Our bags were starting to arrive in the room and so Tom took the 2 older kids to the pool while Zachary and I unpacked. Or I unpacked and Zachary watched tv.
We had to go to the Muster Drill so I knew we wouldn't have too much time. I guess I was just stupid because I waited until they called the Muster Drill to go. Zachary and I were 2 of the last people at our Muster Station. Oops!
It would have been totally fine because Tom and the other 2 were there early and they did roll call by room. Our room had already been called by the time I got there. Lesson learned!!! Apparently my older 2 kids were really upset that we weren't there.
They did see us arrive and felt much better. Worst Mom in the World Award!
And I guess I'm stupid because I just re-read my notes and the Muster Drill was before the Sail-away Party. Oops! Forgive me???
After we wandered the ship we ended up back in the Atrium where there was a lovely Jazz Trio. We really enjoyed that.
Right off the lobby was a throne. There were 2 little girls playing in the vicinity of the throne. Zachary really wanted a turn in the throne so he said something to me. The girls overheard him and immediately ran back to the throne to prevent him from having a turn. He needed to go potty anyway so I told him we'd come back to the throne. When we came back, the girls were still playing and fighting with each other. Their mother was sitting at the nearby bar having a drink. When one of the girls came to tattle on the other, she told them to shut up. And kept drinking. Finally she yelled at them to give Zachary a turn. But it was a long while. I was a little horrified. I'm not saying I'm the best mom ever but I would have made my children give a turn to someone else much sooner. And I would have gotten up to make it happen.
It was finally time for dinner so we headed to the Enchanted Garden for our first night. We were escorted to our table and discovered that we were to have table-mates. I was a little worried that our children wouldn't behave but I hoped our table mates were nice. The waiter had written our children's names on their water cups. Except that Tom's last name has 13 letters so the names were cut off. We had Natha, Sacha (they changed the Z to an S - and it's particularly funny because my nephew is Sacha), and Jessi (which isn't terrible). And they had mixed the children from the other family with our children.
We got it straightened out but it was a pretty good indication that our service wasn't as "perfect" as what I've heard about on the cruise ships. I liked our server. Our assistant server was nice enough but not spectacular at all.
I will say that the food was good. Our assistant server took drink orders and knew little to nothing about the drink menu. It was a little frustrating. I usually drank a glass of wine and I know enough to manage on my own. Tom wanted whiskey but wanted to make sure it wasn't outrageously expensive. Not only didn't he know what brands they carried, he had to find out the prices. I don't mean to over-react to the situation but every night there was a drink issue.
Also I'd read about other assistant servers having the children's drinks waiting for them every night. Nope. And sometimes the drink service was particularly slow. Again, it didn't ruin the trip but I did hope for better.
My children were also not particularly well-behaved at dinner. I had to take both Nathaniel and Zachary out of the restaurant at various points in time for behavior issues. A little disappointing.
The restaurant was beautiful and the food was good. Our table mates were lovely - a DISer mom with 2 daughters (one Nathaniel's age - and they became good friends - and one a little older).
After dinner we took the kids to the kids club. I don't think they were there an hour before Nathaniel called to be picked up.
And as soon as Zachary saw me, he wanted to leave, too. Jessica, on the other hand, was willing to live at the kids club. We took the boys back to the room (where they fought) and let them order room service cookies and milk. I finally went and picked up Jessica. There was quite a bit of fighting at bedtime but we were all finally asleep.
I will note that Tropical Storm Debby was in the area and made the seas a bit rougher than I was expecting. Nobody got sea sick but I won't lie and say I didn't feel the motion.
Amanda
) and thats having to dine with others. I just dont think it would suit my family. We like our evening meal to be our winding down time together and while we may choose to eat alongside others sometimes I would hate not being in control of it (especially with kids who seem to pick those very times to act up).
We had also ordered milk and cookies from room service. Room service was FREE.
ne time with Nathaniel at 
) Nathanial looks like he loved his one on one time with you too
