Sept 29th to Oct 6th Eastern Carribbean Q & A

[jajomo0118]

Ok i really have a hard time getting down my memories in to "days" so I decided to interview my self...lol ... i'll add pictures also...Hope you enjoy:)

First thought/reactions to the "MAGIC"?
Tears of joy and a few slaps on DH's shoulder with many "OMG...Do you see it..."

Favorite place on ship?
I love to people watch and when it was to hot for my fair skin and freckles I loved to sit in the lobby and in enjoy the large portholes and all the people.

First DISboarder who I meet?
JDBlair..aka..Jac, who I promptly attacked with a hug..:hug:

Disboarder you wish you got to spend more time with?
All of you...:grouphug: but getting to spend time with Irene(Ibela), Jac and
their familys was great.

Best CM?
:thumbsup2 Alexander...Hands down...he made us all feel as like we were one big family, the boys still talk about him....:goodvibes

Most "magical moment"?
About the 3rd day, when I realized that this was "freakin awesome", then asked DH if we can quit work and sail the "magic" forever.!! His fast reply was a "yes, of course"...:love: ...gotta love a man that dreams big

Most pre-trip hyped event or activity?
Pirate party, maybe the fact that the boys fell asleep on lounge chairs curbed my excitiment...:confused3

Restaurant you wish would be come a "Chain"?
With out a doubt, Animators, Could you imagine having a little bit of
"disney" all over the country for special occiasions and family nights out.

DIS recommend Item you didn't miss, need, or take?
The over the door shoe hanger, I'm the only girl in the group so the junk is all mine, also the travel nightlight/alarm clock......cell phone worked just as good.

DIS recommended item I wish I would have taken?
Air freshener...lol...like I said I was the only girl in a inside cabin..no futher explanation needed...:rolleyes1

Dinner ressies to link or not to link?
YES!!! some of my most special moments of the trip was getting to met Irene, Jac and their familys. By mid-week we were laughing and joking like old friends and by the end of the week it was like saying goodbye to family..:wizard:

St Marteen or St Thomas?
St Thomas for us. We loved the locals our tour guide was wonderful, he was a local police officer who did tours on the side. He was well informed and funny. He made us feel safe and secure. Answered all of our questions and took us to some of the mose beautiful views we have ever seen. On the other hand we felt annoyed and unwelcomed in St Marteen, maybe its because we only explored the beach area right off the water taxi dock. Next time we will get a tour to see the island better and maybe our view will change.

Castaway Cay?
One word "PERFECT".

Will you book again?
OMG...Yes,yes and did I say yes. It was more wondrful than I hoped. It was fun and exciting with enough time to relax. We have become addicted and I am bring family along next time to see what all my yammering on about has been about. :yay: :yay:

[JDBlair]

:chat: :thumbsup2
I just wrote about Pirate night and your boys sleeping on the lounge chair!! :rotfl2:

But here is a picture of your Gangsters!!
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/JDBlair/DSCF1835.jpg

[jajomo0118]

THX's...:flower3: ..love the little bit of chocolate on Jays face..:)

[JDBlair]

And here are your angels!!!
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/JDBlair/DSC01416.jpg

[JDBlair]

THX's...:flower3: ..love the little bit of chocolate on Jays face..:)

I have more pictures of your family but I think your DH will beat me if I post the one I have that I think is super cute! (He's holding a Mickey bar!) And I have one of him at breakfast and he's wearing the Goofy hat Alexander made him!

[jajomo0118]

Thats so funny..I'll have to post your DH at the beer tasting he was reading the "Beer Prayer" We were quite loud and they picked him because of it...lol

[JDBlair]

Thats so funny..I'll have to post your DH at the beer tasting he was reading the "Beer Prayer" We were quite loud and they picked him because of it...lol

:rotfl2: Do we really want to start posting pictures to see what bad ones we have of each other? I took 1300 pictures! :hug:

[jajomo0118]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0558.jpg

[jajomo0118]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0779.jpg

[jajomo0118]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0641.jpg

[jajomo0118]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0686.jpg

[ibela]

I have more pictures of your family but I think your DH will beat me if I post the one I have that I think is super cute! (He's holding a Mickey bar!) And I have one of him at breakfast and he's wearing the Goofy hat Alexander made him!

