09/08/07 Early Check in September 8, 2007 Western

[fltink]

Hey everyone! Sorry that I didn't get to meet everyone, by the time that we got on board, fed the kids and dropped off our carry on, we just made it to the drill. I do think that I met some people anyway, TwinPrincess..I'm pretty sure that we did the Castaway Ray's Sting Ray Adventure together. We were in your group.
We had a great time! I just talked my DH into letting me book the 5 night on 9/1/08! You can say that I'm a little bit hooked!!
I did learn ALOT, as this was our 1st cruise, so we (I) packed WAY too much!! I wasn't sure what I would need or want, so I packed EVERYTHING!!
Then, we ended up wearing practicily the same things all week!
I was also a little disapointed, I did ALOT of research for this cruise!! I bought formal, semi-formal and whole new wordrobes for the whole family, only to see LOTS of people wearing shorts to dinner and kakahis on formal night! My DH was VERY upset that I made him follow dress code EVERY night (he's a 23 yr old mechanic who would wear jeans and a t shirt every day if I let him!).
All in all we had a GREAT time!
I would love to meet anyone who is on the next cruise!! 9/1/08!!

BTW..DH and DS(2), both ended up with colds as well!

The beauty of Disney Cruise Line, though, is that as far as dining, almost anything goes. If you are casual kind of people, you can be pretty casual. Personally, we love to dress up as much as possible so we really stay true to the dress codes. Though, I WILL agree with you that I saw WAY more people dressed down on this cruise than on any other. And even when there are SPECIFIC guidelines that are supposed to be followed (like on formal night) it didn't seem like Disney enforced them this time. The only time on the whole cruise I saw someone denied admitttance because of clothing was at Palo brunch. A couple came in wearing jeans and tee shirts and they were asked to go change before dining.

 

[drclaws]

Couple of pics of the storm that avoided Castaway Cay and a parasailer off the aft of the Magic.

...and of course that fine Margaritaville in Cozumel!

 

[fltink]

Isn't it kind of funny that there's a Margaritaville in every port on the Western now? We went to the ones in Key West and Grand Cayman. (Anyone else order a drink in Grand Cayman? $25 US each!) We also went to Breezes in Grand Cayman which is an awesome bar with a gorgeous view and Carlos and Charlie's in cozumel. (Our old, crazy favorite! Those yard margaritas are killer!)

I've also been to Margaritaville in Grand Turk and that one has an amazing pool and the best purple Southern Comfort hurricanes anywhere! But, my favorite Margaritaville will always be Orlando. It has an awesome porch and the atmosphere is killer. It's a great escape for the theme parks when you live amoungst them.

 

[stina]

Oooh, I am definitely gonna have to be spending some time at the Margaritaville in Orlando!

I am now the proud owner of 2 Margaritaville/Key West tshirts. Couldn't find one I liked in Cozumel. They seem to have different products at each of the different stores.

And yes, I hold Carlos & Charlie's FULLY responsible for my drunken stateroom to stateroom phonecalls. The stuff that they put in those Margaritas is OOC.

 

[ReAnSt]

Stephen and I got home around 10-11pm last night. Then I was at work at about 8am this morning till 5pm. Stephen was the smart one and took the day off.

It was nice to meet many of you. I plan on working on my trip report in my signature at some point but I haven't gotten there yet.

I was another one who completely wiped out by the Quiet cove pool. I seriously thought I wasn't going to be able to walk the next morning but surprisingly I was not too badly bruised or sore. Although I did have blue toes and knees.

I hope you all feel better soon.

 

[ladyemmaann]

Oooh, I am definitely gonna have to be spending some time at the Margaritaville in Orlando!

I am now the proud owner of 2 Margaritaville/Key West tshirts. Couldn't find one I liked in Cozumel. They seem to have different products at each of the different stores.

And yes, I hold Carlos & Charlie's FULLY responsible for my drunken stateroom to stateroom phonecalls. The stuff that they put in those Margaritas is OOC.

My DP and I have one each from each port but Castway.. We got some of them in the POURING rain. My DP got her parrot head.
We..at this time, do not have colds form to sail but general sinus issue.

 

[fltink]

Glad to know I'm not the ONLY one who wiped out by the pool. It is slippery as all hell up there!

 

[MamaKoss]

Okay, had to add my own "mishaps" to this blog. My DD15 started a cold during the last leg of the cruise. I in turn ended up with it by the time we got home. It didn't help either that when we returned home, I was in a tank top and shorts and it was only 54 degrees here! Burrrrrrrr. I was freezing. So, needless to say, back and forth from hot to cold. I will commend DCL on their attempts at keeping illness down to a minimum on the ship. I don't think my hands have ever been that clean!

