OhioTony
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2002
- Messages
- 1,261
11:30 A.M. As we crossed the bridge to port canaveral I was surprised to see Carnival's Fantasy & Royal Caribean's Sovraign of the Seas docked next to the Wonder,my wife & I having sailed on both ships. I first noticed the regal colors of the wonder,navey blue,gold & white. This looked like a "ship"..not a floating Las Vagas or a hotel. then I noticed hanging from the bow a whimsical Donald and one of his nefews. That is the best way to describe this ship "regal,whimsical". The boarding process was simple and my 6 yr old daughter was thrilled to meet Snow White and Mickey.Upon boarding we checked out our spacious cabin (larger than the afore mentioned ships), and booked our surial spa with no waiting in lines.The lunch buffet was wonderfull,although the kids 6 & 9 were far too excited to eat a proper meal.To my surprise the pool was open so we let them swim.On the other lines unless you have a cheese & cracker package pre-aranged to be in your room ,you don't eat untill dinner and nothing is open untill the exit drill.At 3:30 the pool was closed and the drill was smoothly completed. dinner was great, my 9 yr old actually tried escargot.Our waiter was great at entertaining the children, and they had a lot of fun at dinner. We went to the Hurcules show.Here's a great tip! Get to the show about 20 minutes early and find the person setting in the middle of a row and trying to save that row for her party,There's one at every show,and sit behind them.The dirty looks they are given and the fericoty with which they defend their row is great entertainment in itself... I was blown away by the show. The girl who played the purple "evil minion" was so funny she had the other actors laughing at one point.The seas were rough the 1st night so we retired as the wife was feeling ill.
Nassau...having been their on other cruises we decided to just go shoppimg. found the town looking run down. As we were walking to the straw market,my son holding my hand, a man asked me in his bohemian accent if I wanted "smoke,dope or crack".We walked away quickly..We shopped as quickly as we could to get away from the hagglers..we did enjoy the Pirate Musium.While eating our "conch fritters" in the parliament park a person was sleeping on a bench about 30 feet from us.An oficer awakened him with his stick and the man proceded to take it from the officer and resist him. We got out of Dodge and I will never go back to the town Nassau again. I recomend snorlkeling,aquarium or dolphin excursions on this stop.
having exited Nausau early,the kids wanted to check out thier clubs.Hey Mon No Problem! We hit the adult only hot tubs..what a relaxing afternoon.
After dragging the kids from their perspective clubs,we had a wonderful dinner. Animators Palate is not to be missed.
On other lines the pools shut down around 9:00....NOT on the wonder.we skipped the show and hit the pool....It was here we met Halley.My daughter had befriended her at their club.She was a sweetheart with short brown,curly hair and they played as if they were longtime friends. We struck up conversation with her Dad,her Mom was busy monitering the play, and discovered we were from the same state.
FREEPORT....Dolphin excursion day! My wife & I having done the one in Naussau several years back wanted the kids to see these wonderful animals.As we entered the meeting place for the trip my daughter yelled "HALLEY" they joined hands & jumped in a circle in celebration.They sat on the bus together as we drove to UNEXO, the operators of the dolphin encounter.We waited for what seemed an hour untill we boarded the catamaran to take us to the dolphins. "how'd you get that scar" my daughter asked Haley..it ran from her bicep to her wrist.Having childhood scars of my own I shushed her..The dolphins were wonderful.We all had a great time.After dropping the kids off again we had a wonderful experience in the "surial spa" a must for couples who still find each other "hot"..We drug the kids kicking & screaming from their clubs to dinner,and they had a great time as they danced with the waiters,wiaving their napkins and yelling "yoo hoo- yoo hoo".
No show agian..swimming,but afterward the boy and I snuck to an 11:00 showing of "Riegn of Fire".not a bad movie, but as it was pg-13 and he is 9 1/2 I got extra points for Dad of the year!
CASTAWAY CAY...What a beautiful place.We rode bikes,floats,built sandsastles & snorkeled till we could barely drag our tired sunburned bodies back to the ship.
No kids for diner that night.We gave in and let them eat with their clubs,while we had a nice romantic diner & a bottle of champaign.We did get the kids for the fabulous "Disney Dream"show.Yes,we found someone actually trying to save two rows..they were not up for the challenge however as a spanish speaking familly thwarted their plan..The show was amazing and I probably missed 1/3 of it as I was too busy watching my daughters smiling face.We then went to the last meet the characters program and as we were waiting we once again met Haley & her familly.Her father shook my hand,what a grip, and thanked us for our daughter's friendship.a nice but unnesecary gesture.My daughter fell asleep in a chair before the characters arived.She could not be awakened.But I watched My son and saw Halley enthralled with them.That night as my wfe packed I ran into Haleys Dad on deck.Once again he shook my hand with that strong grip and thanked me."You see Halley was given this trip by the Make A Wish foundation...she has cancer.The scar on her arm in from an operation and her hair was long 9 months ago" GULP "what is her prognosis I foolishly ask". "She seems to be in remission,but one never knows..all I know is(his eyes redden) "God is good" and this has been a wonderfull trip". I now know where his strong grip came from.A man who holds on to his familly and faith like this father has strength unimaginable.
