Maz
28 Feb 08, 09:10 PM
Well it isn't long now and most arrangements are in place. This really is a holiday of a lifetime as I never though my husband John would ever agree to a cruise, let alone a Disney cruise. A special birthday this year on Easter Sunday, a time we don't wish to go away, had set me researching somewhere special to go - right back at the end of 2006. I came accross information for this cruise(http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/cruises/detail?name=15NightWestboundPanamaCanaltCruiseDeta ilPage) and my heart was set. I knew that the Panama Canal might just be the one cruise John would go on, so I set my plans in motion. I said no birthday presents last year, or this for that matter. During that initial time frame our business began to do better too, so he agreed to wait and see the cost.
Booking was to open on January 31st. I found out who to request a reservation with and left it with them. Boy, what a frantic day that was, with the Disney Cruise Line site not being able to cope. The Eastbound cruise sold out during the afternoon, but we were hoping for the Westbound(less children )!!! We heard late at night that we had a reservation. John thought about it for a day and said yes!!!! :spin:
So, over a year of planning and chatting on a thread full of similarly excited people and we are now 67 days away from beginning our trip. We have plenty of activities organised as a group and we have also managed to meet up with about 10 of our fellow cruisers already. Scottishwee on here,and her family will also be on the cruise. :wavey:
I used the 'special birthday' ruse to book some extras too!!! :D
So, what will we be doing?
Monday 5th May - Overnight at the Radisson SAS manchester Airport.
Tuesday 6th May - Virgin UC flights to MCO. Check in to Beach Club Villas on rented points from fellow cruiser!!!
Wednesday 7th May - MK. Shop for ever growing list of items needed or wanted. PM - Epcot.
Thursday 8th May - Epcot. Meeting a couple of fellow cruisers for some fun, and lunch at the Garden Grill.
Friday 9th May - Hollywood Studios, then exchanging cars at DTD(long story!!). Late afternoon we have a cruise meet at DTD for those staying at WDW :spin: PM, Wash, pack, Epcot Illuminations, EMH.
Saturday 10th May - THE DAY. Set off early to Port Canaveral. Check in when allowed and then begin the fun. Meet up with as many fellow cruisers as we can. Embarkation and let the fun begin. We have already linked dining, so should know our table mates fairly well we hope. I won't list all our activities or you will fall asleep.
Sunday 11th May - Castaway Cay, US Mothers Day. Going to do nothing. :D
Monday 12th May - Sea Day. Formal Night.
Tuesday 13th May - Sea Day. Hot Stone Massage booked! :zzz:
Wednesday 14th May - Aruba. Decided not to book an excursion so just going for a walk around the town. Tropical Night.
Thursday 15th May - Sea day. Palo brunch booked(posher restaurant).
Friday 16th May - Panama Canal crossing. Up bright and early, some are saying 5am, to get a good viewing spot. Full day transiting, with possible deck barbeque and champagne.
Saturday 17th May - Sea Day. Semi-formal night.
Sunday 18th May - Sea Day( Don't you just love them? ). Pedicure booked and Palo Dinner.
Monday 19th May - Acapulco. 'City Tour and Cliff Divers' excursion booked. Mexican Deck Party night.
Tuesday 20th May - Sea Day. Palo High tea booked.
Wednesday 21st May - Puerta Vallarta. City Tour excursion booked.
Thursday 22nd May - Cabo San Lucas. Coastal Cruise and Highlights excursion booked. Pirate Deck Party night.
Friday 23rd May - Sea Day. Ballroom under the Stars night. We don't know what this is but sounds like we need to dress up!!!
Saturday 24th May - Sea Day and last day. :erm:
Sunday 25th May. Los Angeles and disembarkation. :cry: Say fond farewell to some fellow cruisers. Transfer to Disney land and the Grand Californian Hotel. Many of our cruise thread friends are staying for a few days too. Today is Memorial Day in the US. DL is going to be busy. :omg:
Sunday - Wednesday 28th May lunchtime -DL. First time here even though we have stayed in Anaheim just outside the gates. That time we went to Universal and six Flags Magic Mountain as we weren't Disney bothered and wanted the coasters and more adult rides. Disney California Adventure wasn't open then either.
Wednesday 28th May- 6.30pm Virgin UC flights to London Heathrow.
Thursday 29th May - Arrive lunchtime and will either be picked up by a friend or we will book a one way car rental back home.
