April 29, 2012 ~ Aloha! ~ Inagural Wonder to Hawaii-Part 3

[dylan'smom]

I can start a list of those wanting to celebrate "celebrations" together at a Palo Brunch during one of our sea days. I would need a list of names, what you are celebrating and room number. I have never done this but would be happy to put this list together and call/fax our request to DCL and see if we can get a reservation. Just PM me and let me know if you want to join us. The cut-off will be March 4th and I will contact DCL after that and post a master list of those joining

That would be cool, Linda!! I think a whole lot of people had been interested in that.

As for DCL, they will want groups of 12 (min.) to 14 (max) for the private room, & they will need the reservation numbers for members of each group (GTYs are ok).

Also remember that any brunch reservations already made for members of the groups will be dropped by DCL when/if they set up the group, & replaced by the new res.
.

 

[MrsMork]

That would be cool, Linda!! I think a whole lot of people had been interested in that.

As for DCL, they will want groups of 12 (min.) to 14 (max) for the private room, & they will need the reservation numbers for members of each group (GTYs are ok).

Also remember that any brunch reservations already made for members of the groups will be dropped by DCL when/if they set up the group, & replaced by the new res.
.

Also remember that each group of 12-14 will need to be submitted by a different person. The person submitting will be on the reservation and no one can have more than one Palo brunch reservation. So..one person can organize all the groups, but someone from each group will need to actually request it. Hope that makes sense.

 

[MousseauMob]

If you have paid your tips through guest services and all you are worried about is getting the "tickets" to your servers and stuff, you don't need to worry. They get the money deposited into their account and I believe a list of who gave what. There have been many times I have been unable to track down someone and give them the little ticket. Now, if you are giving cash, that would obviously not work!

Are you sitting with the group at dinner? Main or late sitting groups? If you are just contact one of us in your eating group and I am sure we could come by and get it for you and deliver with ours and explain to server Even if you're not one of us would be happy to get it and take it to proper dining room on our way and give it to the head of the dining room to hand them. Should not be a problem....you have a ton of back-up here

Thanks! This helps! I'm seriously hoping there are no issues this time, but it is comforting to know what the options are!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Goos Morning All....

I have been away visiting a friend with no internet service, imagine....Great for visiting but not for staying upnwith the posts. I see I have some catching up to do...

I hope everyone had a great weekend....

 

[LindaBabe]

I've started looking into options for getting to the port from San Diego. I checked into the possibility of using a shuttle and that is just too expensive. So now it looks like we will be driving to the port. Disney says parking is going to be $12 / day (subject to change) or $180 for the entire cruise. Anyone exploring other long term parking options or is that our best bet?

Maybe try Val's strategy, below?

We rebooked a stay at the Double Tree San Pedro after staying and leaving our car there in October for our MR cruise. We are payment $247.38 (after taxes) for a harbor view room for two, the Sunday brunch for two, two drink tickets and parking for the 14 days. They have shuttle to the pier.

That sounds like a deal!

Is this new form and we need to send it again, even if we are on the list already.....sorry, i'm a little confused....

GLAD I'm not the only one

Here is a new one from ******. I think it would make a neat t-shirt. If I get a good offer from Vista and I could get it back before I mail the cruise shirts out, I'll let you know. I'd post the images I have already ordered tee-shirts from so no additional image upload would be charged. The last order those were $4.97 each with no shipping fee.

That's a funny one!

Happy Day. all!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

So sorry to hear about your FIL. My prayers are with you.

Good news on the flight...and a Book Exchange sounds like a good idea. I would like to participate if I have any room left in my luggage.

We have had some major stress this week. Qantas decided to cancel the Auckland/Los Angeles flights - they could get us to LA but not back (or at least not directly).

********£

While she was finding the flights, I quickly checked Air New Zealand and found flights that were much more direct and much faster. I politely requested a full refund on our flights which they granted and rebooked with ANZ .

*******

On top of this, we are dealing with some major health issues in the family, Robert's Dad is fighting the battle of his life with cancer and at this stage, it looks as if he will loose the battle fairly soon - he's only 67. For those who are friends on Facebook with Robert please don't say anything - he's keep it close to his chest at this stage.

Anyway, I need to get on and organise the linked dining update, the candy swap and a few other odds and ends.

