Podcast Cruise 3.0 - 06/24/2012

[jcb]

We are leaving next Tuesday, and we have so much leading up to that. We have not even started packing. Tonight we are going to see Cirque Du Soleil, then on Sat. my youngest has her big huge dance recital, the same day my wife has her final presentation to give in her school finance classes at Edgewood, on Sunday I have to get my oldest up to UW Madison for a two day golf clinic (then pick her up later on Monday). I am just overwhelmed.

For our WDW pre-cruise portion I have our annual passes, Disney Visa rewards card, reservations made, car rental, and an excel spread sheet plan on what we are going to do each day.

FWIW, even I don't do an excel spreadsheet for a Disney Cruise. Relax, hang out in the Cove Cafe, and enjoy yourself.

 

[wdwscout]

Should DCL be a simple trip? Am I stressing for no reason over having no well thought out plan other than showing up for the cruise? I don't have an excel spread sheet made out, will I be lost?

I think it IS a simpler trip than WDW. And DCL provides the excel spreadsheet for you in the form of the daily Navigator. Bring colored highlighters so you and everyone in your room can highlight what/where they want to go each day.
Remember that the PCC events will not be on the Navigator. And, as Jeff says below, remember you do NOT have to do everything.
But DO relax and enjoy!!

Perfectly understandable. But yes, there really isn't a reason to stress. Let me make a few, possibly contradictory, comments about a DCL cruise especially as combined with a few days before/after at WDW.

• Remember your first trip to WDW? How stressed, confused, unprepared you probably felt for that? Its the same thing for your first cruise, DCL or otherwise.
• Don't think you have to do/see everything on the daily Navigators or the DIS events either. This is supposed to be a vacation so take it at your own pace. Most likely this won't be your last cruise.
• Packing for a cruise is more complex than for just a WDW trip. You'l want to be dressed nicer at night on board than you might typically do at WDW. That means a lot more clothes and accessories.
• You'll be taking so many more pictures on the cruise (mostly because its all new to your) that you need to be sure you have enough storage. Pack an extra memory card if you don't bring along a computer to download to.
• Sunscreen is very important on the cruise and you don't want to pay the prices they charge on board.
• Pack some muscle relaxers. You'll probably need them to get the smile off your face when its all over.

All excellent suggestions.
Remember that there is a laundry on board- so if you want to pack less and do laundry once or twice- that may save some luggage space.
In addition to the memory space for all your pictures, make sure to bring your camera battery charger or replacement batteries (whatever you camera requires).

That smile will be spontaneous and ever present - that's certain!!

 

[jpeka65844]

MIL called tonight and said she'd read an article in a travel magazine about how confusing it can be to find your stateroom on a cruise ship.

She suggested that we put a sign on our door to mark it. DH just laughed and said "I think we've got that covered".

Which makes me wonder: do other cruise lines do door decorating and FE-like activities????

 

[NejTheLion]

Time - 2:00 on the Sea Day (Wednesday, June 27)
Meeting Place - Deck 12 Forward Elevators (spilling outside if needed)

Here are the room types that have been volunteered so far. We don't plan on going to duplicate room types, but wanted some options to help us plan out the shortest route.

Please let me know via this thread or through PM if you're willing to share your room with everyone. We're looking for the room types where we still have question marks in particular. Calling any cruisers in a Cat T, 4E, 8A, or 10A!

Concierge Royal Suite w/ Verandah (Cat R)
12002 - NejTheLion

Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite w/ Verandah (Cat T)
?

Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom w/ Verandah (Cat V)
12516 - Darthvader92

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom w/ Verandah (Cat 4A-4D)
10100 - myweegirls (4A)
10096 - gretchenohar@hotmail (4A)
9576 - wdwscout (4A)
6106 - othello32 (4D)

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom w/ Oversized Verandah (Cat 4E)
?

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom w/ Verandah (Cat 5A-5D)
10508 - ascardino (5A)

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom w/ Oversized and/or Whitewall Verandah (5E/6A/6B)
8184 - hbg4 (5E)
6690 - skatingmom (5E)

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom w/ Navigator's Verandah (Cat 7A)
6178 - brother of othello32 (7A)

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom w/ 2 Portholes (Cat 8A)
?

Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom w/ 1 Large Porthole (Cat 8B-8D)
9154 - Disneyfun1 (8B)

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom (Cat 9A/9B)
6000 - dmwang9 (9A)

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom w/ Obstructed and/or Limited View (Cat 9C/9D)
8000 - Basil Fox (9C)

Deluxe Inside Stateroom (Cat 10A)
?

