October 15, 2005 anyone?

[jenmack]

Hi everyone,

My DH and myself are seriously thinking of going on this cruise.
We cruised on Disney Magic October 23, 2004 w/ our 3 kids DS 10, DD 8, and DS 4. We had a wonderful time, but exhausting at the same time. We went to WDW before the cruise. Anyway, my DH and I want to do a cruise this time sans the kids. We are looking at RCL Mariner that sails Oct 16th or DCL that sails Oct 15th. I noticed that BabyJosie just sailed RCL. I heard it's pretty nice, but we just had so much fun on DCL and I want to enjoy some of the adult stuff. I only made it to 2 shows, never got to see the adult clubs and wouldn't it be nice to lay by the adult pool w/ a good book and no worries? We just had such an awesome experience on DCL that I(we) feel any other cruise line would fall short. I'm just a little concerned that we would feel out of place as 2 adult's and no kids. Well, we have til this Tuesday the 25th to decide. I got a good rate w/ Dreams Unlimited for the last SPH room & $50 stateroom credit. Wish us luck in our decision. Hope to see you this October.

 

[oybolshoi]

I'm just a little concerned that we would feel out of place as 2 adult's and no kids.

Please don't worry! My Dh and I don't have children and we were also on the 10/23/04 Magic - we never felt out of place and we never ran out of things to do. We had a lovely, relaxing time and cannot wait to go back and experience the Eastern itinerary this year.

Brenda

 

[jenmack]

Thanks for the encouragement oybolshoi.
I'm sure we will have an amazing time if we decide DCL is the way to go.
Did you notice anyone giving you funny looks because it was just you and your DH? Did you join in the dancing on the deck parties? I love to dance & I danced w/ my DS 10 on the goofy pool on pirates of the caribbean night. It was a lot of fun. I wonder if I would be out of place w/out the excuse of one of my kids to dance with. Oh well, I'm just probably making more of it than I should. I am so looking foreward to spending some nice, relaxing, quality time with my DH.
I'll let you know tomorrow on what the verdict is and thanks again.

 

[oybolshoi]

Hi, Jen!

We didn't notice anything out of the ordinary - people didn't seem to think it was odd at all that we were taking a Disney Cruise without kids. We had the late dinner seating (by request) and were at a table with one other couple, also sans children. We certainly didn't feel out of place and we were never made to feel out of place, either.

DH and I are not much for dancing and we missed a lot of the Pirate deck party because of the lateness of dinner, but if I had been inclined to dance I would have. We actually spent some time later that evening down by the adult pool where there was a band playing and we danced under the stars - very romantic and relaxing. We also spent a lot of our time on the cruise in the spa and at the Cove Cafe and adult pool. We also took advantage of a lot of the adult programming on the ship (when we felt like it!).

If you enjoy Disney then I think you and your DH would enjoy the cruise just as much on your own as you did with your kids.

Just my thoughts on it!

Brenda

 

[jenmack]

Well, everyone, my DH & I decided to go ahead with DCL. We put doen the deposit this morning & now I'm getting really excited. It's now time for my Disney obsesive behaviour to take over. I have plane ticket's to get, book a room @ a hotel in Port Canaveral, rent a car, etc...
I can't wait!!! Anyway, I just thought I'd share my excitement.

~Jen

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

You guys will have a ball!! I have only dreams of being able to spend the whole day at Serenity Bay!!!! Maybe someday,but for now I will have to settle for an hour or so...

Glad you booked!! I did have fun on my RCL cruise,but it just wasn't Disney! The only thing I can say is that without my DD along I did stay up late and enjoy the late night adult activities and that was fun!

I missed her though and am glad to have her going in October.

We are looking forward to the Pirate Party.....

I am watching Southwest to open up the Schedule from St.Louis....

 

[jenmack]

Thanks BabyJosie98 for the welcome.

