jlawall
<font color=royalblue>Captain Lucky, the Great Pro
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2002
- Messages
- 11,591
Well, I'm finally ready to share my Magic trip from this summer. We sailed on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Needless to say, this was the BEST trip we have enjoyed since our cruise to Bermuda in '83. (We do travel a lot so this is a BIG compliment.) We flew down on Friday and stayed at the Hampton Inn in Cocoa Beach. We "surfed" on the beach all day. My family includes DH, myself, DD (18), DD (15), and DD (12). My girls have tried surfing a few times this summer but this was the first time everyone "got up". In the evening we checked out Ron Jon Surf Shop and it was fun.
We arrived to the ship at about 1pm. (We didn't know we could get there earlier.) After a short wait we boarded the ship. We ate lunch at Parrot Cay and it was pretty good. Then we checked out the spa and worked out in the health club. The kids went to their clubs and got acclimated there. We were running on the treadmill when the ship left port and that was cool. Later we tried Bingo with Sean and Ellen. It was pretty fun but we arrived late and they did not tell us not to rip the numbers off the cards. I won but got disqualified due to this situation. This put a damper on our opening day but we made the best of it. On our last cruise (3day 8/99) we felt things were rushed so we had late dinner seating this time. It was at 7:45pm so it wasn't too bad. Dinner each night was pretty good. It was better than in '99 but still not of the quality of a Holland America trip which we took in '83. That night we turned in early.
Sunday was a day at sea and it was fun. We ate each morning at Topsiders and it was very nice. We worked out and hung out by the pool. We participated in pool games. DH did the scavenger hunt and I was in the "International Belly Flop" contest. John and DJLA were the hosts and they were terrific. John's dad was on the ship and he showed us all how to belly flop. Then 4 men and women competed for the best flop prize. I made it to the final round and then lost to a man in the contest. It felt good to "go for it". I figured I wouldn't see these people ever again but I forgot that I still had the rest of the week with them. Oh well!!! We did not attend any shows this night but once again tried the Bingo. The kids were nowhere to be found and we soon realized our "family" trip had become a "couple" trip. DD 12 was very popular all week. She met kids from all over the country and Great Britain. There were lines outside her stateroom on many occasions waiting for her to come out. The older two hung out at Common Grounds and had a blast participating in the teen activities each night. We attended Match Your Mate with John and it was very funny.
Monday was also nice but rather windy at the pool. We mainly stayed at the Adult pool. The wind drove us in to Luminere's for lunch. This was alittle disappointing but we made the best of it. We played Bingo again and DH won the jackpot. At night we attended a comic show and 50s night. It was a blast especially Sean and John in costume.
On Tuesday we met early for the Pinel Island Snorkel Trip in St. Maarten. Ian helped us to register and was fun to have around so early in the morning. The trip itself was very good. We crossed the island to the French side and the equipment and instruction was excellent. We relaxed on the beach before returning to the ship. We purchased soft drinks before we left. This area was well-maintained and clean. However, some areas were "clothing optional" and DD12 got an eyeful. She thought it was funny. We returned to the ship for lunch and then just went to the local beach near the ship. We shopped, DH gambled and DD12 got her hair braided. DD15 & DD18 went off to the beach and they used the water trampoline. They felt alittle weird by themselves in this area. I went shopping right before I returned to the ship and got a few soda cans, etc. in the shops near the ship. I would recommend bringing as much of this as possible from home to save $$ and aggravation. This was the Tropicali......deck party and really alot of fun. The DDs were nowhere to be found, they loved their new friends.
On Wednesday Ian again registered us for the Doubloon Sail and Snorkel. Sean greeted us as we left the ship which was quite a surprise. The excursion was nice. The ship seemed like an authentic pirate ship. The instruction and equipment was excellent and they served rum and soft drinks and nachos on the trip. I got alittle sick while in the water (it was raining). They did not permit us to walk on the beach due to breeding birds and my stomach could not handle that amount of salt water and rocking without a break. We did see sea turtles and tropical fish.
We then ate at the ship and we back to shop in St. Thomas. We went to "Going Seanile" and all the DDs loved it. Then we bought alittle rum and practically fainted from heat exhaustion. Taxis were everywhere and we shopped at the close stores to the ship alittle before going back aboard.
