(New TR Link) Yo Ho, Yo Ho- Rum and Sharks for Me!An Eastern Fantasy TR May 31-June 7

[Tinker326]

Hello fellow readers- yes, I have been MIA. I've been so crazy busy this summer... it's just slipping away... but I called in sick today (shh don't tell my boss!) and thought I'd use some 'me' time to catch up a bit!

Also, have to mention (you know, because my obsession with sharks) the story of the man who went on a tour in the Bahamas that offers 'night cageless diving with Tiger sharks and you can hand feed them'. He died. I'm sorry he died... but WHAT.IN.THE.WORLD?!?! Why would you jump into water that has been chummed AT NIGHT (when sharks hunt), WITHOUT A CAGE.. and hope to HAND FEED the 2nd most dangerous shark to humans (after the Great White)?

Anyways. We did not do this tour in the Bahamas. Even though when we did snorkel I treated it as if we were snorkeling with 900 Tiger sharks. But more on that later.

Right now....... let's finish our 2nd sea night.

I had recovered from my drunken hiccups- much to my daughter's HUGE relief. She could now have dinner with me without being mortally embarrassed.

Mom, Becca and I decided to head down a little early and get in line with Pluto. Becca loves that little dog....

We hopped in the line....



My mother was present & smiling which means she was not angry about something. Or she was drunk still too. I don't know which?!

While waiting up, we looked down into the lobby and saw a special occasion...
Aww.........



Someone got married. Congrats you happy little couple. May your lives be blessed with many, many happy wonderful Disney memories.

Also while waiting, the other half with the other children showed up below. Our dinner was Royal Court which just happened to be behind the staircase...

A sight sweeter than the wedding couple:

A daddy dancing with his little girl...



Cue the awwwwws...............

Finally we got up to Pluto.. and got our picture with that silly old dawg!



And headed downstairs for our dinner.

As mentioned, it was in the "Royal Court" - the fanciest of the 3 restaurant locations.

My kids (ok, and me) were impressed with the folded prince shirt napkins.



Because we are not cultured or classy in any way, shape or form... we took time to pose with Disney's naughty little pepper shaker....



Come on Disney.. at the Royal Court?!?!

More cuteness at the table-



Dinner was:

Appetizer- Fried Brie. My notes say "YUCK"



Soup- French Onion. Ok ( I deleted the picture in an effort to make the 25 picture post). So just imagine it. It looked like... French Onion Soup.

Dinner- Mushroom Ravioli. Notes say "OK"



Char got Steak.



I know you all wanted to see her chewed food in her mouth. So you are welcome for that.

Dessert- Crème Brule. I mean, you can't go wrong with Crème Brule. So it was good!



Char went for the Mickey Ice-Cream Bar. Again. Like portholes pictures, you can never have too many Mickey Ice-Cream pictures........



The photographer was out and about this night at dinner & took a bunch of pictures of us. So I'll share...

My three girls from oldest to youngest:





A 'real' smile from the Char girl!



Cuties:



My mother and me:



My girl and me:



Other notes I have written down about dinner....

At one point myself and a child had to use the restroom. There were no nearby restrooms so I asked where to go. Gilbert (our asst. server) ended up walking us all the way to the restroom even after I told him I got it.... he was really a GREAT server!

Renaldo (main server) also took some time to do magic tricks for my kids. Charlie especially loved this and for the rest of the trip demanded he do the 'rainbow crayon' trick (changing crayon color). Every time he did, she just laughed and laughed.

On way out, the band was playing again & Charlie stopped to dance!



Kurt then took all the kids to the pool while I started getting things ready for the next day at St. Maarten.

I also had big plans for the night! It was "Girls Night Out" with my FB group! We have a name for our group but I can't tell you because it's top secret and then you'd have to disappear (and also because it's naughty and DIS would censor the name..).

As I mentioned before, this small group of ladies had talked for months on FB prior to the cruise. One of them just happened to be staying in the Roy Disney suite. And she graciously offered to host.

