WONDERous adventures on the Panama Canal - 4/23/17

[Huskiesrule]

DH and I totally overpacked for last year's cruise. My top tip is more underwear, less shorts and 'dress up' clothes. Sea days I more or less lived in swimsuit and cover-up and I wore far less normal clothes than I thought I would. I didn't wear half of what I brought to wear in the evenings either. Oh, and top tip number 2 - bring something WARM for the final sea day. Not sure if this is the norm, but last year it was cold more or less as soon as we left Cabo. One minute it was hot and the next it was chilly. I wore jeans and a sweater that night (for the Frozen deck party) and I was still cold.

I am so not the "dress up" type and I wear shorts year round as it is kept way warm where I work. It can be 0°F and I would still be in shorts Not worried about being cold, but I may actually try and get all fancy since my very first cruise back in the 90's. Now thinking about that makes me feel old! Of course I can also say I sailed DCL on the Magic in its 2nd year so not all bad, minus the sunburn we are sporting in the pictures.

 

[ohMom]

I am so dreading trying to pack for a 2 week cruise. I have a 7 day down pat and the thought of double that amount or having to do laundry Maybe I need to learn to pack less, I've always wanted to cruise with just a carry on(not for 2 weeks though!)

We will definitely be recycling dinner outfits! My plan is to take a black and brown skirt, with some shirts to mix-and-match. I have a few dresses I already own, I'm really planning on not shopping too much. We don't buy the picture CD anymore as we don't like the frames they put on. I am a scrapbook or so I do like to have different outfits, but for 14 days I'm just thrilled that I get to go and I'm not going to stress about having on the same dress on a cruise already LOL. For those who don't have any kind of formal wear and, I really recommend checking out your Goodwill or consignment stores. I can try to post a few pics of some of the dresses I have bought this way if anyone would like to see.

 

[BartmanLA]

Howdy! I might know some of you from the facebook group page, but the hubby and I are booked on the WBPC trip in April of 2017! So very excited to make this trip, it's been on our dream list ever since our first cruise in 2013! Hope to get to know many of you better as we get closer to the cruise, and happy to be joining in on the fun making this memorable trip!!!

 

[wilma-bride]

Howdy! I might know some of you from the facebook group page, but the hubby and I are booked on the WBPC trip in April of 2017! So very excited to make this trip, it's been on our dream list ever since our first cruise in 2013! Hope to get to know many of you better as we get closer to the cruise, and happy to be joining in on the fun making this memorable trip!!!

Hey Barton, it's Joh - are you following me Welcome to the group

 

[runskyhy]

Hello @Julianna07 @KalamityJane @PrincessShmoo @micandkay @Aby @Lunarias @MouseWivesSarah @BartmanLA! Looking forward to cruising together next year!

Reluctant to spill my secret...

Great idea! Thanks for the tip!

Captain Puckett's talks are very informative if you want to learn more about the canal and it's history.

Really looking forward to these. Is there one day every day? There were similar talks on our Alaska cruise and they were really interesting.

Hi, glad to finally be able to join! This will be our honeymoon cruise and first Disney Cruise! we are very excited, and sure this year will fly by

Congratulations!

 

[wilma-bride]

Really looking forward to these. Is there one day every day? There were similar talks on our Alaska cruise and they were really interesting.

One every sea day

 

[Huskiesrule]

Since it is never to early to plan a Disney vacation, I have a question for everyone. How many are doing WDW (or staying on property) before the cruise? Trying to decide if we want to do a park or two and take a bus from a WDW hotel or rent a car and catch a bus from the airport. The last option would allow me to stay at my favorite hotel off property, and would be cheaper I think. Don't really want the hassle of returning a rental at the port(and the one way drop off fees) by driving over before the cruise, but then again I have never done it. So what is everyone doing?

 

[MickeyEarrings]

This will be my first cruise with a "real" formal night. (Our prior cruises were only 3-4 nights). How dressed up do people get? Since this cruise is so long I'm worried about packing enough clothes!

Let's just say I hope you people really enjoy my little black dress. I'm wearing it for all those occasions, as well as Palo. Hey, it's washable!...

