The McSparklesons are BACK and they are CRUISIN! COMPLETE 10/4

[CRdisMom]

aft topic but what type of camera do you have? Mine died...i'm looking at a nikkon d70 with a big lense

[karajeboo]

In the words of my dear friend Lionel Richie….
“Well my friends the time has come…..
To raise the roof and have some fun…..”

As we left the muster mess we were herded (again with the cow analogies???) out through the not so secret main doors of Animator’s and as the masses waited for an elevator, we hoofed it up 6 flights to Deck 10 (cause we were on Deck 4 + 6 = Deck 10 - I’m not going too fast for you, am I?) to get ready for the Sail Away party.

Now I’m always up for a good party, so I was really looking forward to this!

We found a spot by the rail right in front of the Deck 9 Goofy Stage, but we were on Deck 10 so we could look right down and see all the action!











We were singin.
We were dancin.
We were wavin pompoms.
We were mooooovin. (Get it???? More bovine humor!!!! )
We were groovin.

And Ally kept turning around to say, "Mama, STOP that!"

And then I started singin LOUDER, dancin FASTER, wavin HIGHER, and just really getting this party kicked into a higher gear.

Cause that's what Gopher McCoy wanted us to do. Gopher McCoy was our cruise director. Yes, that was his name. At first I thought it was Peter Popper. And that led to all kinds of crazy children's rhymes. Until Jeff informed me it was Peter Kopper. No, Peter Koffer. Still not right.

So it became Gopher McCoy. Well........ I couldn't very well call him JULIE now, could I? And if you thought I was going to leave this TR without a Love Boat reference, well, you just don't know me at all.

Furthermore, if you think I'm done with the Titanic references.......

This party was so upbeat and fun, I even caught Jeff doing the Cha Cha Slide with us!!!! I even think he was on Funnelvision! Ya know that commercial for RCL where the dad is dancing and acting crazy and the daughter is mortified? Yup, my family!!!

Add pixie dust and it increases tenfold!!!


Sail Away with Mickey and Friends - VIDEO

Sail Away Countdown - VIDEO


After all the festivities, including the countdown at 5pm, we finally pulled away from the port around 5:30 or so...... I think Captain John was enjoying his Drink of the Day and too busy doing the Cha Cha Slide with Gopher McCoy and they lost track of time..... or something like that!

It was fun watching the Norwegian Sun and the Carnival Dream leave port first. It was amazing just how long it took them to actually get out of view.

But. Now. It. Was. Our. Turn!!!!!

We grabbed a couple of drinks - I think Captain John may have just handed me his DOTD as he sprinted back toward the bridge, but I can't really remember for sure - we made our way back to our cabin to unpack. We hung out on the balcony as we slooooowly pulled away.....







All the cast members hung out on the observation deck, waving with the giant Mickey hands.... either that or they all simultaneously slammed their hands in the door.......

Leaving Port - VIDEO

There was some commotion outside our door and sure enough it was my luggage! I think I heard some cursing too, same as when Jeff loaded it in the van, and when the porter took it, and when...... It was a HEAVY suitcase!

So I grabbed it, heaved it up on my shoulder, then sprinted into the room, jumped on the bed, and finally threw it to the ground, where it burst open, all my clothes flew into the drawers and closet and all was right in the world.

Or something like that.

As I was unpacking, Jeff and Ally would call me out to the balcony from time to time. It was so fun to watch the people on shore who obviously chose Saturday afternoon to come down to watch the cruise ships leave. It really is neat to see.......

They are just so large and majestic and they move through the water so smoothly.





Watching all the fishing boats coming in, they would wave to us and hold up their catches for us to see.

Ally was really loving it. She looked to me at one point, and said, "I feel like a star!" She really thought everyone was waving at HER! Get that princess wave going there, girlfriend!!!!



There were several restaurants and bars along the shore and at one point I heard a kid yell..... "LUCKY!!!!!!!!"

I realized then, just how lucky we were. Truly. This was just the beginning a magical vacation and I really did feel on top of the world.





That was the last I would see land for the next 2 1/2 days. It only took about 10-15 minutes after that to lose sight of land. Captain John was Cha Cha Sliding us out into the big blue!!!!!!!

