September 22, 2007 -- WESTERN

[papa]

In my humble opinion, one of the new ships will probably be based in California. The other one in Florida, one in the Mediterranean, or Alaska, and maybe the other will continue to do the Bahamas. Of course, opinions are like bums (English for you know what) everyone has one. Mike

 

[scrapperjill]

Kristi...I'm glad you found your way over here. Your pickes of cat 8's aren't huge...there's not many of those on the ship. If you happen to get one on Deck 6 Port side...we'll be neighbors. We're booked in a Cat 8 as well (#6024...I think). We booked a GTY for our first cruise and got upgraded to the Cat 8...which we loved. The second cruise we booked the Cat 8 but then got upgraded to a Cat 6....which we loved as well. But we REALLY liked the 8 and didn't feel like the additional $ for the verhanda was worth it for us...so we booked the cat 8 again.

Our group (my posse) is not planning on wearing lime green tee's....(well some of them may...but a large number of us purchased RED polos to wear on the first day). Which as long as we can stand the heat in the Polo's we'll be wearing those at the Dis meet later that day as well

Claudia....WELCOME Glad to see you found the dis meet board as well. (along with your BF who popped in a while back

#1...TUX. No Tux here. My DH has always taken his black suit along...but he's been trying to talk me out of having him even take that. I think he's just about got me talked down. It does take up a LOT of packing space. Which if we're going to reach our goal of packing less...the suit may be one of the first things we leave behind. Pertty much DH will still bring everything except the jacket...but I think that'll save space.

#2....Excursions. We were just looking over places for Cozumel last night.

I think for Key West...we'll just go on our own. No major plans. Just hit Hard Rock, Boars Nest, Southern Most point, see the sights and just have fun.

Grand Cayman...I believe were looking into charting a boat to do the stingray city thing as well as some other snorkel spots. Plus hit the Hard Rock cafe'.

Cozumel.... We were looking into doing some snorkeling here as well. Because I hear it's one of the best places (or at least it use to be). But after looking on line yesterday we may opt to do more of a beach day at one of the beach clubs (like Paradise or Playa Mia). We have a good sized group of teens....that I'm sure would LOVE the water iceburgs and trampolines. Now it's just deciding which one would be better.

We've never booked any of the Disney excursion...and I don't think we'll start doing it this time either. I feel like we've got a good idea of what were doing...but I'm also feeling like we need to narrow some things down and make some real plans.

 

[ThreeSmiths]

Wow! I just spent an obscene amount of time catching up on all the activity that I've missed! Oh well, what else do I have to do?

to all of our new fellow cruisers! The more the merrier!

Karen: I will be sending lots of in hopes that you'll feel much relief and have great success with your new treatment. I think your fear is natural and I think its GREAT that your DH is so supportive.

Mike: Sending to your Aunt. My stepfather had bypass surgery and although it was a slow recovery, he came through just great!

Marsha: We got our first rain in 2 MONTHS from Barry. (I love the sun, but my water bill is going to be through the roof trying to keep our grass and landscape alive!) Glad to hear that you received relief from the storm and not disaster!

We're taking DD9 to see POTC3 Thursday -- can't wait!

 

[ThreeSmiths]

Cozumel.... We were looking into doing some snorkeling here as well. Because I hear it's one of the best places (or at least it use to be). But after looking on line yesterday we may opt to do more of a beach day at one of the beach clubs (like Paradise or Playa Mia). We have a good sized group of teens....that I'm sure would LOVE the water iceburgs and trampolines. Now it's just deciding which one would be better.

Sandi: I don't rembember which beach clubs we went to last summer (we went to several) but the ones we went to had the Fury Catamaran snorkel tours launch from docks right at the beach clubs. So that way if you decide you (or even part of your posse) wants to snorkel you can do it from the beach club. I just walked up to the boat and paid right there. I believe we were out for about 2 or 3 hours.

 

[scrapperjill]

scrapperjill - Thanks for noticing my sail date on one of the other threads. I need help from you regarding excursions for the Western. I am so confused What do you recommend for a 4 and 5 year old?

I don't know how much about what excursions would be good for that age....as I've never cruised with kids that age. And although we've booked the Western three times....we've never actually done the Western. So far with our prior two crusies we've been rerouted due to hurricanes. And like I mentioned in the post above...we've also never booked any of the Disney excursion.

I have the DCL passporter as well....and I agree...it's FULL of all sorts of useful information. With TONS of stuff on the ports.

