ALOHA to Hawaii ~ April 29 - May 14, 2012 Part 5

[chip&dale&fun]

We opened our Mickey figurine with the surf board today and it was broken. Called DCL and they gave us a number for merchandise. They cannot replace it and no merchandise sold on the ship is sold off the ship so we can only get a credit for the statue. We bought 2 - one for a gift so I guess we will be giving something else to my wifes cousin--we are keeping the good Mickey.
Tom & Marilou

Just a thought before I jump in with the "returning home story".

See if you know anyone on the October cruise...they may be able to find a replacement.

?????

Just a thought.

edited to add - great minds think alike -- see the above post.

Or better still -- ask DCL to do this for you.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

We also had a WONDER ful time...and thanks to everyone who made the cruise special...

Val and Bob - once again, the shirts were so great.

The Mascot meet - neat. Corinna - thanks.

The photo ops - fun... Thanks to the person who spoke up for the "girl in the red shirt" when she said, "she made a skirt"....

My first champagne girls really wonderful, thanks Deb.

The fish extender gifts dropped by the room (when I had not placed a FE outside - extra magic).

The scrapbook and collection pages are waiting for me to begin. Sorry I missed the actual event. thanks Linda.

The door signs, I loved seeing all the decorations.

Brunch at Palo's - thanks again Steph.

The fun hints, the important hints, like when to return to the ship.

We had an uneventful trip home....I was the one unpacking the luggage in the terminal to move 12 pounds into a duffle. One extra bag = $35.00 but 12 pounds = $90.00

All the help with the sewing - thanks Jan.

Late dining - somehow we missed being linked up with fellow dissers but thanks for trying...

Bev --- the group rates at the hotel...

And to everyone who made the cruise so perfect --- Mahalo......

 

[socababy]

Does anyone else now need a vacation from their vacation?? I am so behind on sleep that I just want to lay on the couch all day! Still haven't unpacked!

 

[MousseauMob]

We're back! Awesome cruise, thanks everyone for making it so special!

For everyone that knows my son (teenager that was Jack Sparrow all pirate night), wish him well, we found out his band is playing at the Arts Festival in a few weeks!

 

[DisneyManFamily4]

Such an awesome cruise! I'm also in need of a vacation from my vacation. We're almost done unpacking but I've left out all the wonderful FE gifts and souvenirs, just so we can look at it all for a bit longer. I also was sad to see my Mickey figurine was broken in several places once I opened the package. I don't think they are packaged well.
Thanks to everyone for all the FE gifts, activities and great memories!!

 

[Happy Goofy]

All of our things made it home safely, although we really did not have time to buy too much. Our plane ride from LA to Austin was good but from Austin to Orlando we had some problems but we got home safely.
Did anyone else put on their comment cards about the change in the on board booking? I did make a comment about it. I hope DCL listens. I am glad we were able to rebook the PC one. We save some money and got the OBC.

We hope to start our way back to CT next week. Hate leaving FL but anxious to see family and friends back home.

 

[AlohaDisney]

We're back! Awesome cruise, thanks everyone for making it so special!

For everyone that knows my son (teenager that was Jack Sparrow all pirate night), wish him well, we found out his band is playing at the Arts Festival in a few weeks!

Great job B! You'll have to post on youtube and send a link!

 

[LindaBabe]

Let's face it, the Pacific is not the Carribean. Breezy and way too cool, but still an adventure.

Pack accordingly you October cruisers...

NO KIDDING! My take on the sea days was that it was Exceedingly rough, darn cold and VERY windy. From the sea days perspective, this was the worst cruise I was ever on. There were still chair savers by the pool, of course (I have photos of their backpacks hung on "their" chair backs by 7:30 every morning) but it was so cold most sea days, I, for one, didn't care.

If you ask me, for cold weather itineraries, they definitely need domes over the pools, and some serious windscreens to slow down the gales. MORE indoor seating space - the cove was full all day until evening on sea days. All the craft classes were full, the lectures were full, the indoor eating spaces were full, promenade ranged from well attended to full.