Up Next....... The Motion of the Ocean.......

[jcarwash]

It was so fun to watch the people on shore who obviously chose Saturday afternoon to come down to watch the cruise ships leave. It really is neat to see.......

I was surprised how many people were watching the ships leave, but then I thought, what a good idea. Beautiful Saturday in Florida, late afternoon, let's go down to the port, bring a cooler, and watch the ships leave. Way better than snow-blowing my driveway.

[karajeboo]

Originally Posted by CRdisMom

aft topic but what type of camera do you have? Mine died...i'm looking at a nikkon d70 with a big lense

I have a Nikon D5000 for my main camera. I'm still learning how to use it and I don't change the settings as often as I should for the right shots. But I love it! My point and shoot is an Olympus underwater camera. It takes good shots outside and underwater, but using a flash indoors is very grainy.....

[MAGICFOR2]

Originally Posted by karajeboo

I have no idea what a steamer trunk is? I did read that we had no steamer trunk before we even left - cause being the good little DISer, I researched our cabin.....

Ah, Captain John. Yes, he seemed quite taken with the McSparklesons. But then, so was Gopher McCoy, the cruise director. They were all waiting in line to have their pics taken with US!

Tammie, don't be so forward or someone in my cabin might become upset and open a can of whoop aft!

Who knew the word AFT could be so much fun?????

Steamer Trunk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7411850@N04/5312003543/
A little extra Disney Theming. I saw an post showing that it depends on the shape of the room. Some have straight walls and don't have room for it, and some have indentations for it to fit in and not take up floor space. I just loved having the extra storage and it is so cute.

And then when the other passengers saw you getting all the attention, they started lining up too, I'm sure!

Whoop AFT

[MAGICFOR2]

Looks like the best Sail Away Evah!!! We liked Deck 10 for sail away, too. I'm surprised Ally didn't want to be right in the middle of Deck 9. Maybe she thought she could keep you from dancing that way?

I love sailing out with the locals all waving - it just feels like Party!

[wilma-bride]

Great update - you were indeed lucky, lucky, lucky. Can't wait to read more

[karajeboo]

I'm so ashamed right now. I forgot a couple of VITAL pieces of my TR.... Oh the shame!!!!!

Remember when we were at the Radisson and Ally said, "Mama, I think those people live in our neighborhood?"

Well, we saw the same people again in the terminal. Ally pointed them out again and finally I got tired of listening to her so I said, "Really? Because I'm going to go ask them."

She said, "Fine."

Jeff bet her $20 that they did NOT live in our neighborhood. Father of the Year there, making wagers with his 10 year old.....

So I march my hiney over to the mystery neighbors and ask the mother, "Escuse me, this might sound really strange, but are you from South Carolina?"
When the deer in headlights look finally fades, she answers, "Uh, yes?"

So I proceed, still not thinking anything of it. I mean, there's what, a 2% chance of them being from SC (50 states x 2 = 100%), even though SC is a relatively sparse state so the odds are actually a bit less than that.......

"Do you live in Greenville?"

Hesitantly she answers, "Yes....."

I then ask if she lives in our neighborhood and not only DO they live in our 'hood, they live about 5 houses away!!!!!

Score one for Ally!!!!

A bit later while Ally and I were waiting to see Mickey, the father comes up and we are chatting a bit. Turns out, they have twin daughters in FOURTH grade! Ally is in FOURTH grade! They go to private school though, so that explains why she's never seen them around school.......

But they left their house at EXACTLY the same time we did, they checked in at roughly the same time we did, stayed in the same hotel, we probably passed each other on the highway several times.

They probably thought, they're too sexy to live in our 'hood, so they never gave us a second thought.......

Then as the week progressed we saw them everywhere on the ship and their cabin was just a few down from us. Now, is that a SMALL WORLD story, or what?????

[karajeboo]

Originally Posted by jcarwash

I was surprised how many people were watching the ships leave, but then I thought, what a good idea. Beautiful Saturday in Florida, late afternoon, let's go down to the port, bring a cooler, and watch the ships leave. Way better than snow-blowing my driveway.

When we lived in Jacksonville, Carnival had one ship that cruised from there. I would see it some times if I drove that way, and people would line the beach nearby to watch it leave. It really is a sight to see. But I liked our view better!

