October 13th, 2007~"Cruise-A-Palooza"

[bellbtm]

I am right there with you Kevin - here's to the Diamondbacks making it all the way. I will definitely plan on spending some time in the sport bar to hopefully cheer on the Diamondbacks. GO DIAMONDBACKS!!!

I have my docs, my girls are getting more and more excited, and I have officially taken the suitcases down and started to throw some items in them. I'm not leaving until the Oct. 12 ,but, with having to pack for 2 little ones, it takes some extra organizing/extra time. I'm sure most of you can relate

Here's to safe travels to all of you lucky ones that are leaving before us. We will see you on board!!!

Jodi and the rest of the gang!!!

 

[dobelover]

Hi All - My sister got her docs in the US mail yesterday . Perhaps ours will be delivered today (I live on a rural route and sometimes the pony espress ain't express).

 

[CodyJ]

We sail in 11 days. Hope dobelover gets her docs today since I am traveling with her.

Liz

 

[tidoublegger]

Does anyone have this camera?? Will we have enough time to order online, receive it in time to learn the basics? What other accessories would I need? HELP!

 

[bevtoy]

Does anyone have this camera?? Will we have enough time to order online, receive it in time to learn the basics? What other accessories would I need? HELP!

I don't have that camera I choose a Sony DSCH2. I do have a membership to Consumers Guide On Line and can see what they recommend.

(ediied to add)OK I just checked and they get a 4 and a half out of 5 stars by consumers with ease of use being very good.
Cons: Menus and buttons are not the most obvious. I sometimes have to resort to reading the manual to figure out how to do something. The manual is split into two booklets.

 

[kpflillirpf]

I'M DOING THE DOCUMENT DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mommasita]

WOW...Booked last week, and Documents arrived today

Glad DH was home to tell me

I just need to figure out where I am going to stay, and when I fly in...Oh, and pack, and shop, and everything else..

 

[d'Isigny]

Does anyone have this camera?? Will we have enough time to order online, receive it in time to learn the basics? What other accessories would I need? HELP!

I purchased a ‘Canon S3 IS’ earlier this year….and LOVE it!!! I (and the photography forum on these boards) recommend this camera. It is a little intimidating in the beginning but easy to set up and use. The ‘IS’ or Image Stabilization is the main reason we purchased this – don’t know how it works but we get many more quality images than we’ve gotten before. Also, the zoom capability is amazing. We wanted to upgrade our older digital because of a long shutter lag and some images were blurry. The S3 has greatly exceeded my expectations of compact digital photography. In fact, we liked it so much we purchased the smaller model for Nancy – A570 IS (I believe). We’ve not taken this out of the box….yet. Will prob ‘get to know this one’ on the plane ride – LOL!!

 

[tidoublegger]

I purchased a ‘Canon S3 IS’ earlier this year….and LOVE it!!! I (and the photography forum on these boards) recommend this camera. It is a little intimidating in the beginning but easy to set up and use. The ‘IS’ or Image Stabilization is the main reason we purchased this – don’t know how it works but we get many more quality images than we’ve gotten before. Also, the zoom capability is amazing. We wanted to upgrade our older digital because of a long shutter lag and some images were blurry. The S3 has greatly exceeded my expectations of compact digital photography. In fact, we liked it so much we purchased the smaller model for Nancy – A570 IS (I believe). We’ve not taken this out of the box….yet. Will prob ‘get to know this one’ on the plane ride – LOL!!

Good to know! I could just go and get a truly basic model digital camera, but I want one we'll be happy with for years. We want the zoom capability for soccer games, etc. What size memory card do you recommend?

 

[TnRobin]

Got most of my packing done this weekend. Only have DS clothes to pack, but he will need them for school until then, so we will have to wash and pack his stuff probably Wednesday before we cruise.

Making a list of last minute things to pick up. It is getting so close now. Only 7 more work days after today.

 

[lawhit88]

Does anyone have this camera?? Will we have enough time to order online, receive it in time to learn the basics? What other accessories would I need? HELP!

I also highly recommend the S3 IS. I have the S2 IS and have recommended it and then the S3 to friends and family. All with the S3 love it. I have enjoyed the S2 for the zoom and IS. I take tons of sports pictures - mostly baseball and football. I have also used it on previous cruises and other vacations. Very good at capturing far away images and freezes action great. Perfect all-around camera!!!

