Wonder's Panama Canal Repo 2011 - AND WE'RE NOT BRINGING IT BACK!

[Tink rules]

We didn't trust a TA to book it for us. In fact BOTH my wife and I each got on a computer to book it to make sure we were on. Once one of us got in the other logged off.

After you've got it booked you can then transfer it to a TA like Dreams Unlimited for any specials or other offerings.

Sooooo YOU were responsible for the little fishies...

Do you know how many DISers you had onboard??? We just about broke 400....you should see our group shot!

Actually:

I can just imagine what the group shot from this cruise will look like. Between the Pirates and the Thieves and the Newcomers.....we'll probably break 400 DISers. WOW!

Someone want to photoshop me into that picture???

I know a few of those people

Really?

Last count before cruise was 624 registered with our group, although that did include 20-25 who had canceled but still wanted newsletters, updates, etc.

We did a photo/video sharing site that has 12,000+ photos and videos on it.
We had a "planning board" where we cut/paste a lot of important planning stuff because the thread moved too fast. We also set up a number of our group excursions there. In Aruba we had enough signed up to take up both boats for the Jolly Pirates snorkeling (what a blast).
We also had a website as I know you did too.

I think the final numbers we got from Disney (on board) were 2200 or 2400 passengers were Castaway Club members.

The DVC receptions were too big (too many people) for RBD, SRO.

The nice thing about the May cruise is that it wasn't over crowded...it was sold out, but it was more adults than kids and it just was a really great time... and you couldn't beat our weather... we had one shower and it was at night...

.......you just HAD to make me do it......I LOVE all your pictures......BUT......I did not see any CHAMPAGNE GIRLS PICTURES......

That's cause there's only one CHAMPAGNE GIRLS!!!

I think we should dress up like princesses next time. They look pretty. Do you think we can all find pink formals?

You made me get a pink wig last time that I didn't wear... can we make it different colors at least so that we don't all look like a bunch of pepto bismol drunks???

We had a pink Tink named Sassy Bubbles and our tiaras and we had a champagne tasting. I'm sure we'll do it again for the ladies on this cruise.

I'll be on the Sept 09 Tortola cruise and we're having another Champagne Girls tasting on that cruise......but now we have pink fur tiaras (see pic in signature) and pink boas. Sassy Bubbles is cruising with us too. She also said she's interested in doing this cruise as well. hmmmmmm......I'm sure we'll be toasting in pink again.

& I VOTE FOR GETTING THE BUBBLY ON BOARD!!!!!!!

Anyone want to guess what a cat 8 or 6 would be for 2 adults?

I got a Cat 7 for about $8,000 but I had to pick up a last minute cancellation to get it. It still worked out about what I would have paid for a b2b and we got different ports AND the Canal...

 

[HollyTyler]

I'm sure everyone is ok with it. We all know Tyler and we all want you to be there so it's not a problem. Keep it in mind as a back up just in case you need to.....don't miss it, just bring him along. John will love having his help.

And Tyler will love helping!

 

[Tracyvp]

I've been emailing with my TA about this cruise. She said that although she still doesn't know either the timing of the cruise or when they'll start taking bookings, she did say that she spoke with a supervisor at DCL and they are "quietly" taking fax requests for a waiting list ONLY if you're booking a Cat 1-3. Way outta my price range, so I can't take advantage, but I know some of you probably can!

Either way, I sure hope to be on it! Dunno, though. February is right smack in the middle of gym meet season. But I think it would be our only chance to go on the Wonder, unless they go to Hawaii. You couldn't pay me to do a Mexican Riviera cruise by itself. I don't mind the stops on the way home through the canal, but I'd never choose it as a whole cruise.

Besides, I can't imagine a Disney cruise without Castaway Cay!!!

 

[Tracyvp]

I might have known the Thieves would take over this thread! Must be because most of the Pirates haven't found it yet! I feel sorry for the newbies! Watch out! This group can TALK!!!

 

[Tracyvp]

Do you know how many DISers you had onboard??? We just about broke 400....you should see our group shot!

Actually:

I can just imagine what the group shot from this cruise will look like. Between the Pirates and the Thieves and the Newcomers.....we'll probably break 400 DISers. WOW!

HEY! I know those people! This was one of the pix we missed. I think we actually only ended up in one of the group shots. The one I really wanted to do, we got stuck in the Walt Disney Theater and couldn't get there in time! But it sure is fun to see all the familiar faces. Makes me want to start tagging. (Oh, wait, I'm not on Facebook!)

 

[granmaz]

Anyone want to guess what a cat 8 or 6 would be for 2 adults?

Our Cat 6 was just ovre $7,000 without air and insurance.

For me and my DH it was just under $5k total for both of us in a Cat 6.

How on earth did you manage that price?

 

[Tracyvp]

Our Cat 6 was just ovre $7,000 without air and insurance.



How on earth did you manage that price?

I think you'll hear different prices from last time depending on when people booked. We didn't book ours until a year out and by then the price was up a lot. We paid around $12k for 4 of us in a Category 6.

 

[tom31b]

I wonder how the pricing will work out this time. I thought the EB was way underpriced, we had 2 adults, 2 kids in cat 10 for under $6,000 (no ins, no trans). That plays out to $100 per person per day in my version of Mickey math, which is downright cheap for lodging and 4-5 meals a day. The TA, which they have a much harder time filling, were almost free by the time they sailed last time.