We left from the cruise with wonderful memories,friends and a new perspective on familly.I know this was the 1st of many Disney cruises.
To Haley my prayer is that the worst life has to bring is behind you.We'll keep the picture of you with my daughter close and remember you in our prayers.With faith,Prayer and a little pixie dust great things can happen.
God Bless You
Nassau...having been their on other cruises we decided to just go shoppimg. found the town looking run down. As we were walking to the straw market,my son holding my hand, a man asked me in his bohemian accent if I wanted "smoke,dope or crack".We walked away quickly..We shopped as quickly as we could to get away from the hagglers..we did enjoy the Pirate Musium.While eating our "conch fritters" in the parliament park a person was sleeping on a bench about 30 feet from us.An oficer awakened him with his stick and the man proceded to take it from the officer and resist him. We got out of Dodge and I will never go back to the town Nassau again. I recomend snorlkeling,aquarium or dolphin excursions on this stop.
having exited Nausau early,the kids wanted to check out thier clubs.Hey Mon No Problem! We hit the adult only hot tubs..what a relaxing afternoon.
After dragging the kids from their perspective clubs,we had a wonderful dinner. Animators Palate is not to be missed.
On other lines the pools shut down around 9:00....NOT on the wonder.we skipped the show and hit the pool....It was here we met Halley.My daughter had befriended her at their club.She was a sweetheart with short brown,curly hair and they played as if they were longtime friends. We struck up conversation with her Dad,her Mom was busy monitering the play, and discovered we were from the same state.
FREEPORT....Dolphin excursion day! My wife & I having done the one in Naussau several years back wanted the kids to see these wonderful animals.As we entered the meeting place for the trip my daughter yelled "HALLEY" they joined hands & jumped in a circle in celebration.They sat on the bus together as we drove to UNEXO, the operators of the dolphin encounter.We waited for what seemed an hour untill we boarded the catamaran to take us to the dolphins. "how'd you get that scar" my daughter asked Haley..it ran from her bicep to her wrist.Having childhood scars of my own I shushed her..The dolphins were wonderful.We all had a great time.After dropping the kids off again we had a wonderful experience in the "surial spa" a must for couples who still find each other "hot"..We drug the kids kicking & screaming from their clubs to dinner,and they had a great time as they danced with the waiters,wiaving their napkins and yelling "yoo hoo- yoo hoo".
No show agian..swimming,but afterward the boy and I snuck to an 11:00 showing of "Riegn of Fire".not a bad movie, but as it was pg-13 and he is 9 1/2 I got extra points for Dad of the year!
CASTAWAY CAY...What a beautiful place.We rode bikes,floats,built sandsastles & snorkeled till we could barely drag our tired sunburned bodies back to the ship.
No kids for diner that night.We gave in and let them eat with their clubs,while we had a nice romantic diner & a bottle of champaign.We did get the kids for the fabulous "Disney Dream"show.Yes,we found someone actually trying to save two rows..they were not up for the challenge however as a spanish speaking familly thwarted their plan..The show was amazing and I probably missed 1/3 of it as I was too busy watching my daughters smiling face.We then went to the last meet the characters program and as we were waiting we once again met Haley & her familly.Her father shook my hand,what a grip, and thanked us for our daughter's friendship.a nice but unnesecary gesture.My daughter fell asleep in a chair before the characters arived.She could not be awakened.But I watched My son and saw Halley enthralled with them.That night as my wfe packed I ran into Haleys Dad on deck.Once again he shook my hand with that strong grip and thanked me."You see Halley was given this trip by the Make A Wish foundation...she has cancer.The scar on her arm in from an operation and her hair was long 9 months ago" GULP "what is her prognosis I foolishly ask". "She seems to be in remission,but one never knows..all I know is(his eyes redden) "God is good" and this has been a wonderfull trip". I now know where his strong grip came from.A man who holds on to his familly and faith like this father has strength unimaginable.
We left from the cruise with wonderful memories,friends and a new perspective on familly.I know this was the 1st of many Disney cruises.
To Haley my prayer is that the worst life has to bring is behind you.We'll keep the picture of you with my daughter close and remember you in our prayers.With faith,Prayer and a little pixie dust great things can happen.
God Bless You