This evening was the 80s party ......... a total blast! This was the best night on board. Many of the crew staff hosted this event and we highly recommend it.
On Thursday we had a day at sea. However, it RAINED ALL DAY!!! We made the best of it, we played shuffleboard, pictionary with DD 15 & 18, Bingo (of course.... I finally won) and hung out in the jacuzzi. This evening we attended 70s night. Ian hosted and it did drag out a bit. It was okay, I think we could have danced more and watched people lip syncing 70s classics less.
On Friday, it was raining at Castaway Cay when we arrived but it stopped soon after. We arrived early and got our snorkel equipment, floats and chairs. John was on the beach in charge of snorkeling in the AM. DD and I snorkeled together. This snorkeling was not as good as the other trips but still fun. The water got alittle rough for DD12 but we made it back. We used the rafts, played water volleyball and swam all day. The whole family did the banana boat experience at noon. What a wild ride!!! I almost flipped off. It was hysterical! We were on a double banana and all had to wear life jackets. It was very fun but I was very sore from holding on for dear life!!!
Lunch was okay, less crowded than on our previous cruise. At the end of the day we went on a bike ride and explored the island the DD15 & 18 went to the teen beach. I finally got my hair braided (just the front) for $30 on island. This was really cool.
Friday evening's activities were a BIG letdown. Very few people were at the club and the crew staff wasn't around. We had come to depend on them and it was very sad without them. Free Reign performed and they were always enthusiastic. I realize that Disney magic kept things hopping each night but the cruise should rethink not having more going on the final evening. After you get to know the crew members it would be fun to say goodbye in some way on this night. You do get attached (it's like camp for adults) We did attend the Farewell performance show and it was nice. On this evening we bought a few pictures and shopped in the stores on ship.
Saturday was anti-climatic and very meloncholy. The trip was so much fun and now it was over. We headed to Orlando and did the Discovery Cove trip on Sunday. It wasn't as good as the cruise but the dolphins, snorkeling and stingrays were a "hit" with the DDs.
Lessons learned.....bring more water bottles and soda from home......definitely attend evening adult shows........eat less and stay less sick from motion sickness.....participate in everything, it's so much fun!.....use the health club, it's really nice.....stick with late seating, it's more relaxing.....if you get hungry earlier, order room service......maybe skip some shore excursions and explore on our own.......GO BACK!, we will sail again in 8/03!
We arrived to the ship at about 1pm. (We didn't know we could get there earlier.) After a short wait we boarded the ship. We ate lunch at Parrot Cay and it was pretty good. Then we checked out the spa and worked out in the health club. The kids went to their clubs and got acclimated there. We were running on the treadmill when the ship left port and that was cool. Later we tried Bingo with Sean and Ellen. It was pretty fun but we arrived late and they did not tell us not to rip the numbers off the cards. I won but got disqualified due to this situation. This put a damper on our opening day but we made the best of it. On our last cruise (3day 8/99) we felt things were rushed so we had late dinner seating this time. It was at 7:45pm so it wasn't too bad. Dinner each night was pretty good. It was better than in '99 but still not of the quality of a Holland America trip which we took in '83. That night we turned in early.
Sunday was a day at sea and it was fun. We ate each morning at Topsiders and it was very nice. We worked out and hung out by the pool. We participated in pool games. DH did the scavenger hunt and I was in the "International Belly Flop" contest. John and DJLA were the hosts and they were terrific. John's dad was on the ship and he showed us all how to belly flop. Then 4 men and women competed for the best flop prize. I made it to the final round and then lost to a man in the contest. It felt good to "go for it". I figured I wouldn't see these people ever again but I forgot that I still had the rest of the week with them. Oh well!!! We did not attend any shows this night but once again tried the Bingo. The kids were nowhere to be found and we soon realized our "family" trip had become a "couple" trip. DD 12 was very popular all week. She met kids from all over the country and Great Britain. There were lines outside her stateroom on many occasions waiting for her to come out. The older two hung out at Common Grounds and had a blast participating in the teen activities each night. We attended Match Your Mate with John and it was very funny.
