2/20/11 and 2/24/11 Dream B2B 4day/3day Updated 3/11/11 w/pics

[ddavis860]

 

[ddavis860]

The bird carving is so detailed! great souveniour!!

love your toes photos!

when we went to castaway in 05, was very windy, took the captain 6 tries before he docked us...was very interesting to watch from the back on deck 7 (Magic)

The toes pics became a running joke with DH

Wow, 6 tries, that's dedication! I've never watched the docking from deck...must put that on my cruise bucket list for next time!

 

[DMMarla07860]

love reading your report. you should read mine, since we were on your first cruise together

 

[ddavis860]

Love that parrott!

Thanks! It really is a work of art. The detail is amazing, each feather is carved. And it exactly fit the "souvenir" that we were looking for.

They have a bunch of other types of things there, but DH being a parrothead, this was perfect for him. When we went back for day #2 he got a carved marlin.

 

[ddavis860]

love reading your report. you should read mine, since we were on your first cruise together

Going to find your's now

 

[MadfortheMouse]

subbing!

 

[morgansmom2000]

Ahhhh, I'm getting chills and tearing up reading this! DH wants to know what you thought of the Bahamas, he's read some not so good things about pushy locals trying to sell to you?

Looks like an amazing trip, can't wait to hear more

 

[ddavis860]

Change over to Cruise #2​

2 things we did yesterday that I forgot to mention. 1st, we got the tickets for tips EARLY at Guest Services. Just waited in line a bit after breakfast. Tip for new cruisers, that line gets LONG the last night, so get your tickets early! 2nd is we asked the Head Server if we could have the same table for cruise #2. He was able to accommodate us. We did not have table mates for either cruise. For the first one it was because I went to D Lounge and changed rotations and requested if possible, and for the second because we requested of the head server...

Today was change over day. Back to Port Canaveral. Last night everyone was putting out their cases, but we got a letter telling us to take all our cruise docs and passports and go thru customs.
Amazing amounts of luggage

So, we went to breakfast at Royal Palace, where the staff was rushed rushed rushed as usual. I had my crocheting and DH had his book for the wait at the terminal. We got in the debarkation line and stepped off the ship.

Customs was a breeze. We were way under the $800 pp limit, and passed thru with a brief glance at our passports. Then back to the front of the terminal, told the little older gentleman there we were doing a b2b, and went right back up.

Went to the very end desk on the left, and got the green #1 boarding ticket. With this cruise we went gold, but it still said silver on the KTTWK. They made a note of it, and said it would be taken care of on board. We declined new silver lanyards. DH was like a kid taking pics around the terminal. There were about 150-200 other people doing this b2b we guessed. We had to wait till the computers purged the info from the last cruise, and reloaded the info for this cruise. By then it was after 11, and there were new arrivals waiting to board too. We were keeping an eye on a family that were b2b also, and when they were told to get ready, we did too.

There is no announcement, you just watch and go. They took the green ticket and we were going back. No one was taking pics, so DH took mine. There was no one saying "Welcome" and clapping, it was quiet.

We got some pics of the empty ship, then settled in at DH's fav place...the sun deck over the adult pool. DH disappeared for a while, and returned with a drink that he had custom made for me. I'm not crazy about fruity drinks, hate vodka, and so I'm not a big fan of the "Drink of the Day". But this drink was perfect! DH tried to find the bartender during the cruise to get the recipe, and I wanted to thank him, but we kept missing him.

We got some food at Cabanas, and then went back to the room for a rest because today was the shuttle launch, and we didn't want to miss it!!

 

[ddavis860]

Ahhhh, I'm getting chills and tearing up reading this! DH wants to know what you thought of the Bahamas, he's read some not so good things about pushy locals trying to sell to you?

Looks like an amazing trip, can't wait to hear more

The locals were working it, but we just said no thanks...
No Thank You I don't want a taxi ride...
No Thank You, I don't want my hair braided...
No Thank You, you can't make me a good deal...

Once you get away from the welcome center, it's better, but bad bad bad at the straw market. I wouldn't go to there again, I didn't like how close things were, and I did feel they were pushy. But I had to go once. And I would go to the carvers again in a heartbeat. I really feel they are the unsung talent on Nassau. And DH loves to haggle, so it fit him perfectly

Honestly, I think I would have been uncomfortable walking around when the kids were little, but just us it was fine. We were not approached for drugs of anything like others have said. With kids the last time, I got us a room at the Comfort Inn (I think that was the name) next to Atlantis. We got wristbands and did everything Atlantis for under $200 for the room. At the time, Atlantis was "calling the ships" and offering a "limited" number of wristbands...for like $180 pp. So, I felt I got a good deal. Not sure if it's still available or not. So, with the cab ride and and lunch we got all things Atlantis for around $300 for a family of 4. That was 5yrs ago though.