I was excited to see how the better half lived. I went up at 9:30 and took a 'few' pictures. I didn't want to seem too crazy with the pictures- especially considering their stuff was everywhere....

The main bedroom- which had a TV build into the end that you could raise (that's it being raised)



The walk-in closet was bigger than our stateroom.

There was a separate living room, kitchen, dining room & maybe another bedroom we didn't get to see.....

The master bath had a TV built into the the mirror. And a tub bigger than the Mickey Pool (not really, but close).

There was a huge wrap-around balcony with lots of hanging space...



And a private hot tub!



It was nice to see. It wasn't QUITE as big as I expected for the price I looked up online... but it was nice & fancy..... and I am glad we got invited in!

The bigger show of the night was meeting all these women! It was a lot of fun & laughs....

The rule was everyone had to wear an 'anchor' as that was our 'symbol'. And so the four of us here were laughing that we showed up in the same shirt. This was not planned in anyway!!



Most of the big ole' group in the living room of the Roy!



We didn't drink much (or I didn't) because of the fact I had way too much earlier in the day and it was an early morning the next day- but I stayed till a little after midnight before walking out to head back to my non-Roy suite and into slumberland.........

Another day on the Fantasy- done...........

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hellooooooo Tweedlestranger! I miss you!

So, I have to agree that Charlie and Daddy dancing are cuter than the newlyweds. Sorry newlyweds, cute little girl dancing with her dad wins every time.

Now, we need to talk a bit about your Pluto paws. Becca seems to be the only one to knows how to properly do the paws, your mother coming in second almost doing it right. You, my dear tweedle, look like you are showing us your nail polish. Ok, I won't tease you anymore, let's move on to teasing Disney...

Uh...WHO thunk up those salt shakers??? I don't know, maybe I just have a filthy mind, but surely they noticed this? SOMEONE has to have a dirty mind who works at Disney, yes??? I appreciate that my Tweedle noticed, makes me feel like less of a degenerate.

That room looks huge compared to the regular rooms, but the deck, oh man...if I could just win the lottery. Wait. I don't have any interest in a cruise...but you never know how your tastes might change when you win the lottery, yes? You could sit on that deck and watch for sharks all day long! I have been giggling at shark week commercials and sharknado 2 ads for days. See, you have been on my mind, even if we aren't sending each other selfies daily.

 

[Tinker326]

Hellooooooo Tweedlestranger! I miss you!

So, I have to agree that Charlie and Daddy dancing are cuter than the newlyweds. Sorry newlyweds, cute little girl dancing with her dad wins every time.

Now, we need to talk a bit about your Pluto paws. Becca seems to be the only one to knows how to properly do the paws, your mother coming in second almost doing it right. You, my dear tweedle, look like you are showing us your nail polish. Ok, I won't tease you anymore, let's move on to teasing Disney...

Uh...WHO thunk up those salt shakers??? I don't know, maybe I just have a filthy mind, but surely they noticed this? SOMEONE has to have a dirty mind who works at Disney, yes??? I appreciate that my Tweedle noticed, makes me feel like less of a degenerate.

That room looks huge compared to the regular rooms, but the deck, oh man...if I could just win the lottery. Wait. I don't have any interest in a cruise...but you never know how your tastes might change when you win the lottery, yes? You could sit on that deck and watch for sharks all day long! I have been giggling at shark week commercials and sharknado 2 ads for days. See, you have been on my mind, even if we aren't sending each other selfies daily.

on the Pluto Paws. I TOLD YOU I WAS HORRIBLE WITH POSES!!!

At this point, all the practice in the world probably won't save me!

I felt those salt shakers were a little bit like that old Little Mermaid VHS cover (of which, I own) with the imbedded you know what in the castle. The best part was our server walked up as I was taking that picture of Kurt and the naughty little pepper shaker. So we looked even more unclassy... hahahaha! Someone in Disney got their kicks here.....that's for sure!

It is pretty exciting that Shark Week is almost here!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

on the Pluto Paws. I TOLD YOU I WAS HORRIBLE WITH POSES!!!

At this point, all the practice in the world probably won't save me!

