*Sept 10th 2011 WB Transatlantic* From Spain to Space Mountain - Part 3

[GA-yaya]

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes with my thesis. I have to have it defended and submitted by June 30. We also have to get Lorelei’s passport pic. Tried a few weeks ago and she freaked out that someone else was going to take her pic. So now we’re going to have to try and do it ourselves. Thank goodness I left one room in my house with white walls.

Pat- I’m getting my masters in endodontics. Yes I'm the person everyone hates to go see, even more than the gyno. At least that's what someone told me the other day. So I already got my dds but decided to specialize and have to do a masters thesis with it. 2 years with a full load of courses and a full schedule of patients hasn’t left me much time to devote to the thesis part. So I’ve had to make time the past few months for the experimentation. Finally met with the statistician on Thursday and now just have to get the dang thing written. That’s the absolute worst part for sure!

Good Luck completing your Masters thesis! It can be really hard to see patients, do research, and get a paper completed while trying to take care of a family! Hats off to you!

It's always fun to find out there is someone traveling that works "in the same field". I am a dentist also, with my practice limited to Orthodontics. Fortunately, our patients actually like to come see us!

 

[PFlamingo]

I think I have a "YES" although it has not left his mouth yet! Now... do we gamble and take the almost-midship deck 6 or go with a GTY? I'm such a planner, but I'm wondering about the risk. We have never done GTY.

You guys ROCK in helping coerce the hubby!! I just know our last cruise was verandah (southern Caribbean) and I spent every morning and evening out there. Breakfast, wine, pulling into port, etc. Alaska was an aft verandah (mini-suite) and spectacular for glacier viewing and inside passage. LOVED that cruise.

Wow. I can't believe this might happen!! I think I will call first thing tomorrow and get it all straight before he changes his mind. If I make final payment as well (since it's due this week) he can't change his mind then!

The GTY means the worst you'll get is a deck 6 cabin or maybe one on deck 5 just aft of the lifeboats, which is where we are. We're right behind the lifeboats on the starboard side - only have one neighbor, and that's only if someone books the cabin behind us. It's empty at the moment. From what I could tell on the website, the deck 6 cabins in the category (5C) are a little bit aft of that.

And you actually have until 90 days before the cruise to make changes. You aren't locked in just b/c you're PIF. The deposit penalty starts at 89 days before we sail.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Mandy,

You could always mention that you'll pick up a bit of cash on the cruise by tutoring my Andrew! Lord knows that Algebra I for me was too many years ago...and I always hated math once they introduced the alphabet into it! Now geometry....that one's mine!

BTW, he's using Saxon Math for Algebra I. Does that create any challenges? I'll have his syllabus from his math teacher so we'll know what chapters he needs to have completed.

Karen

 

[auntlynne]

I think I have a "YES" although it has not left his mouth yet! Now... do we gamble and take the almost-midship deck 6 or go with a GTY? I'm such a planner, but I'm wondering about the risk. We have never done GTY.

You guys ROCK in helping coerce the hubby!! I just know our last cruise was verandah (southern Caribbean) and I spent every morning and evening out there. Breakfast, wine, pulling into port, etc. Alaska was an aft verandah (mini-suite) and spectacular for glacier viewing and inside passage. LOVED that cruise.

Wow. I can't believe this might happen!! I think I will call first thing tomorrow and get it all straight before he changes his mind. If I make final payment as well (since it's due this week) he can't change his mind then!

Check out: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/wonder-magic-deck-plan.htm for the deck plans. Would the worst cabin in the GTY cabin be okay? that is what you could get. Or you could be bumped to a higher category - you never now.

Are you trying to decide where to be OR which size cabin? Cat 5C aren't what I'd call "mid-ship" - they are more forward or aft than that. The Cat 5Bs on Deck 6 are definitely mid-ship, but a GTY in that category could have you in the same position as the Cat 5C.

I am prone to seasickness and found that even cabin 8602 at the back end of the boat was fine except during the 20 foot waves and Gale force 10 winds - then nowhere on the boat was fine.

...If you could get one of the Cat 5Cs on Deck 5, you would be in a super place - those hallways are so quiet and private feeling.

Do the interline rates require a Cat 5 or could you look at Cat 6? There are several of those that have larger verandahs - 7634, 6148, 6150, 6648, 6650.

 

[MandyGirl]

Now that we have the Military rate, I started working out all the other bits and pieces. I thought this was funny. To board our 5 dogs for the 20 days we'll be gone is only $300 less than our total cruise fare. Okay, they don't have to tip their dinner servers and room attendants, so I guess that counts, too. I sure hope they enjoy their vacation!