I know when we booked our first cruise I think my youngest DD was 6....and we found alot of the DCL excrusions didn't allow for kids that young to even book excursions. However...IF you contact the tour companies in the ports....alot of them have lower age restrictions OR none at all. Do your research first...and only book with companies that you find reliable and trustworthy. You can also find a TON of information here on the DIS. From recomendations and postive feed back here on the DIS we booked with Capt Marvins in GC the first year...then last time we've looked into booking a private charter boat with them to Sting Ray city with a bunch of other people we knew...(that's what we're planning on doing this time as well).

One word of advice...IF you do book on your own...make sure you know what their cancelation policy is. ie...will you be charged for the excrusion if the ship is rerouted...or for some reason you don't make it to that particular port. I know with the one's we've booked in the past they've all said "If the ship dose not dock at the port we don't need to call to cancel..BUT if the ship dose dock and we don't call to cancel and we don't show up then we will be charged. So just find out ahead of time.

 

[scrapperjill]

Stacy....I'd love to find out which one you went to. If you think of it..or have any suggestions on which ones are better please let me know

 

[Bareacuda]

Ok trying to remember all the quandries of the cruise...

Yes Dh is bringing a tux and a dark suit. But... have to buy both new.. he's lost at this time... lost 21 lbs. Me just 11.

Good luck with the Dr's Karen.Hope you get some results soon!..
the Dr. that called me "portly" was very happy to see the weight loss. And the big bonus... my cholestrol is down 77 points! YEAH !!! With a bad family history, I has to be put on meds.
Then once again I'll have to do allergy testings in 2 weeks. That means off all my allergy meds! Ohhhh goody..time to carry my tissue and apoligize for all the sneezing! Famous lst words... "Im not sick... it's just allergies"

 

[CustardTart]

...No spa treatments. Maybe just get the wife to oil me up with sunscreen and do a belly flop and slide in the hallway Mike

Karen good luck with the doctor's. Hope that things work out well for you...

Thanks Mike...

...I hope that no one is offended, but just had a peek at the logo for the 2012 London Olympic games, and it is not my cup of tea. Maybe they will revise it before then. Looking at it I had flashbacks to the 60's. Mike

Isn't it awful!!! Took me a while to work out it was trying to say 2012! Goodness knows who designed it - hopefully the powers-that-be will reconsider...

Looking forward to the new ships coming on line in 2011. Thinking about booking a cruise on one.

Well, as someone pointed out elsewhere, DH and I will be celebrating our 30th Wedding Anniversary in 2012 so it'd be churlish not to get onboard!

 

[CustardTart]

...Karen: I will be sending lots of in hopes that you'll feel much relief and have great success with your new treatment. I think your fear is natural and I think its GREAT that your DH is so supportive...

Thank you, Stacy!

...We're taking DD9 to see POTC3 Thursday -- can't wait!

Enjoy!

 

[CustardTart]

...Yes Dh is bringing a tux and a dark suit. But... have to buy both new.. he's lost at this time... lost 21 lbs. Me just 11...

Congratulations on your weight loss, Ann!

...Good luck with the Dr's Karen.Hope you get some results soon!..
the Dr. that called me "portly" was very happy to see the weight loss. And the big bonus... my cholestrol is down 77 points! YEAH !!! With a bad family history, I has to be put on meds.
Then once again I'll have to do allergy testings in 2 weeks. That means off all my allergy meds! Ohhhh goody..time to carry my tissue and apoligize for all the sneezing! Famous lst words... "Im not sick... it's just allergies"

Thanks so much for your good wishes! As I've lost 30+lbs since I last saw my Doctor I made a point of mentioning it and whilst he didn't actually say "Wow! Mrs. Taylor - you are a babe!" at least he acknowledged it in a positive way!

Good to hear your cholesterol has fallen and good luck with your allergy testing...

 

[CustardTart]

Regarding the new ships - I really hope we get the option of a Hawaiian cruise! I would love to go there...

 

[Bareacuda]

Regarding the new ships - I really hope we get the option of a Hawaiian cruise! I would love to go there...

Im with you Karen... I'll do Hawai'i anytime. My Motto now... Have paddle with travel.

Ann

 

[papa]

It has been since March of 1971 since I had been to Hawaii. I am sure that it has a lot more hotels and homes everywhere now. I would love to go back there, except my wife is afraid to fly. She says her arms are too short Maybe with enough xanax or percocet I could coax her on the plane. Mike

 

[scottrob]

As I've lost 30+lbs since I last saw my Doctor

Karen,

I found your 30 pounds. Where should I send it?

