We decided to add our trip report to NancyDVC's thread. We spent several days at WDW after the cruise and just got home a few days ago. I hope she doesn't mind, but then we did buy her a cappucino in the Cove Cafe Sunday. Nancy and her friend are two really nice people and we very much enjoyed meeting them on the trip.
We (DW, DD~4, and me) left on Friday the 6th and flew direct from on Southwest from Islip to Orlando. After much research, we decided to rent from Budget and do a drop off at the port. After getting our car, we drove a short distance to the Embassy Suites at the airport. It was a very nice hotel, but it was too cool and windy to use the outdoor pool. During the manager's happy hour (which is free), we met four other families who were also going on the cruise. Several were DD's age and they all had a great time while the adults sipped our free drinks. I did a quick store run for last minute items like sunscreen and lots of wine and liquor. We did room service for dinner, which was really quite nice.
The next morning we slept in before having breakfast in the hotel (also free). One of the families we met the night before were taking the
DCL coaches to the port, but were able to get the hotel shuttle to stop at the liquor store before being dropped at the airport. We did some last minute shopping for pirate garb at the local Target and then left for the port around 11:45. We arrived at around 1230, just when the first people were boarding. We had no trouble dropping the luggage off with a porter. DW and DD then went into the terminal to check in while I dropped off the car.
The drop off at Budget was so easy I couldn't believe it. There is also a gas station between the port and the office, so it was easy to gas up. Once at the office, I waited about five minutes for a return shuttle with another Magic passenger. The driver said it was now starting to slow down a little because the other cruise ship which sails on Saturday was going into drydock that day so there were no return passengers for that ship only the Magic. Earlier in the day though, they had done over 80 trips to the ships and back and the wait for the shuttle had been longer.
Once back at the terminal, I had no trouble getting through security (the no alcohol sign is a little intimidating) and relieved DW in the line. Total time in line was about 45 minutes, but it could have been longer if we had arrived a little later since the busses from WDW arrived shortly after we got there.
We had time for a picture of DD with Minnie Mouse. This was our first experience with how nice our cruise was going to be. She was actually waiting in line for a photo with Goofy, but he had to take a break just when she was about to have her picture taken. She was in tears, but a CM named Adam, who we later learned is a dancer in the shows, played with her till Minnie showed up for pictures a few mintues later.
After that, it was through the ears, having our names announced, and since it was after 1:30, straight to our stateroom to drop off our day bags. We had picked a stateroom midships (first time cruisers) with an outside verandah. It was very nice for the three of us, with plenty of space to store luggage. Never did learn to open the verandah correctly the first time however
After lunch at the buffet, we went back to our room to unpack our luggage which had been delivered while we were eating. After that it was time for the lifeboat drill.
We went to the sailaway party and looked for other DISers on deck 10, portside, but didn't see any green or Love4Disney's special shirts. The party was fun, but definitely uncrowded ( The 59 F weather probably had something to do with that). Our departure was delayed because of some late arriving flights.
We were at the 5:30 seating on the APL rotation. The first night show was very entertating in AP and our serving team, Erasmo from Chile, and Shawna form the USA!! were just perfect. The food was very good and we did not mind that we were kind of placed in a table over in a corner. We had no table mates that night, or for most nights of our cruise. We actually set sail during dinner, so we did not see the ship leaving the harbor.
After dinner, we went to the Oceaneer's Club to check DD in and pick up our beeper. It has been stated on these boards that you can pick up the beepers at a special desk during checkin, but that wasn't the case for us. We had filled out the forms on line before boarding so check in was probably about a 10 minute process. The club is actually not fully operational on Saturday night. The time is reserved for parents to visit with their children to help the kids become use to the counselors and the setting. Our DD has been in day care since six weeks, so she had no trouble acclimating, as did most of the kids. In fact, my daughter had so much fun in the club, we had a hard time getting her out that night and for most of the rest of the trip.
We were all very tired, so after a quick tour of the ship, we skipped the show that night and went to bed. The crossing was very gentle, but I admit I did need to look at the windows a few time to see the horizon and settle myself.
