20041218-cruise-friends-memories Part 6

[MarkRG]

Well, a full day and a half is now behind us!

Was soo beat last nite didn't even attempt to post anything.

To catch up from then,

Last nite was first dinner. Looks like the early dining group went off mostly without a hitch. Dining was as usual good fare, the group we were in was in Animator's Pallette. Then this morning was a whirlwind as it was character breakfast, then sunday mass, then the DVC member meet. New swag at the member meet, btw, they gave away a number of these very nice yellow carry bags, bigger than the old white canvas dvc bag. Along with the blue mesh ones we first saw on the last member cruise. That was for... answering questions.

They had a very nice mousepad on the pick it up as you come in table, along with the red hats, purple lanyards, and flyers.

Then it was into Key West itself with a new experience for me personally. We revisited the Butterfly museum(dont' miss), and we went up into the Lighthouse. That was not easy, but is a big do not miss. The view from up there is spectacular, and well worth the climb.

Tonight's dinner was regular rotation, with the showing of The Incredibles in the WD theater. And now ther's a deck party happenign right outside the Cove Cafe. It's good, but seemed lightly attended. The band is good, but, they have two things. One, they are playing the exact same setlist I've seen every live band play at the deck party. Second they went off way too soon for some character/cd music time. And Third, I'm a little beat still, so that may have factored into skipping it.

Cove Cafe is a very nice place. I really like it. I'll probably be spending all my internet time up here.

 

[MarkRG]

Virgil, Mark or anyone else that may read this is, Alan from Craotia still a head server? He's tall with blonde hair and a very nice man. We had him for a server on our first cruise and then he was head waitier on our last 2 cruises.

Have fun.

Not on our rotation. But will ask.

 

[jilljill]

Not on our rotation. But will ask.

Thanks Mark. Keep up the great posts.
Missing everyone.

 

[gail1771]

Mark and Vigil it was great to hear from you.
I love to read the updates.
To all the east coast people on the cruise - You are all missing the snow and freezing rain. Bitter cold tonight.
Barb and I are experiencing the bitter cold and snow.
Regards to everyone.
I miss everyone.
Have a great day at sea tomorrow.
Gail

 

[TnRobin]

Jilljill - I can answer that question as Alan was our head server on our cruise a few weeks ago. I agree that he is a great person. He really went to some effort to make sure I had a wonderful Birthday celebration at dinner.

 

[WDWLVR]

Andy - thanks for the great picture from Key West.


Having a great time on our day at Sea. Started out with the couples massage and a trip to the Rainforest. Heaven!

We went to a presentation by Don "Ducky" Williams and we were lucky enough to win a signed sketch by him. We got Stitch. Paul, Virgil, and Karen's folks also won.

This afternoon is busy with High Tea, the group photo shoot, wine party and then our first formal night.

Well off to a few more posts and then to have more fun!


Woo Hoo - got a top at Sea!

 

[Verandah Man]

Mary,

That's cool winning one of Ducky's drawings!!! He was on our cruise this past August, we missed winning one of his drawings by one number. We did however get the special litho that was given away during the special cruises, and we did win one of his drawings in the Silent Auction. Both those lithos sit proudly on our living room wall.

Enjoy the warmth of the Caribbean!!! It's a cold 10 degrees here today, with a wind chill below zero, and of all days, our new entry and storm doors are being installed today. DW said our furnace has been running non-stop all morning. I'm going back into my work car to warm up, LOL!!!

Enjoy the rest of the cruise!!!!! Two weeks from today we fly to Florida for the January 4th sailing of the Magic!!!!!

 

[jilljill]

Mary, thanks for this morning's update. You've had a fun filled day with more fun to come. Congrats on winning the drawing and congrats to Virgil, Paul and Karen's parents too. So great that so many of you won them.


TnRobin, thanks for the update on Alan. I'm hoping he's still there in August when we sail.

