September 10, 2005 - Western Cruise!

[mom+3girls]

My girls and I are all wearing dresses for formal night, I have a black one with a cool jacket thing, DD 12 has a navy blue 50s style dress, DD10 has a beautiful lavendar dress, DD17 well she is still trying to pick which dress she is going to wear, my mother is taking her shopping today, hope they come up with something.
We have late seating, but we are on the waiting list for early, but I am thinking of calling and getting removed from that, just can't decided.
We are in stateroom 2144, I know its supposed to be a noisy room, but someone that cruised out of LA stayed in that room and she said it was fine.
I am leaving VA on Friday the 9th and driving to Cocoa Beach we are staying at the Motel 6 that night.
DD 17 will be making the door sign she is very dramatic and creative so I'm sure it will be something else.

Question: Any one else staying at Motel 6?

 

[stina]

daisy112878: My travel agent is Small World Travel. I will ask them again.

Your furry babies are adorable! I know it sounds silly to be sad about leaving my cat behind but I am. Although I don't think she'd take to well to the high seas. Maybe a fish dinner though!

stina

 

[fltink]

This is my 6th Disney cruise (2nd western carribbean)! My fiance and I met on a Disney cruise and now..... we are getting married on this very cruise in Key West!!!!!!! I am so excited! If anyone has questions about the cruise, feel free to e-mail me. I've cruised Disney plenty to have great ideas and tips. (Plus I used to work for the mouse so that helps, too!)

 

[mom+3girls]

This is my 6th Disney cruise (2nd western carribbean)! My fiance and I met on a Disney cruise and now..... we are getting married on this very cruise in Key West!!!!!!! I am so excited! If anyone has questions about the cruise, feel free to e-mail me. I've cruised Disney plenty to have great ideas and tips. (Plus I used to work for the mouse so that helps, too!)

fltink
you have given me hope
I used to work for the mouse as well, I worked at the Disney Store.
Congrats Hope everything goes well with the wedding.

 

[fltink]

Ahhh, yes. Prince Charming is out there somehwere for everyone! )

 

[fltink]

Wanted to use my past cruising experience to help everyone out! Here are soem of my favorite and most helpful tips!
1. Boarding- After boarding, go immediatly to lunch at Topsiders. It gets very busy very quick and I think it's much more exciting to eat up on the top deck and look out over the ocean that lies ahead than to eat inside at Parrot Cay. (Also, if you are early enough, some of the characters usually loops through the deck area of Topsiders for some one on one time!)
2. Sail Away- Don't miss the sail away party! Bring bubbles and noisemakers, dance and get into the cruise mood!
3. Photos- When ever pictures are being done in the lobby and the lines arent' too long, take advantage and get them done. You are not commited to buy any of them and they usually end up great!
4. Drink Mugs- Now that there is free soda on deck 9, bring a big plastic cup with a lid. That way, you can fill up and take it with you to the pool or your room. (Remember, room service soda is not free!)
5. Luggage- Bring a tote bag or something taht you can roll up into a larger suitcase. So many people end up buying stuff and having nothing but plastic bags to carry it home in.
6. Servers- Get to know them. Don't be shy. They usually end up being the best part fo the cruise! They treat you fantastic and will know your likes and dislikes by day 2!
7. The Ship- Get to know the ship. Often you will find yourself waiting ten minutes for an elevator, only to find that the place you were tryingt o get to was just one staircase away!
8. Personal Navigator- Become one with your personal navigator. Someone in your party should always have one. You never knwo when you'll get some free time and be looking for an activity.
9. Pool games- Even if you don't want to play, don't miss watching the adult pool games! Nothing funnier than adults in bathing suits running around trying to get someone to let them borrow their flip flops!
10. Want to laugh really hard? (This is kind of cruel though and for adults only!) Righ at noontime go to the adult pool. You will hear an announcement from the bridge saying "We are now sounding the ship's horn for noon". Cover you ears tightly and then look at the people who aren't paying attention. They will throw drinks, jump and maybe even pee tehir pants! That horn is CRAZY loud!!!!!!!!!!

 

[stina]

fltink- congratulations first of all! how exciting! if we see you around the ship with some bride and groom mouse ears on we will congratulate you. i can't believe you met on a cruise! were you both working on the ship or passengers?

and thanks for the tips, they are funny and good to know.

stina
(who is feeling that particular longing for vacation today, hence my numerous posts!)