Such an awesome cruise! I'm also in need of a vacation from my vacation. We're almost done unpacking but I've left out all the wonderful FE gifts and souvenirs, just so we can look at it all for a bit longer. I also was sad to see my Mickey figurine was broken in several places once I opened the package. I don't think they are packaged well.
Thanks to everyone for all the FE gifts, activities and great memories!!

What MADE it AWESOME was the PEOPLE, both Crew and DISer's. AMAZING FE gifts. OUTStanding service. Terrific TABLEMATES. Crew Talent show was GREAT. Ducky was his always FABulous self. Dr. Dolberg added so much to our knowledge which enhanced our experience.

Merchandise - ugh. Poor handling of the Ducky session signups - another wristband thing for pins (there were leftovers after the wristband priority ended - so much for their false 'rarity' hype) Exhorbitantly overpriced inaugural merchandise - apparently others agreed - there was still plenty left on the last day.

LOVED Hawaii. rented a car two islands (drove up Haleakala and Waimea Canyon) took the city bus on Oahu - easypeasy, just like others predicted.

Ensenada? Glad I attended the lecture beforehand. One place we probably 'shoulda' taken the excursion. I heard people say they liked it. Going walkabout? It won't take long. At least there was sun, there. The free bus costs $2.

Glad I went? Yes, despite the miserable sea days. Would I do it again?
NO!

We finished up with 2 days in Vegas so I could warm up and get some sun.

 

[Lizzy'sMom]

I would do this cruise again if i thought i could let Lizzy miss school again next year. We had an AMAZING time - yes there were some rough days, and some minor annoyances, however - it was so much fun!

I would bring seabands, and warmer clothes, and have EVERYONE start taking sea sick meds RIGHT away - we had NEVER been sea sick before, and this time we sure were - but it went away and we had so much fun!

We had great table mates, our "neighbors" were fun - Lizzy loved them - and it was great to have the time with my parents... memories galore!

If i could just get the CD working i would be so happy - Apparently I need to call them, and well.. I need to have hubby do it.. hopefully we will find that moment soon!

Have a great day!

Lizzy'smom!
Andrea

 

[MousseauMob]

Great job B! You'll have to post on youtube and send a link!

I will - BTW - I've been enjoying your blog!

 

[AlohaDisney]

I will - BTW - I've been enjoying your blog!

Great! I am still waiting on two bags to arrive here (Southwest lost two of my bags, including the one that they had given me after ruining my first bag), one has my hard drive in it, which has my blog.

I have been sitting at the dinner table each night saying how "lavanous" my dinner is and no one seems to get what I'm talking about

 

[MousseauMob]

I have been sitting at the dinner table each night saying how "lavanous" my dinner is and no one seems to get what I'm talking about

 

[scubadiver]

You people need to take a geography lesson.....I told my family, you are going out on the largest ocean on the earth. This ocean is also the coldest ocean, except for the Artic Ocean, which is frozen...it will be cold. If no one is paying attention, the ship moves about 20 mph. Guess what, that creates a 20 mph wind chill on deck with shop movement only. So let me see......60 degree water temps, 20 mph winds from ship movement....and you think you are going to lay out basking out in the sun....you are nuts.

Getting sick.....have any of you ever cruised off the continental shelf? If you have to ask what is that......you have not. It is and always will be rough. This cruise was great from start to stop.....but I prepared my family what was to come. they thought I was nuts...but at the end of the day, they realized dad is not so stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is not the Carribean, with 80 degree water temps surrounded on three with land.....this is OPEN water. Stop complaining

 

[aan1701]

You people need to take a geography lesson.....I told my family, you are going out on the largest ocean on the earth. This ocean is also the coldest ocean, except for the Artic Ocean, which is frozen...it will be cold. If no one is paying attention, the ship moves about 20 mph. Guess what, that creates a 20 mph wind chill on deck with shop movement only. So let me see......60 degree water temps, 20 mph winds from ship movement....and you think you are going to lay out basking out in the sun....you are nuts.

