Sept 10 2009 "Wonder-ful" Cruise

[LisaRN97]

Just wanted to update,
we have rooms 6633 and 6635.
The only "real" kid, lol will be in room 6633. My 2.5 yr old son.
I'll be making just a small FE for him incase anyone has anything to drop of
I also plan to bring a few things for the other kiddos. So who has kids that will have a FE out?

Hi Crystal ~ We will have a FE out.... still need to make it, but it will be there. I have been picking up things here and there and hide them in my trunk. I have a bag of small character beanies and some princess things for my girls ( I plan on leaving small gifts during our trip and saying they are from mickey etc. ) and I a few things for other's FE. Enjoying your pre-trip report!

Three weeks to go!!

 

[CrystalS]

Hi Crystal ~ We will have a FE out.... still need to make it, but it will be there. I have been picking up things here and there and hide them in my trunk. I have a bag of small character beanies and some princess things for my girls ( I plan on leaving small gifts during our trip and saying they are from mickey etc. ) and I a few things for other's FE. Enjoying your pre-trip report!

Three weeks to go!!

Can I ask the age of your girls, so that I can make sure our FE gifts are age appropriate

 

[lovechild6175]

Will try not to make this too long, but I have questions for all of you experienced cruisers:

1) I have a handicapped room, Cat 11. Will this still have the bathtub?
2) I know that DCL provides sodas free (unlike other CL's), but how about bottled water?
3) Can I put the gratuities on my credit card or are these cash only?
4) If I want to put out a FE for my daughter, is there a special one? Or can I use something akin to a Christmas stocking? And what do people usually put in these, anyway?
5) I work in the high-end wine industry and would love to share wine brought on board -- does DCL sanction this or is it "hush-hush"?
6) Are there any other single parent cruisers out there?

We can't wait to go on our first cruise ever, let alone on the Wonder. Can't wait to meet all of you at the M&G! It will be myself and my DD(4).

Thanks all!

 

[lovechild6175]

I read your post about wanting to carpool to the port. We will be staying at POP beforehand as well, and will have a rental car to park at port. We will have a small car, but you're more than welcome to squeeze in if you'd like.

 

[kcashner]

Will try not to make this too long, but I have questions for all of you experienced cruisers:

1) I have a handicapped room, Cat 11. Will this still have the bathtub?
2) I know that DCL provides sodas free (unlike other CL's), but how about bottled water?
3) Can I put the gratuities on my credit card or are these cash only?
4) If I want to put out a FE for my daughter, is there a special one? Or can I use something akin to a Christmas stocking? And what do people usually put in these, anyway?
5) I work in the high-end wine industry and would love to share wine brought on board -- does DCL sanction this or is it "hush-hush"?
6) Are there any other single parent cruisers out there?

Thanks all!

In our handicapped room there was no tub. It had a "roll in" shower. It was not the cat 11, so I'm not totally sure for you, but my guess would be shower only.

Bottled water is available for a cost. You can purchase by the bottle or the case. The water on the ship is totally drinkable (distilled and filtered), no no need for bottled water unless you want it.

DCL is probably the only line that openly allows you to bring wine on board. Your room steward will provide glasses, a corkscrew, etc (or to be safe, bring your own corkscrew. IF you take a bottle into the dining room you will be charged a "corking fee." However, if you carry in a glass there will be no charge.
Gratuities can be charged to your KTTW account which can be paid with your credit card.

Your Fish extender can be anything you choose...you can make something, use a Christmas stocking, etc. Do remember that some have been stolen by other guests! If it has your name on it, it is less likely to disappear. On one cruise I totally forgot my FE, so used a DCL plastic bag! Yeah, it looked terrible, but it did the job!

THis will be my first cruise without DD....after 21 DCL cruises as a single mom. I dumped the kiddo at college yesterday. On the Magic there are lunches with cruise staff members for "single parent or sailing solo." Sorry, but I don't remember if these existed on the WOnder the last time we were there. You'll be really busy on a short cruise!!!

