Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[erbie]

We booked! I just cleared the time off today with my boss, so we're a go! This is the shortest lead-time we've ever had between booking and going. Usually it's close to 18 months. I'm already overdrive on the excitement! we even told the kids already and cleared it with their teachers. They'll have homework, but we did that last time too. Though last time it was because we booked for a cruise during spring break and then the district moved spring break.

I've never done a FE, but I'm thinking I'd like to this time. About how many are participating? What are some examples of goodies?

This will be our fourth time on the Wonder, and on the third night we will finally surpass the time we've spent on the Magic on one cruise. Lol!

Now I'm off to read this thread from the beginning.

 

[ShinyDaisy]

bbangel and welcome to your mom, too.



erbie and family


We're so excited for this cruise in September!!!

 

[ShinyDaisy]

Is there a good place to see examples of FE gifts? the Fish Extenders themselves? Thanks in advance.

 

[jetskigrl]

My mom and I will be joining you on this cruise!

We just got of the repo (LA/Van) and had booked the PC crossing in December while on board. We had thought about doing one in September but my job got in the way. Well, then when I went back to work there was a re-org and my position was eliminated. Sounds bad but I was actually hoping for that! Now I get paid severance for almost a year and have time to do some of the things I've been wanting (like go on this cruise!)

We are in for the FE - we had such fun doing it on our last cruise and have already thought up a project

Welcome to the group!!! Wow, I'm sorry to hear about your job, but I'm glad to hear that it works in your favor

Happy Sunday! I survived the week with a bit of a rough patch yesterday but all seems well again today. We have a family reunion (about 7 hours away via car) that I am not so sure I am up to next weekend though but I don't have to decide what I am doing there until the middle of the week. How can just sitting wear one out - and hurt??

Not much else to report from here. DH works at Boy Scout camp for the summer and he heads down tomorrow so I will be alone for the most part for the next 10 weeks. Youngest DS and DF were up this direction (Crystal Mountain) and they stopped for a late lunch today so even with the mini cleaning scramble, I feel pretty good.

Enjoy the rest of your day - and your holiday tomorrow (which is really today I think) and I will check in later.

Yikes, 7 hours in a car would be rough. It isn't the sitting that is the problem, it is the lack of movement, I would imagine. Well, I hope you are feeling up for it but if not, please rest up. You need to be 100% by September

Well it looks like, pending a venue being locked in, my brothers wedding in Sydney is on for 10th August. We've had to rush down the shops and get the boys suits on 30% off in the Queens Birthday Sales. That's the first time we've ever tried clothes on the kids in store and it was 40 minutes of pure sweat and muttering as the kids have never worn suits before. I'm not doing formal shoes for a month or so as I know those big feet will grow more. My brother wants the kids to do ring bearers, the kids are a bit scared of it all.

Right I've had a craft idea for the FE. I just need to run some prototypes up. I hope I have time to make them all. How many adults and how many kids (10 and under) do we have so far?

Yikes, I'm busy. Two holidays to plan. FE things to make. Oh and a FE. Plus all my knitting, craft and letters piling up. A house to paint and the before school visits starting for the kids. I'm going to need this cruise!

LOL - you sure will be ready for a break! I'll bet the boys look adorable in their suits

Hum, I guess I should start thinking seriously about the FE also. But I have to get through the next two weeks first (end of the school year). I'm so ready for summer.

We booked! I just cleared the time off today with my boss, so we're a go! This is the shortest lead-time we've ever had between booking and going. Usually it's close to 18 months. I'm already overdrive on the excitement! we even told the kids already and cleared it with their teachers. They'll have homework, but we did that last time too. Though last time it was because we booked for a cruise during spring break and then the district moved spring break.

I've never done a FE, but I'm thinking I'd like to this time. About how many are participating? What are some examples of goodies?

This will be our fourth time on the Wonder, and on the third night we will finally surpass the time we've spent on the Magic on one cruise. Lol!

Now I'm off to read this thread from the beginning.

Welcome to the group!!!!

I don't know if we have a good count on the FE yet. But it hasn't been very many so far, and I think mostly adults.

 

[erbie]

It sounds as if DCL haven't done themselves any favours in terms of getting local residents aware of the Wonder and her departures this season. Residents could have formed a backbone of support to keep the ship in port on a permanent basis. Sounds like they are mad scrambling to get people onboard now. I like the idea of a ship we are all on not quite at capacity but I do understand that an unslept bed is a cost to the line.