 

[gail1771]

Hi Mary. It was great to hear from you. Congrad's to you and everyone who won something today.
The couple's maggage sounds heavenly.
ENJOY that warm weather. It is BITTER cold today.
Enjoy the rest of your day at sea.
Regards to all at the wine party.
Two weeks from tomorrow - our family will be on the Magic with Andy and his DW.
Looking for warmer weather than today!!!
TTYL-Gail

 

[ohiominnie]

Hey there. My first chance to check email! What an awesome time we're having. I personally think I've gained 10 pounds!!! It is SO wonderful to be walking down the hall and be able to say hi or stop and chat with so many people that I know! What absolute fun this has been sailing with friends!! I think my parents are overwhelmed by it all!! They probably think I'm a nutcase!

Food is great. Crew is awesome. Servers in the dining room are right on, and probably the best pair we've ever had where BOTH of them were "excellent."

Here's the biggest update of all....it seems that my dd, KT, is dating Mr. Scuba! She keeps slipping over to his table at dinner! I've got to keep an eye on her!

It's finally starting to warm up a bit. It was a bit chilly there to start, but much better than central Ohio, I'm sure!

 

[gail1771]

Hi Karen.
It is 17 in NY. I am glad to hear it is warming up for you all.
That is so wonderful that you all are having an awesome time.
What did you all do on your first day at sea today? What kind of activities were there today?
How was the wine party today??
Looking forward to hearing all about it.
Fondly, Gail

 

[MarkRG]

Good Evening Cruisers!

Well another day has flown by. Well I'll kind of repeat what Mary covered already(sneaky, sneaky, didn't know she'd been on) as I'd like to just recap the day.

We started out our day with a part of the REAS package, a spa treatment, in our case chose the spa taster. This is a combination of a back of the body massage, shoulders, and a mini facial treatment. I really enjoyed this. We combined it with some time in the rainforest room afterward. It's kind of funny, I already do with some regularity what those couches do. On days I'm feeling a bit stiff or sore, I go and lean on the back door of the boiler, which is usually nice and warm and let it just soak in.

After some nice buffet breakfast went to the talk presented by Ducky. If you get the opportunity to visit with him, don't pass it up, he has some facinating stories about how he got to where he is at Disney.

Buffet lunch was Asian, and while I wouldn't go as absolutely far as to call it authentic, it was good.

Well then the afternoon got real interesting. It's formal night #1 by the way. We started with High Tea at Palo, which was very pleasant and relaxing. get dressed as we would have no time later, then we had the group photo in the atrium around the Mariner Mickey statue. That was fun. Lots of gawkers and lots of the Goose clan blue shirts. And Mary and I already in formal. That was kind of funny. But it worked out for the best.

The wine/cheese party was a complete success. We had sessions all to ourselves, even with a host from the crew, a very nice layout of cheese and fruit platters, and a cake to celebrate the three vow renewals that happened for our group this trip. The cake was provided by us, not DCL.

(And right now I have a total drunk clown next to me here at Cove who actually chased Virgil off who was next to me. Wow gee boozehound {not Virgil} up and left, imbecile. Hope he has a migraine in the morning. Ok back to narrative.)

We had a good time at the party, lots of variety of wines brought, the crew kept their display of treats full up for the entire time, And we all had a good time hanging out there.

Onto dinner, which for at least us was Lumiere's tonight. Well, by this time I have to admit Mary and I were VERY fooded out. (Is that a word??) The food was good, and the servers, same ones Karen has, are very good and work well as a team.

Then there was the show tonight, another one we opted out of. We're really not variety show people. Dunno why, just not really. The star of the show I'm sure got an excellent crowd, was Christy Carlson Romano, played Belle in the broadway show, is the voice of Kim Possible and co-star of Even Stevens. We instead saw a movie in Buena Vista, Princess Diaries 2, which was cute. It is acutally a '2' movie that works. I really think there is another Lucille Ball caliber actress in Anne Hathaway. She can act, and do comedy hand in glove, not an easy feat to do by any means.

And now here I am giving you the wrapup of the day. And another day at sea, with really NO plan for it whatsoever, a day to totally relax in.

 

[WDWLVR]

The wine/cheese party was a complete success. We had sessions all to ourselves, even with a host from the crew, a very nice layout of cheese and fruit platters, and a cake to celebrate the three vow renewals that happened for our group this trip. The cake was provided by us, not DCL.

