Sailing Through the Canal - Part Deux + 2 nights To Nowhere Birthday Cruise!

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Hi there!

With less then 8 months to go...I decided it would be fun to start a Trip Report. Wow - less then 8 months . Seems like it was just yesterday that we had 15 months to go.

Let me introduce the cast of characters:

Me - Des - I am a homeschool Mom, a home-based travel agent, a Girl Scout Leader, a Sunday School teacher, and a foster Mom for a no-kill shelter for puppies. In between all that - I am a huge Disney fan! When my DH and I met, I told him he would have to get used to my love of Disney...kind of ironic that he ended up as the Disney CM!

DH - Richard - As mentioned, he is a Disney CM. He is an awesome Dad and Hubby! Puts up with all of my crazyness & professional volunteerism.

DD - Tori - Tori is a typical teen - loves music and television. Besides the usual teen TV - she loves shows like Dirty Jobs, Iron Chef, and Mythibusters. I think it's a good mix. She is a Girl Scout and loves to read. She is a huge Disney fan as well (chip off the old block!) and would live at Disneyland if she could figure out how!

Also accompaning us on this adventure will be Flat Stitch... he joined us on our first PC adventure in 2008 and has already voiced his interest in going again...

We are bringing the Disney Wonder out to her California home in 2011! We are very excited for a few reasons... 1) It's a cruise! 2) It is our honeymoon ship (can't you just hear the awwwww's? 3) We brought the Magic back to Florida in 2008 and are thrilled to bring her sister ship for her first visit through the Canal and 4) It's a cruise!

We renewed our wedding vows on the Magic...had we realized we would have the opportunity to do so on the Wonder, we would have waited. So, we booked our vow renewal for the Wonder and started planning..unfortunately, we soon found out that the cost for the VR had gone up $1000.00 since 2008 . Now, don't get me wrong...it was an experience I will treasure for my lifetime. We could not afford a Disney wedding so my VR was everything I could hope for! We started considering - should we/shouldn't we? Our answer came in April... the announcement of the 2 night cruise to nowhere!

Now..a little info... our PC cruise ends on January 21st, which happens to be yours truly's birthday. Although I was excited I would be able to celebrate on the ship...it was a little bittersweet knowing it ended on my birthday as well...enter the 2 night cruise to nowhere! It is the 2 nights between the Wonder's arrival in Los Angeles and the first cruise to Mexico..what to do?I know...let's cruise to no where! 2 nights and 1 sea day...and it's my birthday! So we decided to book the cruise and I get to celebrate all day on the ship!

As I was calling DCL to see what the cost to have my same cabin, I was told I was only the 3rd person to call in so far...upon getting my quote, feeling brave..I inquired on the cost of the CAT R .. I figured if I am only the 3rd person to call... 1 of them has to be left..right? I was given the price and promptly booked the same cabin we have on the PC cruise. Our cabin is mid-ship and a CAT 5... very nice cabin...had the same type/area many a time! I got off of the phone and advised my DH the price for the 2 night and also advised him the cost of the CAT R was the same price as our VR. Hmmmm..wheels started turning....VR/CAT R (which I will never be able to afford again!)... what to do..what to do...we decided that a 2 night splurge on a cabin we will never be able to afford again was better then a 1 hour VR that we had already done (Even if we hadn't done it on the Wonder). And so I called back and switched cabins and began to research the cabin.

So here we are... 17 nights on the ship with a 2 nights pre-cruise stay at WDW at the Saratoge Springs Treehouses. We usually stay at the Beach Club because we love it's location but always wanted to stay in the Treehouses. We figured that this was a perfect opportunity to do so. Since we only had the 2 nights before the cruise, it won't matter quite so much on the location. We always arrive a day early but threw in an extra to hit our favorite rides at the parks.

It is time to start researching our ports and make our plans for the trip and I am so excited! I love planning! I have lists for my lists!

 

[poohs4me]

Saw your post and was so excited to see one for our cruise!!! I love pre-trip reports too. Can't wait to see it come together.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Great! Can't wait to hear about your planning and then cruise next year! We wanted to go on this one but that price was just not good for us. Maybe another time...until then I'll live vicariously through you!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Saw your post and was so excited to see one for our cruise!!! I love pre-trip reports too. Can't wait to see it come together.

Can't wait to meet you - where in Arizona do you live? My sister is in Chandler.

Great! Can't wait to hear about your planning and then cruise next year! We wanted to go on this one but that price was just not good for us. Maybe another time...until then I'll live vicariously through you!

I am sorry you were not able to join us...Sometimes I think we are crazy for spending the money for a cruise we have already done but I loved the PC! Hope to meet you someday on a future cruise!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Ok..so today's planning isn't very exciting but it's time. We want to rent a car in Aruba. We did this last time but didn't care for the way we were picked up for our car - there seemed to be a lot of confusion! So I am researching another company to rent the car from.

We loved being able to drive all over the island last time. I am not sure if we will be taking an excursion here. We did a semi-sub last time and loved it! Everyone in Aruba was very nice and I am excited to be going back.

Ok..off to find a car!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Wow... I have been away from this for over a week and still haven't figured out a rental car yet! Life this week has been busy busy and crazy!

My DSIL was in town and we did the Disneyland visit and then I was busy with my Girl Scout troop and a weekend in San Diego. Time is clicking away and I need to get a move on!

This is my DD last week of school and so after this week I have made a promise to myself to start really planning this trip. We have never been to Puntarenas or Manzanillo so need to research the areas!

 

[ACDSNY]

Des, I saw your thread and just had to come check it out.