Originally Posted by MAGICFOR2

Steamer Trunk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7411850@N04/5312003543/
A little extra Disney Theming. I saw an post showing that it depends on the shape of the room. Some have straight walls and don't have room for it, and some have indentations for it to fit in and not take up floor space. I just loved having the extra storage and it is so cute.

And then when the other passengers saw you getting all the attention, they started lining up too, I'm sure!

Whoop AFT

Tammie, you are right again! Trendsetters that we are, we started the whole photo with the Captain thing. Hey, maybe they'll let you and Jim do it too when you cruise the Wonder later!!! Just tell them the McSparklesons sent you......

and if they don't, I'll let you borrow my can of whoop aft.....

Originally Posted by MAGICFOR2

Looks like the best Sail Away Evah!!! We liked Deck 10 for sail away, too. I'm surprised Ally didn't want to be right in the middle of Deck 9. Maybe she thought she could keep you from dancing that way?

I love sailing out with the locals all waving - it just feels like Party!

Ally is funny about that - she wants to be in the middle of it, yet she doesn't. We ended up having a little "talk" with her in the midst of the sail away, telling her to loosen up. If she's embarassed by us now...... oh, poor kid!

Originally Posted by wilma-bride

Great update - you were indeed lucky, lucky, lucky. Can't wait to read more

Now, if I can just be lucky, lucky, lucky enough to win the lottery so I take this trip for often!!!!!

[wilma-bride]

That was a great IASW story - I love those

We once bumped into my daughters' cousin and his Dad in Islands of Adventure. Given they live several hundred miles from us here in the UK and we had NO idea they were even going to be in Florida, let alone Islands, that day, it was a pretty surreal moment

[podsnel]

Originally Posted by MAGICFOR2

Steamer Trunk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7411850@N04/5312003543/
A little extra Disney Theming. I saw an post showing that it depends on the shape of the room. Some have straight walls and don't have room for it, and some have indentations for it to fit in and not take up floor space. I just loved having the extra storage and it is so cute.

And then when the other passengers saw you getting all the attention, they started lining up too, I'm sure!

Whoop AFT

Yes- that steamer trunk stores a TON of stuff- we would have been lost without that extra storage space!!

Thanks for sharing so much of your sailaway- it almost makes me feel like i had one on my cruise...

Just to be clear- if you decide to stick your finger in the door next May after the Muster Mess- you are ON YOUR OWN!!! I will be upstairs cha cha sliding with the crew!!!

[JaxJags08]

Originally Posted by karajeboo

This party was so upbeat and fun, I even caught Jeff doing the Cha Cha Slide with us!!!!

There is just something about a cruise where you can't just help but relax and get your Cha Cha Slide on!

Originally Posted by karajeboo

There were several restaurants and bars along the shore and at one point I heard a kid yell..... "LUCKY!!!!!!!!"
I realized then, just how lucky we were. Truly. This was just the beginning a magical vacation and I really did feel on top of the world.

Aaawwww - this part made me a little teary! Your pics from the ship bring up such great memories of past cruises. Before my first cruise I wasn't sure how I would feel about not seeing land around me, but the ocean is just so amazing that I found it so therapeutic to just see all that blue!

[JaxJags08]

Originally Posted by karajeboo

When we lived in Jacksonville, Carnival had one ship that cruised from there. I would see it some times if I drove that way, and people would line the beach nearby to watch it leave. It really is a sight to see. But I liked our view better!

Do you remember which beach you can see ships from? I've been wanting to take DD to watch it leave because she's never been on a cruise before (which I hope to remedy sooner than later). I've only driven by it docked, but never actually witnessed it leaving. BTW, the prices for that ship are SO LOW! It is an older ship, but with those prices it's tempting! I just have to tell myself that if we did it, it would be that much longer until we can do DCL or one of RCCL's giants!

[CRdisMom]

i would laugh sooooo hard if that happened....now fingers crossed that I don't do something stooooopid in May.

[soontobewed07]

Kara just caught up on your report and I am LOVING it! I really think for Badookies 5th birthday we may need to take a cruise.
Loving the bovine humor and as always a great trip report