Monday was also nice but rather windy at the pool. We mainly stayed at the Adult pool. The wind drove us in to Luminere's for lunch. This was alittle disappointing but we made the best of it. We played Bingo again and DH won the jackpot. At night we attended a comic show and 50s night. It was a blast especially Sean and John in costume.
On Tuesday we met early for the Pinel Island Snorkel Trip in St. Maarten. Ian helped us to register and was fun to have around so early in the morning. The trip itself was very good. We crossed the island to the French side and the equipment and instruction was excellent. We relaxed on the beach before returning to the ship. We purchased soft drinks before we left. This area was well-maintained and clean. However, some areas were "clothing optional" and DD12 got an eyeful. She thought it was funny. We returned to the ship for lunch and then just went to the local beach near the ship. We shopped, DH gambled and DD12 got her hair braided. DD15 & DD18 went off to the beach and they used the water trampoline. They felt alittle weird by themselves in this area. I went shopping right before I returned to the ship and got a few soda cans, etc. in the shops near the ship. I would recommend bringing as much of this as possible from home to save $$ and aggravation. This was the Tropicali......deck party and really alot of fun. The DDs were nowhere to be found, they loved their new friends.
On Wednesday Ian again registered us for the Doubloon Sail and Snorkel. Sean greeted us as we left the ship which was quite a surprise. The excursion was nice. The ship seemed like an authentic pirate ship. The instruction and equipment was excellent and they served rum and soft drinks and nachos on the trip. I got alittle sick while in the water (it was raining). They did not permit us to walk on the beach due to breeding birds and my stomach could not handle that amount of salt water and rocking without a break. We did see sea turtles and tropical fish.
We then ate at the ship and we back to shop in St. Thomas. We went to "Going Seanile" and all the DDs loved it. Then we bought alittle rum and practically fainted from heat exhaustion. Taxis were everywhere and we shopped at the close stores to the ship alittle before going back aboard.
This evening was the 80s party ......... a total blast! This was the best night on board. Many of the crew staff hosted this event and we highly recommend it.
On Thursday we had a day at sea. However, it RAINED ALL DAY!!! We made the best of it, we played shuffleboard, pictionary with DD 15 & 18, Bingo (of course.... I finally won) and hung out in the jacuzzi. This evening we attended 70s night. Ian hosted and it did drag out a bit. It was okay, I think we could have danced more and watched people lip syncing 70s classics less.
On Friday, it was raining at Castaway Cay when we arrived but it stopped soon after. We arrived early and got our snorkel equipment, floats and chairs. John was on the beach in charge of snorkeling in the AM. DD and I snorkeled together. This snorkeling was not as good as the other trips but still fun. The water got alittle rough for DD12 but we made it back. We used the rafts, played water volleyball and swam all day. The whole family did the banana boat experience at noon. What a wild ride!!! I almost flipped off. It was hysterical! We were on a double banana and all had to wear life jackets. It was very fun but I was very sore from holding on for dear life!!!
Lunch was okay, less crowded than on our previous cruise. At the end of the day we went on a bike ride and explored the island the DD15 & 18 went to the teen beach. I finally got my hair braided (just the front) for $30 on island. This was really cool.
Friday evening's activities were a BIG letdown. Very few people were at the club and the crew staff wasn't around. We had come to depend on them and it was very sad without them. Free Reign performed and they were always enthusiastic. I realize that Disney magic kept things hopping each night but the cruise should rethink not having more going on the final evening. After you get to know the crew members it would be fun to say goodbye in some way on this night. You do get attached (it's like camp for adults) We did attend the Farewell performance show and it was nice. On this evening we bought a few pictures and shopped in the stores on ship.
Saturday was anti-climatic and very meloncholy. The trip was so much fun and now it was over. We headed to Orlando and did the Discovery Cove trip on Sunday. It wasn't as good as the cruise but the dolphins, snorkeling and stingrays were a "hit" with the DDs.
Lessons learned.....bring more water bottles and soda from home......definitely attend evening adult shows........eat less and stay less sick from motion sickness.....participate in everything, it's so much fun!.....use the health club, it's really nice.....stick with late seating, it's more relaxing.....if you get hungry earlier, order room service......maybe skip some shore excursions and explore on our own.......GO BACK!, we will sail again in 8/03!
