September 22, 2007 -- WESTERN

[papa]

I think that they are going to name the ships Disney Dollars and Empty your bank accounts. They might consider the Black Pearl or Jolly Dollar too Mike

 

[brady961]

you just may be right

 

[Bareacuda]

Just a bit ahead of time.... Another day colser to our Cruise!!!
Happy day for everyone

 

[brady961]

is passing by each second, minute, hour, day, week, and month

about time for me to make another payment. each time i do that it seems evel closer

doing the happy dance: is passing out pixie dust to us all to help pass the faster

 

[eva]

Only 209 days! Yikes, maybe 6 months and 25 days sounds better!

Karen, it sounds like you are on the road to becoming a plannaholic too. My dream job is to be a travel agent. Wish I could afford it. You can bet when I retire that will be my next venture. I plan friends' and families' trips all the time. The pressure is definitely on when I haven't been to the location. But I haven't had a complaint so far. Then again, I'm cheap (free) and don't have any bias because of kick-backs. Researching different destinations is one of my favorite hobbies. Now I just need to work on getting the house paid off in 6 years, so I can retire at 50.

I'm excited about the new ships too. Maybe with all the added staterooms, the price will go down or at least stabilize. I've been reading the thread on the possible names. It might be tough if DCL is going to choose a very unique name. Most of the obvious names seem to be taken. Since they have retired the Breathless at WDW, I wonder if they would consider the name for one of the ships. I kind of like the Disney Breathless. Or maybe the Disney Imagination. Hard to say. I guess it will be awhile before we find out.

 

[CustardTart]

Loving the way that countdown is chipping away! I'm so pleased we're almost at the 6 month mark... Decided yesterday to transfer all my DCL reservations to Dreams Unlimited to take advantage of their onboard credit offer. It's not so much for this cruise (I think I missed out on that offer) but the extra $$$ will come in v handy on the 2 we've booked for next year...

...Karen, it sounds like you are on the road to becoming a plannaholic too. My dream job is to be a travel agent. Wish I could afford it. You can bet when I retire that will be my next venture. I plan friends' and families' trips all the time. The pressure is definitely on when I haven't been to the location. But I haven't had a complaint so far. Then again, I'm cheap (free) and don't have any bias because of kick-backs. Researching different destinations is one of my favorite hobbies...

Eva, that's something I've never thought of doing but you're so right - it would be fantastic! I'm going to have to look into how I could get into that business - thanks for the idea...

My name is Karen and I definitely am a planaholic! In my younger days it was all about planning/executing home improvements - DH and I moved around a lot, buying and renovating run-down properties. I've actually got a big renovation project looming and I should be focusing on bathroom fittings, flooring etc but I can't get as worked up about that as I currently do about our future travel plans...

 

[Bareacuda]

Another day closer...

 

[CustardTart]

Good morning!

Hope everyone is keeping well and excited to be another day nearer settling into their DCL stateroom...

 

[brady961]

Each day that passes I think of something else I need to put into the Pre cruise suitcase/bags <G> As usual by the time Sept arrives I will have too many cruise bags and have to sort thru what to take or not take.

But from now until Sept I will continue throwing things into one or more bags in preparation in final packing <G>

 

[brady961]

question: has anyone done the snorkeling or stringray at CC? if so do you have far to walk to get in the water? is thru sand? off a pier?

I will contact DCL to discuss but wondering if I could do either. Once in the water I can swim its just getting in may be an issue. last trip i did manage to walk on the beach and get in water using crutches and sandwheelchair. once in the water though my legs felt weightless and even my balance wasn't much of an issue.

would be great if I could snorkel or visit stringrays, or do something at CC with others rather than just eat and shop. but of course if that is all i can do it will be fine with me, and will enjoy every minute of eating those BBQ ribs yummmmmy.

I doubt I could hang on, on the banana boat, would love to parasail but imagine that would take standing on the boat and have good balance to do that, but oh how i would love to parasail. oh well sometimes we can't always do what we want but doesn't have to stop us from wishing or dreaming.

any feedback on CC excursions well really insight would be appreciated. Of course I will discuss with DCL to determine if possible and would be safe.

thanks

can someone sprinkle some pixie dust so that we can skip May thru Aug and it be time for cruising

 

[Bareacuda]

Hi Marsha,

We snorkle at CC (with our own gear). And getting in could be easy. for you.
The last time I was out in the water shoulder deep I was out about 50 yards or so.
I understand the island cruise is very nice, we might try it on one of these trips.

 

[papa]

Marsha. the snorkeling that we did was at the family and adult beach. You walk from the sand right into the water. You will have to use the sand chair to get to the water.

