25th Birthday Cruise Nov 15-18 2007

[spacerangerqueen]

This is my very first post and my very first trip report.:wave2:

My boyfriend (Enderikari) and I will be going on our second Disney Cruise of 2007 Nov 15-18. While on board I will turn the big 2-5.

Perhaps some of you read his not so complete report of our 7-night Western back in March. I decided to take over the trip report duties and start early! (and finish what I start ;) )

So here is my pre-trip report.

We decided to book this cruise way back in... September. Yes we are last minute kind of people. He wanted to do another 7 night, but I didn't want to go using up every last drop of vacation time, and spend the extra money. I just wanted a nice relaxing birthday at sea. I also wasn't too fond of the fact that the 7 night ended on my birthday which meant a very early rise for my big day, and quite frankly I'm not a morning person. So when a great deal on a 3 night (I admit I was hoping for a 4 but that's not where my birthday fell) I booked it as soon as I found it.

So now here we are 7 days from sailing and spending all of our free time on the Dis boards!

It may be a short cruise but we already have a ton of plans. My birthday falls on our Castaway Cay day and we have already booked Palo for that evening. We were sad that there is no brunch on a 3-night as we greatly enjoyed Palo brunch in March (dessert buffet ::drool:: ) He has also reserved a pedicure for me, my first and also my first trip to the spa as he went to the rainforest room without me while I was off in Tulum last cruise.

We are majorly excited and just hope that our Palo night does not conflict with our Tritons and Hercules nights as those are the two things the Wonder holds that the Magic did not.

Well I'm off to finish up our door magnets.

I'll be back with a full report when we return from our first trip on the Wonder! :jumping1:

[CraftyMouse]

Happy Sailing and Happy Birthday!

[Enderikari]

Wait, we're going on a cruise? You didn't tell me we were going on a cruise....







oh... we have been planning this awhile, haven't we?

Hello everyone, welcome to a Grand Disboards Experience!™.

That's right, two perspective, two very different, but very complementary personalities... all contained in the space of one, count 'em one cruise trip report... There will be laughter! :rotfl2: There will be tears! :sad1: But, in the end we will all become better people.

There are a couple of promises I will make:

1 - Due to my awesome girlfriend, there will be tons of pictures... She bought a 2 GB memory card for our last cruise, and she managed to just about fill it up. (Me... well, considering the pictures from my last snorkeling on Castaway Cay are still undeveloped, not so much)

2 - The trip report will be fun, with me providing the running commentary, bringing a MST3K style to the Queen's trip report.

Like when she says this...
My birthday falls on our Castaway Cay day and we have already booked Palo for that evening. He has also reserved a pedicure for me
Come on, give it up for the caring boyfriend, Palo's on your birthday? First ever pedicure by the pros at Vista Spa? All this because I decided to go to the Rainforest Room after tearfully wishing her a good time as she floated away from me on the slow boat to Tulum. (Cue Academy Awards Music)

3 - We adore comments. No lie, I love attention. So, if you are having a good time reading, say whaddup, would ya? :rolleyes1 . But before all that, I am going to put up some pictures of the stars involved.

Our door magnets, designed by my lovely woman. As I have no artistic bone in my body, and she was inspired by the Dis'ers. She wanted to make something to distinguish our door from the 704,905 others. So here it is.
http://photos-245.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v152/136/106/7005245/n7005245_35973166_9512.jpg
And here is a better picture of the two of us together, to get a good feel for the players. And, of course we are sitting in a vat of corn.
She - SpaceRangerQueen -turning 25 on the cruise. A vision of beauty and she puts up with me. She deserves a medal.
He - 26 - A down on his luck ruffian who discovers the true meaning of happiness when space aliens invade and start pelting folks with herring. Or, a dude who wears a lot of blue shirts. Pick which one you think is correct, but I will stick with the former

http://photos-184.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v74/143/34/1514184/n1514184_33523542_9982.jpg

And, to create relationship friction, a picture of her she wishes no one would see, from our last Disney Cruise.

http://photos-184.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v73/143/34/1514184/n1514184_32713202_7324.jpg


So get ready Disboards... Enderikari is back!

Good night everybody!

