Sept 20,2011 Wonder Repositioning Cruise

[missj1975]

What is an FE exchange? what type of gifts are involved? do you give one per cabin per cruise or one per day? is it all up to the giver?

my friend and i booked an inside cabin and are first time disney cruisers. we are looking forward to the experience.

susan

FE stands for Fish Extender. Each cabin has a fish clip outside the door so a very clever cruiser came up with the idea of hanging a FE Extender from the clip for disboard members to leave gifts for each other.

FE Extenders can be homemade or bought from ebay, or you can even just hang a bag from your Fish clip, whatever suits you. If you are unsure of what a Fish Extender is, search the word on ebay to get an example. Or click on the links for one of my trip reports, I've got lots of pictures of FE's and gifts in my reports.

Participants usually give one gift per cruiser for the cruise (3 & 4 day cruises). For longer cruises (5 & 7 day cruises), sometimes participants give more then one gift for the cruise. This is entirely up to the participant. Participants can distribute the gifts whenever they want during the cruise. For example, I will leave my gifts late the first night and then I will leave another small gift the last full day of the cruise.

Gifts are entirely up to the participant. The gifts I've received in the past range from hand-made crafty items to practical items. For example, I've received bookmarks, mini scrapbooks, magnets, keychains, candy, toys, sunscreen, lip gloss, bracelets, etc. Usually most participants manage to find a really cool gift for less then a couple of dollars. Most of us are expert savers to fuel our Disney addiction so we are pretty good at finding deals.

 

[missj1975]

We booked a Palo Brunch for the first day at sea and Palo Tea for the second day at sea.

I don't think we are booking any excursions, will probably explore on our own or find an excursion outside of Disney. None of Disney's choices sounded interesting to us.

 

[Camonkeygirl]

We booked a Palo Brunch for the first day at sea and Palo Tea for the second day at sea.

I don't think we are booking any excursions, will probably explore on our own or find an excursion outside of Disney. None of Disney's choices sounded interesting to us.

Hi Jennifer - Did there seem to be alot of openings for Palo? I want to do the brunch but can't book until July 7. We also decided to go on the Adult Garden tour for Victoria, as my DH is a photographer and loves gardens.

 

[missj1975]

Hi Jennifer - Did there seem to be alot of openings for Palo? I want to do the brunch but can't book until July 7. We also decided to go on the Adult Garden tour for Victoria, as my DH is a photographer and loves gardens.

Disney does not allow Palo to be booked up by just the early bookings, the online bookings, etc. They save a percentage of spots that can only be booked on the day of boarding, this allows cruisers who don't have access to the internet or first time cruisers to have a chance at Palo too. So if you are unable to get a spot on July 7th, don't give up hope, you can still try to book the day of boarding around 1pm.

I would think with two days of sea, you should be able to get a brunch spot. Good luck!!!

 

[CynthiaC925]

Hi, sorry it took me so long. The Gerkens' stateroom number is 7052. We have Palo booked for brunch day 3 and dinner day 4. No excursions. Just enjoy the ship and maybe walk around Victoria.

 

[CynthiaC925]

Heather & John, room#2560
Susan & James, Jameson (4), room #2580
Michelle & Steve, Grandma Robbie, Kate (7), room #5020
Jenn & William, Ellise (17), Jacob (16), Peter (14), Daniel (10) , room #5134
Cynthia, Sharon, room #5520
Taaren & Alex, Sam (5), room #6003
Donna & Diane, room #6047
Jennifer & Bob, room #6128
Justin & Joy, Holly (10 months), room #6313
Janice, Trevor (young adult), room #6503
Pam & Tim, room #7076
Doug & Norah, 2 daughters (10, 6), room#7552
Brenda, Dianne, Teresa, room #7568
Darcy, Nick (young adult), room #7621
Crystal & Aaron, Jacob (4), Ella (1), room#?
Pam & Nate, room#?
Hilde & Wendell, room#?

The cutoff date to join the exchange is 8/30/11.

I am so excited, our FE Gift exchange list is shaping up nicely.

Sorry I put last name. Hilde and Wendell are in #7052. Wahoo!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Finally booked our room at the Pan Pacific...so wondering what time a "mini Dis meet" works for all on Monday the 19th??? 5ish? 5:30ish then those who have dinner plans can still make those & those who don't...can join Dianne Teresa & I..no plans yet - but thinking there should be some fabulous choices in Vancouver & a great way to see that beautiful city in the evening...

 

[nate4761]

Are there any Castaway Club members out there who know whether there is still availability for online Palo reservations for this cruise? This is my first cruise, so I cannot check on them until July 7th. My fiance is very excited about the possibility of dining there.

Specifically, I am wondering about the evening of Sept 23rd and brunch on Sept 24th.

Thank you

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Are there any Castaway Club members out there who know whether there is still availability for online Palo reservations for this cruise? This is my first cruise, so I cannot check on them until July 7th. My fiance is very excited about the possibility of dining there.

