I LOVE Comedians with Guitars......You didn't tell me that part...

[riofriotex]

I've been enjoying your trip report, and finally had to comment on seeing the empty tables in AP! My one and only cruise was the same itinerary out of Galveston, but over Thanksgiving and every single table was filled at dinner, so it seems very strange to me to see empty tables. Were you at main or second seating? Is it normal to have some tables empty, I wonder?

I just got back from the January 4 Magic sailing. We were second seating, and there were some empty tables, as the two of us were able to be moved to our own table (which was a table for 4). We also had no problem booking Palo for all three brunches. We could have done more dinners there as well (we at at Palo the first night), but a combination of lack of appropriate clothes and the good quality of food at dinner kept us in the MDR for dinner. (Not to mention the food in Palo was so rich I was incredibly stuffed even with an earlier dinner time!)

Palo staff told me that the previous two sailings - over Christmas and New Years - they were fully booked. I imagine there were no extra tables in the dining room then either - unless someone was eating at Palo or elsewhere on a particular night!

 

[Beth D]

Love the food porn! My dad is a super tough food critic, and he didn't have a single complaint about the food. All the servers are super knowlegeable!

So we're looking at a 5 day out of Miami next spring, and have to choose between a stop in Grand Cayman, or a stop at Castaway Cay. The other port of call is Cozumel on both. If you had your choice, which would you do? We've been to CC on our cruise last year, but never to Cayman Islands.

I can't wait to see what you did! Hopefully you sampled some tequila!

 

[AquaDame]

Love the food porn! My dad is a super tough food critic, and he didn't have a single complaint about the food. All the servers are super knowlegeable!

So we're looking at a 5 day out of Miami next spring, and have to choose between a stop in Grand Cayman, or a stop at Castaway Cay. The other port of call is Cozumel on both. If you had your choice, which would you do? We've been to CC on our cruise last year, but never to Cayman Islands.

I can't wait to see what you did! Hopefully you sampled some tequila!

I did have my choice (sailing the 5 night out of Miami in January) and are going for Grand Cayman as we have never been there before! CC is nice, but the food isn't great at the BBQ and we have already gone twice and lounged in the sun. We would much rather go to GC where we can do something more interesting culturally, like wander a town or see some ruins etc!

 

[riofriotex]

Love the food porn! My dad is a super tough food critic, and he didn't have a single complaint about the food. All the servers are super knowlegeable!

So we're looking at a 5 day out of Miami next spring, and have to choose between a stop in Grand Cayman, or a stop at Castaway Cay. The other port of call is Cozumel on both. If you had your choice, which would you do? We've been to CC on our cruise last year, but never to Cayman Islands.

I can't wait to see what you did! Hopefully you sampled some tequila!

Never been to CC, but I love Grand Cayman! We rented a car and went out on our own; very safe to do on this island (although you are driving on the "wrong" side of the road). I think there are a lot of great excursions for this island as well, if you like to be on or in the water.

 

[Woth2982]

The Animators Palate photos are so great! That was my favorite restaurant on the Wonder. I loved how it slowly came to life throughout the night!

 

[jenseib]

OMG - that room changing is so pretty. I don't know what I like better - the changing room or the amazing food.

Denny and I got to laughing over these people where heard in Disney world say "I ain't going to no d$%# Gatlinburg" and we kept repeating it over and over again, so I know how certain phrases can just stick with you for the whole trip. Cause, after all, comedians with guitars ARE always funny!

Again - I love your detail pictures of the boat. So amazing!

I was excited to see the changing room. The one on the Dream is much different, so I wanted to see the classic ship way. I would say both are pretty fun.

I remember that. Sometimes those sayings just stick. AND you are right! Comedians with guitars are funny!

OK, I was bound and determined to catch up on this today. I drove me nuts to see posts talking about what the title means, but I wasn't far enough to know yet!

I had tried to catch up a while back, but lost my post. I think. My apologies if any of this is a duplicate.

1) LOVE the snorkeling pics. I especially love the ones in the water with the ship in the background. Oh, and the one of you guys in a circle from below. What a great suggestion that was! I'm sure it's no surprise that I would love to do this one day. But only if I had a nice underwater camera to get some shots like yours!

The shipwreck site looks WAY cool. I snorkeled once in Key West, but didn't get to see anything that cool.


2) You learn something new every day. Who knew a tender could be something other than breaded and deep fried? Sorry...... too many chicken lovers around here.....

