10 Days in Wonderland. The good, the bad and the ugly! updated part 3. post #30

[Amlee]

LOL for some reason I can remember the first few days and then the rest are just blurs with a few high lights and low lights.


Day 1 We had a fairly bumpy ride on the plane down. Sally wasn't crazy about the bumping and tossing of the plane at all. (first plane ride) Now, you always have one person on the plane. Well lucky for us he decided to sit down beside us. He got on the plane talking on his cell. The flight attendant asked him to turn off his phone. Well the guy popped off about something about if he was on his private jet he wouldn't have this problem. PLEASE!! Your flying Southwest!! What makes me think you have a private jet, if you are flying Southwest. You would either be A. In said jet. B. On a different airline with first class. Well I laughed out loud at his comment. I think the flight attendant had the same thought as I did, because it wasn't long before he also started laughing. Sally didn't know what to think, I really think she was overwhelmed and remained that way the whole time. Having cruised DCL before, I got us smoothly through to DCL's transportation area. In front of us was a family of about 17 trying to get to the ship. What was sad was the family was ran and controled by a boy who looked to be all of 8 years old. There was about 5 adults around him. He was the one giving the guy the number of bags, the name of the family, and the papers. I was amazed by this kid. An shocked at the adults. We got our tranfers and got on the bus. I miss the old Disney cartoons they use to show. We get to the port and there was no real reaction from anyone (except me) when we first saw the ship. I still find it exciting every time I top the bridge and the ships frist come into view.

We gather are carry-on's and we make for the security entrance. Well I can't go through the detectors so yet another pat down is done. I have pre-printed our forms and make a bee line for the Castaway Club line. No one is inline and we sail through to the ship. Our room is ready by the time we get there because we are so late getting to the port. We were on the last bus to leave MCO. So we got to go on the ship around 3pm. The other DIS'ers are already up top having fun. Sally and I head straight for our room to drop off our carry-ons. The stuff I had shipped was sitting in front of our door. So we got it in and put our water and cokes in the fridge. Met our cabin steward and rushed up for a quick bite to eat (first sign of trouble that Sally isn't going to enjoy this as much as I am) and the deck party. Boy!! did those storm clouds look bad, Good thing they were going away from us!! We stand up on deck 10 for the sail away party. Which is as good as I remember it. After the party we head for the front of the ship and wait, then wait some more, oh then we wait for SOME MORE! Anybody in the know with what that wait was about?? People start leaving for dinner and the shows. We are still waiting to sail out of port. We wave bye to the Carnival and RCCL ships as they pull out. The Wonder hadn't even pulled out the ropes yet. Oh wait there are the CM's with the Mickey hands waving here we go! They wave to us and wave to us and then wave some more to us. Then they go in. Yup, we are still roped up to the terminal. Sally's like while look at those clouds, if we were at home we would be getting in the storm celler. I look and those big black clouds are now coming toward us and the wind is picking up. Time to go in!! So we start for the aft elevators when a big bolt of lighting comes down and hits a transformer. Everything goes blue/green. Sally's like Oh Cool! I'm like oh Midship elevators will work just fine!! She's standing at the railing going do it again! do it again! Me, I'm making for the midship elevators asap!!! We get back to the room and open up the balcony doors for the rain. It's now raining so hard it looks like a grey curtain hanging over the balcony. We can no longer see the other ships or the jetties(sp). It's just a grey wall with a hard flash of lighting and a big bang of thunder. (Someone said that the goofy pool got hit, not sure how true that is.) So we start to unpack, listening to the rain and lighting, talking and cutting up when the hail starts bouncing into the stateroom. Ok, time to shut the door!! We unpack and get ready for an 8:30 dinner. (it didn't take me long to figure out I wasn't going to like this time!) Our first night is PC at the back of the room. I felt like I was in a car with a flat tire. Flip then a flop. I had forgot about the broke propeller. Boy could you feel that thing. Triton's wasn't so bad. We meet our table mates. A great older couple from Oregon. We really enjoyed sitting with them and even did a few things around the ship with them. They were first time Disney cruisers. We walked around the ship a little afterwards and then I head for BED. Sally has her radio and if she needs me she can call. She wants to go to Aloft to meet up with some of the others her age. It wasn't too long before she came walking in. (Oh boy! So the trouble begins) She said there was all of 2 kids up there playing games with one of the CM and another CM sitting behind a table. She said nobody spoke to her or looked up, so she left. She hits the bed and is out like a light.