Specifically, I am wondering about the evening of Sept 23rd and brunch on Sept 24th.

Thank you

Nate - there are always reservation times 'saved' for each booking date so on the 7th at 9 pm (if you're on the West Coast) get into reservation and book your Palo times - even if they don't have exactly what you want, book whatever you can and then once on board, you can change them. Palo is "VERY" accommodating!!!

 

[ludari]

I reserved brunch, which is my favorite for the 3rd night. I may add additional Palo reservations later.

 

[GrumpyGoat]

I realize I'm coming late to this party, but I too will be on this cruise. I'm the old curmudgeon half of Heather and John... I haven't been hanging around here up until now but Heather told me there was a "Curmudgeons Unite!" thread elsewhere on the cruise boards, so I had to come in and post...

Is anyone else worried that Disney will cancel this cruise or is it a done deal that they need to be out of Alaska at the end of September and will have to get the ship more southern?

The reason I ask is there are so many available cabins on this cruise. I am geography challenged so the ports of Mexico that Disney visits are not the ones in turmoil right now correct? So Disney isn't going to cancel the Mexican itineraries of the Wonder are they?

In other words, since this is a repositioning cruise, Disney will need to reposition the Wonder whether it is full or not correct??

Thanks,

Stephanie worry wart

Ensanada is a small port town that is popular with American that live in Southern California that can drive down from the states. There may be some drug-related problems there but much of that has dropped out of our news here in SD, so I think it will be fine.

Hi! So you also are not cruising with kids? Is that at all common on Disney cruises? It's nice to know that FH and I won't be the ONLY couple on board sans kids. Nice to meet you.

Kids? KIDS? I'm too old for kids...

Under port adventures:

Nothing in there pulls my chain. I used to ride my motorcycle down to Ensanada from San Diego and I don't think the place has change that much since the last time I was there.

As far as I can tell (I am trying to keep track) with Makayna and Michelle's groups we are up to twelve rooms (23 A and 6 c) in the FE group.

I am looking forward to it, but better get get busy on my FE gift. I also need to talk my DH into making the Fish Extender for us (He sews and is retired)

How did I get roped into that one?

Oh that is confusing! The Estero Beach Resort website sure makes it sound like it has beach access...I wonder if you just can't swim in it.

And...ok..I have an embarrassing question: How does the money work? If I were to get a poolside massage...is the bill presented in US dollars or pesos? Do you think I can just use a CC? And if it's in pesos...how do I figure out the conversion??

I don't know about now, but when I used to travel in Mexico using a credit card was the way to go. Visa and MC are accepted in Mexico and with the peso devaluating so rapidly agains the dollar, by the time the paperwork got back to the US bank, the exchange rate had changed enough that what was actually charged was substantially less than the price quoted at the time. In these days of electronic transfers, I doubt that's still the case.

Anyone else not interested in disembarking at Ensenada? I've been to Ensenada numerous times in my early twenties and really had some bad experiences with local police scams. Things may have changed over the past twenty years but I prefer not to take any chances and just stay on the ship.

We don't plan on going ashore. I've seen the place and while I didn't have any of the problems you mention, I doubt the place has changed much in 15 years.

I think we're probably staying on the ship as well. None of the excursions appeal to me, and if we WERE to get off the ship, we'd DEFINITELY want to make sure that it was a DCL excursion. Ensenada is not the greatest town and I don't understand why DCL is going there, since they already have the non-US port requirement met by starting in Vancouver and going to Victoria. I would have MUCH preferred they stop in San Diego instead!!

Same here... It would have saved us a bit of money. We live five miles from the cruise ship terminal. The 15 minute cab ride home would have cost us a lot less than bus fare from San Pedro to Union Station, Surfliner to SD and a shuttle from the Santa Fe Depot to home...

i haven't read thru all of the postings yet...are you still on this cruise? See that you're from SJC - I am from Gilroy...friends traveling with me are from Watsonville.

I went to high school in Carmel...

Something I came up with while playing in photoshop, what do you all think?

I like "Strange Pirates of the Pacific..."

Me, Trevor and our friends from the WBTA Candida & Jon outside the Whitepass Station

Overlooking Skagway Harbour

View of the Wonder looking down Broadway Ave in Skagway

Now there's a cruise I'd love to take. I so want to ride the White Pass and Yukon... I'm a foamer of the first magnitude. (For the uninformed, a "foamer" is a diehard rail fan.)

<Vistaprint link deleted>
might be handy if anyone wants to check it out...

Be careful using Vistaprint. They have been known to tack on a membership in some kind of service without notifying the purchaser. You don't find out about it until you see it on your credit card bill...

The Cove Cafe has the coffee card and after you buy so many coffee drinks, you get one free.

