**@@** October 6th, 2007 Magic**@@**

[Laurabearz]

And my husband and Rachel will join you with the Ray's. Hoping to add Linda into the mix when her booking window opens up.
Debbie

That is awesome about Brunch! I get hungry just thinking about it! And Great about Rachel... I am sure my Abigail (6) will love a familar face there Although I am nervous about what to do with the boy... he is 4. And will want to do it... sigh. I didnt think about it really and booked my DH and Me as well as my 2 girls. Maybe I should pop on and cancel out dh.... hmmm

in just 2 weeks we will be 90 days out! 90 days! I am going to pass out!

 

[lildeb724]

Rachel is 6 years old and starting first grade in the fall. Our boys are pretty close to - Jeremy is 3.5 but our cutoff is right after his birthday so he will be starting Kindergarten in the fall of '08. I am not sure what to do with him either during the rays b/c I will be getting a cabana massage at the same time. maybe I will just put him in the club until the excursion or massage is done

 

[Laurabearz]

Debbie... Abigail is starting 1st grade also. I thought about putting the boy in the kids club, but I didnt think that would fly very well, him being the only one staying. So I think I will cancel DH and the two of them can just play and swim nearby. I wish they had more things for kids who are FOUR!!!!!! - sigh -

(And my cabana massage is at 1... I figured we would do the stingrays, swim for a bit, then have lunch, put ALL the kids in the club, then DH and I hightale it to serenity bay and while I have my massage, he will float in the ocean.)

 

[lenzs4]

Looks like we have a few in first grade. My DD, Emily, is also starting first grade this year!! She does not want to see the stingrays but is interested in the dolphins. DS says no to both.

 

[Rellyrooly]

That makes four of us with kids that are going into 1st grade. Emily (Lenz's daughter) and Cameron (my DD) already know each other so they will have some new friends to meet! Also, our friends that are traveling with us also have a DD that age. I guess that actually makes five! My DS, however, will be almost eleven...anyone, anyone?

 

[gouodux]

Our daughter Jenna just finished the 1st grade, so she now considers herself a 2nd grader.

However, our friends that are joining us from Arizona have a daughter that will be starting 1st grade in the Fall (Presley). In fact she will be joining Jenna in her multi-age class.

Also, our friends that are joining us from Eugene, Oregon (Duck Country!) will have a son - Alex - who will be starting 1st grade in the Fall too.

 

[HayesFamily]

Our DD, Hannah, is also going into the first grade. Emily (Lenz's daughter) and her are good friends. We are hoping that will encourage her to go to the Kids Club. Our DS, Zachary, is going into the third grade , he loves hanging out with Trenton (Lenz's son) and is good friends with goldmanrawnsley's daughter --- so here's keeping our fingers crossed for some grown up time

 

[Selket]

Laura - you posted that your pirate cruise was:
Grand Cayman Pirate Encounter 815-1045

Is that like the time? 8:15 AM?

I was thinking of booking this with our kids (9 and 5) but holy cow! I'd be hoping for a coffee cruise that time of morning!

Are there other times offered?

The whole excursion thing is perplexing me again. Probably because we leave for a WDW trip in about 2 weeks and I'm busy with that - but when we get back we have about a week before we can book the excursions!

If you book excursions but change your mind - can you cancel beforehand? Anyone know the cancellation policy?

Also...is anyone going to do Tulum? I'd like to do it with my 9 yr old son (who will be a few weeks shy of 10 yrs old). I've read good and bad about it. I don't mind hot and sweaty....I just don't want dangerous! Is the ferry ride safe? They don't load you into an old ferry and lock the doors right?

I hope the button thing gets worked out!

 

[Laurabearz]

Yes there is another Pirate cruise after that... 1045ish -1245ish and I wavered back and forth then opted for the gawd awful early one for a couple of reasons...

1) early cruise wont be as hot on the boat. That was some people's main complaint.... heat. DH not a fan of heat... lol
2) early cruise gives us some time after to shop, and eat with the kids, before DH and I to prepare for our naughty mud bath (aka exotic Rasul)
3) another excuse to eat an early breakfast on our veranda!

And yes, you can book, unbook, rebook etc until right before the cruise. I thnk most have a 48 hour cancelation deal, but not 100% sure on that. sorry

 

[Selket]

Thanks for the info Laura! I hadn't considered the times these things are offered (if they are not all day type excursions). I'm glad there is a later time!

I hadn't completely decided on the Pirate thing but it looks great and I've seen good reviews. I'm glad I can cancel (up to a point - which is fine) - not having cruised before it is hard to judge how early or late we'll want to get up, etc.

 

[Laurabearz]

To get an idea of the timing of the excrusions, I went and looked at previous navagators Listed Here Now the 02/24/07 Western is NOT normal and lists Pirate night as a different night than normal.

Here is a screen shot of the actual navagator page.. just for reference (see below)

The first Collum (gosh I can't spell sorry) Anyway that first row going DOWN is the first page of each day. If you click on that, somewhere it should list the meeting times for various shore excruisons. That will give you an idea of how many times something is offered. BUT that doesnt mean that they will be availble at your booking window (there is a chance to change on board too)

It will suck big time to wake up early, but once we get going it shouldn't be bad. And I think, for us, better to wake up early, than to be trapped on a hot boat at the peak of the day. lol

It's all give and take... ying and yang... guess work!

