[DrDolphin]

AKA - how do I add my Boyfriend to this trip?

Fast forward about a month – and I meet DH2B (at that point known as DBF) and a few months into our relationship, I mentioned this cruise, and he mentioned he might be interested in going…. OK – major challenge here… Will GRANDMA (DM) allow DN10 to stay in my cabin with DBF and me??? How will DS feel about that – how will DN10 feel about that? How will DBF feel about that?? So after some discussion, it was decided that DM and DF would upgrade from a cat 6 to a cat 4 – and they, plus DN10 and DN6 would share that (we had added him by this point).

A little while later, after transferring the ressie to TA (our own Belle*), I decided to surprise DBF with the Romance package while we were on board… A first for me. We had our dining reservation added to my parent’s group – so we were a table of 11 at the early seating (remember we have kiddos….). Months go by and we get closer to pay it off time – and booking of excursions, Palo, spa, etc – and the bad news starts.

My DU2’s company is threatening significant layoffs – and he is worrying about dishing out significant $$ for a cruise that they may need to live off of… so he decides to wait until the last moment to decide if he and DA2 will join us. Ends up that they won’t be. So now we have Nine folks. I should say that while we will be dining together and maybe seeing shows together – DH2B and I have separate excursions booked (with a couple of exceptions on CC).

Now you know the backstory of the cruise – we can get to the details – what are we doing – when?

The rest of the crew from NM, OR and IL will be flying into Orlando on Friday the 24th of July and taking a Quicksilver towncar/van to the port (at my recommendation – cheaper than Disney transport) and staying at the Cocoa Beach Hilton. The next morning, Chris and I will be driving down from JAX. He works until 11pm on Friday night, and I will have returned from two weeks in Alaska the prior Sunday – so we will need all week to get me back on the right time zone, and pack all our stuff for the cruise.

We plan to be on the road by 8am and pull into the DCL terminal bldg right about 1030 (it’s a 2 hr 25 min drive usually). That should let us be on the early boarding group. The traveling contingent will meet us at the terminal and I think we will board together, or at least close to each other.

Plans for the cruise –

Ship Itinerary –
July 25 – Sail Away
July 26 – Key West
July 27 – At Sea
July 28 – Grand Cayman
July 29 – Cozumel
July 30 – At Sea
July 31 – Castaway Cay
Aug 1 – Back to the House and start planning the 2 week trans-Atlantic honeymoon cruise!!

And our plans –

Key West – GPS Walking Tour
1st Day at Sea - Spa Appt
Grand Cayman – Stingray City Snorkeling & Palo Dinner
Cozumel – Zip Line, Snorkel combo
At Sea – Palo Brunch (all adults in the party) & Spa Appt (trying for a couple’s suite)
Castaway Cay – Parasailing, Bike riding (w/DN10) & Mr. Ray’s Stingray (with DN6 and DN10)

Well – that is it for now – the basic plans for our party of nine. I don’t know what DA, DN and DC are doing for excursions yet, and really don’t know what DM, DF and the DN and DN are doing either. I’ve sort of been in a planning void as far as they have been concerned.

I will come back with more details on the planning, packing and paying details – as well as a live “Floridian freezing in Alaska” trip report right before the cruise takes off!!!