I really think you're spot on here. I live in So Cal and they really have not gone after the market here. I've not seen any ads while out and about, and there've been no good discounts for So Cal residents. The MR and Hawaii cruises were just too expensive, and we don't like to fly anymore with all the problems with airport security and lack of service on airlines lately. We had looked at this cruise when it first came out and it was too expensive. Since they dropped the price, now we can afford it. We LOVE DCL, and if the cruises had been more affordable, or if they'd had 3 or 4 night cruises like they do in FL, we'd have been on several.

 

[jetskigrl]

I really think you're spot on here. I live in So Cal and they really have not gone after the market here. I've not seen any ads while out and about, and there've been no good discounts for So Cal residents. The MR and Hawaii cruises were just too expensive, and we don't like to fly anymore with all the problems with airport security and lack of service on airlines lately. We had looked at this cruise when it first came out and it was too expensive. Since they dropped the price, now we can afford it. We LOVE DCL, and if the cruises had been more affordable, or if they'd had 3 or 4 night cruises like they do in FL, we'd have been on several.

We felt the same way. If they had tried out some 3 or 4 night cruises, since we are so close to the port I could easily see using having done quite a few of them. I would have loved a 3 night with Catalina and Ensenada. And it would have been much easier to combine that with a Disneyland trip for people who only have a week and want to do both.

I think the whole time the Wonder has been here, I have seen only one billboard advertising it (and that was on the way to Disneyland, LOL). But the past few days I have heard a lot of advertising on Go Country 105 (saying they were reporting from the ship) and advertising the "Gold Coast" cruises like crazy. I think they are having a promo to give one away also.
Why didn't they do that with the MR cruises

 

[peja]

Hello All

I am finally all set for our vacation. We leave for LAX on September 22. The flights are all booked, the pre-cruise hotel booked (we are staying at the Sheraton at the airport), the transfers booked (through limos.com), Southern Cali passes purchased through Costco (includes San Diego Sea World, Universal and Disneyland 3 day park hopper), Disneyland hotel booked. Now just to pay it off!!! LOL

Getting so excited...

Renata and family

 

[jetskigrl]

Hello All

I am finally all set for our vacation. We leave for LAX on September 22. The flights are all booked, the pre-cruise hotel booked (we are staying at the Sheraton at the airport), the transfers booked (through limos.com), Southern Cali passes purchased through Costco (includes San Diego Sea World, Universal and Disneyland 3 day park hopper), Disneyland hotel booked. Now just to pay it off!!! LOL

Getting so excited...

Renata and family

Awesome!!! Sounds like a great trip

It feels funny that I am not doing any planning for this one. We paid in full when we booked our VGT, so that is all done. I don't think we are doing any DCL excursions on this one either so I guess the only thing I need to book will be Palo. Wow, I just looked and I can start booking on June 25th. I didn't realize that my booking window is coming up so quick.

 

[erbie]

It feels funny that I am not doing any planning for this one. We paid in full when we booked our VGT, so that is all done. I don't think we are doing any DCL excursions on this one either so I guess the only thing I need to book will be Palo. Wow, I just looked and I can start booking on June 25th. I didn't realize that my booking window is coming up so quick.

I'm the same way. We're in LA, so we don't need hotels, flights, transfers. Just need to call my mom to see if she can drop off and pick up so we don't have to pay port parking for a week. We'll do our own excursions, since we live so close to SD and have lots of family and friends in SF. We were on the Repo to Vancouver last year, so we already did the SF overnight and know what to expect. SF is a very easy city to get around, with plenty of easy public transportation. If we decide to do Alcatraz, the boat goes from Fisherman's Wharf, I think the next pier over from the one we dock at.

Also, wanted to throw a tip out there. If you like dim sum, there's a place in SF's Chinatown that is super cheap and fantastic. It's a tiny hole in the wall, no seating, so you pick up the food and go. We spent $27 for four adults and three kids to be completely and utterly stuffed, and we still had enough to take back to the ship that we could have skipped dinner that night. It's called Good Mon Kok, and it's on Stockton St. The har gow is huge and delicious, (and under $2 for three) and the coconut buns are REALLY good. I've been trying to get DH to agree to a SF trip just to go back to this place, so I'm pretty excited about going there both days while we're in SF.

 

[ShinyDaisy]

We've been surprised not only at the lack of marketing but also disappointed by travel agents steering us away from DCL. Some more strongly than others, and yet have DCL marketing material in their lobby?

We're very glad to get this chance to sail on the Wonder.

 

[ShinyDaisy]

Hello All

I am finally all set for our vacation. We leave for LAX on September 22. The flights are all booked, the pre-cruise hotel booked (we are staying at the Sheraton at the airport), the transfers booked (through limos.com), Southern Cali passes purchased through Costco (includes San Diego Sea World, Universal and Disneyland 3 day park hopper), Disneyland hotel booked. Now just to pay it off!!! LOL

Getting so excited...

