Mickeylover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 24, 1999
Don't have time for a day by day account (don't remember some stuff, but I'll hit the basics)
Things to know:
Concierge will snap up a lot of the Palo ressies, they were nearly gone and we were one of the first in line...that being said, we had dinner and brunch ressies (I missed my brunch ressie and they rescheduled me without a problem, but I missed that one too!)
Didn't do the spa at all this time. DH did go work out--said it was miserably hot in there.
They went and changed the dances on me for the Sail-Away...the Cha-cha slide is still there, but not some of the other ones.
I love sea days (wasn't sure I would, but they were awesome!)
Servers were very good--Pirom was only in his second week and he warmed up as the week went on. The assistant server, Ella, was fabulous! Z-man is as smooth as they come! Our room steward, Severine was very sweet and a creative towel animal maker.
Secret Porthole rooms are worth the money, really!
Shutters takes better pictures than total strangers who borrow your camera, but its a bear finding 6x8 frames!
There's an outdoor bar on the beach at port in St. Maarten--enjoyed sitting there drinking $2 beer and watching the world go by!
St. Maarten/Martin certainly seemed more poor, but I found folks to be far pushier in St. Thomas in the shops/market.
You can barter in St. Maarten and St. Thomas--the tanzanite bracelet DH bought me ranged in price--once I negotiated it--from $600 to $350--obviously bought it at the low end. DH got a "free" beer while I shopped--one of the more expensive beers he's ever bought!
Lotterie Farms Hidden Forest tour is definately a physical excursion...you really do hike up the mountain into the rain forest. In hindsight, maybe lazing around in a beach chair was a better choice, but the view was fantastic (and so was lunch!) Would not do again, but if you're not really a "beach" person, its a good, and different option and includes a bus ride all over the island.
Five-star snorkel in St. John was fabulous! Great crew, great snorkeling...but tough on little ones. DS (8) was worn out half way through and I took him out of the water after he swallowed a mouthful. Better for strong swimmers and more relaxing if you're not worrying about where your kids are.
Parasailing at CC is Way Cool! DS (8) and I went up tandem. Even my dad, who is 60 had a blast.
The weather was excellent--the best that Rachel, our cruise director, has seen in 6 years--waves were never more than 1-3 feet, and no rain (during the day). Actually, we often didn't feel like we were on a ship--and no post cruise rocking!
The Mariner of the Seas (RCCL's mega ship) was in port with us at St. Thomas. That baby is HUGE--it totally dwarfs the Magic!
My DSS (14) loved the Stack, and had a blast. We let him stay out until 2PM most nights--except for that darn St. Thomas immigration morning!
DS (8) enjoyed the Lab, but he had check out priveleges and if he got bored, he was quick to leave--that prevented him from making as many friends, I think.
I have to admit that many times on the ship, people would ask us where our kids were and we would honestly answer that we had no idea.
Not many night owls on this cruise (not a big surprise I guess) we ended up dancing with the 18 year olds after midnight because everyone else went to bed. (I feel bad for the 18-20 group on this cruise.)
Didn't buy a soda mug, didn't need one. DH hated lugging his beer mug around and later in the week, he just paid extra to avoid carrying it.
Our kids ate without us the night we had dinner at Palo...they got dressed, went to dinner on their own, and had a fine time. The servers are great about that!
DIS Boards people are wonderful--and we met quite a few of them. DO NOT MISS the British Pub Night on the last night of the cruise--tchrmom, XLT800, Quirky Cruiser, their friends Homer and Diane(?) and DH and I laughed until our sides hurt!
Oh, and by the way, we went to the Castaway Club reception and chatted with the CFO for the ship...he says that they DO read the DIS Boards pretty often--sometimes to laught at the crazy rumours we come up with, but mostly to get a feel for what we think....good to know they listen!
Things to know:
Concierge will snap up a lot of the Palo ressies, they were nearly gone and we were one of the first in line...that being said, we had dinner and brunch ressies (I missed my brunch ressie and they rescheduled me without a problem, but I missed that one too!)
Didn't do the spa at all this time. DH did go work out--said it was miserably hot in there.
They went and changed the dances on me for the Sail-Away...the Cha-cha slide is still there, but not some of the other ones.
I love sea days (wasn't sure I would, but they were awesome!)
Servers were very good--Pirom was only in his second week and he warmed up as the week went on. The assistant server, Ella, was fabulous! Z-man is as smooth as they come! Our room steward, Severine was very sweet and a creative towel animal maker.
Secret Porthole rooms are worth the money, really!
Shutters takes better pictures than total strangers who borrow your camera, but its a bear finding 6x8 frames!
There's an outdoor bar on the beach at port in St. Maarten--enjoyed sitting there drinking $2 beer and watching the world go by!
St. Maarten/Martin certainly seemed more poor, but I found folks to be far pushier in St. Thomas in the shops/market.
You can barter in St. Maarten and St. Thomas--the tanzanite bracelet DH bought me ranged in price--once I negotiated it--from $600 to $350--obviously bought it at the low end. DH got a "free" beer while I shopped--one of the more expensive beers he's ever bought!
Lotterie Farms Hidden Forest tour is definately a physical excursion...you really do hike up the mountain into the rain forest. In hindsight, maybe lazing around in a beach chair was a better choice, but the view was fantastic (and so was lunch!) Would not do again, but if you're not really a "beach" person, its a good, and different option and includes a bus ride all over the island.
Five-star snorkel in St. John was fabulous! Great crew, great snorkeling...but tough on little ones. DS (8) was worn out half way through and I took him out of the water after he swallowed a mouthful. Better for strong swimmers and more relaxing if you're not worrying about where your kids are.
Parasailing at CC is Way Cool! DS (8) and I went up tandem. Even my dad, who is 60 had a blast.
The weather was excellent--the best that Rachel, our cruise director, has seen in 6 years--waves were never more than 1-3 feet, and no rain (during the day). Actually, we often didn't feel like we were on a ship--and no post cruise rocking!
The Mariner of the Seas (RCCL's mega ship) was in port with us at St. Thomas. That baby is HUGE--it totally dwarfs the Magic!
My DSS (14) loved the Stack, and had a blast. We let him stay out until 2PM most nights--except for that darn St. Thomas immigration morning!
DS (8) enjoyed the Lab, but he had check out priveleges and if he got bored, he was quick to leave--that prevented him from making as many friends, I think.
I have to admit that many times on the ship, people would ask us where our kids were and we would honestly answer that we had no idea.
Not many night owls on this cruise (not a big surprise I guess) we ended up dancing with the 18 year olds after midnight because everyone else went to bed. (I feel bad for the 18-20 group on this cruise.)
Didn't buy a soda mug, didn't need one. DH hated lugging his beer mug around and later in the week, he just paid extra to avoid carrying it.
Our kids ate without us the night we had dinner at Palo...they got dressed, went to dinner on their own, and had a fine time. The servers are great about that!
DIS Boards people are wonderful--and we met quite a few of them. DO NOT MISS the British Pub Night on the last night of the cruise--tchrmom, XLT800, Quirky Cruiser, their friends Homer and Diane(?) and DH and I laughed until our sides hurt!
Oh, and by the way, we went to the Castaway Club reception and chatted with the CFO for the ship...he says that they DO read the DIS Boards pretty often--sometimes to laught at the crazy rumours we come up with, but mostly to get a feel for what we think....good to know they listen!