OK, totally going to rush home tonight and see your pics!! I was also really glad we linked up! :goodvibes

Btw, the pictures of everyone in their napkin hats made my photobook. I will not be so bold as to post BUT I will pass it around to all my friends and family! :rotfl2:

[gossipgirl]

OK, totally going to rush home tonight and see your pics!! I was also really glad we linked up! :goodvibes

Btw, the pictures of everyone in their napkin hats made my photobook. I will not be so bold as to post BUT I will pass it around to all my friends and family! :rotfl2:
I hate to be rude but did you happen to take any pictures of twice charmed.

[Princess Tink]

Great pics Christa. I have to ask......where d'ya get them Pirate shirts for your boys? My DS9 (turning 10) would love that shirt for Pirate night.

[jajomo0118]

JC Penny...they were only 7.00, and I thought it was a nice contrast from the black ones DH and I had on..:)

[jajomo0118]

I hate to be rude but did you happen to take any pictures of twice charmed.

Yes but they came out super blurry...sorry...check out JD Blairs TR she has some really good pictures including Twice Charmed

[Princess Tink]

JC Penny...they were only 7.00, and I thought it was a nice contrast from the black ones DH and I had on..:)

thanks Christa, I'll have to check them out.

[JDBlair]

I hate to be rude but did you happen to take any pictures of twice charmed.

Is there a specific pic from Twice Charmed you're looking for? I notice you're asking a lot for pictures of Twice Charmed.

[JLSE50]

Thanks for sharing your observations and photos! Great way to share--an interview! I bet that is a first.
Jan :earsgirl:

[ibouncetoo]

Christa, loved your 'interview' format! Let's see more pictures. :thumbsup2

[jajomo0118]

Thanks for sharing your observations and photos! Great way to share--an interview! I bet that is a first.
Jan :earsgirl:

Christa, loved your 'interview' format! Let's see more pictures. :thumbsup2

:grouphug: ..Thanks all and I'll be sure to get a few more pictures on here for you...maybe the ones from the character breakfast....what do ya say Irene and Jac.....:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[JDBlair]

:grouphug: ..Thanks all and I'll be sure to get a few more pictures on here for you...maybe the ones from the character breakfast....what do ya say Irene and Jac.....:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I'll show you yours if you show me mine! :rolleyes1 And then to top it off, I'll show my Christa Gangster on Pirate Night! pirate: :scared:

[jajomo0118]

:thumbsup2 ....ok heres the deal no bad pics of me, you or Irene but DH's are fair game....lol....What they don't know..then they just don't know!...:rotfl2:
Isn't he cute....LMAO

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0578.jpg

[jajomo0118]

The only smile we got from them in St. Maarten....:confused3

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0622.jpg


My Fella'a and Me in DIS green (or as close as we could find..lol)..:thumbsup2

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0535.jpg

[jajomo0118]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0697.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0627.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0621.jpg

[JDBlair]

:thumbsup2 ....ok heres the deal no bad pics of me, you or Irene but DH's are fair game....lol....What they don't know..then they just don't know!...:rotfl2:
Isn't he cute....LMAO

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0578.jpg

I have a picture of your DH with his towel hat on and Alexander making his escape!

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/JDBlair/DSC00622.jpg

[JDBlair]

The only smile we got from them in St. Maarten....:confused3

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0622.jpg


Did you take this picture before you got back on the ship? Because I took this before we got back on the ship and it is about the only time I got them to smile in St. Maarten. :mad:

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/JDBlair/DSC00797.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/JDBlair/DSCF1783.jpg

[JDBlair]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0697.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0627.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0621.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/JDBlair/DSC00787.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/JDBlair/DSC01314.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/JDBlair/DSCF1849.jpg

[jajomo0118]

:) ..Thanks for adding you pics, Jac...DH was so happy to see himself.
I took the picture of the boys right when we got off. They really did not enjoy St. Maarten, so much that they stayed on board while we went ashore in St. Thomas. :confused3

[SweetSpot]

We had the same reaction to St. Maarten. When we got off the ship we felt as if we were being constantly assaulted by people selling things or wanting to braid hair. The next 2 times we went there we didn't even bother getting off the ship. That turned out to be a mistake because giving it another go and getting away from the port and going to Orient Beach last year was amazing. It really is a nice island but you need to get away from the port to enjoy it.