P.S. She can't get back at me, she can't post pictures.... yet

[disneyfan551]

Hilarious!! :rotfl:

[TotallyAngelic]

WOW! great start! This is looking good! Have a great cruise and look forward to hearing all about it when you get back - it should be interesting to get 2 views on the same things! :banana:

[4 mickey]

Hi
This is promisingpopcorn:: more ....more ......more

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

Have a very Happy Birthday, :wizard: You'll be warming up the ship for me as I will be there on my first cruise on the 18th.

Looking forward to reading your report,

[spacerangerqueen]

See what I have to put up with everyday?

I can write a very fun and interesting report on my own thank you very much. I'm an avid blogger. I may not be able to post pictures yet, but every post is a step closer to picture posting galore ::ahem:: moderators ::ahem:: picture posting privileges please :worship:

I'd also like to state that he did not want to go to Tulum and most importantly that the boat there was anything but slow. I still have the purple barf bag they hand out to everyone who boards that crazy boat to the mainland.

Most importanly of all, that pic of us in the corn is one of my favorites, thanks mom for taking it :) I also quite enjoy the pic of me blowing away off the front of the Magic :rotfl:

Once I learn how to do multiple quotes this is really going to pick up :hug: :love:

[spacerangerqueen]

And many thanks for all the early birthday wishes! :yay:

[frdeb1999]

Happy Birthday!! Can't wait to hear more!!! :) popcorn::

[Enderikari]

Oh, things to do, things to do, I am being driven crazy by all these different things to do... Call me a procrastinator, but I still need to buy an underwater disposable camera (this one I will get developed, I promise!). Still need to do most of my packing. Still need cruise more Disney Cruise Line websites (though Disboards is giving me my hands-shaking fix right now).

Yes, it is our second Disney Cruise this year. Yes, it is our second Disney Cruise ever. But the anticipation is palatable, almost like I'm walking down the aisle in my finest white wedding dress...
Wait,

wrong gender...

Since the 7 Day Magical Cruise earlier this year, I have become a convert to the Cult of Dee Sea El. Preaching to the masses about the great value, wonderful entertainment, and the spectacular food that awaits them if they could only book one.... Then comes the teasing. The pointing and laughing and generally outright immature way of getting to look at my co-workers and say," So, what are you doing this Thursday? Oh, me? I'll be on the Cruise Line..." Followed up by a quick, "Sucker!"
OK, I admit it, I'm incorrigible.

But it seems like there is so much to do... I already booked my Pedicure, and my girlfriends snorkeling adventure at Castaway Cay...
Wait, scratch that, reverse it. Let's move on.
The rest of her poorly-thought out birthday present is wrapped and ready...
Palo reservations are TCO'ed...
Gloated to all the right people about going on the cruise...
Hmmmm.... what's missing? There is something I am forgetting...

Oh, I remember. I have to pack PANTS

While I take care of making sure I don't wander around bottomless. Here are some pictures of our last cruise to get everyone in the mood

Me, and the only other woman in my life... Yes, folks, I do wear lots of blue, and am slightly crazy
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v74/136/106/7005245/n7005245_33678540_3868.jpg

So hungry at breakfast, I could eat a mouse, unbeknownest to Spacerangerqueen. Yes, lots of blue
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v74/136/106/7005245/n7005245_33678513_6879.jpg

Me, committing grand acts of thievery... (Well, I was trying to make it look like I was painting the letter on, instead it looks like I am grabbing it, darn you forced perspective!). Annnndd... darker blue
http://bp3.blogger.com/_bNgSFr4TleI/RhmQhlwidfI/AAAAAAAAAXI/ISeoK-QKm7g/s320/CRUISE+276.jpg

And, most importantly, and prominently.... My bald spot. In blue
http://bp3.blogger.com/_bNgSFr4TleI/RhMYUFwidSI/AAAAAAAAAVg/p5r7GrZ8ltw/s320/CRUISE+209.jpg

[Enderikari]

Well, packing is always fun, and a great way to build anticipation. But, instead of filling you in on all the gory details (Tooth-black out for pirate night, how cool am I?), instead I want to give you a private glimpse into the world of Enderikari and SpaceRangerQueen.