 

[Lunarias]

Since it is never to early to plan a Disney vacation, I have a question for everyone. How many are doing WDW (or staying on property) before the cruise? Trying to decide if we want to do a park or two and take a bus from a WDW hotel or rent a car and catch a bus from the airport. The last option would allow me to stay at my favorite hotel off property, and would be cheaper I think. Don't really want the hassle of returning a rental at the port(and the one way drop off fees) by driving over before the cruise, but then again I have never done it. So what is everyone doing?

I'm trying to decide if I should do this too, add two or three days to the beginning to run around the resort or just stay by the port?

 

[wilma-bride]

Since it is never to early to plan a Disney vacation, I have a question for everyone. How many are doing WDW (or staying on property) before the cruise? Trying to decide if we want to do a park or two and take a bus from a WDW hotel or rent a car and catch a bus from the airport. The last option would allow me to stay at my favorite hotel off property, and would be cheaper I think. Don't really want the hassle of returning a rental at the port(and the one way drop off fees) by driving over before the cruise, but then again I have never done it. So what is everyone doing?

Our current plan is to fly in on the Friday, stay at Saratoga Springs and spend Saturday by the pool and at Disney Springs, then get a private transfer to the port on Sunday morning.

 

[Huskiesrule]

Wouldn't it be fun to rent a bus or two and get the Disney party started early? Not sure you can rent a bus though, but it's an idea. I've been doing Galveston cruises lately so I am used to being right by the ship, so getting to plan WDW and a cruise is a first!

 

[INDY1919A4]

these guys seem to rent everything form 2 person limos to 55 person buses

http://www.limoorlando.com/port-canaveral-transportation

 

[busdriverbrad]

Hello all. Booked on pre opening day after waiting "for ever" for the itinerary to come out(at least since Jan). This will be our 6th DCL cruise and 1 Big Red Boat cruise for myself. It will be meDH Brad, DW Tara and DS connor(9 almost 10) almond with my inlaws too. Super excited for WBPC but not as excited to be leaving Minnesota after the weather finely gets nice in the late spring(we have always escaped the bitter cold in January)
We will definitively do FE and probably do some mixologies and/or tastings too.
Looking forward to getting to know all of you.

 

[INDY1919A4]

Hello all. Booked on pre opening day after waiting "for ever" for the itinerary to come out(at least since Jan). This will be our 6th DCL cruise and 1 Big Red Boat

Welcome .... So please tell me of your cruise on Big Red boat.... We traveled on it also as our 1st cruise... A wonderful cruise ship.... Always loved the lines of those 1960s Italian Cruise ships

 

[ohMom]

Oh yes I'd love to hear about the big red boat! Brad and All our new joiners! (Pre-coffee too much to list everyone! But glad you are here !)

 

[busdriverbrad]

I sailed on the Big Red Boat in 1987(I was only 13 and it was my first cruise). I don't have too many memories of it and all my pictures are hidden away in a family members attic. I remember that they had an awesome midnight buffet with faces and designs carved into watermelons. I don't remember there being characters at all but I think I was more concerned about the food(which if any of you have had teenage boys will understand). I enjoyed it so much that I planned my first cruise as an "adult" my first year in college and have been hooked since.
Now I need to go in search of some of those pictures.

 

[wilma-bride]

I have never heard of The Big Red Boat

 

[siburdue]

@siburdue are you referring to Prince/princess Menu night? I haven't had this menu yet, but I understand you to mean that night and not formal?

Yes, referring to the Prince/Princess Menu night. Many dressed up as princesses along with their prince! When I'm at home I will post a picture of us and our friends! It was a hoot seeing others from the DIS wearing tiaras and we would do the 'princess wave' to eachother from across the room.

 

[siburdue]

I have never heard of The Big Red Boat

I can't believe you never hear of The Big Red Boat! This is the ship that Disney used as a 'test' to see if folks would be interested in a Disney cruise LOL.

Once they determined that it was a hit, they starting building their own ships.

 

[Huskiesrule]

I have never heard of The Big Red Boat

Don't feel bad, I had to look it up cause I thought they were talking about Carnival I learned something today!