14-night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise (May 14-28, 2011) Lots of pics! COMPLETED 9/8

[Pinkocto]

Kevin, magnificent as always! I felt I was there for the show! Was it a little different than the one on the Dream? I can't remember you showing us photos of Aladdin before.

That dessert buffet looks AMAZING! I kept thinking I need to ask if you saw a sugar free/NSA area, and you already had pictures, hooray! (I seem to use a lot of exclamation points here on the DISBoards...) Do they just do the dessert buffet on the longer cruises? I can't remember reading about it before, except for Pirate night and I'm not sure if that's the same? Also, that drink your mother got looks delicious.

I can't believe the trip is almost over This has been such a marvelous TR, you truly have the storytelling gift

[LindaBabe]

KEV, FABULOUS! Wish you were on OUR trip so you could take the photos (I'd leave my camera at HOME) and write the report. Thanks to your pics, I will definitely keep my eyes open for the sushi bar!

Bright star, as you surmised, is the code for medical emergency.

[KevieKev05]

Originally Posted by MellieluvsDisney

Wow, your TR is so wonderful!!!

Thank you for all the great pictures, and it sure looks like you had a great time with your family.

Thank you! It was truly a trip of a lifetime and we (as a family) enjoyed every single minute together! We're already trying to plan our next family getaway!

Originally Posted by iloverags2

How terrible about the medical emergency. Hoping all is well with the guest they evacuated.

You definitely made a good decision with eating at Parrot Cay for lunch! Your games sound so much like my family. In fact for several years we used to have a game tournament weekend, lasting from early Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. Breaks only for meals, and no one left the house. Points were given for different games, everyone had the option to sit out a game or two (depending on how many games we played), and it culminated in the top points game of PIT! What a riot it always was!

But, back to your report...

O.M.G.! My favorite! (Well, my favorite from the regular dining room menus...Palo obviously not included!) Fettuccini with parmesan-crusted chicken! Love it!

(And, I must thank you for not posting any pictures of Peter with your fabulous Dreams shots.)

We definitely felt horrible for the guest with the medical emergency! I hope our early arrival in Barcelona helped them!

That fettuccine and chicken was definitely fabulous!

Originally Posted by Pinkocto

Kevin, magnificent as always! I felt I was there for the show! Was it a little different than the one on the Dream? I can't remember you showing us photos of Aladdin before.

That dessert buffet looks AMAZING! I kept thinking I need to ask if you saw a sugar free/NSA area, and you already had pictures, hooray! (I seem to use a lot of exclamation points here on the DISBoards...) Do they just do the dessert buffet on the longer cruises? I can't remember reading about it before, except for Pirate night and I'm not sure if that's the same? Also, that drink your mother got looks delicious.

I can't believe the trip is almost over This has been such a marvelous TR, you truly have the storytelling gift

Thank you for your kind words!

"Disney Dreams" (ironically) isn't shown on the Disney Dream. Instead, they have "Disney's Believe." In that show, Aladdin and Jasmine have a tiny segment with the rest of the royal couples.

The dessert buffet was quite a sight! I tried to take as many pictures I could, but trust me...there were hungry eyes behind me so I didn't want to waste too much time in front of them, HAHA! And yes, from what I gather, the dessert buffet is only offered on the longer cruises (7-nights or longer). It is different from the buffet on Pirate night, as well.

Originally Posted by LindaBabe

KEV, FABULOUS! Wish you were on OUR trip so you could take the photos (I'd leave my camera at HOME) and write the report. Thanks to your pics, I will definitely keep my eyes open for the sushi bar!

Bright star, as you surmised, is the code for medical emergency.

I would LOVE to tag along on your trip!

And thank you about the "Bright star" code. I think I forgot to mention that I did indeed end up asking Marianne about it and she confirmed my guess was correct. Such a tragic situation for that guest!

[DMMarla07860]

been following your trip report and love it.

[SNOWHITE7]

Loving your trip report. We were on the cruise and seeing all your photos and reading your comments brings it all back for us. The fourteen days really did fly by and with your report coming to end I feel a little like I did when we reached Barcelona and knew we wouldn't on board when the ship sailed again. Your photos are fantastic and much better than mine and I love all the detail you have included. We loved the yacht in Gibraltar and I was hoping you may have had some closer shots from when it docked right next to us. My husband joked that it could belong to the owner of the football (soccer) team we support and when we got home we found out it did! It is called the Eclipse and I believe it is the biggest private yacht in the world.

The smell you described was experienced by a few people we met on the cruise and I think it did come from the dock. They were doing some work next to us. I don't know if you heard but a couple of weeks after we left one of the big fuel cylinders on the dock exploded and several people were hurt, including some passengers on a cruise ship docked there at the time. Glad it didn't happen when we were there.

We were told by the singer from the Promenade Lounge that the medical emergency was a crew member. So glad it didn't happen when we were in the middle of the crossing.

Looking forward to the rest of your report and photos. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.