Actual Conversation from Last Night - annotated by me

"Well dear, I was going to finish packing, but instead I was looking for my birth certificate *editor's note - yes I do not have a passport: Yes - I know I should get one: Yes - when it comes to crastinating, I am a pro*. You see, on my desk I have what I call a pile of important stuff™ Imagine my surprise when I started going through my pile of important stuff™ to locate my birth certificate, when I found out that it had somehow been intermixed with your "pile of useless garbage"™

"Well, Enderikari, *editors note - she does call me this at home, how weird is she?* if you would somehow mark that that is your pile of important stuff™, then I wouldn't put my pile of useless garbage"™ there."

"It's on my desk, why is my desk cluttered with your "pile of useless garbage"™?"
*editor's note - Yes, we live together, yes my desk is cluttered, and bless this mess, but at least its MY MESS*

"Well, where am I supposed to put my "pile of useless garbage"™ when its indistinguishable from your pile of important stuff™"

"Indistinguishable my left foot. How could you look at this glorious pile and not know it was a pile of important stuff™"

"Hey wait a minute, most of this useless garbage is yours!"

"Oh" "Nevermind"

Cruise tomorrow folks!

[spacerangerqueen]

So here we are folks. We've been off the ship for twelve hours now. Enderikari, my crazy Disneynerd boyfriend (CDNBF), has just told me that Mickey is doing meet and greets on deck 3 so we should get moving if we want something to do.

Well lets just say that we are NEVER doing a 3 night cruise again!

It's too SHORT! I need more time with the beautiful ship, eating chocolate desserts, wearing my cruise ears, playing some BINGO (whatever Trevor), swinging in my hammock...

The trip was so short our iPod cord didn't get the memo that we were jumping ship and a nice lady from DCL Lost and Found called while we were making lunch (what? I have to make my own food!?) to inform me that they had found the item in our stateroom and would send it to me. We didn't even know it was lost yet. Man those Disney people are speedy. I'd like to give a giant shout out to Kim our stateroom host who must have been the one to find the item. He was the best the whole weekend. He found our missing remote the second day too.

Well that's my little preview. I have to finish posting my pics for my mom to see. Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures in this report. Otherwise it's entirely up to CDNBF to post all the pics....

[spacerangerqueen]

First off Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Now it's time to start on the actual trip report! :banana:

So by nature I am a picture person so the photos started even before leaving the apartment.:

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34657694_5100.jpg
Note my cruiseline Mouse Ears.

We were very excited about the cruise so CDNBF made a mix CD of cruise songs to listen to on the drive to the Port. Started of with Cruisin' by Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis, but then faded into most of the Across the Universe soundtrack, his new obsession.

We were lost in song but jolted out of it when we approached the Port:

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34657696_5822.jpg

Our glorious first glimpse of the Wonder!
We're going on a cruise! We're going on a cruise!

Unlike our last cruise we got off at the correct exit and bypassed the nice little tour of the casino ships haha. CDNBF dropped me and the luggage off and went to park the car across the street. I waited and listened to the other families around me discuss with anticipation the fun that awaited us all.

We arrived inside the terminal and were told we were supposed to print out our online check-in (d'oh last cruise we had no working printer) no worries didn't take long to fill out the forms they had mailed us plus the terminal was basiclly empty, it wasn't even 11am yet. We checked in with a wonderful lady named Theresa who had "Just swam over from Merrit Island" lol. When we got our keys were a little bummed that Tritons fell on our Palo night and Theresa suggested we try to move Palo because it would be easier than changing rotations but Palo was on my birthday. We decided to let it be especially since we had another party we were going to be seated with at dinner. Turns out that Palo was completly booked anyway so there would have been no chance to move around.

We were group 4 for boarding and at this point about 45 mins from them calling group 1.

We snapped some photos with Minnie in her cruise outfit
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34657697_6163.jpg
and went outside to get some shots with the ship. Spent some time people watching and chatting and before we knew it, it was time to pass through the giant Mickey Ears! Posed for our fabulous Embarkation photo which was a definite purchase :cutie: and then we were on the Wonder!

