A Merry Mickey Christmas ~ Day 4

[Ware Bears]

Sunday December 20th 2009
Weather ~ forgot to record the temperature but it was sunny and warm

A Merry Mickey Christmas INDEX

We were up early as today we were off on a 3 night Disney cruise. It had been Bryan's big birthday earlier on in the year and when I asked him how he wanted to celebrate he said "A Disney cruise" ~ well, this was music to my ears! I'd gone on a Med cruise when at school and we'd been on a weekend cruise to Egypt and Israel together when we were first married so we knew we liked being on the high seas and had always longed to do another. We would have preferred to book the 4 night for the sea day but unfortunately the price was double as it was sailing over Christmas Day so the 3 night it had to be.

We spent ages choosing which stateroom to book ~ whether to have two insides, one outside and one inside, or one family. In the end the family won as we thought this will probably be the last family holiday with all of us yeah right and the only time we will all cruise together yeah right again and as it was only for 3 nights we could easily manage.

We decided to keep it a secret from the girls until Christmas Day it wasn't easy when we gave them each a copy of the postcard from Mickey and Minnie that DCL send out when you've booked and we watched the planning DVD. To say they were excited was the understatement of the century!

We had packed our cruise clothes the night before so it was just a matter of putting in the last minute things and having a spot of breakfast and we were on our way by 8:30am. We took a wrong turning but soon righted ourselves and it was then all plain sailing to Port Canaveral.

We had two rivers to cross, the Indian River and Banana River,

and as we reached the top of the first bridge I could see those infamous funnels in the distance!!

 

[Ware Bears]

Since we had booked our cruise I had read hundreds of trip reports and seen zillions of photos but nothing prepared me for the WOW factor of the Wonder. We live near Southampton so I am used to seeing the floating crates that pass for cruise liners these days but the Wonder and Magic are what I class as 'proper' ships.

Bryan went to park the car ($45) whilst the girls and I handed over our check-in luggage and gave the porter a generous tip as he had to get luggage tags for us remember some wally had left them at home then we went through security, checked in and had our Key to the World cards made. I was very grateful that it all went smoothly and we were now the proud holders of Boarding card number 5.

We enjoyed looking round the cruise terminal

and having our photo taken with Mickey

and Minnie.

Eventually it was time for our number to be called and it was our turn to walk through the 'ears doorway' to have our photo taken

then through that beautiful atrium and onto Parrot Cay where we had a delicious buffet, met Pluto

and enjoyed our first ever Bahama Mama.

 

[Ware Bears]

When we'd finished lunch we decided to see if our stateroom was ready and yes, it was.

The girls hung our fish extender (I forgot to take a photo but here is one taken earlier at home)

and decorated the door

whilst I took photos of inside.

 

[Ware Bears]

Once we'd unpacked we quickly explored the the ship before making our way down to the Promenade Lounge for our Cruise meet with some of the people we'd met on our Cruise thread. We spent a very enjoyable half-hour chatting away but silly me forgot to get the camera out so I don't have a photo.

It was soon time to go back to our staterooms to get our lifejackets for the Boat Drill

although this went smoothly and didn't take long. Once it was over we replaced the lifejackets in the wardrobe and made our way up to Deck 10 to watch the Adventures Away Celebration sail away party which is held on Deck 9.

 

[Ware Bears]

Then came the moment I had been waiting for ......... the horn boomed 'When You Wish Upon a Star'

and the staff came out of the cruise terminal to wave us off

and the combination of the sound of that horn and the sight of those Mickey gloves just made me but with happiness, not sadness.

The sun was setting and it was getting quite chilly but we stayed on deck to take some video and photos

and as we passed the spot where the Cocoa Beach webcam is I waved as I have spent many Thursdays and Sundays watching the Wonder leave and now it was finally our turn to sail on her. Then a little piece of Disney magic a lady drew up in the carpark, got out of her car and waved at us with her Mickey glove! I don't know whether she was a cruise terminal CM or just a fellow Disney lover, and maybe this happens every cruise, but that little piece of Disney magic sure made my day!

A final shot from our verandah.

 

[Ware Bears]

We had second seating dining at 8:15pm so we made our way to the Walt Disney Theatre to watch The Golden Mickeys. This was a lovely show which far surpassed any I've seen in the parks and was made all the more poignant because there was an announcement after the show that it was to be dedicated to Roy E Disney who had died a few days previously.