 

[kcashner]

I read your post about wanting to carpool to the port. We will be staying at POP beforehand as well, and will have a rental car to park at port. We will have a small car, but you're more than welcome to squeeze in if you'd like.

I sent you a pm.
Kathryn

 

[lovechild6175]

Thanks for the tips! We are so excited!

 

[crewsin250]

Welcome Lovechild6175 to the rollcall and we look forward to meeting you onboard im sure your daughter is very excited about ya'lls trip.

 

[LisaRN97]

Can I ask the age of your girls, so that I can make sure our FE gifts are age appropriate

My oldest, Carolina is 4, turning 5 in October.
My youngest, Ana Maria, is 3.5


Our cabin number is #2612. Counting down the days!!!

 

[LisaRN97]

Will try not to make this too long, but I have questions for all of you experienced cruisers:


4) If I want to put out a FE for my daughter, is there a special one? Or can I use something akin to a Christmas stocking? And what do people usually put in these, anyway?


We can't wait to go on our first cruise ever, let alone on the Wonder. Can't wait to meet all of you at the M&G! It will be myself and my DD(4).

Thanks all!

I found some great ideas as well as directions how to make a no-sew FE by searching these boards. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=30302583&postcount=609

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33184281&postcount=2

Hope this helps!!!

Nice to meet you...!!!

 

[crewsin250]

FE Update!!!!

 

[Jewels912]

Re: bottled water, you can bring bottles of water in your luggage, too. We bring large refillable water bottles and just fill up anytime we're thirsty!

 

[kcashner]

Re: bottled water, you can bring bottles of water in your luggage, too. We bring large refillable water bottles and just fill up anytime we're thirsty!

Bottled water is actually one of those "problem" items....you can't carry it on if you're flying, but you are asked not to pack liquids in your checked luggage for DCL. You can carry all the water you want onto the ship, but it is supposed to be packed in your carry on so that it doesn't leak all over your stuff or someone else's. For cosmetic sized liquids in your checked luggage, be sure that it is in a sealed plastic bag so that if it leaks, it doesn't get all over your "stuff."

If you are using private transportation, you can stop before checking in and buy bottled water. It is for sale on the ship, but is very expensive. We bring water bottles (empty) and refill them with the ship's water and ice--it tastes good.

On our recent trip with 6 people, 5 of the 6 felt that the ship's water was good. The one who didn't was one of those people who objected to everything!

A hint on excursions--the farther you get from the ship, the cheaper cold, bottled water gets. Right at the port it was $2, 1 block away it was $1.

 

[crewsin250]

Hope everyone had a great weekend, we are only 17 days away from sailing on this Wonder-ful cruise.

Still working on our T- shirts for the cruise finally found some white pocket t-shirts will try putting on transfers tommorrow.

Paul

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Hey 2 all the WONDERful cruisers! can someone tell me how to get my countdown cruise vacation? I want to start my countdown 2, I havent been on here for a while but I really need to find a hotel, want to be close to the port, I think it is wise to get down a day or 2 before the cruise, I am driving this year flew last year and it was so nice it shouldnt be bad I live in Ga! What hotels are any of you guys staying at before and after the cruise, anyone used priceline? I was thinking of staying at a hotel that will take you to the port but was WONDERing when they pick you up from the port what time do they come get you, I wil be going to WDW after the cruise, and want to get my 2nd part of the vacation started as soon as I get off the ship, so I WONDER if it will be better to just park at the port? full of ??????????????

 

[kcashner]

We have used the Radisson and the Quality Suites. They are "sister" hotels with the same owner. The Radisson has a HUGE parking lot behind the hotel where you can leave a vehicle while you cruise provided that you stay at one of their hotels either before or after the cruise. You DO NOT have to pay the extra for a "cruise package" to do this. They offer a free shuttle to and from the terminal. The Quality Suites offers a free breakfast--it's pretty basic, but it's adequate. At the Radisson, the breakfast is included if you buy the cruise package, otherwise you pay. Make your shuttle reservation when you make your hotel ressie. They are every 30 minutes starting at 10:00.

