Sept 20,2011 Wonder Repositioning Cruise

[Camonkeygirl]

Welcome to the thread Tanya. I'm Heather and traveling with my husband John (Grumpygoat)

 

[Camonkeygirl]

Just logged off of the Cruise website. I was able to get the Garden and Butterfly tour in Victoria, and a Palo Brunch on the Ensanada Day. I was kind of hoping to get a bruch on the 21st, but this works. Now to go back in the morning to check in. Heading off to bed a bit early tonight, since I have not been sleeping well, and was up at 4:45 this morning to go to work.


Have a great evening everyone.

Night

 

[auntyjenn]

oh no....well you will have a long wait at the airport...as i believe everyone "has" to be off the ship no later than 9 or 10...something like that as the cleaning crews have to clean everything before the next group starts boarding at noonish...but if you get to the airport early enough - they may choose to put you on an earlier flight as well....(how many of you are going to the airport in that shuttle?) i'm still looking to share a shuttle....

Sorry, we have 8 already. I think that's the limit. Maybe its 9. So, should I tell them 10 or 11 for the car?

 

[CrystalS]

Hello again!
I am having such frun getting excited about this trip!

I am tanyaewa - aka Tanya, dh is Rod, ds9 is Zayden & ds6 is Quinn
We are from Whistler, BC. We are staying at a Stay & fly hotel (mostly likely Delta or Comfort Inn) the night before the cruise, skytraining to port, going to DL for 5 days after cruise. Flying back to YVR afterwards. We are 10C Deck 2
We are travelling with some great fun friends
Joy, dh Stu, ds6 James & ds5 Wil. They are also Deck 2 10C. They live in the Vancouver area and will be doing DL afterwards with us.
We aren't booking any excursions in Victoria since we've all been there a 100 times but we will most likley do the Ensenada shopping tour just to get off the boat & see the town.

Hi
What kind of rates are you finding for a park/fly hotel for 1 night?
We are trying to find the best rate for parking as we are also staying for disneyland/knotts for 5 days after the cruise! We kive in BC as well.

Are you flying back on the 30th? We are flying Westjet at 7:30pm on the 30th.

 

[AJA55]

Hey Heatbher and Grumpygoat aka John

I'll e on the computer trying my luck on ressie at 8PM tomorrow also!

LUCK TO YOU.

 

[auntyjenn]

Where do you register for the rain room thingy? Can't find it under spa treatments

 

[tinker1bell]

thank you for your information, terry.

do you think the rainforest experience is worth more than just one day? can you add on to the one day for a whole 5 days if you want?
thanks again
susan

The Rainforest room is so worth it. Since you can use it for the whole day, it just matters when you have time to get there. Not sure how it works if you do just one day or for the whole trip. I think it evens out.
I would check the Navigator since they have at port specials. No matter what, I plan to do the Hot Stone Massage, that is just the best ever IMHO

 

[tinker1bell]

Where do you register for the rain room thingy? Can't find it under spa treatments

You have to sign up for the Rainforest room at the Spa cause you need to decide if you want to go a day at a time or for the whole time.

 

[taaren]

Got 2 Palo ressies, the dinner in the timeframe I wanted for the fourth night though all that was left for brunch was the day we're in port at Ensenada which was since I thought they only did brunch on sea days? But we haven't seen any Ensenada excursions we're terribly excited about so we might stick with it or we might try to switch the Palo brunch to day 3 when we board then wander off the ship on day 5.
Also nabbed the Butterfly Gardens & Butchart tour in Victoria though I might reevaluate whether that's worth it when we can go with a different tour operator to just Butchart for half the price.
The trip is definitely starting to feel more real/imminent now!
Did all the other first-time cruisers get the excursions/Palo/spa reservations they were hoping for?

 

[nate4761]

Got 2 Palo ressies, the dinner in the timeframe I wanted for the fourth night though all that was left for brunch was the day we're in port at Ensenada which was since I thought they only did brunch on sea days? But we haven't seen any Ensenada excursions we're terribly excited about so we might stick with it or we might try to switch the Palo brunch to day 3 when we board then wander off the ship on day 5.
Also nabbed the Butterfly Gardens & Butchart tour in Victoria though I might reevaluate whether that's worth it when we can go with a different tour operator to just Butchart for half the price.
The trip is definitely starting to feel more real/imminent now!
Did all the other first-time cruisers get the excursions/Palo/spa reservations they were hoping for?

I'm so excited, this trip does feel like it is just around the corner It would be nice if they'd give me my stateroom assignment already...pixie dust would be nice. Does anybody know if I can realistically expect to do an onboard upgrade from an inside stateroom to a verandah for anything close to $200? It's my honeymoon, so I want it to be memorable.

