T-Day Cruisers 2011, November 19-26th, 2011

[ICEMANPAD]

We live 3 hours away, or sometimes a bit less, but we always come up the night before...

Coming from the distance mentioned above, even if DH works the full day, I would strongly suggest driving at least part of the distance Friday evening....

I can give too many horror stories of near misses, or worse, of people barely making (or not making) the ship under these circumstances...for what you are paying for the cruise, including the first day, but mainly the whole cruise, risking missing the ship is not a good idea.

Have your DH read the thread if maybe that will help.

Chuck

 

[ICEMANPAD]

I do note though, that living as close as Mean Queen, does remove much of the risk, but there is a huge difference between a 2 hour trip and an 8 hour one

Chuck

 

[JackNMel]

Lori, thanks for the graphic, it looks great!!

I also wish you luck on convincing DH to leave the night before, you want to use every bit of cushion you can get, plus I am always so excited on sail day that I want to get there as early as possible to enjoy it. All that driving on the day of would drive me crazy!!

Got everyone registered tonight, we have 2 cabins and two different port times, haha. But, we will get there when we get there!

Time for the dancing bananas!!

 

[amyren]

Fear not. DH's half day has been approved . We now plan to leave the ATL just after noon Friday and make the drive to the port. I'm considering the Hilton Cocoa Beach or Doubletree by Hilton Cocoa Beach. We are Hilton rewards members and they both offer free parking for the length of the cruise. The thing is since we will arrive late I don't really need to stay beachfront. Any suggestions on other hotels?

 

[ICEMANPAD]

The only one of many we have stayed at that we did not like was Country Inn and Suites. The Residence Inn, the Radisson, Hampton and Quality Inn/Suites have all been fine by us. But, just personal opinions.

Chuck

 

[amyren]

Lori can I get a graphic too? Pretty please.
Our last name is Allen.

 

[lck33]

Hello everyone... just checking in... Starting to get some web feet here in NY. Doesn't seem like the rain ever stops.

I have a question for all of you veterans... On castaway cay, I have read about some kind of sea lice... has anyone experienced this? I have been to the carribean quite a few times and have never had a problem. But
I am not sure about the bahamas.

Also does anyone have any feedback on Ocean Quest. I have read the past navigators to try to give my daughter a feel of what goes on in there. But would like to pass on some further information.

Thanks!

Elsie

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Hi Elsie-

In all of our trips to CC, I have been affected by sea lice only once. I had a very itchy rash on my legs for a few days one time a few years ago. Benadryl cream worked well. Luckily, only I was affected.

I think that the Edge (Tween club) is now located in what had been Ocean Quest. Mason loves the tween club!! Biggest piece of advice is to get involved early in the cruise--there are ice breaker games the first evening.

Lisa

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Even when my kids were younger, they never got them. One thing I read once, was to take at least two bathing suits. (which we continue to do) This way, while you are wearing one, the other completely dries. This is one of the ways you can get lice and the other bugs picked up from the beaches. Also, completely rinse them out before you hang them to dry.

If your kids like to play in the sand, every so often just make them rinse off in the ocean or at a shower (if you have one close) fairly often.

We are also excited. It is coming really fast, and not having my FE gifts done is giving me a little anxiety. So....for a general announcement.....

Everyone knows that part of our FE gift are survival bracelets. They are not cheap, they are really cool, and take a little time to make. Those who have not given me measurements, will you please take a minute to get them and send them to me? My email address is on the FE list, or you can PM me.

Thanks!

Lori

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Lori can I get a graphic too? Pretty please.
Our last name is Allen.

 

[lck33]

Thanks Lisa and Lori. We plan on bringing extra suits and benedryl cream just in case... Can't wait to try out the new slide. Should be fun. And we want to snorkel too. Hope the water is warm enough.

Also I saw a thread about the rainforest room. Any thoughts from you guys on this. Sounds like it would be kind of nice for my husband and I. A before dinner relaxer type of thing.

Watched the port web cam today and got a little excited. Just think a few more to go before ours...

Elsie

 

[ICEMANPAD]

As to what I've heard about the Rainforest room...well this thread is supposed to be G-rated, but....LOL

Then again, not everything has been restricted to the Rainforest room either...there was the time some people on a Turkey Week thread went in for some Hot-tubbing on the Magic, sans swimsuits, but I won't reveal any names..(was not us)..

as to sea lice, I have never had a problem and I have played a ton of beach volleyball...given 13 prior cruises, including 6 or 7 double dips, that means about 20 trips to CC...