The Quality Suites is nicer inside than out. Great staff! In the morning you'll check out and drive to the Radisson to park and catch the shuttle. Unload your bags at the front of the hotel and leave one person there with the bags (or everyone who doesn't want to walk. ) Then follow the signs toward the back for "cruise parking."

When you get off the ship, you'll find the shuttle making a continuous loop between the terminal and the hotel--you might wait for 10-15 minutes, but it will come to get you. No reservations or time slots. If you don't want to wait for the shuttle you can take a cab to the hotel for about $20. That's still cheaper than parking at the port.

We paid $107 including all taxes, which was almost exactly equal to the $105 we would have paid to park on our 7 day cruise. Granted, this cruise is only 3 days, but that's still almost 1/2 of your overnight stay cost!

I started packing tonight!!!!! Well...maybe "sorting and making a pile" would be a better word.

 

[sabrecmc]

What hotels are any of you guys staying at before and after the cruise, anyone used priceline? I was thinking of staying at a hotel that will take you to the port but was WONDERing when they pick you up from the port what time do they come get you, I wil be going to WDW after the cruise, and want to get my 2nd part of the vacation started as soon as I get off the ship, so I WONDER if it will be better to just park at the port? full of ??????????????

We are staying at the Residence Inn. I read really good reviews in the Cape Canaveral info thread and in the Passporter Guide. We have our own car and will just park at the port. I don't really want to deal with the hassle of a shuttle, though I've heard good things about the one from the Residence. Still, I'd rather just pay a bit extra and be able to come and go as I please. With a 3 year old in tow, that is important! We are also headed to WDW after the cruise. We're staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I also wanted to get that part started asap, so that was part of my thinking as well.

 

[kcashner]

We use Priceline frequently when we need a room in the airport area for an evening arrival the night before the cruise. If I fly in after work/school, I don't want to bother with driving to the port area that night; I'd rather drive when it's light. At the 2.5* level, all the Priceline and Hotwire rooms include free breakfast and free shuttle to/from MCO. We typically pay $31 -$39 + taxes and fees (add $10 for tax and fees). Priceline is technically for 2 people, hotwire allows up to 4. Recently we have stayed at the Amerisuites, Hampton, and for this trip we have the Hyatt Place.

Rooms near the airport are typically cheaper than rooms near the port. Also, if you do a port room on Priceline, many hotels exempt these from their shuttle service. If you have a rental car, that's no problem (you turn it in and ride their shuttle). If you're driving, you then have to pay port parking.

 

[lovechild6175]

Roll call:

Mabel (that's me)
Jordan (DD4)
Rm. 7631

Question: Do you think that the ship is so full that they wouldn't be able to accomodate a room change request? I'm asking because we are in a handicap room, and I've heard that there are no "tubs" there. But maybe it's a moot point because there are no tubs in the Cat 11/12's anyway? Any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated -- thanks!

 

[kcashner]

Roll call:

Rm. 7631

Question: Do you think that the ship is so full that they wouldn't be able to accomodate a room change request? I'm asking because we are in a handicap room, and I've heard that there are no "tubs" there. But maybe it's a moot point because there are no tubs in the Cat 11/12's anyway? Any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated -- thanks!

Ummm...there has been a tub in every cat 11 and 12 stateroom I've ever seen except the handicapped cabins!

Yes, 7631 is an accessible cabin. Did you purchase a cat 11 or did you purchase a 12 gty? If you bought an 11, there is some possibility that they would work with you. If you purchased a 12 gty, you're probably out of luck as they are not showing any 11s or 12s as available at all, not even as gty.

As of today, they are showing only cat 5 as available to select a room on our ship; all other categories are showing as gty (which means that they have few or none of those left but would book them and shuffle upgrades to fill a few more cabins.

What I'd do--call DCL or your TA and ask. It will be easier to have a move made now than at the terminal or at Guest Services after boarding.