Did Alexander tell you he is a former KGB agent. He told us wonderful stories and found it hard to believe anyone so sweet and gentle could have been associated with the KGB. He is one of my favorite CMs of all time.

[JDBlair]

:) ..Thanks for adding you pics, Jac...DH was so happy to see himself.
I took the picture of the boys right when we got off. They really did not enjoy St. Maarten, so much that they stayed on board while we went ashore in St. Thomas. :confused3

Jacob didn't get off in St Thomas either and he has come to regret it because it was such a different experience in St Thomas. Lesson learned.

We had the same reaction to St. Maarten. When we got off the ship we felt as if we were being constantly assaulted by people selling things or wanting to braid hair. The next 2 times we went there we didn't even bother getting off the ship. That turned out to be a mistake because giving it another go and getting away from the port and going to Orient Beach last year was amazing. It really is a nice island but you need to get away from the port to enjoy it.

Did Alexander tell you he is a former KGB agent. He told us wonderful stories and found it hard to believe anyone so sweet and gentle could have been associated with the KGB. He is one of my favorite CMs of all time.

Did you go to Orient Beach with children? I was afraid to go there with the kids because of the biology lesson we may have had!

Yes, he told us a bit about his past in Russia. We truly loved Alexander and plan to stock him on future trips!!

[SweetSpot]

With much going back and forth we finally decided we would try Orient Beach with the kids. I think the reason we hadn't even considered going there in prior years was the age of the kids. When we went my I had a DS16, DS14 and DD11 so I felt more able to discuss what they might possibly see. We took a ship excursion which took you to a more family spot on the beach. The nude area is mostly a seperate area at the end of the beach. You might see a couple topless women every now and then but we saw very little and truly nothing that anyone wanted to see.

My DH, DFIL and one son made the trek to the other part of the beach to say they had been there. As my DH says my son learned that day that all men are not created the same. Mostly older men and women and they keep to that part of the beach.

I thought Orient Beach was the most amazing beach, it's beautiful there. If I were to go again I would still do a ship excursion so that we would be taken to a more secluded section of the beach.

[JDBlair]

With much going back and forth we finally decided we would try Orient Beach with the kids. I think the reason we hadn't even considered going there in prior years was the age of the kids. When we went my I had a DS16, DS14 and DD11 so I felt more able to discuss what they might possibly see. We took a ship excursion which took you to a more family spot on the beach. The nude area is mostly a seperate area at the end of the beach. You might see a couple topless women every now and then but we saw very little and truly nothing that anyone wanted to see.

My DH, DFIL and one son made the trek to the other part of the beach to say they had been there. As my DH says my son learned that day that all men are not created the same. Mostly older men and women and they keep to that part of the beach.

I thought Orient Beach was the most amazing beach, it's beautiful there. If I were to go again I would still do a ship excursion so that we would be taken to a more secluded section of the beach.


That's really good to know and thank you for sharing it. We are hoping to sail again for Christmas 2009 and I would hate to be stuck on the ship in St. Maarten but I truly do not want to walk around the shop agains. Did anyone bother you on the beach?

[SweetSpot]

No, another good thing about doing the excursion was that we weren't bothered on the beach. They take you to a roped off area for just your group. It drives me crazy to be constantly hounded while at the beach so I was grateful. There's also nearby place where you can parasail or rent jetskis, etc.

