Sept 2008 Magic 5-night cruise

[RweTHEREyet]

Is anyone here on MouseOwners going on this special cruise? I am getting the feeling that there are not too many cruisers on this board. This is the first Disney cruise for YesDear and our DS since we went on the Big Red Boat :sailing:

My DH made the mistake of looking at someone's cruise pictures and wondering out loud how his own might turn out. Within a matter of days, I had the cruise booked and the deposit paid. Bet that will teach him, and now I know he will be hooked. :goob:

I am really looking forward to two days at Castaway Cay.

[Muushka]

We seriously considered this cruise, but it had too much working against it (for us).

What a great deal that cruise is! But it is monday thru friday. For DVC, not too great. That means weekends and high points. It is just 5 days. We wanted to do another 7 day. From this cruise it will be going to dry dock.

Check out the 1st cruise after dry dock. We are doing that one (9/27 thru 10/4). Also great deal and the crew will be anxious to have all of us back on the Magic! Oh, and 2 days on CC like yours!

I'll bet both cruises will be fantastic! But addiciting for sure.

Oh, I just realized that you are my neighbor! Remember a few months back me complaining about DCL prices and nevermore?? I eat crow, quite tasty actually!

[RweTHEREyet]

The only thing I had heard about the first cruise out of dry dock is that often there are things not totally finished and back like they should be. The thing I remember reading was about the spa and other minor things not being completely finished.

I did know it was going to dry dock right after our cruise, but I also liked the 5-night timeframe. That left a little more flexibility for us in getting down there and returning home-not sure if we will drive or fly yet, but now we have the option to do either. I also liked that it started on a holiday, meaning I only had to take off 4 days from work.

And you are right, I am sure both will be just fabulous--you can't go wrong with a Disney cruise :kickingco .

Do you get into the "decorating your door" stuff?

[Muushka]

Oh, I didn't think about the holiday aspect. Good thinking!

Interesting about the post-dry dock. I asked that question on the other board and only got 2 replies. They said that all should be ship-shape (sorry for the pun) and chance of very little not quite finished. I have no problem with that though. I liked the idea of being the first on a fresh ship!

No, we don't do the door decorating thing. But I have to say, the thread that I joined for this cruise has some pretty great people on it. Who knows? Maybe we will decorate! How about you? Decorator??

[RweTHEREyet]

My only knowledge about the post dry dock issues were from what I read in a trip report, and I cannot remember whose it was.

I, myself, have only been on one other Disney Cruise, and it was the 3 night. I went with my elderly Mother and I did nothing like door decorating, or even planning for that matter, just showed up. :ROTFL:

This time we have two cabins, and I am hoping to make door magnet signs for both doors. I have been gathering graphics, and I will see what I can come up with. I know this trip is over a year away, but I seem to be obsessed with planning and making arrangements and working on door signs is one thing I can do now.

[Muushka]

Have fun! For me, planning is at least 50% of the fun of a trip. One time I planned a driving trip from RI to Nova Scotia. We never did the trip, but it takes a lot to convince me that we didn't go!

[RweTHEREyet]

Too funny :D

Maybe you went like this: :teleport:

[Muushka]

:dancingba looks about right!

Hey, if you want to get excited about our (somewhat different and distant) cruises, I will get excited with you!

What type of cabin did you select??:)

Are you doing any excursions? :)

This is, after all, our thread!

[RweTHEREyet]

O.K., great idea.

We are in a category 6 on Deck 7, mid-ship, starboard side to hopefully see Castaway Cay when we are docked there. My son's cabin is an oceanview on deck 2.

Excursions, since our itinerary is:

Castaway
Nassau
Day at Sea
Castaway

There aren't too many choices to make. I am undecided on our day at Nassau, not sure about getting a room at the Comfort Suites to enjoy Atlantis or maybe stay on the ship. Still gathering information on that.

