September 28, 2016, DVC Member Cruise on the Magic!

[poison ivy]

wow. this sounds great. love those ticket prices. Thanks Mathmagicland. will follow up.

 

[poison ivy]

Ok, no breakfast, but 2 meets are available. You can pick both Princesses and Anna and Elsa, and they are offered on the 2 sea days.

I picked both for the second sea day.

really glad you were able to reserve something. I hope this new system works out. I'll have to check the boards to see how it goes for the first few cruisers.
We're in So Cal. visiting our daughters so I've been a bit absent. Coincidentally we just did an Anna and Elsa meet and greet with our grandkids at DCA. They still pose together over there.
I don't think we'll be reserving this as JQ is not very excited about the prospect. Too funny.

 

[poison ivy]

So I took my new Dooney/DVC bag out for her first outing yesterday! Bigger than I thought, which makes me happy!

very nice Deb. I love it. so jealous.

 

[bobbiwoz]

really glad you were able to reserve something. I hope this new system works out. I'll have to check the boards to see how it goes for the first few cruisers.
We're in So Cal. visiting our daughters so I've been a bit absent. Coincidentally we just did an Anna and Elsa meet and greet with our grandkids at DCA. They still pose together over there.
I don't think we'll be reserving this as JQ is not very excited about the prospect. Too funny.

Enjoy your trip! Did you stay at VGC?
We are in Cape May for 1 more week. Today we'll visit with good friends from Hamilton Township, Mercer County. We taught together many years ago!

 

[poison ivy]

Enjoy your trip! Did you stay at VGC?
We are in Cape May for 1 more week. Today we'll visit with good friends from Hamilton Township, Mercer County. We taught together many years ago!

We had a 2 bdrm at VGC for 1 nt. I really love that resort. . We debated buying an add-on years ago there and probably should have, since we seem to be visiting more and more these days.

We did California Adventure only with the limited time we had. My grandkids love Cars land.

Enjoy the shore!

tomorrow is gold check-in for the cruise. do I log in at midnight? can't believe it's getting so close. I've been wavering on my inside cabin decision but JQ is holding firm and not budging on paying about a grand for a balcony.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I did one Member Cruise in an inside cabin, and i was just happy to be on the cruise with a friend who had never cruised before. (She hasn't gone since either.). On this cruise, Patricia and I are trying a Navigator Veranda, trying to save a little.

We stayed in VGC after Panama Canal cruise and loved everything! The character breakfast was so good. Lucky you, having a reason to go to California more often!

 

[poison ivy]

ok so we checked in around 12:30am. No brunch left on either at sea day for a pty of 2. Didn't realize how many Platinum cruisers we have or maybe those diligent Gold members beat me to the punch by a half hour. I was so wrapped up in the gator story I almost forget to do this!
I'm going to try to book something when we board.
We have boarding time of 11:30. is this the earliest?

 

[KaciJT]

Is there a theme for this cruise? I went on the pixar cruise and someone made logo art (thank you whomever you were) that we could use for our FE gifts. the theme was "To Alaska and Beyond"

 

[bobbiwoz]

I cannot think of anything except the 25 Years and Beyond theme. Any other ideas??

 

[Daffydee]

Let the planning begin! Go North Tours specializes in guided wine tours as well, and is adding a 7 pax minivan to their fleet to accommodate more guests.
So if anyone else in interested in joining us on our guided tour of Halifax let us know. The more the merrier!

I am hoping to hit Peggy's Cove first thing to avoid some of the hop on/ hop off congestion combined with any other tour busses arriving.

If you click on that video in JQ's post, you'll see the Peggy's Cove footage begin around the 1:41 mark. They were travelling around Sept 10, 2014, to give some idea as to weather conditions as well. Peggy's Cove was not their first stop and it does look pretty busy there since it's such a popular tourist attraction.


Thank you gometros for that invaluable link regarding the other ships in port with us.

Looks like 3 ships in port on Sept 30th http://www.cruisetimetables.com/visitinghalifaxnovascotia-30sep2016.html
1) Disney Magic (our ship) does not have a time posted but it shows as docking at 9:30 am on Oct 5.
2) RC - Serenade of the Seas docks at 9:00 am
3) Celebrity Summit docks at 10:00 am


I don't know the size of these ships or the excursion times to visit Peggy's Cove. I'm guessing our Cruise being a specialty cruise/chartered sail thru DVC is why there is no posted time for when we dock.

but if you click on Oct. 5th, you'll see the Disney Magic is posting 0930-1800. Hopefully this will be the same for Sept 30.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-halifax-nova-scotia.html

 

[Daffydee]

We are so late to the party, I can't believe it. Was wondering if there was any availability on your minivan. Sounds like a great tour. There are 2 of us, my husband and myself. Thanks. Dee

 

[bobbiwoz]

Come here to chat and plan!

I've organized Local Candy Exchanges and would love to organize one here! We use Fish Extenders to pass out local or regional candy or snacks. I keep the number of cabins in each group to 6-11.

I hope other groups will form, meet ups etc. I will keep a look out and keep a list of planned activities here!

Candy Exchange....I will keep a running list of interested folks.

Fish Extender...will someone here keep tabs of that? i do not do FB very often, so on the last MC, I think someone was keeping tabs here and there.

Meets on board....an embarkation day meet is easy to coordinate!

Group Mixology.....any interest in these, there's wine, champagne, mixed drinks....any interest?

Anything else?

Bobbi


Candy Exchange interest
In May, I'll ask for cabin numbers, number of participants in each cabin and if there are any allergies. Looking forward to trying and sharing local treats! We usually include something about the history of what we are sharing

Bobbiwoz
Pattipook
Alaneeray
poison ivy
DizDays
Missy1897

FE Interest
poison ivy
Alaneeray

Just reposting the first post.