 

[d'Isigny]

Good to know! I could just go and get a truly basic model digital camera, but I want one we'll be happy with for years. We want the zoom capability for soccer games, etc. What size memory card do you recommend?

you will really like the way this camera shoots action. The only issue you will have (with most/all non digital slr's) is shutter lag. the S3 is much quicker than some digital point-n-shoots I've used. It's still a little frustrating to me - but am gettin used to it. I do plan on getting a digital SLR...but this has been an excellent camera - for now.
I have a 1 gig SD SanDisk card. I recommend getting 1 gig or higher and a well known brand name - I've read good things about SanDisk brand memory cards and have no problems with the 3 we have. Since we travel with a laptop and can off load the cards nightly...there is no reason for us to get a 2 or 4 gig card. One of these days...I'll buy a larger card...and travel lighter.
There is an accessory I'd recommend you purchase. Forgive me if I (For now) forget the brand/correct name. It's a 3" tube that screws around and beyond the lens when fully extended. It was explained to me...one of the biggest repairs on digital cameras is the focus motor. sometimes...it's more cost effective to replace the camera than repair it. This 'tube' allows the focus motor/ring to move without restriction - thus greatly limiting the strain on the focus motor. I can check my home computer later this evening for the web site that can explain it much better. the cost is ~$50. I also have a skylight filter on the end of this extended tube.

hope this helps......k

 

[wdwstar]

thanks for the mickey bouncing pumpkin head, but im on my laptop and i am having trouble coping the link, ill have to wait until im on my desktop computer.

now, im getting nerves, i keep reading all these posts about packing and shopping already and i have not done one thing except open the envelope of our docs. I guess i should start thinking about at least pulling out the luggage

 

[dobelover]

hi all - Sorry I can't join in the camera discussion, not even sure what kind I have. Am I the last person waiting for the cruise docs .(sniff, sniff)

 

[TnRobin]

hi all - Sorry I can't join in the camera discussion, not even sure what kind I have. Am I the last person waiting for the cruise docs .(sniff, sniff)

Hang on, they will be here soon.

 

[margaritaqueen]

So today Disney called to say that our Dolphin Encounter has been canceled because the company is moving to a different part of the island when we will be there.

Now we are scrambling to find something else to do in St. Maartin. My gut is to play it by ear and find our own transportation to Orient Bay. Anyone else doing this?? Any clue on the cost to get there?? I know a couple of DCL excursions go there, but they seem so expensive just to get a chair and a drink, plus transportation....

Bummer!!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

got it thanks 15 tag players!

Got our docs...all is right in the world.

Safe travels to all!

 

[d'Isigny]

Now we are scrambling to find something else to do in St. Maartin. My gut is to play it by ear and find our own transportation to Orient Bay. Anyone else doing this?? Any clue on the cost to get there?? I know a couple of DCL excursions go there, but they seem so expensive just to get a chair and a drink, plus transportation.... Bummer!!

You can find transportation to Orient Beach for ~$10 per person - each way. This beach is....FANTASTIC. Nan calls this 'the beach with the fluffy sand'. BE ADVISED - some parts of this beach are clothing optional. If you are worried about this, ask your driver to drop you off at 'the family beach'. There are no guarantees you won't run into someone 'showing part or all' but it is reported less people are exposed in this area...keep this in mind if you are concerned. In 03...we were able to fill a 10-12 passanger van for ~$250 but we got the van/driver for the entire day. We split this with another family which made this a very inexpansive excursion. I plan on trying the same thing. Our car went to some outlooks for photos, Butterfly farm, Orient Beach then back to the ship for lunch. After 'lunch on DCL', we went to Little Bay beach for ~1 hour then our driver took us shopping before returning to the ship. What was great about the shopping part - the driver would park ahead of us...and take our packages before moving further down.

My bride won't let me 'continue quality of life' without some time at Orient Beach. If I know what's good for me...I'll satisfy this request. Shhhhhhh - don't tell her....this is one of my favorites as well.

OK...I'll spill something I've never shared on The DIS before. When we were dropped off at Orient Beach....we went to the end of the family beach near other cruisers. The only topless person...was...you guessed it...from the Disney Magic...not only that....she was from our Cruise Thread.

 

[LisaBi]

hi all - Sorry I can't join in the camera discussion, not even sure what kind I have. Am I the last person waiting for the cruise docs .(sniff, sniff)

We don't have ours yet either. But I did just find out tonight when I looked on DCL's site that we got upgraded from a 9 to a 6!

 

[wdwstar]

the Orient Beach is that the one you get transportation, lunch,beach chair for one set price? if so we are doing that excursion. when we went to grand caymans we didnt do excursions and i made my family take a small bus to the beach and when we were ready to go back we ended up on a old broken down bus that i thought we were going to die from the fumes. plus they made us wait until the bus was full. never again, i hoping that we will be on safe buses/shuttles. Has anyone gone on the Orient beach excursion, are they safe buses/shuttles?