[KevieKev05]

Originally Posted by DMMarla07860

been following your trip report and love it.

Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by SNOWHITE7

Loving your trip report. We were on the cruise and seeing all your photos and reading your comments brings it all back for us. The fourteen days really did fly by and with your report coming to end I feel a little like I did when we reached Barcelona and knew we wouldn't on board when the ship sailed again. Your photos are fantastic and much better than mine and I love all the detail you have included. We loved the yacht in Gibraltar and I was hoping you may have had some closer shots from when it docked right next to us. My husband joked that it could belong to the owner of the football (soccer) team we support and when we got home we found out it did! It is called the Eclipse and I believe it is the biggest private yacht in the world.

The smell you described was experienced by a few people we met on the cruise and I think it did come from the dock. They were doing some work next to us. I don't know if you heard but a couple of weeks after we left one of the big fuel cylinders on the dock exploded and several people were hurt, including some passengers on a cruise ship docked there at the time. Glad it didn't happen when we were there.

We were told by the singer from the Promenade Lounge that the medical emergency was a crew member. So glad it didn't happen when we were in the middle of the crossing.

Looking forward to the rest of your report and photos. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.

Thank you for all your compliments!

You know, my Dad and I were staring at the yacht when it was docked next to us for quite some time...and I didn't even take any pictures! This is the closest one I came up with:



And thanks for the info about the smell! Once we returned home I remember reading about the explosion, but didn't put two and two together.

It was a crew member with the medical emergency? Oh no! I can't imagine what it would be like to be in any sort of medical condition while at sea...especially crossing the Atlantic!



I've been frantically writing as it's my hope to have this TR completed by the time the WBTA sails! We shall see...work may get in the way, haha!

[KevieKev05]

DAY 14 - May 27th, 2011 - Barcelona, Spain (Part 1)

I woke up at 8:25 which was actually 5 minutes before the alarm was set to go off. Today would be our Barcelona exploration day, as tomorrow, we would be departing in the morning for the long trip home. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves!

At about 8:55, we received our room service call and received our food shortly thereafter.



We all gathered and went downstairs at 9:30 to get off the ship. Within 15 minutes, we were off the ship and on a shuttle heading towards the end of the port. At approximately 10:00, we were dropped off at the World Trade Center and beginning our walk towards Las Ramblas (the big, main street).











The view down Las Ramblas:








After walking for about 10 minutes or so, we had arrived at the first place I wanted to see: La Boqueria!



We then took a stroll through it!

















We then found a “Barcelona Bus Turistic” booth and purchased our hop on, hop off bus tickets (23 euro per person). Then, we continued to proceed toward the end of Las Ramblas.







When we got to the end of Las Ramblas, there were protests going on in the square (Placa de Catalunya)! Eeeeks! We went to a bus stop to get on the bus and then we were told by an employee that this bus stop was closed due to the protests. She directed us toward the next stop so that we could get on the bus. So, around the protests we went!

[KevieKev05]

DAY 14 - May 27th, 2011 - Barcelona, Spain (Part 2)

When we made it to the next bus stop, there was (naturally) quite a line. So, I decided to go take pictures of the first Gaudi structure I found, “Casa Batllo.”











Then, we made our way back to the bus stop to get on a bus. We wanted to get on a “red line” bus, but since the line was so long, we took a “blue line” bus instead. At the next stop, we got off and got on a “blue line” bus. Once the bus started moving, we went past what I just took pictures of:





At the next stop, we were able to switch to a “blue line” bus quite easily.



We then came across another Gaudi structure, “La Pedrera”:


As you can guess, I just snapped away so here are a bunch of pictures from traveling on the bus:





















(You can see the protesting in the distance):








We then came across Gaudi’s “Casa Batllo” for the third time, haha.

[KevieKev05]

DAY 14 - May 27th, 2011 - Barcelona, Spain (Part 3)



Gaudi’s “La Pedrera” again.















Approaching Gaudi’s “Sagrada Familia”:







We were going to get off the bus at this point and explore, but holy moly! The line to get into the Sagrada Familia was wrapped allllll around the building and then the line to get back on a bus was incredibly long as well! Better stay put and just snap a bunch of pictures!

[KevieKev05]

DAY 14 - May 27th, 2011 - Barcelona, Spain (Part 4)











The bus continued on after briefly stopping at Sagrada Familia and I snapped a picture of this pretty building:



Our next big stop was the stop for Gaudi’s “Parc Guell.” According to the audio, it was about a 10 minute walk away from the bus stop. James and I decided we wanted to get off (it was about 12:30 by now). I believe I forgot to mention that James has been to Barcelona before, so he was familiar with some of the sights. From what he told me, I definitely wanted to see Parc Guell, which is why we got off. Mom and Dad weren’t too keen on walking to see it and decided to stay on the bus. I’m not going to lie, I was slightly concerned separating from them! And so, we parted ways at this point.