Castaway--we will probably do the stingray excursion and maybe parasailing for my son, not really sure.

Every time I try to talk to DH and DS about cruise events, they say it is too far away. So that is why I am working on door magnet signs and waiting until the first of the year to do much else.

Also, DCL has not released all the details on how the events for this 5-day will work out--not sure if there will be a Palo's brunch or not and what show there might be on the extra night. And this is the cruise that has Deb Wills, and there will be some special events that she is hosting and we won't know more about that until after the first of the year either.

So, nothing is definite yet, except that we are going :lmbo: Not even sure if we are driving or flying or what day to head down there.

And how about you? Since you have been on the 7-night, you have more experience at preparing for a cruise than I do.

[Muushka]

Wow. We have the exact location on Magic! Cabin 7568 (mid-ship, starboard). And for the same reason, hoping to face the water at CC!

The last time when we went to Nassau, I kind of wished we had gone to Atlantis. All that I have seen since that cruise makes me want to visit. Maybe there will be a great rate being that time of year.

We are going to Castaway Cay, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Castaway Cay. We will probably look into what is available at the different ports, but most likely we will grab a massage (I say we, but not me, I don't like them!) and just walk around. The DIS boards are so active that we will probably get some great advice there as to what to do.
CC, grab a hammock and chill!

I forgot that your cruise has Deb Wills. I have never met her, but I love her website! That will be a lot of fun. On our previous cruises, we met up with different people at dinners and different meals. The ones who booked Disney for their kids were one type. And the ones who booked Disney for themselves were another! They were my kind of people! You will have a good portion of the ship with our kind of people. How fun will that be??:jumpingbe

We will drive, as always. I am not sure where we will stay the night before. I feel better being very close to port when we cruise. Don't want any interruptions delaying getting us to our cruise! If you hear of any deals on hotels, let me know!

Good luck with the door decorations, have fun planning.

[RweTHEREyet]

We are 7564, too funny.

On Nassau, I like the idea of the Comfort Suites to have the room for the day to change. Last September there were some deals, or so I have read, and if Atlantis is close to the Comfort Suites price, we will probably do that. I want to be able to do water stuff in the morning and shower and change and enjoy the casino a little in the afternoon before returning to the ship. I understand if you don't do the DCL excursions, then you are on your own if something happens, like get back too late and miss the ship. But I think we are in Nassau that day until 7:00 or so, so it shouldln't be a problem.

I practically live on that other sites cruise board these days, this is too much of an obsession. So much so that I haven't even booked airfare for our October WDW trip yet--I guess I need to get on that sometime soon.

Do you use the same name on "that other board"?

[RweTHEREyet]

Hey Muushka, I am celebrating that exactly one year from today we will be boarding the Magic. :woohoodan


I have my Fish Extender purchased and am still gathering graphics to work on door magnets and signs, that's about all I can do right now to get ready, except check out all the cruise sites for any tips and suggestions.


Your one-year mark is coming up really soon, too. :kickingco Think we can get it all done between now and then?

[Muushka]

Wow, you are doing great!

I am getting pretty excited about this cruise that has several days till we are one year out!!!! The other board that I visit is very active and lots of fun people. They get me excited! You are doing a great job also! Keep on planning, it is what we do best, right????:lmbo:

[CRSNDSNY]

This cruise looks awesome and I actually had it booked until recently. I can't get away from work that first week like that and we had to switch to end of October.

[Muushka]

So, how are the cruise plans coming along? Is everyone excited about their upcoming cruise???

We have our patches in the closet along with the snorkels and masks.
We are not sure about any excursions, still looking into them.

And you or anyone else joining this thread??:chat:

[Laxmom]

Hi guys! Been lurking but just started posting today. We are on this cruise - DH and I, DS and DDIL and Laxlad (17) and his buddy, Artlad (16). (can't come up with anything else!) We will be on Deck 2 in 2 cabins.

