October 17, 2009 Western

[Pennyb123]

Handed over my beloved Passporter guide to my new cruising friend. She will be my "bunkie" on this cruise. She is feeling "nervous" (WHY???) but excited. She says it is because she has never cruised and she is traveling far from home. She will be leaving 16 and 18 year old daughters.... that might have something to do with it! We went to lunch and then some shopping today. We both work in corrections, so we get super stressed and need to vent and just get away. She asked questions, I answered and handed over the Passporter guide. I picked out a dress for her that she never would have selected and she looked stunning! Her first cruise dress! She loves it and thanked me for pushing (ok, shoving) her into something outside of her comfort zone. We can't wait to meet you all there! I'm still hoping someone brings me a scottish boyfriend, but I guess that would put their baggage over the weight limit, and we all know the airlines are sticking it to you at every turn! We are getting closer by the day!

 

[Nostalgia]

Hello Cruise mates!

This will be our 2nd sail with Disney. Last year we did 4 days at AKL, and 3 days sailing on the Disney Wonder. Loved the excitement of waking up in a new port each day, but missed out on the At Sea days.

Decided to remedy that with the Western Caribbean Cruise--- new ports + 2 at sea days. Can't wait!!

So, on Oct 17, DD(10) and I will be joining you all on the Magic!!!!

 

[jeanneg]

I dont remember drinking anything alcoholic...!

Hmmm, I'm sure there is alot you don't remember......
(This is from the woman whose vacation photo albums consist primarily of snapshots of all the many exotic martinis she enjoyed! Need I say more? ) We love you, Wendy!

 

[kerickson]

For those of you with kids, what dining time do you have? We currently have early, but I'm thinking of switching to late for the following reasons:

1. We are from the west coast and will be 3 hrs behind for at least the first few days of the trip. A 5:45 seating will feel like 2:45...
2. I'd like my little guy to take an afternoon nap occasionally, Don't want to have to wake him up and rush to get to dinner by 5:45...
3. I know my kids will want to swim in the afternoon. Again, an early dinner will cut the day short.
4. Later dinner will allow my husband and I to enjoy dinner alone more often (either with the kids in the kids club the entire time or taking advantage of the Dine and Play)
5. With all the food options available, my kids will probably end up eating at different times anyway and won't be very hungry for a sit down dinner

What are your experiences? I know most people with kids want early seating, but I think I've talked myself into switching

 

[lucky1]

Hello Cruise mates!

This will be our 2nd sail with Disney. Last year we did 4 days at AKL, and 3 days sailing on the Disney Wonder. Loved the excitement of waking up in a new port each day, but missed out on the At Sea days.

Decided to remedy that with the Western Caribbean Cruise--- new ports + 2 at sea days. Can't wait!!

So, on Oct 17, DD(10) and I will be joining you all on the Magic!!!!

Nostalgia

I know it is 4 months away and we still have the Summer to get through, but I am more than excited to be on the cruise. We were suppose to be on the Western on May 16th, but had to cancel last minute do to an illness, so we are more the ready to be on a cruise. As a matter of fact, last night I put all the toiletries, cruise magnets (generic) , etc back into one location in the den, so I didn't keep tripping over them. The unpacking from the cancelled cruise was the worst. But now we are exited to meet you all.


Laura

 

[wendym]

Welcome Nostalgia!

Hmmm, I'm sure there is alot you don't remember......
(This is from the woman whose vacation photo albums consist primarily of snapshots of all the many exotic martinis she enjoyed! Need I say more? ) We love you, Wendy!

And yes I totally deserve that comment - my excuse is I rarely drink martini's at home so I indulge on the cruise - and that is the excuse I will stick to!
Wendy

 

[lucky1]

For those of you with kids, what dining time do you have? What are your experiences? I know most people with kids want early seating, but I think I've talked myself into switching

We have 2nd Dining but are wait listed for Main. I am with you that I keep 2nd guessing myself on what would be the right dining with our DD7.
My reasoning for early

• We generally eat early and DD7 would not be able to sit through the show if she was hungry
• She would not want to miss any of the Kids Club activities
• Hate having a full meal and then going to bed shortly after. Heard many people did not leave dinner until 9:30 or 10am
• Pirates night starts at 9:30 and then you will be rushing to get there from Dinner .