James and I began the walk to Parc Guell. It was uphill. And then the park itself was full of hills and stairs, so I’m actually thankful my parents didn’t get off with us! Those poor things wouldn’t have made it, haha! This area was QUITE busy but I was still able to capture a bunch of pictures!















View of the city from the park:





(Can you see the “Sagrada Familia” in this picture?)










The next group of pictures showcases the runway used in the finale of season 7 of “America’s Next Top Model.” Pretty neat!

[KevieKev05]

DAY 14 - May 27th, 2011 - Barcelona, Spain (Part 5)









After about 20 minutes, we began to make our way back to the bus stop.











When we reached the bus stop, there was a line. We had to wait for the second bus to arrive, and when we got on, there was only seating on the bottom available. (Don’t worry! I still captured the following pictures!)



“Guell Pavilions”:







After three stops, we were able to move up top!

The second largest (I believe) football stadium in Europe:





Now, it was about 1:40 and it was time to catch a red line bus again to start making our way back. Naturally, there is quite a line. One bus comes and fills quickly. Then two more come back to back. We wait for the second one so that we can sit up top again. It took about 20 minutes, but by 2:00 we were traveling along the red line route again.

[KevieKev05]

DAY 14 - May 27th, 2011 - Barcelona, Spain (Part 6)



Olympic Stadium:









At about 2:50, we had made our way back to World Trade Center.



Busses we traveled on:


Disney bus back to the ship:


At 3:00, they started loading the Disney bus and it was full within 5 minutes. By 3:15, we were already back at the ship. Through security we went, and then past some of the shops in the terminal. As soon as we got on the ship, we went straight up top for FOOD! Who did we find up there? Mom and Dad! How convenient! They followed the same bus route we did (switching from the blue line to the red line) and made it back safe and sound (PHEW!). We ate with them and then unfortunately we decide that it’s time to start packing. Seriously?! I feel like we just unpacked! Two weeks really did fly by.

Surprisingly, it only took about 20 minutes for us to pack. (We were quite organized throughout the two weeks...well, one has to be when you in a small inside stateroom, haha!) So, we then relaxed and eventually fell asleep. At 6:10, we started to get ready for our FINAL evening on the ship. It just can’t be! Wow.

Within 30 minutes, we were ready and heading down to the Promenade Lounge to meet up with Mom and Dad. I also snapped a picture of tonight’s dinner menu as well.



Tonight’s show (“Remember the Magic: A Final Farewell”) started at 7:45 and there was only one performance. At 7:05 we began to make our way over to the Walt Disney Theatre, and the doors opened at 7:15. It was a good show and wrapped up the whole cruise experience quite well.

[KevieKev05]

DAY 14 - May 27th, 2011 - Barcelona, Spain (Part 7)

[KevieKev05]

DAY 14 - May 27th, 2011 - Barcelona, Spain (Part 8)





The show ended at 8:25, and we went straight to Parrot Cay for our final dinner. We walk in and Zuzana informs us that Marianne is sick and won’t be serving us! WHAT?! This has to be a joke! We were truly upset! She left us a sweet note though and told us she would be at breakfast to say goodbye to us. Phew. For tonight, we had Greg from Hungary serving us in addition to his tables. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as smoothly as we were used to (understandable, though). Our first course didn’t arrive until after 9:00, so we knew tonight meal was going to be a lengthy affair (boo). The whole meal just had a different feel without Marianne there (he sure lacked the personality Marianne had). It was even more depressing than the fact this was our last dinner! It just reiterated to us how wonderful Marianne was. Anyway, food picture time!



Chicken sate:


(We got potato soup, but I didn’t take a picture.)

Steak:


Dessert menu:


Baked Alaska:


Celebration Cake:


The chefs then paraded around the restaurant with the flaming Baked Alaska, followed by a parade of the dining service team.





Our head server, Ali:


Zuzana and Greg:


And with that, our final dinner was over. It was with great sadness that we left the dining room. What was even sadder was the fact that it was past 10:00. Marianne would never have let that happen, haha! We went back to our rooms to finish up packing and we had our suitcases out between 10:15 and 10:20. Phew!

Final turndown:


According to our “Welcome Home” letter, our breakfast was to be at 7:45 tomorrow morning. (The first seating was 6:30...eeeks!) I’m not going to lie. It wasn’t easy at all falling asleep tonight. Even though we had a full day of sightseeing, my mind wouldn’t stop long enough to let me fall asleep. I kept reliving the cruise and thinking about all the amazing times we had. Tomorrow was going to be a LONG day of traveling so I eventually made myself fall asleep...

I plan to have one final installment for this TR: the journey home and final thoughts. Feel free to comment away or ask questions in the meantime!

[iloverags2]

Oh my! The color of the fruit and veggies is incredible!

I guess it's safe to say, if I ever go to Barcelona to be prepared for lines! Yikes! So glad your mom and dad made it back to the ship on their own.

What a bummer about Marianne and your last dinner. Hoping she was able to see you off at breakfast on the final morning.

Looking forward to your final thoughts!