April 21, 2011 - Disney Dream

[Deb T.]

My partner and I are sailing on this cruise too! Very excited to spend Easter on the cruise and at the parks!! We sailed on the inaugural and it was even more magical than ever expected!!! If this is your first time on the Dream...prepare to be amazed!!! D

Welcome Aboard!!! Glad you joined us!

 

[Deb T.]

Exactly 4 weeks from this very minute we will be making out way to the Cabanas for our first meal on board

I sort of started a "5 Weeks From Today" story last week, but jumped the gun and started it on the wrong day, so I deleted it and had every intention of starting it again last night. Now that MPS516 has jarred my memory, I'll try it again.


So, here is "4 WEEKS FROM WEDNESDAY", a day late.


Yesterday was Wednesday, and exactly 4 weeks from yesterday some of us were finishing last minute preparations before traveling to the port in the morning. Some of us will be in transit, some will be at WDW, some will be at US/IOA, some will be in a hotel near the port or at the airport, and a few of the very luckiest ones will already be onboard and enjoying the first part of their B2B adventure! One thing's for sure... ALL of us will be eagerly anticipating our DREAMy 3-night cruise!! It will have seemed like forever since we booked our trips and we will hardly be able to believe the day is almost here!

All of our clothing, swimsuits, and accessories have been carefully packed in suitcases and carry-ons. Digital and video cameras are charged and ready to capture every magical moment. Embarkation outfits are laid out and ready to be put on first thing in the morning. Door decorations have been created. FE extenders are ready to be hung and FE gifts are ready to be distributed. Final cruise documents have been filled out online, printed, and safely stowed along with passports in our carry-ons. Mail and newspaper deliveries have been stopped. Pets are boarded. Gosh, we hope to be able to sleep tonight!! There are butterflies in our stomachs and smiles on our faces as we imagine our first sighting of the brand new huge ship!

For those of us who've cruised Disney out of Port Canaveral before, we know the terminal has been renovated and are curious to see the changes. We pretty much know what to expect and have been visualizing the entire process in our dreams for months! For those of you who will embark on your very first Disney cruise, you are a bit anxious - hoping that all of your planning and research has paid off and that everything will go smoothly. Don't worry – it will be fabulous trip!!!

Thursday to follow...

 

[Deb T.]

Now that we're caught back up, here's the continuation of my little countdown story...

It is Thursday, and exactly 4 weeks from this morning we were ready to board The Disney DREAM!

We woke up early, hardly believing that the day was finally here! A few final morning preparations, and then we all made our way to the port. Some arrived by personal car, some by rental car, some by hired car, some by hotel shuttle, and some on Disney buses. At some point on the trip to the port while crossing over the peak of a big bridge, someone will look to the left and gasp, "There it is! There's the ship! Do you see it?" And now we're REALLY excited! We'll wind around this way and that, and then approach the ship from her stern, hardly breathing at the wondrous sight of her! Look! There’s Sorcerer Mickey hanging off the ship! We'll drive through a security check point to verify we're cruising that day with a silly grin on our faces, then hand our luggage over to the porters, tip them, and then walk inside the glass doors. A quick security screening scan of person and carry-ons, and then up the escalator to the friendly cast member who will guide us to the correct check-in line. What boarding number did you get?

Soon, we'll be exploring the port building, noticing all the little Disney details, such as how the ceiling is designed to look like waves and the flooring like sand. Be sure to also notice all the special graphics that are inlaid in the flooring. We'll marvel at the large Disney Magic scaled model that is cut in half on the back side, and then peer inside the model to see if we can figure out the differences between Disney’s first ship and the one we’re about to embark on. Those with children will meet Kid's Club counselors and hear about some of the fun planned activities. White wristbands will be attached to kids' wrists signifying they are now a part of the best children’s programming on the seven seas. Soon, characters will start appearing in front of the ship model for photos! Look, there's Captain Mickey!!! Some of us will step out on the balcony and stare in awe at what looks like a tall building moored a few feet away! Can you spot your cabin – your comfy home-away-from-home (or its vicinity) - for the next four nights? Looking down, we can watch some of the preparations underway for our arrival, such as luggage piled high inside huge rolling metal caged bins that are being carefully eased up gangway planks, disappearing into the hull of the ship, that will magically appear outside our cabin doors around 3pm!

