Fantasy 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise 8/2/14 - 8/9/14

[carolbeech]

We're eating during Second seating. Yes, we're from Kalifornia. We also like the fact we can take as long as we want to finish dinner. Are there any others that may want to join us (DH, DW, DGS-12) for dinner?

Yes, we're second seating too. We're in the midwest, but we didn't want to be hurried from port. Hubby & I have two girls 9 & 12.

 

[carolbeech]

Life has been so crazy since DH booked us on this sailing. I just got all caught up - don't even know how many pages I had to read through. It's COLD down here in Texas. Today we got a dusting of snow, and as usual the city practically shut down.
There's a reason I don't live further north, and I went to college in SOUTHERN Arizona! And it's not because I like this frozen stuff. (Would you believe me if I said I'm allergic to cold weather!)

Hi & Welcome - we're glad you are all caught up! Who all are you bringing?

 

[Carable]

RRBB - I'm an Arizona Wildcat myself! We just melted off 10 inches of snow here at the beach in VA...yuck.

 

[mug318ca]

I would have loved to join you, but the FAM wants to eat earlier. What city do you live in?? Are you doing the FE???

We are in Los Angeles just north of LAX. We are participating in the FE.

 

[mug318ca]

Yes, we're second seating too. We're in the midwest, but we didn't want to be hurried from port. Hubby & I have two girls 9 & 12.

Great. Like I said our grandson is 12 but will be 13 by August. PM me you reservation number and last name and I'll get us hooked up for dinner.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Good Bye Fantasy, we will see you in 25 weeks

 

[Poohbear 64]

Do you want to hear a story??? It has nothing to do with our cruise, just a little info on myself.

Two years ago on a 15 day (non Disney ) cruise to Hawaii we met a 22 year old girl traveling by herself from Canada because her friend had a relapse of cancer and couldn't come. She hung out with us "old" folks the majority of the cruise. We have remained close and have "adopted" her, we call her "our foreign daughter from another mother". She came down for a visit in Dec 2012 and joined us on our Christmas cruise to the Mexican Riviera. WELL, she is down for a visit this week. Yesterday we shopped and shopped, wearing this "old" person out. Okay, I am not old, I am 49, but can feel that way!! My husband and I don't have kids, it is nice to have one that enjoys us and we didn't have to raise!!! She fetches us things and is making some homemade cinnamon rolls right now. We are going to Disneyland on Monday. We spoil her for the week, she has been a blessing to us.

Well I just wanted to share.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

Do you want to hear a story??? It has nothing to do with our cruise, just a little info on myself.

Two years ago on a 15 day (non Disney ) cruise to Hawaii we met a 22 year old girl traveling by herself from Canada because her friend had a relapse of cancer and couldn't come. She hung out with us "old" folks the majority of the cruise. We have remained close and have "adopted" her, we call her "our foreign daughter from another mother". She came down for a visit in Dec 2012 and joined us on our Christmas cruise to the Mexican Riviera. WELL, she is down for a visit this week. Yesterday we shopped and shopped, wearing this "old" person out. Okay, I am not old, I am 49, but can feel that way!! My husband and I don't have kids, it is nice to have one that enjoys us and we didn't have to raise!!! She fetches us things and is making some homemade cinnamon rolls right now. We are going to Disneyland on Monday. We spoil her for the week, she has been a blessing to us.

Well I just wanted to share.

Great story! We have made great friends also through DCL We used to exchange Christmas cards with other families that we were assigned with to the MDR's. It is amazing how great a job that DCL does with matching people that are compatible. We had one bad match up which actually happened when a family was assigned to our table once they boarded the ship and asked for a different assignment

 

[RRBB]

.

 

[RRBB]

Hi & Welcome - we're glad you are all caught up! Who all are you bringing?

Thanks. It's myself, DH, DS(9) Ian, and DD(7 by the time we cruise) Sophia. The kids and I are having fun discussing cruise plans whenever we get in the car. (I much prefer the discussions than the two of them fighting over what movie to watch in the car!)

RRBB - I'm an Arizona Wildcat myself! We just melted off 10 inches of snow here at the beach in VA...yuck.

Yup, UofA Wildcat here. Wow, 10 inches of snow. My kids' school closed early on Thursday and opened late on Friday for less than 1/2 inch of very dry snow that blew away as soon as it hit the road (in most places.) We did enjoy sleeping in on a school day, though.

Do you want to hear a story??? It has nothing to do with our cruise, just a little info on myself.

Two years ago on a 15 day (non Disney ) cruise to Hawaii we met a 22 year old girl traveling by herself from Canada because her friend had a relapse of cancer and couldn't come. She hung out with us "old" folks the majority of the cruise. We have remained close and have "adopted" her, we call her "our foreign daughter from another mother". She came down for a visit in Dec 2012 and joined us on our Christmas cruise to the Mexican Riviera. WELL, she is down for a visit this week. Yesterday we shopped and shopped, wearing this "old" person out. Okay, I am not old, I am 49, but can feel that way!! My husband and I don't have kids, it is nice to have one that enjoys us and we didn't have to raise!!! She fetches us things and is making some homemade cinnamon rolls right now. We are going to Disneyland on Monday. We spoil her for the week, she has been a blessing to us.

Well I just wanted to share.

Love the story. Sadly we've never made the close/lasting connections with tablemates. In fact our last 2 cruises we were at our own table. But the kids, especially DS, always finds a friend or two in the club.

