The Lloyd’s – Just Us Two on a Dream Cruise – January 2-6, 2013

[Dave Dizney]

Originally Posted by Nicole786

This report is awesome! I really enjoyed your family on the Travel Channel special.

I'm going on the Dream for the first time in the fall, it was a gift to my parents for their 30th anniversary, so it's all adults going on this trip! It was great to read this and get an adult perspective especially with Palo! We were going to skip Palo since they didn't mention a beef tenderloin dish on the menu online (and the pickier eaters, don't like seafood) was this something you had to ask for or was it on the menu? Thanks!

Here's a copy of the menu from another poster:
http://disneycruiselineblog.com/wp-c...nu-323x500.jpg

The last thing listed under "La Carne" is "Our Beef Tenderloin 'Palo.'"

[joech]

How deep is the water in the snorkeling area? Our DS 6 is not a strong swimmer.

Love your TR
Thanks,

Originally Posted by Dave Dizney

Part 10 – Day 4 afternoon

Next, we had reserved some snorkeling supplies and made the trek over to the hut and donned the equipment.



We put the camera in a new waterproof sleeve we bought just for this trip, and began to walk out. DW, who had never been snorkeling, began to panic just a bit – I thought we might have to go back, but then we met this guy.


He was so interesting, DW forgot about her panic. Later a woman would come by us saying “Enjoy that fish while you can – you won’t see much more.” I dislike grumpy people – and OH, was she WRONG. Here’s a few shots of what we saw in our 1.5 hour snorkel adventure!








Those photos (which I have dozens more) don’t show all the different kinds of fish we saw. It was amazing!

[Dave Dizney]

Originally Posted by joech

How deep is the water in the snorkeling area? Our DS 6 is not a strong swimmer.

Love your TR
Thanks,

Well, you're all required to wear those yellow flotation devices and flippers, so you don't really have to be a strong swimmer - just a good floater. It gets about 10 feet I'd estimate in the deeper areas. DW had some panic issues at first with the headgear, but overcame it quickly once she was able to see the fish. You just float and paddle - very easy.

[Dave Dizney]

Part 12 – Last day & trip home

Now it comes to say goodbye, to all our company…

We had packed everything up the night before and it was gone - so we "roughed it" this morning without first breakfast. ...and yes, we did see a couple ladies in pajama bottoms who must have forgotten to pack the next day's outfit. Note to self.

The lady was not happy that they were forcing us out of our home. “Where’s my dang chocolate croissants?”


We had already pulled into port sometime that morning – why didn’t we wake up THIS time? It was a foggy, sad day.



So before I end this report, here are some things we learned on the trip and wanted to share. Here are the good ideas:

1.) The before mentioned French Press, your own coffee, and the versatile LARGE Tervis Tumbler with the lid, straw, and holder.


2.) Step one, turn your clock to the darker setting. Step two, cover the dang thing with a towel! Seriously, this thing would light up Tucson!


3.) We took a little white-sound machine. Setting? Ocean!!! Though we found the rooms to be very soundproof, this helped keep little feet upstairs a memory.


4.) Little music speakers – hooked up to my phone, we had all the island music, mood music, wake-up eating first-breakfast music we could ask for!


5.) Shorty wetsuits in Castaway Cay in January! We were never cold in the water – even after hours of swimming!


6.) The H2O shampoo, conditioner, and lotions is da bomb! DW loved it so much she ordered some online after we got home.


7.) Over-the-door shoe holder. We cut the last two rows off ours. DW said that if she had to, she could have done without it, but it was a handy place to store jewelry. With only 2 of us in the cabin, we had plenty of room, but I could see how this would have been helpful in a room with more than two. It was cheap enough that we didn’t need to take it home with us, too.


8.) The mirror with the magnified mirror in it was something my DW commented about nearly every day. I wonder when she’s going to look that up on line to see how we get one at home.


9.) Have your family watch you sail away on the Port Canaveral webcam. Then have them send it to your smart phone while you’re still sailing away. It was so cool!


10.) If you have a little point-and-shoot digital camera, buy one of these waterproof sleeves. I found mine on Amazon (Dicapac) for around $18. It worked like a charm and had a wrist float. Highly recommended!


11.) BONUS: Make your reservations for your next trip onboard. This is the biggest regret I have on the entire experience. I was hitting myself about this while standing in line to disembark.



Guest services gets bogged down near the end of the cruise. I overheard one conversation with a “gentleman” arguing with the cast member about paying tips. He acted as if they didn’t know anything about this procedure – even though it’s mentioned in numerous places. These poor cast members from all over the world have to deal with folks like this every. Be kind to your local cast member!


Since we had late dining seating, our breakfast seating was also late on the last day. This gave a few extra minutes on the ship before disembarking. We were reunited with our table-mates (who we missed the last night while we were in Palo).


They don’t let you back in your room once you go to breakfast, so after it was over, we sadly shuffled off the ship.