 

[ddavis860]

I got a question in email, but I keep getting the "MAILER-DAEMON@aol.com" that my reply is is not deliverable. I just don't get computers sometimes...

The question was about parking at the Radisson. I'll post the answer here incase others are wondering too...

There was no charge for parking. I booked the cruise package with breakfast buffet online, but I still think the parking is free even without the cruise package. It's to the left of and kind of behind the hotel, and clearly marked. The shuttle brought us right to that lot when we returned. The porter at customs took our baggage right to the Radisson pick up too.

I also made advanced ressies for the shuttle over to the cruise. I just called the hotel and got a 1030 ressie. When we arrived, they were giving out 1pm ressies, so it paid to pre book.

 

[morgansmom2000]

The locals were working it, but we just said no thanks...
No Thank You I don't want a taxi ride...
No Thank You, I don't want my hair braided...
No Thank You, you can't make me a good deal...

Once you get away from the welcome center, it's better, but bad bad bad at the straw market. I wouldn't go to there again, I didn't like how close things were, and I did feel they were pushy. But I had to go once. And I would go to the carvers again in a heartbeat. I really feel they are the unsung talent on Nassau. And DH loves to haggle, so it fit him perfectly

Honestly, I think I would have been uncomfortable walking around when the kids were little, but just us it was fine. We were not approached for drugs of anything like others have said. With kids the last time, I got us a room at the Comfort Inn (I think that was the name) next to Atlantis. We got wristbands and did everything Atlantis for under $200 for the room. At the time, Atlantis was "calling the ships" and offering a "limited" number of wristbands...for like $180 pp. So, I felt I got a good deal. Not sure if it's still available or not. So, with the cab ride and and lunch we got all things Atlantis for around $300 for a family of 4. That was 5yrs ago though.

Good to know, I'll look into getting a room and seeing what it comes with. Morgan will be nearly 12, so we'll probably be anxious with her still, but with 2 of us to keep an eye on her, we should be okay.

What is the straw market?

 

[mommy2mrb]

How cool to be first one back on the ship! and to have it all to yourselves!! must of been very quiet!!!

When I went on a cruise years ago to Nassau, I wasn't too impressed with the Straw Market either....we took a taxi out to one of the hotels, got lounge chairs, umbrella and stayed at the beach all day!

 

[morgansmom2000]

By the time we finished lunch the cabin was ready and we went to see. Cabin 8560, catagory 5B on deck 8. We have always stayed in a catagory 4 in the past, but this time it's just Me and DH, and we didn't need the extra space. It is a connecting cabin, and the veranadahs can be opened to give more family deck space.

We are in Cabin 8506 - I want to upgrade to a veranda, DH wants to downgrade (to a virtual porthole).

 

[ddavis860]

I loved having the veranda. Cocktails and snacks every night, pre-breakfast snacks every morning. It was beautiful! We had binoculars with us this time around, as last cruise there was a whale spotting. But we didn't see anything exciting from our varanda at sea. There were a few things we could check out though, like Grand Bahama Island, and a boat beached at Nassau.

And looking down, we didn't see the ocean, but the top of a life boat. Looking up there was the bottom of deck 11. Fat bottom girl has some sad views up and down. The classic ships had better views, IMHO.

My impression of the straw market is a cramped place where everyone is selling the same stuff, and trying to beat eachother in price to part you from your $'s. I found it very umpleasant. We did get some things for the kids there, but the gold mine is outside on the far left wall.

My boys were teens and loved the water slides at Atlantis! The death drop thru a tube in the shark tank was their fav I think. It was a perfect day for them. If the neighbor hotel is doing the bands, it was easy and a great value. I checked in and checked out at the same time, got the bands, and off we went to Atlantis for our pool/slide day. Did the Dig, and everything was included. I even hit in the casino, which paid for lunch we figured

 

[ddavis860]

Shuttle Launch, and Sailing Away Again​

So, I guess I should say that I had to go rest. The sun in FLA was nice and strong. DH stayed on deck till we had to go to muster drill again. We were pros at it this time, but the crew had glitches and kept us past when everyone else was leaving. And just saying, if something is happening and we have to abandon ship, going to the theater in the bowels of the ship is not my fav meeting place But I digress...

After muster, the party was going strong, but DH and I go all the way to the front of deck 12 to get a place for the launch. There was crew lining the upper parts of the ship with some huge and really nice photographic equipment! This was going to be quite an event! A Celebrity ship stayed in port for the launch too. You could see on land the massive crowds, and in the harbor and out to sea boats were everywhere. What a party!

The crowds were gathered in anticipation, and we waited

And then it started...chills! HOW COOL IS THIS!!!!

Wow, amazing! As the shuttle lifts off, Captain Tom plays "When you wish upon a star" on the horn. Always magical on a Disney cruise!