Speaking of cancer, DS lost a good friend of his to leukemia Friday night. They were in the same class when they were all of 3 years old and remained friends even though they went to different schools after that year. Ian's friend, Zach, put up a good fight for over 4 years. Sadly he succumbed to complications from his 3rd bone marrow transplant. He was only 9 years old, just a couple months older than Ian.

 

[Carable]

RRBB - Strangely enough I have a DS, Nolan, who will be 9 on the cruise and a DD, Finley, who will be 7 on the cruise. What a crazy coincidence.

Poohbear 64 - What a sweet story about you "adopted" daughter, hope you having a great time today with her!

We are thinking about a Disney trip over Spring Break, I want to do CA and hubby wants to do FL and they may both end up costing about the same if you can believe that.

 

[AliceIn]

Speaking of cancer, DS lost a good friend of his to leukemia Friday night. They were in the same class when they were all of 3 years old and remained friends even though they went to different schools after that year. Ian's friend, Zach, put up a good fight for over 4 years. Sadly he succumbed to complications from his 3rd bone marrow transplant. He was only 9 years old, just a couple months older than Ian.

I'm so sorry to hear of your son's loss of his friend. Cancer is awful, and it's so hard to think of a child suffering through it. I'll keep the families in my prayers.

 

[AliceIn]

I've been following the discussions on seating plans. We picked main seating because we tend to eat by 6 at home and we weren't sure if we could wait so long for dinner. I hadn't thought about rushing back after port days. For those of you who have done the later dinner, do you find that you also tend to stay up later in the evenings and then start your day later in the morning?

 

[Poohbear 64]

Speaking of cancer, DS lost a good friend of his to leukemia Friday night. They were in the same class when they were all of 3 years old and remained friends even though they went to different schools after that year. Ian's friend, Zach, put up a good fight for over 4 years. Sadly he succumbed to complications from his 3rd bone marrow transplant. He was only 9 years old, just a couple months older than Ian.

So sorry about your son's friend, Cancer is awful. Both of my parents passed away from different types and now my husbands father has brain cancer. It is so much worse to hear about a child battling the disease. My best to your son, hoping he understands and overcomes the loss of a friend.

 

[mug318ca]

I've been following the discussions on seating plans. We picked main seating because we tend to eat by 6 at home and we weren't sure if we could wait so long for dinner. I hadn't thought about rushing back after port days. For those of you who have done the later dinner, do you find that you also tend to stay up later in the evenings and then start your day later in the morning?

We do it because we are coming from the west and the second seating works best for our stomach. Unfortunately, we are still full when the pirate buffet arrives at 10 or so. We also like it because we are not rushed to complete dinner at a particular time. On some previous cruises, we haven't left the table until after 10pm.

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

RRBB, I am sorry to hear about the child who died and your son's loss of a great friend. I pray that your son and the family will find comfort in the coming days

 

[momtomattclare]

I've been following the discussions on seating plans. We picked main seating because we tend to eat by 6 at home and we weren't sure if we could wait so long for dinner. I hadn't thought about rushing back after port days. For those of you who have done the later dinner, do you find that you also tend to stay up later in the evenings and then start your day later in the morning?

I suppose maybe we run a bit later in the morning. School nights at our house DS (10) is in bed at 10 (he's a night owl) and DD (6) is in bed around 8:30-9:00. On the cruises I don't enforce a bed time (obviously they're in bed by the time DH and I are) unless we have an excursion to get up for. For DS that usually means he's up until 11-12 on the cruise. For DD, she's up until 10-11ish except the last night. On the last night I always let her stay at the kids' club until close which is midnight. Most days we're up in the morning by 8-8:30ish.

 

[AliceIn]

I suppose maybe we run a bit later in the morning. School nights at our house DS (10) is in bed at 10 (he's a night owl) and DD (6) is in bed around 8:30-9:00. On the cruises I don't enforce a bed time (obviously they're in bed by the time DH and I are) unless we have an excursion to get up for. For DS that usually means he's up until 11-12 on the cruise. For DD, she's up until 10-11ish except the last night. On the last night I always let her stay at the kids' club until close which is midnight. Most days we're up in the morning by 8-8:30ish.

During the week two younger ones (8 & 9 now) are in bed around 8 and wake up at 6:30 am. My older one (12 now) goes to bed around 9 and reads for a bit. He sleeps until 7:30 am. I've got reflux issues, so I was afraid that eating so late might cause me problems going to sleep so soon after eating. When we do WDW trips, we usually ate dinner around 5:30. Dean and the kids would get a small snack before bed, but I generally didn't. We would usually be at breakfast by 7:30 or so.

I really do like the idea of no rushing back from ports, though. So torn!

 

[My4PhillyGirls]

During the week two younger ones (8 & 9 now) are in bed around 8 and wake up at 6:30 am. My older one (12 now) goes to bed around 9 and reads for a bit. He sleeps until 7:30 am. I've got reflux issues, so I was afraid that eating so late might cause me problems going to sleep so soon after eating. When we do WDW trips, we usually ate dinner around 5:30. Dean and the kids would get a small snack before bed, but I generally didn't. We would usually be at breakfast by 7:30 or so.

I really do like the idea of no rushing back from ports, though. So torn!

I checked the onboard times for our itinerary and with the exception of Grand Cayman, all aboard is an hour before early seating for dinner. We rarely push it past an hour before all aboard for fear that we might miss the ship, so I don't think we will feel rushed getting ready for dinner

Plus if I eat dinner early, then I will have an excuse to order room service or to pick up the light snacks outside of Europa

 

[Poohbear 64]

Plus if I eat dinner early, then I will have an excuse to order room service or to pick up the light snacks outside of Europa

What is Europa???