September 22, 2007 -- WESTERN

[brady961]

Hi Everyone. I have some good news and some not so good news. I took a home pregnancy test last night and it was positive. Of course that's the good news. The not so good is that if I am pregnant, I will miss the cruise. DH and I have been trying for about two years now and I had convinced myself that I would have to lose weight before it happened, or be tested for fertility issues. I went and had blood drawn this morning to confirm and should have the results by noon tomorrow. If I am pregnant, I will be at 6 months on the cruise date which is when you are no longer allowed to cruise. I'm really happy and hope that I am, but I'm sad that I will miss the cruise. I've decided to wait to cancel the cruise until the latest date to get a full refund just in case (not to sound negative, but the first few months can be risky and I don't want to jinx it!). I will keep you updated.

I wish you the best and your long time prayers are coming true with having a baby. Of course we will miss you on the cruise, but having a baby WOW. Just be sure to share pics on his/her birthday arrival.

 

[rick1138]

Hello Everyone. I'm Rick...knotyscot's (Wendy's) significant other.
I've been looking at this site for a while now and finally had a reason to post myself.
Does anyone have any experience with a cruise being rerouted due to bad weather? I mean, what has been done in the past if there's a storm in the way of the normal itinerary?

 

[papa]

Rick we were rerouted once in our 7 cruises. We were supposed to do the western route, but due to a hurricane we went to San Juan, St Thomas and two days at Castaway Cay.

Disney will do alternative ports of call to keep you and the ship out of danger. Mike

 

[rick1138]

Thx Mike. I was curious where else they might go and now it sounds good to me.
Tell me, how is the bunny related to you?

 

[CustardTart]

...I took a home pregnancy test last night and it was positive. Of course that's the good news. The not so good is that if I am pregnant, I will miss the cruise. DH and I have been trying for about two years now and I had convinced myself that I would have to lose weight before it happened, or be tested for fertility issues. I went and had blood drawn this morning to confirm and should have the results by noon tomorrow. If I am pregnant, I will be at 6 months on the cruise date which is when you are no longer allowed to cruise. I'm really happy and hope that I am, but I'm sad that I will miss the cruise...

There has to be no better reason for missing the cruise, Melody! I shall keep all my fingers (and anything else I can think of) crossed for you. Sending you my very best wishes and pixiedust...

 

[CustardTart]

...Karen, Glad to have you back. Did you enjoy Paris? Where did you stay? Any fun activities?

Thanks, Eva! It's nice to be back. We had a wonderful time eating out, window shopping and attending a Rene Lalique exhibition. I bought a book called French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating For Pleasure by Mirielle Guiliano so hopefully I'm going to learn all about it...

 

[ThreeSmiths]

Hello Everyone. I'm Rick...knotyscot's (Wendy's) significant other.
I've been looking at this site for a while now and finally had a reason to post myself.
Does anyone have any experience with a cruise being rerouted due to bad weather? I mean, what has been done in the past if there's a storm in the way of the normal itinerary?

We've been re-routed twice on a Western. The first time we went to San Juan, Nassau and CC. The second time we went to St. Thomas, St. Martin and CC. Never have made it to Key West, Grand Cayman or Cozumel (although last year we vacationed for a week in Cozumel and saw the Magic come in to port!) We are hoping to see Key West & Grand Cayman this time around!

 

[scrapperjill]

Hello Everyone. I'm Rick...knotyscot's (Wendy's) significant other.
I've been looking at this site for a while now and finally had a reason to post myself.
Does anyone have any experience with a cruise being rerouted due to bad weather? I mean, what has been done in the past if there's a storm in the way of the normal itinerary?

Oh BOY...do I ever!!! We've cruised with Disney TWICE and TWICE we've been rerouted due to bad weather. Now we didn't cruise last year at all...and did everyone notice what NICE weather they had during hurrican season?? Anywho...Disney will do what they can to ensure the safty of everyone on board. Both of our cruises (7 nighters) ended up being 7 nights...no additonal nights like a couple cruises or no nights cut short like some others. The first year we sailed Disney was in 2004 we booked the Western and ended up being rerouted to a modifyed Eastern with stops in San Juan Puerto Rico, Nassau and CC. In 2005 we sailed again...and once again booked the Western. This time we were rerouted to the Eastern...going to St. Thomas, St. Martin and CC. This year we booked the Western once again....but I think the third times going to be a charm...we will make it to the Western ports

BUT just incase...I have made plans to pack along a travel guide with information on other places in the area that we may have stop if were rerouted. I think the worst thing about being rerouted was just not really knowing where we were going until the night before...then not really knowing what there was to do at the 'new' ports. Anywho....by brining a travel guide along I'll be sure to have a reference guide of things to do in other ports.

Tavel insurance is another idea. One thing though...you do need to purchase it before a storm is formed.

Flights...And flying into the Orlando area at least the night before the ship sails is a good idea...just incase air travel is delayed due to weather...you'll be more relaxed and have some give. Of course I think flying in the night before is a good idea no matter what time of year you go...you just really never know when you'll encouter problems along the way (missed connections, delayed flights, plane malfunctions).

Anyways I kinda got off track there...about the ship and changes... I know on other cruises Disney has issued credits or refunds due to changes. On our cruise we didn't get anything along that line..except for a small refund from port taxes (the western port taxes are a little bit more than the Eastern). But they did offer "FREE" drinks quite a bit during our first cruise to help make up for some of the changes. We also recieved a lithograph in our room...it was a special print they'd made for a special itinary they had later that year to San Juan and Antiguia (I think).

If I think of anything else I'll post it.

Oh...I was going to add that ThreeSmiths, American Scrapper and our family were all on the same two cruises.