Unfortunately, I fell as well on Deck 10 one night. Hubby and I were taking a walk and there was a puddle of water I didn't see. Just about did the splits. Fortunately I didn't hurt myself (I'm a bit of a clutz to begin with, so I learned a long time ago how to fall gracefully and without injury). I did slip a little near the Mickey Pool as well. The non-slip rug is fine, but it did have a funky odor. That's the problem with non-slip rugs in water areas.

As far as Rockin Bar D, we would go for the entertainment, but really didn't stick around for High Frequency afterwards because they weren't that great. That's when we would go for "walks" around the ship. So, I did miss the Dirty Dancing chair thingy. Too bad. I would have liked to have seen it. Also, no, we never seemed to get a guy server in Rockin Bar D. Always that one woman. Didn't care for her attitude. However, we did have some really awesome servers in different areas of the ship.

I also missed the deck party when we departed Port Canaveral. Wasn't the same. Didn't have the same high energy as a deck party.

All in all, we will definitely be back onboard some day. Not quite sure when. Probably not until 2010. Between car payments, private school payments, and cost of living, it takes us a while to save up for such an expensive vacation. This time I booked everything separately and saved at least $1,000 on the cost of the cruise and air. But still, was around $4,000 for us and that takes a while to save.

Stina, good luck on your impending move to Florida. Hope everything goes well for you.

Everyone else...dream for the future "Magic". Or perhaps, one of the newer ships that are currently being built? Can't wait to see what they will look like. I bet they will be awesome.

Gotta go to work now.

Chat later. Hugs and Kisses.

 

[TXBzean_DizKruzr]

For those already living in, or moving to, the Tampa Bay area...there was an article in the St. Pete Times about DCL considering the Port of Tampa as home to their new ships. Read on...

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/09/23/Business/Talk_of_the_Bay__Disn.shtml

 

[stina]

Wow! Thanks for that article on DCL/Tampa. That makes me soooo excited!!!!

Thanks to all for your wishes, prayers and support regarding my move. Almost there...only 2 weeks to go here in Mass. I can't believe it! My partner Christine (who is currently in Tampa) saw a billboard yesterday that said "Dream Big. Annual Passholders" and we were like HECK YES!

 

[fltink]

DCL sure is doing a good job of keeping people guessing about what the new ships' ports and itineraries will be. There was lots of buzz on the ship from the crew members about the possibilities of Hawaii (I would be SOOOOOOO happy!) or Alaska (Not so much) as well as the ideas of one staying in the Mediterranean permenantly and/or one staying on the West Coast. I can't wait to find out!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[S.S.Oceanlover]

DCL sure is doing a good job of keeping people guessing about what the new ships' ports and itineraries will be. There was lots of buzz on the ship from the crew members about the possibilities of Hawaii (I would be SOOOOOOO happy!) or Alaska (Not so much) as well as the ideas of one staying in the Mediterranean permenantly and/or one staying on the West Coast. I can't wait to find out!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if DCL even knows yet. The first newbuild isn't due until 2010 or is 2011?
If they did hawaii wouldn't they have to be at least 10 day cruises if they went to Fanning Island or 14 days if they left from SF or Los Angeles?

I know my peasant butt couldn't afford a 10 or 14 day DCL cruise but I'm sure there are many out there that could.

Bill

 

[Donnica]

Ok so why still no cruise report from anyone?

 

[fltink]

Ok so why still no cruise report from anyone?

I'm working on one. I am writing it in my wordprocessing program and then I will copy it over. I am trying to be as detailed as possible.

 

[ReAnSt]

Ok so why still no cruise report from anyone?

I've been working on one since pre-trip. The link is available here. It is also in my signature.

 

[Donnica]

still waiting...............

 

[ReAnSt]

still waiting...............

Here is the link again for my trip report. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1543051

If you are looking for a particular person's report sorry I can't help you there.

 

[Donnica]

Thank you I enjoyed it. I am refereing to all those others who had no trouble posting every day prior to the cruise but now they can't tell me how it was? You do remember I wasn't able to go... right? (you others)

 

[fltink]

Thank you I enjoyed it. I am refereing to all those others who had no trouble posting every day prior to the cruise but now they can't tell me how it was? You do remember I wasn't able to go... right? (you others)

I'm sorry, Donnica!!!! I PROMISE! I am going to work on mine right NOW!!!!!!!

 

[fltink]

Here's something exciting for everyone who is like me and wants to recreate the cruise at home as much as possible! DO you love stepping of the forward elevators and smelling that hypnotic scent from the Vista Spa???? Go out and buy yourself anything in the Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy line in the scent TRANQUIL MINT. Your senses will be very much happily surprised! It smells JUST LIKE the spa!!!!! Hooray! I dicovered this when I bought the hand soap and then quickly made the decision to buy everything else in that line so I can be surrounded by the scent all the time! Serenity NOW! Enjoy!