My reasoning for thinking of staying on late

• More time at ports (don't feel the need to rush back) and possibly missing a sunset at key west.
• Dine and Play option, though DD7 would not necessarly eat off the kids menu most night
• Maybe I am fooling myself that we would be tired in the evening and need sleep

- when the way to identify other Disboarders was lime green ribbon
Wendy

On our cancelled cruise meet board, they organized lime green bracelets (the rubber ones like people wore for Live Strong) with their dis meet saying, I believe the cost was about $1/person. It was a good way to recongize DIS cruise mates. Other groups I heard they coordinated Lanyards, but I think that can be expensive.

Hmmm, I'm sure there is alot you don't remember......
(This is from the woman whose vacation photo albums consist primarily of snapshots of all the many exotic martinis she enjoyed! Need I say more? ) We love you, Wendy!

Sounds like you all will be a fun group to cruise with. Can't wait to meet you all.


Also for those who are on the yahoogroup. I was able to post an htm verison of the spreadsheet. Please let me know if that works for you if you can not view the spreadsheet. I will keep both updated in the yahoogroup if that works for everyone.

Laura

 

[bourgie]

Although I have never been on a cruise, the first dining seemed to make sense for us since that is the time we usually eat anyway, althogh I am sure we will be eating ALOT during this vacation!!
I am so excited!!!!!!!

 

[MommyTo5]

Welcome Nostalgia!

And yes I totally deserve that comment - my excuse is I rarely drink martini's at home so I indulge on the cruise - and that is the excuse I will stick to!
Wendy

That excuse works, Wendy!

I'm sure my former cruise mates wouldn't believe that I don't drink at home - at all - because I certainly enjoy myself while cruising!

 

[MommyTo5]

On our cancelled cruise meet board, they organized lime green bracelets (the rubber ones like people wore for Live Strong) with their dis meet saying, I believe the cost was about $1/person. It was a good way to recongize DIS cruise mates. Other groups I heard they coordinated Lanyards, but I think that can be expensive.

We did this on our 11/08 Western. Everyone did not order the bracelets though... just the core group of us that seemed to be interested in getting together once on board. Because we sent pics beforehand, we all recognized each other immediately in the terminal or during our 'meet' at the sailaway party (Deck 10 Starboard overlooking the action - excellent location, by the way!) We felt the bracelets really weren't necessary in the end.

 

[yazee1]

Handed over my beloved Passporter guide to my new cruising friend. She will be my "bunkie" on this cruise. She is feeling "nervous" (WHY???) but excited. She says it is because she has never cruised and she is traveling far from home. She will be leaving 16 and 18 year old daughters...
There you go! Is it memories of her youth that scare her? If not, I can share a few of mine.


We went to lunch and then some shopping today. We both work in corrections, so we get super stressed and need to vent and just get away. She asked questions, I answered and handed over the Passporter guide.

Good thinking. Just like college. Read the book and then ask the professor questions.

I'm still hoping someone brings me a scottish boyfriend, but I guess that would put their baggage over the weight limit

Don't give up on the idea. Someone might want to get rid of their "baggage" to make room for something new they found while on the cruise. Why Scottish anyway? Just curious as anything about that.

We leave four months from today.

 

[yazee1]

Hello Cruise mates!

This will be our 2nd sail with Disney. Last year we did 4 days at AKL, and 3 days sailing on the Disney Wonder. Loved the excitement of waking up in a new port each day, but missed out on the At Sea days.

Decided to remedy that with the Western Caribbean Cruise--- new ports + 2 at sea days. Can't wait!!

So, on Oct 17, DD(10) and I will be joining you all on the Magic!!!!

Welcome to the group!

 

[Pennyb123]

I had asked Wendy in thread if she would bring me a Scottish boyfriend on the cruise since she there. We had a pretty good laugh over it. It's everything... The accent, the family tartan and pride, the kilts made from tartan... I could go on and on... Maybe she can research some websites of Scottish guys looking for American girls... I'm willing to travel!! LOL!

