August 9 Eastern trip report

[CruzNMom]

We are just back from the Eastern 8/9. I like the western ports better but love the extra day at sea.

We left about an hour late Saturday because weather delayed several flights. I heard, can't confirm, that more families still didn't make it and joined the cruise in St. Maartin.

QUESTION - why do people chance flying in embarkation day? After spending $8,000 on a cruise they can't spend $72 in a hotel room? I really think DCL should "STRONGLY ENCOURAGE" people to fly in the day ahead.

As reported by others, it was raining when we left so the party was inside - still a party, still a cruise, no problem! As we were dancing, however, I did remember that the Magic was originally built as two halves and put together later. I was hoping one of those harmonic convergence things would not happen with 2000 people dancing in the middle of the ship!

Dining - we had the LAPLAPL and got the table for 9 we had requested with another family. We had a front corner table in every restaurant (sometimes behind the server stations)- in the past, our table was in a different location in each - it was OK except that in Animator's we could only see one picture and were so close to the walls that we couldn't see the colors. Our servers were ?Sasheet? and Noy. Food was great, very well prepared, nicely presented. Our servers were nice - Sasheet went off on "I promise excellent service and excellent food" speech every night until we just quit listening - the only negative. Noy was very nice. I did get the feeling that they were rushed and wondered if DCL is cutting servers and allocating each pair an extra table or two. There also seemed to be a lot of shouting and yelling during dinner - usually someone announcing something.

Ports/Excursions - St. Maartin was my least favorite port but my most favorite excursion - the 12 metre regatta. What fun! Now I want to buy a sailboat (and crew)! Unless you are into jewelry, there is nothing to the town of Fredericksburg. In St. Thomas, we took an excursion to St. John - as beautifull as ever and hot, but decent breeze.

Speaking of excursions - this is an area the Disney heads need to figure out a better. With all the experience Disney has herding people around, there is a lot of "hurry up and wait". Part of the problem is clueless people who come the last minute, arrive without tickets or waivers signed, no KTTW card, and don't know where to go. One thing that would make it less confusing is to have large signs especially when two or more excursions are leaving from the same room.

Entertainment - Rich Purpora was great, hubby loves him. There were a couple of juggling/comic acts and a singer/comic Dan Riley who were good. A couple of them did the exact same show for family and for adults. Also, the band "Spirit" was obviously having problems - they didn't show the first or last night and played for only a few minutes the other nights. Quite different from last year when the band was EVERYWHERE at every event. I've heard that these are not hired bands but individuals hired to be part of a band. Maybe they were not getting along. The girl seemed especially listless. I don't know if it was because of them or a change in programming but the evening entertainment seemed a bit choppy. We usually like Rockin' Bar D. When we finished dinner (8:30 seating), there would be some Disney programming (60's, 70's night) already in progress, then Spirit for a very short time, then a break and cabaret show, then a break and DJ. We usually ended up leaving about the time the DJ showed up.

Our one kind of serious negative - our daughter graduated from HS this year and this trip was a present for her. She turned 18 earlier in the year and we asked if she could still be in the teen group with her brother. We have email confirming that she could. The counselors had not been informed of this and apparently had been told "no exceptions" (heard rumors of problems with 18yo on previous cruise). My husband had to leave dinner twice to go fight the battle and, we understand, they kicked it all the way up to Jacqui. She finally was allowed in but it was not a gracious welcoming.

Comment - Disney needs to work out something for the 18 - 21 crowd (and even older - maybe to 25) who are too old for teen group, too young to drink, and don't want to be hanging out in smokey bars listing to old music. The sight of someone my age doing kareoke (sp?) to 'rolling on the river' would probably send my daughter right over the edge of the ship! There is so much underutilized space (Sessions - where I never saw anyone, and Promenade - where there were about 4 people each night). It seems as though they could make a hangout for the young adults - it wouldn't have to be programmed, just provide a juke box, a TV, a couple of pool tables, access to a bar for non-alcoholic drinks (maybe back it up to an existing bar), a few sofas, etc. A sort of grown up Common Grounds.

