September 12, 2009 ~ Last Call for Tortola! Thread 2

[Kgroo]

The REAS package needs to be paid by the same time you would have to have your cruise paid for, it isn't added to your onboard account. Last cruise I added it on as a surprise for dh, paid for it when I added it on and had to make sure to intercept the mail from Disney as they will send you an updated itinerary with the addition. It was nice and we enjoyed it, but the stuff did take up a lot of room to pack going back. We ended up shipping a box back home from Cocoa Beach as a result.

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and ordered it - they did charge it right away.

 

[rotary2808]

Hi everybody!!!! Greetings from beautiful Rome, the first leg of our Viva Italia adventure. We had a long first day today: the Roman Forum, the Colussium, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon. It has been absolutely beautiful so far and I can't wait to be able to share some pics with all of you soon.

 

[granmaz]

Hi everybody!!!! Greetings from beautiful Rome, the first leg of our Viva Italia adventure. We had a long first day today: the Roman Forum, the Colussium, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon. It has been absolutely beautiful so far and I can't wait to be able to share some pics with all of you soon.

Hi Emily. Glad you are enjoying Rome. It is really wonderful isn't it? Enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[CustardTart]

Google "Sophie Taylor Atlantis" and see what you get...

But if you can't be bothered, clicky here...

 

[granmaz]

What a lovely happy photograph Karen. She looks a beautiful girl too.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Home safe and sound! Now have four long months of 100 degree heat to survive till the cruise At least I can get in lots of swimming as training for this trip!

Big sister finally booked her air transport, so now we will buy our trip insurance and then make final payment..WOOO HOOOO!

Sister Dianne and I have decided to do the Dolphin Adventure in Tortola...anyone joining us? I think sister, Peg, and brother Paul are doing the 5 hour catamaran/snorkel excursion there.

I think St Thomas will be a ride (NOT GONDOLA) to the top of the mountain for a banana daquiri (or two) and some shopping around St Thomas.

Well....I'm off to pay my visa balance so I can replace it with the cruise..

.

 

[mishoe01]

Awww sorry!!! Would love to be onboard but there's a 14 night trip to Malaysia feeding baby elephants and orangutans that is coming in at half the cost - and that's with business class trave! It's my dream...

KAZ - can you pm me the info on that???

 

[mishoe01]

I got back from the Baltic cruise after midnight Monday & have finally had a chance to catch up w/ this thread...I missed you guys!

Emily - have a great time in Bella Italia - can't wait to hear about it & see pics!

Kaz & Emily (and anyone else that's thinking of doing the Baltics in 2010) - I am working on the pics & my TR - will post when it's ready. NCL's not DCL but I'd do them again if the price & itinerary are right

WELCOME to all the newbees! We're going to have a BALL!!!

Deb - don't forget to add Nan & I to the Fishlips crew

Must now go and see if I can catch up on the Baltic thread & the EB TA thread PLUS read Kaz's pre-TR, the Navigators from the 1st Tortola trip & the other Tortola thread....PHEW!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Man, the excursion I was looking at for St Thomas is not available after June (the one to Mountain Top). There is still the butterfly farm excursion that goes to Mountain Top too...so I may do that one...ALTHOUGH...I suppose I could just get a group of drinkers to go up to Mt Top on our own...and have LOTs of banana daquiris. Any takers?

Funny, when I tried (three times) to add this to my wish list it kept showing up as an different excursion in St Croix! Love the Disney web site.

Ian, Cheri & Kathe...check you PMs for info on our group transport to the port from VWL.

.

 

[rotary2808]

Hi Emily. Glad you are enjoying Rome. It is really wonderful isn't it? Enjoy the rest of your trip.

We are having a terrific time!!!! It's our last night here in Rome and we head for Tuscany tomorrow morning.

I got back from the Baltic cruise after midnight Monday & have finally had a chance to catch up w/ this thread...I missed you guys!

Emily - have a great time in Bella Italia - can't wait to hear about it & see pics!