Oh, my! But of course, I remember the days of having my sweet baby, and he would have been TOTALLY worth that!

I am a dentist also, with my practice limited to Orthodontics. Fortunately, our patients actually like to come see us!

LOL! I got to see both growing up. Tomboy who seemed to break my teeth often. You are both doing great deeds for people!!

And you actually have until 90 days before the cruise to make changes. You aren't locked in just b/c you're PIF. The deposit penalty starts at 89 days before we sail.

Great point!

Mandy,

You could always mention that you'll pick up a bit of cash on the cruise by tutoring my Andrew! Lord knows that Algebra I for me was too many years ago...and I always hated math once they introduced the alphabet into it! Now geometry....that one's mine!

BTW, he's using Saxon Math for Algebra I. Does that create any challenges? I'll have his syllabus from his math teacher so we'll know what chapters he needs to have completed.

Karen

LOL! That dang alphabet in math. Saxon is no problem. I actually work with a couple homeschool girls in a different state doing Algebra I right now, and adapt well to their program. We'll touch base in August. I think I just survived finals week for my college students, and now gearing up for end of school for my middle/high school kiddos.

Check out: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/wonder-magic-deck-plan.htm for the deck plans. Would the worst cabin in the GTY cabin be okay? that is what you could get. Or you could be bumped to a higher category - you never now.

Are you trying to decide where to be OR which size cabin? Cat 5C aren't what I'd call "mid-ship" - they are more forward or aft than that. The Cat 5Bs on Deck 6 are definitely mid-ship, but a GTY in that category could have you in the same position as the Cat 5C.

I am prone to seasickness and found that even cabin 8602 at the back end of the boat was fine except during the 20 foot waves and Gale force 10 winds - then nowhere on the boat was fine.

...If you could get one of the Cat 5Cs on Deck 5, you would be in a super place - those hallways are so quiet and private feeling.

Do the interline rates require a Cat 5 or could you look at Cat 6? There are several of those that have larger verandahs - 7634, 6148, 6150, 6648, 6650.

Only category 5C is offered (or cat 9... down on deck 1). The original hope was the same 11B cabin (like how the MEO rate is) but no luck. We've been as high as deck 10 or 12 (can't recall) and also very aft, but the only time I had problems was once while preggo. A gamble for a slightly larger family verandah might be worth the try with a gty. When I last looked this evening, there were no specific cabins to assign for 5C except GTY (we have one held on deck 6). I know the quickest access to the kids clubs is midship stairs (?) If I make that change, I will post on here tomorrow for anyone wanting to snag an 11B sideways on deck 5.

 

[Pinky166]

Yep - 31/day so about $430 grand total for the entire cruise for the upgrade for all four of us. I think the argument now is he's picked up OT to cover the cruise, and this would essentially be extra to have to cover... he's also thinking since I planned it, then...

working on it... !!!

I see you've decided anyway but for that price I would definatly do it!

Now that we have the Military rate, I started working out all the other bits and pieces. I thought this was funny. To board our 5 dogs for the 20 days we'll be gone is only $300 less than our total cruise fare. Okay, they don't have to tip their dinner servers and room attendants, so I guess that counts, too. I sure hope they enjoy their vacation!

WOW!!! That sounds a lot!

We are so lucky that my parents look after our two fur babies, in fact I don't think they would ever speak to us again if we left them anywhere other than with them. Thye love them to bits & spoil them something rotten.

 

[Fontabel]

I think I have a "YES" although it has not left his mouth yet! Now... do we gamble and take the almost-midship deck 6 or go with a GTY? I'm such a planner, but I'm wondering about the risk. We have never done GTY.

This will be our 15th cruise come September, and while it is our first DCL cruise, we have done GTY or guaranteed balcony more than half of our cruises and it has always both saved us money and gotten us upgraded. The key to the GTY is that you have to make sure you purchase the GTY in the lowest category that you are willing to accept. Not sure if this is what they are offering you and not as clear on DCL cabins as the folks here, but for this cruise we did GTY no lower than category 6A, so we are guaranteed at least that or higher.

We actually do a lot of research on these things before we chose our lowest GTY. We actually liked the idea of the enclosed verandah on DCL, but we may not get that one as there are only a few, but the idea was appealing for my DH who gets burnt so easily--outside but shady. However, that is not the only type of 6A room, so we may get bumped up to something else.

In our experience, we have almost never gotten the category we bought into at the start and have always been upgraded. The risk is that you don't know your cabin number or location of the room until sometimes you arrive at port, but we have never been disappointed (let's hope I am not on DCL--as I might be "jinksing" myself here). Most of the time we know about 30 days to 7 days out.

