The MAGIC is Back!!! ~ WBTA 2014 ~ Come & join the fun!

[gramfrog]

BTW, although I realize that most of you are on the Facebook page, and so this is redundant, DH Joe and I *officially* decided to throw over the EBPC ressie in Sept2014 in favor of joining you crazies in Sept2014. Our room is GTY Navigator's on the WBTA. So you are stuck with us!!!

 

[JustAnnieNotHazel]

Can we hijack this itinerary and include JVD then???

I, sure we can move the beach party to one of the Caribbean islands instead!

 

[MandyGirl]

Actually... I am trying to figure out which port I want to do another catamaran day. St Martin is possible since we have been there the most (but would kinda hate to miss the airplanes at Maho), St Kitts would be nice to sail over to Nevis (did an island tour last time we were there), but we have never been to Antigua. Have a few trips this summer to still iron out but come September I hope to be focused on researching WBTA

 

[babydiver]

For those staying in San Juan for a few days after the WBTA or for those of us who are doing a B2B and want to do a quick sightsee and restock the liquor and wine - I have found this info

Hop Aboard the Free Trolley in Old San Juan
Old San Juan now has a free trolley service to help you get around the city. The trolley runs Monday through Friday from 7:00am until 7:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am until 7:00pm. Just stand at any of the marked trolley stop signs and wait for the next trolley to come along. You can get off at any marked trolley stop.
These trolleys are strictly free transportation. They are not "tour" or "sight-seeing" trolleys. There is no tour guide to explain what you’re seeing. But having said that, the trolleys are a nice way to see an overview of the city. They are not the fastest way to get around in the city – the best way to get around and see more is on foot. But they are convenient when you are hot and tired, or physically unable to walk the steep streets.
There are three routes, all of which start at trolley stop 1, which is on the corner across the street from Cruise Ship Pier 4. This corner has a little restaurant, a convenience store, liquor store**, a cigar shop, an internet cafe, and scooter shop. The route names are posted on the front of the trolley above the windshield.

**For those of us that are staying on the Magic to complete a B2B then this may be the place to restock on the ‘booze’ for the next weeks cruise!

 

[StephenKay]

Actually... I am trying to figure out which port I want to do another catamaran day. St Martin is possible since we have been there the most (but would kinda hate to miss the airplanes at Maho), St Kitts would be nice to sail over to Nevis (did an island tour last time we were there), but we have never been to Antigua. Have a few trips this summer to still iron out but come September I hope to be focused on researching WBTA

Morning Mandy,

I too look forward to seeing the Jumbo's and large aircraft arrive at Maho, however when we came on the WBTA 2011 I hired the minivan and took a few tablemates round to Maho, however the beach had been totally washed away leaving just large boulders in it's place. Yes I wanted to see the jets, but I enjoyed the sites on the beach also, it was just nice to have a few drinks get in the sea and have a laugh, but it was quite boring. Here's a picture when it was nice,

 

[MandyGirl]

We missed the -747s that day on the WBTA. They were delayed and it would have pushed it with the drawbridge getting back to the ship on time, so we didn't stay. We've been there a couple times before, and even got to see an aborted landing were an AA plane had to circle back around to try it again. But yes - the beach has been getting smaller. We always hung out at the Sunset Beach Bar to avoid the sun until we saw a plane on final approach. Definitely avoid being by the fence when one is taking off - too dangerous. Is it Pinel Island that is close by? I know St Maarten has lots of catamaran opportunities.

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

I think Mandy is right, we should have a beach party on one of the stops of WBTA does anyone have a idea of a nice beach with a bar with a means of easily getting from the port to the party bar and back again. Any ideas or suggestions, somewhere you can have a dip in the sea and a drink.

 

[Pinky166]

Hi all

Roll call is now up to date, please PM me if you are missing or need anything amended.

Thanks

 

[twopeasonepod]

Question: Port or Starboard?

I looked at roll call and it seems fairly even. I'm wondering what you considered when choosing your side. I'm trying to change our rooms (right now we are directly across the hall from my parents, but I want to get them the rooms right behind the elevator. We can get the verandah rooms across the hall and two doors over on both sides.

I read somewhere that port gets more sun(?), but perhaps people prefer starboard for the views(?)

 

[ppartekim]

Question: Port or Starboard?

I looked at roll call and it seems fairly even. I'm wondering what you considered when choosing your side. I'm trying to change our rooms (right now we are directly across the hall from my parents, but I want to get them the rooms right behind the elevator. We can get the verandah rooms across the hall and two doors over on both sides.

I read somewhere that port gets more sun(?), but perhaps people prefer starboard for the views(?)