It looks like Stacy beat me to the post

 

[papa]

Rick that is our youngest grand daughter with her aunt. Mike

 

[knotyscot]

Sheesh, If you don't keep up with this thread you feel unraveled!

It's 8:10pm here. Getting pretty windy outside. We are suppose to get some rain in the next couple of days. We are down 11 inches from normal so some rain is a good thing right now. April showers bring May flowers!

Karen, Sounds like you had a wonderful time in Paris. Have you ever been to DisneyLand Paris? If yes, what was it like?
So you are renewing your vows on the Ship?

Eva, Wow! More points! You lucky duck. Sounds like you will be going to COLOR="Green"]Ireland[/COLOR]next year?

Marsha, I ditto Karen's words of appreciation for the badges, etc...

I have been parusing the DLC website, specifically our reservation and the shore excursion options for each port of call. Some look very interesting, others, to much action for me. Anyone have experience with the shore excursions? What were some of your favorites? Which ones were a bust?
If you don't go on shore excursion but you just want to get off the ship and do some close by shopping, etc... any recomendations for which ports to do this in?

Wendy

 

[brady961]

Wendy you are welcome.

I can't offer anything on excursions. I did go to Cozumel and shopped in the market across the street from the port/dock. Boy many wanted to buy or trade with me for my mickey mouse or minnie mouse plush key chain. My friend with me, someone wanted to buy her Pal Mickey. Seems they wanted to buy/trade about anything we had that was disney related.

I didn't trade and had to learn quickly not to make eye contact, to keep rolling away. Basically had to be rude at times and ignore several.

There was one shop we went into that there was no hassle, they helped you if wanted but weren't like calling you to come in their store, coming into the walkway trying to get you into their store etc...

For me it was an experience <G>

Key West i went on the trolley tour. It was ok but I imagine you could walk around and see as much, find info to learn as much etc... as we heard on that hour tour. I am glad I went on it but doubt would ever take that tour again.

I am sure others here will have much more to suggest and offer in regards to excursions at each port of call.

 

[Bareacuda]

Hi Wendy,
Dh and I have done both Eastern and Western. We tend to do the fast boat rides and hiking outtings or snorkling trips.
Tulum (Cozumel)was great... just remember it's about 6/7 hrs long... but well wotht it!
There's a catamaran snorkle trip in Key West that was a blast.
Grand Cayman... we did the trip to Hell and Snorkle Stingray City tour.

This trip I think we're doing the Jeep Tour, Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Gardens and Captain Nautica,White Knuckle Thrill Boats,Sail-Kayak and snorkle, and I think the last excurtion is Speed Boat/ Beach Escape. And I havent counted in at Castaway Cay...

And I think after that... we'll need a vacation!

 

[CustardTart]

...Karen, Sounds like you had a wonderful time in Paris. Have you ever been to DisneyLand Paris? If yes, what was it like?

Wendy, we've been to DLP quite few times and had a lot of fun BUT WDW it ain't and we just love that Florida sunshine. There are 2 parks there now, as they opened Disney Studios adjacent to the original park a few years back, so it makes for a full weekend. Plus the onsite hotel is lovely BUT WDW it ain't... Can you see a trend here?!!

...So you are renewing your vows on the Ship?

We certainly are! It seems like a fab idea as, when we originally married in '82, we had such a non-event. However, I'm slightly stressing over the weight I have yet to lose not to mention what I'm going to wear!!! Fingers crossed it all turns out OK...

 

[CustardTart]

Tulum (Cozumel)was great... just remember it's about 6/7 hrs long... but well wotht it!

Ann, DH and I are thinking about the Tulum excursion. We were pretty sold on the Xcaret one but I saw a picture of the Tulum site and it looks awesome so maybe we'll go for that...

 

[eva]

I've been planning and changing excursions ever since we paid our deposit in August. But I think that I am narrowing it down. I'm pretty sure that are set for all ports except Cozumel. In Key West we are going to try the walking tour in the Passporter. Since you really don't have to snorkle much, we are going to do Stingray City in Grand Cayman. For Cozumel we are leaning towards just staying on the ship. At CC we will be doing the wave runners. If they have parasailing back we may change our minds, or just do both.

No rerouted cruises here. We have been on two so far, 3-night and the Eastern. But we took both of those in early May. This will be our first cruise in the fall.

Karen, That book seems to be getting some popularity over here in the States. You will have to let me know what you think. To eat for pleasure and not get fat sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Marshmelo]

Thanks for all the well wishes!

I just wanted to let you all know that I am officially pregnant! I took an at home test on Sunday and it was confirmed this morning with the results from a blood draw I had yesterday. I have to go back for another blood test tomorrow morning so they can make sure the hormone levels have doubled as they should.

Though I'm excited, I know it's early and anything can happen, so I won't be able to really celebrate until I have an exam and see that everything looks normal and will be okay. I will keep you all updated.

Melody

 

[disneyfan551]

What great news!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

 

[CustardTart]

Thanks for all the well wishes!

I just wanted to let you all know that I am officially pregnant!

Wow!!! That's fantastic news, Melody! I am so happy for you and will continue to send you plenty of and for your next blood test!

 

[rick1138]

Thanks everyone for getting back to me.
Sounds like Disney makes sure you get your monies worth if you are diverted and that what I was really wondering.

Mike, she sure is a sweetie.
Jill and 3smiths, thanks for all the info.
Congrats Melody!

 

[Lucky Penny]

I just wanted to let you all know that I am officially pregnant!
Melody

Congratulations, Melody!! Yes, please keep us updated as you progress - and we will keep you in our hearts and prayers and showered in !!

Penny