[JDBlair]

No, another good thing about doing the excursion was that we weren't bothered on the beach. They take you to a roped off area for just your group. It drives me crazy to be constantly hounded while at the beach so I was grateful. There's also nearby place where you can parasail or rent jetskis, etc.

So, while you probably pay a little more to book the excursion through DCL, you pay for the pleasantness of nobody bothering you. That's worth the cost to me, right there!!

Christa - hope you're taking notes!!

[SweetSpot]

It's also rather far from the port and I was buying a bit of insurance. On St. Thomas the only excursion I would pay for is St. John but even though it's amazingly beautiful I wouldn't go there from a ship again. It takes so long to get there I didn't like wasting so much time in travelling.

With kids Coki Beach was the best beach in St. Thomas and extremely easy to get to. You will have people asking you to braid hair or buy something but they are the same each time and give up easy. We actually always had my DDs hair braided there. The price was so cheap. This year we went to Sapphire Beach for a change of pace and while we didn't like it as much as Coki Beach no one ever bothered us to buy anything and the beach never became crowded.

[ibela]

:grouphug: ..Thanks all and I'll be sure to get a few more pictures on here for you...maybe the ones from the character breakfast....what do ya say Irene and Jac.....:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I'll show you yours if you show me mine! :rolleyes1 And then to top it off, I'll show my Christa Gangster on Pirate Night! pirate: :scared:

Post 'em! I want to see all the pics. popcorn:: I saw the one of Jay over the weekend, it's so cuuuuuute!


With kids Coki Beach was the best beach in St. Thomas and extremely easy to get to. You will have people asking you to braid hair or buy something but they are the same each time and give up easy. We actually always had my DDs hair braided there. The price was so cheap. This year we went to Sapphire Beach for a change of pace and while we didn't like it as much as Coki Beach no one ever bothered us to buy anything and the beach never became crowded.

Good to know, thanks. I didn't want to go far not knowing if DD would like the beach and then be worried that we'd be stuck with the stroller waiting for the bus to take us back. She loved CC though so next time (assuming there is 1) I think we'll try Coki Beach. :thumbsup2

[jajomo0118]

SweetSpot....Thanks for all the info, When we do go again, we will have to give St. Maarten another shot...:)

Jac, Why do I have to take notes, when I have you around to tell me...:rotfl: :rotfl:

Irene, Many more pics to come maybe even a few of you...lol...:thumbsup2

[TrickTony]

SweetSpot....Thanks for all the info, When we do go again, we will have to give St. Maarten another shot...:)

Jac, Why do I have to take notes, when I have you around to tell me...:rotfl: :rotfl:

Irene, Many more pics to come maybe even a few of you...lol...:thumbsup2

I really enjoyed the pictures you guys are sharing. My first trip to St. Thomas
we stop at Coki beach and loved it, our guide take us to the store to buy what we needed it was outstanding. This time we did Morning Star beach it was just OK.

[jajomo0118]

I really enjoyed the pictures you guys are sharing. My first trip to St. Thomas
we stop at Coki beach and loved it, our guide take us to the store to buy what we needed it was outstanding. This time we did Morning Star beach it was just OK.

Just wondering what did/do you think of St. Maarten? My son's did not enjoy them selfs one bit...TIA..:)

[jajomo0118]

It is quite the consensus on the DIS that character breakfast (for lack of a better word) "blows"..In all fairness it is not WDW so why do many assume that it is going to be the same. We enjoyed it and I believe my dinning partners did also. I believe its more about the atmosphere than the one on one with the characters. I felt that we got plenty of "that" else where on the cruise. Ok I'm done...lol...thats been on my mind for awhile....:rotfl: and I did get some nice pictures so maybe thats why I think its ok...:confused3

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0588.jpg


http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0586.jpg


http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u115/jajomo0118/101_0584.jpg

[JDBlair]

As one of your tablemates, I do agree it was enjoyable. Having had a "Character" meal at Disneyland, DD didn't like it. She got completely spooked any time a character would come to our table. She was quite content on the cruise to watch the characters from a distance. And I think you're right. There is enough character interaction on the ship if you're in to that sort of thing.