minniesota
<font color=purple>Land is a good thing, too<br><f
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2002
- Messages
- 1,690
Wednesday, Day 5
We set the alarm for the second morning in a row -ugh! This was feeling like work. When I opened the drapes and stepped out onto he verandah my jaw dropped. Even though dawn was just breaking, I could see this stunning backdrop. The St. Thomas harbor is absolutely gorgeous -the view was picture-perfect postcard material. We hauled the kids out of bed since we had to be in the Walt Disney Theater at 6:30 a.m. - thats right - 6:30 for immigration. And we, like good little sheep, were on time. The lines of people were streaming into the theater and Disney did provide rolls, juice and coffee outside the doors of the theater. The bottom center section of the theater was already filled. We sat in one of the first rows of the second center section. Cast members are there to guide you. We had an excursion at 7:40 a.m. so we were hoping to get through immigration and still have time to grab a little breakfast.
I have to say Disney does there best to make this process as painless as possible. A real sense of fairness was present which we liked. Those who arrived first went through immigration first. We saw one gut throw a hissy fit because he was seated on a side section way down in front. He thought he should be able to file out when the center section rows did. A cast member was right there to explain that the entire center of the theater was there ahead of him and they would be going through immigration before him. He was very miffed but hey, get your butt out of bed on time. You snooze, you lose!
The immigration officer looked closely at DHs passport -he always gets stopped at security too. Drives him crazy. And he looks pretty normal, we think. LOL The officer asked each of the kids their birthdates and that was it. Plenty of time to grab a quick bite and make it to Studio Sea for our excursion check-in. We were on the 5 Star St. John Snorkel Beach Adventure - a trip to St. John island and beautiful Trunk Bay! Wed read a lot about Trunk Bay and this excursion was highly recommended. The check-in process went smooth and were soon off the ship and on our way to the dock, a short walk. Our boat, the Leylon Sneed, was waiting for us and once everyone was onboard we were on our way. There was reggae music playing, the sun was shining and we were ready! Some interesting narration accompanied the start of the trip (though some of it seemed like advertising for specific hotels and resorts). We were all sitting on the starboard side of the boat, right in front. We soon learned that as the boat picked up speed, we were in the wrong spot! Waves of water came over that front end and we were soaked within the first 15 minutes! DS10 loved it - the rest of us inched our way back.
About halfway through the trip the captain announces that he had radioed ahead to the Trunk Bay lifeguards and was told the water was too rough at Trunk Bay and there was poor water visibility. He was sorry but we were going to an alternative location - St. James Island - and some of his crew thought snorkeling was even better there. I dont know - there was something fishy in the tone of his voice but oh well. We were a captive audience. This was my kids first snorkeling experience in the ocean so I was hoping to get them hooked! Boy were we disappointed. The snorkeling was very mediocre - we saw two rays, a couple star fish and a handful of fish. The bottom was grassy and when my DH and DS tried to get over to some coral, DH ended up with cut-up legs and urchin spines in his hand and foot. The beach was also not great - kind of abandoned and obviously no one had cleaned up around there for some time. We were very disappointed. Back on board, the captain said the bar would be open the rest of the way back but somehow that didnt make up for it.
The reason I sound kind of crabby about this is because after we were back onboard the Magic, we discovered at least two other people from this board who went to Trunk Bay -one on another excursion - and one on her own. They said it was beautiful and the water was clear, the snorkeling was fabulous and so was the beach! So we felt like we were not given the truth about why we didnt go to Trunk Bay. Im going to write Disney and let them know of our dissatisfaction with this excursion. I know it has happened to other cruisers on this board, too.
After returning from the 5 Star the kids wanted some wave action again at Magan's Bay, but Dh thought they needed some down time so we got them settled in the room with some pizza and headed up to Topsiders for a few shrimp and some fruit, then off to do some shopping. I bought the kids some t-shirts, hats, souvies. Dh bought himself a hat and he bought me.......a beautiful tanzanite ring! I guess all that planning paid off! What a guy! We got back to the stateroom and I thanked DH appropriately - brought a cold beer out to the verandah! I had a glass of wine and we just soaked in that beautiful harbor. Wed love to come back here sometime.
We had Palo's tonight and I was excited to wear my new ring - and something semi-formal. People might stare if I only wore the ring! Dh asked if he could wear the tux with his tropical shirt tonight. After that purchase, I didnt care if he went in his swimsuit! But alas he wore the tux, but only the jacket - those pants never came out of the closet again!
Anyway, dinner (with Tinkerbell4 and DH) was fabulous. I really would highly recommend it. Ordered the warm shrimp salad which was 4 nice sized grilled shrimp, baby asparagus and a white bean/bacon/onion garnish. Delicious. ALso had the broiled salmon and our server suggested each couple spit a chocolate soufflé and then she brought tiramisu, cappuccino cheesecake and the Italian cheese and berries dish. We were happy campers!!! Great service and nice quiet atmosphere. The kids went to our regular rotation and the older girls reported that the boys both spilled drinks! I wonder if Okim served them my wine by accident!
We skipped Who Wants To Be A Mouseketeer? because our dinner went until 9 or so. Met the kids at the theater and DS was not feeling too good so we got him back to the room (which was spotless again!) and put him to bed. DD was out running around so DH and I enjoyed some quiet verandah time and I was in bed by 11. The early mornings were catching up with us. But tomorrow is a sea day! Relaxation and the spa!