Anyway, great trip. I hope they get something worked out so my daughter wants to go again (and have something to do), else it could be our last family DCL until she is older and has a family.

[alexandrew]

thanks for the great trip report

[jlawall]

Hey Cruznmom, we sailed the week before you! I'm sorry to hear that the evening activities weren't so great. Did you go to the 60s, 70s and 80s nights? The week before they were pretty good. They just started the 60s show and it was really good. It really needed the band to make it work (Spirit). My only comment about Spirit was that.....they were much better w/o the girl. She was really pretty and enthusiastic but she killed the dancing whenever she sang. I wonder what happened????

I've also sailed with my 19 yr old. She does have a tough time finding kids to hang with.

Anyway, I'm glad you had a nice cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CruzNMom]

We went down to Rockin Bar D every night after dinner (had great time last year and expected to this year). The first and last nights the entertainment was canceled (Spirit didn't show), the other nights 60s, 70s, was almost over by the time we got down there (I mentioned that our servers seemed rushed so maybe we were late). Plus, since this is the only interesting venue on the ship for late night, the room was crowded out the door.

[rae519]

We have flown on embarkation day without any problems for our multiple cruises. It isn't the cost of the hotel, it has to do with employment and senior position in an organization - some people just can't take off more than one week at any one time.

Too bad you missed Dueling Pianos - Fidelio and Anton are fabulous and both the family and adult shows are always entertaining and lot of fun. In fact it was Fidelio's talent that influenced my son to ask for and receive piano lessons at age 7.

I also prefer the Eastern - those first two days at sea are so relaxing!!

Rae

[CruzNMom]

We stopped in at the Dueling Pianos last year and it didn't thrill us. Nothing bad, just not our thing (and I play piano). At home in the "real world" we seldom get out at night and I really was looking forward to the band and dancing. But, it did not spoil our cruise - just different from expectation. As I mentioned, the evening entertainment just seemed a bit cobbled together.

[jlawall]

To be honest....we didn't go to Rockin Bar D the first night so I don't know if Spirit played.....I did feel like I had to exit dinner alittle early (skip dessert) in order to catch the theme nights. It seemed like dinner was dragging alittle on our cruise. I'm glad the theme nights were busy. I really enjoy them.

[mytmouse]

CruzNMom,
I believe I have read on this board that DCL is addressing the Teenage issue this Sept while in Drydock. If I am not mistaken, they are changing the ESPN Lounge into a Teen Center.

[rae519]

Originally posted by CruzNMom
We stopped in at the Dueling Pianos last year and it didn't thrill us. Nothing bad, just not our thing (and I play piano). At home in the "real world" we seldom get out at night and I really was looking forward to the band and dancing. But, it did not spoil our cruise - just different from expectation. As I mentioned, the evening entertainment just seemed a bit cobbled together.

Depending on when you went last year, Fidelio may NOT have been playing.....with a venue like "Dueling Pianos" it takes more than just two equally talented players, it takes audience participation and if you have a bunch of corpses sitting around, nothing can bring them alive.....now you take Fidelio and Anton NOW with a group of happy (not drunk!) people and the place ROCKS!

Sorry you didn't get a chance to have THAT experience!!!! But at least you got to do some dancing and that's always a nice "romantic" thing to do!!

I did get the opportunity to go to Sessions with DH - the night Fidelio filled in. That is also a wonderful place to go and relax in an adult only atmosphere ---- plus Fidelio is always top notch. I keep hearing him play the theme from Casablanca and want to say, "Play it again, SAM!"

Take care,
Rae

[BethA]

Thanks for the report. I agree the older teens need something else to do. The idea of pool taables, etc sounds great. On the Aug 2 cruise we rarely saw anyone in the Promenade Lounge. The piano player in Sessions was excellent, but no more than 15 people ever in there. Was a nice spot for the grandparents to relax and enjoy quiet music.
On our cruise we felt it was painful to listen to Spirit when the girl sang-she murdered everything and ruined the deck parties for us. She is the girlfriend of the keyboard player so I guess that explains it.
some of the entertainers do repeat for both famil and adult shows-that should not be allowed-who wants to see it twice in 1 night. We enjoyed Dan Riley a lot.
Reading these posts makes it even harder to wait til next year!!