Renata and family

Very cool!

We'll check out Costco. Can you see what you bought on their website, Renata? Thanks for the tip.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

I guess I gotta get our rental car sorted for the time we are in the US and sort out how we are getting to port. Everything else is paid for. I don't think we'll do DCL excursions either, I'd prefer the flexibility to do our own thing as I'm concerned the kids will be shattered after two weeks travelling before we even board the Wonder. We think we won't even bother trying for Palo as we'll have been eating out solid for the entire time we are away and I'm not the best at waiting for food and chatting (my DH's pet peeve is that I'd like to ring my order thru before we leave home and have it waiting on the table when we arrive as I am so time poor!).

Two weeks or so until DH has this winter marathon run. It's looking like a bag of water split open and emptied it here - it's so heavy you can't see more than a couple of metres in front of you. Silly man still went running in it, it's going to wreck his training shoes. Weather could be worse, my best mate is snowed in her home with no power at all. Here's a pic of her kids on the national news, currently the 12th pic (the girls are Felicity and Natalya, with a snowman) http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7049818/Heavy-snow-closes-roads-and-schools

JSG - the kids looked super cute in their suits. Now I just have to work out how to tell them they have to wear real footwear not gumboots/Wellingtons/rubber boots or their sneakers.

How do you book a port transfer when you don't know the time? What time do I pick?

 

[AussieMumma]

Hi everyone.
Time seems to be going very fast, this holiday is creeping up on me and we are so unorganized it's not funny! We don't even have flights to the US yet!!!

erbie, two of my children are the same age as your girls but they are my two boys, my girls will be 14 and 3 for the cruise and the two boys 11 and 7.

With the Pixar characters being on board for our cruise, will they still have all of the other characters as well do you think? I really hope so, being our first cruise we really want to see them all in the sailor suits

What are everyone's plans for Ensanada? We arent sure if we'll even bother getting off the ship there, I've not read any positive reviews about it anywhere. We are just planning our own thing for SFO and SD, we've been to SD twice before and prefer to do things at our own pace, well the four children pace!

I'm keen to do the FE, but I've never done it before so will need to read up about it so I don't mess it up!

Another question, Do we have to check in online at some stage? No one has told me about this but I've just read a few things on here about it so decided to ask the experts (that's all of you that have sailed before by the way!!!)

I've made a promise to myself to get on here more often from now on, I would really love to get to know you all a bit better

 

[erbie]

What are everyone's plans for Ensanada? We arent sure if we'll even bother getting off the ship there, I've not read any positive reviews about it anywhere.

My plans are to see if I can find some vanilla beans. I make my own vanilla extract, and I like the Mexican beans the best. They're really expensive in the US, even wholesale, so I want to see if I can find some at a more reasonable price in Ensenada. It just occurred to me to wonder if I can bring them back into the US. I'll have to check with Customs.

My DH wants to get some good fish tacos, so we'll also be looking for those. And a trip to Ensenada isn't complete without visiting the original Hussong's Cantina. I haven't been to Ensenada since I was a kid, so I bet it's changed a lot since then.

 

[ShinyDaisy]

Hi everyone.
Time seems to be going very fast, this holiday is creeping up on me and we are so unorganized it's not funny! We don't even have flights to the US yet!!!

erbie, two of my children are the same age as your girls but they are my two boys, my girls will be 14 and 3 for the cruise and the two boys 11 and 7.

With the Pixar characters being on board for our cruise, will they still have all of the other characters as well do you think? I really hope so, being our first cruise we really want to see them all in the sailor suits

What are everyone's plans for Ensanada? We arent sure if we'll even bother getting off the ship there, I've not read any positive reviews about it anywhere. We are just planning our own thing for SFO and SD, we've been to SD twice before and prefer to do things at our own pace, well the four children pace!

I'm keen to do the FE, but I've never done it before so will need to read up about it so I don't mess it up!

Another question, Do we have to check in online at some stage? No one has told me about this but I've just read a few things on here about it so decided to ask the experts (that's all of you that have sailed before by the way!!!)

I've made a promise to myself to get on here more often from now on, I would really love to get to know you all a bit better

This is our first cruise, but the boards are a great source of information. Here's what I've learned:
Yes, we'll all need to check in online. Gail, the FE organizer already has. When we check in is based on how many times you've sailed (with DCL). If this is your first cruise, you can check in on July 10th; unless you're in a concierge stateroom, then it's 120 days.

Since we've never been to Mexico, we might get off in Ensenada. Not sure, we'll play it by ear.

