Another Mexican Cruise Report

[BrettySpaghetti]

I don't drink, so the appeal of Sessions for me was the entertainment. On all but one of the nights, jazz pianist Tim Moss entertained us with four different half-hour sets with breaks in between. I was there for almost all of them. He took requests and was extremely friendly and warm. Actually, watching him perform was the highlight of my cruise!

One night, Adam Stout took center stage at Sessions, and he was fantastic too!

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

Don't even get me started on that dessert buffet at Lumiere's. I am gaining weight just thinking about it.

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Brett,
We too enjoy the adult bars for the entertainment. You mentioned the band was loud at the Rockin' Bar D. Was it good and loud, or not very good?

Teresa

 

[Valencia Joe]

I noticed in one of your pictures that Topsiders was closed. Was that for the entire cruise or for just the day? If it was for the entire cruise, does anyone know when it will open up again?

 

[DuckyLu]

I think we were on the same tour in Puerta Vallarta, if you were with Adan "My Foot is Hurt" Tour Guide. Maybe even had a conversation about Dippin Dots? Anyhow, that is why we ditched the tour at the jewelry store - wanted a more well-rounded shopping experience.

The cruise was great - your pictures are super!

 

[dizneygirlz3]

To Valencia Joe, Topsiders was open most of the time during the 6/1 cruise. We ate there many times....

 

[TrojanJulez]

Hello! I have enjoyed reading your trip report. Thank you for being so forthcoming and generous with the information! And I loved your photos!

I was wondering if you can give me any details or prices about the photo packages?

Also, the possibility of booking a Palo brunch while onboard? (They are completely booked online...)

Thank you!

 

[lvstitch]

OK I have another question. I know you enter on Deck 4 instead of Deck 3. Do you have to walk down the stairs to have your name announced or do they announce it as soon as you walk in? The reason I ask is because we will have a pretty heavy carry on and I probably won't be able to carry it down the stairs (I was planning on taking the aft elevators straight to Parrot Cay) but I don't want to miss the announcement.

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

Hi Brett,
We too enjoy the adult bars for the entertainment. You mentioned the band was loud at the Rockin' Bar D. Was it good and loud, or not very good?

Teresa, more A than B. But after an evening of listening to light, jazzy piano music, it just seemed inordinately loud. Juxtaposition is everything!

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

I noticed in one of your pictures that Topsiders was closed. Was that for the entire cruise or for just the day? If it was for the entire cruise, does anyone know when it will open up again?

Heh. It was only closed in between meals. Sorry to mislead you! I took that photo because my friend Jay and I have had a running joke about it for years; we started noticing that "closed for your future convenience" placard back in the 1970s at Disney World.

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

I think we were on the same tour in Puerta Vallarta, if you were with Adan "My Foot is Hurt" Tour Guide. Maybe even had a conversation about Dippin Dots? Anyhow, that is why we ditched the tour at the jewelry store - wanted a more well-rounded shopping experience.

The cruise was great - your pictures are super!

Thank you! Yes, that was me on that tour of PV. I love Dippin' Dots!! HA!! (By the way, I went back to town later in the afternoon on my own and actually DID buy some Dippin' Dots from that store.)

Check out my video, which includes scenes from that tour. I am going to post the links here and in a new thread later today. I bet you can spot yourself in the video.

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

I was wondering if you can give me any details or prices about the photo packages?

Also, the possibility of booking a Palo brunch while onboard? (They are completely booked online...)

Thank you!

I wish I could give you photo pricing information, but I flunked calculus! Seriously, $20 for a single 8x10....The photo thing was really my only quibble with the cruise. I would estimate that they throw away 75 to 90 percent of the photos just because of the inflated prices. They should lower the prices of the pictures and send more people home with beautiful memories...I'm sure they would make the same amount of profit.

I never booked brunch at Palo's, but I was able to successfully book two dinners there during the cruise. (Well, two out of three. Not too bad. The only one they could not accommodate was the last night of the cruise.)

