September 22, 2007 -- WESTERN

[eva]

Mike, I know it is a bit late. But:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

on the new baby granddaughter.

 

[American Scrapper]

Hello everyone!!! I haven't been here for awhile, work has been so busy that the last thing I wanted to do was get on the computer when I got home!

Anyhoo - I have "officially" booked my cruise, we have planned to book earlier, but I just kept trying to debate what room we wanted. I kept with what we always have had, category 6. We were thinking of doing a category 4, but decided not to since I have heard about all of the noise you could hear in the room early in the morning.

Welcome all the new joiners. Sounds like we have a lot of seasoned cruisers with us! This is my 4th Disney cruise. We have done a 3 night cruise and 2 Modified Westerns (never made it there due to Hurricanes - ended up going Eastern instead). We figure the third time is a charm. We have done the two previous DisMeets, meeting at the Mickey Pool. It seemed to work best for us since our kids liked to swim the first day, although they are now getting bigger, so a new spot might be good. Maybe to the Goofy pool.

WOW! There are alot of anniversaries being celbrated onboard. Ours is October 1st, but I don't think we will do anything to celebrate onboard.


Kathy

 

[eva]

Kathy, good news. Did you get the stateroom that you wanted? I was just wondering how booking is going for that cruise. I have this reoccurring dream about upgrading at the port for a cat. 3. I'm starting to wonder if we are going to end up taking a Western cruise after all. It seems that a number of people on this thread have had Western cruises rerouted. Hopefully, that is not a sign of events to happen. Oh well, as long we are cruising and the weather is good, I don't really care where we go. Since we are driving, we don't need to worry about canceled flights or anything.

 

[scrapperjill]

Eva...I don't know that there are a good number of diffrent Western cruises that have been rerouted....Kathy (American Scrapper) and her family are the cruise buddies that I was talking about earler. (One of the two other families that we meet on a cruise in 2004.)....So it's the same two Western cruises that were rerouted We're thinking the thrird ones the charm and we WILL be making it to the Western ports this time around

My parents celebrated their anniversary last time on board...but seeing that their anniversary isn't until Oct...I'm not sure they'll do anything this year. Hmmm...gets me thinking. Maybe I should plan something for them and suprise em.

 

[CustardTart]

Hi everyone! Hope you're all having a good day. DD and I went to see Les Miserables in London this afternoon - I bought the tickets as a Xmas present for her and we had an absolutely wonderful time. Even better, whilst we were out, my DD gave me the new PassPorter Cruise Guide as a gift which was pretty fabulous! What a wonderful child... I've had my nose buried in it for most of the evening and I'm probably on even more of a DCL high than before!

 

[CustardTart]

...Karen, be careful when we meet. If you haven't bought DVC yet, I can almost guarantee that you will. We have now referred 9 families that have purchased sight unseen. We own at OKW, Vero, and BCV...

Eva, we're waiting on the ROFR decision on the VWL points right now so please cross everything on our behalf. We went to Vero Beach back in 2000 and loved it. In fact, we did the DVC tour there but at that time I'm ashamed to say we didn't 'get' it and let the opportunity pass. Oh well, at least we're going for it now...

...I was just wondering how booking is going for that cruise. I have this reoccurring dream about upgrading at the port for a cat. 3...

I had that dream too but I don't have nerves of steel so caved in, rang DCL and found myself begging for the upgrade like they were doing me the favour! What can I say, I'm just pathetically weak...

 

[eva]

Karen, Thanks for the pm. I did notice from your stateroom number that you are in a cat. 3. I am so jealous! I should have bit the bullet and reserved it back in August when I made the reservation. I'm sure by now the price has increased quite a bit. I know a lot of people say that they aren't in the room that much. But we actually are in the room quite a bit in the early morning and late evening. Maybe when I call DCL later I will just see how much the upgrade would be. I guess if there isn't one available, I won't have to worry about it.

Wow, after finding this thread the trip is about all I can think about.

 

[scrapperjill]

Ohh..the new Passporter. Is that the newest one with the Med cruises listed? I've been thinking about ordering another one for this cruise comming...but I can't decide if I want the one that came out last year or the newest one with the Med info. I've almost decided the 2006 eddition would be best...just because I don't need all the info on the summer Med cruises...but just the 'newest' things on the ship.

 

[CustardTart]

...I know a lot of people say that they aren't in the room that much. But we actually are in the room quite a bit in the early morning and late evening. Maybe when I call DCL later I will just see how much the upgrade would be. I guess if there isn't one available, I won't have to worry about it...

