~~~ May 16, 2009 ~~~ Western Magic ~~~

[lillygator]

no changes to future cruises at this point.

 

[Hudson5&Lennon3]

no changes to future cruises at this point.

They probably won't tell us anything until 3 days before cruising, just like the May 2nd sailing. Lots could happen in the next two weeks...good or bad.

 

[lucyddr]

Here's my gripe... IF we end up in Nassau, we will really be on a 7 day Bahamian cruise. Key West, CC, and Nassau are all Bahamian areas...not Caribbean! The islands are different and the water is much prettier as you head farther south and west. I'll have to deal with it, but I am frustrated that a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise may not even spend 48 hours in the Caribbean!

Sorry....just had to vent! Hopefully, we'll get a better deal. Otherwise, I can't see cruising a line that so obviously took the cheapest route possible in a bad situation! (They'll save tons of crude oil on this decision...)

 

[tigger2002]

I'm not sure where else they could go. St. Croix is over 900 miles from Castaway Cay. Other places are even further. I don't think they can get to them in just one day, i.e. spending another day at sea.

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[lillygator]

well wo go around cuba to get to gc and then we'd have to go back around or else go to jamaica and squeeze b/w cuba and haiti to get to cc

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I'm not sure where else they could go. St. Croix is over 900 miles from Castaway Cay. Other places are even further. I don't think they can get to them in just one day, i.e. spending another day at sea.

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Maybe they could change the schedule around to give them time to get somewhere else (while still doing the other ports) though I suppose that would upset people who have booked their own tours. I am OK if we go there as I haven't been, But really need to know so I can start researching what to do!

 

[lucyddr]

I'm not sure where else they could go. St. Croix is over 900 miles from Castaway Cay. Other places are even further. I don't think they can get to them in just one day, i.e. spending another day at sea.

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The only alternatives I can see (besides Nassau) would be Jamaica or Turks and Caicos, both of which would be cool in my opinion. Both aren't too far away and could easily be accomodated with the current "route." I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I LOVE the Caribbean waters and really regret the fact that we will likely not be getting much time in them... Oh well...

 

[texfinn]

I am ok with wherever we go. At this point, just ready to be on vacation!

I am looking into excursions in Nassau just in case. We have been once before but I was pregnant and only visited the market a bit. Yoni went diving and thought it was fabulous. This time, we will find a beach somewhere and do the same thing we were going to do in Cozumel. It probably won't be as cheap or all inclusive but I think we can make the most of it.

I would love to go somewhere new but am not going to get upset either way. I just hope they decide sooner than 2 weeks from now.....

 

[SpeedFigure]

The only alternatives I can see (besides Nassau) would be Jamaica or Turks and Caicos, both of which would be cool in my opinion. Both aren't too far away and could easily be accomodated with the current "route." I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I LOVE the Caribbean waters and really regret the fact that we will likely not be getting much time in them... Oh well...

Ohhhhh I'd go for Turks & Caicos!!!
I agree with you Cinda, NOTHING is like Caribbean water. I LOVE the water at Cozumel, I could just stand on the port dock and look at it all day.
The only thing that concerns us is that we are supposed to Scuba in Cozumel. I saw someone post on the May 2nd boards all the activitys Disney offers on Nassau and saw that they do have Scuba there.
I just hope it's not a mad dash for activitys and things get worked out.

Unless they raise the Level to 5 soon, we won't know much until the week before/week of.
No Worries Sonya, we'll email Tony and let you guys know!

 

[Tink113]

I've never been to Nassau so that could be cool too. On the upside, Atlantis has a BIG Casio & I'm sure my dad & brother will head there. That would please them both, as their first question about the cruise was "Is there a casino"!

 

[SpeedFigure]

Here are excursions someone posted that Disney has done at Nassau:

Discover Atlantis (2-5 hours, all ages) Tour Atlantis resort which is a fantastic re-make of the legendary lost city$39 adults, $26 3-9

Atlantis Beach Day-All ages, all day-Basically hang out at Atlantis resort all day at their beach and all parts of the resort. $65 adults $47 9 and under

Sunshine Glass Bottom Boat-1.5-2hours-All ages $25 adults 3-9 $17

Catamaran Sail and Reef Snorkeling 3.5-4hours ages 5 and up adults $45 5-9 $31

Caribbean Queen Snorkel Tour- 2-3 hours 6 and up adults $37 6-9 $27

Nassau Dolphin Observer-4-4.5 hours all ages- Please note OBSERVE only all ages $35

NASSAU DOLPHIN ENCOUNTER- 4-4.5 hours ages 10 and above-$99
ages 3-9 $84 You can purchase photos and videos!!

Nassau City Tour-2hours all ages adults $23 3-9 $18

Scuba Dive Adventure at Stuart Cove 4.5-5 hours ages 12 and up- MUST be certified in SCUBA 12 and up $99

Atlantis Aquaadventure-5-8 hours all ages- 25 min. bus ride to a 63 acre water park at the Atlantis resort. Guided tour of underwater aquarium then waterslides, river rapids, pools and more. Adults $155(ages 10 and up) Children 5-9 $105 and kids under 3 are free. The book states even though it's pricey, it's well worth it.

Atlantis Dolphin Cay and Aquaventure-Adults $285 kids $245-

Blackbeards Cay Stingray and Beach Adventure-swim with rays, boat ride, beach time with box lunch-Adults $47 and kids 3-9 $35

Ardastra Gardens and City Tour- $38 adults $29 3-9

 

[lucky1]

I am ok with wherever we go. At this point, just ready to be on vacation!