I think way back, someone volunteered for a "book/magazine swap/drop" bag at their door - anyone recall who? If not, I'm happy to do this and donate books to the crew at the end of the cruise. I guess the other question is, is anyone interested in a book swap? Or is everyone kindleing/ipading it these days?

 

[chip&dale&fun]

I have a question about tip envelops. Although there is an active thread about tipping, I don't really want to get in the debate that tipping tends to start. So, I hope no one minds if I ask my question here as it isn't really about tipping, but about delivering the envelops. For different reasons, I have missed the dining room on the last night on the last two cruises. Either I was sick, or a child was sick, but it didn't matter because I had another adult that could go deliver the tips. I'm worried about what I can do if for some unforseen reason this occurs again, without another adult with us. Hopefully it won't be a problem, but if I'm cabin bound, can I call Guest Services, would they be willing to pick them up? Or if my son is okay, can he take them to Guest Services? Can they be left in the stateroom? What are my options if getting out and delivering them is a problem?

We have often missed on the short cruises. I find taking them to breakfast works very well.

 

[ALK$Disney]

Quick question -

Our first time in Hawaii and we are thinking of just renting a car in Maui and Ohau and doing our own thing. Is this a good idea or should we stick with excursions? We are doing excursions on Hilo and Kauai with Disney.

Thanks.

 

[valbob89]

Big surprise, Vistaprint is offering another "special offer". T-shirts are 50% off - again
t-shirts
size small - XL $4.74
XXL - $6.73
Image uploads are 50% off - $2.49
and free 14 day shipping if you order $50.

Feel free to use my flicker file of cruise images if you want. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmvandy/sets/72157628762808959/

If you don't have an order over $50 and enough of you are interested I would be happy to put one together another order. If you order an image I have already used, they won't charge the art upload fee (images belowed.) I might be able to include your order when I mail your cruise shirts to you to avoid any postage. Send me an e-mail at valbob89@aol.com and I'll see if enough people are interested.

1. 5 lei heads

2. mm head sunset

3. mm head wonder

4. Golden Gate

5. cruisin to Hawaii

6. disney wonder hawaii

7. mm head M & M

8. aloha hawaii

9. vinatage aloha hawaii

10. aqua M&M & D&D

11. hawaii DCL

12. inaugural sailing

13. map

14. tropical wonder

 

[mickey7607]

Well, I have just finished my little scrapbooking weekend at an expo, and I was in Anaheim.....imagine that. I didn't even make it to Disneyland, but I did go to Downtown Disney for a few minutes Friday night.

I got some final ideas for the scrapbook for the cruise and I bought a ton of stuff. My luggage probably weighed about 10 pounds coming down. Going home it is 47 pounds!

I am now about ready to board my plane in Long Beach back to Salt Lake City and will be home in about 2 hours!

I got some really cool doorprizes for our scrapbook class! They are Disney themed! I wish I could have bought for everyone, but I will give details of door prizes and websites where you can purchase after our class in case anyone is dying for the embellishments. Of course, I bought for me also! Couldn't resist.

I will be sending payment instructions in the next day or two for the class. I am going to cutoff the signups for the class early. Like champagne tasting, the class is gettimg large, so I have about 8 spaces left, and then I will close. If you are sitting on the fence, I would suggest you PM me, or I may not be able to accomodate.

On the first page, can someone change the post with my original close date.

Thanks. I am so excited for this cruise and scrapbook that I have put together. I hope everyone will like it as much as I do!

Hello! I'm new to the boards so I don't have enough posts to send you a pm. Is there any way I can sign up for the class? Please let me know, I'm excited! Thank you!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I have a question about tip envelops. Although there is an active thread about tipping, I don't really want to get in the debate that tipping tends to start. So, I hope no one minds if I ask my question here as it isn't really about tipping, but about delivering the envelops. For different reasons, I have missed the dining room on the last night on the last two cruises. Either I was sick, or a child was sick, but it didn't matter because I had another adult that could go deliver the tips. I'm worried about what I can do if for some unforseen reason this occurs again, without another adult with us. Hopefully it won't be a problem, but if I'm cabin bound, can I call Guest Services, would they be willing to pick them up? Or if my son is okay, can he take them to Guest Services? Can they be left in the stateroom? What are my options if getting out and delivering them is a problem?