Sunday started out as a very nice day. It was about 75 degrees and the seas were calm We had coffee on the verandah and watched the Bahamas go by in the dark. Our character breakfast was that morning and it was good, but not nearly as nice as the Pooh one at the Crystal Palace in the MK. After that, we took DD to the Oceaneer's club, which she loved. It's hard to predict if the children are going to enjoy being in the club, but if they do, it's wonderful. We then went down to the DVC meet in Diversions where we met our first DISer, NancyDVC, who started this thread. We picked up some lanyards and hats, along with a nice beach bag at the meeting. After that finished, we took DD out of the club for some time at the Mickey Pool, which was nice and warm. In fact, according to the tv, all the pools were heated to about 84 degrees throughout the trip. DW got some laps in the adult pool while I watched us pull into Nassau. As NancyDVC mentioned, we had to turn back to drop off an ill passenger. I did get to see the Atlantis complex in the distance.
We had originally planned to go to the matinee show of the Golden Mickey's, but DD insisted on going back to the club, but not before telling us that we needed to go the adult club. Taking her advice, we went up to the Cove Cafe for a cappucino and irish whiskey. We ran into NancyDVC and her friend there. Jerry, one of the people we had met at the Embassy Suites also stopped by and raved about the massage he had just had at the spa. Turned out his wife had given it to him as a present and he was very happy she did.
Sunday being formal night, we took DD out of the club and changed into our formal clothes. We then went down for the Captain's reception, where they do serve some very nice free drinks. Captain Tom was very gracious and assured us that our detour to Nassau would not delay our arrival in St. Martin. For those of you reading this from our cruise meet thread, you should also know I made one last plea for a whisky tasting to be scheduled with the cruise director and assistant cruise director. Unfortunately, they could not arrange it.
Sunday was also our night to do Palo. We had originally booked a late seating since we did not know our rotation before we boarded and did not want to miss AP. However, it turned out we had the APL rotation, so we were able to switch to an earlier seating. It turns out that the 3-4 year olds were just starting dinner at topsiders at that time, so we were able to take DD to the buffet, check her in there (very easy and nice), then just walk up one flight to Palo.
There has been some discussion on the boards as to whether or not Palo is worth the extra $20. I can definitely say that it is. The seas were starting to get a little rough now and Palo was only about half full for the early seating ( People could definitely have got in that night without reservations). The food was very good (We both had the beef tenderloin) and definitely on a higher level than that served in the dining room. The service was good, but not outstanding and we felt not as good as we received from our service team in the main dining rooms. The Palo manager, PJ, however, was wonderful and we enjoyed talking with him about his growing up in Australia.
The chocolate souffle was good, but we actually preferred the pistachio torte that was offered that night.
After that, we took DD to the Golden Mickeys. We arrived too late to be interviewed, but definitely enjoyed the show. DD just stared with a broad smile on her face throughout and could not stop applauding. She also enjoyed the dancing at the family party in Studio Sea after the show. We closed the evening with Mickey Bars (that made three desserts that night) in our cabin.
Ballet and Opera on board and apparently no one speaks English crew or pasengers. The English couple that my friend met said that it was very strange and no too enjoyable because of the language barrier. Apparently they make no effort to see that all their passengers understand what is going on. (I find the Magic crew to be helpful in trying to find someone who can translate whenever necessary.)
. LOL! 
My DS didn't even notice them because he was too happy building sand castles. I thought the beach was nice, but nothing amazing. 
It was a very windy day and we had a few strong storms (lasting about 10 minutes). The bathrooms were pretty nasty and I was kind of happy to get back to the ship. On the other hand, we LOVED St. Thomas. Funny, too, because it was the port I was least interested in visiting. We did some shopping (got a good deal on a watch for DH), and then took the tram to Paradise Point. What a great spot! We caught the 1:30 bird show and then had lunch at the restaurant overlooking the island. I'm a picky eater and the food was very good. We stayed up there for two hours while we ate and drank a couple of beers. I highly recommend it. I spoke to a woman who went to Trunk Bay and loved that as well (she was a very LUCKY person -- upgraded from a window view to a Cat. 3 -- DVC member).