Believe it or not, even if you were the first to arrive at 10am, time will pass quickly in the terminal. There is so much to observe (people-watching is very fascinating here!)! Before we know it, the first boarding announcement is made, and the concierge and platinum guests will start walking toward the big yellow ears! That's our cue! Boarding Number 2's will start surging toward the line for their turn. Another boarding announcement, and off we go! Through the ears, the first swipe of our Key to the World card, a quick embarkation family photo, across the gangway ramp, a request for our name, the sight of the huge chandelier catches our eye, then we notice twenty or so very impressive white uniformed smiling officers and hear "The Disney Dream welcomes the ____ Family!". (An emotional moment!) We hear clapping and one of the officers approaches to personally greet us. Are we really onboard?!?! Oh my, yes we are! We really, really are! And then we are ushered in the direction of an amazing Welcome Aboard Luncheon Buffet! Which way would you like to go – the Enchanted Garden or Cabanas?

Some will head straight down the Grand Staircase to Deck 2’s Enchanted Garden, which is where the crew will guide you, but some of us will say that we’d rather go to up to Deck 11 and Cabana’s. Both restaurants will have nearly identical buffet spreads, however at Cabana’s you will have to carry your drinks on your tray and get your own refills whereas Enchanted Garden has wait staff that will bring you your drinks and refills. Enchanted Garden has all inside seating, but at Cabana’s you can opt for either inside or outside seating. And, if your little ones are eager to start swimming, you can actually take your trays full of food out of Cabana’s and around to the pool area to eat while the kids enjoy a nearly empty pool! Of course, we can also grab a bit to eat from the pool deck dining options at Flo’s Café: Luigi’s Pizza, Tow-Mater’s Grill, and Fillmore’s Favorites. Oh yeah, and don’t forget about 24-hour room service! Ahhh yes, there’s certainly not a shortage of food on this cruise!

While going through the buffet line, we'll take time to look at all of the ice sculptures and food sculptures! It’s amazing what they can do to a watermelon and other types of fruits and vegetables! Very creative! The sculptures are easy to miss, though, because of all the food choices laid out before you! My favorite… unlimited shrimp cocktail! Yummmmmmmmmmm!

After lunch, we have time to wander around and become familiar with the layout of the ship. This is the only opportunity to tour the Oceaneer Club, Oceaneer Lab, Edge Tween Club, Vibe, It’s a Small World Nursery, and Senses Spa before they are reserved exclusively for age-appropriate guests. Our cabins will be ready at 1:30pm and we can hardly wait to see them! We also can't wait for Shutters to open around 5pm so we can look for our embarkation photos! The gift shops won’t open until around 6pm but, in the meantime, it’s fun to look at all of the gorgeous window displays and do a little window shopping! At 1pm, some will get in line at D Lounge to snag a Palo brunch or dinner, or a Remy experience, or to try to change their dining time. Here’s Pixie Dust that all your desires are granted!

At the 1:30 rope drop, we'll all surge toward our staterooms! Anticipation builds as we try out our Key to the World card on the new door locks for the very first time – just wave it in front of the silver panel and we’re in! Hooray! We'll oooh and aaaah as we run around checking out every nook and cranny. And if we remember, we’ll hurry and snap photos before our cabins look “lived-in”. Ahhhh, smell the H2O shampoo! Cute towels! Look at all the hidden Mickeys in the cabin! So there are the new Wave phones! Let’s see how they work! Castaway Club Members (returning cruisers) will find their gifts laying on the bed, as well as vouchers indicating any OBC’s they may have accrued from travel agents, booking onboard, or booking online with their Disney VISA. Those with a Virtual Porthole will keep a keen eye on it, so eager to spot the first of a dozen or so Disney characters and their antics! Within a few minutes, some will experience a cruise ship “power flush”. (You repeat cruisers are snickering right now… hehe… “Stand back kids!!!”) Our suitcases will start arriving soon and we're anxious to unpack and make this cabin “ours!”. But in the meantime, let's all head to Deck 11 to get our first treat from Eye Scream!