 

[fltink]

Hey! We're from Massachusetts too....for the moment. I lived in Orlando for 6 years and we'll be moving there again soon! When we met, I was a cast member in WDW. He worked with my mom in Boston. Our cousin was supposed to cruise with me and my mom but cancelled at the last minute. He was a huge Disney fan and cruise fan.... love was born! ) Cheesy, huh?

 

[woj68]

Great advice for first timers like ourselves!

I have a perverted sense of humor so I can't wait to see people flippin' out when the horn goes off. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[fltink]

It's the best! You'll see servers at the bar put their trays down and cover their ears! Just BE READY!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cruise]

DH and I will be on this cruise as well. Our first cruise was almost 5 years ago exactly. We'll have a couple of days overlap on this ship - Sept 16-23, 2000. This is how long it's taken me to convince him to take another vacation! That was back when Western wasn't an option, so this will be our first time at these ports.

Of course, 12 days after I made our final payment, hubby's company informed him that his department will be transferring offices - scheduled for September 9th. We've managed to convince them to let us move a week early, but I'm still not thrilled about moving 500 miles a week before the cruise. On the other hand, I know I'll be ripe for the relaxation

DH will be going the dark suit route for formal night and I'll be wearing a long, but simple, dress. He had a tux last time and, while it was nice, I just don't feel like dragging one along this time!

Here's hoping for good weather!

 

[fltink]

Only 51 days to go!!!!!!! Can anyone believe it???? We're having just one little glitch. My best friend wants to come and see us get married but we can't find anyone for him to room with. They should have a site where singles can pair up to share a cabin and cut the cost. Now I'm emailing everyone I knwo to see if they can go! )

 

[4Smilee]

Formal night -- Dh will wear a blue suit. I haven't decided what I'll wear. Hmm, maybe an excuse to go shopping, because I'd hate to wear the same outfit I wore on the last cruise.

We have late dining.

I hadn't heard of the door signs until recently. But my DD has that Disney art program on her PC, so we'll probably make one together. I think it would be a fun project for her. As to what we'll put on it, probably just family names and dates plus characters.

fltink -- Congrats on the wedding. Some friends of ours got married on our last Disney cruise, and it was wonderful. Good luck with planning.

DD has only recently caught on that we are cruising again soon. She talks daily about the characters she'll see on board. She was too young for the clubs last time, so this should be a real treat for her this time.

 

[mom+3girls]

 

[stina]

Yippee 50 days! Just got some pirate gear in the mail yesterday that I ordered from online (www.deadmentellnotales.com) to complete my homemade pirate costume for Pirates Night. The way I see it, heck, if you can't dress up as a pirate on a Disney cruise when can you?

Still haven't gotten a stateroom assignment...

stina

 

[fltink]

We haven't gotten one either. We decided to book Cat. 12 GRNTD. We've stayed in Cat. 12s before and they aren't bad so we decided, what the heck, we'll pay for the lowest category and if we get better, great!
I can't believe we are under 50 days now! Woo-hoo! Guess I need to get final alterations on my wedding gown soon!
I was hoping that our wedding would be on formal night so I wouldn't feel so wierd about having a big gown on, but alas, it is on a casual night...and more than likely, the night we'll be in Parrot Cay. So if anyone has APLAPLA, second seating....I'll be a little over dressed at dinner on Sunday! )

 

[daisy112878]

fltink - that's the rotation we requested and we have second seating. I think it's great you'll be wearing it to dinner. All the disboard people will definitly know who you are.

I can't believe it's less then 50 days away. I'm already thinking of everything we need to pack for the trip. I can't wait!!!!!!

 

[fltink]

Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me!!!!!!!! ) Yay! It's sooooo close! Oh, gosh! Don't start me on packing! So much to think about!

 

[fltink]

Ok....so I think I now have everything booked that we are doing. Here's the list:
1. Romance at Sea Package including concierge turn down service, champagne breakfast in bed, grntd ressies at Palo and a couples well being massage
2. Elemis foot Therapy and Pedicure
3. Rasul
4. Palo High Tea
5. Palo Brunch
6. StingRay City in Grand Cayman
7. Grand Cayman Island Tour
8. Tropical Jeep Safari in Cozumel
9. Banana Boats in Castaway Cay

Hmmmm.......anything else I should add???? Anyone else going to be joingig in any of these activities? I've done almost all of 'em before, and love all of them!

 

[fltink]

Morning, all! Just found out that my favorite server is getting off the ship one week before we sail! Big bummer! I just hope Rachel is our cruise director!