[rae519]

Originally posted by BethA
Reading these posts makes it even harder to wait til next year!!

Beth, don't wait!!!!! Join us in October (10/25)!!!!

Rae

[jlawall]

Imagine a comedian who had the exact same act as last summer!!!!!

[BethA]

Who had the same act as last summer?
Rae, that is a great advantage to home schooling---but I'd never manage. Brandon could miss a week and get a lot of grief and still catch up, but Blake would never get back on track with all the honors classes he has, plus they'd throw him off the football, basketball or volleyball team depending on the season. I'd never hear the end of it if I went without him. I considered Christmas,but the markup is too much for us right now.I guess I'll si home and read your posts and cry...Have you done hallowenn before?

[jlawall]

Rich Purpura

[hollywood320]

I am glad someone brought up the SPIRIT topic. We were on the 8/2 Western cruise. We heard them just about every night. Sometimes they were on deck, sometimes in Rockin Bar D. The lady singer there really leaves much to be desired, but it seemed as if the rest of them were really good. The bass player kind of reminded me of Bernie from Weekend at Bernies. He kind of just moved when the music played, but didn't make many other moves. We also really enjoyed "HOLLYWOOD". We listened to them every night usually in the promenade lounge before dinner. We closed Rockin Bar D every night, but when you say you left when the DJ came on, so did about 90% of the people.

You said your daughter was 18. Isn't the Beat Street area for 18 and older. Just that she could not drink. Every night at the bar I am pretty sure there was a bunch of people there between 18-21.

Dave

[jlawall]

I hope someone in programming is reading these posts. "Spirit"was really good minus "the girl". She was really cute and could work with the entertainment CMs. Why kill a great band???????????

[BethA]

I know my husband spent some time with Joel, the asst cruise director, and told him that the band would be better if the girl did NOT sing. Let's hope someone does something about her. Anyone know how long they have been on the ship?

I guess they don't have any other late night spots becuse what they have dies down so quickly. Does anyone have any suggestions on things to keep the nightlife alive? I know Rae will say all night dueling pianos--that Anton was cute--he should have attracted the 18+ crowd-
I can't believe we've already been back a few weeks-life is cruel...

[jlawall]

IMO, they should play "top 40" tunes in Rockin Bar D after midnight to keep crowd in there. I think that would help alot. I believe that Spirit arrived right around the time we sailed because I remember DISers talking about a different band in July.

[rae519]

Originally posted by BethA
I know Rae will say all night dueling pianos--that Anton was cute--he should have attracted the 18+ crowd-
I can't believe we've already been back a few weeks-life is cruel...


I'll sum it up in two words:

FIDELIO ROCKS!

Rae

[TeensMom]

My daughter is 18 but sitting in a smokey bar playing oldies and watching drunk "old" people is not her thing. (trying to speak from her perspective here - and she is very allergic to cigarette smoke)

[rae519]

Maybe she'd like to go somewhere else then. Another type of vacation may suit her better.

Rae

[TeensMom]

Originally posted by rae519
Maybe she'd like to go somewhere else then. Another type of vacation may suit her better.

Rae


Wow, Rae, I hope you are not in marketing! I usually enjoy your insights in posts but that was a bit harsh.

We have been on several DCL cruises and entire family had wonderful time. But, as mentioned earlier and agreed by others, Disney is dropping the ball for those 18 and over (say college age) who don't want to sit in an oldies bar.

I hope the DCL marketing heads did not miss the class on "meeting customer needs". We drop $10,000 or so on each cruise and won't take another one unless the entire family wants to go. As long as the ships are full, I guess they can ignore all of us with college aged kids but if they want to fill more ships and if the economy stays soft, they need to look at the marginals. It wouldn't take a lot of programming - just convert one of the nearly empty venues into a pool hall/game room/sports bar serving alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.