Kaz & Emily (and anyone else that's thinking of doing the Baltics in 2010) - I am working on the pics & my TR - will post when it's ready. NCL's not DCL but I'd do them again if the price & itinerary are right

WELCOME to all the newbees! We're going to have a BALL!!!

Deb - don't forget to add Nan & I to the Fishlips crew

Must now go and see if I can catch up on the Baltic thread & the EB TA thread PLUS read Kaz's pre-TR, the Navigators from the 1st Tortola trip & the other Tortola thread....PHEW!!

Welcome home Monica!!!! I can't wait to read your trip report and I can't wait to share all about my trip with all of you.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Wow! There's been a lot of action here in the time I've been away. I haven't been around for a while because my mom passed away. It may actually change our cruise plans. We'll be on this cruise no matter what, but if my Dad can get the time off work, we may bring him with us.

Anyone who is price watching...please let me know if you see any Cat12's become available for this cruise.

Other preparations:
The kids watched the cruise DVD today and loved it.
DS2 is nearly potty trained. He'll be 3 in June and we keep telling him he has to be able to use the potty all the time to go swimming and to ese the kid's club on our cruise. He's a stubborn kid, but I think we can accomplish this. He's going to be mad if DS4 gets to go to the club and he doesn't!

Pretty soon we'll start to make/(or buy) a Fish Extender and think of gifts.

Can't wait until we can book stuff for the cruise!


How is everyone else doing with your preparations?

 

[ibouncetoo]

Wow! There's been a lot of action here in the time I've been away. I haven't been around for a while because my mom passed away. It may actually change our cruise plans. We'll be on this cruise no matter what, but if my Dad can get the time off work, we may bring him with us.


Pretty soon we'll start to make/(or buy) a Fish Extender and think of gifts.

Can't wait until we can book stuff for the cruise!

How is everyone else doing with your preparations?

So sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. That was one of the hardest things I ever had to go through. Hope your dad will be able to join you all on this trip.



Anyone flying Southwest Airlines? We have four flying home on SW and I thought I'd check out a group transport to MCO from the port to try and save some money. I was thinking of a van that holds 10 people maybe and that it would be easiest if the group was all going to the same terminal/airline. Let me know if you are interested...only requirement...no flights before noon. I want to be able to enjoy my final breakfast and don't want to be racing off the ship! (So folks with late seating/late final breakfast would suit best!)

The transport I have for my group of six going to the port (which is on the brink of being booked) is with Southern Elegance and will come out to $26 per person including tip. If anyone wants to check them out, its www.selimo.net I've used them before and can highly recommend them.

.

 

[sssteele]

Wow! There's been a lot of action here in the time I've been away. I haven't been around for a while because my mom passed away. It may actually change our cruise plans. We'll be on this cruise no matter what, but if my Dad can get the time off work, we may bring him with us.

Anyone who is price watching...please let me know if you see any Cat12's become available for this cruise.

Other preparations:
The kids watched the cruise DVD today and loved it.
DS2 is nearly potty trained. He'll be 3 in June and we keep telling him he has to be able to use the potty all the time to go swimming and to ese the kid's club on our cruise. He's a stubborn kid, but I think we can accomplish this. He's going to be mad if DS4 gets to go to the club and he doesn't!

Pretty soon we'll start to make/(or buy) a Fish Extender and think of gifts.

Can't wait until we can book stuff for the cruise!


How is everyone else doing with your preparations?

Very sorry for your loss. We are at the time in our lives whare so many of our friends are experiencing the same sorrow.

I have been thinking about FE gifts and am looking for guidance. We have not participated in this before, and I'm hoping you can give me some leads. Do you gear the gifts to age/sex of recipient? Since there will be only DH and myself, I'm looking for a small FE. Headed out to Target later today and maybe the Disney outlet store. Surely I should be able to find something.