Same here. Go on, Eva - you know you want to! I only sorted the upgrade out last week so maybe there are still some available...

...Wow, after finding this thread the trip is about all I can think about.

I know - it's ridiculous! Especially as none of my friends understand the attraction. Ah well - it's their loss...

 

[CustardTart]

Ohh..the new Passporter. Is that the newest one with the Med cruises listed?

It is and TBH that seems a little pointless but it's just fab to have all that info at my fingertips so I can show my DH ship info, excursion guides etc - for some reason he won't sit at the computer whilst I show him page after page of cruising detail - I can't think why!

 

[papa]

Thanks Eva, we are quite fond of her. She is 2 months old and our other grand daughter will be 5 (going on 45) in May.

We had been getting Cat 6 and Cat 5 rooms, but our friends had a Cat 9 on deck two and it was so quiet that you could hear the waves rushing by as you glanced out the window. We have been booking Cat 9's since and really not missing the verandah. The verandah's on our other rooms were hardly useable due to people smoking and the smoke blowing onto ours. Besides, I can use the $700 difference toward another cruise

Great to see everyone posting and it won't be long till we cruise. We had had only 1 cruise (a Western) that was diverted due to a hurricane. We wound up going to San Juan instead of Key West and doing an Eastern Route. This is the price you pay to get the better rates this time of the year. Mike

 

[American Scrapper]

Yep, we are cruise buddies with Sandi (Scrapper Jill) so be prepared to be ro-routed! We have not been good luck for anyone sailing with us! LOL!! Last year neither of us sailed and No Hurricanes!! Go figure . Anyway, we are going to make it to the Western!! We just need lots of Pixie Dust!

Yes, we got the room we wanted. We always like Mid Ship near the elevators and there were a few left. Now I get to really start planning!!

We don't really have anything planned yet, but probably will stick with our plans from the last few years! Captain Marvins in Grand Cayman and the Dune Buggy excursion in Cozumel. We will probably do Key West on our own. We visit all of the Margaritavilles when we travel (yes, we are Parrot Heads!), so we will definitely be stopping there.

We too are DVC Members! Our home resort is Vero Beach, but we have not been there yet. We joined about 4 years ago and have stayed at only the Board Walk and the Beach Club. I really like the Beach Club for their pool!! When we went last year, I think we used the pool more than we EVER have at the World!

Kathy

 

[cmctammyg]

Eva, we own at Beach Club Villas and Saratoga Springs. We have stayed at all of the DVC resorts except for Hilton Head. My kiddos have a different type of school schedule, so we have flex time to go to WDW. We usually go in February (still debating a trip for the last week of Feb), first week of June to Vero (with a couple of days at WDW), a week in September before or after our cruise, and then either a Halloween trip or Christmas trip. This past year we were able to combine our Halloween trip post-cruise, so we went back in December. Joining DVC was the best decision ever...I just wish we had known more about it sooner. We too have had a lot of friends and family join too! We also have become great friends with a CM (he works at MGM) and his family we met at Vero Beach. It is fun to visit with them when we go to FL too.

I was on the first cruise ScrapperJill was on (my second) and so I too am a diversion passenger, but then again we always sail in September, so what do you expect? Our only non-diverted cruise was the one this past September (Eastern) and the weather was not so great..actually had better sailing days on the diverted cruises. We honestly don't care where we go, we just love being on the ship. Last year we didn't even do a single excursion and only got off the ship for short periods of time...otherwise I was in a chair on Deck 10!

If anyone new has a dd around the age of 13, my dd would love to make some friends before the trip.

 

[eva]

Looks like we have a few DVC members on the cruise. Will you all go to the DVC get together? We have on our 2 previous cruises. We mainly like to go to meet other members. Although the free gifts aren't too bad either. I still wear the ball cap they gave us last time.

Tammy, it sounds like you cruise a lot like us. On the Eastern we took in 2005 we just got off the ship for about an hour to look around St. Maarten. We are not shoppers, so we ended up back on the ship pretty quickly. It was great to have the pool area all to ourselves. We did take a snorkling excursion in St. Thomas. But we won't be doing anymore snorkling excursions for awhile. For some unknown reason Steve just can't snorkle. He ends up half full of water and back on the boat in just a few minutes. I sure don't understand the problem, he is a much better swimmer than I. But after trying 3 times, I decided to give him a break and do other things.

We are probably going to do Key West on our own. I know that we will likely hit Margaritaville, Sloppy Joe's, and a couple of shops. We might take a quick tour on the Conch Train or the trolley on our own. I have been to Key West, but Steve hasn't. There's also a map of a walking tour in Passporter's that we might do if we have enough energy.