Saving everything you think you might want to do, on your wish list helps a lot when it comes time for booking. Then it's a matter of what's available when your window opens up. Book first, hit submit, then go back and cancle if you need to. lol

HTH

 

[rdy2bpampered]

Well, No one is posting.....

So I will. We have been shopping. The stores have the summer stuff on markdown (ALREADY!) so if I want to get anything I better be grabbing it quick because you know that once it's on clearance...it's gone!

Went shopping with DM and DS (and DS girlfriend)-- spent $$! I did manage to get some stuff for DD and I .. but nothing much for DS. Not sure if it was because his GF was along or what but... SHEESH! I'd rather buy for 3 girls than try to get one boy to find something he likes!
He couldn't find anything that was 'just right'. Kid's gonna be nekked before too long!! So if you see a nekked teen runnin' around the ship-- don't panic!.. He belongs to us!
DM had a suggestion that I just buy what I think he needs and make him wear it... OK.. reality check. If you have a 15 year old STUBBORN teenager, please stand up ?? Have any of you ever 'MADE' them do something they didn't want to do? They will do everything in their power to make themselves miserable just to prove that you are a bad parent making them do something they didn't WANT to do!. <sigh> Gotta luv 'em.. but don't gotta like it!
Well, I will continue to look for his special clothes.....

 

[Laurabearz]

I am trying not to have too many posts in a row... so laying low

Speaking of Cruise shopping.... I started this thread you all might find amusing Momentary lose of Sanity

Also I noticed today that Palo for 1-2 people dinner at 8-10 the first sea day is booked solid already.


Tonight at midnight we are offically in DOUBLE DIGITS for the cruise.... in case anyone is counting

 

[Rellyrooly]

can you believe that I am a cat. 3 concierge and I haven't booked anything yet? I remembered the first time I waited for the MOMENT I could book with such anticipation it practically killed me. Now I'm so "whatever" about it...it's kind of strange. I guess it's the fact that I know that when we board we can arrange any plans through concierge; whether they show booked or not. The concierge thing is definitely keeping me sane and as my DH says, "It's well worth the money to keep my wife sane and happy." I have to agree with him....

Oh, and can you believe that if you are on a beta blocker for high blood pressure, the excursion people don't want you snorkeling? It says so on all the snorkel excursions. Now I have to talk to my DR about putting me on some other BP med instead because there is NO WAY I am not snorkeling!!!!

 

[CM_Mom]

When my DS was about 13 we had a burglary at our house while we were at the office late one day. Apparently at least one of them has a teen boy because they took all of his clothes! Fortunately he and his sister were out of town visiting relatives so he did have a few things to wear. Didn't take any of her stuff, just his. THEN I had to shop with a boy who only liked solid colors at the height of the surfer craze when everything was bright and printed. I thought I would NEVER find anything that he would approve of. And NO, you don't MAKE a teenager do anything that isn't CRITICAL. The best thing I ever did raising my two was to pick my battles VERY carefully.

 

[rdy2bpamperedmom]

yes, the shopping trip was a blow out with DGS. he didn't like stripes, he didn't like any of the solids. what's left? i'm not going with him again, DD can shop for him, and with him by herself! did make a scoop for DGD and some for DD and myself. so all was not lost. man, i'm glad my kids are all grown up!! remember my own struggle with DS, (26 now) still doesn't want stripes and printed shirts. ha so what is it with them? who knows. i like a variety. dots, stripes, flowers,(not too busy), whatever. hope the wedding dress is working out well. can u post a picture on here when u get it done? i'm still not sure how / or if u can do some stuff on here. still the days are going by, and we r getting closer everyday to shove off time.

 

[Laurabearz]

DOUBLE DIGITS PEOPLE!!!!

 

[lenzs4]

DOUBLE DIGITS PEOPLE!!!!

WOO HOO!! Excitement is building

 

[stenogoddess]

Laura, I don't know what I would do without you. Just when I'm all worn out and down, you reminded me that I have something great to look forward to. Thanks for keeping track of everything for me!

 

[rdy2bpampered]

I can't believe it either.... less than 100 days to go... 3 months! WOW!! The last 4 months have gone so quick...just how quick will the next three...

oooh... I have so much to do. I need to make lists... where is my paper.. Got to write down exactly what we are packing..(makes packing so much easier to know exactly what to put in) let's see...Friday 5th we need casual -1 outfit, sleepwear, swimwear, Saturday 6th-SHIP TIME! we need...

Gives me butterflies to realize how close we are getting. For those of you that have cruised before..does the excitement ever diminish?? Only problem is that I know once we are on the ship it is going to go way too fast and soon we will be leaving to go home.. <sigh> I want to soak up every minute of this cruise and relive it everyday I sit at work.. .

Laura, I don't know what I would do without you. Just when I'm all worn out and down, you reminded me that I have something great to look forward to. Thanks for keeping track of everything for me!

--- I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY!!.. Laura you have done us all a great service with all the info you give!! THANK YOU!!