Day 2 I'm up before daylight(so much for sleeping in becomes my motto!) So I'm out on the balcony waiting for the sun. Ok having never had a balcony, I'm use to getting up and heading to the top decks for those morning sunrises. So I'll say it was nice to just walk a few feet in my pj's out to see the same thing. I try to wake Sally up to see the beauty of it all, but all I get is a grunt (which becomes her motto!) I give up and enjoy it all by myself. I read some and wait for Beach Blanket to open up. So around 8am, I'm up dressed and ready for the day. Sally is still snoozing, I once again try to wake her up, but that wasn't working. So I leave her a note and her radio and off I go. I head for Beach Blanket to get a Mickey Waffle!! Afterward, I walk around and explore the ship. Ok wasn't there a luncheon planned for us today!? I head back to the stateroom wishing I had thought to have printed out the DISboard doings. No Sally! She's left a note stating she was going to breakfast. Hmmmm this late? Ok! I leave a note saying I'm heading for lunch at Tritions. (please let me have the day and time right!) Sure enough standing at the steps was Steph's daughter and a few others. (YAY! I got it right!) It was so much fun meeting everyone and having a nice dinner. I met so many and didn't get to meet so many. (We all need to go again so I can meet those I missed this time again. Wasn't 08 talked about! ) Afterwards, I head back to the room for a nap. 22 weeks of bed rest doesn't make it easy to jump into going and doing. What is that note on my fish!? Oh great! I knew it! We have a TA meeting seminar at sea tomorrow morning. LOVELY!! But better yet, Sally is in the room ASLEEP! So I set the clock to wake me up in time for the early show and dinner. I have a good nap and get up to get ready for the show and dinner. Sally is still snoozing and I get a grunt in reply. But I keep it up until I get her up and ready. I wasn't excited about Hercules, I didn't enjoy it the last time I saw it. But I wanted Sally to see it. I have to say I really enjoyed it this time around. I think they made a few changes, because I found it much funnier than last time around. Sally is still talking about Pain and Panic. We have dinner problems, Sally isn't eating anything. Nothing is her cup of tea at all. She orders the plan steak and veggies. That seemed to make her happy. We had a wonderful server. (please don't ask his name. It was about that *__________________* long and I have not a clue how it was prounounced.)
But our asst-server was another story. Way to touchy feely for me and the others she was waiting on. Talk, OML that women could talk and talk and talk some more. She talked to the table next to us, while we went with out drinks and our server was doing his and her jobs. He finally had enough and went to her and said something. She got busy. But it was a repeat show every night. She ran Sally off by the 2nd night. Sally kept ordering the steak, well the asst-server came up, took the fork and knife out of her hands (not losing a beat in the talking) and starts cutting away at Sally's steak. Then all of a sudden she starts feeding Sally her steak. Oh yeah that goes over so well with her. From then on it was a fight to get Sally to the dining rooms. (more on that later) I've forgot what the head person official name is, but he also was great. He went out of his way to try to please the picky eater that Sally is. The only problem I had with him at all, was he waited 7 nights before he came around and asked how our waiting staff was and asked for our opinions on things. I thought it should have been done sooner. Both myself and the couple sitting with us commented on the talking and the touchy feely of the asst-server and how the server was busting his tail to make up for her lacking. Because we had all pre-paid our tips, I asked about taking some away from her to give to the server. They wouldn't do this. He said to give him a few days and then he would talk with us again. He must have talked to her because she was ship shape the rest of the cruise. Since they wouldn't let us take and give. I decided to give more to the server and left the asst-server like she was. Again I'm off to bed as I have to be up and in the movie theater by 9am for that untold TA meeting.


Ok, I'm going to stop here for now.

 

[Stepht5]

Even though I was on the cruise with you.... I can't wait to read the rest of your report! LOL!

I know I will probably never get around to writing one..... Even though I believe that Disney went above and beyond on this cruise! All the special details were amazing!

I may only sail on specail sailings from now on!

 

[Babs417]

Love reading your report

 

[Miss Eeyore]

I wanted to be on this sailing soooooooo bad.....was one of the first on the meets thread.....but the timing was unfortunate. I leave in two weeks on a 9-day on the new Crown Princess. I'll let you know how we fare.....and compare.


Marilee

 

[curlybop]

Great report so far!

