A Christmas Ship Comes Sailing In (A Cam and Luke TR) Completed 2/16 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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A Christmas Ship Comes Sailing In (A Cam and Luke TR) Completed 2/16
I had hoped to begin this as a PTR right after we got back from our October WDW trip, but a couple of weeks with kidney stones put a halt to that. We live in exactly three days, so I’ll just start this trip report with some aspects of the planning. I will also be posting this in both Sharing the Adventure: WDW Trip Reports and Sharing the Adventure: Disney Cruise Report at the start. When the actual report begins, I separate into the two sections with links.
I’ll start with how this trip even came to be. One afternoon back in late July, Luke received an e-mail from DVC announcing two member deals. One was for an Aulani trip with 7 nights for the price of 5. The other was for cruises on the Magic during November and December at 30% off. Luke had some time to think about both offers as I was napping snuggly on the couch. When I awoke, he immediately started telling me about both deal. I don’t wake up quickly, so my poor brain couldn’t get a handle on what he was saying. When I finished, I asked, “Are we going on a cruise?”
We actually thought about it for a couple of days, considering the cost and which of the cruises we could work into our schedule. Luke had initially thought we could move our WDW October trip to begin a few days later and then cruise out on November 2. But I reminded him that not only did we already have ADRs and FP+, but we had already purchased and received our MNSSHP tickets. It was took expensive to add 5 more days , so that was out. The other November dates were too near family Thanksgiving times, so those were out, too. The last possible sailing date was December 7. We liked the cruise itinerary in the Western Caribbean, and in the end chose a few days later to book the 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise on the Magic. We bantered back and forth about whether to get a stateroom with a verandah or not. We finally decided that we had enjoyed the verandah on our 4-night cruise back in 2006, so since we’d be on board for 7 nights, we figured we’d enjoy it even more. So we are in a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with a Verandah, room #6080. We’re not too far from the elevators or the laundry.
Speaking of the itinerary, here it is.
Sunday, December 7 – Depart from Port Canaveral
Monday, December 8 – Key West (somewhere I’ve wanted to go)
Tuesday, December 9 – At Sea Day
Wednesday, December 10 – Grand Cayman
Thursday, December 11 – Cozumel, Mexico
Friday, December 12 – At Sea Day
Saturday, December 13 – Castaway Cay
Sunday, December 14 – Return to Port Canaveral
It wasn’t until later that I realized that we would be aboard a Very Merry Time cruise with all the Christmas decorations and special events. The cruise just got more exciting. Castaway Cay will be festively decked out. A Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party, Tree Lighting Ceremony, Santa meet and greet, some Disney characters will be dressed in holiday attire for meet and greets, holiday storytelling, a life-size gingerbread house, and even special holiday merchandise.
On September 8, we could book Port Adventures. We had both been poring over these for the past month and a half. Our final choices were:
Key West – our own tour of the city with a slice of Key Lime pie somewhere.
Grand Cayman – Nautilus Undersea Tour
Cozumel – Mexican Cuisine Workshop and Tasting (I had suggest the Salsa and Salsa adventure because we both love salsa and would learn to make a few varieties, but Luke did not want to learn to dance the Salsa. )
Castaway Cay – no Port Adventures; just lots of time on the beach.
We also needed to decide when and how to head down to Florida. This trip was totally unexpected, which caught us a little unprepared with funds. So for the how, we’ve decided to drive down for the first time ever. I’m actually looking forward to it. Originally, we thought we’d stay at a hotel near the port, but the more we thought about being that close to WDW and all the Christmas stuff, our minds began to change. Sometime in August, Luke was able to book one night at OKW for one night in a one bedroom as it was the only thing available. He did waitlist us for two nights in a studio at OKW in hopes of getting us more time in the parks. Just a few days before our October WDW trip, I got an e-mail letting us know that the waitlist had come through. We’ll be staying at OKW in a studio on Friday, December 5 and 6. At this point we knew we’d have one full day in a park(s) and maybe an evening on the 5th. Luke later decided that with my arthritis it might be best to make the trip in two days instead of one. So we will actually be leaving her around noon on December 4, right after my manicure appointment. We have a room booked at a Best Western in Macon, Georgia, right off I-75. We hope to leave early, no later than 8:00, on December 5th so we can have part of an afternoon and evening at Epcot.