We are so looking forward to this trip!! Not sure what we are doing as far as excursions yet but anxious to book Palo. I am so looking forward to our 2 stops at CC!!!

[dvcnewgirl]

I will be there too with my 2 kiddos, husband, sister.. OK there is a bunch of us going!:crowded:, I will be in a secret porthole room and I can't wait!:cheerlead

[tammymacb]

I'm DVCnewgirls sister. I'll be in the connecting secret porthole room. I'll be traveling with my 11 YO DD.

[bigbahamadada]

Alas, we are not on that cruise. We love DCL and have done two 7-day trips on the Magic.

The first of those cruises was the first trip after dry dock back in October 2005. The ship was surprisingly unprepared. The gym was closed, there were a host of plumbing problems, kids pool not open until second day and other areas not quite finished. The staff pool was used as a storage area for half finished building materials and looked like an abandoned contruction site. There was also clearly alot of new CMs on board post-dry dock. Nothing major, but annoying enough to us that we wouldn't do the very 1st post-dry dock cruise again.

Probably the biggest pain was that we thought, since there would be no departing passengers, we would be able to get on the boat realtively early. We got to the terminal at 11 to get on and explore the boat. Apparently we were not alone in this belief as a very large number of early arrivers that joined us. And we were all mistaken.

DCL was still cleaning the boat up until the last second and delayed the first boarders until 3 pm or so. It made for a rather miserable experience in the terminal. Once you pass security screening, there is only so much space inside that building. It was literally shoulder to shoulder, no place to sit, lines for restrooms, concessions ran out of water and snacks to sell. DCL ultimately started breaking into cases of bottle water and snacks and handing them out for free. Which caused its own little stampede. It was very unpleasant, but we didn't really appreciate how awful the boarding experience was until we enjoyed a normal boarding process on a later cruise. Night and day.

Obviously every dry-dock is different. And these are issues you hope wouldn't re-occur. But, go in knowing everything may not be quite up to snuff and have a great time. And I'd advise taking your own sweet time arriving at the cruise terminal.

[Laxmom]

Wow, what an experience! Sounds more like the experience we had with Carnival once.

Someone help me here, but.....Are we cruising before drydock or after? I thought just before but I may be wrong. I honestly can't remember.

[rotary2808]

I think it's right before the drydock.

[Laxmom]

Thanks for the quick response! I thought it was but it has been 10 months since I booked the thing! Can't wait!!

[RweTHEREyet]

Hey Guys, I have not visited this thread in a while because I didn't think anyone else here was going.

Laxmom--I think that the reason we are getting this special 5-night cruise is because the Magic comes back from the West Cost and then there was only enough time to squeeze in a 5-night before it goes into drydock.

Some people worry that the ship will not be in the best condition before drydock and others worry that things won't be finished when it comes out of drydock, so who knows.

CRSNDSNY--I think you are still showing up on the roster over on that other place as being on this cruise. You might want to check. I am sorry you won't be going as I was looking forward to meeting you and your family.

So, anyone else joining us on this cruise?

[Laxmom]

Great to meet another cruiser! I am not worried about the condiiton of the ship. It is Disney after all, and I think they do it better than most!

I am really excited about the 2 CC stops on this one. We cruised last Sept and loved it. Well, it was without kids and also was 2 CC stops due to rain. But we came home and told them about it and showed them the pictures. We were supposed to go to WDW instead. They decided they would rather cruise and when I compared the cost, well, it wasn't that big a difference in price with tickets, food and lodging.

We are deck 2. Tammy and Kristen, you are on 5, right? How about you, rewetheryet?

Anyone figure out what excursions they are doing? This is trip 5 to the Bahamas for us so I haven't figured it out yet. It would be fun to do Atlantis again.

[RweTHEREyet]

We are on deck 7 and my DS and his DGF are on Deck 2.

