Wednesday - Cozumel - Got off the ship in the morning and were undecided between Chankanab and La Cieba Hotel, so DH asked opinion of Taxi driver who suggested Mr. Sanchos Beach........so we took his advice and LOVED IT. Great atmosphere, good food, nice beach with sand (no rocks), live music, pool, watersports and it was free admission. Got back to ship about 4:30 and got ready for dinner. Arrived in lobby early to hear the mariachi band - they were great!! After dinner we played Bingo and then stayed for the game "So you think you know your TV songs". After that we headed to Deck 9 for the Deck party. That was fun. They also had the dessert buffet outside and also a taco bar with all the trimmings. Could not eat though, I was always stuffed after dinner!!!
Thursday - Day At Sea - Played bingo 2x today! All in all I came out ahead with all I spent on Bingo. Won a few times. Spent most of the day at the Pool today. Loved the reggae band Spice that was on the boat. They played by the pool all day today. DD got involved in the Goofy games at the pool. DH went to the Captain signing and had him sign the Litho we all received for the Western Inaugural. He also had him sign the Model of the Magic that he purchased. We watched the master carver create an Ice Sculpture. I took my DD (4) to Tea With Wendy in the afternoon and DH went on the Galley Tour. Last cruise he did all the Navigator Series and enjoyed them. Tonight was Semi-formal night and we were in Parrot Cay. I enjoyed the rotation of all the restaurants. After dinner DH and I took our DD to Studio Sea for some dancing and then we went to Disney Dreams show. I think DD enjoyed it more this time than last time. She was more awake and last time she did not sit still. After the show we dropped DD in the club and went to Off Beat. Got involved in the end of a trivia game called BIM BAM BOOM. It was fun. We then stayed for the DUELING PIANOS and then off to the 70's disco night. Having done the 70's party in September we left early. I really just wanted to dance and I was too tired to wait for the show to end. Picked up DD in club around 11:30ish and went to bed.
Friday - Castaway Cay - Got up and onto Island early. Got a great spot on the family beach with an umbrella. Right by path to bar and b-que. Perfect!! Just hung out at beach. DH played some volleyball. Just hung out with all our friends and the kids. Great time! Got back to ship around 3:30- 4:00, got ready for dinner. After dinner, went to the Farewell Variety Show. This was fun but we had seen Rich Purpura on our last cruise and I remembered the jokes being the same. Later on that night we went to Deck 3 for The Final Farewell from all the characters and performers on the ship. That was nice and then we just grabbed some blue chairs on Deck 4 and relaxed before calling it a night.
All in all we had a great time on the Western. I can't say which one I liked better Eastern or Western. I liked them both. Of all Islands that we visited I think Key West was my least favorite. It was okay, just alot of stores and bars. Best bet take a Trolley Ride. It will take you to all the attractions on the island worth visiting.
Eastern or Western - All the beaches are beautiful. St. John - Trunk Bay was my favorite for the water. Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel I liked for the island atmosphere and live music.
Weather beautiful all week. We thought food was great on the cruise even better on this one than our last cruise. Disembarkation went smooth. Waitstaff and other personnel very friendly and accomodating.
We bought the wine package for dinnertime. FYI - were able to split one wine package 3 ways. Also brought some wine onboard for the nights we spent down on Deck 9 at all the Deck parties.
For some reason I felt like this cruise was less crowded than my September cruise and of course that could not be since this was a full ship. I guess the 2nd time around I knew my way around better and did not feel overwhelmed at any point.
Final comment - We booked our 3rd cruise for 5/17/03 Eastern. Maybe the year after that the Western- who knows at this point, but you know once you cruise theres nothing else like it.
Thursday - Day At Sea - Played bingo 2x today! All in all I came out ahead with all I spent on Bingo. Won a few times. Spent most of the day at the Pool today. Loved the reggae band Spice that was on the boat. They played by the pool all day today. DD got involved in the Goofy games at the pool. DH went to the Captain signing and had him sign the Litho we all received for the Western Inaugural. He also had him sign the Model of the Magic that he purchased. We watched the master carver create an Ice Sculpture. I took my DD (4) to Tea With Wendy in the afternoon and DH went on the Galley Tour. Last cruise he did all the Navigator Series and enjoyed them. Tonight was Semi-formal night and we were in Parrot Cay. I enjoyed the rotation of all the restaurants. After dinner DH and I took our DD to Studio Sea for some dancing and then we went to Disney Dreams show. I think DD enjoyed it more this time than last time. She was more awake and last time she did not sit still. After the show we dropped DD in the club and went to Off Beat. Got involved in the end of a trivia game called BIM BAM BOOM. It was fun. We then stayed for the DUELING PIANOS and then off to the 70's disco night. Having done the 70's party in September we left early. I really just wanted to dance and I was too tired to wait for the show to end. Picked up DD in club around 11:30ish and went to bed.
Friday - Castaway Cay - Got up and onto Island early. Got a great spot on the family beach with an umbrella. Right by path to bar and b-que. Perfect!! Just hung out at beach. DH played some volleyball. Just hung out with all our friends and the kids. Great time! Got back to ship around 3:30- 4:00, got ready for dinner. After dinner, went to the Farewell Variety Show. This was fun but we had seen Rich Purpura on our last cruise and I remembered the jokes being the same. Later on that night we went to Deck 3 for The Final Farewell from all the characters and performers on the ship. That was nice and then we just grabbed some blue chairs on Deck 4 and relaxed before calling it a night.
All in all we had a great time on the Western. I can't say which one I liked better Eastern or Western. I liked them both. Of all Islands that we visited I think Key West was my least favorite. It was okay, just alot of stores and bars. Best bet take a Trolley Ride. It will take you to all the attractions on the island worth visiting.
Eastern or Western - All the beaches are beautiful. St. John - Trunk Bay was my favorite for the water. Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel I liked for the island atmosphere and live music.
Weather beautiful all week. We thought food was great on the cruise even better on this one than our last cruise. Disembarkation went smooth. Waitstaff and other personnel very friendly and accomodating.
We bought the wine package for dinnertime. FYI - were able to split one wine package 3 ways. Also brought some wine onboard for the nights we spent down on Deck 9 at all the Deck parties.
For some reason I felt like this cruise was less crowded than my September cruise and of course that could not be since this was a full ship. I guess the 2nd time around I knew my way around better and did not feel overwhelmed at any point.
Final comment - We booked our 3rd cruise for 5/17/03 Eastern. Maybe the year after that the Western- who knows at this point, but you know once you cruise theres nothing else like it.