We have para sailed at castaway cay and it required you to stand for both the launch and recovery on the deck of the speedboat. Mike

 

[CustardTart]

Hi all!
It's absolutely pouring down here on the outskirts of London - it's been v wet all week and now part of my garden is totally water-logged! I keep thinking about blue Caribbean skies and Serenity Bay - on days like today it's those thoughts that keep you going...

Received my Vow Renewal Planning Pack from Disney yesterday - can't believe it's actually going to happen but I'm definitely enjoying the planning...

 

[brady961]

thanks guys for your input on snorkeling and parasailing.

if you bring your own snorkel gear do you have to pay for the CC DCL excursion? or can you snorkel where the group does, or elsewhere? if elsewhere can you still see what you would on the paid excursion?

again thanks <G>

 

[eva]

Brady, Here is what the Seahorse Catamaran Snorkel Adventure on CC has to say about wheelchair accessibility: "Guests in wheelchairs need to ensure that their wheelchairs are collapsible and that they are able to enter and exit the boat. Electric wheelchairs are not permitted." I hope that helps. Of course you can do like we do and just rent the equipment and snorkel in the lagoon. It's hard to say about the stingray excursion. They don't have much information on their site. I'm sure you could call and ask them all the particulars.

You also reminded me to put my new purchases from Victoria's Secret in my suitcase. I can't believe I am already starting to buy things and pack a bit for the cruise. If I keep this up, I will have a completely new wardrobe before the cruise.

 

[Marshmelo]

Marsha, have you looked on the disABILITIES forum about snorkeling and parasailing?

 

[brady961]

oh well if need a manual wheelchair for the paid snorkeling excursion that leaves me out. but that is ok. i will find enough to keep me busy and leaves me more time to eat Cookie's BBQ and cookies <G>

DCL was great assisting me in lasts cruise determining what excursions I could/couldn't do. I never asked about snorkeling or parasailing. I have the DCL rep direct number that assisted me last time, so will give her a call at some point. I really didn't think it would be possible but never hurts to ask.

Just remember while the rest of you are out on excursions, sunbathing on beach, floating in water, biking, etc.... I will be up there eating as much of the BBQ as possible. LOL So you better go early for cookies and BBQ or there may be nothing left after I get done LOL.

 

[scrapperjill]

Brady...

I don't know about the Stingray thing at CC...but as far as snorkeling goes...the only fee involved for the snorkel lagoon (on the family beach) is the cost of the equiptment rentals....Of course if you have your own gear there's no fee And the snorkel area is on the closest end of the family beach from the ship. "I think" ....You could say it's about right behind the she sells sea shells place. Of course you have to go down a little bit to acess the beach.. Either way it's not a super great distance from the paved area to the water. The family beach has quite a few people all around so you'd never be far enough away from anyone if you needed help...I'm sure there'd be plenty of people around to lend a hand or go for help if needed. Plus there's lifeguards and CM's all aound (on the beach...and in the water)

 

[brady961]

thanks. I am going to definitely be checking this out more as I would love to snorkel at least a few minutes. Of course I have about 7 months to figure out how to do so. plus fingers crossed there is no more progression, which unfort happens more in summer due to the heat.

i had set a goal for the last cruise to get into the water at CC. I met that goal. it may not have been easy, but i found a way and did it. i felt to proud that i met my goal and found a way. I even had my physical therapist talking thru ways and ideas. ended up it was easier than i thought it would be, still not just like walking down to the water, but i did it. and for me that is what counts.

so if i truly decide or put my mind to snorkeling i am sure to find a way if at all possible.

for those that do snorkel at CC do you bring your own equipment or rent from DCL? Since this would like a one time for me, i would imagine expense wise renting would work just as well as buying something and having to pack it. then having to store it once home (of course until my next cruise <G>).

i really appreciate everyone's input and insight. it is always a little scary to do something i haven't done due to my mobility issues. i was even nervous about going on the first cruise because i wasn't familiar with the environment, really didn't know if I coud manage, how to manage, etc.... so trying something new now days can be a little scary but I tend to get thru that feeling and do what i hoped to do.

my new motto is "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" esp as my mobility difficulties continue to worsen. So i tell myself and others that may have every day struggles for one reason or another to "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

 

[CustardTart]

...my new motto is "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" esp as my mobility difficulties continue to worsen. So i tell myself and others that may have every day struggles for one reason or another to "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

I'm so sorry to hear this, Marsha. Sending you a and - I really hope that you get to snorkel in CC especially as I would very much like to see Pal Mickey in the appropriate attire! Great motto - I think I'll have to use it myself from time to time...

I don't know how helpful it would be but I know PassPorter do a guidebook for people with disabilities - it has a DCL section in it so might be worth a look...