You can also deliver them the night before or whenever it's convenient for you. Go to Guest Services and you can pay for it anytime you want and get the envelopes. I know some people that pay them out on the first night. So you could request them and pay for them when you first get onboard and then hand them out whenever it's convenient for you. Just another option.

 

[BoosGram]

I think I may just be too busy to schedule those in. The one that I really would like to do is the Mojito and Caiphirinha tasting, but on our Mexican Riviera cruise, this was scheduled for some very odd timings. Still, Signals will keep me in Melon Mojitos if all else fails.

For us it will only be 2 months now until our vacation begins. I can't believe how quickly this is approaching now. Well, so far my battle plan is going according to schedule. I have finished the last of the Fish Extender gifts today. For the next two weeks, I will concentrate on preparing the jewellery workshops.

Corinna

I would definitely love to do the Mojito and Caiphirinha tasting again; I hope they have one.

Big surprise, Vistaprint is offering another "special offer". T-shirts are 50% off - again
t-shirts
size small - XL $4.74
XXL - $6.73
Image uploads are 50% off - $2.49
and free 14 day shipping if you order $50.

Feel free to use my flicker file of cruise images if you want. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmvandy/sets/72157628762808959/

If you don't have an order over $50 and enough of you are interested I would be happy to put one together another order. If you order an image I have already used, they won't charge the art upload fee (images belowed.) I might be able to include your order when I mail your cruise shirts to you to avoid any postage. Send me an e-mail at valbob89@aol.com and I'll see if enough people are interested.

1. 5 lei heads

2. mm head sunset

3. mm head wonder

4. Golden Gate

5. cruisin to Hawaii

6. disney wonder hawaii

7. mm head M & M

8. aloha hawaii

9. vinatage aloha hawaii

10. aqua M&M & D&D

11. hawaii DCL

12. inaugural sailing

13. map

14. tropical wonder

Val, I see at least 3 designs in there that I'd love to have for DH and me. I looked at the site, but didn't see a sizing chart. Do you know how their sizing runs?

 

[valbob89]

I would definitely love to do the Mojito and Caiphirinha tasting again; I hope they have one.



Val, I see at least 3 designs in there that I'd love to have for DH and me. I looked at the site, but didn't see a sizing chart. Do you know how their sizing runs?

I have ordered size S, M, L, XL and 2XL and they seemed to run pretty close to true. After washing they did shrink a little. They are good, not great tee-shirts. Better then some we have bought at t-shirt shops but not as nice as the DCL shirts. Of course their price reflects that. Unfortunately they don't have kid sizes nor sizes bigger then 2XL.

e-mail me if you need help with any of the designs on my Flicker page and you want to place your own order. Or if you want to have your order in one large order. You can also order any of the designs on my Flicker page that I haven't ordered yet but they will charge the upload fee of $2.50 Val

 

[dylan'smom]

Quick question -

Our first time in Hawaii and we are thinking of just renting a car in Maui and Ohau and doing our own thing. Is this a good idea or should we stick with excursions? We are doing excursions on Hilo and Kauai with Disney.
Thanks.

Sorry, I don't know much about the rental car options, but i know there has been a bunch of discussion about it on this thread, including doing activities on your own. Try doing a "search this thread" for the rentals & also for the on your own stuff and that should turn up all kinds of good info.
.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Well, I have just finished my little scrapbooking weekend at an expo, and I was in Anaheim.....imagine that. I didn't even make it to Disneyland, but I did go to Downtown Disney for a few minutes Friday night.

I got some final ideas for the scrapbook for the cruise and I bought a ton of stuff. My luggage probably weighed about 10 pounds coming down. Going home it is 47 pounds!

I am now about ready to board my plane in Long Beach back to Salt Lake City and will be home in about 2 hours!

I got some really cool doorprizes for our scrapbook class! They are Disney themed! I wish I could have bought for everyone, but I will give details of door prizes and websites where you can purchase after our class in case anyone is dying for the embellishments. Of course, I bought for me also! Couldn't resist.

I will be sending payment instructions in the next day or two for the class. I am going to cutoff the signups for the class early. Like champagne tasting, the class is gettimg large, so I have about 8 spaces left, and then I will close. If you are sitting on the fence, I would suggest you PM me, or I may not be able to accomodate.

On the first page, can someone change the post with my original close date.

Thanks. I am so excited for this cruise and scrapbook that I have put together. I hope everyone will like it as much as I do!

