September 17, 2006 - 11 Night Southern Caribbean

[Hygiene99]

I almost forgot....

I purchased medical travel insurance through American Express and it was SUPER cheap and had better coverage than Disney- covered my whole family for a year for about $25.00.

I also know you can buy travel insurance though outside vendors that is cheaper, but I haven't used that.

Here is the site we used to Price up Travel insurance for My Mom's trip..
ended up being less than the quoted price by the Cruise line.

 

[Scott H]

We have always purchased travel insurance for our cruises and Africa trip. Used Travel guard and it paid off on the Africa trip when Lynn fell and broke the camera. Had to get a new camera in Paris, it turned out to be covered by the insurance. Claim was rather painless and easy. I would really consider insurance for this cruise as we are traveling during the “H” word season.

We also have the American Express travel insurance and a dive travel insurance policy from PADI. So we just get the trip/travel coverage as the others cover medical and evacuation, etc. Your personal health insurance might cover some things, could be worth checking.

 

[winotracy]

Hi everyone! Welcome to all the newbies! Seems I've met most of you all already though

Next weekend the newsletter will come out. Focus will be on St. Lucia with a bit of St. Thomas and St. Johns thrown in. If you have anything to add, please get it to me by Thursday at the latest.

Info on St. Lucia
Info on St. Thomas/St. Johns
Updates on things happening before/during/after the cruise
Birthdays/Anniversaries in March - September
Onboard celebrations
New things to add

Just let me know and we'll add it!!

Tracy

 

[BobandLee]

We stayyed on Deck 2 ONCE..
Not a big Fan, however Many love deck 2 we had 2080 and there was like a Washing Machine or something We could here going All Night !!
...

Peter, we've stayed on deck 2 all but one cruise(that was on deck 7) and have had pretty good luck. On the 14 day western cruise(picture above) we were under the kitchen of the Deck 3 restaurants, but there was only a little noise late at night for the first few nights. Either the noise disappeared or we got used to it. Some have complained about being near the elevators or the laundries, but that could happen on any of the decks.

 

[sandysplayhouse]

Does anyone know where I can get a fish extender? Please, Please, Please
I want 3 of them for our 3 staterooms
Any color ... as long as it has Mickey or Minnie on it.

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

Okay, okay. We are "officially" coming on this cruise now. I didn't want to book anything w/o DH's stamp of approval. Since he is in Iraq right now, I never know when I am going to hear from him. So, yesterday he called and gave me the green light. I had sent him several e-mails presenting the idea to him. I had worried about it ALL week. I didn't want to let myself get to excited. But now, it's all good.

But, just as one door closes, another one opens. Yesterday, after the phone call, DM (Sandysplayhouse) and I went into the park and had a meeting w/ the DVC people. <---This is us...dying to join. The thing of it is.....if we join BEFORE TUESDAY!!!!!.......we get a bonus YEAR of points. And if we get those plus this years and borrow from next years.......we can use all the points to pay for the cruise!! BUT......I think DH may have a mild stroke if I go ahead and pruchase a $15,000 package sans his approval. And I KNOW I will not hear from him again before Tuesday. *sigh* What's a Disney-obsessed-military-wife-really-think-I-need-this-action-taking-probably-gonna-do-it-anyway-because-DM-and-I-tend-to-go-nuts-and-it-always-gets-me-into-trouble-gonna-freak-out-if-all-my-friends-get-it-before-me girl to do??

 

[Scott H]

Brandy, Great to hear that you adn Steve will be joining us for sure.

Reference DVC, it is the best thing we have ever done.

 

[sandysplayhouse]

Scott H....
Do tell ..... What is the "DIS Lifetime Sponsor" thing you have on your signature?

 

[Scott H]

A while back I made a contribution to keep the DIS boards up and running, I know several others did also. Got some DIS trinkets for it. Just feel these boards are a great source of Disney information and I have met some pretty KEWL folks, so thought it was worth it.

 

[sandysplayhouse]

I know that Brandy has already told everyone, but I also have to put in my 2 cents.