 

[KayR]

dr&momto2boys - sorry for your loss.

sssteele - I bought my FE off EBay (shipped from china I think) for approx $12 inc shipping. There are instructions on the DIS on how to make them, if you are crafty. But your FE doesn't need to be fancy - you could use some small cloth bags stuck together and decorated (in fact I saw some at Michaels the other day that would work - they were in the kids summer decorating section)

The FE gifts vary, and again, there are threads on this topic. Last cruise I gave out pirate ducks, pirate tattoos and some pirate candy. We received candy, $1 items from target (notebooks, pens etc), magnets, pirate stuff, princess stuff and much more (gosh I can't even remember everything we received). Again it doesn't have to be expensive.

-Kay

 

[CustardTart]

Wow! There's been a lot of action here in the time I've been away. I haven't been around for a while because my mom passed away....

So sorry to hear this. I know it took me a long time to pick up the reins when my Mum passed so my thoughts are with you and your family... Here's hoping you get your Dad onboard...

...How is everyone else doing with your preparations?

Well, let's see...

• I'm nearly paid off - just waiting/hoping for that exchange rate to jiggle my way so I can get the balance to zero!!! Come on £/$!!!
  
• I need to re-re-review the excursions info as decisions I thought were made have altered a little...
  
• I want to print out copies of the Tortola Navigator so I can work out what activities to do when...
  
• Then it's all systems go and time to get online to book Palo (dinner and brunch); Spa treatments; excursions!!!
  
• Just remembered door magnets!!! I must make door magnets...

Not doing the FE this time around - it kinda stressed me out a little bit when I did it before...

 

[lg3]

The last time we did FE, there was a master list that had the cabin #'s, how many people in the cabin with kids by age & gender. I think it was passed out when we first all met up right after the sail-away party?
Knowing the kiddos ages and gender was VERY helpful when getting little goodies together as a 10 yr old boy might not get as much out of the same goody as a 4 yr old girl. That way I knew how much Disney Princess stuff vs. Cars/Pirate, etc. to bring in general. Of course, getting something for the adults was fun too!

 

[CustardTart]

back, Monica!!!

KAZ - can you pm me the info on that???

I definitely will, Monica but can I leave it for a few days as I'm revising for exams at the mo...

 

[CustardTart]

Just perusing the Navigators and I see there are waaay more tipple tastings than I've seen before...

As well as the usual wine, margarita/tequila, martini and beer, there are whisky and cognac...

Looks like Day 2 might be a little alcohol heavy as I believe that's when the Champagne Girls are doing their thing! So I'm thinking:

1pm - Stem to Stern Wine Tasting...

2pm - Champagne Tasting...

And then a rest (if absolutely necessary) until...
10pm: Sommelier Selection in Cove Cafe...

CHEERS!!!

 

[iankh]

Just perusing the Navigators and I see there are waaay more tipple tastings than I've seen before...

As well as the usual wine, margarita/tequila, martini and beer, there are whisky and cognac...

Looks like Day 2 might be a little alcohol heavy as I believe that's when the Champagne Girls are doing their thing! So I'm thinking:

1pm - Stem to Stern Wine Tasting...

2pm - Champagne Tasting...

And then a rest (if absolutely necessary) until...
10pm: Sommelier Selection in Cove Cafe...

CHEERS!!!

And don't forget about:
Shots Around the Ship
A Stem to Stern Extravaganza!

 

[iankh]

We are back from our trip to WDW. Actually, we arrived back last Saturday. We had a great time and had a wonderful 1-bedroom at Old Key West.

Now that that trip's under our belts, I'm ready to focus on this trip!

Cheri (notsolittlemermaid) stayed at Eastwood Manor (conveniently located close to the Chicago duoline rail system) to look after the evil dogs, Tallulah and Truman. I'm happy to say we came home to find Cheri in one piece. Neither she, nor the dogs seemed traumatized.

I did get to have dinner with Jackie and her sister Diane. So, now I know 2 of the 3 Rossell Sister jewels. I get to meet the third gem, Peggy on this upcoming trip.

I'll soon be making our final payment for the cruise. I still have no idea about excursions. None of the DCL excursions appeal to us.