Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[BigDisneyOE]

Frank - Excellent points, DH has just enjoyed hearing about the shows advice. I cannot for the life of me understand why people wouldn't travel without travel insurance. I see post after post on these boards about 'should I get insurance?' Heck yes. I used to be responsible for "Distressed New Zealanders" at one of our Embassies. You would not believe what sort of mess people can get themselves in with sickness, theft, loss of funds etc - some minor and some major. The expectation that the Embassy would bail them out was huge but we couldn't, we had to phone home to get help from the relevant family members. After seeing what I did, I'd never travel without insurance and we also log all our family holiday plans with our Governments 'Safe Travel' - so essential as if something like the Boxing Day Tsunami occurs, the NZ Government can see how many NZers are in the vacinity of the disaster (we learnt this after the Izmit earthquake in Turkey).

Saturday morning rant over. It's raining now and I need to run. This might not be nice.

 

[sandracox67]

Hello from fabulous Las Vegas! My husband and I are super excited to be on this cruise! He proposed to me at Disneyland, and we took a Disney cruise on the Magic for our honeymoon 5 years ago. The FEs sound like a great idea, can we get in on that?

 

[fshagan]

Frank - Excellent points, DH has just enjoyed hearing about the shows advice. I cannot for the life of me understand why people wouldn't travel without travel insurance. I see post after post on these boards about 'should I get insurance?' Heck yes. I used to be responsible for "Distressed New Zealanders" at one of our Embassies. You would not believe what sort of mess people can get themselves in with sickness, theft, loss of funds etc - some minor and some major. The expectation that the Embassy would bail them out was huge but we couldn't, we had to phone home to get help from the relevant family members. After seeing what I did, I'd never travel without insurance and we also log all our family holiday plans with our Governments 'Safe Travel' - so essential as if something like the Boxing Day Tsunami occurs, the NZ Government can see how many NZers are in the vacinity of the disaster (we learnt this after the Izmit earthquake in Turkey).

I always advise our State Department of my travel plans via a website they have; people think I'm being too cautious, but it doesn't cost me anything, and the State Department does try to assist Americans abroad or in international waters. This cruise isn't going far from California, but "on the high seas" is not covered by most insurance plans.

Medical care is very expensive on the ship, and if you get too sick, you're dropped off at the next port (or worse, evacuated by ship or helicopter).

But I only think about this in the beginning, when I'm planning. Then I forget about it and have a blast while cruising!

 

[erbie]

Hello from fabulous Las Vegas! My husband and I are super excited to be on this cruise! He proposed to me at Disneyland, and we took a Disney cruise on the Magic for our honeymoon 5 years ago. The FEs sound like a great idea, can we get in on that?

Welcome! We're really staring to pick up around here! My DH and I were married at DL, honeymooned at WDW, and had our 2nd and 5th anniversaries on DCL. This trip will be for our 12th anniversary, though a few weeks late.

You can PM glindamood to get in the FE.

 

[glindamood]

Hello from fabulous Las Vegas! My husband and I are super excited to be on this cruise! He proposed to me at Disneyland, and we took a Disney cruise on the Magic for our honeymoon 5 years ago. The FEs sound like a great idea, can we get in on that?

So happy to have you joining our merry (and growing) band of cruisers. You most certainly can get in on the FE's but you need to post 9 more times so that you can do that. Just tell us about yourselves - a little at a time and you will get there. I need cabin (at least when you get it) your first names, any children and ages and your email address so I can send you the list.

And, that applies to anyone else that would like to join in on the FE and or postcard fun. Send me a PM with your info and I will add you to the list. FE's will cut off next month.

 

[erbie]

Would anyone be interested in a scavenger hunt? It would be puzzles, pictures, and questions you had to run around the ship finding answers to, and I'd do some small prizes. PM me if you'd like to participate.

 

[sandracox67]

So happy to have you joining our merry (and growing) band of cruisers. You most certainly can get in on the FE's but you need to post 9 more times so that you can do that. Just tell us about yourselves - a little at a time and you will get there. I need cabin (at least when you get it) your first names, any children and ages and your email address so I can send you the list.

And, that applies to anyone else that would like to join in on the FE and or postcard fun. Send me a PM with your info and I will add you to the list. FE's will cut off next month.

Thanks! What exactly is the postcard fun? I'll send you a PM as soon as I can.

 

[sandracox67]

Would anyone be interested in a scavenger hunt? It would be puzzles, pictures, and questions you had to run around the ship finding answers to, and I'd do some small prizes. PM me if you'd like to participate.

Not able to PM yet; how would a scavenger hunt work?

 

[dennisbryce]

Would anyone be interested in a scavenger hunt? It would be puzzles, pictures, and questions you had to run around the ship finding answers to, and I'd do some small prizes. PM me if you'd like to participate.

Sounds awsome Sent you a message I think it would be alot of fun!!!

Crystal

 

[erbie]

Not able to PM yet; how would a scavenger hunt work?

We can meet in one of the lounges at a given time, I'm thinking on one of the sea days. Teams could be any group of four to six people, kids included. Participants would have an hour to get as many answers as possible. Prizes for first team back with all the right answers, and any other categories I can think of.