 

[Amlee]

Day 2 part 2 special note

Being day 2 this is our formal night. I’ve already had my picture taken in front of the ship so I wasn’t big on that one again. We wanted the background that they were using for the captain, but didn’t want him in the picture. I know bad, but I’m not one of those who is big on meeting those type people. He was really a nice guy. So we settle on the picture with the sunset and the front of the ship. Sally looked great; I on the other hand made my normal awful picture.

Day 3 Another Sea Day

I’m up early again to watch the sun rise. Wishing I had thought to place an early breakfast room serves order. But at least I have my Dt. Coke to enjoy that early in the morning. Sally grunts when I tell her I’m heading out. I make sure I have my radio and she has hers. So I get ready and head up to Beach Blanket for a very quick breakfast. (Is it me or are those biscuits getting harder!?) Not wasting anytime, I eat as quickly as I can and take off for the BV Theater. What do you know, I rounded the corner there at the theater and there stood an agent I went to Scotland with in March. We didn’t know that the other had planned to be on the cruise. We were so excited to see each other. This was her first Disney cruise. We talk a little bit and then they open the doors. Wow there sure is a lot of us here! It’s a packed crowd. I was surprised at the numbers of agents who hadn’t sailed with Disney before. They seemed to have picked up a troll in their computer, because the power point kept dropping its connection. (OH Boy! This is going to take some time!) Finally they let us go. So I’m off to find Sally. Hmm No answer on the radio. Strike number 1. Rule number 1 have radio on at all times, when we aren’t together. I get back to the room and find a note that she is at the pool. note to self (teach Sally the meaning of using a radio). I lay down for a bit, sitting in those chairs wasn’t so good on my back. In about 20 minutes Sally comes in. I suggest heading to Tritons for lunch. She’s not so big on the idea, but I insist! So we go and get a table for 6 for just the 2 of us. I see DisneyGirlTinkerbell (Crystal) coming through the door by herself. So I send our server over to send her our way. We had a very nice lunch. I had the hot ham and cheese croissant and it was SOOO good! Crystal said she thought her 19 year old was bored on the cruise. I said I thought we were having the same problem. We had the wine tasting at Stephs that afternoon, so I suggested that she bring him along so he and Sally could meet up. Which worked out good. They didn’t get to hang out a lot, but the times they did. Sally really enjoyed herself. We finish our lunch and Crystal is off to get on the internet. Sally’s off to go back to the pool in orders to be back by 2pm to head to Stephs. And I’m going to find a quite place to read my book. (Oh yeah I have a balcony!) So I set out there and enjoy the not having to fight for a chair, or not having to listen to the blasting music. I sent the clock on my pda to go off at 2pm. (Time flies!) Before I know it. Sally’s back in the room and I’m gathering up stuff that goes to Stephs. Ok, don’t get me wrong. I love Sally to death. But the girl has two speeds. Slow and Stop. It drove me nuts. For the life of me, I couldn’t get her to use the drawers in the stateroom either. Her clothes was piled everywhere. Since we weren’t sure as to what Disney would give us for out little party and the fact that I don’t drink. I offered to bring peanuts, napkins, and forks But Disney went above and beyond what was expected. Like I said, Sally and Clayton hit it off, while I enjoyed getting to talk to everyone. Well not everyone. Many came in and out and others stayed, but were on the other side of the room. So there was several that I didn’t get to meet. Thanks to Steph and family for hosting such a great event!! Hmmm will you be able to drop back down or are you all spoiled now!? After the wine tasting Sally, heads back up to the pool area, while I head for the balcony to read some more before dinner. This is AP night and I didn’t give Sally a choice in the matter.