We headed up to Beach Blanket although we weren't that hungry since we had grabbed some McDonald's for breakfast on the way to the port. We however could not pass up on the carved roast beef. Yumm. I then had to sample some of the chocolate desserts ::drool:: I love cruises and desserts

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34661059_3576.jpg

After wandering the boat a bit it was finally time to go see our stateroom! We were very excited as it was our first time having a veranda. We were in 5636 and had a Navigators Veranda which we loved! The themeing on the Veranda was nice and although we have never had a regular veranda we think we prefer the Navigators. We were disapointed that there was no Castaway Club gift in our room but tossed our carry ons in the room and pulled out our magnets to stick on the door.

I believe it was around this time that I realized I needed a birthday button! So I went by Guest Services and picked one up. Now I was all set for my cruise! :cake:

More to come.....

[princessdaisy]

Love the pictures! fun trip report...keep it coming, please:thumbsup2 :lmao:

[DisneyDadFaNaTic]

Great dual work (or is it duel work?)!!:lmao:

Keep it up!

[spacerangerqueen]

All right back again!

Now while we were wandering around exploring we walked into Animators and discovered that it was our Muster station for the lifeboat drill! Of course when it was time to go we had to take photos:

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34661047_1124.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34661048_1656.jpg

I don't know why we are not both models really...

After the drill it was off to the sail away party. It was cute with the video of Goofy on the bridge. We wandered away after the horn sounded (brings me to tears every time, I'm a dork I know) to go have a prime spot to wave at the CMs who were at the Port. We waved with abandon until we were out of range and then moved on to wave to all the people on the docks on the way out to sea!

We had the main seating because we were dining with another family that has two small children so dinner came very quickly after sailing away. We were at Animators that night. It was time for the steak eating to begin. The servers brought out the kids’ food first which was good because they ended up leaving before dessert because they really wanted to do something that was happening at the kids club. My steak however was delicious as was my dessert the fabulous chocolate cake ::drool:: I'll have to post pictures of my food later because I don't have them handy.

After dinner we went to Mickey Mania. We were sad that it was not run by Pikey but alas he is probably still on the Magic. We sat in the audience and earned the contestants more points than they were earning themselves haha. After it was done we discovered we were trapped in Studio Sea because of a character greeting out front so we ran back inside and out the back because it was time for Hercules!

Since it was our first time on the Wonder we had never seen Hercules. I hadn't really read much about it either. It was pretty good. They made a rather bad joke about Britney Spears and her underwear or lack thereof which was a little unnecessary. However Hades rocked as such here is my photo of me with him on the last night:

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34657758_9259.jpg

After Hercules we pretty much pooped out in the room. Watching a bit of tv and ordered some pizza and snacks and milk from room service.

All in all it was a fun night and a great start to our cruise. :woohoo:

[DMMarla07860]

actually I think pikey left the Wonder a few days before you went

[spacerangerqueen]

That's so sad that we missed him by a few days! But we had tons of fun at Bingo with Trevor and crew.

[Disney owl]

great start

[spacerangerqueen]

Now it's time for Day2!

We slept in a bit as we were not concerned with going to Nassau and Ender had scheduled a pedicure for me for my birthday at 1130am.

After we got ready we headed down to Parrot Cay for breakfast. We had never been there when the buffet tables were open which was fun. We were also surprised that the characters were walking around!

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34661050_5003.jpg

We also ran into our server from dinner and had her take our photo with Nassau in the background. It took her three times but we got a decent photo

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34661051_7900.jpg

After breakfast we went back to the room and spent some time on our verandah looking out as a naval ship pulled in next to us. Kind of cool. All the people were standing out on the deck of the ship in uniform.

Ender changed into his swimsuit and we headed up to the Spa to check in for my pedicure. He went in ahead of me and settled the bill :yay: Then we both waited for the guest in front of me to finish up.

It was really entertaining to sit in the lobby of the spa! Jaime who works in the gym kept coming in and talking with the spa ladies. He wanted to schedule all kinds of treatments if they had any openings. He bounced all around the room! He got himself a tooth whitening appointment for later that day.

Then it was time for me to go back into the spa and have my very first pedicure! I can't remember the CMs name but she was great. She asked me to pick out a color of nail polish. I picked blue because it was the only non red/pink they had. She said she had just put it out!