I am debating excursions. I would like to do Atlantis, but the cost just seems to be getting higher and higher. I am the only one in our group that has been on DCL before, so I am thinking that maybe for the first cruise we might get off the ship for a little while in Nassau and then spend the afternoon on the ship. I don't know, I keep going back and forth. It sure seems like a lot of money to spend for a few hours at Atlantis.

[Laxmom]

I am wondering about booking a room at the Comfort Inn to get full priveledges. It is cheaper than going thru DCL or booking direct with Atlantis. I haven't checked lately but they do run specials especially that time of year. I remember reading last year that it was $130 for a room for up to 5 people. You have to get your own transportation which is no big deal with all the taxis.

We ended up walking Nassau last time and then spending the afternoon on the ship. We debated getting off at all. It was relaxing on the ship as most were in port. My oldest did the pirate museum on a previous trip and said it was kind of cool.

2 of our group have never cruised before; 1 has never been out of the country so I know we will have to do something in Nassau.

[RweTHEREyet]

When I checked the Comfort Suites the other day it was $175 (AAA rate) for two people and then $80 pp for each additional, add on the taxes and fees and I was up to around $350 or so, add lunch, taxi both ways and it was a lot more than I was interested in paying. If they do some specials closer to sail time, it might be a little easier to take.

[Laxmom]

If I remember correctly, it was closer to sailing when I saw those numbers. Sometime over the summer months.

[tammymacb]

Ok, you all. My sister is getting me all excited about this trip. I pulled out my DDs trading pins today, went on ebay looking for a "fish extender" :hehehehe:

It's really getting just around the corner!

[RweTHEREyet]

Have you booked any excursions or anything on-line yet?

I am so undecided what to book when on the Castaway Days. We may want to do the catamaran snorkeling trip, and I am not sure if I want to book it for our first day at CC or enjoy CC that day and then snorkle on the second. Decisions, decisions. Not complaining, mind you, there are much worse decisions in life to be made.

It really is just around the corner, and that is sad, because that means that summer will aready be over, too..

[Laxmom]

Well, we are getting closer and closer, guys!! Whoo hoooo!!! We got Palo for Collegeman and Princess (DS and DDIL) but we decided to pass this time. Ordered LLBean rolling duffles - hoping to store them under the bed since there are 4 of us in our stateroom-but they were 4 inches too big by the new airline requirements. They went back and smaller- yikes!- ones are on their way.

We haven't decided what we are doing yet and desperately need to get together and make some decisions. Now, the Laxfam is thinking of doing the minisubs with Stuart Cove divers instead of Atlantis. Their website was down yesterday so I haven't been able to check into it. Laxdad and Laxlad did this on one of our previous trips to Nassau and they still talk about it. We haven't been able to do it before because they are closed to this activity on Monday's which has always been the day we were in port on our previous cruises.

We bought our fish extenders this week and I got an Oriental Trading catalog yesterday. Still trying to come of with something unique.

We got our DVC points on Thursday and Friday I was able to get us a precruise stay at VWL. Whoo hoo!!! Our favorite! It is all falling into place- We are really starting to get excited!!

[RweTHEREyet]

LAXMOM, have you decided on anything for your FE exchange? I am still going round and round on this. Having so many cabins makes it a little harder since you need to be so generic, if you know what I mean. It is also going to take a long time to hand this stuff out. Maybe a good stroll after dinner and before bed to hand things out will do the trick.

Congrats on getting your villa at the WL--that alone will make for an exciting trip, and then to tack a cruise on to the end of that stay, woohoo.

[dvcnewgirl]

I feel the same way about the FE gifts, it is difficult to find something for 100 cabins!:scratchch

[ciannamea]

We'[re doing a 4 night cruise in October. I've been debating comfort inn vs booking through disney for atlantis. Does anyone know...if I book through disney and due to weather we don't go to Nassau, will there be a refund for that excursion? I would think booking comfort inn I would have to cancel a day or 2 prior to not be charged.