3) Did you get to bring home any souvenirs from those Caymen Banks????

4) LOL at the cow pictures. You go all that way...... and there you are seeing the sights of home again.

Did it make you homesick?

5) I almost forgot about the new "no photos" policy at DCL shows. You mentioned the show and I expected some great shots. What a bummer! Did it drive you nuts to have to put your camera down? I'm sure you know it would drive me absoloutely nuts.

6) Pirate Stitch is adorable! Did you ever go back and get in a photo with him?

7) Pirate night looks like TONS of fun. You guys are adorable! Those desserts though...... stop making me drool like that all over my keyboard!

8) Don't get me started on the ipad photgraphers. I honestly don't care what people use to take photos. But once you hoist an ipad up in the air in front of me..... I start to care. I really started seeing a lot of this at school functions last year. Seats would be set up in the gym, so all on the same flat surface. Yet people would hoist those things over their heads like there wasn't a soul behind them. What the heck! It's just crazy.

9) LOVE the early morning shots out on deck. What beautiful colors, and you captured them well! Great job capturing the rainbow!

10) I also love the atrium shots. Isn't it great to be an early morning insomniac? How else would you get those gorgeous shots!

11) Loving the ghost shots. What a riot! I'll have to try that in front of Haunted Mansion sometime!

12) Awww... what a great surprise to run into Mickey like that!

13) How could you NOT go photo crazy at Animator's Palate? What a gorgesous place!

14) What an AWESOME interaction with Chip and Dale! That would totally make my day. I might even have to show those to Drew. He's pretty much a character hater......... until it comes to these 2 guys. We had to meet them in all 4 parks this year.

15) Glad you liked the "craptop" term. I'm afraid I can't take credit though. That was Robbie's invention.

16) I love the shot of the ship from Costa Maya with the hut-tops in the foreground. So pretty. You should put together a book of your ship shots. You have an amazing collection!

17) The hair braiding looks so adorable on you! I'm thinking it would not be quite as adorable on my rapidly graying hair.......

18) Ewww..... on the leaking green hand sanitizer!

19) Well YEAH! I finally am "in" on the story of the title! What a great story!

20) OK, I MUST dine at Animator's Palate some day. That's just AMAZING!

21) LOVE the night time shots out on the deck. Just GORGEOUS!

And with that....... I am officially caught up. Now give me a couple days so I can go catch up on Carey's!

Yay for being caught up!
1. We had a great time snorkeling. Lisa kept thanking me for talking her into it.
2. Claire would probably go on the tender looking for chicken too!
3. Oh yes...stacks of cash!
4. I can't get away from the cows. Skip probably had them spying on me.
5. YES! I hate not being able to take photos at the shows. On night I had a pretty good seat too, so I couldn't taken sooo many!
6. I have yet to get a photo with Pirate Stitch. Actually the last 2 cruises, we didn't do well meeting up with characters. Especially this one. Only my random encounters for the most part.
7. I really like Pirate night. It's not for eveyone, but we enjoy the fun.
8. LOL. The opad photographers are a new group that I am sure are going to stay. I guess they just need a few lessons in ettiquette.
9. I enjoyed getting up early and having most of the ship to myself and trying to take photos.
10. Thanks. It can be hard to photograph in there with the lighting and usually people walking around in there too.
11. Thats a good idea about tryiong that by Haunted Mansion! Why didn't you tell me that before I left for my last trip?
12. I was on cloud 9 meeting Mickey there.
13. AP is a really neat place. I am glad I got to see this version.
14. Ship and Dale always are so much fun. I think they are Claire's favorites because when she sees them they always give her a ton of attention.
15. Yesterday the term craptop was used on my desktop!
16. I know I should do a book, but I just never have the time. One of these days I'll get adventurous.
17. COLOR! I don't want to know when I go grey!
18. Who knew how gross green sanitizer could be.
19. I actually think I told you the meaning before I even started writing it. LOL But I know, you're old and can't remember everything.
20.AP is fun. It's right up your alley!
21.Thanks. I love how colorful it gets up there, and a lot of people don't even go up at night to see or enjoy it.

I've been enjoying your trip report, and finally had to comment on seeing the empty tables in AP! My one and only cruise was the same itinerary out of Galveston, but over Thanksgiving and every single table was filled at dinner, so it seems very strange to me to see empty tables. Were you at main or second seating? Is it normal to have some tables empty, I wonder?