Any more interest in the Candy/Snack exchange? If you have not sent me your particular information, please do!

I do not know anything about the FE, and I hope someone has followed up with it. If not, do you want me to keep tabs here?

I'm so happy that Patricia and I are in the mini van group, and that it's even been expanded!

Bobbi

 

[poison ivy]

We are so late to the party, I can't believe it. Was wondering if there was any availability on your minivan. Sounds like a great tour. There are 2 of us, my husband and myself. Thanks. Dee

hi Dee,

glad to hear you guys are interested. the more the merrier on this tour! Just have to make sure we're able to fit everyone.
I'm going to have JQ contact Go North to see about getting the bigger van. Will get right back to you on this.

christine

 

[Mathmagicland]

hi Dee,

glad to hear you guys are interested. the more the merrier on this tour! Just have to make sure we're able to fit everyone.
I'm going to have JQ contact Go North to see about getting the bigger van. Will get right back to you on this.

christine

Maybe JQ can also find out if she can pick up at the pier where we will dock, or if we have to shuttle over to the main pier? as you noted, it would be more convenient if she could pick up there. Thanks!

 

[Johnny Quest]

We are so late to the party, I can't believe it. Was wondering if there was any availability on your minivan. Sounds like a great tour. There are 2 of us, my husband and myself. Thanks. Dee

Hi Daffy dee,

I checked with Go North and we have secured the 10 passenger van for our tour. Thanks for hopping on. I'll PM you with my personal info soon.

 

[Johnny Quest]

Maybe JQ can also find out if she can pick up at the pier where we will dock, or if we have to shuttle over to the main pier? as you noted, it would be more convenient if she could pick up there. Thanks!

Hi Mathmagicland,
I heard back from Go North Tours. They are not allowed to pick up at our dock so we must take a shuttle to Pier 21.

 

[poison ivy]

Good morning all. Hope everyone is doing well.
So JQ's news was not ideal for our Halifax day. Needless to say I am now in full planning mode to understand this shuttle situation. It's not an easy quest as details are buried within a maze of cruise information.

Go North said that berth 31 could affect our pickup time. I'm optimistic. Laila is great and emailed JQ right away late Sat as soon as she returned from a day of touring. He's been busy as well but will call her to discuss all our options. she's willing to tailor our day to accommodate the group which is one of the great things about this company and I'm thrilled to have the larger van.

So stay tuned. We may need to contact the port authority to get the schedule on these shuttle busses. We'll be ready and first to debark if necessary.

On another note, I just read this article about the Halifax 2016 cruise season expected to break records. Very interesting. All I can say is thank goodness we're not docking on Sept. 15. enjoy! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cruise-ship-season-2016-1.3463940

 

[Mathmagicland]

Good morning all. Hope everyone is doing well.
So JQ's news was not ideal for our Halifax day. Needless to say I am now in full planning mode to understand this shuttle situation. It's not an easy quest as details are buried within a maze of cruise information.

Go North said that berth 31 could affect our pickup time. I'm optimistic. Laila is great and emailed JQ right away late Sat as soon as she returned from a day of touring. He's been busy as well but will call her to discuss all our options. she's willing to tailor our day to accommodate the group which is one of the great things about this company and I'm thrilled to have the larger van.

So stay tuned. We may need to contact the port authority to get the schedule on these shuttle busses. We'll be ready and first to debark if necessary.

On another note, I just read this article about the Halifax 2016 cruise season expected to break records. Very interesting. All I can say is thank goodness we're not docking on Sept. 15. enjoy! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cruise-ship-season-2016-1.3463940

Thank you so much for all of your work on this. Interesting that they cannot pick up at Pier 31. Maybe Laila can shed some light on the pier situation from her past experience ? I do see where Disney's port excursion just to Peggy's Cove has a 9:15 departure time, if that helps at all. Please let me know if there is anything you'd like me to try to track down for you.

 

[poison ivy]

Thank you so much for all of your work on this. Interesting that they cannot pick up at Pier 31. Maybe Laila can shed some light on the pier situation from her past experience ? I do see where Disney's port excursion just to Peggy's Cove has a 9:15 departure time, if that helps at all. Please let me know if there is anything you'd like me to try to track down for you.

thanks so much Mathmagicland. JQ's off tomorrow and plans to call Laila to go over everything. So whatever we want to know, he'll ask.
My questions are:
1) how efficient is this shuttle system? are they waiting and ready as soon as we dock? So many things have to go exactly right to get off the ship early.
2) what happens at Pier 21 where we're dropped off?
3) does Laila just want to wait for us for the photo op at the Citadel and are the gardens something we can fit in or is a dropoff at both points the way to go?
4) would a reverse order on our itinerary be the better course given the logistics and timing? In other words, we do all the downtown Halifax touring first thing.
It'll be quiet, easy traffic and virtually empty crowdwise. We proceed to Peggy's cove/Terence Bay as our last stops - anticipating heavy crowds just at Peggy's cove. But otherwise, experience a very peaceful, quiet tour the whole day and go straight back to the pier from there? the only problem is we'll all be very hungry. a full lunch stop is out of the question.
5) are there any exceptions to allow pickup direct at the pier?

that's just where I'm at right now on this. What I plan to avoid is all stress and have the best relaxing day ever working with a very tight port schedule.
If anyone finds any video or information on Pier 21 and/or the shuttle situation from the container docks please share.

thanks
christine

 

[poison ivy]

Here's a Pier 21 webcam. So cool!

http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/en/webcams/pier-21/