I don't blame you for not being all that excited about the Ensenada excursions. I keep going back and looking at them...but nothing appeals to me. It's probably just as well that you are having brunch at Palo that day. I wish they'd picked San Francisco instead. I would have loved a Golden Gate bridge or Chinatown-related excursion. With the cruise going to Los Angeles, I think it would have been a more sensible choice.

I was able to get a Palo reservation on the 2nd night, which will be jam-packed as it is, with the Butchart Gardens/Tea excursion and Swedish couples massage my fiance and I have set up for that day. I was pretty worried that the pickings would be slim on Palo, but I was pleasantly surprised with the availability.

I feel your pain on the prices of the Disney sponsored shore excursions, but they come with peace of mind that you're not going to be left behind because your tour was late getting back to the boat.

Don't forget to fill out those online check-in forms ASAP. They do boarding in 30 minute time-slots, and you have to board during the time-slot it says on your check in form. I'd imagine that the 11am ones go sooner than the 3:30pm ones. Nobody wants to board the boat and have all the "leftover" activities be all filled up.

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Hello again!
I am having such frun getting excited about this trip!

I am tanyaewa - aka Tanya, dh is Rod, ds9 is Zayden & ds6 is Quinn
We are from Whistler, BC. We are staying at a Stay & fly hotel (mostly likely Delta or Comfort Inn) the night before the cruise, skytraining to port, going to DL for 5 days after cruise. Flying back to YVR afterwards. We are 10C Deck 2
We are travelling with some great fun friends
Joy, dh Stu, ds6 James & ds5 Wil. They are also Deck 2 10C. They live in the Vancouver area and will be doing DL afterwards with us.
We aren't booking any excursions in Victoria since we've all been there a 100 times but we will most likley do the Ensenada shopping tour just to get off the boat & see the town.

Welcome Tanya & group...I am Brenda - i am traveling with my good friend Dianne (her 1st cruise) and my sister Teresa (her 2nd cruise but 1st Disney)...my DH will NOT cruise...

Just logged off of the Cruise website. I was able to get the Garden and Butterfly tour in Victoria, and a Palo Brunch on the Ensanada Day. I was kind of hoping to get a bruch on the 21st, but this works. Now to go back in the morning to check in. Heading off to bed a bit early tonight, since I have not been sleeping well, and was up at 4:45 this morning to go to work.


Have a great evening everyone.

Night

YAY - glad you got everything!!!!

Sorry, we have 8 already. I think that's the limit. Maybe its 9. So, should I tell them 10 or 11 for the car?

no worries....but yes i would say 9:30 or 10 am pick up time

I'm so excited, this trip does feel like it is just around the corner It would be nice if they'd give me my stateroom assignment already...pixie dust would be nice. Does anybody know if I can realistically expect to do an onboard upgrade from an inside stateroom to a verandah for anything close to $200? It's my honeymoon, so I want it to be memorable.

I don't blame you for not being all that excited about the Ensenada excursions. I keep going back and looking at them...but nothing appeals to me. It's probably just as well that you are having brunch at Palo that day. I wish they'd picked San Francisco instead. I would have loved a Golden Gate bridge or Chinatown-related excursion. With the cruise going to Los Angeles, I think it would have been a more sensible choice.

I was able to get a Palo reservation on the 2nd night, which will be jam-packed as it is, with the Butchart Gardens/Tea excursion and Swedish couples massage my fiance and I have set up for that day. I was pretty worried that the pickings would be slim on Palo, but I was pleasantly surprised with the availability.

I feel your pain on the prices of the Disney sponsored shore excursions, but they come with peace of mind that you're not going to be left behind because your tour was late getting back to the boat.

Don't forget to fill out those online check-in forms ASAP. They do boarding in 30 minute time-slots, and you have to board during the time-slot it says on your check in form. I'd imagine that the 11am ones go sooner than the 3:30pm ones. Nobody wants to board the boat and have all the "leftover" activities be all filled up.

We are doing the Butchart Gardens on our own - i trust we can get back on time with no problems in Victoria....but Ensenada - need to stick with a DCL excursion - so we were able to get the beach horse back riding....i would have really like a San Diego stop....but oh well...
Nate - you should call and ask about the upgrade to a verandah & see how affordable it is....(i just went & checked what my original fare was for 2 ppl for a cat5B - it was about $2100 - probably a bit cheaper than online as i booked it on a previous cruise)...but will give you an idea

 

[FergusBC]

And that sums up exactly how I feel this morning!!!

Only 74 more sleeps! Booked a Palo brunch ressie for the Thursday. Dh doesn't know so hopefully will be a bit of a surprise. Haven't booked any excursions yet. We're not going to bother getting off the ship in Victoria. We'll probably just end up with the city shopping tour in Ensenada, just to get the kids off the ship so they can say they've been to Mexico Oh, and so dh can get a bottle of tequila. Yeah, that was it!

