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

[djoch]

My daughter saw that she can come and go on her own on the cruise and is so excited. I am, on the other hand, apprehensive. She will be just 11. Diana, I see your DS will be 11 too. What are your thoughts? Any suggestions anyone?

Thanks,

So sorry to hear about your house, but glad everyone is fine.

I've been trying to read up on some old navigators to get a feel for the activities at Vibe and things to keep my oldest DS busy. He will be almost 12 when we cruise. There seems to be quite a bit available. I am also a bit nervous about him being able to run around all by himself but have been talking to him this week about it and us setting up check-in points and making sure he knows how to navigate the ship. He's also big into sports, so if he's not in Vibe, he'll probably be on the sports deck.

Am really looking forward to meeting all of you and your families.

 

[jd99]

So sorry to hear about your house, but glad everyone is fine.

I've been trying to read up on some old navigators to get a feel for the activities at Vibe and things to keep my oldest DS busy. He will be almost 12 when we cruise. There seems to be quite a bit available. I am also a bit nervous about him being able to run around all by himself but have been talking to him this week about it and us setting up check-in points and making sure he knows how to navigate the ship. He's also big into sports, so if he's not in Vibe, he'll probably be on the sports deck.

Am really looking forward to meeting all of you and your families.

For those worried about kids on their own, know that while we were apprehensive too, we sit down with our 12 year old (who was just barely 11 when she first was on her own on a DCL sailing) each time and explain the rules. She has to be in touch whenever she leaves Edge (your 12 year old will be in Edge, not Vibe - that's the teen club for 14 and over). The ships now have the Wave phones - basically cell phones that work only on the ship - and she can call us or text us anytime - and she does. We used to bring walkie talkies but now with the Wave phones there is no need.

 

[tigger2esq]

I have a question re: excursions. My DD (8) is a solphin NUT--has anyone done the Dolphin Adventure/Encounter on Tortola? its expensive so I am wondering if its worth the $$. It may be worth it to me to see the look on her face when she gets to touch one... LOL.

What about the Kayak/Snorkle adventure? is it too much for an 8 year old?

Also--on St. Maartin--is it difficult to get to one of the nicer beaches on your own? I hesitate to pay $50 a person just to get a bus ride over to a beach for a few hours..... Has anyone done the St. Maartin butterfly farm tour? I see it also includes time to shop so I am curious as to how much time you spend at the butterfly farm (which my DD would love) and how much time shopping (which I would love....)

thanks!

Renee

 

[djoch]

That's right, it's Edge. Thanks.


Does anyone in our FE group have any food allergies or restrictions? My DS11 does have a peanut allergy. Didn't want to get any goodies for anyone that they won't be able to enjoy.

 

[jd99]

I have a question re: excursions. My DD (8) is a solphin NUT--has anyone done the Dolphin Adventure/Encounter on Tortola? its expensive so I am wondering if its worth the $$. It may be worth it to me to see the look on her face when she gets to touch one... LOL.

What about the Kayak/Snorkle adventure? is it too much for an 8 year old?

Also--on St. Maartin--is it difficult to get to one of the nicer beaches on your own? I hesitate to pay $50 a person just to get a bus ride over to a beach for a few hours..... Has anyone done the St. Maartin butterfly farm tour? I see it also includes time to shop so I am curious as to how much time you spend at the butterfly farm (which my DD would love) and how much time shopping (which I would love....)

thanks!

Renee

You can literally walk to a beach on the Dutch side which is okay but for a cab to the French Side it's going to cost (if I remember correctly) about 40 dollars each way I just remember thinking it was going to be a lot less but it wasn't. It was a number of years ago so I don't remember the details but we were happy that we did it that way because we weren't tied to a time schedule.

 

[Mean Queen]

My goodness... gone for a couple of days and had a lot of catching up to do... This Hurricane really hit us hard. We just got our power back on and have had a bit to clean-up. Our basement got flooded a bit and we have had to get that dried up and cleaned up. We built this house not but 10 years ago and have never had that happen before. Not as bad as alot of people, but none the less not fun. Hope everyone faired well through the storm.