I noticed your DH is 64. Have you always lived in San Diego? I graduated from Kearny High School in 1968. I know I am putting my age out there, but when I saw San Diego, I just had to ask

I graduated from high school in Carmel in 1965 and have been in San Diego ever since. BTW, I will be 65 by cruise time and Heather will be celebrating her 39th on board on Sept 21st.

Sounds like a good plan to me.....

So for a DIS meet, how about 3:00 in the Promenade Louge on embarktion day? We all should be on the ship by then, and if we try to do later than that, people get busy with all the other activities. That will give us an hour before the mandatory lifeboat drill.

Will that work for everyone?

I was hoping to get a family room, but the price was a little high for us. It is only the two of us, so that is not too bad. DH wants to look into a possible upgrade depending on the cost onboard. We have done the roomette before and we bring the bare minimum as far as stuff. He will have his camera stuff and a net book, along with pj's and possible change of shirt for the next day. I am not sure what I am bringing yet, but may be finishing out FE on the way up.

What makes you think I'm going to take that much on the train?

Note: Under the stupid forum rules, all links and images in the above quoted posts have been deleted because I don't have the requisite ten posts...

 

[rosiep]

Glad to have you on board! Looks like you jumped right in!

 

[GrumpyGoat]

Yeah, that's me...

 

[CADZNYCHC]

I realize I'm coming late to this party, but I too will be on this cruise. I'm the old curmudgeon half of Heather and John... I haven't been hanging around here up until now but Heather told me there was a "Curmudgeons Unite!" thread elsewhere on the cruise boards, so I had to come in and post...



Ensanada is a small port town that is popular with American that live in Southern California that can drive down from the states. There may be some drug-related problems there but much of that has dropped out of our news here in SD, so I think it will be fine.



Kids? KIDS? I'm too old for kids...



Nothing in there pulls my chain. I used to ride my motorcycle down to Ensanada from San Diego and I don't think the place has change that much since the last time I was there.



How did I get roped into that one?



I don't know about now, but when I used to travel in Mexico using a credit card was the way to go. Visa and MC are accepted in Mexico and with the peso devaluating so rapidly agains the dollar, by the time the paperwork got back to the US bank, the exchange rate had changed enough that what was actually charged was substantially less than the price quoted at the time. In these days of electronic transfers, I doubt that's still the case.



We don't plan on going ashore. I've seen the place and while I didn't have any of the problems you mention, I doubt the place has changed much in 15 years.



Same here... It would have saved us a bit of money. We live five miles from the cruise ship terminal. The 15 minute cab ride home would have cost us a lot less than bus fare from San Pedro to Union Station, Surfliner to SD and a shuttle from the Santa Fe Depot to home...



I went to high school in Carmel...



I like "Strange Pirates of the Pacific..."



Now there's a cruise I'd love to take. I so want to ride the White Pass and Yukon... I'm a foamer of the first magnitude. (For the uninformed, a "foamer" is a diehard rail fan.)



Be careful using Vistaprint. They have been known to tack on a membership in some kind of service without notifying the purchaser. You don't find out about it until you see it on your credit card bill...



I graduated from high school in Carmel in 1965 and have been in San Diego ever since. BTW, I will be 65 by cruise time and Heather will be celebrating her 39th on board on Sept 21st.





What makes you think I'm going to take that much on the train?

Note: Under the stupid forum rules, all links and images in the above quoted posts have been deleted because I don't have the requisite ten posts...

Nice to meet you!!! Oh i can tell you're going to keep us all in stitches this cruise!!!!! thank you for all the great tips!

 

[GrumpyGoat]

Nice to meet you!!! Oh i can tell you're going to keep us all in stitches this cruise!!!!! thank you for all the great tips!

I'll do my best...

 

[rosiep]

I'll do my best...

You're nominated court jester! I'm more of a pet monkey...

 

[Camonkeygirl]

You're nominated court jester! I'm more of a pet monkey...

Rosie - he is use to monkeys. There is a reason I am called Ca Monkey Girl - I volunteer at a primate Sanctuary when I have any free time.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

I'll do my best...

btw - you're up to 6 posts now...but you could have replied to each of those individually - you'd have passed your required 10 and THEN SOME!!!! but stay with us here and you'll get those 10 in no time!!!!

ohhhh and what a great idea to have the Wonder dock in SD rather than Ensenada....i LOVE SD!!!! only get down there about every other year for a convention - but it is gorgeous and i would have loved to have been able to spend a full day there (not working)!!!!!

My office is about 20 miles north of Carmel on hwy 1 so i get to your 'hometown' quite often....the boy played football for St Francis so we played at Carmel High when he was still in HS~

 

[CADZNYCHC]

I sure don't want to "RUSH" summer but i am realllllly looking forward to this cruise!!!!!! I have not ever been on the Wonder and it's been almost 9 months since i stepped off the Magic.....i'm having "DCL separation anxiety"

 

[yukongirl123]

I'll do my best...

I love your profile pic by the way.....