[Laxmom]

Haven't nailed down the FE gifts yet. One thing they keep reiterating over at the other board is that you don't have to do something for all cabins or even give anything to recieve. Just do what you can or want. I did get my Oriental Trading catalog this week but haven't had a chance to peek thru it yet.

We are so pumped about this trip! Everyone is really starting to get excited and the stay at VWL is like the icing!

The scuba subs are $110 each. There are 6 of us. Ouch. I think we just ruled that one out. Last time we had a coupon that we picked up at our resort - won't have that this time.

Ciannamea, I would think that if the excursion is cancelled you will be refunded. On our last trip, they were not able to parasail due to storms in the area and theycancelled the bookings and refunded the fees. You are taking a chance on this one. One thing, I did see a rate at Travelocity for $125 per night at Comfort Suites for Sept. with a $40 pp extra person fee for the 3rd or 4th person if over the age of 12. Someone else saw it at AAA for $112.50.

[sambay]

Hi everyone! So excited for you all going on the cruise! I was just wondering, do the DVC members get special ppp when they have a dedicated DVC Cruise or is it the same ppp as already stated.

Would love to do the cruise again someday. Hubby and I went when we only had 2 children, now we have 4!

Susan

[Laxmom]

Hi Sambay! I am a little confused by your post. Can you clarify for me? I have been doing statistics homework all morning and my brain is fried. I am not sure what you are asking? sorry.:headscrat

[ciannamea]

Laxmom, thanks for the answer. I wish I was cruising sooner but Oct gives a little extra time for anticipation to build.

[sambay]

What I meant was, are the points the same for that special cruise or do they give a discount on points when they have the whole boat dedicated to DVC?

Susan

[Laxmom]

Oh, got ya. I'm not sure. I haven't read much about the member cruise. Even though it is usually in September, this one isn't a member only cruise.

[RweTHEREyet]

What I meant was, are the points the same for that special cruise or do they give a discount on points when they have the whole boat dedicated to DVC?

Susan

the only thing I can tell you is that the cash price is higher than the regular cruises, so I wouldn't think there would be any break on the points.

[RweTHEREyet]

I feel the same way about the FE gifts, it is difficult to find something for 100 cabins!:scratchch

And I am also in the Deb Wills group, so I have more than just the Dis'ers to do for. :headbrick

[jackieslp]

I am going on a 4 night in Nov/Dec and my family and I are so excited. We are heading down and staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Coco Beach - they said there is a shuttle that will pick us up to take us to the Ship - I think she said it is a 8 pp charge (can't remember).

Any great tips for me would be great. My kids are ages 9 and 11.

Thanks
Jackieslp

[Laxmom]

You will love your cruise! There really aren't any tips that make or break the trip, that I have found. It is just so much fun to explore the ship and let Mickey drive the boat! Enjoy!

[DonnaO]

We have been booked for 18month and I do think it is going to be very crowded! We are on Deck 6. Lots of questions on this thread as I have only cruised once before (3day in '06).
What are door decorations? And what are FE gifts? And who is Deb Wills? Does anyone know more than about the itinerary than the basic days? Sorry if I sound stupid but I try to never look too far out at vacation because I get tooooo excited and then depressed when they are over :tongue:! Thanks for any help!

[Laxmom]

Are you on the Sept 1 five night, Donna? (I don't think there is a 5 night on the 8th.) If you are, welcome aboard!!

[DonnaO]

Yes, I am. I am meant Sept 2008. We are just so excited! DH, DD and DS are all with me. And still confused on door decs and on FE gifts. Any info? Also, what is the best way to get water on board. We are big water drinkers!

[Laxmom]

Ok, Fish Extenders are little pocket things that people hang on the metal decorative fish outside the doors. They resemble 3 or 4 pocket shoe organizers if you can picture that. It is kind of like a secret santa where people leave little gifts in your FE.