My daughter saw that she can come and go on her own on the cruise and is so excited. I am, on the other hand, apprehensive. She will be just 11. Diana, I see your DS will be 11 too. What are your thoughts? Any suggestions anyone?

How do you guys know how booked our cruise is? Am I missing something? Also, when do you think we will get our room assignments for our GTY rooms. Any idea?

Thanks,

Florida has had just minor effects from storms so far. Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way. I don't mind a tropical storm, but keep those hurricanes away.

Since we travel with friends who have kids that are DD12's age, we have let them have the run of the ship since they were 10. They have very specific rules. They always must travel in packs (though I caught DD alone on our last trip), they can't go into any room that isn't part of our group, and they have to text us on the wave phones when they go somewhere other than the room, kids club, or food area.

Does anyone in our FE group have any food allergies or restrictions? My DS11 does have a peanut allergy. Didn't want to get any goodies for anyone that they won't be able to enjoy.

I don't think I'm doing food, but if I do I will not do any peanut stuff. Thanks for the heads up. No food allergies here.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

No allergies here either. In fact my family will eat about anything.

Ick, I'm glad you fared okay. I've been wondering how our DIS friends are doing.

If you check the off site list, one of us has a cabin #. It's not me...

Let me know when you do get it so we can add it.


If you haven't sent me your wrist measurements yet....Please do so I can get my bracelets started.

 

[djoch]

Since we travel with friends who have kids that are DD12's age, we have let them have the run of the ship since they were 10. They have very specific rules. They always must travel in packs (though I caught DD alone on our last trip), they can't go into any room that isn't part of our group, and they have to text us on the wave phones when they go somewhere other than the room, kids club, or food area.

Excellent advise. Thank you.

I feel bad that we're the only ones with cabin numbers. I hope everyone else gets theirs soon.

 

[tigger2esq]

no food allergies here--and we also did not plan to do food.

I do have a cabin ## and will send it to you!

Renee

still looking for thoughts on the excursions!

 

[Scooby3x1y]

no food allergies here--and we also did not plan to do food.

I do have a cabin ## and will send it to you!

Renee

still looking for thoughts on the excursions!

On St. Thomas we're doing the Kayak, Hike & Snorkel of Cas Cay. (Booked through DCL believe it or not. We always investigate outside the cruise lines because ususally you can get a better deal. However, through DCL this exact excursion was cheaper and a longer time.)

Castaway Cay, we're doing the getaway package. (Snorkel, Bike & Tube)

Nothing on St. Maarten so far. We were looking at finding a beach. Still investigating that.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

Excellent advise. Thank you.

I feel bad that we're the only ones with cabin numbers. I hope everyone else gets theirs soon.

Don't feel bad.........They're saving the best cabins for last....



Just kidding. It's just the luck of the draw.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

For those worried about kids on their own, know that while we were apprehensive too, we sit down with our 12 year old (who was just barely 11 when she first was on her own on a DCL sailing) each time and explain the rules. She has to be in touch whenever she leaves Edge (your 12 year old will be in Edge, not Vibe - that's the teen club for 14 and over). The ships now have the Wave phones - basically cell phones that work only on the ship - and she can call us or text us anytime - and she does. We used to bring walkie talkies but now with the Wave phones there is no need.

I see you've been on the Dream. Was it that much better than the Magic?

 

[jd99]

I see you've been on the Dream. Was it that much better than the Magic?

By no means would I say better. We prefer the Magic. Love the public spaces on the Dream. Love the Aquaduck. Not so much the staff. We found them to be "less Disney" than those on the Magic and Wonder. There is no real culture on the new ship in our opinion. And the crowds. Didn't love the fact that everywhere you turned there were droves of people. We can almost always find a semi-quiet space on the Magic. Not the Dream. Now, we WILL sail the Dream again but now we know what we are getting - we will sail it for the Aquaduck, the public spaces, the lounges. Not for the culture, the crowds or the less-than-desirable set up of the Adult pool.

