QueenTrident
<font color=darkorange>Is afraid of coming out lik
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2003
- Messages
- 600
Sorry, this is getting long. I'll keep future installments shorter...
Embarkation Day
Yay! It was Saturday, January 24. The day I had been waiting for for months. I woke up early I was too excited to sleep. I went to Radissons restaurant and grabbed breakfast for everyone. I got back to the room, woke up DH and hopped in the shower. It was after my shower that I realized why my four suitcases and two carryon bags werent so stuffed half of my clothes werent in them. The capris I wanted to wear, along with my Disney tee shirt were missing. Thanks DH!
I got DD up and dressed and tried to get her to eat some cereal. She only wanted the bread. I took some pictures in front of the palms trees and we made our way to the lobby to wait for our shuttle. We had reservations on the 10:30 shuttle (pre-booked in December) and DH was grumbling that it was only 10:00. Well, some other early birds were there as well and we got on the shuttle to the port at 10:10 or so. Woo hoo! The shuttle was painless, as was the transfer of our luggage. At the port, a steward just gathered it all up and showed us the way to the terminal. We made our way through the metal detectors and got on line at about 10:25. On line, I met some fellow DISers and already felt home. The check in line started promptly at 10:30. DH and I hadnt filled out our Bahamas immigration paperwork, so we needed to do that at the counter. We felt pretty silly standing there, filling it out so be sure to fill out all the paperwork in your documents before leaving home! Other that that paperwork snafu, we were all set.
The line was already forming for entering the ship, but I couldnt convince DH to wait in it. So, we had some drinks and a pretzel at the terminal café and then got in line. DD was overwhelmed with the number of people there and the number of people that knew her name (other DISers). She was already basking in her mini-celebrity status. She also got to see Donald Duck and Max, so she was set for the whole trip.
One thing that bugged me was the people behind use in line a huge group were bragging that they had just gotten over the flu and lied about not having flu symptoms in the last 72 hours. I was so paranoid at that point that I was practically stepping on the feet of the people in front of me to avoid the people behind me. And, I had DD washing her hands with Purell every ten minutes. I dont think our hands have ever been as clean as they were last week!
Once the doors opened at noon, it took about 15 - 20 minutes to make our way through the doors, get our pictures taken and be announced. But the wait was worth it. I wish I had thought to videotape DDs reaction. It was priceless and worth every cent we paid for the trip (and every aggravating comment). Once we made our way through the atrium, it took us a little bit to get our bearings. Finally, some coherent thoughts penetrated my shock and I screamed at DH Palo! Spa! Palo! Yes, people around me took a step away from the crazy woman. We made our way to the ninth floor and I dropped DD and DH at Topsiders while I ran back to Floor 3 to make Palo reservations. There was no line and I easily got my first choice Monday at 7:00 p.m.
I ran back up to the ninth floor to the spa. As I was entering the spa, DH called me on the radio to tell me DD was acting up and could I make the reservations a little more quickly. Uh, no pressure on an already pressure-filled situation. Having just run up 6 flights of stairs (twice), I panted that I was moving as quickly as possible.
The spa lines were separated into three areas cabana massages, nail/hair appointments, and everything else. I started waiting in the cabana line, but the people in front of me didnt know what they wanted, so I got impatient and went to the everything else line, where the people in front of me didnt know what they wanted. Dont these people know about Barbs site or the DIS boards? Geez. After about 10 minutes, I made my reservations for a well-being massage for DH and an Oceanwrap for me. As I was leaving the spa, I noticed the cabana massage line was empty and asked if there were any more couples massages left. There were and I got a noon appointment.
By 12:50, I was back at Topsiders, having accomplished everything I wanted to. I was feeling very proud of myself, until I found DH and DD. Evidently, DD had thrown a massive tantrum and she and DH were now having a standoff. DH finally tired of it and disappeared, leaving me with a very cranky DD and all our carryon bags, but no camera. Thanks DH!
I took DD to the pool and she played for a while. I wanted to take some pictures, but...you know, no camera. In the meantime, I was trying to get DH via our radios and cell phone, but couldnt find (or reach him anywhere). I didnt want to go to our cabin without him I had ordered some gifts for him and DD and wanted us all to be there when we opened that door for the first time. Finally, around two, he called me and we all met up on Deck 10. We went to our cabin (7050) and started settling in.
