A dream come true! Tales (tails?) from the Doodle Cruise.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

We started planning in July of 2011 and the Doodle Cruise was but a dream.  All the days of planning and waiting and finally it was here.  The chance to meet in person some of my DK IDOLS!  From the 1st moment it was truely like we were all old friends - because we really were old friends.  This past week was one I will never forget.  There were tons of laughs, some tears, dancing, way too much eating and drinking.  Doodle talk of course!!!  I am way to tired (and want to spend time with Rooney, Stuart and DH) to go into details - those will all come as people get home but I'll share a few photos with you all.  Oh and of course WE CAN'T TELL EVERYTHING - some things will have to stay on the ship.

Here is Dori and I at Sail Away - the weather is Miami was getting cloudy - great time to leave. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL....No, they just seem to love Fudge and Vern :) LOL

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Cutest couple ever!!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Just want to address a couple of things - 1st - Smoking is more tolerated on a Carnival Ship - confined to a few outside areas and in the Casino BUT the worst is that you can smoke on your balcony.  It can ruin your trip if you get neighbors who are out there at all times smoking.  We RAN through the Casino and I didn't have any problems any other places.  For our next Doodle Cruise we can move to a line such as Celebrity which has a smoke FREE Casino and NO smoking on the Balcony.  Celebity attracts a littler higher caliber clientel, might be a few $ more but not much.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT WORTH A FEW MORE DOLLARS?  Please respond.

2nd - Clark would prefer to have the next cruise in Jan/Feb of 2014 - This time frame might also add a few $ - Oct. is considered to be more "off" season.  But once again the price difference wouldn't be major - WOULD YOU BE MORE LIKELY TO CRUISE IF IT WERE SCHEDULED FOR JAN/FEB, taking into account that those coming from the north might have problems flying out?  Please respond.

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'll go anytime on any cruise line as long as I'm with DK friends!  I do think Carnival did a great job though, and I'd love to go back to the Caribbean for the beaches.  Thanks so much Jane for taking the lead again.  The last cruise wouldn't have happened without you.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I will go again no matter what, but I would be concerned about flying in winter because we do get snow.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I agree - I think we need to stick with the October time frame - better weather to travel and the ships are not as croweded. 

But if we want to cruise this coming October we have to kick the planning in GEAR now.  I've been working on some options and will try to get them out on the Cruise Group soon.

For those that might have interest in the next Doodle Cruise - PLEASE go to the Doodle Cruise Group and join - this way I won't have to clog up the front page with details.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I like October, too!

[Ann ~Oliver & Rosie]

I liked Oct. too far enough from the holidays, but before the snow here in New England.

The casino was the only place I was bothered by the smoke. It was not a problem in the cabins, especially if we have the rooms booked next to each other.

[sandy b]

Great idea Ann to book next to each other.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

This is why we need to get busy on the next one - to snag the cabins together!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Jane, is the spring any better for people? You'd avoid the worry about snow and hurricanes.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I've heard that's the busiest and most expensive time to cruise.  The flights are also more expensive.  We flew to FL in April and paid three times what we paid last week.