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

[jd99]

I don't know about everyone else but the kids are jumping out of their skin. Ok..so am I. DD13 has an hourly countdown until we leave and DD7 is telling her she's stressing her out. Both kids are pushing to leave school earlier than we had planned - "we want to get to the airport in time, dad" - since we are flying out at 6 on Friday. Looking so forward to being in the car on the way to the airport. Though we travel a lot and take more vacations than the average bears, this one just feels so needed and so exciting. It's almost like we are going on our first cruise!

So who is up for wine tasting? martini tasting? margarita tasting? I think we'll be booking at least 2 of the 3, depending on timing. If I remember correctly, the tastings are more spread out on the eastern itinerary because of the extra sea day. I remember going to almost back to back wine tasting and martini tastings one trip. That was definitely not a good idea!

Looking forward to meeting some of you at the meet!

 

[Mean Queen]

We are also about to jump out of our skin with excitement (and we're also frequent vacationers) but the cruise is always special. I'm in for as many tastings as I can fit in to my schedule.

 

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

I don't know about everyone else but the kids are jumping out of their skin. Ok..so am I. DD13 has an hourly countdown until we leave and DD7 is telling her she's stressing her out. Both kids are pushing to leave school earlier than we had planned - "we want to get to the airport in time, dad" - since we are flying out at 6 on Friday. Looking so forward to being in the car on the way to the airport. Though we travel a lot and take more vacations than the average bears, this one just feels so needed and so exciting. It's almost like we are going on our first cruise!

So who is up for wine tasting? martini tasting? margarita tasting? I think we'll be booking at least 2 of the 3, depending on timing. If I remember correctly, the tastings are more spread out on the eastern itinerary because of the extra sea day. I remember going to almost back to back wine tasting and martini tastings one trip. That was definitely not a good idea!

Looking forward to meeting some of you at the meet!

Count us in for the tastings! We were told on the Dream this Summer that they had a slightly different format. I am ready...

DD is getting her braces today... She was a little worried that she would be sore for a couple of days, but a Disney Cruise is a great way to relax.

We are finally pulling things together now that DH and I are in the same state for more than 24 hours. FE items are packed away, Beer Mug is ordered and a suitcase full of Under Armour is packed.

Wendy

 

[Scooby3x1y]

I don't know about everyone else but the kids are jumping out of their skin. Ok..so am I. DD13 has an hourly countdown until we leave and DD7 is telling her she's stressing her out.

DD is practically giving a minute by minute countdown, really hourly, and although I'm excited, she's making me crazy.

Basically packed, house clean, it's the little stuff, getting the dog to the kennel, cats taken care of, neighbors & friends notified, etc. Oh yeah, don't forget the 90 min. massage tomorrow. Maybe that will help get me ready for relaxation?

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Let's see...2 field trips, a combination of 7 quizzes and tests...two oral project presentations, regular HW and turn-ins for parts of both science and history fair...and that is just Mason this week...(and unfortunately, there is no exaggeration at all here).

Lisa has to help him with all that on top of working full time and since I am heading up the Bar's mentoring program, I have had a speaking engagement last night, another tonight and another tomorrow at lunch...

So talk about needing a vacation next week, and not having started the packing yet....

However, like Wendy, packing is mostly Polo and under armor for both Mason and me, and under armor is very easy to pack.

Chuck

 

[Susancj]

Thanks for the information from earlier post.

We are getting extremely excited!!! Most of our bags are packed..YAY! We fly out Friday from MS and will be staying at Country Inn & Suites..any suggestions on what to do, places to eat on Friday. We have all afternoon and night. We want to take advantage of every second of our vacation.

Also, I would love to be able to put names with faces. I'm sure most have facebook and was wondering if I could look some of you up. Not sure if it is ok to post full names on here but if so let me know. It seems as though alot of you already know each other. Which is great!!!