 

[sanjuan60]

hi there,
my question is
what if nothing is available to book early for the palo brunch? Do they hold reservations back for those getting onboard early?
and how do you make sure you get one of the early boarding slots?
thanks for the help in advance
first time disney cruiser here.
thanks again
susan

 

[CADZNYCHC]

hi there,
my question is
what if nothing is available to book early for the palo brunch? Do they hold reservations back for those getting onboard early?
and how do you make sure you get one of the early boarding slots?
thanks for the help in advance
first time disney cruiser here.
thanks again
susan

Book whatever Palo brunch is available & once on board go directly to Guest Services and see what they can do to change it....they ALWAYS leave some available time slots open for on board bookings....

 

[yukongirl123]

Got our room number today, 7035, no upgrade lol
Same deck as my mom, but opposite sides and ends.
Was hoping to be closer, in the same side as mom so that we could shuffle the kids back and forth as needed.

Any ever call AFTER getting room assignment to see if they could get closer to their linked room?

Crystal, we did this in March. Booked a GTY room, we were assigned 6319?, that small corridor near the front of the ship. I called right away and asked to be moved to a more central location near an elevator and they were able to do make the change right away. I booked my own travel and didn't use a TA.

Janice

 

[Camonkeygirl]

Hey Heatbher and Grumpygoat aka John

I'll e on the computer trying my luck on ressie at 8PM tomorrow also!

LUCK TO YOU.

Thanks, we were able to get what I wanted. Good luck to you also.

Got 2 Palo ressies, the dinner in the timeframe I wanted for the fourth night though all that was left for brunch was the day we're in port at Ensenada which was since I thought they only did brunch on sea days? But we haven't seen any Ensenada excursions we're terribly excited about so we might stick with it or we might try to switch the Palo brunch to day 3 when we board then wander off the ship on day 5.
Also nabbed the Butterfly Gardens & Butchart tour in Victoria though I might reevaluate whether that's worth it when we can go with a different tour operator to just Butchart for half the price.
The trip is definitely starting to feel more real/imminent now!
Did all the other first-time cruisers get the excursions/Palo/spa reservations they were hoping for?

John and I are on the Butchart and Butterfly tour. We decided since it is our 1st cruise to stay with Disney though.

Just completed our check in. There are still 1100 slots available for checkin. Now to get super busy on finishing my FE stuff and get some snacks for the crew members.

 

[AJA55]

….I was thinking that I needed to make ressies today….at 9PM…..

But we also got what we wanted.
Wine, Cider and Spirits of the Island in Victoria
Taste of Mexico in Ensenada.

I didn’t think we’d have a chance at a Polo brunch on the at sea days…so no big there. If we don’t get a slot when we board, we’re taking the attitude that it wasn’t meant to be. By the way I saw that the slotted times started at 10:30. Is this the earliest time that they start seatting?

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Completed all of our checkin stuff today too....whew!!!! nice to have that all done!!!

 

[KatiezMom]

Did all our check in today and decided against Palo, the only slots left were on the day we were in Ensanada. I also looked at spa treaments and the list is pretty limited in what you can book online, a friend gave me a list she had when she did the LA to Van trip and there was so much more that can be booked I guess when on the ship.

I suppose I should start my FE gifts, I am a terrible procrastinator right now with the weather being so nice.

What times are people looking at for check in at the port? We picked noon, thinking it would be not as busy, we get on, have lunch then rooms should be ready. Of course this is my first cruise so I could be totally wrong. Thoughts?

 

[Steffy]

Did all our check in today and decided against Palo, the only slots left were on the day we were in Ensanada. I also looked at spa treaments and the list is pretty limited in what you can book online, a friend gave me a list she had when she did the LA to Van trip and there was so much more that can be booked I guess when on the ship.

I suppose I should start my FE gifts, I am a terrible procrastinator right now with the weather being so nice.

What times are people looking at for check in at the port? We picked noon, thinking it would be not as busy, we get on, have lunch then rooms should be ready. Of course this is my first cruise so I could be totally wrong. Thoughts?

I would suggest as soon as you get on the ship to ask your server where they are making Palo reservations. They hold back a ton to be made on the ship. If this is your first cruise, I think you would enjoy Palo brunch on a sea day.

And yes, you will have lunch and then be allowed to go to your room. Usually around 1:30 the rooms are ready. When you arrive at the port, they usually have a Navigator available. That gives you the schedule for the day. It will show when the spa tour is. Love the spa tour.

The Dis meet will be 3:00 in the Promenade Lounge. That is near Guest Services.