Around 3:30pm, we’ll start heading back to our cabins to meet up with our families for the mandatory Life Boat Drill. We will be very glad not to have to wear on our bright orange life vests! But, a few of us will still want to snap a couple of photos with them on in our cabins. Very soon, we hear the warning alarms and instructions and make our way to the Life Boat Station that is indicated on the back of our cabin door. As soon as it’s over, we’ll head up to deck 11 to the Donald/Mickey Pool area for the always fun Adventure’s Away deck party at 4:30pm! Woohoo! It’s time to party – really party! – Disney Cruise style! The family Donald Pool has disappeared and a large dance deck is in now in front of the stage! The music starts and the energetic entertainment staff appears out of nowhere to get the party started! You can’t help but to start moving to the upbeat music! So much fun!!! About 30-minutes into the party, and with great fanfare, the countdown begins! The moment we’ve been waiting for! The moment we’ve been planning months for! The moment we’ve been dreaming of! It’s finally the moment we get to hear that magical seven-note horn blast… “When You Wish Upon a Starrrrrrrrrrr”! Woohoooooooo! And with that, the ship starts gently easing away from the dock and toward the open sea! And some of us cry…

As the ship starts sailing away from Port Canaveral, we look at each other and say, “What’s next???” Let the cruisin’ fun begin!!!!!!!!!!

Some will do more exploring of the ship. Some will do more swimming. Some will get in line to try the Aqua Duck! Some will do some more eating! Those with Main Dining are getting ready to head to your first dinner rotation restaurant! Which will it be? Animator’s Palette? Enchanted Garden? Royal Palace? Our table number, dining time, and dining rotation are printed on our Key to the World Cards. One really nice thing about dinners onboard a Disney Cruise is that there’s no need to arrive at our assigned restaurant early. Seating will not begin before the published time (recently reported to be 5:45pm for Main Dining and 8:15pm for late dining) and we each have our very own reserved table! Seating occurs amazingly fast because all the head servers and most of the servers are lined up and ready to escort us all to our assigned tables in a quick and orderly fashion! There’s no “checking in at the podium” or beepers to contend with, just hold out your KTTW card with your table number and off you go! We will soon meet our server and assistant server who will travel from restaurant to restaurant with us each night. If you are new to DCL, you can't yet even imagine how much you will come to love your servers in these four short nights... and how much you will miss their pampering once you return home. We’ll also get to know our tablemates while looking over the dinner menu! Remember, if you can't decide between two entrees (or appetizers, or salad/soups, or desserts…), it's perfectly all right to order them all!!!

Those of us with Late Dining will be sitting comfortably in the Walt Disney Theatre, getting ready to watch the new and improved Golden Mickeys stage show. We’ll plan to arrive at the Walt Disney Theatre early so we can see the “Red Carpet” interviews that begin 15 minutes before show time! A live camera will be set up outside the theater doors and an emcee will be on hand to “interview” children as they enter the theater. The entire unscripted pre-show is shown on the huge screen inside the theater and often the children’s responses are hilarious! Where do you like to sit? We prefer the upper seats in the lower level of the theater, but might decide to check out the Dream’s balcony this time. If you like being in the midst of all the special effects, then the lower level seats closer to the stage is where you’ll head.

The whole dinner/show process is repeated in reverse a little later when the recently-stuffed-to-the-gills main diners waddle their way to the Walt Disney Theatre in time for the Red Carpet interviews while those of us with late dining head to our designated dinner rotation restaurant for our 8:15 seating.

The kids’ clubs are finally open for children to be checked-in now that tours and family time are over. This is good news to the kids who have been (im)patiently waiting for their fun to begin and particularly good news for the parents who are ready to jettison their children off so they can have a little fun of their own! Adults - if you’ve never watched “Match Your Mate”, I highly recommend it! It’s basically an uncensored version of The Newlywed Game with three couples chosen from the audience: the most recently married couple, the couple married the longest, and then any very outgoing couple. Most of the time, the older couple is not only the funniest, but also the winner! Evenings are the perfect time to stroll the upper decks and look at the stars. You can also catch a movie on either the huge outdoor Funnel Vision screen or in the Buena Vista Theatre. As always, there are several activities listed in the Navigator to chose from.