Chuck

 

[lck33]

Chuck... Thank you... Definitely don't want to take my chances with that... Think I'll just schedule a massage.

I am just going to pack some Benedryl cream like Lisa suggested just in case those little critters feel like showing themselves. Ha! And a couple of extra suits.

Hope we get our room assignments soon.

Elsie

 

[Mean Queen]

As to what I've heard about the Rainforest room...well this thread is supposed to be G-rated, but....LOL

Then again, not everything has been restricted to the Rainforest room either...there was the time some people on a Turkey Week thread went in for some Hot-tubbing on the Magic, sans swimsuits, but I won't reveal any names..(was not us)..

as to sea lice, I have never had a problem and I have played a ton of beach volleyball...given 13 prior cruises, including 6 or 7 double dips, that means about 20 trips to CC...

Chuck

Wow! I've heard that about the Exotic Rasul but didn't know that went on in the Rainforest room too. We've gone in there before spa treatments to relax and thought it was very nice. Luckily, no one was doing anything out of the ordinary while we've been there. And everyone I've run into in the hot tubs have been dressed appropriately.

 

[jd99]

Everyone knows that part of our FE gift are survival bracelets. They are not cheap, they are really cool, and take a little time to make. Those who have not given me measurements, will you please take a minute to get them and send them to me? My email address is on the FE list, or you can PM me.

Thanks!

Lori

Oh crap. I completely forgot. I PROMISE I will get the tape measure out tonight after I get home from daughter's swim practice. Mea culpa. Mea culpa.

 

[amyren]

Thanks!! I just ordered my magnet paper from Staples online

Quick dining question, when we booked first seating was full so we were assigned second. First seating works MUCH better for DD is there any way to change it once we are on board?

 

[jd99]

Thanks!! I just ordered my magnet paper from Staples online

Quick dining question, when we booked first seating was full so we were assigned second. First seating works MUCH better for DD is there any way to change it once we are on board?

Go directly to Rockin' Bar D where they will entertain these types of changes. If they have the space, they'll accommodate. We've changed once or twice - never with a problem. We want to do the same but we have the added dilemma of having a favorite server who we want to have but if we make a change we may lose him.

 

[lck33]

Quick dining question, when we booked first seating was full so we were assigned second. First seating works MUCH better for DD is there any way to change it once we are on board?

Hope you can get this changed. We had first seating on our last cruise and it worked out pretty well. Although, after dinner and a show, all we wanted to do was go to bed, so we never made it to any of the adult clubs. This time around we opted for a late seating so that we could catch an early show, then dinner, and hopefully be able to stay up and catch some of the goings on at night. Hope this line of thinking doesn't come back to haunt us.

Also, does anyone know what the different backgrounds for the family photos are like. Trying to get an idea of which one might look best in our home..

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Quick dining question, when we booked first seating was full so we were assigned second. First seating works MUCH better for DD is there any way to change it once we are on board?

I agree with pp's. It's easier to switch from early to late then the switch from late to early. Most people with younger children prefer early seating. We've always chosen late, so that we could stay ashore as long as possible. The last two cruises we hit the adult clubs and loved it. Now we have an 18 & 20 yo, they can't wait to go with us. Also, they keep saying, "Do we get to go to the fancy restaurant you guys always go to?"

BTW....Did anyone see they raised the price of Palo? Hmmm....It's still worth it, but I wish they hadn't.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Getting early seating on board can be quite difficult, especially on a busy week like Thanksgiving with lots of kids on the ship...that said, however, we have always had late seating and found it to be be far more relaxing both in terms of not being rushed to finish to get the later seating group in and is of not rushing back from ports or CC....also, far fewer young kids later...But since we also have a child, we simply fed him early and let him go back with his age group in the Club/Lab etc which he preferred to a long boring dinner...also, they will expedite service for the kids and have the kid's club personnel pick up the children after about 45 minutes if you so choose...Now that Mason is 12, he sometimes eats with us, depending in large part with whom we may be traveling (and there may be a late addition or two to this trip and thread in the next couple weeks)..all told, you may well find you actually like late seating, but don't forget all the Deck 9 food options for snacks around 4 or 5 (heck, we usually snack then too, all 3 of us).

Chuck