This is my kids and my frist cruise and Mom, is quite nervous. Just traveling with them alone..etc. Got all my cruise info together so those nerves have demished. The excited is building minute by minute.

Still not sure of all the activites for Kids and Me. Not quite sure about leaving them plus wandering around alone..but I know once on board all that will not be a issue.

Looking forward to meeting each of you.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

See post 566 on page 38 for a link to my suggestion for dinner in the port area...if we can make it there for a late dinner (looking kinda doubtful right now) we will be eating there too...

Chuck

 

[Lauri]

So wish I'd found this board 4 months ago...Now I'm completely lost in trying to figure everything out. I'm single mom traveling with 3 teenagers..yes I'm just a bit crazy..JK!! ages 18, 16, 15...We are super excited and quite nervous, mom is that is. We are flying in from MS on Friday and can't wait to meet everyone. Please help with info as to meeting you guys, others who have teenagers, any info on just the "what-to-do's" with getting luggage to ship..etc...This is our first cruise and I'm lost before we've even gotten started. All I've been told to do is show up and I hear quite the opposite from here. Please any advise, help we would love...

Thanks for the information from earlier post.

We are getting extremely excited!!! Most of our bags are packed..YAY! We fly out Friday from MS and will be staying at Country Inn & Suites..any suggestions on what to do, places to eat on Friday. We have all afternoon and night. We want to take advantage of every second of our vacation.

Also, I would love to be able to put names with faces. I'm sure most have facebook and was wondering if I could look some of you up. Not sure if it is ok to post full names on here but if so let me know. It seems as though alot of you already know each other. Which is great!!!

This is my kids and my frist cruise and Mom, is quite nervous. Just traveling with them alone..etc. Got all my cruise info together so those nerves have demished. The excited is building minute by minute.

Still not sure of all the activites for Kids and Me. Not quite sure about leaving them plus wandering around alone..but I know once on board all that will not be a issue.

Looking forward to meeting each of you.

I'm glad to see someone else with teenagers. I have DS 17, and DD 14 (almost 15). We've been on 5 DCL cruises now, as well as other cruiselines, and Disney is the only one my kids will do.

We're also staying at CI & S, but we won't be arriving till after midnight so the kids can get a full day of school in. At this age, it's hard enough missing the beginning of the Thanksgiving school week. My kids will both be doing plenty of schoolwork on board, and DS will also be working on his two college apps that are due a few days after we get home. We'll probably see you at breakfast.

Lauri

 

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

I'm glad to see someone else with teenagers. I have DS 17, and DD 14 (almost 15). We've been on 5 DCL cruises now, as well as other cruiselines, and Disney is the only one my kids will do.

We're also staying at CI & S, but we won't be arriving till after midnight so the kids can get a full day of school in. At this age, it's hard enough missing the beginning of the Thanksgiving school week. My kids will both be doing plenty of schoolwork on board, and DS will also be working on his two college apps that are due a few days after we get home. We'll probably see you at breakfast.

Lauri

Looks like on one of the sea days we need to hold a study hall.. My DD will have a fair amount of school work to handle also, we are planning on taking a corner in the Promendae Lounge on Sunday to get it out of the way...

Wendy

 

[tigger2esq]

we got lucky on the school work front as DD's school has 2 half days on monday and tuesday (for parent/teacher conferences in the afternoons) and then she is off for the thanksgiving holiday. so she will miss the 2 half days--which means a whole lot of nothing. whew. last vacation to WDW, becuase she missed an entire week of school she spent most of the flight down working on math and english worksheets....

 

[Lauri]

Wendy,

That's one of the many reasons we get two rooms. DS locks himself in his room to do his work all the time. DD is staying after school tomorrow to premake-up a few of the tests that she's going to be missing. Then she'll come home and write a paper that is due Monday to hand in Friday. Hopefully she won't have as much work to do on the cruise. I don't remember high school being like that when I went in the last millenium!