I could tell you much more. Things our group has planned on the ship include Champagne tasting for the ladies, scrapbooking class, Bunco(a card game I think), Aussie bush dancing, fish extender gifting, a Weight Watcher meeting( :omg: :omg: not me though! :pgig: )Group meals and get togethers, poker, a beer group for the guys(and a few gals), drink of the day club. Plus plenty of Disney organised events and something called a Mouseadventure on the High Seas on a day near the end. Should be fun!!!
So, just just a few things left to organise and book, shopping to do and a lot of weight to lose.
Booking was to open on January 31st. I found out who to request a reservation with and left it with them. Boy, what a frantic day that was, with the Disney Cruise Line site not being able to cope. The Eastbound cruise sold out during the afternoon, but we were hoping for the Westbound(less children )!!! We heard late at night that we had a reservation. John thought about it for a day and said yes!!!! :spin:
So, over a year of planning and chatting on a thread full of similarly excited people and we are now 67 days away from beginning our trip. We have plenty of activities organised as a group and we have also managed to meet up with about 10 of our fellow cruisers already. Scottishwee on here,and her family will also be on the cruise. :wavey:
I used the 'special birthday' ruse to book some extras too!!! :D
So, what will we be doing?
Monday 5th May - Overnight at the Radisson SAS manchester Airport.
Tuesday 6th May - Virgin UC flights to MCO. Check in to Beach Club Villas on rented points from fellow cruiser!!!
Wednesday 7th May - MK. Shop for ever growing list of items needed or wanted. PM - Epcot.
Thursday 8th May - Epcot. Meeting a couple of fellow cruisers for some fun, and lunch at the Garden Grill.
Friday 9th May - Hollywood Studios, then exchanging cars at DTD(long story!!). Late afternoon we have a cruise meet at DTD for those staying at WDW :spin: PM, Wash, pack, Epcot Illuminations, EMH.
Saturday 10th May - THE DAY. Set off early to Port Canaveral. Check in when allowed and then begin the fun. Meet up with as many fellow cruisers as we can. Embarkation and let the fun begin. We have already linked dining, so should know our table mates fairly well we hope. I won't list all our activities or you will fall asleep.
Sunday 11th May - Castaway Cay, US Mothers Day. Going to do nothing. :D
Monday 12th May - Sea Day. Formal Night.
Tuesday 13th May - Sea Day. Hot Stone Massage booked! :zzz:
Wednesday 14th May - Aruba. Decided not to book an excursion so just going for a walk around the town. Tropical Night.
Thursday 15th May - Sea day. Palo brunch booked(posher restaurant).
Friday 16th May - Panama Canal crossing. Up bright and early, some are saying 5am, to get a good viewing spot. Full day transiting, with possible deck barbeque and champagne.
Saturday 17th May - Sea Day. Semi-formal night.
Sunday 18th May - Sea Day( Don't you just love them? ). Pedicure booked and Palo Dinner.
Monday 19th May - Acapulco. 'City Tour and Cliff Divers' excursion booked. Mexican Deck Party night.
Tuesday 20th May - Sea Day. Palo High tea booked.
Wednesday 21st May - Puerta Vallarta. City Tour excursion booked.
Thursday 22nd May - Cabo San Lucas. Coastal Cruise and Highlights excursion booked. Pirate Deck Party night.
Friday 23rd May - Sea Day. Ballroom under the Stars night. We don't know what this is but sounds like we need to dress up!!!
Saturday 24th May - Sea Day and last day. :erm:
Sunday 25th May. Los Angeles and disembarkation. :cry: Say fond farewell to some fellow cruisers. Transfer to Disney land and the Grand Californian Hotel. Many of our cruise thread friends are staying for a few days too. Today is Memorial Day in the US. DL is going to be busy. :omg:
Sunday - Wednesday 28th May lunchtime -DL. First time here even though we have stayed in Anaheim just outside the gates. That time we went to Universal and six Flags Magic Mountain as we weren't Disney bothered and wanted the coasters and more adult rides. Disney California Adventure wasn't open then either.
Wednesday 28th May- 6.30pm Virgin UC flights to London Heathrow.
Thursday 29th May - Arrive lunchtime and will either be picked up by a friend or we will book a one way car rental back home.
I could tell you much more. Things our group has planned on the ship include Champagne tasting for the ladies, scrapbooking class, Bunco(a card game I think), Aussie bush dancing, fish extender gifting, a Weight Watcher meeting( :omg: :omg: not me though! :pgig: )Group meals and get togethers, poker, a beer group for the guys(and a few gals), drink of the day club. Plus plenty of Disney organised events and something called a Mouseadventure on the High Seas on a day near the end. Should be fun!!!
So, just just a few things left to organise and book, shopping to do and a lot of weight to lose.