But the EB was in summer, school not in session for a lot of passengers.

A lot more cabins opened up at 90 days for the WB than did for the EB.

 

[Brooklyn]

For all of you who have cruised the PC cruises before, do they sell out that first day?

 

[granmaz]

The 2008 EB did sell out the first day, but the WB took a day or two to sell out. However, with there only being one PC crossing I would say it will sell out. There were cabins that came available along the way, especially at final payment time though.

 

[Brooklyn]

The 2008 EB did sell out the first day, but the WB took a day or two to sell out. However, with there only being one PC crossing I would say it will sell out. There were cabins that came available along the way, especially at final payment time though.

Thank you!

 

[Tracyvp]

For all of you who have cruised the PC cruises before, do they sell out that first day?

I'm pretty sure it will sell out the first day, but there will be bookings that will open up along the way. We didn't even really know about the WB last time until we were already booked on another cruise (our first) a year out and I started hanging out here. By that time it had been sold out for months.

But we have a great TA who kept a lookout for us, and the minute one came available she put a hold on it for us. It just so happened that it came up while we were actually ON our 7-day Western. Thankfully, we had brought our computer and I happened to check my email that very day. I was able to confirm that we wanted it, and the rest is history!

BTW, for the person who asked earlier, our deposit was $500pp. My dh about had a heart attack when that 2k hit the credit card at the same time as the "extras" from the 7-day cruise, but by the time the cruise actually came along he was SO glad I had taken the leap!

 

[Brooklyn]

I'm pretty sure it will sell out the first day, but there will be bookings that will open up along the way. We didn't even really know about the WB last time until we were already booked on another cruise (our first) a year out and I started hanging out here. By that time it had been sold out for months.

But we have a great TA who kept a lookout for us, and the minute one came available she put a hold on it for us. It just so happened that it came up while we were actually ON our 7-day Western. Thankfully, we had brought our computer and I happened to check my email that very day. I was able to confirm that we wanted it, and the rest is history!

BTW, for the person who asked earlier, our deposit was $500pp. My dh about had a heart attack when that 2k hit the credit card at the same time as the "extras" from the 7-day cruise, but by the time the cruise actually came along he was SO glad I had taken the leap!

Thanks for the info! My goal is to book the first day...just trying to figure our if I needed to get my "game face" on ..... LOL

I wonder if the deposit will now be $600pp like the TA's were in Oct. I about died with that one too!!!

You guys are great, thanks for all of the info!

 

[Tracyvp]

For all of you who have cruised the PC cruises before, do they sell out that first day?

Edited to remove the double post! Sorry!

 

[MrsMork]

For me and my DH it was just under $5k total for both of us in a Cat 6.

We booked for WB first day thru DU and got an 11 for $3000 for DH and I. I did the same Disney math and also thought $100 a day per person was a steal for lodging, entertainment and all that food.

 

[MouseFaninQueue]

Sooooo YOU were responsible for the little fishies...

Did someone mention fishies??

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I've been emailing with my TA about this cruise. She said that although she still doesn't know either the timing of the cruise or when they'll start taking bookings, she did say that she spoke with a supervisor at DCL and they are "quietly" taking fax requests for a waiting list ONLY if you're booking a Cat 1-3. Way outta my price range, so I can't take advantage, but I know some of you probably can!

Either way, I sure hope to be on it! Dunno, though. February is right smack in the middle of gym meet season. But I think it would be our only chance to go on the Wonder, unless they go to Hawaii. You couldn't pay me to do a Mexican Riviera cruise by itself. I don't mind the stops on the way home through the canal, but I'd never choose it as a whole cruise.

Besides, I can't imagine a Disney cruise without Castaway Cay!!!

Very good points.....I hope you can make it on this cruise Tracy. We'll miss you and the family if you're not with us. February does seem to be the time of travel for most of the general consensus. But one never knows.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

HEY! I know those people! This was one of the pix we missed. I think we actually only ended up in one of the group shots. The one I really wanted to do, we got stuck in the Walt Disney Theater and couldn't get there in time! But it sure is fun to see all the familiar faces. Makes me want to start tagging. (Oh, wait, I'm not on Facebook!)

So sorry you missed this shot. We'll have to try again on this cruise.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Our Cat 6 was just ovre $7,000 without air and insurance.



How on earth did you manage that price?

Wow what a difference. I booked early with DU. They quoted me the price and I locked it in with them. Mine was without air and insurance too. Also no transfer charges.

John and I are going to try and book this one directly with DCL online. I want to pick out my stateroom 5122. I don't want to be in a lifeboat! DCL usually charges a couple of hundred more than DU, but I'm going to go for it so that I can hopefully lock in a room. Then I'll transfer it to DU to get the onboard credit. I hope it all works out and I can get my stateroom.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We booked for WB first day thru DU and got an 11 for $3000 for DH and I. I did the same Disney math and also thought $100 a day per person was a steal for lodging, entertainment and all that food.

Hi Angie.....I'm so glad that we'll be sailing with you and Dennis again. We'll definitely be meeting at the Cove Cafe for an old geezer in training hot toddie with you two. It'll be fun. I can't wait.

btw, John still smokes. He's back smoking for one year now. I'm still not smoking. I never cheated even once and it's over a year. I'm so happy that I didn't start back after John restarted. It's a lot easier now. I don't even think about it. You were so good to help me get here. Many thanks again.