Also, people usually put magnets on their doors so they can spot their door easily -and so can the kids- in the mile long corador of identical doors.

There is usually a Disney employee selling water on the boat just after you board. You can buy it buy the case. It is rather expensive. The drink stations have water also so you can also take mugs or water bottles to refill.

I'm going to send you an email with some info in it also.

[Laxmom]

Deb Willis is from allears.net, I believe. She is quite the Disney expert, from what I understand, and hosting a special group of disfanatics on this cruise. Rumor is there is a formal night on this cruise. I forget which night but I can get you that info. There is also Pirate Night that I think is the first CC night.

Jackie, your kids will love the kids club. There is just so much to do on the ship and it is just a fantastic experience. Enjoy your cruise!!

[DonnaO]

I will be looking for the other info you send. Very helpful. I think I may need to look into get that FE also!!!! Such good ideas! My kids would love it. It is funny but we have been to Disney at least 40 times in our life and thought we were such fanatics! But there is always so much more to know. :bowdown: Thanks again!!!!

[Laxmom]

Not problem! I look forward to hopefully meeting you onboard!! Make sure and sign up for the FE's soon. They have put an end date on it so they can get the list to everyone.

[Laxmom]

Well, fellow double dippers! We are getting close now! Hope your plans are finalized, pins and fe's packed and pixie dust in hand to keep any storms at bay!!!

[tammymacb]

I can't believe I leave next weekend!

I'm working Saturday so Sunday Caroline and I load up and leave. We're staying at Resort at the Port overnight.

I need to get some stuff done before I go. I'm a really good procrastinator so next week I'll be really busy AND I'm working a 60 hour week! :help:

[Laxmom]

We are just starting to pack. This weekend will be the big push but all WILL be done by Wed. We fly out of Indy at 10:30 am which is a 2 hour drive so early day Sat for us. We will be at VWL Sat and Sun, doing EMH at MK and toruing the Cinderella suite Sun night then off to the port! Whoo hooo!!!

Seems like just yesterday that we booked this thing!! I did a ck yesterday and you can still book a standard inside for this cruise.....for over $1600!!!

[DonnaO]

Laxmom, How the help did you get a tour of the Cinderella Suite? I didnt think they were doing those!!!

[tammymacb]

I thought about a night at DVC prior to the cruise, but since we live on the coast, I just didn't want to drive off I-95 to Orlando and then drive out the next day. We'll just chill at the port instead.

I called my Dad and invited him to go with us in January. I got him a preferred view at BWV ( Dh, Caroline and I are in a standard one bedroom but none left )

[Laxmom]

Got a tip from someone on the other board. DVC offered them for Aug 31 to members; 450 slots. Filled up in about 24 hours so I guess it was right place, right time.
Haven't told the kids. They don't even know we are doing EMH at MK that night. (park hours until 3am)

We always contemplate staying at PC the night before. But we always manage to decide to stay in Orlando since we always fly. I just thought I would take a chance once our points closed and lucked out with VWL.

We wandered the Boardwalk on our trip last month. We had dinner at Flying Fish and watched the entertainers. We really enjoyed it. We also walked thru the model that was open so on that trip we got to see rooms at OKW, SSR, AKV and BWV. You were right about AKV rooms - very cool! Would love to have seen BCV too but we settled for walking around SAB and thru the lobby. What is the weather like in Jan? Crowds?

[tammymacb]

Crowds vary. It used to be a slow time with minimal crowds, but MLK can be tough ( we're going the week before the holiday and leaving Fri of the holiday weekend )

Weather is iffy. Last time I went in January it was chill and we got some rain. I wore jeans and a sweater and a jacket ( with a long sleeve T underneath!) and I think maybe even mittens. It's not usually that miserable though.

The good thing is with both my family and my Dad, we've been a million times so there's no hurry. Bad weather, we'll do something else. We can always drive down and Dad knows he's always welcome.