I felt those salt shakers were a little bit like that old Little Mermaid VHS cover (of which, I own) with the imbedded you know what in the castle. The best part was our server walked up as I was taking that picture of Kurt and the naughty little pepper shaker. So we looked even more unclassy... hahahaha! Someone in Disney got their kicks here.....that's for sure!

It is pretty exciting that Shark Week is almost here!!!

It's ok, I'm horrible with poses as well...we'll look even more like dorky tweedles trying to pose. I can see it now!

Wait, so you are EXCITED about shark week? This obsession of yours is strange. Are you scared or excited?

 

[Tinker326]

It's ok, I'm horrible with poses as well...we'll look even more like dorky tweedles trying to pose. I can see it now!

Wait, so you are EXCITED about shark week? This obsession of yours is strange. Are you scared or excited?

I'm terrified of sharks and so I become obsessive about them. Watching, learning and reading about them in anything I can find.

You know, so when I confront one, I am fully prepared on how to get away!

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I totally aww'd at that daddy/daughter dance picture--that's adorable!!

The girls are so cute in their pics at dinner! What a bunch of gorgeous girls!

I love your anchor shirt. How funny that you 4 had the same shirt! Great minds, huh? That suite is fantastic! I could live in that hot fun and on the balcony!

Totally racked up at the pepper shaker! So totally something my husband and I would notice too!

And, you're killing me with the shark attack updates! but I agree--who jumps into a group of hungry sharks when they're hunting?

 

[skier_pete]

You are funny with that Shark stuff. I would NOT be getting in the water with a bunch of sharks, but I find that sharks are really just about the easiest things in the world to avoid. Generally if you avoid going in the ocean, you can avoid sharks - Sharknado not withstanding.

Doesn't look like you thought much of your meal. I LOVED the fried Brie on our ship though. Cool getting to go into the Roy Disney suite. I can't even imagine the cost of something like that. Probably about what I make in a year. Or more. Quite a lovely deck that I am sure I would never use.

But what's with having a kitchen? Is someone with that much money going to cook their own food on the ship? That must be the least used kitchen on the planet.

As far as the meet...too many strangers. I don't mind meeting people on the ship, but that's TOO many.

 

[Tinker326]

I totally aww'd at that daddy/daughter dance picture--that's adorable!!

The girls are so cute in their pics at dinner! What a bunch of gorgeous girls!

I love your anchor shirt. How funny that you 4 had the same shirt! Great minds, huh? That suite is fantastic! I could live in that hot fun and on the balcony!

Totally racked up at the pepper shaker! So totally something my husband and I would notice too!

And, you're killing me with the shark attack updates! but I agree--who jumps into a group of hungry sharks when they're hunting?

Aww, thanks!

I almost posted it- but then felt bad since the guy did die and all.. but it would have kinda qualified for that Darwin award.

But the tour is real- I looked it up (of course I did) and they run whole vacations with this stuff..... they also do Great White ones but they use a cage for those. The Tiger shark is RIGHT behind the GW with attacks..why do they think it's OK to freedive at night around Tigers...when they know better with Great Whites. I don't get it?!

You are funny with that Shark stuff. I would NOT be getting in the water with a bunch of sharks, but I find that sharks are really just about the easiest things in the world to avoid. Generally if you avoid going in the ocean, you can avoid sharks - Sharknado not withstanding.

Doesn't look like you thought much of your meal. I LOVED the fried Brie on our ship though. Cool getting to go into the Roy Disney suite. I can't even imagine the cost of something like that. Probably about what I make in a year. Or more. Quite a lovely deck that I am sure I would never use.

But what's with having a kitchen? Is someone with that much money going to cook their own food on the ship? That must be the least used kitchen on the planet.

As far as the meet...too many strangers. I don't mind meeting people on the ship, but that's TOO many.

There lies the crux... my friend.. I love being on the water. I love the open sea & the sound of crashing waves & the smell of the ocean. I even love seeing the world beneath the ocean except for those darn sharks!!! I obsess... and so I go in the water AND I have a gigantic fear of sharks. It's just strange. I get it. I know it. I accept it...... SHARK.