[Starz723]

As a professional singer in a band, your report on Spirit really disturbed me. There is nothing worse ( to me especially) than a lackluster mediocre frontperson.

Im very surprised at Disney as they usually hire excellent musicians at their theme parks. They even hold auditions here in NYC and they hire the vocalists that are not working on Broadway at that time.

I honestly hope they get a new band by the time I cruise in July, 2004 or I guess Ill have to entertain the masses on Karaoke night. LOL.. Kidding aside, I would definetly make a complaint if I found the entertainment to be below par. To me thats unacceptable cause thats my profession.

:D :jester:

[rae519]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TeensMom
[B]Wow, Rae, I hope you are not in marketing! I usually enjoy your insights in posts but that was a bit harsh.


HARSH?

You have to be kidding?! That was harsh?
"Maybe she'd like to go somewhere else then. Another type of vacation may suit her better." -

I fail to see anything harsh about that. She may like to go somewhere else!!!!! And another type of vacation may suit her better!

I am speaking from experience here - years ago we took our 15 year old son to Europe for 2 weeks, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and England. He would have liked to go somewhere else and another type of vacation would have suited him better! She might feel the same way.

No, I'm not in marketing - but I don't feel that young adults should be made to go on family vacations if they don't want to. Over the past 4 years that we have been cruising Disney, we have asked him to come along - he has refused stating he has NO interest. He is now 23 and we have finally stopped asking!

Sorry to disappoint you with my reply but I have learned over the years I can only please one person at a time and that's the one who is looking back at me in the mirror. ; )

Rae

[jlawall]

Seriously, I've met Rae. I don't think she CAN be harsh!!!

[TeensMom]

The DCL was DD choice of a graduation present. Her choice when given a blank check.

With our various work schedules, school and sport schedules we only have a couple weeks a year when we can all get away at the same time. Parts of our family go on frequent trips - DD and I have been to France, Spain and Canada last 3 Junes, DS and DH always go to Florida for spring training and DS and I have traveled domestically quite a bit. DS spent almost 3 weeks in New Mexico this summer with friends and DD spent time at beach with friends.

BUT, one of our family values is an annual family vacation. Emphasis on family. Our kids love it and we bond as a family. We even talk about when they have families DH and I want to be those grandparents who take the whole family on vacation.

I hope it can continue to be DCL, but they need to address the young adult entertainment. Perhaps you could understand that, Rae, since your son doesn't want to go.

[rae519]

Originally posted by TeensMom
I hope it can continue to be DCL, but they need to address the young adult entertainment. Perhaps you could understand that, Rae, since your son doesn't want to go.

It wasn't that I didn't understand. I responded based on the information provided and my experiences with a male in that age group - not a female. They do have different interests and focus.

I think that if you and she can come up with some ideas - Disney would listen to them. My Mother is 74, she's cruised twice with us since last year. Disney has enough activities to satisfy most seniors yet there is nothing special or particular to their generation.

I believe every vacation/travel experience is what you make it.

Rae

[Cornhogio]

Originally posted by rae519
[QUOTE]Originally posted by TeensMom
[B]Wow, Rae, I hope you are not in marketing! I usually enjoy your insights in posts but that was a bit harsh.


HARSH?

You have to be kidding?! That was harsh?
"Maybe she'd like to go somewhere else then. Another type of vacation may suit her better." -

I fail to see anything harsh about that. She may like to go somewhere else!!!!! And another type of vacation may suit her better!

I am speaking from experience here - years ago we took our 15 year old son to Europe for 2 weeks, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and England. He would have liked to go somewhere else and another type of vacation would have suited him better! She might feel the same way.

No, I'm not in marketing - but I don't feel that young adults should be made to go on family vacations if they don't want to. Over the past 4 years that we have been cruising Disney, we have asked him to come along - he has refused stating he has NO interest. He is now 23 and we have finally stopped asking!