 

[yazee1]

For those of you with kids, what dining time do you have? We currently have early, but I'm thinking of switching to late for the following reasons:

1. We are from the west coast and will be 3 hrs behind for at least the first few days of the trip. A 5:45 seating will feel like 2:45...
2. I'd like my little guy to take an afternoon nap occasionally, Don't want to have to wake him up and rush to get to dinner by 5:45...
3. I know my kids will want to swim in the afternoon. Again, an early dinner will cut the day short.
4. Later dinner will allow my husband and I to enjoy dinner alone more often (either with the kids in the kids club the entire time or taking advantage of the Dine and Play)
5. With all the food options available, my kids will probably end up eating at different times anyway and won't be very hungry for a sit down dinner

What are your experiences? I know most people with kids want early seating, but I think I've talked myself into switching

It sounds like you have good reasons for switching based on what you think your family's needs and preferences will be.

For us, the main reason we prefer the earlier dinner is for the reason someone else mentioned about going to bed on a very full stomach. If we were from the West Coast, we would probably opt for the later dinner time, too.

 

[yazee1]

I had asked Wendy in thread if she would bring me a Scottish boyfriend on the cruise since she there. We had a pretty good laugh over it. It's everything... The accent, the family tartan and pride, the kilts made from tartan... I could go on and on... Maybe she can research some websites of Scottish guys looking for American girls... I'm willing to travel!! LOL!

I suspected something like that. I know a lot of women find the accent sexy. Did you watch Monarch of the Glen when it was on? We don't have cable but I rented all the dvd's from Netflix. I, personally, am not charmed by any particular nationality, but I did like Gullie the best.

 

[yazee1]

That excuse works, Wendy!

I'm sure my former cruise mates wouldn't believe that I don't drink at home - at all - because I certainly enjoy myself while cruising!

Same here Angie. I ordered a drink at dinner almost every night and that much drinking was more than I did the whole year and more before the cruise.

 

[jeanneg]

I had asked Wendy in thread if she would bring me a Scottish boyfriend on the cruise since she there. We had a pretty good laugh over it. It's everything... The accent, the family tartan and pride, the kilts made from tartan... I could go on and on... Maybe she can research some websites of Scottish guys looking for American girls... I'm willing to travel!! LOL!

Ha,ha...you must have read the "Outlander" series! (Personally, I'm thinking you probably just have a thing for guys with no underwear!)

Welcome, Nostalgia!

Well, I got my Yahoo account reactivated......now i'm going to try to get onto the cruise website.

 

[beansf]

Hello, everyone! I have been reading your posts and thought I should pop up and say "hey!". I joined the Yahoo group. I am getting very excited about the trip.

I must really get busy now and start taking off the few pounds I would like to be rid of before we sail. I know I need to be at the lower end of what I find acceptable, since I will likely pack on a few while on board and I am on the high end right now. Anyone else? I would like to lose around a pound a week until we leave. The situation will be getting a bit complicated in a couple of weeks, because I will be having oral surgery and I will be on soft foods for awhile.

I am also obsessing about my stateroom. I keep looking online to see what is available. I have already switched two times. Is that crazy? Does my TA hate me already? I must stop looking!

 

[Pennyb123]

I actually have never heard of the series "Monarch of the Glen" nor have I ever heard of the "outlander" book series, which is odd because I am a voracious reader! I'm not sure if I can even articulate this... It's ancient, historical, but modern. it's nature, and urban, it's a Celtic spirit. Like it's a land you knew in another time, but you feel it in your blood, today. Like a place you are meant to be. It's just..... strange! I know, you don't have to tell me... Anyway.... Sorry to hijack the thread there...

I can't believe it's just basically 4 months! You know, it's the middle of June, and I have not been in my own swimming pool yet! This is a travisty! I got transferred to 2nd shift, so I only get 2 days a week to get in... and of course it rains on those days! I used to get home at 2:30 in the after noon and was in the pool by 3pm evey day. How am I supposed to get my tan like this?? I am gonna burn on this cruise!!

 

[Pennyb123]

Hey Beans!!

Stopp worrying about the room!! I'm only there to shower and sleep! If I want a view, I go up on deck... Sure, the bigger room with a verandah is nice, but that's more money I can SPEND!!! I am sure your TA doesn't hate you! They want your business too much during a recession!