I am looking into excursions in Nassau just in case. We have been once before but I was pregnant and only visited the market a bit. Yoni went diving and thought it was fabulous. This time, we will find a beach somewhere and do the same thing we were going to do in Cozumel. It probably won't be as cheap or all inclusive but I think we can make the most of it.

I would love to go somewhere new but am not going to get upset either way. I just hope they decide sooner than 2 weeks from now.....

What a great attitude and that is how I feel. I am also just happy to be on vacation. I am not sure why, but I was pretty excited about being in Key West more than any other port. (Okay I am weird).

We too had been to Nassau before, but with a BIL/SIL who didn't really plan anything and we just wondered around the big expensive hotel (can't remember the name). So we didn't get a chance much of Nassau in our stop there.

 

[40-Something Kid]

Western Caribbean Itinerary Update


Disney Cruise Line has modified the May 2, 2009 Western Caribbean voyage of the Disney Magic to include a stop in Nassau, The Bahamas, instead of Cozumel, Mexico. Our itinerary will be as follows:

Saturday - Depart Port Canaveral
Sunday - Key West, Florida
Monday - Day At Sea
Tuesday - Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (tender ashore)
Wednesday - Day at Sea
Thursday - Nassau, The Bahamas
Friday - Disney's Castaway Cay, The Bahamas
Saturday - Arrive Port Canaveral

Given the situation, and the fact that the Atlantis Hotel is in Nassau, I think this could be a trade up from Cozumel. So, thumbs up, I think(?)

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Great bargain on the dress Mati, by the way!!

 

[lucky1]

We didn't get passports. That would have been an extra $400. I know I need to get them eventually, but I don't need it now and didn't want to spend the extra money.

For US citizens passports aren't required until June 1st, and DCL is telling people they need them for any sailing after May 29th. According to the new rules there is also a special cruise "closed loop" rule, which means that if you start and end in the same port (which we do) you shouldn't need a passport even after June 1st (although the port we go into may require it). I read somewhere recently that as of now DCL does not have information on that on their website, and they also have not instructed their cast members about this "closed loop" rule.

http://travel.state.gov/passport_cal/passport_travel_requirements.php

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/closed_loop_faq.xml

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/passportGuidelines.do

When I called the passport office Monday to see what is going on with DD passport, He assured me that we DON'T need passports for this trip, but it is good to have.

Everyone has been telling us it should be find on having BC and picture ids for this trip since you are completing it before 6/1/2009. So as you said, you should be fine.

 

[texfinn]

They have a dolphin excursion in Nassau that I think Kai could participate in. I also read about buying a day pass to the Sheraton on the beach so that might be an option and then of course there is Atlantis.

There is no telling if we will end up there but figured I want to be ready. Two weeks from now will be my LAST day of work before we leave so can't imagine not having some kind of plan in place before then just in case.

Sonya -- we will leave you messages -- don't worry.

 

[texfinn]

Oh -- and almost forgot -- Kai has allergies! He is back at the daycare and I will be giving him Claritin for kids to help the poor guy out...

 

[tsarina13]

Carissa and I have allergies, too. With the whole swine flu thing I'm worried that anyone with any cold/allergy symptoms would be denied boarding.

 

[dznyacct]

Hey everyone ! Antsy person that I am, I just called DCL about the change in the 5/2 itinerary, asking about ours (the REALLY important one ). They said that they are monitoring the situation daily and a change to our itinerary could be be very last minute. Also, one important thing to share. I asked if Palo Brunch reservations on our scheduled sea day (i.e. Thursday) would be changed to the new sea day (Wednesday) if there was a change. The CM I spoke to said that yes, that would happen automatically. Just thought I would pass on what I found out ! ~ Kathy

 

[1littlespark]

lucyddr

I can't say that I've been through anything like that, but one of my good friends recently had that done and she's had a really tough time. She said it was quite painful and took a long time to return to normal...

Wow, that stinks for your friend. In a way I guess it's good to hear I'm not the only one who's had a lot of trouble after. Until now I haven't heard of anyone else. I had a cavity once in like 8th grade. It was tiny and I hadn't felt it, and that was the only dental work I'd ever had until now, besides cleanings, etc. I can now report that it sucks as much as I suspected.

Mati - I'm sorry your little one is feeling under the weather. It's good that we still have time before the cruise & I hope he will feel better quickly.

I was a little disappointed to see the change to Nassau in a way when I looked it up on a cruise news site earlier. I went to Nassau on a 3 day cruise with family (my 1st) back in 2001 and when we got to the town part, and then again to paradise island (just a pit in the sand sorta) my reaction was pretty much "THIS?? THIS IS THE PLACE EVERYBODY GOES ON ABOUT???!!!" lol That being said, I guess I did have a good time and I would go back. Nassau had occurred to me as an alternative port the other day. I mostly don't care where we go, I just love to cruise and it's been so long. Yes, I had been looking forward to being in the really turquoisey water, since I only shopped briefly last time in Cozumel. Since this whole mess started, I've been SO hoping for a 2nd CC day. I wish they'd do it for ours if things are still up in the air by then. I figure a day at CC probably cost them more money, though, so I guess that would lessen the chance.

Didn't the straw market burn down years ago or something? Did they rebuild it?