I blame the movie Jaws for all unrealistic expectations of ocean encounters.

The Roy, just in case you were wondering, because I DID research the price.. was going for 30K the same week we cruised in 2015. So like I said, it was nice to see on someone else's dime! The suite also came with like a personal servant- so perhaps THEY use the kitchen to cook?

And I am shy, so the number of people was a little high for me to be truly 100% who I am/comfortable but at the same time it wasn't completely awkward (like the big DIS meet was for me) because I had talked to many of these women a lot over the months. So I did ok......

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Yep, that salt shaker does remind me of something....something similar to the Little Mermaid VHS cover which I OWN TOO, Nicole!! You got caught taking a picture of it? Now that is priceless!!

Yes, it's very adorable with Daddy and his little one! And I'm noticing more and more of actual smiles from Charlie! Way to go, girl!! Those individual pictures of the girls are beautiful!! OH, you and your Mom are cute, too!!!

I have to agree with Karen regarding the deck of the suite. OMG!!!! I could spend the whole cruise right there, and I don't like (or I've never been on) a cruise!!

 

[skier_pete]

The Roy, just in case you were wondering, because I DID research the price.. was going for 30K the same week we cruised in 2015. So like I said, it was nice to see on someone else's dime! The suite also came with like a personal servant- so perhaps THEY use the kitchen to cook?

Well, that is at least less than a year's pay, so that's good! But thinking about it, that is about what I've spent on our last EIGHT Disney trips combined. So I guess I'll take those eight Disney trips over a week on a boat in a big suite.

Even though the personal servant WOULD be nice.

 

[Tinker326]

Yep, that salt shaker does remind me of something....something similar to the Little Mermaid VHS cover which I OWN TOO, Nicole!! You got caught taking a picture of it? Now that is priceless!!

Yes, it's very adorable with Daddy and his little one! And I'm noticing more and more of actual smiles from Charlie! Way to go, girl!! Those individual pictures of the girls are beautiful!! OH, you and your Mom are cute, too!!!

I have to agree with Karen regarding the deck of the suite. OMG!!!! I could spend the whole cruise right there, and I don't like (or I've never been on) a cruise!!

We are sloooowly working on Charlie's smile. We still get plenty 'w t f' ones!

Well, that is at least less than a year's pay, so that's good! But thinking about it, that is about what I've spent on our last EIGHT Disney trips combined. So I guess I'll take those eight Disney trips over a week on a boat in a big suite.

Even though the personal servant WOULD be nice.

I could buy a car, a house (in some areas), 5 more 7 day cruises... my own pet shark... for that price...... like I said- it was nice to see.. I'm glad I got to because I personally will never reside in it.

 

[JulieODC]

"Me" time is essential!! Hope you enjoyed the day!

Glad the drunken hiccups resolved themselves

Awwww...to the bride/groom, but even more so to the dancing Daddy and daughter! So cute!

OMG, the pepper shaker...HAHAHA! How did we not notice that?

Those pictures came out beautifully!! The girls are so cute!

I tried to buy one of those ON anchor tank tops, but they sold out!! Now I know who bought them!

 

[Tinker326]

I tried to buy one of those ON anchor tank tops, but they sold out!! Now I know who bought them!

My co-worker came to work in the top the other day..and I was like- whoa, I have that shirt too!

It was, clearly, a very popular shirt all around!

 

[Linda67]

Love the little update from The Roy
Oh and look I have a glass of wine in my hand for a change ;-)

 

[Tinker326]

Love the little update from The Roy
Oh and look I have a glass of wine in my hand for a change ;-)

Yhea, it's a shame I don't have a copy of you in the bathtub to throw in here!

 

[Tinker326]

The next morning arrived very, very early. We were all up at 6:30 to eat and get ready for our first port! St. Maarten.

I have to be honest in saying I wasn't overly excited about this port. We had been here in 2007 and out of all our Caribbean ports/vacations (St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize) - St. Maarten always came in dead last with fond memories.