I have a list of questions that participants will need to go around the ship to find the answers to, and there are a few puzzles too. And maybe I'll have certain pictures they'd need to take with a phone or digital camera, like a picture with a guest services CM or an officer, etc.

Do you want me to add you to the list?

 

[erbie]

Went to the dollar store today. A much nicer one than my local ones. I got a ton of stuff for the cruise. Small dry erase boards for our doors, some kids FE gifts, stuff to make some more FE gifts, prizes for the scavenger hunt. Now I just need to figure out where to keep them so they don't get lost in the next two months!

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Went to the dollar store today. A much nicer one than my local ones. I got a ton of stuff for the cruise. Small dry erase boards for our doors, some kids FE gifts, stuff to make some more FE gifts, prizes for the scavenger hunt. Now I just need to figure out where to keep them so they don't get lost in the next two months!

I've got bags and bags of stuff for the FE but I've worked about 30 hours since Friday sewing FE gifts. My thumbs are all burnt from the pressing I'm having to do to get the parts right. I'm getting worried if that FE list will get too long as I don't have the time left or money to make more handmade gifts and DH found the bags of stuff I had stashed and hit the roof the luggage space it's going to take up. Maybe we should cut it off earlier? Say 23 July? I've been reading that a lot of lists get cut off at PIF date - when is that? Gail, advice oh wise one, getting a bit worried.

I'll come back to you on the scavenger hunt, as we don't know Disney Wonder at all we could end up being lost for days...

Good news is that I'm culling out my wardrobe and found some lovely tops I never get a chance to wear as we never go anywhere - with my black dress pants they'll look just grand at dinners.

 

[glindamood]

Thanks! What exactly is the postcard fun? I'll send you a PM as soon as I can.

A postcard exchange with local to your hometown postcard. It really is a lot of fun and I have started a really nice collection from my last few cruises.

 

[glindamood]

FE Group How would August 1st be for a cutoff? Is that OK with everyone?

Postcard Exchange Group Will September 1st be an acceptable cutoff with this group?

 

[atmail35]

I've been a bit MIA as I was on Cape Cod last week and while I did manage to check-in online, I didn't think DH would appreciate me spending our vacation time on disboards! ETA: I need to go back and read about 10 pages! Yikes!

My daughter will be almost 7.5 at sailing time and she LOVES meeting new friends so we are up for a meet-up on board.

She likely will do some club activites, but she has food allergies so I need to restrict them to non-food related activities (no eating/no crafts w/ food) to keep her safe.

FE Group How would August 1st be for a cutoff? Is that OK with everyone?

Postcard Exchange Group Will September 1st be an acceptable cutoff with this group?

I think August 1st is a good cutoff for FE and Sept 1st for postcards. I've been buying stuff at Target since they have a 90 day return policy, but like erbie, I'm trying to figure out where to coral all this stuff so I don't misplace it (and DD doesn't see it as she does not know yet that we are going). I think I'll start a Rubbermaid bin in the basement

 

[atmail35]

I have at least a few coupons for LEGOLand if anyone is doing it on their own.

It is Free Child Ticket with paid adult to any LEGOLand Park. Expires 12/31/12

I'll offer it to the first two PMs for someone who will go while on the cruise or right after. I'd rather not mail it overseas etc. and just meet up on board so we don't risk it getting lost.

I think I have more, but have to dig through my LEGO catalogs and Club Magazines. If people need these, PM me and I will try to find them for you on a first come first served basis.

If you are near a LEGO Brand Store, you can also go in and ask if they have coupons available. There is a coupon in the purple Friends Special Edition booklet, which may be available at your LEGO store, it is on page 13.

 

[erbie]

I've got bags and bags of stuff for the FE but I've worked about 30 hours since Friday sewing FE gifts. My thumbs are all burnt from the pressing I'm having to do to get the parts right.

I'll come back to you on the scavenger hunt, as we don't know Disney Wonder at all we could end up being lost for days...

I know what you mean! My back is sore from sewing yesterday. I'm just making enough for what we have right now, and then I'll add more if we get more. The material I'm using is always in the store, so I can just get more when I need it. I decided I don't like my first attempt at a FE, so I'm making another one. my problem is that I keep getting more ideas. So far I've completed one project, I know what I'm making for the little kids and adults, and I just bought stuff yesterday to make stuff for teens. I hope my idea works or it's back to the drawing board for teens. I need to stay out of the homemade FE gifts threads! I keep getting more ideas and DH is wondering where we're going to put all the stuff I our luggage and how much I'm spending on all of these things. lol!

Another option for the scavenger hunt is to pass out the lists at the meet and then team would have until a certain day to find them all. The questions really tell you where to look for the answers, so it's not too much harder for newbies than it is for experienced cruisers. The Wonder is easy to get around. You'll have it down within the first day. There are signs everywhere. And if you get lost you can just ask a CM.

 

[erbie]

FE Group How would August 1st be for a cutoff? Is that OK with everyone?

Works for me!

 

[bbangel]

August 1 works for me as an FE cut off too. My mom and I have a knitting project going for this cruise and that would really help us make sure we have time to finish them for everyone! I am almost more excited to deliver the FE gifts than I am for some of the ports

 

[GromMom]

Both cut off dates sound good, this gives me an excuse to go down to the beach to get postcards and go to my favorite steak place in mission beach, saskas