can't wait!

Driving down to Galveston from OKC early Saturday morning, hoping to be on board by noon!

First Disney cruise, but we sailed Carnival last year out of Galveston to Cayman, Cozumel, and Jamaica. Grand Cayman might just be my favorite place on earth.

Welcome! I have to agree that Grand Cayman is just beautiful. Sounds like a fun family trip for ya'll.

 

[_Crush_]

Thank you for the welcome messages. Definitely looking forward to the anticipation, which is sometimes just as fun as the trip!

I have been checking out the Fish Extender threads for a few days...not sure if we'll do it, but with just the right amount of prodding...

 

[TCCDad]

Thank you for the welcome messages. Definitely looking forward to the anticipation, which is sometimes just as fun as the trip!

I have been checking out the Fish Extender threads for a few days...not sure if we'll do it, but with just the right amount of prodding...

Prod. Prod. As I said earlier it is a lot of fun.

 

[shaned]

Hubby has a question, in the ports what is the best way to pay for stuff, credit cards, or cash and if cash do we need to convert to their currency, or travelers check. Neither of us have been outside of US before.

 

[TCCDad]

For the shops around the port terminal a credit card is all you will need. Maybe some cash for food. When we went to Telum with Disney the souvenir shops were using cash. All of the places the we stopped at use U.S. currency. There are no atm's on board but you can write a check for cash at the front desk.

 

[ukintheus]

Hubby has a question, in the ports what is the best way to pay for stuff, credit cards, or cash and if cash do we need to convert to their currency, or travelers check. Neither of us have been outside of US before.

Grand Cayman and Cozumel will both take US Dollars. We took some cash, and 1 credit card whenever we went ashore. In Grand Cayman we paid cash for our excursion with Capt Marvins, in Cozumel our excursion was with DCL so it was charged to our onboard account. All these ports are very accommodating to the US cruise ships...it is basically their only economy - they are happy to take our $$, no matter what form.

 

[shaned]

Thanks Cal & Jenny for the answers. I thought I had read somewhere that alot of the ports took our money and credit cards. But wanted to make sure with someone who's traveled outside of the US more than us.


Dena

 

[shaned]

Was reading one of the other threads and found a website that you can watch the cruise ships come in and out of Port Canaveral.
www.portcanaveralwebcam.com and also www.twopalms.com ( this one is when the cruise ships leave the port and head out into open waters) pretty cool.

 

[ukintheus]

Was reading one of the other threads and found a website that you can watch the cruise ships come in and out of Port Canaveral.
www.portcanaveralwebcam.com and also www.twopalms.com ( this one is when the cruise ships leave the port and head out into open waters) pretty cool.

I always forget about these - thanks for reposting. The Carnival Pride is now sitting at the DCL terminal - I didn't realize that other cruise lines used it although maybe I'm just confused all ways round.

 

[shaned]

I caught the tail end of her leaveing last night. I'm so amazed at how easy they make it look maneuvering those big boats.

I see the Disney Dream is already in this morning. Even found the Galveston webcam, not as interesting to watch though.


Dena