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

OK I have another question. I know you enter on Deck 4 instead of Deck 3. Do you have to walk down the stairs to have your name announced or do they announce it as soon as you walk in? The reason I ask is because we will have a pretty heavy carry on and I probably won't be able to carry it down the stairs (I was planning on taking the aft elevators straight to Parrot Cay) but I don't want to miss the announcement.

There were no stairs involved in the boarding process. They announced you as soon as you walked in.

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

OK, folks, here is my three-part Disney Magic cruise video from Mexico (May 25 to June 1, 2008). I apologize for the low-res quality of the videos and the overall lousy videography. But at least it gives you a pretty good idea of many of the kinds of things you can expect to see on this cruise.

Part 1 - Sail-away party in L.A., my stateroom, mini ship tour, snorkeling in Cabo, off-roading in Mazatlan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om8_B37jqlE

Part 2 - Tour of Puerto Vallarta, some of the great food and restaurants on board the Magic, and many of the characters you'll rub shoulders with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq6Rja3yQFw

Part 3 - Some of the fantastic on-board entertainment, including live music and musical theater. Also: a montage of my favorite snapshots from the cruise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbThro8zWRQ

Hope you enjoy!

 

[tksbaskets]

Teresa, more A than B. But after an evening of listening to light, jazzy piano music, it just seemed inordinately loud. Juxtaposition is everything!

Thanks! On our last cruise DH and I would always go to the Rockin' Bar D for the Adult show. Generally before the show the live band played. The band was HORID and loud which made us feel we were trapped in the Gong Show. I thnk we will try Sessions this time as well.

Teresa

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

Thanks! On our last cruise DH and I would always go to the Rockin' Bar D for the Adult show. Generally before the show the live band played. The band was HORID and loud which made us feel we were trapped in the Gong Show. I thnk we will try Sessions this time as well.

Teresa

If you go to Sessions, please tell Tim Moss (if he's still under contract) that Brett said hello. If you don't remember my name, tell him you were talking to the guy who was really good at music trivia - he'll remember me for sure!

 

[tksbaskets]

If you go to Sessions, please tell Tim Moss (if he's still under contract) that Brett said hello. If you don't remember my name, tell him you were talking to the guy who was really good at music trivia - he'll remember me for sure!

Will do~ Music trivia? DH and I love trivia. Did Tim ask questions?
T

 

[TrojanJulez]

I wish I could give you photo pricing information, but I flunked calculus! Seriously, $20 for a single 8x10....The photo thing was really my only quibble with the cruise. I would estimate that they throw away 75 to 90 percent of the photos just because of the inflated prices. They should lower the prices of the pictures and send more people home with beautiful memories...I'm sure they would make the same amount of profit.

Thanks for the fast response! I totally agree with you about those inflated prices - it seems like lower prices would give them more sales and a lot less waste... Anyway, thank you!

 

[BrettySpaghetti]

Will do~ Music trivia? DH and I love trivia. Did Tim ask questions?
T

Tim would play a song and ask me the title and/or who made it famous. He stumped me on "Build Me Up Buttercup" (The Foundations), but I got most of the others. He made several declarations to the effect that I was the most knowledgeable audience member he'd come across, but he might be under contract to say that to many people. But I must admit, I did know quite a few of the "one hit wonders" he quizzed me on.

Tim's shows were the highlight of my cruise!

 

[tksbaskets]

Tim would play a song and ask me the title and/or who made it famous. He stumped me on "Build Me Up Buttercup" (The Foundations), but I got most of the others. He made several declarations to the effect that I was the most knowledgeable audience member he'd come across, but he might be under contract to say that to many people. But I must admit, I did know quite a few of the "one hit wonders" he quizzed me on.

Tim's shows were the highlight of my cruise!

DH and I will be sure to stop by and say hello for you. Wish you were on our cruise too. I'm sure we'd all have a blast I hear you about leaving kicking and screaming the day of debarkation. Making our packing list tonight. I got home from work today and DH has started a pile on our bed