Serenity Bay? What's that? Just kidding, it's just that I didn't get to see much of anything last time. We still really enjoyed ourselves it's just that our little guy who's 4yrs, but then 3, but almost 4yrs was kind of naughty. We think it was all the excitement, late night's, being tired & overstimulated that he just was a little on the difficult side. He didn't want to go to kid's club, he acted up & just wasn't his ususal self. Maybe this October we will book a cruise on board for October 2006 & then our DS will be a little older & able to handle it better. Well, we are keeping our eye's open at Northwest Airlines or Airtran. Has anyone stayed @ Port Canaveral the night before? Were do you stay? The Radisson? I am trying to find the most reasonable place, and also a way to get from the hotel to the port. We rented budget car last time & we might do it again although the town car with Florida Tours sounds so nice and convenient.

~Jen

 

[jenmack]

Jennefer(myself) 34y
Mark(DH) 49y
Minneapolis, mn "Brrrrrrrrrrrr"
SPH room 5020

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

We are in SPR 5520 cause 5020 was booked back when I booked this cruise.
I stayed in 5020 in October of 03 and loved it. So who ever had it must have cancelled!! Good job grabbing that one!!

We did manage to get to Serenity bay last trip for around 2 hours and it was heaven. My DD was 5 then and we had friends and family with us. So after swiming all morning and lunch we got them all excited about the "Whale Bone dig" at 1:00 and then we all took off for the adult beach. Worked out great! Hope it works this time too!

So enjoy Serenity Bay this trip!! Lucky!

DD was not too happy that I left her home for my RCL cruise...She is really excited about cruising on the MAGIC this October! Matter a fact she had her Pirate eye patch out this weekend wondering if we should set aside for this trip. She takes after me!! We start planning early!! I think that is half the fun.

We have stayed at the Radisson twice and loved it. Both times got a $79 rate. Hope to get that again. I really want to fly in on Friday evening.

Michelle

 

[jenmack]

yes, I e-mailed Dreams Unlimited this last Thursday & they said they had one SPH room left & that was 5020. I noticed on the earlier threads that 5020 was booked, co I did call this morning the # @ dreams Unlimited after I made my deposit & she called Disney & it is for sure available, the last SPH room. I'm so glad, it sounds nice & the rate was pretty reasonable.

It would be nice to stay @ the Radisson for the rate of $79. Let me know if you see that rate before me & visa versa.

I just booked w/ budget rental & used the discount code I got off of mousesavers.com. It was very reasonable & when we went last year w/ the 3 kids & used budget everything went really smooth.

I'm like you I plan way way ahead.
Oh, & I forgot to put on my prev. info... We are @ 2nd seating for dinner. We were @ 1st seating last time so I thought we would try something new,

~Jen

 

[oybolshoi]

Glad to see that you and your DH will take the cruise on your own - I'm sure you'll have loads of fun!

I think we are flying down on Thursday (the 13th) - we have been wanting to spend a couple of nights on the beach somewhere near the port. I can't decide where to stay, but have heard a lot of good things about the Radisson.

Anyone have suggestions?

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I don't like to eat late....We probably wont' make it too dinner every night. That will be ok too. We missed dinner one night on our 4 day just because we did not feel like getting up from the pool and going in to get ready. They had 2 for 1 Margarita's that day!!

The Radisson is not close to the beach,but it is very nice and has a great pool area. It is very close to the Port and we ate dinner at Grills which was also very close.

I need to start checking rates I guess. I am not sure what we will do for transportation yet?

You know it will be here before we know it!!!

I am just ready for Spring to arrive....If we can just get through Feb!!

 

[G00fyDad]

I'll be in WDW the same time as you're on the boat.

 

[jenmack]

Just wanted to say Hi to everyone & hope that you all are having a very nice weekend. Besides, I felt I had to do something. We were on the third page!.

~Jen

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Are most of you flying down a day or two early??? I am wanting to fly down on Friday,but DD is already going to miss 3 days of school and so I don't want to pull her out too early on that Friday. I think I will book a late afternoon flight and then we may just book a room in Orlando and drive to the Port early in the morning on Saturday.

It is only 45 minutes to the Port anyway. I have to figure out which car rental place will let us drop off at Port Canaveral. Any ideas???

I would love to stay at the Swan and Dolphin if we could get into Orlando early enough on Friday.