Getting sick.....have any of you ever cruised off the continental shelf? If you have to ask what is that......you have not. It is and always will be rough. This cruise was great from start to stop.....but I prepared my family what was to come. they thought I was nuts...but at the end of the day, they realized dad is not so stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is not the Carribean, with 80 degree water temps surrounded on three with land.....this is OPEN water. Stop complaining

While I may find this harsh, I could not agree more. It always amazes me how people complain about the ocean on a cruise.

 

[AlohaDisney]

You people need to take a geography lesson.....I told my family, you are going out on the largest ocean on the earth. This ocean is also the coldest ocean, except for the Artic Ocean, which is frozen...it will be cold. If no one is paying attention, the ship moves about 20 mph. Guess what, that creates a 20 mph wind chill on deck with shop movement only. So let me see......60 degree water temps, 20 mph winds from ship movement....and you think you are going to lay out basking out in the sun....you are nuts.

Getting sick.....have any of you ever cruised off the continental shelf? If you have to ask what is that......you have not. It is and always will be rough. This cruise was great from start to stop.....but I prepared my family what was to come. they thought I was nuts...but at the end of the day, they realized dad is not so stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is not the Carribean, with 80 degree water temps surrounded on three with land.....this is OPEN water. Stop complaining

While I was also aware for the weather and conditions crossing, I think you are being a little unfair. I did a lot of research into what the temps and conditions would be, and it was very hard to find any information - which was what led me to do a Trip Report, which includes the weather and conditions for the day.

It was a WONDERful cruise - even if the weather was a little cold and conditions were rocky!

 

[Lexa]

Rough seas or not, we came prepared too with meds and clothes....and yes, we would do it again in a heart bit. We sure like warm weather, but whole cruise was fantastic with winds and all.....

 

[disneycruisegal]

I totally agree. Maybe it's because I'm from New England, but I was perfectly comfortable up on deck 9 outside of Cove Cafe reading my Kindle. Yes it was windy and rocky, but it was the middle of the Pacific. I brought a hoodie with me and I honestly didn't expect it to be warm on sea days on deck. More sun would have been nice, the day in Mexico was really great. I thought the crew went above and beyond their usual awesomeness and were very attentive. I had no problems with the wrist bands...I was was one those up at 6:30am sitting on the floor in line waiting. The crew brought around coffee and muffins and goodies for us, I thought that was just great. Ducky Williams sat a few tables away from us at Dinner and several times we saw him sketching characters on the napkins. So manny awesome moments to remember. I'm glad we had the chance to make this cruise.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Comments on the seas. I get easily sea sick, strange that my sport is diving. I was prepared for rough seas and was surprised that they were not as rough as anticipated. we may have had 12 feet at one time the first day, not sure they were heavier than that, some swell but not much. so a good point there.

as for the weather, it was colder than I had planned for, but I shou,d have known better after the PC. Now I know why DCL offered the shirt in long sleeves which was a very good investment.

On our trip home we compared the packing list and we will do things different for the next time we cruise .. Less formsl clothes and more warm clothes.

As for the wind...I guess we need to get that under control, before we head to Alaska.....oh yes, we booked thst cruise on board. We are from Florida and we did find it chilky, heck, I found it COLD. Still we had jackets, hats, scarfs .. Just not the mittens.. OK so it was not that cold...

but I woukd do it again in a heart beat.

 

[RaglanRoad]

I also had no problems with the ship movement and the rocking never really bothered me. I did research before the cruise and knew to expect more movement. I took ginger before and throughout the trip and didnt have any bad experiences as far as the weather and seas. It was a Wonderful trip and I look forward to going back to Hawaii again sometime soon but we will probably be flying only for the fact we like to spend more time on the islands

 

[socababy]

My friend and I felt the same way...the only thing we would change about the cruise would be to have more sun on the sea days. That being said, we would do the exact same cruise with the exact same conditions again in a heartbeat! We had a blast! I'm so sad it is over!