Hawaii would be great! Had two Navy tours there. Never got off Oahu except on the deck of a ship.

Have not decided about a tux as yet. If not, will just do the suit thing. I think we will do Palos on formal night.

We have not firmed up our plans at all yet. Outside of Key West where we are just going to wander around, we have no idea what we want to do the at the other stops. Well, we have until Saturday to make up our minds; plenty of time. Still

 

[Bareacuda]

It has been since March of 1971 since I had been to Hawaii. I am sure that it has a lot more hotels and homes everywhere now. I would love to go back there, except my wife is afraid to fly. She says her arms are too short Maybe with enough xanax or percocet I could coax her on the plane. Mike

Tell Kathy that they make arm extentions now. So her arms won't be that tired!

Ann

 

[CustardTart]

Karen,

I found your 30 pounds. Where should I send it?

That's OK, Bob! You can keep it - consider it a gift...

 

[eva]

That's OK, Bob! You can keep it - consider it a gift...

Yikes Karen! No gifts for me please!

Wow, there has been a lot of good conversation going on over the last day or so. I'm excited to learn more about the two new ships too. But I want to find out where they are going and what extra activities they will have before I jump on one. Plus I'm not too hip on the pictures of the larger ships that RCCL and other lines have on their websites. It will be interesting as information comes out.

It looks like a number of us are trying to lose weight before the cruise. I still have a ways to go. But at least it is less than a pound a week to the cruise. I have a new workout video that is pretty fun called Hip Hop Abs (infomercial). It seems to be working on the mid-section. Congratulations to everyone that has had success in that area!

Marsha, good news about your friend who will be joining the cruise in September.

Well, Steve decided on the new suit for formal night. He'll just wear the same one for semi-formal night with a different shirt and tie. He finally agreed that it was silly to spend the money on a tux when he needs a bunch of new clothes.

I'm about set for reservation day. For excursions we have finalized Key west on our own and Stingray City at GC. But we are still debating Cozumel.

I'm hoping to get Palo reservations on day 4. It should be the Master Chef night. I have checked out all the menus and this one seems the least appealing to us. It will mean dressing up for three nights on the cruise instead of two. Oh well, I guess I will need another dress!

And for the spa I believe that I might wait till I get on the ship and see if they are running any specials. I may change my mind at the last minute and reserve the hot stone massage ahead of time. Although, Mike's idea of the sunscreen and belly flop seems very tempting. Do you need to make reservations prior to departure for that, Mike?

 

[papa]

Eva the best time to belly flop is when there are no cleaning carts in the hallway. Use plenty of sunscreen or oil to prevent carpet burn

Another day closer to our cruise and our time in paradise. Mike

Yo Ho Yo Ho a pirate's life for me

 

[FatCat]

New to this Thread!!!!

Also sailing on Magic 9/22.
Staying night before at Country Inns and Suites

Will have party of 9.

Will be the crazy family with Crocs on.

Hope to see you all aboard!!!!

Myself, DW, DD 2, DD 5,
Bro in Law
Sis in Law
Niece #1 16
Niece #2 12
Nephew #1 21

Would love to meet all of you as I know we will get sick of our family members...

 

[CustardTart]

Yikes Karen! No gifts for me please!

No problem - it's coming off pretty s-l-o-w-l-y now so not sure I'll have much to pass on anyway...

...Steve decided on the new suit for formal night. He'll just wear the same one for semi-formal night with a different shirt and tie. He finally agreed that it was silly to spend the money on a tux when he needs a bunch of new clothes...

Great idea!

...I'm about set for reservation day. For excursions we have finalized Key west on our own and Stingray City at GC. But we are still debating Cozumel...

We couldn't decide between the Xcaret Eco Park and the Tulum Ruins in Cozumel until our kids said they wanted to do the NYE 2008 Western Caribbean cruise! They all love the sound of the Xcaret Eco park so we thought we'd wait and do it with them - decision made!

...I'm hoping to get Palo reservations on day 4. It should be the Master Chef night. I have checked out all the menus and this one seems the least appealing to us. It will mean dressing up for three nights on the cruise instead of two. Oh well, I guess I will need another dress!

We'll definitely be eating in Palo's on Day 6 and hope to get in on waitlist one other evening too... Will you be booking Palo Brunch, Eva? If so, which day were you thinking of?