Sorry it has taken me so long to write this report. After the cruise, the holidays were fast on our heels. I would first like to say thank you to this board. I learned so much helpful information for our trip!
Yes, we were on the Thanksgiving cruise with the Norwalk virus. I must say that DCL handled it very well. They really were in a tight situation due to the sailing right before ours had the first outbreak. I will say that DCL did not contact me I contacted them regarding information concerning sailing etc. We were told the day before the cruise that we could cancel (100% refund) go ahead as planned or go to DW and receive hotel and park tickets but no food vouchers. Well, we were really wanting to go on the cruise after planning it for almost 2 years. Plus, my husband's parents, brother and sister were also joining us for the trip. My BIL lives in France and just flown in for the trip. Needless to say, we went ahead and were told there would be delays on embarkation day.
We (DH, DS5, DS2) woke up very early to catch our 8:40 am flight out of Hartsfield. Flight went smoothly and we sat next to a group that was also going on the cruise. We arrived at MCO on time 10:45 am and were met by DCL reps that told us to go upstairs to the Radission. OK so we go upstairs and we see that DCL has characters and a buffet set up in the ballroom. We were asked if our entire party had arrived. We said no and they told us to wait until everyone was present to hand our docs into them. There were small groups of people around this area.
This began a sequence of events that did not make our first day a good one. They (DCL) did not tell me that they were taking the docs for the bus transfers and that it was first come first served. I assumed they would be going on our flight arrivals at any rate, I wish they would of told me why they were using the docs other than helping with checking in because we would have turned ours in due to the fact we have two little children and the rest of the party were adults. You will see my point in a moment. So, we wait for about 20 minutes when we see the rest of our party. Mind you there are lots of people milling around at this point. The buffet was like a deli spread and they had a carribean band, movies on a big screen. It was nice but, it was getting crowded and you are feeling like you need to find seats. Not knowing how long you will be there. I ask for their docs and my BIL thinks he left his on the plane. So, we wait and he returns about 20 min. later and I am now feeding the children and not thinking there is a rush to get in the docs because I wasn't told anything. I then turn all of the docs in to DCL. Just in waiting that hour, we got assigned to bus V. Now, had I turned in earlier we would not have been on one of the last busses leaving. When we arrived there was a small crowd by the time I was able to get through the line and hand in the docs. CROWD!
Needless to say, I wish they would have told us that they were assigning busses only after docs were turned in or something regarding time. Because they started boarding busses around 3 and we didn't get on our bus until 4:15. Now for those of you that have travelled with a tired 2 year old--not a pretty sight!
Had we gotten on a earlier bus it would have made a huge differance. We did not get on ship until 5:30 pm. We had early seating so I had my DH and children go to the room while I made the ressies.
Well, no spa ressies left for anything other than 8:30 am on a excurison day. We were hoping to try the surial bath and that time of morning was not appealing. So, I rush to Palo's--nothing left. No brunch. No dinner. No High Tea. I race down to the Oceaneer's Club and register my DS5--which he never ever wanted to go to so that was a waste of time that day. No sail away party for us. I guess the only thing positive was we missed the drill but, again I am a worry wart so I would have wanted to go to it. Nothing was working out like I thought it would.
It is a really cute place and the counselors seemed very nice. We did take him there with us and seemed to like it. He felt scared going by himself. OK no big deal, it was a family vacation. I just thought he would have had fun with some other kids.
Sorry, I digressed. I look down at my watch and it is 5:55 pm. I literally ran to the cabin, tore my clothes off, brushed my teeth, and threw on some clean clothes for dinner. Now, my DH, and boys had just gotten changed. The luggage had just started to arrive so we were not feeling fresh at all!!
By some chance, the rest of our party was able to shower and change so they felt OK at dinner. We felt gross, rushed and frazzled as we walked into Lumiere's. We had LAPLAPL rotation. I thought we would have had APLAPLA because of our two little ones but , it was too late to change it now. I am now feeling upset and disappointed. We had no ressies, my children were exhausted and cranky, and we couldn't see how we were going to the Variety show after dinner. OK, now I am starting to feel MOTION. I had taken bonine before we got on the busses and boy was I now feeling sick. I had to leave after the entrees, I could not stay for dessert. I excuse myself with the boys and take them to the cabin. The boys were now wired, tired, and dirty. They also barely ate. I begin to unpack and get the boys ready for bed. My sweet husband returned with a creme brulee. Very tasty! We just hung out in the room and looked forward to a new day in the morning.