Thanks for reading along. We had 2nd seating. I am sure 1st seating was fuller. This ship was not full either. They have been having a hard time selling the Galveston cruises and are constantly offering discounts. WE only had 2 families in our section, and I think by day 2 the other family didn't show up for any more of the meals. They had two little ones, so I assume they just went to Topsiders.

I went on the November 10th cruise out of Galveston and not only did we have a bunch of empty tables at late dinner, but they had only two out of three dining rooms in use at that seating.

Corinna

Oh wow. I didn't know that. I do know these cruises have not sold well at all. I think Disney is a little too pricey for that area. But they have been offering some good deals, which is why I ended up sailing out of there.

 

[jenseib]

On our cruises (a Feb Dream and a November Fantasy) we have had a few empty tables here and there. I haven't given it much thought since they will seat different parties together and the boat is likely not at full capacity due to people like my husband and I - we were in a room that slept up to 5, but there was only us.

I know our ship wasn't full, but on the last day during debarking you would've thought it was.

I just got back from the January 4 Magic sailing. We were second seating, and there were some empty tables, as the two of us were able to be moved to our own table (which was a table for 4). We also had no problem booking Palo for all three brunches. We could have done more dinners there as well (we at at Palo the first night), but a combination of lack of appropriate clothes and the good quality of food at dinner kept us in the MDR for dinner. (Not to mention the food in Palo was so rich I was incredibly stuffed even with an earlier dinner time!)

Palo staff told me that the previous two sailings - over Christmas and New Years - they were fully booked. I imagine there were no extra tables in the dining room then either - unless someone was eating at Palo or elsewhere on a particular night!

I always ask for our own table unless we are with friends and or family. I personally have no interest in eating with strangers. I know some enjoy that, but it's not for us. Once on a NCL cruise we got seated with other people and Skip complained about it so much. I wasn't all that happy either. We drew the short straw and were with a kind of a snooty crowd.

Those holdiay cruises usually sell out.

Love the food porn! My dad is a super tough food critic, and he didn't have a single complaint about the food. All the servers are super knowlegeable!

So we're looking at a 5 day out of Miami next spring, and have to choose between a stop in Grand Cayman, or a stop at Castaway Cay. The other port of call is Cozumel on both. If you had your choice, which would you do? We've been to CC on our cruise last year, but never to Cayman Islands.

I can't wait to see what you did! Hopefully you sampled some tequila!

I am usually happy with most of the food too. Heck, I'm not cooking!

I would look at the port adventures for GC and see if there is something you want to do. Otherwise it's basically a beach day. But we did some fun things on CC too.

I did have my choice (sailing the 5 night out of Miami in January) and are going for Grand Cayman as we have never been there before! CC is nice, but the food isn't great at the BBQ and we have already gone twice and lounged in the sun. We would much rather go to GC where we can do something more interesting culturally, like wander a town or see some ruins etc!

I agree, that food is just kind of blah.

Never been to CC, but I love Grand Cayman! We rented a car and went out on our own; very safe to do on this island (although you are driving on the "wrong" side of the road). I think there are a lot of great excursions for this island as well, if you like to be on or in the water.

I felt pretty safe on this island too.

The Animators Palate photos are so great! That was my favorite restaurant on the Wonder. I loved how it slowly came to life throughout the night!

It is pretty darn cool! I am so glad to give it a try. Rumor is, when it goes to dry dock, they may change it. I hope not.

 

[Floridagram]

It is amazing how dead the ship was at night!

I won't care if our cruise skips Costa maya after seeing the armed guards. Not sure I want to be there, much less subject my grandchildren to that. Not that I think Cozumel after dark would be appealing either! It's all about the cruise for us, not the ports except Castaway Cay.

I really enjoy your trip reports, thanks for the time you invest in them for our enjoyment!

 

[jenseib]

It is amazing how dead the ship was at night!

I won't care if our cruise skips Costa maya after seeing the armed guards. Not sure I want to be there, much less subject my grandchildren to that. Not that I think Cozumel after dark would be appealing either! It's all about the cruise for us, not the ports except Castaway Cay.

I really enjoy your trip reports, thanks for the time you invest in them for our enjoyment!

Thanks!

Yeah I am more about the cruise for the most part and the ports are extras for extra fun!

 

[jenseib]

Sept. 27, 2012, Thursday, Day 7

Today’s navigators.