I go for location on the ship. As long as I can get real daylight it doesn't matter to me which side (can't really see the too far out the window from bed anyway, ).

 

[twopeasonepod]

I go for location on the ship. As long as I can get real daylight it doesn't matter to me which side (can't really see the too far out the window from bed anyway, ).

Right??? I don't really think it'll be THAT big of a deal, but I always wonder if I'm missing some secret or tip. I absolutely go for location, too. These room pairings are exact mirrors of each other. 6062 and 6067 or 6562 and 6567. I chose port for now, because I remember the "sunny side" comment, and I am also more used to that side, having been on port on every cruise so far (not that it means anything haha).

 

[wayneg]

Question: Port or Starboard?

I looked at roll call and it seems fairly even. I'm wondering what you considered when choosing your side. I'm trying to change our rooms (right now we are directly across the hall from my parents, but I want to get them the rooms right behind the elevator. We can get the verandah rooms across the hall and two doors over on both sides.

I read somewhere that port gets more sun(?), but perhaps people prefer starboard for the views(?)

We have tried most options, Port/Starboard, inside/verandah etc. Makes absolutely no difference to us, we would have had no problem having a cheaper inside again this trip but outside was only slightly higher cost so we went for that. The time we had a verandah we used it 10 mins the whole cruise, not something we use but others do.
Our only preference is anywhere on deck 5 but thats a personal thing.

 

[StephenKay]

Something to consider when booking rooms, especially if your booking two or more rooms is that Disney are planning to convert some 43, I think this is the correct number, to adjoining rooms on the forthcoming dry dock. So you may want to factor this in, however they haven't as yet made the cabin numbers affected known. I found the port side would be shaded slightly longer on the return journey back to the states.

See you all there.

 

[woody73]

. . . I don't really think it'll be THAT big of a deal, but I always wonder if I'm missing some secret or tip.

I don't think you're missing anything. We've had both port and starboard on Transatlantic cruises, and didn't notice any difference.

IMO, the biggest difference in Transatlantic cruises is Eastbound vs. Westbound. We like the time changes on a Westbound for the extra hours of sleep.

Woody

 

[twopeasonepod]

We have tried most options, Port/Starboard, inside/verandah etc. Makes absolutely no difference to us, we would have had no problem having a cheaper inside again this trip but outside was only slightly higher cost so we went for that. The time we had a verandah we used it 10 mins the whole cruise, not something we use but others do.
Our only preference is anywhere on deck 5 but thats a personal thing.

I don't use the verandah much, either. But we do like to go out there sometimes and just look out at the ocean. If the weather is as wonderful and the sailing as smooth as the EBTA this year, then I should spend much more time out there reading. Ahhhh.....

 

[twopeasonepod]

Something to consider when booking rooms, especially if your booking two or more rooms is that Disney are planning to convert some 43, I think this is the correct number, to adjoining rooms on the forthcoming dry dock. So you may want to factor this in, however they haven't as yet made the cabin numbers affected known. I found the port side would be shaded slightly longer on the return journey back to the states.

See you all there.

Totally did not consider the refurb conversions! But I don't foresee our 5B becoming an adjoining room since it is next to a whole bunch of adjoining rooms....or wait, maybe that means it will? haha

Now I'm really confused. Port side more shady??? Haha maybe that "sunny" comment was conjured up in my mind!

 

[twopeasonepod]

I don't think you're missing anything. We've had both port and starboard on Transatlantic cruises, and didn't notice any difference.

IMO, the biggest difference in Transatlantic cruises is Eastbound vs. Westbound. We like the time changes on a Westbound for the extra hours of sleep.

Woody

I heart sleep!!! I can't wait to actually have MORE of it on this sailing. That's why we also picked the WBPC. See you at trivia!!!

 

[PFlamingo]

We've always been on the starboard side. In fact, we've always been in the same cabin on both the Wonder and Magic. This time we're port and a couple of decks up. A verandah is a must-do for us. I'll sell a kidney if I have to. We've always used ours a lot - coffee in the mornings, reading, time-out place to keep us from tossing each other overboard...

On the WBTA, I loved going out there late at night and just watching the water go by, looking for other ships on the horizon, marveling at the vastness of the universe. It was kind of a Jimmy-Buffett-zen thing - except for being on a giant cruise ship instead of a sailboat, but whatever.

Of course, if the planets don't align and we end up without a verandah, we'll live. Being aboard is all that really matters!

 

[wdwgoose]

GOOD MORNIN GROUP

HAPPY 4 JULY


SEMPER FI




garRy

 

[squitty]

Happy 4th July to you all