I'm actually planning a few ADRs ( Dad likes LeCellier and I'll probably try to get fireworks at Rose and Crown again ) and we'll drive to the Poly to sit on the beach and watch fireworks from there. Love that!

[Laxmom]

I am really envious that you are close enough to head down for short visits. We have a 15 hour treck! It is closer for us to drive to HHI.

We did do our last trip much differently. No hurry, no rush. On previous trips, we didn't know when we would be back. This time, with DVC, we knew it wouldn't be that long. (Planning a trip using our Marriott for HP land at Universal after that opens - it is closer to Universal than to Disney.)

One of these days, we'll do a trip to see Christmas decorations! I've been 4 times, the rest of the family - 3. We are working our way toward that million trip mark!!

Have you thought about rebooking onboard? May book a dummy date just to get the discount and obc. Would love to do the members cruise someday! Sounds wonderful! But then I heard it had to be paid in full at booking.:holymoly: And no obc's or anything. Rethinking that one!

[tammymacb]

I'll definately look into a dummy rebooking. Caroline loves cruises so it's what we often do as a family trip ( as opposed to the dive trips I take )

Oh, and I bought another timeshare..:woohoodan when I was on Grand Cayman. Got the summer dive trips nailed down for a while ( we bought two weeks in July ) Here

http://www.plantationvillage.com/Gallery.asp

I got it as a resale and got a great deal...

I'd actually planned to dive in Nassau. But I feel guilty leaving Caroline with my family for the day to take off to a dive boat ( but I really want to! )

Oh, and without a doubt, early December is the BEST time at Disney! It was the reason I bought DVC.

We're also in the stages of planning NYE at HHI next January.

[Laxmom]

That's an awesome ts! Never been to Grand Cayman but hear it is super. Maybe we will get there either via cruise or ts exchange at some point. Laxdad is much more interested in the carribean after doing the flight to Hawaii! Kicked our butts! It looks like a terrific resort! I checked out the rental rates on the link too! II doesn't list much to exchange to on GC. Not bad! Is that where you guys stayed this trip? We would really love to do GC and St. Thomas/St. John.

And hey, don't forget your pictures when you are packing!

Anytime of year at HHI is wonderful! Just found out my cousin got a job teaching in HH. Stinker! I'll be anxious to hear how it is at the holidays! I am fighting addonitis right now. Would love to add VWL points but Laxdad is being a stoopid poopey head, to quote our green friend. He says HHI only. I am hoping a stay at VWL will change his mind!:D

[tammymacb]

The place is gorgeous! Beautifully decorated with nice furnature, flat screen TVs, I got a 2 bed, 2 bath pool view for two weeks in July.

I can't imagine I won't just use it for GC but I can trade out ( I think in II ) if I wanted to.

Have dive gear, will travel...:sailing:

[Laxmom]

It does trade with II. I just checked. Now you have to join TUG! They have a great resort review section that I consult before any exchange! In the long run I'm sure you will save money by purchasing instead of renting! It really does change the way you travel.

Laxlad loves to dive but Laxdad and I are mere snorkelers. They dove Nassau on one trip and Cozumel on another. We opted to 'only' snorkel Aruba and Hawaii. But you should have seen the size of the Blue Parrot Fish! Well, maybe you already have!! Packing the gear for CC.

[Laxmom]

in doing the single digit dance!!!!:kickingco

[Muushka]

Hi Laxmom, hi Rwe :howudoin:

Where is the cruise report?????? I heard a little from Laxmom (somewhere else ;)) but not a peep from Rwe (well, at least I didn't find any reports). So, did you have a great time?:blueflowe

[Laxmom]

Hey Muushka, you know it was a great trip when it started at VWL!!! Too bad there isn't a moose smiley!

[Muushka]

Hey Muushka, you know it was a great trip when it started at VWL!!! Too bad there isn't a moose smiley!
Yeah, where is that Moosie when you need him????:jumpingbe