Day 4 St. Thomas

Wow! I slept late; the sun was up already (barely). I head for the balcony (ok, I’m really starting to enjoy this thing!) I see land and the pilot boat coming in. I go and pull Sally out of bed to watch the guy jump from his little boat to a ladder attached to our big ship. She seemed to think that was cool. Since she was up already, I suggested she joined me for breakfast up at Beach Blanket and watch the docking from up there. So we rush to get ready and off we go. I ate breakfast and she pretends too, then we headed down to be off the ship. I wanted to be at the little market, as they set up. You get deals first thing in the morning or late at night. So that worked out great. We did that shopping and then wanted to walk over to all the little shops in the little passport book that they sale on the ship. Well NOTHING opens early on Sunday. So we found a cool spot with chairs and made phone calls home. Again time flies, and it wasn’t long before the stores started opening. I collect wooden bowls from every country I go to. So I was on a mission for a bowl. Now I’m the type shopper I go in with an item and price in mind. If you don’t have the item or the price I want, then I will move on. If I come in your store wanting a tee shirt don’t get snotty if I don’t look at your jewelry or shame me because I had already bought what I was looking for at another store. I walked out of more than one store because of pushy sales persons. Nobody had the wooden bowls I was looking for, so we walked and walked. Finally I found someone who told me I needed to go to the African store a half a block down. So off we go. While we are walking down the street this nappy looking guy comes up and asks us if we want an island tour. I told him no thank you we didn’t have time for it. He keeps following us insisting we had the time. Ok, bud back off!! I repeat again, No we do not have time to do all that we want to do and do an island tour also. He then tried to tell me he was with Disney and that he assured us we had plenty of time to do what we wanted to do and do an island tour with him. That the ship wouldn’t leave with out us. Uh huh! I think he got the hint as I laughed my head off walking down the street away from him. I find what I’m looking for, and Sally is hungry (she had spotted a McDonalds while coming into town). So we grab a taxi and head toward K-mart and McDonalds. We do our quick shopping and then head out for some lunch. OOPS! They are still serving breakfast, so we wait. After about a 20-minute wait they switch the menus and we have as Sally says “a normal meal!” The taxi driver told us that taxi’s come through the parking lot often and one would come back by and pick us up. Well no taxi in sight, so we start walking. We get half way down the block and about 20 taxis come out of the wood works. We grab the first one and head back to the ship. It’s around noontime when we get back to the ship and our room. I grab up some of my fishy gifts and head out the door. Sally, drops to the bed and doesn’t move for the rest of the evening. Ok this fishy stuff is hard work!! I do that for a bit and then head back to the room to put my stuff up. Sally is snoozing, so I grab my camera and head up top to watch the ship sail out of port. I walk around and take pictures of the sail boats in the harbor, the mountains and the city along the water. I run into our tablemates and talked with them a bit. Then I ran into a group of CM’s from the parks and talked with them as we left St. Thomas behind. I have to say the landscape of St. Thomas is beautiful, but nothing compares as to what we will see tomorrow. After we leave the land behind, I head down to the room so I could get ready for dinner. Sally is no longer snoozing, but snoring!! So I grab the camera back up and head up to watch the sunset. Oh wow! It was amazing to watch that sun sink into the open waters like that. It never gets old no matter how many times you see it, or where you are in the world to watch it. I call to see if Sally has got up and wants to meet at Beach Blanket. No answer. So I head down to Pluto’s and grab a burger and fries. Enjoying the ocean breeze while I ate. Ok, getting sleepy so I head down to the room and Sally has discovered room service. To bad that cup of chicken noodle had neither noodles nor chicken in it. Poor kid, nothing is to her liking. I settle in for the night and find Mulan on. Now seeing has I have never seen it before I was as excited as a kid.


I'm working on the other days now. I should be updated by this afternoon

 

[Amlee]

Even though I was on the cruise with you.... I can't wait to read the rest of your report! LOL!

I know I will probably never get around to writing one..... Even though I believe that Disney went above and beyond on this cruise! All the special details were amazing!

I may only sail on specail sailings from now on!

LOL I think we all had very different experiances on this cruise. *cough* Seen any jellyfish? *cough* I liked the special stuff that went with this cruise. But the spam and yes I call it spam that kept being added to our rooms at night. The DVC stuff drove me nuts. Just about every night we had stuff from them on our beds.


LOL I think anytime you can get pulled away from home you will be sailing, but the question is can you down grade now and be happy!

 

[Amlee]

Love reading your report

Thanks, I'm not a very good speller and my grammer stinks. But I didn't just want to list the pro's and con's. So I decided to go into the story behind them all.

 

[Amlee]

I wanted to be on this sailing soooooooo bad.....was one of the first on the meets thread.....but the timing was unfortunate. I leave in two weeks on a 9-day on the new Crown Princess. I'll let you know how we fare.....and compare.


Marilee

Oh, let me know! I'm thinking of an MSC cruise in Jan. I need someone to go with me. Anybody up for a Jan cruise!?

 

[Amlee]

Great report so far!

Thanks, I'm slowly remembering things. It's hard to remember what happened on what day and when.

 

[mc'smommy]

Amy any word on your friend ?

 

[Amlee]

Amy any word on your friend ?