Linda...your scrapbooks have always been amazing....I can't wait...maybe this time I'll actually get the pages done before the end of the cruise!!!!!!

BTW...so jealous you went to a scrapbook expo....there aren't too many scrapbook stores locally so scrapbook expos are even less...I did notice that there is one coming up about an hour from where we live and it is the Saturday after we get home from the MV of the Fantasy....seriously considering going....

 

[dylan'smom]

You can also deliver them the night before or whenever it's convenient for you. Go to Guest Services and you can pay for it anytime you want and get the envelopes. I know some people that pay them out on the first night. So you could request them and pay for them when you first get onboard and then hand them out whenever it's convenient for you. Just another option.

That's what we usually do too. For a lot of cruises, we went to Palo on the last night & gave the envelopes to our servers the 6th night....or a couple times on the last morning.

But I agree, it can be given to them at anytime....sort of a pay it forward thing!! A couple times GS has balked at giving us the envelopes & vouchers early, but I think they were back-logged with stuff for some reason...usually it's a great option.
.

 

[MousseauMob]

We have often missed on the short cruises. I find taking them to breakfast works very well.

You can also deliver them the night before or whenever it's convenient for you. Go to Guest Services and you can pay for it anytime you want and get the envelopes. I know some people that pay them out on the first night. So you could request them and pay for them when you first get onboard and then hand them out whenever it's convenient for you. Just another option.

Thanks everyone!

 

[seaulater]

Hello! I'm new to the boards so I don't have enough posts to send you a pm. Is there any way I can sign up for the class? Please let me know, I'm excited! Thank you!

I've added you to the list.

 

[seaulater]

Linda...your scrapbooks have always been amazing....I can't wait...maybe this time I'll actually get the pages done before the end of the cruise!!!!!!

BTW...so jealous you went to a scrapbook expo....there aren't too many scrapbook stores locally so scrapbook expos are even less...I did notice that there is one coming up about an hour from where we live and it is the Saturday after we get home from the MV of the Fantasy....seriously considering going....

I saw something for you this weekend....and have a little surprise for you when I see you on the MV of the Fantasy!

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

Quick question -

Our first time in Hawaii and we are thinking of just renting a car in Maui and Ohau and doing our own thing. Is this a good idea or should we stick with excursions? We are doing excursions on Hilo and Kauai with Disney.

Thanks.

We are renting a car (mini-van actually) on all 4 islands and not doing any DCL tours. We had such success doing our own tours in Alaska, we're trying it again. It just makes sense with our group of 5 (4 adults, 1 child)

What we love about this option is allowing us the flexibility to spend as little or as long doing something as we like or changing our minds mid-stream if something "better comes along."

We are driving to the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island and planning on spending most of the day there with the 70+ ILs spending more time at the Visitor's Center and at the look-outs while we hike a few trails between milestones.

We are going to the Maui Tropical Plantation and letting the ILs explore the the Plantation/Tram ride while we take an ATV tour with Green Zebra Adventures (kids 4-12 can ride along with parents!). Then we'll head all together to the Iao Valley State Park with maybe a stop at the Hawaii Nature Center or the Tropical Gardens of Maui if the mood strikes us! Then we plan to drive towards Lahaina with maybe a stop for a hike at Ma'alaea Beach Trail (Kihei) or the Olowalu Petroglyphs (Lahaina) and enjoy Lahaina before our Luau.

In Oahu, we're planning for a beach day - spending some time at Waikiki as well as a probable trip to Hauname Bay. We may spend the afternoon doing a hike to Manoa Falls or Kalawahine Trail or we may just lounge around like beached monk seals and enjoy the warm waters.

In Kuaui, we're planning to stop by the Kilohana Plantation on our way up to Wailua Falls and then we're planning on heading to the Kamokila Hawaiian Village so that we can kayak/hike to the Secret Falls and the ILs can take a guided (no paddling required) outrigger canoe ride to the Fern Grotto. ON the way back down, we'll likely stop at Lydgate Beach State Park for its awesome kid-friendly snorkeling and Kamalani Playground. Then, we may head to the southside of the island to hike/drive some of the Koloa Heritage Trail to see Spouting Horn, Poipu Beach, and the Pa'a Dunes.

We've got several "contingency" plans depending on what we feel most like doing each day and having a car (for about $50-80/day) in each place gives us that flexibility.

Hope this is a helpful take on "going it alone"

Steph