8) 10 nights on a great ship ( I've heard ). Anyone else on board ? This will be my longest cruise so far. I've done two 9 nighters. All ports I've never been to before. St. Thomas, St. Martin, San Juan, and Aruba. Yeh, Aruba. I can't wait. 8)
Hello cruiserdad. We are also on this cruise..... it is technically our second, but since our first was over 10 years ago and wasn't the best experience, we are considering this our first.
I think you may have answered my motion/rough seas question I posted on another forum?
It would be great to get more people who are on this cruise talking.
We are from Southern Maine. We will be celebrating me turning 46 while on the cruise, and our 5 year wedding anniversary which is the end of July.
8) Hey, sabba. I was starting to think I had the whole ship to myself. This will be our 5th cruise. We've had a few bad moments, but never a bad cruise. Hope this one is great for you. I booked this over a year ahead, so it seems like forever but it's getting closer now. Do you have people going with you? We've got nephew and neice & 2 teen daughters so far.
We booked it well over a year ago, too. It has been a long time to wait, but definitely worth the savings.
It is just my hubby and I. I took a part time job last summer specifically to fund a vacation. Unfortunately, none of our family or friends were able to join us. But sometimes that is not a bad thing..... no waiting around for people, or playing the "I don't know what do you want to do?" game.
I also read cruise critic, and there is quite a large group for this cruise over there. Most of them have been on the Jewel.... some even this same repositioning cruise..... several times.
I keep hearing really good things about the Jewel..... I can hardly wait. She will be in Portland Maine a week or so before our cruise. Since it is only 20 minutes away, we may just go up to get a peak at her at the dock.
If this one goes well, we may try to take our girls on one, too. (15 & 19) So far, we've only done the Disney thing.
I've been reading cruise critic also. They seem to have a great time but to much drinking for me. I'm kind of a lightweight in that dept. I've gone to Castle Island and watched Jewel leaving Boston Harbor. Quite a sight.
I hear you about the cruise critic roll call..... they definitely have a drink recipe for every occasion! A lot of the chatter tends to be personal, as they all seem to know each other, but every once in a while a real cruise question gets tossed in. I just skim it every few days or so.
Doesn't look like we are drumming up much activity here. There HAS to be others who are on this cruise. Maybe if we just keep chatting back and forth it will keep the topic bumped up to the top and sooner or later someone else will join us!
With RCCLs 1 day WOW sale next week we may hear from some more people. That's when I booked this cruise last Oct. It was cheap and the $200 obc didn't hurt. 8)
Yes, we booked during the 1 day WOW deal, too. It will be nice to have that extra $200.
Have you thought about shore excursions yet? I know, I know, it is still early, but it is just the excited planner in me. All of the research, etc. helps to pass the time and add to the excitement while I wait for the cruise to get here.
I heard the shore excursions won't be listed on the RCI website until July.
I had planned to wait to see what RCI offered, and then research the options. Now I may just have to do some general research and then compare to the RCI offerings later.
We've never been to any of these ports, so we really have no idea what to expect.
Between us ,you guys and the gang on cruise critic, the ship's going to be empty. It's still 5 mos. away so there's plenty of time.
Niece and nephew are in our custody and we'll probably be adopting them, so I guess we'll be taking them everywhere. 8)
Was on vacation last week and it was so beautiful that I didn't spend much time in the house on the computer. Usually in Maine, we skip spring and summer doesn't start until August 1 !
But this year, the spring has been absolutely gorgeous and I've been trying to be outside as much as possible.
Sure hope the fact that there was already one named tropical storm doesn't mean our cruise be affected. They keep saying it will be an active season......
8) Wow, summer really kicked in today. If there are storms in the area we'll get new ports to stop in. I'm not picky. Looks like no daughter, just me, wife, niece, and nephew. Know any good babysitters in the caribbean
Babysitters in the Caribbean??? hmmmm...... no can't say that I do.
My hubby and I actually had a depressing conversation over the weekend, and we are toying with the idea of canceling our cruise.....
I took on a summer job in 2007 specifically for a trip because there never seems to be enough left over to travel. Now with gas/oil prices and the trickle down effect of higher food prices, etc, we are starting to wonder if the money we set aside for vacation might need to be kept for an emergency heating fund.
Top it off with the fact my husband works construction. He's been with the company about 25 years and right now commercial is still building strong, but being laid off is one of those things we live with. I am good at budgeting/planning, and I keep a little tucked away to get through for a short time without his pay, but with rise in prices, that emergency fund won't go nearly as far as it would have in the past.
We haven't called it off yet, we are trying to figure out other options for savings between now and then. We might decide to wait to see what the winter brings, and if we don't have to touch the money, do something next year.
We got a great deal on the reposition cruise, but it is still a lot of money to spend on a week, when you could heat your house for the winter with it.
Maybe I should apply for your babysitting job.....
That's to bad about cancelling, hopefully you won't have to, but real life comes 1st.
I know what you mean about gas prices, I'm a mechanic at a Mobil station and our gas is up to $ 4.07. Scary
Wow, It's been 3 weeks since last post and our gas is still $ 4.07 Maybe it will start going down. lol
Carrie, any more on your cancellation?
Happy 4th of the July.
Hope you had a good July 4th. We finally spent some time at the beach. It was great.
We've been looking at alternative vacation ideas thinking we could do something nice for less money, but because we got this cruise so early, it is so hard to beat the price. And living within driving distance of Boston, we only have to buy one way air fare so that helps...... plus I forgot about the $200 on board credit we got when we booked. So that will help.