WE ARE Officially going on this cruise!....
AND
Better still... I am joining DVC!!!!

Yesterday we went to the park and ended up going over to the Disneyland Hotel via private Disney Van to the DVC office... (EVEN more special!)

I have decided to join (DH doesn't know yet,... as he is on a "need to know basis" ).... hopefully I can still use the points for THIS cruise... The CM is checking and will let me know later today.

Brandy is on the fence as she doesn't want to purchase without DH approval, but since he is in IRAQ and JUST A LITTLE BUSY with the war and everything she is unable to discuss it with him... but like I always say, what he doesn't know, he doesn't have to worry about... right?...

 

[sandysplayhouse]

These boards ARE a great source of information... where do I donate?

 

[Scott H]

Sandy good deal on DVC Membership, like I said we are very, very happy with our membership. I bet they will able be able to get you on the cruise with points, if not you can make a DVC point reservation and then cancel your cash reservation.

Bad thing about DVC is you get very spoiled. Or is that a good thing?

Reference your other question I would suggest you contact one of the moderators.

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

How do you get spoiled on it?? Why would that be bad. I need someone to COMPLETELY sell me on this thing, because it looks as if I may need to make a decision without my husbands approval. Someone PLEASE tell me everything wonderful thing about this so I can completely reassure and "sell" Steve on it. Or I may be booking a "Singles" cruise for myself once my husband finds out.

 

[Scott H]

Brandy, go over to the DVC boards and you can find several folks with the same question as yours and the answers.

DVC works well for Lynn and I. We are able to enjoy a nice long WDW vacation in a one bedroom unit, save money by doing a lot of our own cooking, know it is maintained to a Disney standard, and enjoy DCL trips (10 to date - Sept will be #11), Hawaii dive trip where we did an exchange, Disney Land Paris, and a Safari in Tanzania, (doing this again in 2007). I forgot trips to DL. Staying in a concierge level room at AKL and the Polly.

We were making our annual pilgrimage to see the mouse and it just made sense to become DVC members and actually have something rather than getting a resort room. Like prepaying your vacation accommodations in advance knowing that resort rates will be going up. This was when you could get Port Orleans for $79 a night, don’t know what they are a night now but I am sure it has gone up.

We made our DVC purchase in 1991 and have done a few add-ons.

So we are spoiled with the accommodations, and the great trips we have been able to make because of our DVC membership.

In your financial planning, don’t forget to plan for your annual dues.

Any other questions ask away.

 

[Scott H]

I forgot, when we joined we also got free passes till 2000, this was a nice incentive. When we did our tour I was the high pressure one not the sales people. I knew I wanted it, and just needed to know if I could afford it.

Now there are some pretty nice discounts for DVC members i.e. AP’s for example. Also various WDW behind the scene programs can be had for a discount. Merchandise at DDT etc....

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

What's DDT???

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

Okay, I gave them the go ahead. DH AND I ARE NOW DVC MEMBERS!!!!! WOOP-WOOP!! I still have 15 days to cancel, so this may be a temporary state. DH should be calling on Friday, so I will discuss it with him then and see. Poor guy, he has enough on his mind over there, and here I am adding all this crap he doesn't need to be thinking about. The good selling point for me is, because we were going to book this cruise so close to sail away date, I was going to have to save about $800/ month just to get on the boat. Not including flights, port spending money, and drink-of-the-day money. And now I'll only be paying about $300/month. I got 235 points. Is that enough to have fun with normally? I have enough for the cruise because as a sign up insentive, they gave us a free years worth of points. So, normally, when I am not taking 11-night cruises...is that a good number of annual points to have?

 

[Scott H]

OOPPS, DTD, Down Town Disney. One can have lots of fun with 325 points.

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

OOPPS, DTD, Down Town Disney. One can have lots of fun with 325 points.

With 325 points or 235? Because I have 235.

 

[EnchantedPlayroom]

Can anyone tell me where to find the "how much to tip" page??