I had a nice relaxing pedicure and while she gave me a book of products to look at while she worked I didn't feel any pressure to buy anything which was nice.

Towards the end Jaime wandered in and started joking around about getting trained to do pedicures so that he could give them potty breaks! They asked him why he wasn't in the gym and he said that the one lady in there asked him to leave. We all looked at him funny and he re-enacted the conversation he had with her where she told him with her eyes to leave lol. He had approached her and made small talk and she gave him the deer in headlights look haha.

Once I was done I took a quick peek out at the pool to see if Ender was there and then headed back to the room. He was lounging around waiting for me. We had decided when we got our dining assignment the day before that we would go to Triton's for lunch since we would miss it for dinner. So we headed down for some lunchtime fun. A family was seated with us who lived in Tampa and we would end up running into them several times the next day as well.

The server told us that they had a pasta bar which was not on the menu so I went for some Bolognese which was yummy and a good compliment to my steak diet. I also ordered a mixed drink which they never brought me a check for so I was never charged. A good birthday present!

Even though we hadn't planned on going into Nassau and we had even told our tablemates such, we went straight from Triton's off the ship lol. We decided as we were leaving Triton’s that we wanted to look at jewelry. We poked around a bit but didn't do any buying. It was fun to try stuff on though princess:

We stopped by the Pirate museum again and the same guy was out front greeting everyone who walked by. No great treasure was found in the gift shop though.

We also had to stop by Starbucks so that Ender's only purchase on Nassau could once again be a Starbucks beverage.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34657706_9438.jpg

On our way back onto the ship we ran into our server once again who had been out at her favorite Jamaican restaurant getting a little taste of home.
There was a really cute sign out when we went to board the ship and the guest behind us offered to take our photo

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34657708_203.jpg

Stay tuned for more of Day 2!

[Enderikari]

Alright, so I am getting to the thread a little late, just proof that I work harder than SpaceRangerQueen :rolleyes1

So, how was the cruise? Three words, Too @#$% Short. Three days is a blink of an eye when you are used to seven. However, the cruise did provide some well-needed Ender/Queen snuggle time, just in time for said Queen's birthday (There are two things I am a pro at: Crastinating and Snuggling).

But, because we spent just about every moment together (the perfect vacation!) my trip report would be exactly like hers, with one very important difference - I'm CRAZY :banana:

Does anyone else think that the muster (mustard) drill really just inspires more terror? I mean, seriously, people don't even think about the possibility of the ship going down, until the cruiseline (and the coast guard) make you pretend that its happening. And, also, on a tangent from that, I want to know how the "Salt-Water Activated" safety lights work. Everytime I see those, I am completely fascinated with how unique and single-purpose those lights are. That, and the color orange scares me.

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/158/143/34/1514184/n1514184_34661048_1656.jpg

More to come

[nezy]

I think you look good in orange!

[CapnJackGroupie]

popcorn:: popcorn:: popcorn::

You wore a green shirt!!

[Enderikari]

Yeah, I know, turns out, my girlfriend really digs the color green. and since I really dig the color of her hair (and everything else about her) I have branched out into other manly, manly colors.


More to come! Promise!

[naner]

Great TR so far!!!

[Enderikari]

Well lets just say that we are NEVER doing a 3 night cruise again!

Well, lets just say that that statement is a tad premature, dear... The Disney Wonder better be getting ready for us again in t-minus 4 days and counting.

Yes, that's right. After two semi-aborted trip reports here to the Dis, SpaceRangerQueen and I are promising to finish at least 1 (count 'em) trip report here on the Dis. And, as always, the only trip report worth reading is the next trip report. So consider this an official announcement

::Official Announcer Voice::
"We Will Finish a Trip Report for Our May 29th to June 1st Disney Cruise"
::End Official Announcer Voice::

But, looking back on all the good times of this shortened trip report, there is something I feel is missing....

Okay, there's a lot of stuff missing, stories to be told, memories to be shared, long-forgotten dreams to be set free, movies to be watched... But to tell you the absolute truth, I barely remember them (come on, it was five months ago, I barely remember last week).

So instead of trying to make up, remember, or muddle through what had happened. Instead I leave you with Ender/Queen's Trip Report, in ten photos or less.

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