No nothing. His mother is just heart broken. I've notified all of his internet friends that I know of. Everyone is reporting the same thing. Nobody has talked to him since the 13th. He was last seen around 4am on the 14th. Part of me wants to jump on the next plane out there, but his family and friends are already doing all that I could be doing out there. I've put his mother in contact with all the message boards that I know he was a member of. I just don't know what else to do. I do know this isn't like him. I'm not sure what set him off to leave like he did. I've got several calls today that came up with just the words "Calling Card" on the id. But nobody was on the other line and in a few moments the caller hung up. If he's ok and is just hiding (for a lack of a better word). I wonder if I'll be the first person to fly across the country to do a little butt kicking!?

 

[Stepht5]

LOL I think we all had very different experiances on this cruise. *cough* Seen any jellyfish? *cough* I liked the special stuff that went with this cruise. But the spam and yes I call it spam that kept being added to our rooms at night. The DVC stuff drove me nuts. Just about every night we had stuff from them on our beds.

There was quite a bit of extra *notes* wasn't there?

LOL I think anytime you can get pulled away from home you will be sailing, but the question is can you down grade now and be happy!

LOL! It was nice in the Roy but, I don't see myself making reservations so far in advance on a regular basis. But, we will probably put ourselves on waitlists.

 

[Amlee]

There was TONS of extra stuff. I thought only Disney would take the art of Towel folding and turn it in to marketing! Oh how Roy Disney would be happy!!

While the Roy is nice (much nicer than the Walt in my opinion), it's just not my cup of tea. I'm to stingy with my money to ever dish out the money for it. I would be content with my ocean view room. I do have have to say I enjoyed the balcony more than I thought I would. But it's not something I would have to have.

 

[Stepht5]

While the Roy is nice (much nicer than the Walt in my opinion), it's just not my cup of tea. I'm to stingy with my money to ever dish out the money for it. I would be content with my ocean view room. I do have have to say I enjoyed the balcony more than I thought I would. But it's not something I would have to have.

That would be me. Not dh. I'm much more frugal with our money then he is.... He earns it so he is welcome to spend it any way he wants! LOL!
I don't think dh wants to stay in the Roy again... He thought it creaked too much -- we understand the need to make things move and bend with the rocking of the ship - he is a very light sleeper and I'm not sure if he ever got more then 2hrs of sleep at night. The cat 3's are much quieter.
I slept fine.

 

[Amlee]

Our room creaked also. I don't remember everything being that bad last time around. We were on Port side and our table mates where on the starboard side. I asked them if their room was creaking and they said yes. So it had to be the whole ship. I'm wondering if it had anything to do with the propeller(sp) being broke. Of course I don't remember being shaked all over the dining rooms from the vibration or the being dripped on at AP.

 

[lillygator]

enjoying your report. We found St Thomas to be very pushy as well...some stores they would follow us out of and still be hounding us!

 

[Amlee]

Day 5 St. Lucia

Today is the only day that I have booked anything for us. Since I’m in the back brace and can’t do any bending, lifting, or a lot of walking. I found this and it was listed as a mild activity. YAY! I get to go do something. I wake up before dawn yet again and head out for what has become my normal thing in the morning. Sunrise and a Dt. Coke. I’m in heaven!! We had got the notice about the Castaway Club meeting the night before and I planned to attend.

Enjoying the sunrise and the nice breeze I let time over come me, so we had to skip breakfast and head straight for the meeting. It took Sally all of 5 seconds to figure out it wasn’t something she wanted to do. She is sitting there with this look on her face, that she use to get when she was about 3 and was starting to whine. So I sent her up to Beach Blanket for Breakfast.

I run into John, Cheryl, Chris, and Celia so I grab a chair next to them. They put pastries out and I’m starving so I head out one of the doors. Hey Goofyguy! Ever figure out how that coffee pot worked!? On the way back I ran into Crystal’s boys. They looked about as happy as Sally did. I let them know where we are sitting and to find their mother and come on over. She shows up shortly with boys in tow. LOL they are biting at the bits to get out of the crowd, so I tell them where Sally is and convince Crystal to let them go. The Castaway meeting was fun.

Afterward I find Sally back in the room, yup in bed. * roll * I once again make her get up and we head up top to watch us come into port. Who do we find wondering deck 10 was the real captain of it all! Mickey himself. Well for the first time I see Sally get excited. I ask her if she wants a picture with him. She’s like are you kidding!? So we head over and get in line. There weren’t very many kids out so the line was quick.

