Let me start by giving you the cast of charactors: Me(38),DW(40?) GM(60?) and DD(4). With that said let me start by saying that this is our $99.00 coupon cruise special from cruising on the Magic in Jan.02. and let me tell ya......after cruising for 7 days......cruising for thee just ain't enough!!!!!!!!! Ok let me start.
Day one.....embarkation......Arrived at the port around noon. That veiw of the ship as you go over that next to last bridge on the ride over still gets me. As we got off the bus we were shown right to the covered area outside the actual port where they were doing bag and id checks....no problem....up the stairs and into the check in....being Castaway members we got in the line designated for returning cruisers. GM was a first timer so she had to use one of the other lines. To our suprise she was through the line before us,oh well, she took DD and went to look for our travel mates the Seyfangs! Tim,Deb,Emily and Elaina who we met in Jan. on our first cruise and decided to do the $99.00 special together. Nicer people you will not find. Tim an Deb are without a doubt the warmest couple and their daughters are two of the best behaved children i've ever met.(GUSH,GUSH)....anyway
After check in and receiving the coveted KTTW cards , off we were to the ears. I was suprised to not see the National Guard soilders at the entrance, guess the threat has lessened. Up the gang plank and into a spectacularly decorated atrium. The announcement of our name and welcome to the ship always makes me laugh.....just me I guess, always wanted to tell them a different name and see what would happen...."Introducing the MANSON family!"
We have about an hour before we can get into our cabin so it's up to deck nine to get a seat and a drink while we wait.....DW has taken DD to a restroom to change into her swimsuit so she can start on trying to set a world record for most time in the Mickey pool in a three day cruise!!!
Then, DW and I settle into a couple of chairs at a table on the starboard side, a little food from Beach Blanket buffet and a couple of drinks from one of the more than accomodating waiters and we finally feel we are on-board.
At about 1:45pm we make our way to our cabin, #5063 a deluxe cabin with veranda!!!! WHOO_HOO!!!! Bags aren't there yet but no worries... we get settled in and wait for sail away. Speaking of sail away, we were delayed for more than an hour waiting for 14 people who's flight was delayed out of New York because of snow. I felt bad but if ever the question comes up of have they ever held up a ship for people not being on the answer is,yes.
We had first seating and our first resturant was Animators. This was good for us because we missed Animators on the Magic for Palo's so we didn't get to see the show. Our servers were first rate, two gentlemen from India ,Ramish and Sajil and our Head server Erik from France (DW liked the accent).
Our stateroom hostess Christina was awesome as well.
DD celebrated her fifth birthday aboard the ship and everyone went out of their way to make it a special day for her. The dining room servers brought a lovely cake out for her and her friends ( it was a lovely princess party) and Christina had decorated the outside door of the cabin with balloons and a happy birthday banner. It was wonderful. Our dining experience was much more enjoyable this cruise than on the Magic.
GM took the girlies (all three of them) up to the sail away celebration so the big kids could play..(Thank You GM) The only thing we got to see on the 7 day was a detailed tour of the Mickey pool...No adult play time..However this cruise...GM was our private Oceaneers club.
Anyway off to the Promenade Lounge (Tim, Debbie, DW and myself) We always seem to start here..A few BBC's and we are off (BBC's by the way ...ROCK). First stop (and last ) Wavebands for Wonderquest..what a hoot kindof a scavengerhunt/lets make a deal/gong show..The host requests something " I want to see a man wearing a womens bra" so you throw a bra on the male of choice on your team and run up to the Emcee and get points for your team. You can beg borrow and steal (which we did , some kind womans purse thank you very much) to get points..Well the last request was a man with womens shoes, a bra, a purse and wearing lipstick..Tim was up to the challenge dressed to kill, he paraded around in a man in drag fashion show with two other brave contestants..Bravo boys..
Next was 70's night same place just as fun..So Dw and I are cutting some rug when a Disney staff member asked DW to be a judge in a contest..being a good sport she agreed. They had 3 gals and 3 guys..apparently they were not quite honest because when they took her "backstage" they explained that she was to be part of the Gloria Gaynor lip syncing Contest and her song would be I will Survive.
The first gal came out (not DW) and did an admaralbe job....next gal(not DW)came out and for not really being from that time era, did quite well. Then it was DW turn, let me preface this by saying my DW is no wilting lily by any means. I later found out they told her to really lay on the attitude and "do what ever it took to WOW the judges(by the way, the judges were the three guy that they picked in the beginning and who later found out that they would be the contestants in the John Travolta lip sync contest with the three gals as the judges) Out comes DW with attituded turned up to 11 she proceeded to WOW the judges allright(let me just say, had this not been an adults only function i'm sure she would have toned it down a bit) they did an applause rating to determine a winner and at the end they were all winners but, let me tell you if the judges had anything to say about it, it would have beed a run away! The emcee told everyone that when they see the three gals that they should say"You go girl" to them....let me tell ya by the end of the cruise we had heard that about a hundred times
It was about 1:30am when we finnally got to GM cabin to pick up the girlies, all of them were hunkered down watching the in cabin movie of the night.