Embarkation Day
Yay! It was Saturday, January 24. The day I had been waiting for for months. I woke up early I was too excited to sleep. I went to Radissons restaurant and grabbed breakfast for everyone. I got back to the room, woke up DH and hopped in the shower. It was after my shower that I realized why my four suitcases and two carryon bags werent so stuffed half of my clothes werent in them. The capris I wanted to wear, along with my Disney tee shirt were missing. Thanks DH!
I got DD up and dressed and tried to get her to eat some cereal. She only wanted the bread. I took some pictures in front of the palms trees and we made our way to the lobby to wait for our shuttle. We had reservations on the 10:30 shuttle (pre-booked in December) and DH was grumbling that it was only 10:00. Well, some other early birds were there as well and we got on the shuttle to the port at 10:10 or so. Woo hoo! The shuttle was painless, as was the transfer of our luggage. At the port, a steward just gathered it all up and showed us the way to the terminal. We made our way through the metal detectors and got on line at about 10:25. On line, I met some fellow DISers and already felt home. The check in line started promptly at 10:30. DH and I hadnt filled out our Bahamas immigration paperwork, so we needed to do that at the counter. We felt pretty silly standing there, filling it out so be sure to fill out all the paperwork in your documents before leaving home! Other that that paperwork snafu, we were all set.
The line was already forming for entering the ship, but I couldnt convince DH to wait in it. So, we had some drinks and a pretzel at the terminal café and then got in line. DD was overwhelmed with the number of people there and the number of people that knew her name (other DISers). She was already basking in her mini-celebrity status. She also got to see Donald Duck and Max, so she was set for the whole trip.
One thing that bugged me was the people behind use in line a huge group were bragging that they had just gotten over the flu and lied about not having flu symptoms in the last 72 hours. I was so paranoid at that point that I was practically stepping on the feet of the people in front of me to avoid the people behind me. And, I had DD washing her hands with Purell every ten minutes. I dont think our hands have ever been as clean as they were last week!
Once the doors opened at noon, it took about 15 - 20 minutes to make our way through the doors, get our pictures taken and be announced. But the wait was worth it. I wish I had thought to videotape DDs reaction. It was priceless and worth every cent we paid for the trip (and every aggravating comment). Once we made our way through the atrium, it took us a little bit to get our bearings. Finally, some coherent thoughts penetrated my shock and I screamed at DH Palo! Spa! Palo! Yes, people around me took a step away from the crazy woman. We made our way to the ninth floor and I dropped DD and DH at Topsiders while I ran back to Floor 3 to make Palo reservations. There was no line and I easily got my first choice Monday at 7:00 p.m.
I ran back up to the ninth floor to the spa. As I was entering the spa, DH called me on the radio to tell me DD was acting up and could I make the reservations a little more quickly. Uh, no pressure on an already pressure-filled situation. Having just run up 6 flights of stairs (twice), I panted that I was moving as quickly as possible.
The spa lines were separated into three areas cabana massages, nail/hair appointments, and everything else. I started waiting in the cabana line, but the people in front of me didnt know what they wanted, so I got impatient and went to the everything else line, where the people in front of me didnt know what they wanted. Dont these people know about Barbs site or the DIS boards? Geez. After about 10 minutes, I made my reservations for a well-being massage for DH and an Oceanwrap for me. As I was leaving the spa, I noticed the cabana massage line was empty and asked if there were any more couples massages left. There were and I got a noon appointment.
By 12:50, I was back at Topsiders, having accomplished everything I wanted to. I was feeling very proud of myself, until I found DH and DD. Evidently, DD had thrown a massive tantrum and she and DH were now having a standoff. DH finally tired of it and disappeared, leaving me with a very cranky DD and all our carryon bags, but no camera. Thanks DH!
I took DD to the pool and she played for a while. I wanted to take some pictures, but...you know, no camera. In the meantime, I was trying to get DH via our radios and cell phone, but couldnt find (or reach him anywhere). I didnt want to go to our cabin without him I had ordered some gifts for him and DD and wanted us all to be there when we opened that door for the first time. Finally, around two, he called me and we all met up on Deck 10. We went to our cabin (7050) and started settling in.
Enjoying your trip reports!!