All I know is that kids or not (we are currently in the not category, but working on it), we could not go back to an inside room. We did that on our first two cruises and since we have had enough money to move to balcony/verandah, we have stayed.

As for the argument on sleep, my DH says the same thing about the "cave-like" experience of the inside cabins, but he has come around--especially to have the balcony at night, it is a bit romantic and you do get some heavy curtains, so you can block out most if not all of the sun.

My two cents.

Fontabel

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Reminder number 7 has just arrived. Thankfully they don't send them at the weekend or it would have been number 9!!

Should be paying tomorrow, 2 days early for DU and 3 for DCL so I don't understand the panic!!!! We will wait and see if I get a reminder tomorrow evening!!!

We received our first one today ..... and I was grateful as it had slipped my mind Can you believe it, last time I was counting down every second and this time I had forgotten the payment date was upon us. I also don't know how many weeks we have to go, and last time I was obsessed

 

[TotallyAngelic]

We received our first one today ..... and I was grateful as it had slipped my mind Can you believe it, last time I was counting down every second and this time I had forgotten the payment date was upon us. I also don't know how many weeks we have to go, and last time I was obsessed

Funnily enough after writing this I just checked and we have exactly 4 months until we board the Disney Magic ..... that seems a very short time indeed

I think once we get back from Florida in July I will be able to focus properly on the cruise. At the moment my mind is pre-occupied with DD leaving for WDW in June for 3 months, her first time ever travelling alone and a big adventure for her. It will be really strange.

 

[Tod&Copper]

Funnily enough after writing this I just checked and we have exactly 4 months until we board the Disney Magic ..... that seems a very short time indeed

I think once we get back from Florida in July I will be able to focus properly on the cruise. At the moment my mind is pre-occupied with DD leaving for WDW in June for 3 months, her first time ever travelling alone and a big adventure for her. It will be really strange.

I was just writing a reply, when you re-posted, that you are probably too busy getting Taryn organised at the minute

4 months today

 

[granmaz]

We received our first one today ..... and I was grateful as it had slipped my mind Can you believe it, last time I was counting down every second and this time I had forgotten the payment date was upon us. I also don't know how many weeks we have to go, and last time I was obsessed

I think you have other things on your mind this time. How are Taryn's plans going?

 

[karentan]

just made my final payment

 

[granmaz]

Woohoo Karen!!! Makes me feel a bit better as I was beginning to think I was the last one to pay up!!! Mind you we still haven't paid, hopefully tonight.

 

[karentan]

i was just waiting for my credit card to roll over to the next month so i dont start getting charged interest on it too early. plus i'm working the rest of the week so if i didnt do it now i'd probably forget and lose all my money

 

[granmaz]

i was just waiting for my credit card to roll over to the next month so i dont start getting charged interest on it too early. plus i'm working the rest of the week so if i didnt do it now i'd probably forget and lose all my money

That is what we are doing too. Today is payment day for last month's bill, so we didn't want this big amount on that one.

 

[karentan]

same here. that extra month interest free makes all the difference.
also just been looking at the cancellation policy in case anything happens with garys dad. got til 45 days before cruising before we lose anything more than just the £200 deposit.

 

[granmaz]

75 days till we lose our deposit, so not bad. I think that is June 27th.

 

[karentan]

checked DCL's website and it says 89-45 days before you lose the deposit. 44-30 days its 50%.
good to know that if i cancel before 45 days out i only lose £200.

 

[MandyGirl]

We actually liked the idea of the enclosed verandah on DCL, but we may not get that one as there are only a few, but the idea was appealing for my DH who gets burnt so easily--outside but shady. However, that is not the only type of 6A room, so we may get bumped up to something else.

Thank you so much for your input!! Now I am wondering... with our previous skin cancer battles... starboard vs port for the crossing and which way the sun is directed. Sept 21 is the Autumn Equinox. From what I am thinking, starboard will be mostly northern facing as we go from east to west , so possibly more shaded??

We had a great covered verandah (with huge overhang from deck above) on Celebrity, so we were literally always shaded. Either way, we live with that rule of trying to avoid the sun for all of us 10-4, and our 4-year-old knows not to go outside w/o sunscreen (I often hear her saying "Daddy, did you put on sunscreen?") We will be loaded up with sunscreen, hats, and UPF rash guards for the trip!

 

[binkytell]

Just needing some advice.

Living social doing old town wristbsnd for $12, anyone been who can recommend it ??