And that was the end of day one.
Stay tuned for day two!!!!
Day one.....embarkation......Arrived at the port around noon. That veiw of the ship as you go over that next to last bridge on the ride over still gets me. As we got off the bus we were shown right to the covered area outside the actual port where they were doing bag and id checks....no problem....up the stairs and into the check in....being Castaway members we got in the line designated for returning cruisers. GM was a first timer so she had to use one of the other lines. To our suprise she was through the line before us,oh well, she took DD and went to look for our travel mates the Seyfangs! Tim,Deb,Emily and Elaina who we met in Jan. on our first cruise and decided to do the $99.00 special together. Nicer people you will not find. Tim an Deb are without a doubt the warmest couple and their daughters are two of the best behaved children i've ever met.(GUSH,GUSH)....anyway
After check in and receiving the coveted KTTW cards , off we were to the ears. I was suprised to not see the National Guard soilders at the entrance, guess the threat has lessened. Up the gang plank and into a spectacularly decorated atrium. The announcement of our name and welcome to the ship always makes me laugh.....just me I guess, always wanted to tell them a different name and see what would happen...."Introducing the MANSON family!"
We have about an hour before we can get into our cabin so it's up to deck nine to get a seat and a drink while we wait.....DW has taken DD to a restroom to change into her swimsuit so she can start on trying to set a world record for most time in the Mickey pool in a three day cruise!!!
Then, DW and I settle into a couple of chairs at a table on the starboard side, a little food from Beach Blanket buffet and a couple of drinks from one of the more than accomodating waiters and we finally feel we are on-board.
At about 1:45pm we make our way to our cabin, #5063 a deluxe cabin with veranda!!!! WHOO_HOO!!!! Bags aren't there yet but no worries... we get settled in and wait for sail away. Speaking of sail away, we were delayed for more than an hour waiting for 14 people who's flight was delayed out of New York because of snow. I felt bad but if ever the question comes up of have they ever held up a ship for people not being on the answer is,yes.
We had first seating and our first resturant was Animators. This was good for us because we missed Animators on the Magic for Palo's so we didn't get to see the show. Our servers were first rate, two gentlemen from India ,Ramish and Sajil and our Head server Erik from France (DW liked the accent).
Our stateroom hostess Christina was awesome as well.
DD celebrated her fifth birthday aboard the ship and everyone went out of their way to make it a special day for her. The dining room servers brought a lovely cake out for her and her friends ( it was a lovely princess party) and Christina had decorated the outside door of the cabin with balloons and a happy birthday banner. It was wonderful. Our dining experience was much more enjoyable this cruise than on the Magic.
GM took the girlies (all three of them) up to the sail away celebration so the big kids could play..(Thank You GM) The only thing we got to see on the 7 day was a detailed tour of the Mickey pool...No adult play time..However this cruise...GM was our private Oceaneers club.
Anyway off to the Promenade Lounge (Tim, Debbie, DW and myself) We always seem to start here..A few BBC's and we are off (BBC's by the way ...ROCK). First stop (and last ) Wavebands for Wonderquest..what a hoot kindof a scavengerhunt/lets make a deal/gong show..The host requests something " I want to see a man wearing a womens bra" so you throw a bra on the male of choice on your team and run up to the Emcee and get points for your team. You can beg borrow and steal (which we did , some kind womans purse thank you very much) to get points..Well the last request was a man with womens shoes, a bra, a purse and wearing lipstick..Tim was up to the challenge dressed to kill, he paraded around in a man in drag fashion show with two other brave contestants..Bravo boys..
Next was 70's night same place just as fun..So Dw and I are cutting some rug when a Disney staff member asked DW to be a judge in a contest..being a good sport she agreed. They had 3 gals and 3 guys..apparently they were not quite honest because when they took her "backstage" they explained that she was to be part of the Gloria Gaynor lip syncing Contest and her song would be I will Survive.
The first gal came out (not DW) and did an admaralbe job....next gal(not DW)came out and for not really being from that time era, did quite well. Then it was DW turn, let me preface this by saying my DW is no wilting lily by any means. I later found out they told her to really lay on the attitude and "do what ever it took to WOW the judges(by the way, the judges were the three guy that they picked in the beginning and who later found out that they would be the contestants in the John Travolta lip sync contest with the three gals as the judges) Out comes DW with attituded turned up to 11 she proceeded to WOW the judges allright(let me just say, had this not been an adults only function i'm sure she would have toned it down a bit) they did an applause rating to determine a winner and at the end they were all winners but, let me tell you if the judges had anything to say about it, it would have beed a run away! The emcee told everyone that when they see the three gals that they should say"You go girl" to them....let me tell ya by the end of the cruise we had heard that about a hundred times
It was about 1:30am when we finnally got to GM cabin to pick up the girlies, all of them were hunkered down watching the in cabin movie of the night.
And that was the end of day one.
Stay tuned for day two!!!!