 

[lck33]

No peanut allergies here. We eat everything! and are not planning on any food items either.

Things are starting to get better around here. Alot of the roads are opening back up and the flooding has receded in most areas. Most people have regained power. Let's hope the next storms go out to sea..

We will definitely be making use of those wave phones and will give my daughter some freedoms, still very cautious though as she is an only child and will be alone unless she meets up and makes some friends. She will have some ground rules too.

We haven't yet received our cabin number. Hopefully soon! The anticipation is killing me!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Elsie

 

[Mean Queen]

By no means would I say better. We prefer the Magic. Love the public spaces on the Dream. Love the Aquaduck. Not so much the staff. We found them to be "less Disney" than those on the Magic and Wonder. There is no real culture on the new ship in our opinion. And the crowds. Didn't love the fact that everywhere you turned there were droves of people. We can almost always find a semi-quiet space on the Magic. Not the Dream. Now, we WILL sail the Dream again but now we know what we are getting - we will sail it for the Aquaduck, the public spaces, the lounges. Not for the culture, the crowds or the less-than-desirable set up of the Adult pool.

While I didn't have the same feeling about the crew or the feel of the ship, I definitely agree on the crowds. Way too many people, especially when you get on CC. I also agree that the adult pool layout doesn't work. There was very little room to actually swim.

One thing I like better on the Dream than the other ships is the bar area. I really loved hanging out in Skyline, DH loved the sports bar, and Pink was cool to check out. I never really liked the clubs on the Magic or Wonder.

 

[Scooby3x1y]

No peanut allergies here. We eat everything! and are not planning on any food items either.

Things are starting to get better around here. Alot of the roads are opening back up and the flooding has receded in most areas. Most people have regained power. Let's hope the next storms go out to sea..

We will definitely be making use of those wave phones and will give my daughter some freedoms, still very cautious though as she is an only child and will be alone unless she meets up and makes some friends. She will have some ground rules too.

We haven't yet received our cabin number. Hopefully soon! The anticipation is killing me!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Elsie

Elsie,

Glad things are getting better. I was just listening to the radio, and they were saying it is way worse than media is portraying. There hasn't been a lot of coverage that I've seen.

 

[StacieinAtlanta]

Just paid for our cruise today.

Will be there with DH 40, DS 8, DD 6 and DD 4. We cannot wait. No one knows except me!!

 

[Mean Queen]

Just paid for our cruise today.

Will be there with DH 40, DS 8, DD 6 and DD 4. We cannot wait. No one knows except me!!

Welcome! What a great surprise. Is this your first Disney cruise?

 

[djoch]

Just paid for our cruise today.

Will be there with DH 40, DS 8, DD 6 and DD 4. We cannot wait. No one knows except me!!

Welcome aboard. How do you keep this big of a secret?

 

[Lauri]

On St. Thomas we're doing the Kayak, Hike & Snorkel of Cas Cay. (Booked through DCL believe it or not. We always investigate outside the cruise lines because ususally you can get a better deal. However, through DCL this exact excursion was cheaper and a longer time.)

Castaway Cay, we're doing the getaway package. (Snorkel, Bike & Tube)

Nothing on St. Maarten so far. We were looking at finding a beach. Still investigating that.

The four of us are doing the Kayak, Hike, and Snorkel in St. Thomas too. I believe djoch's DH and DS are doing that too. Alot of us DISboarder's on that excursion!

We're also trying to decide on a beach in St. Maarten. I think I'm trying to decide between Orient Beach on the French side, and Little Bay on the Dutch side. They both have services, including food and motorized sports, which I think we will like.

We just spent two great days on Castaway Cay in July. My kids want to do the water trikes this time, as well as snorkel, bike ride, and my personal favorite, the floats.

Lauri