We went back to our stateroom and got ready for dinner which was to be in Parrot Cay tonight.

We were seated with a dad and daughter, just a few months older than Francesca, from Florida who were cruising for their first time. The mum was also with them but unfortunately had a severe migraine so was resting in bed.

Our main server was I. from Thailand and our assistant was Panda from France and they were absolutely lovely and couldn't do enough for us.

For my appetizer I had Baked Crab Martinique jumbo lump crab baked in creamy cheese sauce served with colourful tortilla and plantain chips

and Bryan chose Jamaican-marinated Chicken Tenderloins in a sizzling spicy jerk sauce with a chunky blue cheese dressing

The girls didn't want anything to start so just chose mains; Samantha chose Caribbean Roasted Chicken half a chicken served with mashed sweet potatoes, corn kernels, and marinated shallots with a spice glaze

Danielle had an Oven-roasted Chicken Breast with jacket potato and veg

and Francesca opted for the same but with fries

whilst Bryan and I both chose the Mixed Grill grilled sirloin steak, lamb chop, bacon-wrapped sausage, and jumbo shrimp on mashed potatoes, asparagus, and grilled tomato with a cabernet-mushroom saice.

Then, just as we were expecting our desserts, Bryan had a lovely surprise when I. brought out a cake to celebrate his birthday

it was big enough for us all to share and for our tablemates to take a slice back for the mum.

Then came our desserts; we all chose Parrot Cay's Sweet Temptations a trio of creme brulee cheesecake, lemon meringue pie, and chocolate s'more vanilla cake the large square with the strawberry is the birthday cake

Drink of the Day was Bahama Mama ........ mmmmmmmmm

After dinner the girls went off to the Teen club with their new friend whilst Bryan and I went to watch A Christmas Carol 3D in the Buena Vista Theatre.

When we got back to our stateroom all the beds had been turned down and this little friend was awaiting us.

What a fabulous first day.

 

[strawberry blonde]

What can I say Elaine but WOW!! I would love to do the cruise.

I didn't realise that you'd booked a balcony. That must have made the trip extra special. If you and Bryan had the bed, what did you do with the three girls? I'm guessing a bed settee for two but then what

Lovely photos. Always nice to see how the other half live

 

[BethEJo]

What can I say Elaine but WOW!! I would love to do the cruise.

Agree with both those statements

What a great start to the cruise - and lovely pictures too

 

[Ware Bears]

Thanks for reading as you can guess I am saving hard for the next one!

If you and Bryan had the bed, what did you do with the three girls? I'm guessing a bed settee for two but then what

If you look at this photo

the settee turns into a bed, another bed comes out of the ceiling directly above it to make a top bunk, and the cupboard behind the chair is a bed that folds out of the wall and goes in front of the verandah door. I meant to take photos of it all down but same old story, I never got around to it!

 

[buzz for boys]

Thanks for reading as you can guess I am saving hard for the next one!

If you look at this photo

the settee turns into a bed, another bed comes out of the ceiling directly above it to make a top bunk, and the cupboard behind the chair is a bed that folds out of the wall and goes in front of the verandah door. I meant to take photos of it all down but same old story, I never got around to it!

Me back to bug you with questions

Following your description does this mean tha the room holds 6 ?? if so what type of room did u book ? as ive been told max occupancy of 5 !!

 

[Ware Bears]

It was a Cat. 4 and only sleeps 5 as although the bed settee looks like a twin it's only a single one.

 

[jjk]

wow what an amazing day, I really hope we get to cruise next year

 

[PJB71]

Oh Elaine, im so jelious, you got on the ship as we got off

How funny we also had I and Panda as our servers

Really looking forward to reading more

 

[Chilly]

Very clever - hidden beds not hidden mickeys!

 

[florida sun]

Great day Elaine, been looking forward to this, sounds like you had a great start to your cruise, and I know I have said it before, but what a lovely looking family you have

 

[mandymouse]

What a great day Elaine, and fab photos too We like watching the webcam of the Disney Wonder leaving too (sad aren't we )

Glad you enjoyed those Bahama Mamas

 

[Ware Bears]

Thanks for reading.

How funny we also had I and Panda as our servers

Weren't they both lovely!

and I know I have said it before, but what a lovely looking family you have

Aww, thanks Sue.

Glad you enjoyed those Bahama Mamas

Could do with one of them tonight!

 

[natalielongstaff]

Reading your trippie has brought back some lovely memories of our cruise brilliantly written xx