Renee,

I thinks that's how they do it in PA. Through 8th grade, there was only a half day of school on Monday and Tuesday, with Wendesday off. Unfortunately, the high school goes full days.

Packing lists are made, and all our paperwork is printed out. Now to start packing...

Lauri

 

[Mean Queen]

We are also trying to get a lot of school work done before we take off, but we're lucky that there is no school at all next week. I will not stress out over DD12's school stuff while on the cruise. I want it to be as stress free as possible, and her school stuff is my biggest source for stress.

 

[jd99]

The homework report here appears to be not as bad as some years when we have usually traveled the week after Turkey Day. DD7 got her list of assignments today and it looks like it is very light which was a relief because when our oldest was in second grade, she got loaded down worse than she does now. And DD13 got most of her work today as well - and it's lots less than she had feared, especially in math (she's in advanced pre-algebra and has tons of homework normally but lucked out based on timing for next week I guess). Other subjects have taken it pretty easy on her it seems. Holding our breath re science and social studies as those are the missing pieces now. Would love if she could get most of it all done before we even get to the port.

 

[djoch]

We leave tomorrow afternoon - I so wish I had an extra day. Definitely no house cleaning on our end. Good news is that we arrive Friday morning and have the entire day at SSR to relax and figure out what we left at home and make a run to Target. And also to put the final assembly on my FEs.

My kids keep looking at the clock and have finally realized that there has been a countdown app open on our home computer for almost two years since we originally booked the cruise.

We will definitely be joining those in the homework club - not too much for any of my three, but enough that we will need to bring it with us. I'm thinking there will be plenty of ways to on the ship to help them learn about fractions.

Can't wait for cruise and to meet everyone.

 

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

Ziplock bags rock.. All sizes, all shapes... Do I really need the kitchen sink?

The over the door organizer is packed and our spare room looks like a tornado went through it.... Slowly it is all coming together. On this trip we decided every man or woman for themselves.... DD has so far packed two bags of Disney pins...

I made the big decision recycling my dress for formal night and semi formal night..

Other decisions in the works.... Rum or Vodka when I board???

Wendy

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Beer for Larry and me...Lisa will join you for the rum I think.

Chuck

 

[cruisecrzy]

Wendy she can always bring the homework to dinner...it can be between course entertainment

Djoch I was just at SSR today....enjoy the day of relaxing.

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Other decisions in the works.... Rum or Vodka when I board???

Wendy

I may need both!! This has been a crazy, crazy week at work and home!! I will not have a chance to do laundry or pack until friday, plus I really need a hair appointment!!

Lisa

 

[JackNMel]

Too hard to choose between rum and vodka, I think you should bring both!
I have the over the door shoe holder packed, wouldn't think to cruise without it, it is wonderful. And the ziplock bags also, lol.
Lots of laundry today, the last of it. I have instructed the kids that they have to wear clothes these last couple of days that they don't want to wear on the cruise. Last call...
As far as homework goes, they are out all next week so I am hoping no homework. This is a sore spot at our house now anyway, so I am going to happily ignore it all next week . I don't want too much reality to ruin my vacation!
I would love for my DD14 to meet all of the other teenagers. Not sure she is up to meeting everyone. She loves to march to the beat of her own drummer (heck she has a whole marching band in her head that only she can hear!). I will keep my fingers crossed that my sweet daughter shows up and leaves the surly teenager at home, don't want that one on the ship.
Have a great and productive day everyone!! SO EXCITED!!

Melody

 

[Tinkerbell 99 Mom]

I may need both!! This has been a crazy, crazy week at work and home!! I will not have a chance to do laundry or pack until friday, plus I really need a hair appointment!!

Lisa

Things have been crazy here too... I wanted to take Friday off, but work got in the way... I needed a hair appointment too, I ended up going to a salon inside the Walmart here in WV..... At least I can see now.

Remember the first drinks are on me!

Wendy