Ok time to head down to Studio Seas and get ready for the volcano excursion. I had ordered us a pizza from room service the night before and had already bagged it up in our small cooler, along with our drinks, chips and fiddle faddle. We catch the aft elevators down. Sally was to run the 20 feet down to our room and then come on down to meet up with me. 15 minutes top right! Walk in the door pick up the bag and walk out. OYE! She kept not coming, and kept not coming. I sign us up and Sally still hasn’t shown up. I finally spot her, coming down shutters. There goes those two speeds again. Stop or Slow. We find out there are 300 people from the ship doing this tour. I start doing some math and thinking things out. If we leave at 1pm it’s a 6 hour tour, stopping at 5 places (one being a lunch stop), Ship leaving at 7pm. There is NO way that 300 people can be taken to those 5 same spots, Be rounded up and heard back to the ship before it’s set to sail. Not going to happen. What about all of those with the 5:30 dinner? I get to thinking; did we bring enough water with us? Should we have brought 2 pizzas?

So we walk out to the bus and board for our ride. St Lucia is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. It reminded me a lot of Fiji. I’ve decided only American can drive and they rest just close their eyes and go for it. Our first stop was a photo op with the ship in the background. Beautiful!! I find my bowl! YAY! Up! Up! Over the mountains we go, past the oil refineries, and down to the banana plantation. To our next photo op, and some very expensive water and such. No sale for me. Sally and I pull out our first slice of pizza and start munching. Time to round up everyone and get him or her back on the bus. Oh where is that family with the kids. There they are, talking with some guy wanting them to buy stuff. Ok, folks! Head’m up! Move them out! Here we go pass the Banana plants again.

Stop #2 is down to a small town for a “bathroom” break. Oh look, we are 2 blocks from the bathroom, but right in front of the local venders. HMMM do we head to the bathrooms or shop? Ok time to go now. Next we head for stop #3 and the rain forest and the “Diamond” waterfall. Now let me remind you, this was listed as a mild excursion. I soon learn that Disney’s idea of mild and MY idea of mild don’t add up. We walk and walk and walk some more to this waterfall. We get to a fruit table and a seminar is started on the different fruits grown on the island. I wonder on up to the snack bar and wait. About 20 minutes later the rest of the group makes it to snack bar along with about 3 other busloads. People start mixing and scattering in their groups. Oh boy! I hear those minutes shooting by.

Finally our guide starts gathering us up to take the final walk to the waterfall. We go pass the mineral baths (hey wait a minute! I want to do that!!) As we walk Sally spots a little mouse sitting in the middle of the path eating. So we stop to have a mouse moment. Along comes the family with the 4 hellion (I mean kids). I point out the mouse to them and the daddy starts snapping pictures. The mother tells the twin boys not to touch it. Well what does the little snot do as soon as mom and daddy turns to walk off, Yup, he reaches out to touch the mouse. I’m like no, no, no. Well Daddy turns around and gives me a look like don’t correct my kid. I’m returning the look with a control your child look. So he gathers up his brood and starts off to the waterfall.

There is a group coming up behind us as Sally and I start to walk off. I turn to them and say don’t step on him. This girl goes who? I point to the mouse and she yells and jumps into some guy’s arms. Hmmm a 2in mouse! It’s not like a snake or something.

So we finally make it to the waterfall. All that walking for that!? Well hellion family has all the kids lined up for a photo op. I offer to take one of the whole family. (I had already seen the dad working on setting the timer, and I knew that could take a while) so I figured one quick snap from me and we could be off. YAY it worked!!

Well we all head back to the snack bar. I get a Dt. Coke and I’m ready to head back to the bus. So the mother with the hellion twin boys, Sally, the tour guide and myself started back down to the bus. It was faster this time, as she wasn’t pointing out ever flower, weed, grass, tree and bark that was in the place. The little boys didn’t listen to their mother one bit. We were told to stay on the paths, that just the touch from a human could kill some of these plants. So what do these boys do, they go running off the path through the trees. With the mother screaming get back here!! I’m like we are in a freaking rain forest! Get you a switch and blister his tail!! I tell Sally, see why I wait until yall are 18 before I take you anywhere!