(

One small edit to what Mark said (I can edit him because I'm here and he's still asleep . The cake was provided by DCL at the request of one of the DIS cruisers (Stacey). The spread of cheese and fruit was wonderful and the bar was lined with all kinds of great wine. One of the bottles was sent to the group from Shirley at the Perfect Gift - wasn't that sweet?

In hindsight we should have stayed casual and been in our blue shirts, but it was for the best as we got to enjoy the company at the wine party longer and still make dinner on time.

I'm afraid I've left the early morning walking crew down as my ankle has been acting up do to so much activity.

We are getting together today to do scrapbooking and that will be fun.

Miss you guys that aren't here. The time seems to be flying by and after 18 months I just want it to slow down so we can really enjoy it!

Well off to catch up on reading! Stay warm!

 

[gail1771]

Hi Mary. I received you PM. Thanks so much. I just sent you back one.I think it is the coolest to get a message from sea. I miss you all. It is so wonderful to read the posts. Sorry to hear that your ankel is acting up.
Shirley is a doll for sure.You all have another beautiful day at sea. Looking forward to hearing all about it. Regards to all. Tell everyone hello. Have fun scrapbooking. The weather on the eastcoast is still very cold BUT no snow today. Fondly, Gail

 

[All_Ears]

Virgil, Mark or anyone else that may read this is, Alan from Craotia still a head server? He's tall with blonde hair and a very nice man. We had him for a server on our first cruise and then he was head waitier on our last 2 cruises.

Hey, he's our room captain! We met him last night! - Moved up to the White coat!! If there is a message - LMK I will give it to him!
Have fun.

 

[Iris]

If you happen to see David and his family (djs113) please tell him I hope he is having the BEST time and having great weather. Tell him that we got 26 inches of snow on Sunday here in Indiana and that it is bitter cold out right now. Wish I were on board the Magic.

 

[MarkRG]

If you happen to see David and his family (djs113) please tell him I hope he is having the BEST time and having great weather. Tell him that we got 26 inches of snow on Sunday here in Indiana and that it is bitter cold out right now. Wish I were on board the Magic.

He's at the table next to us for dinner, will mention you.

 

[I Luv Disney Cruise]

I have been keeping up with your posts while aboard the cruise. My parents Bill and Barbara Baker (b&bdiscruisers) are onboard with you. They are in stateroom #6040. I'm so jealous, I wish I was aboard. We aren't cruising until June 2006, now I wish we had chosen your cruise dates instead of in June. I hope you all are having a blast.

Would someone would be so kind and slip a note under cabin 6040 saying Laura and Mark says hello, Merry Christmas, we miss them and they should post onto this thread while aboard? I would appreciate it.

Keep the posts up, I love to hear all about your adventures.

-Laura

 

[jilljill]

Hey, he's our room captain! We met him last night! - Moved up to the White coat!! If there is a message - LMK I will give it to him!
Have fun.

Therese, now I'm really bummed we couldn't make the trip. It really would have been nice to see him.
He won't know us by name, only by face. Can you find out if he's going to be sailing on Aug. 6 please? But you can tell him we said hello and are looking forward to seeing him soon, the Harrington's; Jay, Barb and Alexa. Or you can let Stacey give him the message - or would that be Lisa?!?

Have a great time.

 

[scuba diver]

Here's the biggest update of all....it seems that my dd, KT, is dating Mr. Scuba! She keeps slipping over to his table at dinner! I've got to keep an eye on her!

So the secret is out. I told her to keep it quiet.

It is a great crusie. As you can tell from the few posts already, it is a big family cruise.

Tonight KT and Lisa had dinner in one of the suites. They had a great time. There are a lot of stories with the teen group. I just hope Scuba Matt's name doesn't come up very often.

Just finished dinner and am now heading off to the Studio 3 for the adult show and then to Diversions for the British Club. Many DISers there tonight.

Stay tuned. More reports will be coming.

Tomorrow is St. Marteen.