I had not slept well the night before and I think I just gave up around 6 AM. I got up and dressed and made my way to see if I could sign up for the Port Adventure. I just knew after a sleepless night, I was meant to go on this excursion. I can’t remember if the desk was open this early or not, or if I came back a little later, but I am thinking it was. I do remember the girl I had to sign me up was not real quick at doing it. Even though I had the paper with the one I wanted circled, she seemed to have issues finding it. But I finally was signed up.

Time to watch us pull into port.

It was such a beautiful morning and the sunrise was so nice to see. A few cast members were excited about our arrival too.

There were more people out on deck this morning too.

 

[jenseib]

Continued from previous page

I really enjoyed watching us dock.

The sky was just beautiful.

I took a couple of shots of the sports deck, as I wasn’t sure if I had taken some earlier in the trip. When you take as many pics as I do, you do forget what you have taken.

Around 6:40 I went and got a quick bite to eat.

And then I went back up top.

I then went back to the room to gather my things and let Lisa know I was going to head off the island. She was going to stay on the ship and then when I got back the plan was to get back off the ship together and look around.

I went to our meeting spot and waited for the other girls.

Brook, Carolyn and Shelly all arrived soon after. They said Susan was going to stay on the ship today as well.

A round 8 we headed out.

They had these bike carts to carry people back and forth, for a cost, of course.

I turned back to get a picture of the ship, but got my friends in there as well.

Ah! There is one!

 

[dizneeat]

Jen, I just noticed your ticker and it said 75 days since your family vacation. I can't believe it's been that long .....

On the other hand, thanks for the photos of the Magic docking at Cozumel. Another port I need info on.
Great pics as always! Love the sky in the morning!

 

[jenseib]

Jen, I just noticed your ticker and it said 75 days since your family vacation. I can't believe it's been that long .....

On the other hand, thanks for the photos of the Magic docking at Cozumel. Another port I need info on.
Great pics as always! Love the sky in the morning!

I know. It's so depressing. I really should take them down, but thats depressing too!

I liked Cozumel a lot!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I love Cozumel, would go back there in a New York minute! We went to Chankanob park, wonderful place! My spelling is wrong but I'm not looking it up!

 

[Floridagram]

I wondered why they docked so far away, it would have been nice if they were on the part of the dock closest to shore. Now I know, to give those pedicab guys a job!

 

[dolphingirl47]

What a gorgeous sunrise. Cozumel is probably still my favourite port even though we have been to some amazing ones. I am glad that you decided to do the excursion.

Corinna

 

[vleeth]

I love it when the sky turn beautiful colors. Did you sleep at all on this trip? Up late and up early!

Reading your tr really makes me feel like I should be writing mine...but it won't be today!

 

[jenseib]

I love Cozumel, would go back there in a New York minute! We went to Chankanob park, wonderful place! My spelling is wrong but I'm not looking it up!

I have heard great things about that place!

I wondered why they docked so far away, it would have been nice if they were on the part of the dock closest to shore. Now I know, to give those pedicab guys a job!

I always wished we could be closer too. But yeah, those guys need a job.

What a gorgeous sunrise. Cozumel is probably still my favourite port even though we have been to some amazing ones. I am glad that you decided to do the excursion.

Corinna

I like it too. This was my 2nd time there and we docked at a different area, but it was still really neat.

I love it when the sky turn beautiful colors. Did you sleep at all on this trip? Up late and up early!

Reading your tr really makes me feel like I should be writing mine...but it won't be today!

I did sleep. I actually just heard that they did a study and sleep can be a mind thing too. At home if you don't get enough you feel sluggish and can't function, yet get the same amount on vacation and you can go on and on with very little sleep. It's all how your mind is seeing things. I am pretty much just like that too, so I believe the study.

 

[Angelrose]

What beautiful pictures you take. I especially liked the dawn pictures. Makes me feel like I was there.

Oh, I found the picture of John Charles taken in 1995! I sure wish I was as thin now as I was in this picture.

This was taken in front of the Diamond Horseshoe. He was called Marshall John Charles then. I sure do miss his shows.

 

[jenseib]

What beautiful pictures you take. I especially liked the dawn pictures. Makes me feel like I was there.

Oh, I found the picture of John Charles taken in 1995! I sure wish I was as thin now as I was in this picture.

This was taken in front of the Diamond Horseshoe. He was called Marshall John Charles then. I sure do miss his shows.

How cool is that! And he looks quite a bit younger there.