My hubby really wants to take a vacation for our 5 year anniversary, so we may just go on the cruise and let what happens this winter happen.
We may have to be a little bit more frugal, but we are used to that.
Still a few more options to look into..... we have until August 19 to make our decision...... but hopefully we'll decide before then.
Hope some others will join in on this thread. Would be great to get to know some others before the cruise.
Sure wish some of those other 901 people who've looked at this thread would join in! Be great to get to know a few more people before the cruise!
My hubby and I made the decision to just go on the cruise and let what happens happen. Life is just too short. Since this is a 5 year anniversary, my hubby said he didn't want to cancel our vacation. After looking at other vacation options, this cruise came out the best for the length of time, convenience, etc. Sure we could save a little bit on an all inclusive, but you really loose the two travel days, so the 7 day vacation turns into a 5 day at best. For a little bit more, we'll get another 5 days! We'll just try to be a little bit more frugal on those little extras that add up.
So I'm back to planning...... need to get our passports next. Been watching airfare.....there's an Airtran flight from MIA to Portland Maine that leaves at 12:12 on 11/7. Everyone says that we should be all set, but I've recently learned there will be 4 other ships in port on 11/7 and I hope that won't slow things down too much. Other option would be to drive to FLL. I did get a great deal on a one way rental car, so FLL is still an option. I really like the flexibility of Southwest refund policy and the fact they are not charging for luggage. But trying to decide if it is worth having someone travel the 3 hour or so roundtrip to come get us.
Final payment is due for us on Aug 19. Then it will REALLY be real! No more wiggle room to cancel once that final payment is made.
Hope your planning is going well and you are enjoying your summer.
did those documents give you any idea on excursions? The RCCL sites keeps saying they aren't available yet.
I'd love to take a nonstop 12:10 out of FLL on SW, but my TA said that RC would not allow me to book a transfer that early out of FLL. She said it is too early, but I've heard it is do-able.
There is a MIA to PWM with a stop in Baltimore for about $150 more than the SW flight. It would be more convenient, and by the time we add up the costs for trans to FLL, trans home from MHT, etc. the difference isn't much. And in may ways, it could just be less stressful to pay a bit more and fly from MIA.
The shore excursions are finally out. Not sure if we want to try any or not.
8) Hi, Carrie. We have booked our air, but we're staying in fll till Sunday. Just going to hang out a couple of days and unwind. Where did you see the shore excursions? I'd like to take a look. 80 days left. Anyone coming? Glad to see you're still going, Carrie. 8)
Hey cruiserdad...... just thought I'd check in to see if we can get anyone else to join us in talking about this cruise now that it is getting closer and closer.
were you able to get the excursions? We haven't booked any yet. Kind of thinking we want to wing it....... maybe just find beaches to relax on or do some walking around each port. May just take our chances and book on board if we change our mind.
Anyone out there planning to bring some kind of costume for Halloween?
8) Hey, Carrie. Thanks, I found the excursions. I think we're doing the same thing, just winging it. Maybe a couple of beach days.
I saw on the rc site that fares that were as high as 2,000 are now done to 1500. I guess they got some cancellations before final pymt.
8) Hey, Carrie. 31 more days and we got our docs in the mail the other day. Are you still in? This isn't the best roll call in the world, is it?
That's OK I'm going to have the cruise of my life, anyway.
I've been away for a while...... unfortunately, my mom lost her 10 year battle with ovarian cancer last week. She was only 63. It was kind of unexpected. We all thought we'd get to a point where the docs said there was nothing more they could do, and then we'd have some time in between, but it didn't happen that way. We brought her into the hospital on 9/14 and she passed on 9/18. At least for her there was not an extended period of suffering. She'd already suffered enough over the past 10 years.
I'm glad I already had this cruise paid for and that we have no choice but to go. My hubby and I really need this after the summer we've had, and I feel less quilty going knowing that there really is no choice. The pre-cruise packing & planning won't be as festive as it may have been, but I feel we'll return more refreshed and stronger to help my sisters help my dad with the adjustment of being alone.
I like how they've changed the format of this forum. Maybe we'll get a few more people to join in. Did you sign up for the meet and mingle? If not, we'll have to figure out a way to catch up with each other on the cruise. It would be great to meet you face to face if we can.
Carrie, so sorry to hear about your mom. I lost my mom about a year a half ago, also unexpectedly. It's quite a shock. My condolances.
I know the cruise won't be the same, but hopefully it will help you to get through the greiving process.
Yes, we should get together on board and all meet each other. I'll be the old guy trying to keep up with 3 yr. old nephew and 2 yr. old neice. Wish me luck. We'll come up with a meeting spot before we go. 8)
I think we still have the ship to ourselves.
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Jewel of the Seas 10/28/08 Repo Boston to Miami
I've been reading cruise critic also. They seem to have a great time but to much drinking for me. I'm kind of a lightweight in that dept. I've gone to Castle Island and watched Jewel leaving Boston Harbor. Quite a sight.
Daugher and her bf may be going to so we might have a babysitter for a day or two. 8) Then maybe we can do some snorkeling or something.
!
That's to bad about cancelling, hopefully you won't have to, but real life comes 1st. 
Wow, It's been 3 weeks since last post and our gas is still $ 4.07 Maybe it will start going down. lol 
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