Thought about Radisson again,but would not really get too use the hotel's great pool getting in that late in the day. Decisions to make!!!!

Have any of you thought about excursions??? I am thinking about the 5 star beach and snorkel at St.John. I have never done an excursion on any of our cruises,but am thinking about it this time. I just want to see St.John,but don't want to have to worry about making it back to the ship on time! I think I would be much more relaxed than doing it on our own.

Ok I have rambled enough...Better get to work!!

 

[oybolshoi]

Dh and I have been talking about doing the 12-meter regatta when we're in St. Martin - we've heard really good things about it from people who've cruised with Disney as well as with other cruise lines.

We're tossing around a couple of ideas for St. Thomas / St. John - probably some kind of snorkeling excursion, but I don't want it to be too long because I'd still like to wander around the island a bit, too, and time is a bit limited on that day.

As for Castaway Cay - we went parasailing in October when we were there and we loved it! I have a feeling we're going to do it again.

Brenda

 

[jenmack]

We used budget car rental this last October. We picked it up right @ the airport & had it for a few day's @ WDW, then drove to Port Canaveral the morning of our cruise. There is a Budget Rental in Port Canaveral & they shuttle you FREE to the ship from the rental office. For our way back they have a van that will pick you up & bring you back to the Budget office where we had reservations already. Then we drove from Port Canaveral back to the airport. We are going to do the same again this year. It actually went really smooth for us, and we were a family of 5 with lots & lots of luggage. (I have an over packing problem) Check mousesavers.com out. Under Disney cruises she has ideas/tips of transportation to & from Port Canaveral. There are also coupon codes listed. Budget has a couple, like a walmart code. I have already booked our car & used the walmart code & you really do get pretty good discounts. It's definetly worth checking out.

My DH & I want to do some excursions too. Last time we went on our own, but this time we want to do some snorkling, beach time, shopping... You name it! My DH husband wants to rent a bike on CC. He loves to bike ride, but doesn't get to do it that often anymore. I saw some hiking & mountain biking excursions too. That sounds kind of fun although I'm more of a beach kind of girl. I reallly want to try snorkling too. So, we are still in the deciding phase on the excursions...Lot's of options.

HAVE A SUPER DAY, EVERYONE!!! ~Jen

 

[sara]

Hi fellow cruisers!!! Hope everyone is staying warm. Welcome newcomers...atleast new for me since it's been awhile since I've been here!

I started doing some research for the excursions. I know nothing about St. Thomas/John or St. Martin. (except I've heard about the beaches at St. Martin ) The 12 meter regetta sounds fun, but our kids are too young. We will probably take a sail/snorked trip somewhere. And of course, do some shopping! As for CC, we've never done anything there before. This time we may do the wave runner excursions. DH and I would love it and I think the kids would, too. (the kids don't know about the cruise, yet)

I thought I was the only one that planned so far ahead. I'm glad I'm not alone. We will probably fly in Friday afternoon/evening. Don't wan't to miss anymore school, either. Not sure where we will stay. We've done the Radisson the last two cruises, but I think we'll stay by the airport. Not sure about getting to the port. Bus vs towncar. Leaning towards bus because we have never been on it!!! My poor deprived children complain they don't get to ride the bus!!

Hope everyone has a great weeK!

Sara

 

[oybolshoi]

So, are we planning on getting together as a group on board the Magic? I've never been a part of a DISmeet although it sounds like they can be fun. Seems like most groups meet at the sailaway - has anyone here ever taken part in something like this? Do you think meeting at the sailaway party is a good idea or would it be better to try for something else?

Just curious - I don't know how these things usually get started.

DH and I don't have kids (if we had kids then we would have to act like adults!) but we're open to suggestions for "meets." It would be nice to meet everyone officially and put a face to the names.

Besides, I think we need to put a little life into this thread - we're only eight-and-a-half months away from the sail date!!!

 

[jenmack]

I think it would be a great idea to have a DISmeet! I think it would be fun too to put faces to the names.

There was a DISmeet last October @ the sailaway party, but to be honest it was hard to meet anyone becasue it was so crowded & loud.

Has anyone have any ideas?

~Jen