Cast of characters: me (Jill)46, DH (mike) 44, DD (Kendall)14, DD (Meghan) 11. Traveled with 6 other families that included 11 other adults and 14 othere kids aged 9 to 19.
We arrived at Manchester Airport at 5:25am for a 6:45 am flight to security checkpoint lines that snaked around the building. Apparently a piece of luggage was left unattended and they were concerned enough that security was very tight. We ended up making our flight...about the last to board. This was pretty nervewracking as we were traveling that morning with 3 other families and meeting 3 more going out of Boston.
We arrived at MCO pretty much on time and since we were staying right there at the Hyatt let all the kids go swimming and then we all got a late lunch at Chilis. The other families arrived and the excitement definetly was growing!!! Everyone met for appetizers about 7pm at Stinger Rays (we were still too full from lunch for a full dinner) and made it an early night.
Saturday/Embarkation Day:
Everyone met for breakfast at the food court in the airport...pretty much just did bagels, muffins that kind of thing since we knew what a great buffet would await us onboard. We were on the first bus headed for the port and our group of 29 was about tenth in line to board. Got lots of pictures of the kids(all 16 of them) checking everything out in the terminal. We boarded about 12:15 and went right to Parrott Cay for a fabulous brunch...love that cold mango soup. Then it was to our rooms to get rid of our carryon bags and the kids all changed into swimsuits and headed for the pools. I took about three other adults who were new to the Magic and went on a tour. It sure felt good to be able to show them all around as this was my second cruise on the Magic. The adults then met at the Signals bar for a Bon Voyage drink. Oh, did that Konk Kooler taste good!!
Went to our room to find our bags waiting so i got everyones bags unpacked and put away(it was great to have the girls out of the room for that)!! Pretty much had just enough time to head down for the life boat drill. It was perfect weather for it overcast and not too warm. Unfortunately, the family standing next to us had a boy about 8 or 9 who did not want to be there , took his life jacket off and kept hitting his mother with it and then throwing to the ground saying he wanted to leave. What a sweet child!!
Went back to our room (8058) to get ready for dinner. We had LAP early rotation which worked out just fine for us. Our group was split among 4 tables in the same area so we all moved around so the kids could sit together and the adults could be together. It worked very well. Our servers were Gemma from England, Andras from Hungary (I think), Ivana and Rafael. They were all wonderful!!! Head server was Keyhan...he was great!!
After dinner (don't remember what I had) we wnet to the Welcome Aboard Show. Dan Riley (who we had seen last year) is the best. Just enjoyed the whole show. After that we went to Dueling Pianos.....what a riot!! Chris and Jeff are so talented..we absolutely loved their performances.
The kids went to Studio Sea and just wandered around...the teens were not interested in Common Grounds as they had there own group already.
All in bed by midnight or so.
Next up...Key West and disaster strikes!!!!
We arrived at Manchester Airport at 5:25am for a 6:45 am flight to security checkpoint lines that snaked around the building. Apparently a piece of luggage was left unattended and they were concerned enough that security was very tight. We ended up making our flight...about the last to board. This was pretty nervewracking as we were traveling that morning with 3 other families and meeting 3 more going out of Boston.
We arrived at MCO pretty much on time and since we were staying right there at the Hyatt let all the kids go swimming and then we all got a late lunch at Chilis. The other families arrived and the excitement definetly was growing!!! Everyone met for appetizers about 7pm at Stinger Rays (we were still too full from lunch for a full dinner) and made it an early night.
Saturday/Embarkation Day:
Everyone met for breakfast at the food court in the airport...pretty much just did bagels, muffins that kind of thing since we knew what a great buffet would await us onboard. We were on the first bus headed for the port and our group of 29 was about tenth in line to board. Got lots of pictures of the kids(all 16 of them) checking everything out in the terminal. We boarded about 12:15 and went right to Parrott Cay for a fabulous brunch...love that cold mango soup. Then it was to our rooms to get rid of our carryon bags and the kids all changed into swimsuits and headed for the pools. I took about three other adults who were new to the Magic and went on a tour. It sure felt good to be able to show them all around as this was my second cruise on the Magic. The adults then met at the Signals bar for a Bon Voyage drink. Oh, did that Konk Kooler taste good!!
Went to our room to find our bags waiting so i got everyones bags unpacked and put away(it was great to have the girls out of the room for that)!! Pretty much had just enough time to head down for the life boat drill. It was perfect weather for it overcast and not too warm. Unfortunately, the family standing next to us had a boy about 8 or 9 who did not want to be there , took his life jacket off and kept hitting his mother with it and then throwing to the ground saying he wanted to leave. What a sweet child!!
Went back to our room (8058) to get ready for dinner. We had LAP early rotation which worked out just fine for us. Our group was split among 4 tables in the same area so we all moved around so the kids could sit together and the adults could be together. It worked very well. Our servers were Gemma from England, Andras from Hungary (I think), Ivana and Rafael. They were all wonderful!!! Head server was Keyhan...he was great!!
After dinner (don't remember what I had) we wnet to the Welcome Aboard Show. Dan Riley (who we had seen last year) is the best. Just enjoyed the whole show. After that we went to Dueling Pianos.....what a riot!! Chris and Jeff are so talented..we absolutely loved their performances.
The kids went to Studio Sea and just wandered around...the teens were not interested in Common Grounds as they had there own group already.
All in bed by midnight or so.
Next up...Key West and disaster strikes!!!!