Once we knew we’d have time for parks, we set up FP+ selections for both days. We have FP+ the afternoon/evening of the 5th for Mission Space, Test Track, and Spaceship Earth. The main goal is to see Illuminations with the holiday tag. On the 6th, we’ll be park hopping. We’ll start at MK with FP+ selections for Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, and BTMMR. In addition to these, we’d like to do Jingle Cruise, Peter Pan, and SDMT (we won’t be upset if any of these three don’t work out). We have a lunch ADR at Sanaa for 2:45 PM. We’ll also check out the Christmas decorations at AKL both Kidani Village and Jambo House. The rest of the day will be spent at DHS. If we can make some FP+ selections once we reach the park we will, but the main goal is the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
Sunday morning plans are still not totally finalized, but the plan is to leave WDW no later than 11:00 AM since our boarding time is 1:00 PM. This is one planning aspect that I let slip up on me. I didn’t do On-line Check-in until last night so we could not get an earlier boarding time. Since we know we have a little time, we’re trying to decide if we’d like a few hours in park or rather have a nice sit down breakfast.
A cruise doesn’t seem to take as much planning as a WDW vacation, or at least this one hasn’t. I purchased pirate costumes back in early October that we used for MNSSHP. I have purchased two little black dresses for formal and semi-formal nights plus a cute, yet comfortable, pair of black dress shoes. Today I pulled out clothes for each day and ironed what needed it. Hopefully, I’ll begin to get these things loaded into the suitcase. We still need to buy Luke a jacket and tie as he owns neither. We’re not fancy folks for the most part, so he doesn’t often have need of these.
Yay a cruise - very exciting! We did this itinerary last year on the Fantasy and had a really great time! I know you and Luke will too. How wonderful that you will have 2 extra days at WDW and the ship will be all decorated for Christmas. Looking forward to reading all about it.
Yay a cruise - very exciting! We did this itinerary last year on the Fantasy and had a really great time! I know you and Luke will too. How wonderful that you will have 2 extra days at WDW and the ship will be all decorated for Christmas. Looking forward to reading all about it.
We're very excited about all the Christmas stuff at both WDW and the cruise.
So glad you've started this! The itinerary sounds great, and I love that you'll be having a couple of days at the parks again. Driving down is perfect as you were able to be flexible with the wait-list. I agree with you that planning is much easier for a cruise than the parks. Isn't retirement wonderful?
So glad you've started this! The itinerary sounds great, and I love that you'll be having a couple of days at the parks again. Driving down is perfect as you were able to be flexible with the wait-list. I agree with you that planning is much easier for a cruise than the parks. Isn't retirement wonderful?
If driving works well this time, we may drive down in May and save our SWA points toward our flights to Disneyland in October. I was just thinking the other day about how retirement has allowed us to take three vacations this year. Something told unheard of for us.
You don't know how happy I am that you got this sorta PTR started! This is the same cruise and itinerary for me, just after Easter next year and will be my first ever cruise! I'm looking so forward to it and just can't wait as the days count down to about 4 1/2 months now!
Even though. there is just three days until your cruise, I'm looking forward to your planning as this will most certainly help me out immensely on my first ever cruise (better yet being Disney. Why would I go elsewhere? )....as I know how great of a planner you are from all of your TRs! Your excursion choices seem great and I have some interest in what you have chosen. Not willing to share these details yet, as I will be doing a TR on my trip!
Look forward to everything you have to share with us here in planning and your cruise experience
Hoping you and Luke have an unbelievable voyage and uneventful trip!
The two of you have seemed to make a nice transition into retirement!
It's fine to retire from work, but NEVER retire from life!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Last edited by SuperDave; 12-01-2014 at 11:12 PM..
You KNOW I'm signing in for this one! Have a great time! Looking forward to hearing all about it! Safe travels!
BTW - we used to stop at the Hilton Garden Inn in Macon off I75. Great stop point. But this past year we did go all the way to Valdosta. It made the second day drive a breeze. But with your arthritis, I wouldn't recommend it. It was a lot of driving/sitting.
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We’ll also check out the Christmas decorations at AKL both Kidani Village and Jambo House. The rest of the day will be spent at DHS. If we can make some FP+ selections once we reach the park we will, but the main goal is the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. 
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Pixie Dust
Looking forward to reading all about it. 
I feel that my planning for the cruise has been a mite bit haphazard.
DLinNH
This is the same cruise and itinerary for me, just after Easter next year and will be my first ever cruise! 
)....as I know how great of a planner you are from all of your TRs! 
Your excursion choices seem great and I have some interest in what you have chosen. Not willing to share these details yet, as I will be doing a TR on my trip! 
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