RARE PHOTOS: I took a couple of these shots of the customs area, which is vaguely familiar to standing in cues for rides at Disney World. I was then shot and wrestled to the ground by the TSA. I didn’t know it was against the rules.



Then, sadly, we made our way to the shuttle that took us back to the La Quinta hotel in Coco Beach. The rental was there, just as we left it. We took one more photo of our beloved ship and then had the horrifying thought that OTHER PEOPLE were going to be using our room that night!!!


After an hour drive or so, we were reunited with our DD who had finished her term in the Disney College Internship program. We goofed around for a bit, and then headed out of Dodge for the frozen north.


Unfortunately, the next day, we found it.


Overall, it was the greatest vacation I’ve ever had! Disney does it right – comfort, service, venue, show, and that special dusting of magic. The cast members were top-notch, the weather was fabulous, the food delicious! Though we may need to be saving another 30 years for our next cruise, we both felt it was worth every dollar.

And, in case you didn’t know, I’m a lucky man. My lady sparkled all week, but she does every day. It made me happy to see her so happy. I love you, babe - happy anniversary!

[violetmonarch]

Thoroughly loved reading your trip report! You looked like you were having a blast!

[disneypoor]

I TOTALLY loved your trip report! Thank you so much for sharing with us, and happy anniversary! I've got to get off here....I'm heading to Amazon and Ebay to search for a waterproof case for my camera before our spring break cruise! Thanks for the tips!

Susan

[Vertigo127]

Awesome report, Dave! Glad that you all had this magical time. I am also sorry that you didn't rebook on board- so nice that you can move your ressie out indefinitely with the discount! Anxiously awaiting the second half of 2014 to see if anything better opens up!

[Dave Dizney]

Originally Posted by disneypoor

I TOTALLY loved your trip report! Thank you so much for sharing with us, and happy anniversary! I've got to get off here....I'm heading to Amazon and Ebay to search for a waterproof case for my camera before our spring break cruise! Thanks for the tips!

Susan

Yeah, I tested that sucker in my kitchen sink first because I just didn't trust it. Then tested it again submerging it deeper and deeper in Serenity Bay before going snorkeling. I just couldn't believe it would stay completely dry, but after 2 hours in the water - it was fine. The only issue was that it was so bright that day, even under water it was difficult to see anything on the screen - so we just hoped we go the shots. I was surprised how good they came out.

[jennyjinx3]

Wow I just absorbed this whole trip report....AMAZING! You had me LOL a couple of times! This type of trip is a "dream" for DH and I , but first we have to try our first cruise as a family in November on the Dream! So excited! Thanks for sharing!

[disneypoor]

Originally Posted by Dave Dizney

Yeah, I tested that sucker in my kitchen sink first because I just didn't trust it. Then tested it again submerging it deeper and deeper in Serenity Bay before going snorkeling. I just couldn't believe it would stay completely dry, but after 2 hours in the water - it was fine. The only issue was that it was so bright that day, even under water it was difficult to see anything on the screen - so we just hoped we go the shots. I was surprised how good they came out.

I'm glad to hear the case worked. On one of our cruises I bought a waterproof case for our cards and money. It came and was basically a bag with plastic baggies. I didn't think my husband would ever let me hear the end of it.

[MichelleVW]

You're not kidding about the light on the clock!! It was crazy bright!! Every time I saw you guys walking around your wife looked so incredibly happy. So glad it was everything you hoped it would be!

[Dave Dizney]

Originally Posted by MichelleVW

You're not kidding about the light on the clock!! It was crazy bright!! Every time I saw you guys walking around your wife looked so incredibly happy. So glad it was everything you hoped it would be!

She's that way naturally, but especially so during that cruise. How could you not be during that week??? I mean, the weather, pizza whenever she wanted it, old ladies farting??? I mean, COME ON, how could you be grumpy with all that?

When are you posting a TR, Michelle???

[Dave Dizney]

Originally Posted by disneypoor

I'm glad to hear the case worked. On one of our cruises I bought a waterproof case for our cards and money. It came and was basically a bag with plastic baggies. I didn't think my husband would ever let me hear the end of it.

lol! Buyer beware, huh?

The case we bought was just a thick zip-lock baggie with a couple strips of industrial velcro and an extension for the lens. A little difficult to know when you took a photo since it was a little difficult to push the button and you couldn't hear the "click" sound under water - but hey, for $18 - it was about the cost of buying a disposable waterproof camera and paying for processing!

[MichelleVW]

Originally Posted by Dave Dizney

She's that way naturally, but especially so during that cruise. How could you not be during that week??? I mean, the weather, pizza whenever she wanted it, old ladies farting??? I mean, COME ON, how could you be grumpy with all that?

When are you posting a TR, Michelle???

I'm more of a photojournalist than writing things down!

[Dave Dizney]

Originally Posted by MichelleVW

I'm more of a photojournalist than writing things down!

Great! Than you'll show us your photos, right???