Western Caribbean April 30, 2011?

[debc1212]

I've read that they have limited stroller rental on ship. We are bringing a compact stroller to use. Don't want to take any chances.

 

[disfreak24]

102 days!!

 

[4 Ears]

We are still "in", just had not been much activity on here and laptop problems ....

We are getting super excited! 2 more days and I can start using my countdown chain. Looking forward to Friday so we can make our final payment and on the 30 book our excursions

Meet you in 101 days everyone!

 

[tritao]

Okay a few questions:

1) What have you decided about trip insurance? If you got it, who did you go through? I already did some price comparisons, but was just curious.

2) Has this group decided to do FEs?

3) Anyone planning to do any kid-friendly excursions? What have you found?

4) Has anyone ever taken advantage of services at the spa? What did you think?

Okay, that's the first of many question I will have over the next few months!

Thanks!

 

[4 Ears]

1) What have you decided about trip insurance? If you got it, who did you go through? I already did some price comparisons, but was just curious.
Yes we got the trip insurance through Disney

2) Has this group decided to do FEs?
We have not, but if someone would like to head it up?

3) Anyone planning to do any kid-friendly excursions? What have you found?
Our kids 19 and 16 will not be sailing

4) Has anyone ever taken advantage of services at the spa? What did you think?
We have not, but if I still have this kink in my neck...

Have we thought about a meet?

As we go under the 100 days til we sail, I am looking forward to this thread becoming more active

 

[debc1212]

I have not gotten insurance. Should I re-think this?

I hope we can do th FE on this cruise. It's our first, but I've read about it a bunch on here & it sounds like fun. Is there anyone on our cruise who has done it before that could lead the newbies in the right direction? I would volunteer to do it, but don't have a clue what to do.

We are planning some excursions - since this is our first cruise, not sure how quickly they fill up. We have a large age gap in kids ages- tough to plan excusions. DH & DS(9) will do a couple w/out me since we also have a 14 month old. But we will try to do a beach day at one of the ports so we can all be together.

I plan on a spa treatment - again, not sure how fast they fill up.

I hope we can plan a meet up.

 

[debc1212]

One more thing.....

Does anyone have a head count for the cruise yet? I saw one on the first page, but it appears that many of those folks have re-scheduled.

 

[4 Ears]

Well sort of, LOL,
Me (Mary) DH (Tim)
and blodg something or rather would have to look and see what she used. We are traveling together, dont recall if she put her and her husbands name out there so will let them do that.

 

[4 Ears]

We made our final payment yesterday!

 

[E&EMom]

Glad to see the thread picking up a bit!

Strollers - We took our umbrella stroller (McClaren (sp)) for our son and that worked out really well because in the stateroom it didn't take up much room being folded. We also used Babies Travel Lite to get supplies that we needed for him delivered to the ship so I didn't have to pack them - he was 8 months old so baby food, diapers, formula, etc. That worked out great!

Vacation insurance - we always purchase it.

Spa - I used the spa on our first Disney cruise and got the best pedicure I've ever had! My heels have not been that soft ever and can't find anyone locally that can make them as soft as the pedicure I had on the ship. I also had a facial and it was wonderful. I plan to go to the spa this time on a port day - Cozumel day probably since we have been there and don't have any desire really to get off the ship except to maybe buy some perfume right there at the port.

Kid Friendly Excursions - we are going to do the short island tour in Grand Cayman that goes to Hell and to the turtle farm. That should be about right for my kids attention span and do a tad bit of shopping before heading back to the ship. In Key West we are going out on our own and just seeing some of the sites but we have the early dinner seating so we won't be off the ship long. Cozumel - staying on board since we have been there before. Castaway - spending time at the family beach and hoping it isn't as hot as it was the last time we were there! They had a record high for the first part of May the first time we went there and it was a scorcher!

I was just looking at Navigators today to do some prelim planning since we can start reserving Flounder's Reef time next weekend for DS (2). Getting so excited to go - less than 100 days now!

Alecia

 

[E&EMom]

If you want, I'll head up the FE if anyone is interested in doing it and no one else has already volunteered to head it up.

I participated last time and it was a lot of fun.


Alecia

 

[4 Ears]

That would be GREAT no argument from me

 

[debc1212]

I have been reading all about the FE thing & it sounds like fun. Thanks for volunteering to head it up.

Now what do we do?

 

[tritao]

I am in for the FEs! Thanks for volunteering to head it up!

Glad to see the thread picking up as well...I am getting excited!

 

[Planetneutral]

Just got my first notification on this thread in weeks. Had no idea you'd all been chatting away.

We did not purchase insurance. It's a calculated risk I guess.

My kids are 5 and 3 (leaving the 1YO with grandma), so no stroller for us.

As for excursions, we'll probably want to get the kids to the Turtle Farm on Grand Cayman (until I tell my DW what they raise the turtles for). DW is also enchanted with the submarine idea, so maybe do that in Cozumel. If it was just the two of us, we'd probably make a run at the ruins there. We mostly plan to take it easy and do low stress activities.

I'm not sure we're operating at a high enough level to be in on the fish extender thing. We'll be lucky just to get there with the essentials.

 

[4 Ears]

Hi planetneautral! We were looking at the submarine in GC but not sure time wise if we can pull that off as well as Hell and the turtle farm?

 

[debc1212]

So here's the big question I have about excursions: how quickly do they fill up? This being our first cruise we don't get any priority on the booking. We are talking as a family about what excursions we will do and I have no idea if we will be able to do what we want. I don't want DS to be disappointed if we can't go where we plan.

Those that have cruised b4, what are your experiences with the excursions booking up?

Thx! Debbie

 

[iluvStitch29]

I, too, would like to be involved in the FE, but I've never been on a cruise before, so this is all new to me! It does look like a lot of fun, though!! Any advice would be helpful! TIA!!!

 

[Audria407]

Hi there, new to the thread, new to the board, and totally new to cruising. What better way to break me in than Disney?! I've been planning this cruise for years, it's just now that I decided to book it.

It's only myself (F38) and DD(10) so we're both interesting in learning about others who will be on this journey so that we don't feel completely like "fish among the sharks" when we board. Looking forward to meeting new faces and seeing new places!

 

[4 Ears]

Audria407!