So you're getting a car in Aruba...is that a better choice than the excursions? I wish the excursions would be posted so we could figure out what we want to do.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Des, I saw your thread and just had to come check it out.

So you're getting a car in Aruba...is that a better choice than the excursions? I wish the excursions would be posted so we could figure out what we want to do.

hi there,

Yes..we rented a car in 2008 also. Aruba was the only location I felt safe enough to rent a car. We loved being able to go all over the island at our pace.

As far as the excursions..my suggestion would be to look at another cruise line such as RCCL and see what they are offering in Aruba..chances are it will be pretty similar. I have nothing against doing excursions with the ship..it just depends on what your family likes to do.

We are planning to go see the butterfly gardens and the ostrich farm this time.

 

[Zoom]

AHA! you're doing a PTR!!! wish we could do a 14-day cruise, but i don't think i can pull out my son from school for that long ..... but i'm trying to convince DH on the 10-day Med Cruise in June '11, so we'll see...

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Wow! Time is passing so quickly and I am completely behind!

Today - we made our final payment on the cruise!

I know I need to get planning - things are a little different for me this go around - although we are going to WDW two nights early..we have agreed no ADR's... there is lots we want to do and we are not sure where we will be at any given time. Although this may not be the way to go...we may not have a choice. We only have 1 full day at the parks and want to hit our favorite rides. That being said - the agreement was that we don' tie ourselves down to a specific time/location.

Since we live near the DLR - there are no ressies to make on this side.

I guess I am looking forward to the excursions coming out so I can plan accordingly for the cruise. I still do not have a rental car in Aruba yet so that is still my plan to get going on.

Under 6 months to go!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

AHA! you're doing a PTR!!! wish we could do a 14-day cruise, but i don't think i can pull out my son from school for that long ..... but i'm trying to convince DH on the 10-day Med Cruise in June '11, so we'll see...

I know how you feel..the first time we did the PC in 2008 - my DD was going to miss the first week of school. She has missed school over the years but now is homeschooled so we have less to worry about there.

I hope you get to go on the Med cruise! I always feel that it is worth the missed school for them to see the World!

 

[rotary2808]

Hi fellow PC cruiser!!!!

I was reading your TR and read that you're doing the 2 night cruise after the PC in one of the Cat. 1's. Which one? We had the Roy on the Baltic last month so if you have any questions let me know. You'll love it!!!!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Hi fellow PC cruiser!!!!

I was reading your TR and read that you're doing the 2 night cruise after the PC in one of the Cat. 1's. Which one? We had the Roy on the Baltic last month so if you have any questions let me know. You'll love it!!!!

Hi there!

We are in the Walt...I have never seen the cabins inperson so I am very excited! I wish we had it for our PC too but there was no way to afford that!

I do have a question .. I read that you can order Palo in the cabin..is that correct? If so..is it for everyone in the cabin? (I have a DD13)

Thanks!

 

[rotary2808]

Hi there!

We are in the Walt...I have never seen the cabins inperson so I am very excited! I wish we had it for our PC too but there was no way to afford that!

I do have a question .. I read that you can order Palo in the cabin..is that correct? If so..is it for everyone in the cabin? (I have a DD13)

Thanks!

Yes, Cat's 1 & 2 can order Palo. We didn't have anyone under 18, but I don't see where it would make a difference. They just deliver it to the room. All we got was the chocolate souffles. Word of warning, be sure to order before 9 pm. Even though Palo is open long after 9 pm, we called room service one night after 9 pm and they told us they were no longer taking orders for Palo. Both our regular Palo server and the manager were completely confused by that one.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Yes, Cat's 1 & 2 can order Palo. We didn't have anyone under 18, but I don't see where it would make a difference. They just deliver it to the room. All we got was the chocolate souffles. Word of warning, be sure to order before 9 pm. Even though Palo is open long after 9 pm, we called room service one night after 9 pm and they told us they were no longer taking orders for Palo. Both our regular Palo server and the manager were completely confused by that one.

Thanks for the advice...we want the pizza and the chocolate souffle..

 

[susanowen27]

Thanks for the advice...we want the pizza and the chocolate souffle..

Hi, we just signed up for this cruise. WE are from Chandler and are also staying on for the 2 day. Our daughter and grandkids, 9 and 12 will be joining us for the 2 day. I will be looking forward to seeing your plans come together. That is how I get my best plans. So, no difficulty driving in Aruba?

 

[rotary2808]

Thanks for the advice...we want the pizza and the chocolate souffle..

The souffle was just as good as it is up in the restaurant. Nice and warm!!!! A perfect bedtime snack.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Hi, we just signed up for this cruise. WE are from Chandler and are also staying on for the 2 day. Our daughter and grandkids, 9 and 12 will be joining us for the 2 day. I will be looking forward to seeing your plans come together. That is how I get my best plans. So, no difficulty driving in Aruba?

Hi there!

No difficulty driving in Aruba except that they do not have many street signs so it was difficult to figure out where we were.

My sister lives in Chandler..we were just there 2 weeks ago. Took my DD to see the new Legoland Aquarium.

My sister will be joining us for the 2 night only.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

The souffle was just as good as it is up in the restaurant. Nice and warm!!!! A perfect bedtime snack.

Hmmmm..yummy! Question..do you know if there was a limit on how many times you could order from Palo? I mean..if we wanted dinner but not dessert and then later ordered the souffle...hope that doesn't sound piggy of me...just curious.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

I am very excited! I just ordered my first FE gift to give away!

I have my other two picked out....one has to be "built" and the other ordered.

I still can't figure out our rental car. I have to call the agencies in Aruba and figure out which one is close to the port...so far it seems that the agency I rented from last time is gone.