September 29, 2012 - Ropin' Some Magic in the Western Caribbean

[soccermom1422]

I'm glad I'm not the only one having trouble with the on-line check in. We've got 2 rooms, so 2 reservation numbers. I was able to get us all checked in, but now I can't retrieve the reservations to book activities. I will keep trying.

Here is what we are planning on doing in each port:

Grand Cayman - Shipwreck and Reef Snorkeling for DS 13, DS 11, and me (we were going to do the shipwreck snuba but snorkeling gave us more time and we can do the reef also)

Costa Maya - Jungle Beach Break for all of us (something for everyone, even the 2yo can go on this one)

Cozumel - chocolate factory tour on our own

 

[Belle6000]

I see a few people have been excursions. Which ones did you choose?

Unlike the before we sailed on The Dream, I haven't found what a typical itinerary would look like for this cruise. Which morning would be the Character Breakfast? Which night is Pirate Night? Any info y'all have found or know from experiencing a 7-night Disney cruise before?

Also, we fee like we should be sure to bring our expectations way down from what we experienced on The Dream. The Magic is quite old in comparison, so we're not sure how run-down things will be. We've been trying to tell our daughter that the kids club might not be as big/cool/fun as the Dream was. She already cannot believe their won't be any talking artwork detective games on board The Magic! Anyone doing the same? You think this train of thought is justified, right?


On the bright side, we are looking forward to not as many people on this ship. The Dream was packed everywhere! I've heard maneuvering The Magic is also much easier because it's just a more manageable size. Anyone bee on The Fantasy yet?

I'm wondering about the itenerary too. Mainly, I'm worried that our character breakfast will be the morning that we have a Mayan excursion booked in Cozumel. Is there any way to find out before you get on the ship when the breakfast will be?

I've been on the wonder before (Which is very similar to the Magic) and I can tell you the Magic won't look run down. The ships are very nice....BUT it will not have a lot of the new cool stuff the Dream has! The kids clubs are pretty nice, but I haven't seen the ones on the Dream so I'm sure that there's going to be some newer things the Dream has that the Magic does not. If you look at the pictures on the website of the kids areas they are pretty accurate.

 

[Belle6000]

Wouldn't 5:30 interfere with those who have early dining? It is my understanding that it is at 5:45. Gathering midship before the sailaway is a good option, too. People, please jump in with your opinions!

I think so. I like the 3:00 option, but if we needed to do it later maybe 7:00 would work better? The only problem is that you have to dress for dinner so some might not be able to wear their matching shirts if we did it around the dinner times.

Speaking of the shirts....is everyone ironing that logo onto a red shirt?

 

[Piper]

I am using red because it is so easy to find in every size. Also, it just seems a "Disney color" to me (I know, I am strange!)

 

[soccermom1422]

I would like to make some shirts using the iron-on. My kids are starting to get tired of me making them wear matching shirts on Disney vacations, but I love the Mickey cowboy, so they will have do match once. And I like the color red!

 

[IllyzMomma]

Are there any fish extender groups organized for the Sept. 29th sailing from Galveston?

 

[jenandjuice]

Well I'm checked in online and all signed up with my fun stuff.

I've already had to move my palo dinner ressie because I forgot the Cowboys play that night, and hubby and I will be parked at Diversions watching the game instead of going to any scheduled dining that night

I'm just hoping I get AP show on a night where we don't have other plans, because I really really really want to see it!

Anyways, we booked palo brunch day 2, spa: couples choice villa day 5, palo dinner day 5, and Dolphinaris at Cozymel

For Grand Cayman we plan on going to margaritaville for a bit and we don't plan on getting off the ship at Costa Maya.

Lastly, and don't be mad at me

But we aren't going to participate in t-shirts. I have way too much on my plate with the wedding and finishing up the FEs and work and everything else prior to the cruise that I can't take on another project. Also, I know hubby wouldn't wear it, because he's a bit of a stick in the mud!

We will probably be wearing Bride and Groom mickey shirts that my coworkers are giving us, and it's like pulling teeth to get him to agree to wearing that!

Have a wonderful Monday!!!

 

[Piper]

Are there any fish extender groups organized for the Sept. 29th sailing from Galveston?

Yes. Look back in the thread for the link on post #335 and put yourself on the bottom of the list. It will close on August 1st so that people have time to make or purchase gifts (some people order and need time for them to arrive.)

 

[txtricia]

I see a few people have been excursions. Which ones did you choose?