And then we were off again

Good Bye FLA for a few more days

We went to the cabin for snacks and cocktails. And watched the boats that are normally so large, but now seem so small going back to dock. We passed by the bars where the parties were going. One party had a friend of ours, and he took a video of the Dream as she passed. He played it for us when we visited a few days later. You could see us on our veranda, how cool is that?

What a great day, and now a great night. We are going to Remy for dinner!

 

[morgansmom2000]

My brother works at NASA and sent me some pictures, but I can't imagine watching the launch from the deck, how amazing is that?!

 

[ddavis860]

Remy​

So, I have been excited for this dinner all cruise! We got dressed up and went to Deck 12 Aft. How wonderful! We had been invited to visit the wine vault and pick wines for our meal, but we declined. The up charge is steep, and we aren't that into wine pairings, we just love food! We are greeted at the Palo/Remy desk, and escorted in. The restaurant is so quiet and elegant. We are seated and meet our server. He is from France, and has a beautiful accent. We had fun talking to him during the meal. He was very nice, and was telling me the French words for things. They only have 3 tables each, so the service is excellent.

And our server took a pic of us in our fancy duds. No photographer in Remy

He then made me the Colette, a cocktail with fruit and champagne, and DH had plain champagne. As we are talking to the server, we are given our choices of bread. We are seated by the window, but it's dark out, so there is nothing to see. There are many open tables, and I later asked our head server in the main dining room what's up with that. He said it's intentional, but may change in the future.

OK, on with the food (I love food porn!!)


After we have a little of the cocktails, we are given an Amuse-bouche. It's like tomato soup inside a puff. Pop it on your mouth and eat it up. While I'm not a fan of gushers gum, and was a bit concerned, it was delicious. Delicious will be the theme for the rest of this report, as we really didn't have a thing we didn't LOVE all meal! A meal that took over 3 hours and was an event unto itself.

We had the tasting menu, I had the Saveur and DH had the Gout. It was recommended by our server, and since we didn't know what to expect anyway, we let him lead the way. The menu was created by 2 different chefs. And we were told the story of the chefs and the menu. A total of 10 courses to taste, plus a cheese course and other goodies I'm in food nirvana. As we are eating, I'm thinking what a great job the waiter did picking our path on the menu. Things I love that DH is ok with and visa versa...

My Bread

Ratatouille with olive oil ice cream

Langoustine Royale -mine- 2 dishes of lobster
hot

cold

Smoked Bison -DH-

Declinaison Tomate -mine- 3 dishes of tomato, and a drink
crustless tomato tarte

soup- that little cube was tomato sorbet

tomato and ricotta

Pineapple tomato cocktail that takes 2 days to prep

Lobster -DH- no pic

Tubot Cotier -mine-

Wild Loup de Mer -DH- no pic

Pigeonneau -mine- Pigeon in puffed pastry no pic...I was too busy eating

Australian Wagyu -DH- no pic

The cheese course -

Then the cheese is brought over to the table, and some more bread to spread it on. I know why the cheese in under glass, when he opens that thing up the smell of all those cheeses could knock you over. I got 3 kinds of brie. DH got some brie and something really stinky and runny. I tasted a drop and it was totally gross. OK, so that was the only thing I didn't like in the whole meal.

and finally dessert

Fondant Chocolate Croustillant, Sorbet Cacao and Jus Mousseux -mine-
That is gold on the end, and it was fluttering around. So pretty!

and a panacotta

Vanilla Poached Pear -DH- That is pulled sugar, which actually broke when he touched it

Our dinner was finished. I was blissful! The chef had come out during the final courses and was talking with the guests. I told him how much I loved that tomato drink. We enjoyed the meal, and it was worth the upcharge to try it! As we were leaving, the waiter said it is custom in France to give a rose to the lady, and I was given a beautiful rose.

When we returned to the room, there were chocolates and a thank you note waiting for us...

My rose living in The Yard- and it stayed beautiful for the trip

We were also excited that we got new lanyards -DH was excited for his gold

And some goodies from DVC too

And that was a full day and I crashed soon after!

 

[trish.]

Great TR! We have forever to wait until our cruise, but these pictures and stories just make me giddy! Thanks!

 

[NAB]

Always wondered what happens when you do back to back. Thanks for telling us. I hope someday we can do this too.

Great trip report! Love the pictures too.

 

[ddavis860]

Great TR! We have forever to wait until our cruise, but these pictures and stories just make me giddy! Thanks!

You're Welcome! You will have a blast, and the time will fly!

Always wondered what happens when you do back to back. Thanks for telling us. I hope someday we can do this too.

Great trip report! Love the pictures too.

I wondered too. I think it's a bit longer of a wait on the Dream, but it's really the same. Customs makes us leave the ship, not Disney.

Glad you are liking the TR!