Sorry to disappoint you with my reply but I have learned over the years I can only please one person at a time and that's the one who is looking back at me in the mirror. ; )

Rae

I remember being 18. I would rather have chewed aluminum foil as go on vacation with my parents. I think it's really, really great that your daughter wanted to do that though! I would imagine that the number of kids her age onboard was rather small, and probably caused her to have to socialize outside her age group a good bit. Are any of the bars smoke free? If not, that's one thing they definitely need to change. I spent a few afternoons in the Skybox watching the Bosox play (I was the guy you may have seen running around ship in a Boston Red Sox cap), and the smoke was awful. There were even people smoking stogies in there! Nasty, nasty, nasty!

[rae519]

Originally posted by TeensMom
I hope it can continue to be DCL, but they need to address the young adult entertainment. Perhaps you could understand that, Rae, since your son doesn't want to go.

IN 1995 - Part of my 14 year old son's reluctance to travel to Europe with us was the fact that our vacation was planned before the death of his sister the year before (Kayla was our only daughter). He wanted to go but he didn't. A child/even one that's a teenager grieves differently from an adult.

From 1996-present - HORMONES kicked in and although he wanted to be with us and would do short family trips, he didn't want to go for any length of time.


I am a Catholic homeschooling parent, a Registered Nurse, and a happily married woman - I speak only from MY experience and feel that I can understand most of spoken English although it is not my first language. What I have trouble with is the inferrences made and double speak.

Cornhogio - I agree with you, that if the 18 year old daughter wants to join the family - it is wonderful. I would do anything if I could have my daughter back and just enjoy the teens years with her - "raging" hormones and all!!!!

Rae

[AnnMorin]

just wanted to say that Rae is a real sweetie and she would never dream of being harsh. She (like I) has strong opinions and voices them. I sincerely think she was trying to make a suggestion not a critique...

[lsmac]

I know she didn't mean anything harsh...I actually didn't even read the comment as anything but a statement of fact.

My niece and nephew (18 and 20 at the time) went on DCL and had much the same comments as Teensmom's dd. I think Disney should look into a bit more activity for the 18-20 year olds.

Ann: "strong opinions"??? So THAT's what it's called!! :) LOL

Lastly, Rae...next time you go to Europe for two weeks...can I go? Puuleeze?:)


Lisa

[rae519]

Lisa - you certainly can! I am sure you would be much better company that a teenager who had a permanent frown (the original Robert Barone)!!! It was a wonderful trip started in Germany and we travelled to Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and England. Of course, Italy has always been my favorite country - lived there three years and never wanted to come back!!! Next time I go to Europe - I am going to stay permanently! One way or another!

Ann - "a real sweetie" - you are ruining my reputation with those kind of remarks!!!!

; )

Rae

[lsmac]

Rae,
"the original Robert Barone." LOL...I have a 14 yo that is like that now!:) "Everybody loves....someone else!" LOL

Wow, your trip sounds fantastic! I would LOVE to visit Italy (Ciao Baby), and Switzerland (though I am "neutral" on this one...LOL), I can take or leave France (they don't like us anyway from what I hear), and my grandparents are from Germany so I would love to go see where they are from. So, I promise to be good, and to be positive ....;)

Lisa

[rae519]

Lisa - I vowed that I would never take him on another vacation after that little "adventure in Paradise". And that was 8 years ago and I kept my vow.

No offense to the French - but I didn't care much for Paris or France. Again, I am an Italian in my heart!!

Switzerland was fabulous for it's scenery - work up to the sun coming over the Alps and could have died right there a happy woman. HATED the cable car ride down from Mt. Pilatus though - quote the Raven - "nevermore" - I actually screamed most of the way down much to the dismay of poor hubby and son - but hey, it helped and I did feel so much better since it also released a lot of the tension that had built up from dragging Mr. Personality/Attitude with us through most of the vacation. One little redeeming fact was that he did like Italy and actually was almost tolerable during our stay there.

Germany is always a great place to visit, as is Austria (where my grandparents came from). So many beautiful places to see and such great food.....ahhh, yes the food.......

Rae