Last tour I arranged a private, highly rated, tour of the island. When our big red van arrived to pick us up with "Taxi For Jesus" in big, bold letter across the windshield I wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Let me just cut the suspense for you- it was bad. And "Taxi for Jesus" became a running joke in our household over the years.

Hubby's only input/advice regarding this entire cruise- over the course of 2 years of planning- was checking & double checking that a big red Jesus van was not going to pull up and take us away. He still had nightmares..... heck, so did I.

Taxi for Jesus did not pull up for us this go-around although we were both HIGHLY amused as we passed THAT VERY VAN (it's really HARD to miss) on our way to our first stop this tour... sitting... in a junkyard. It went by too fast to take a picture, sadly. Because I would have liked to.......

Anyways, I am getting ahead of myself as I lose myself in memories of that wonderful afternoon in 2007 with the red Jesus van.

So we got off the boat around 8 and headed to the arranged meeting spot...

The pier 'o St. Maarten...



The plan was a pre-arranged big group tour with the facebook group through Bernards. The stops were: "Iguana Farm, Maho Beach, Marigot-the French Capital of the St. Maarten (it's two countries, one island... Dutch & French), An Urchin stop & back to ship.

The premise was good. The tour company was good. The problem (at least with our particular bus) was there were just too many people on it. And we spent much of the tour loading/unloading a bus... and this probably didn't help the overall 'vibe' of island for us (again).

Anyways, we meandered over to our designated meeting place & checked in. And waited.

Karen, this is for you, a picture of how badly I really do pose. I just really want you to be prepared come PHM weekend...........when I ruin all our Tweedle pictures.



Feel free to cue the laughter.

After waiting around, we were finally heading towards our bus....... let's go...



Ooooh, look.... a bald head.

Our first stop was an Iguana Farm. I was initially very excited for this as Sarah LOVES bugs, reptiles, lizards... all that. And the pictures I'd seen of this tour showed interaction and holding of them. Something she would love....

Buuuuut.. the place was under construction. And there were too many of us... and the time was too short here... and so we got none of that- much to her huge dismay. Oh well.... thankfully she got one at her birthday party in April!





Also, it was very weird to see how other countries treat animals. The iguanas were free roaming & had a good environment. But the other animals they had there did not. They were very small, dirty cages.. and the animals were cowering in a corner. It was very sad and hard to see.... perhaps it was only temporary as they were working on new habitats. I hope.....

Back in the bus we stopped at a scenic pull out. Not as scenic when unloading 65 people. But, they did serve alcoholic punch as I was getting back on the bus to me.. let me tell you- IT WAS STRONG!!

The hub, the mom & the Char refused to get off the bus. So, I took a picture of my other two cuties....

One side...



And.. the other......



Back on the bus- to our next stop. Maho Beach.

Now, THIS was what I was looking forward to most on the tour. Maho Beach is a beach located right next to the runway of the St. Maarten airport. So when planes land, they go right over your head. You tube it... especially the big jets taking off and people getting blown away......

We were hitting the beach with time to see one of the big jets land- a KLM superliner. And I was super excited......

My kids were super excited to be on the beach.... the waves were particularly rough & so they were having a blast getting thrown around (until injuries occurred & sand buried deep in places they did not want sand buried)

The beach has a schedule of all the big jets coming in & it was crowded today...

But look at the beautiful colors.



Charlie, Gram & I stayed on shore to keep a close eyeball out for sharks lurking.........

Charlie quickly got bored with shark hunting as she really has no idea what a real shark looks like & Bruce wasn't showing up on her watch.... so she moved to sand castle building..........



Gram actually tried to get her in..but the waves were really, really rough. (even if they don't look like it).





The other two were having a blast.........





Wait, is that shadow....a shark?



(no- it was a person).

Happiness... defined.





Tired of beach pictures? Tough.



Least it's not a porthole picture.



Now, as I said-- airplanes land. We had a big one scheduled. But while waiting for the big one... lots of smaller ones landed over us......



All that sand in Sarah's hair.. from getting tossed around.