Standard Inside Stateroom (Cat 11A-11C)
2025 - Pikester (11C)

 

[k5jm]

My calendar says 7 days. We are now inside the packing window!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

PSA:
If you are bringing a smartphone on board, this is a reminder to set a reminder for yourself. Put it in airplane mode for the cruise unless you can afford the international roaming/data charges.

Plan on making those last minute email checks before the sail away party and then either turn it off completely or put it in airplane mode until the ship returns to Port Canaveral.

 

[k5jm]

You will have Terrestrial Cell Phone coverage for a couple of miles of off the coast. You will see your phone switch to Cellular at Sea when you start roaming.

When you get to Castaway Cay, You will get BTC (Bahamas Telecommunications Company) and it covers the whole island from an Antenna hanging on a tree.

Here is how the Cellular at Sea works:

Keep in mind that all those cell phones on the ship are sharing a 128kb VSAT link. For the cell site that is inside my office building (which is the same technology but carried over Telco circuits) is 8 T1's or 12mbps. Or is other words Ship = Shot glass and Cell Site = Big Gulp.

 

[hbg4]

i've found that I am able to make phone calls with my phone in the waiting area at port Canaveral but somehow I get no 3G or 4G reception and I am unable to connect to the internet.
Are there any special hot spots in the terminal or is the reception there just really bad or could it be Sprint has no service there??

 

[jcb]

I found, on the Wonder cruises to the Caribbean, that the best method of communicating with home/friends was text messages. You pay for each one sent and received, but not at exhorbitant data rates. I have a lot of issues just trying to make a phone call.

I did not have to have cellular data turned on to text. I left data roaming off and had no problems with funky charges. If you want to be safest, turn your phone to airplane mode, put it in the safe and forget about the real world while you enjoy the cruise.

 

[OKW Lover]

i've found that I am able to make phone calls with my phone in the waiting area at port Canaveral but somehow I get no 3G or 4G reception and I am unable to connect to the internet.
Are there any special hot spots in the terminal or is the reception there just really bad or could it be Sprint has no service there??

Most likely its just that the cell is overloaded with people doing those last minute checks of emails, etc. It may help to stand near one of the windows.

 

[lugnut33]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I feel better today after reading the posts.

As for the phones, I think we are just going to turn ours off and not worry about it for 5 days.

 

[hbg4]

Thanks for the cell phone advise.

BTW there are Palo dinner reservations available on Pirate night at 7.30p.
It's a shame that DCL had the incorrect schedule up when we originally booked our Palo dinner.

Brenda

 

[minniemimi52]

Thanks for the cell phone advise.

BTW there are Palo dinner reservations available on Pirate night at 7.30p.
It's a shame that DCL had the incorrect schedule up when we originally booked our Palo dinner.

Brenda

Where do you find the schedule? We booked activities "blind."
Gilchrist

 

[safetymom]

Just a few reminders:

If you are planning on bidding/buying at the silent auction you will need to bring cash or use a personal check. We will not be able to take credit cards.

If you are walking/running the Castaway 5KT you will need to bring your Podcast credentials to get your raffle ticket.

Thank you!

 

[hbg4]

Where do you find the schedule? We booked activities "blind."
Gilchrist

Just go ahead as though you are bookiing adult dining for Nausau night and the reservation time pops up.

Brenda

 

[minniemimi52]

Thanks, Brenda!

 

[k5jm]

FYI, the Container Store is having it's annual travel sale. Christy just went and loaded up on pack-it slips, travel bottles, and various travel swidgets and dongles.

http://www.containerstore.com/welcome.htm

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Can we leave yet?

 

[starwood]

We're almost there. Stopped in Savannah overnight. Should be at Pop Century early this afternoon.

 

[tigger813]

Main suitcases are all packed and weighed, 48 and 49 pounds and one that is around 30. Have a few pairs of shoes to put in the carry-ons/personal item bags on Saturday morning. Girls have their recital at noon on Saturday and the limo picks us up to take to the airport at 6 so it will be a bit rushed that afternoon. Hoping the recital is over by 3! Girls will need showers and make up removal and we will need to eat. Probably stop and grab a quick bite to eat on the way home from the recital! Going to be a crazy busy week for us but we look forward to meeting all of you next Sunday!!!!! OMG!!!!!