We set the alarm for the second morning in a row -ugh! This was feeling like work. When I opened the drapes and stepped out onto he verandah my jaw dropped. Even though dawn was just breaking, I could see this stunning backdrop. The St. Thomas harbor is absolutely gorgeous -the view was picture-perfect postcard material. We hauled the kids out of bed since we had to be in the Walt Disney Theater at 6:30 a.m. - thats right - 6:30 for immigration. And we, like good little sheep, were on time. The lines of people were streaming into the theater and Disney did provide rolls, juice and coffee outside the doors of the theater. The bottom center section of the theater was already filled. We sat in one of the first rows of the second center section. Cast members are there to guide you. We had an excursion at 7:40 a.m. so we were hoping to get through immigration and still have time to grab a little breakfast.
I have to say Disney does there best to make this process as painless as possible. A real sense of fairness was present which we liked. Those who arrived first went through immigration first. We saw one gut throw a hissy fit because he was seated on a side section way down in front. He thought he should be able to file out when the center section rows did. A cast member was right there to explain that the entire center of the theater was there ahead of him and they would be going through immigration before him. He was very miffed but hey, get your butt out of bed on time. You snooze, you lose!
The immigration officer looked closely at DHs passport -he always gets stopped at security too. Drives him crazy. And he looks pretty normal, we think. LOL The officer asked each of the kids their birthdates and that was it. Plenty of time to grab a quick bite and make it to Studio Sea for our excursion check-in. We were on the 5 Star St. John Snorkel Beach Adventure - a trip to St. John island and beautiful Trunk Bay! Wed read a lot about Trunk Bay and this excursion was highly recommended. The check-in process went smooth and were soon off the ship and on our way to the dock, a short walk. Our boat, the Leylon Sneed, was waiting for us and once everyone was onboard we were on our way. There was reggae music playing, the sun was shining and we were ready! Some interesting narration accompanied the start of the trip (though some of it seemed like advertising for specific hotels and resorts). We were all sitting on the starboard side of the boat, right in front. We soon learned that as the boat picked up speed, we were in the wrong spot! Waves of water came over that front end and we were soaked within the first 15 minutes! DS10 loved it - the rest of us inched our way back.
About halfway through the trip the captain announces that he had radioed ahead to the Trunk Bay lifeguards and was told the water was too rough at Trunk Bay and there was poor water visibility. He was sorry but we were going to an alternative location - St. James Island - and some of his crew thought snorkeling was even better there. I dont know - there was something fishy in the tone of his voice but oh well. We were a captive audience. This was my kids first snorkeling experience in the ocean so I was hoping to get them hooked! Boy were we disappointed. The snorkeling was very mediocre - we saw two rays, a couple star fish and a handful of fish. The bottom was grassy and when my DH and DS tried to get over to some coral, DH ended up with cut-up legs and urchin spines in his hand and foot. The beach was also not great - kind of abandoned and obviously no one had cleaned up around there for some time. We were very disappointed. Back on board, the captain said the bar would be open the rest of the way back but somehow that didnt make up for it.
The reason I sound kind of crabby about this is because after we were back onboard the Magic, we discovered at least two other people from this board who went to Trunk Bay -one on another excursion - and one on her own. They said it was beautiful and the water was clear, the snorkeling was fabulous and so was the beach! So we felt like we were not given the truth about why we didnt go to Trunk Bay. Im going to write Disney and let them know of our dissatisfaction with this excursion. I know it has happened to other cruisers on this board, too.
After returning from the 5 Star the kids wanted some wave action again at Magan's Bay, but Dh thought they needed some down time so we got them settled in the room with some pizza and headed up to Topsiders for a few shrimp and some fruit, then off to do some shopping. I bought the kids some t-shirts, hats, souvies. Dh bought himself a hat and he bought me.......a beautiful tanzanite ring! I guess all that planning paid off! What a guy! We got back to the stateroom and I thanked DH appropriately - brought a cold beer out to the verandah! I had a glass of wine and we just soaked in that beautiful harbor. Wed love to come back here sometime.
We had Palo's tonight and I was excited to wear my new ring - and something semi-formal. People might stare if I only wore the ring! Dh asked if he could wear the tux with his tropical shirt tonight. After that purchase, I didnt care if he went in his swimsuit! But alas he wore the tux, but only the jacket - those pants never came out of the closet again!
Anyway, dinner (with Tinkerbell4 and DH) was fabulous. I really would highly recommend it. Ordered the warm shrimp salad which was 4 nice sized grilled shrimp, baby asparagus and a white bean/bacon/onion garnish. Delicious. ALso had the broiled salmon and our server suggested each couple spit a chocolate soufflé and then she brought tiramisu, cappuccino cheesecake and the Italian cheese and berries dish. We were happy campers!!! Great service and nice quiet atmosphere. The kids went to our regular rotation and the older girls reported that the boys both spilled drinks! I wonder if Okim served them my wine by accident!
We skipped Who Wants To Be A Mouseketeer? because our dinner went until 9 or so. Met the kids at the theater and DS was not feeling too good so we got him back to the room (which was spotless again!) and put him to bed. DD was out running around so DH and I enjoyed some quiet verandah time and I was in bed by 11. The early mornings were catching up with us. But tomorrow is a sea day! Relaxation and the spa!