My mother's picture from further up the beach when she had to do 'potty break' with a small unnamed child...



It was right around this time that Sarah got thrashed really hard by a wave & landed on her wrist. She's a pretty tough kid that shrugs off most things.. so when she is actually crying because something hurts- it's usually pretty bad.

I accessed she could move it. And so it wasn't broken. But she kept holding it & refused to get back in the water. My plan was to get through the tour and if it was still hurting her I'd take her to the ship doctor to see if she might have sprained it.....

(to cut some more suspense- it ended up being fine by the end of the day).

(also, to cut more suspense- we saw no sharks in St. Maarten despite my ever watchful eye while my children frolicked in shark infested waters..err.. I mean..the ocean).

But soon enough- there was excitement in the air... the big jet was coming.......





A different angle that shows perspective a bit more......



It. Was. Awesome!!!

Seriously the highlight of this tour was this moment right here.

Our instructions were to make our way back to the bus right after this landed. We probably had had less than 45 minutes at the beach total. Which made me sad... as we really enjoyed the time here & I would have liked a lot more time.

I would have given up the rest of the tour to stay here!

We held up the tour because I took Sarah to the bathroom to change and access her injury. Sorry bus.

And all too soon we were back on the bus.. heading to our next stop.......

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Karen, this is for you, a picture of how badly I really do pose. I just really want you to be prepared come PHM weekend...........when I ruin all our Tweedle pictures.



Feel free to cue the laughter.

Oh I laughed. and laughed. ok, I'm still laughing.

Tweedle, this is PERFECT! I get to have awesome, hilarious photos where I am NOT the only one looking like a total dork! It's wonderful. I'm even more excited now that I will not be the only dork in the picture. We will have the bestest photos ever and make many, many, MANY people roll on the floor with laugher.

That beach looks AWESOME!!!!!!! I cannot believe the planes were that low, are they crazyloud? I agree that you should have just tanked the rest of the tour and hung out there all day. LOVE the beach/ocean shots, even if you didn't catch any sharks. You would think with your blatant obsession and preoccupation with them, you would at least spot one every now and again.

I don't know, I'm kind of bummed you didn't get the Jesus taxi, that would have been amusing...and I'm all for being amused at your expense.

 

[skier_pete]

Hmmmm...looks like a fun tour, mostly. The plane thing is neat, seen it on TV before. Where I used to live you could park at the end of the runway and have the Jets fly right over you, so I think I've experience it.

Just think, it's the only place in the world where you can be on a beach and both be attacked by a shark AND die in a plane crash! Awesome!

 

[Tinker326]

Oh I laughed. and laughed. ok, I'm still laughing.

Tweedle, this is PERFECT! I get to have awesome, hilarious photos where I am NOT the only one looking like a total dork! It's wonderful. I'm even more excited now that I will not be the only dork in the picture. We will have the bestest photos ever and make many, many, MANY people roll on the floor with laugher.

That beach looks AWESOME!!!!!!! I cannot believe the planes were that low, are they crazyloud? I agree that you should have just tanked the rest of the tour and hung out there all day. LOVE the beach/ocean shots, even if you didn't catch any sharks. You would think with your blatant obsession and preoccupation with them, you would at least spot one every now and again.

I don't know, I'm kind of bummed you didn't get the Jesus taxi, that would have been amusing...and I'm all for being amused at your expense.

I like to call this pose 'the Richard Nixon'

All your pictures you look way less dorky than me in mine. It's a good thing I'm Dum.

The planes were deafing. Especially the big one. And I guess the airport will only allow take offs at certain times of the day and they try to clear the beach because the jet pushes out so much that it blows people/cars/item hundreds of feet..... there's a bunch of you tube of people holding on the fence trying to withstand the take-offs........

I think there was a reason Taxi For Jesus ended up in the junkyard... it was a downright scary tour....

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I'm sorry Sarah got hurt, but I do love that picture of her in the water. That is pure happiness!

Love the underwater shot too!

Having the planes fly overhead is awesome! I'd love to see that! I definitely would have wanted to stay on the beach and skip the rest of the tour too!