Ok, we are slowly getting everyone back to the bus. The family of hellions buys bracelets at EVERYSTOP!! We go through a town that reminded me of the movie “Popeye” with Robin Williams. I open my Dt. Coke to take a drink and let me just say it was nasty!! So back in the bag that thing goes. We start up the hills along the coast and get our first look at the Piton’s. Beautiful!! Which leads us to our next photo op, with about 4 other buses. What a mess!! Quick snap and back to the bus we go. Not stopping for the snake guy, nor for the ladies on the side of road.

Stop #4 Finally we make it to the volcano with about 300 other people. They send us down these narrow stairs to a place where we meet up with another guide. Who gives some great information on the area and the volcano and earthquake activity. She then tells us we have to go up these very steep, uneven stairs. I look at Cheryl and we both have the it’s not going to happen look on our face. So I send Sally up with my camera and Cheryl sends her wonderful husband John up with her. Cheryl and I start the not so easy climb up the other side back to the buses. Ok, where is our bus!? We have to walk where!? Yup, my idea of mild and Disney’s idea of mild just went out the window. So we wait for Sally and John to get back and then we take off down the road to the bus. At least it’s down hill!! But then we have to wade through the hawkers trying to get you to buy the “polished volcano rocks” Hmm is it me or do those black shiny stones look like those they sale in the Bahamas as coral stones!? Oh but the family of 4 hellion’s fall for it at every stop.

We make it back to the bus. What is that oder!? UGH! The tour guide forgot the DO this morning. (Yes I know that in many countries, it’s not a used product. I get that, but if you’re going to be working with people, at least use something that is going to cover the oder.)

Stop #5 Ok now they take us off to have a “lunch” and “refreshment”. Oh was that BAD!! Hard wedged bread, with tune or cheese between it, hot lemonade, and some kind of fish. I’ll pass thank you, where is our pizza!? One of the buses lost its AC on the trip. Now they were some unhappy campers!! We are off for the ship! Back over the mountains, pass the Banana plantation, and a left at the Oil refineries. Oh we didn’t go this way before. Hmm short cut!? Sure enough before long the ship is back in site. It’s almost 5pm and there are several buses behind us. Yeah, we aren’t leaving at 7. Not going to happen.

Run through Diamonds International to get my charmed and back to the ship. We see our tablemates watching off their balcony and wave to them. Sure enough as soon as we get to our stateroom, Brent starts announcing about the late buses and asking people to go to their dining rooms as is. Later start time for the shows. Etc… I’m never been much of a Muppet Fan and when I mentioned it to Sally, she was like who? OYE! I decide no show for me tonight and I don’t feel like changing for dinner. So I opt for Beach Blanket. We watch as we sail away from St. Lucia and then head on up for supper. Come to find out they are serving the same thing we would have had down stairs at Triton’s but we could eat it in our shorts. So I get my escargot and duck. But I also love the open do your own salad bar. I talk Sally into eating her first escargot, but in exchange for eating it, I had to agree to her skipping the next formal night. She manages to get it down, but that is all. I also convince her to try duck. She likes it! We have a really nice meal. I know they use Beach Blanket as training for servers before they will let them go up in the dining rooms. We had a great server and head server.

Sally and I are both sunburned from being in the rain forest so we head to bed. On the way down we spot Donald down in the Atrium and no line. So she runs up and has a picture with Donald, but the little snot tell him what she had for dinner. Now that was just funny!!

Now I never complained to DCL about their difference in Mild and mine. But I know someone said they looked at the excursion listing later and it was now listed with two stars, which it didn’t have before. I know that others felt as I did and did say something. Despite it all, I enjoyed going through the rain forest and the volcano.



Edited: to make it easier to read. Better?

 

[Amlee]

enjoying your report. We found St Thomas to be very pushy as well...some stores they would follow us out of and still be hounding us!

Thanks, I'm having fun doing it. First time in doing a trip report for the public.

I'll take St. Thomas over Barbados any day of the week. But more on that in the next update.

 

[oybolshoi]

I've enjoyed your report so far - it sounds like your DISmeets were a lot of fun. I know we really enjoyed getting to know our fellow DISers last October when we sailed.

May I offer one suggestion? It would be a lot easier to read your reports if you had some paragraph breaks rather than presenting it as one long paragraph. It may just be me and the poor eyesight coupled with the post-surgery pain killers I'm still taking...but it's a little hard to read.

Otherwise I'm really enjoying your tale and appreciate the time you've taken to share with us all. I have a co-worker who honeymooned in St. Lucia and he raved about the whole rainforest / volcano experience...of course he and his wife didn't have to share it with 300 other people!