QUOTE]

We booked the Nautilus in Grand Cayman (we wanted to do the one with Snorkeling but the twins are 3 weeks shy of the age cutoff)

I think we are skipping Costa Maya

In Cozumel we are going to do Paradise Beach on our own.

 

[tmasimmons]

We also homeschool.

April is 13 (April has been accepted to NOCCA ~ New Orleans Center for Creative Arts ~ as a classical violin/harp student ~ they won't be happy with her missing for the cruise, but it was planned long before they accepted her. I will sure miss our homeschool vacation freedoms!!!)

Thomas is 11

I'll get our red shirts done. FE gifts are taking up a lot of time, but I think everyone will love them!

Yes, this will be the best homeschool fieldtrip ever! We are even doing a unit on explorers of the Americas and pirates before the cruise.

I noticed many young kids and lots of 8 and 9 year olds. Will anyone be traveling with tweens or teens?

My family is:
Amy (me)
Corey (husband)
Nick - 13
Zack - 11
Michael - 9
Luke - 2

I'm getting ready to make reservations for activities and excursions tomorrow!

 

[WoodlandsMom]

I too have started the FE gifts!!! I think/hope everyone will love them!

 

[Piper]

We also homeschool.

April is 13 (April has been accepted to NOCCA ~ New Orleans Center for Creative Arts ~ as a classical violin/harp student ~ they won't be happy with her missing for the cruise, but it was planned long before they accepted her. I will sure miss our homeschool vacation freedoms!!!)

Thomas is 11

I'll get our red shirts done. FE gifts are taking up a lot of time, but I think everyone will love them!

Congratulations to April. Many years ago, my daughter went to the High School for Visual and Performing Arts in Houston. It was soon after it opened and she loved it. Although she plays flute and piano and sings, her major was visual arts. She went on to get a BA in drawing and painting and her masters in early childhood education.

 

[thorpedo1015]

Hi there,

My family and a set of close friends are BOOKED for the Sept 29th galveston cruise! This is my families 1st Cruise and I ran across the fish extenders on ETSY and was sooooo excited to find out about this forum. Can we please get in on the 3rd group I am reading about?

Here is our Family -

Nana - Frances (54)
Papa - Ted (54)
Mom - Lori (35)
Dad - Jason (39)
Son - James (6)
Daughter - Audrey (3)
Daughter - Madelyn (13 mo)

:> Lori

Hello everyone. We are the close friends of Lori's. I have been looking at disboards for years. I joined last year and loved all the tips I received prior to our Disney trip last year. I have been to Disney multiple times, but this year, thanks to our son just being born and some prodding from my wife and Lori, we are going on our first Disney cruise.

My crew is

Daddy - Derek (29)
Mommy - Kelly (30)
Daughter - Cameron ( will turn 4 two weeks before cruise)
Son - Carson (will be 4 1/2 months on cruise date)

My wife wanted to sign us up for the Fish extender group, so I put our names on the sheet. Let me know if I need to do anything else.

Hope to get to know everyone and have a great time on this cruise.

Derek

 

[Piper]

Welcome Derek, I added your dis name to your listing on the FE list and have sent you the file for the t-shirt.

 

[WoodlandsMom]

This may be a dumb question - but does anyone know what the weather will be like? Is it cooler in the evening on the ship? Im not sure what to pack!

 

[WoodlandsMom]

This is my first cruise and Im thinking of decorating my door with magnets. I see them for sale on etsy/ebay, $15 each. Im thinking it will be much cheaper just to make them myself. Anyone else do this?

 

[SucalT]

This is my first cruise and Im thinking of decorating my door with magnets. I see them for sale on etsy/ebay, $15 each. Im thinking it will be much cheaper just to make them myself. Anyone else do this?

Pretty much everyone does this. It would be cost prohibitive to purchase all those magnets. There are many, many threads regarding making door magnets. Enjoy the researching and creating of your magnets.

 

[Texas lady]

This is my first cruise and Im thinking of decorating my door with magnets. I see them for sale on etsy/ebay, $15 each. Im thinking it will be much cheaper just to make them myself. Anyone else do this?

Myself, going to decorate the door using magnet sheets, I figured it wouldnt be that expensive, and can print what I want!!!

74 Days!!!

 

[Piper]

I made my own magnets, too. Just find graphics that you like and print on the magnetic sheets!

 

[IllyzMomma]

Hi,

We'll be on board Sept 29. We're a family of 3

Mom-Andrea 36
Dad-Tony 36
and Daughter- Illeana will be 4


Counting down the weeks, sooo excited!

We're interested in the FE group...