Yes, we were on the Thanksgiving cruise with the Norwalk virus. I must say that DCL handled it very well. They really were in a tight situation due to the sailing right before ours had the first outbreak. I will say that DCL did not contact me I contacted them regarding information concerning sailing etc. We were told the day before the cruise that we could cancel (100% refund) go ahead as planned or go to DW and receive hotel and park tickets but no food vouchers. Well, we were really wanting to go on the cruise after planning it for almost 2 years. Plus, my husband's parents, brother and sister were also joining us for the trip. My BIL lives in France and just flown in for the trip. Needless to say, we went ahead and were told there would be delays on embarkation day.
We (DH, DS5, DS2) woke up very early to catch our 8:40 am flight out of Hartsfield. Flight went smoothly and we sat next to a group that was also going on the cruise. We arrived at MCO on time 10:45 am and were met by DCL reps that told us to go upstairs to the Radission. OK so we go upstairs and we see that DCL has characters and a buffet set up in the ballroom. We were asked if our entire party had arrived. We said no and they told us to wait until everyone was present to hand our docs into them. There were small groups of people around this area.
This began a sequence of events that did not make our first day a good one. They (DCL) did not tell me that they were taking the docs for the bus transfers and that it was first come first served. I assumed they would be going on our flight arrivals at any rate, I wish they would of told me why they were using the docs other than helping with checking in because we would have turned ours in due to the fact we have two little children and the rest of the party were adults. You will see my point in a moment. So, we wait for about 20 minutes when we see the rest of our party. Mind you there are lots of people milling around at this point. The buffet was like a deli spread and they had a carribean band, movies on a big screen. It was nice but, it was getting crowded and you are feeling like you need to find seats. Not knowing how long you will be there. I ask for their docs and my BIL thinks he left his on the plane. So, we wait and he returns about 20 min. later and I am now feeding the children and not thinking there is a rush to get in the docs because I wasn't told anything. I then turn all of the docs in to DCL. Just in waiting that hour, we got assigned to bus V. Now, had I turned in earlier we would not have been on one of the last busses leaving. When we arrived there was a small crowd by the time I was able to get through the line and hand in the docs. CROWD!
Needless to say, I wish they would have told us that they were assigning busses only after docs were turned in or something regarding time. Because they started boarding busses around 3 and we didn't get on our bus until 4:15. Now for those of you that have travelled with a tired 2 year old--not a pretty sight!
Had we gotten on a earlier bus it would have made a huge differance. We did not get on ship until 5:30 pm. We had early seating so I had my DH and children go to the room while I made the ressies.
Well, no spa ressies left for anything other than 8:30 am on a excurison day. We were hoping to try the surial bath and that time of morning was not appealing. So, I rush to Palo's--nothing left. No brunch. No dinner. No High Tea. I race down to the Oceaneer's Club and register my DS5--which he never ever wanted to go to so that was a waste of time that day. No sail away party for us. I guess the only thing positive was we missed the drill but, again I am a worry wart so I would have wanted to go to it. Nothing was working out like I thought it would.
It is a really cute place and the counselors seemed very nice. We did take him there with us and seemed to like it. He felt scared going by himself. OK no big deal, it was a family vacation. I just thought he would have had fun with some other kids.
Sorry, I digressed. I look down at my watch and it is 5:55 pm. I literally ran to the cabin, tore my clothes off, brushed my teeth, and threw on some clean clothes for dinner. Now, my DH, and boys had just gotten changed. The luggage had just started to arrive so we were not feeling fresh at all!!
By some chance, the rest of our party was able to shower and change so they felt OK at dinner. We felt gross, rushed and frazzled as we walked into Lumiere's. We had LAPLAPL rotation. I thought we would have had APLAPLA because of our two little ones but , it was too late to change it now. I am now feeling upset and disappointed. We had no ressies, my children were exhausted and cranky, and we couldn't see how we were going to the Variety show after dinner. OK, now I am starting to feel MOTION. I had taken bonine before we got on the busses and boy was I now feeling sick. I had to leave after the entrees, I could not stay for dessert. I excuse myself with the boys and take them to the cabin. The boys were now wired, tired, and dirty. They also barely ate. I begin to unpack and get the boys ready for bed. My sweet husband returned with a creme brulee. Very tasty! We just hung out in the room and looked forward to a new day in the morning.