Perhaps, your DD(14) and my DD(16) could PM or exchanges email messages before the cruise. I would be great to make a connection beforehand.

 

[ShinyDaisy]

I guess I gotta get our rental car sorted for the time we are in the US and sort out how we are getting to port. Everything else is paid for. I don't think we'll do DCL excursions either, I'd prefer the flexibility to do our own thing as I'm concerned the kids will be shattered after two weeks travelling before we even board the Wonder. We think we won't even bother trying for Palo as we'll have been eating out solid for the entire time we are away and I'm not the best at waiting for food and chatting (my DH's pet peeve is that I'd like to ring my order thru before we leave home and have it waiting on the table when we arrive as I am so time poor!).

Two weeks or so until DH has this winter marathon run. It's looking like a bag of water split open and emptied it here - it's so heavy you can't see more than a couple of metres in front of you. Silly man still went running in it, it's going to wreck his training shoes. Weather could be worse, my best mate is snowed in her home with no power at all. Here's a pic of her kids on the national news, currently the 12th pic (the girls are Felicity and Natalya, with a snowman) http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7049818/Heavy-snow-closes-roads-and-schools

JSG - the kids looked super cute in their suits. Now I just have to work out how to tell them they have to wear real footwear not gumboots/Wellingtons/rubber boots or their sneakers.

How do you book a port transfer when you don't know the time? What time do I pick?

Thanks for sharing this link with the pics; hope your friend's power comes back on soon. How'd DH's run go?

Oh, they must be adorable. I hope the shoes don't become a battle; brings back memories with my DD and a family wedding.

port transfers? from the port to the airport? I think we can be off the ship by 9, if there are no problems with Customs clearing the Wonder, which has probably never happened ( just seen that listed on the board for this question).

 

[peja]

I read somewhere that the wonder offers limited passes to Disney Friends Tea??? Is this correct??? Is it fun??

We did Tea with Alice on the Magic. Was it worth it??? It was okay, if I actually paid for it I would have been very disappointed.


Me:hippie: (37) DH (38) DD (7) DS (5)

SAILED ON THE MAGIC APRIL 2011 EASTERN CARRIBEAN
SAILING ON THE WONDER SEPTEMBER 23, 2012 CALIFORNIA COAST

 

[bbangel]

Flights are booked! Hotel pre-cruise booked! Plans for activities made I'm kind of liking not having as much time to plan since it also means less time to wait!

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Thanks for sharing this link with the pics; hope your friend's power comes back on soon. How'd DH's run go?

Oh, they must be adorable. I hope the shoes don't become a battle; brings back memories with my DD and a family wedding.

port transfers? from the port to the airport? I think we can be off the ship by 9, if there are no problems with Customs clearing the Wonder, which has probably never happened ( just seen that listed on the board for this question).

Major Internet outage last night. I gave up trying to get reconnected at about 11.30. Then one of the kids had a nightmare at 0230 and didn't go back to sleep until 0400. Tired tired tired.

DH got drenched but he still maintained it's better than being in a gym. Thankfully the rain stopped for the time I needed to do my trail run this morning and it started back up when I was returning from walking the dog. He's off to Auckland for the day, I guess that's like doing LA to San Fran for the day - he does that most weeks now. So a long day for me as he doesn't get back in time to see the kids before they are in bed.

Port transfer from our rented condo to port is what I'm a bit worried about. I dunno what time to pick. On the port to our 'holding pen' (day room at a LAX hotel) I'll probably order a shuttle for about 9.30. I know that the non-US citizens line coming thru Customs goes a bit quicker as there are less of us. Hubby and I are at a loss what to do about carseats now the new law for California came into enforcement this year. Most of the car companies doing transfers don't hold carseats - how on earth do I get my kids in a car service that doesn't provide carseats (or are you supposed to turn a blind eye?)?

 

[AussieMumma]

My plans are to see if I can find some vanilla beans. I make my own vanilla extract, and I like the Mexican beans the best. They're really expensive in the US, even wholesale, so I want to see if I can find some at a more reasonable price in Ensenada. It just occurred to me to wonder if I can bring them back into the US. I'll have to check with Customs.

My DH wants to get some good fish tacos, so we'll also be looking for those. And a trip to Ensenada isn't complete without visiting the original Hussong's Cantina. I haven't been to Ensenada since I was a kid, so I bet it's changed a lot since then.

Dh and I both love fish tacos, might be worth a trip off the ship just for a good one of those!!

ShinyDaisy, thank you for the check in info. I'll ask dd (when she finally drags herself out of bed!) about exchanging emails with your dd and pm you