I think we may just stay on the ship in Grand Caymen. My MIL has been many times and says the if you don't want to snorkle or go to the beach there is not really a whole lot to do there. She said she wouldn't bother with the turtle farm or going to Hell. The only thing I've really considered doing there is a day visit to the Westin Resort.

Now Cozumel is the port that is throwing me. We both would like to see Tulum. But I hear the trip there and back takes up most of the time and is long and hot. Another excursion that looks interesting to us is the Speed Boat Beach Escape. But I can't seem to find anyone who has tried this.

Oh well, we still have some time to decide. Besides, planning is half the fun!

 

[CustardTart]

...We had been getting Cat 6 and Cat 5 rooms, but our friends had a Cat 9 on deck two and it was so quiet that you could hear the waves rushing by as you glanced out the window. We have been booking Cat 9's since and really not missing the verandah. The verandah's on our other rooms were hardly useable due to people smoking and the smoke blowing onto ours...

Now that is a worry! And something I absolutely hadn't considered. Plus our room is next to a wee public deck which I see from the PassPorter permits smoking! We'll have to have a think about what to do. DD and I had a category 9 on the Wonder and it was fine - I just assumed a verandah would be a step up...

Looks like we have a few DVC members on the cruise. Will you all go to the DVC get together? We have on our 2 previous cruises. We mainly like to go to meet other members. Although the free gifts aren't too bad either. I still wear the ball cap they gave us last time...

Eva, I haven't heard of this before - when does it occur? Hopefully we should be DVCers by then so count us in...

 

[eva]

Karen, you'll have to check out the Navigator or stop by the DVC desk to find out when they will have the get together. The last one we were at was in the pub. It was in the afternoon on an at sea day. It was nice to kick back, have a drink, and meet other DVC members. They had a trivia game, gave out presents, and had a short presentation. The presentation was geared towards adding more points and some options on using your points. We thought the DVC trinkets (hats, laynards, and luggage tags) they gave out were worth the stop.

 

[papa]

Karen we loved the Barbados port of call on our 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise on the wonder. Was going to tour the Malibu rum factory, but instead hired a taxi for a tour of the island. We were cruising around for about 4 hours. Saw all the sights and had a grand time. Here is a short clip about Barbados made be a Scottish tourist. His song is in an electronic voice and I would preview it before children watch, no nudity but a couple of words that you might want to hear. http://youtube.com/watch?v=MT_OwJtEybc It is called Barbados rocks. Mike

 

[CustardTart]

Mike, thanks very v much for the link - I love it! In fact DH and I can't stop singing the tune... We've been to Barbados once before, about 4 years ago but I wasn't too well so didn't really enjoy the experience and only did one excursion. This time we're going to have a more action-packed vacation!

Excursion-wise, I think we'll probably try out PassPorter's self-guided walking tour in Key West. We definitely want to visit Margaritaville - we visited the one in Orlando for the first time last summer and loved it! As for the rest, I'm still planning...

 

[scrapperjill]

Malibu rum factory...Now that's a place I'd like to see. I LOVE Malibu rum .

Tammy...has my DD not contacted yours yet? Maybe I should send you her e-mail so she can make the first step. I know Alexis is excited that she'll be on the ship again. She still talks about how CRAZY it was that you guys ran into us at the world in 2005 With that being our very FIRST trip to MK...we just practicley had blinders ons. I really don't remember seeing many people at all...only our group and the sights. I wonder if I'll "see" more this next time? Anyhow..I'm sure Alexis would LOVE to start chatting.

It is always good though to know if there are any other children close to the same age going. My dd's will be 9 & 14...and we have a friend comming along also with her two kids (boys...both 14) as well as our neice who will be 9. OH...and possably another friend and her kids....(daughter 15 & son 8). I think that's everyone.

 

[eva]

Jill, it sounds like you have quite a group coming along with you. That should be a lot of fun. Sorry, no kids here. But I do see bringing the granddaughter some day. I have awhile to wait though, since she is only 14 months old.

Mike, I have never been to Barbados, but I did enjoy the video. Maybe we will get there some day. It doesn't look like it will be through DCL any too soon though. But we are doing the unthinkable in 2008 and cruising with another line to Alaska. So you never know, maybe we will cruise to Barbados on another line if we can bring ourselves to cross to the dark side again.

Karen, we will probably do the walking tour in the Passporter too. Well, maybe at least a part of it. It depends on how long we stay at Margaritaville. Or maybe we better do the tour first. If you see us, be sure to wave and say hi. I may not see you after a couple margaritas.