All too soon, it’s time to pick the children up from the Kids’ Clubs and make our way back to our cabins for the night. As we near our cabin door we notice little bulges in our Fish Extender pockets! Can it be? Have goodies already been delivered in our FE’s?!? Woohoo, they have! Exciting! As we enter the cabin, we are greeted by our first towel animal on the bed! Awwwww, cute! The little wrapped chocolate bars scattered nearby from the turn-down service are quickly gobbled up. We’re tempted to sit down and read through tomorrow’s Navigator, but we’re so tired that we know if we do, we’ll just fall asleep sitting up! While the kids are in the tub, we call room service and order milk and cookies as one last surprise of the day – after all, the kids are on vacation, too! And while we’re at it, we go ahead and put in a "standing order" for milk and cookies to be delivered Friday and Saturday nights, too! (We are awesome parents!)

After a short discussion over who gets the top bunk with the painted stars on the ceiling , the kids are eventually tucked into their beds. We turn the TV on to one of the Disney music channels and set the volume down low to lull the kids to sleep. Within minutes, they’re out for the night. Now for some quiet adult time! Those with a verandah slip out on the deck , some with a glass of wine brought onboard just for this special time. Afterward, we are ready to pull the curtains together to close off the kids’ side of the cabin and snuggle into the big comfy bed as the gentle motion of the ship rocks us to sleep. Before long, we’re dreaming about the rest of the fun to come!

Next up tomorrow, Friday and Nassau...

 

[MPS516]

Wow Deb you have this down to a science. I am working on the theory we just need a few days away (since i did not go on the Greece cruise with DW and DD), relax and don't deal with any of the Cityits of normal life.

can't wait to see what my Nassau day will be all about.

 

[Deb T.]

Wow Deb you have this down to a science. I am working on the theory we just need a few days away (since i did not go on the Greece cruise with DW and DD), relax and don't deal with any of the Cityits of normal life.

can't wait to see what my Nassau day will be all about.

Thanks for the kind words! All I've been doing lately is daydreaming about our cruise, so I figured I might as well put it down on paper and help get everyone else excited about it.

Counting down the days.............................

 

[Deb T.]

It's Friday, and exactly 4 weeks from today it is Nassau port day! Some woke up really early and watched the 6:41am sunrise in complete and total awe as the captain sailed our huge ship into the tiny Nassau harbor and gently nestled her up against the dock. Amazing! Some of us, on the other hand, slept in and didn’t even realize the ship had stopped moving!

Our first decision was where to eat breakfast. Buffets are available at Cabana’s and Enchanted Garden, Flo’s Café has a variety of grab and go pastries, and a fancy sit-down breakfast is available at Royal Palace. Espresso lovers headed straight to the adults-only Cove Cafe for made-to-order specialty coffee.

A few families with early rising children are enjoying the Mickey pool all to themselves! Those who like to work out have already hit the gym or are walking/jogging laps around the Deck 4 promenade. (I’m not sure yet how long that track is, but on the Magic and Wonder every three laps equals one mile.) The Aqua Duck opens at 9am, which might be a good time to try it without a wait.

Quite a few of us are planning to stay on the ship all day but many others are preparing to debark for port excursions. Sunscreen, check. Hats, check. Sunglasses, check. Souvenir money, check. KTTW card, check. ID, check. Camera, check. We’re ready to go! As we step off the Dream’s gangway, we realize it’s the first time we’ve been able to actually stand right up next to the ship, and again we marvel at how large she is! We pause to take photos with our ship in the background, then compare her to the other cruise ships that are in port. Funny story – on our very first Disney cruise on the Magic in ‘98, we were docked across from Carnival’s Big Red Boat – which our teen-aged kids immediately dubbed the Little Red Raft because it didn’t’ even come close to comparing to the size and beauty of our magnificent vessel.

Walking toward a row of brightly tropical-painted buildings, we stop again for photos at the “Welcome to Nassau” backdrop while becoming faintly aware of live Jamaican music in the distance. Ahhh yes, here in the Bahamas we be jammin’, Mon! Soon, we step out into the hustle and bustle of the tiny island. We’ll be asked, cajoled, pleaded, flattered, and begged to take a taxi, guided tour, buy some trinkets, or get our hair braided. Women will be called “Pretty Lady” dozens of times by almost every local resident. It’s an experience like no other!

On the ship, there are plenty of activities to keep us busy throughout the day. More movies are playing in the Buena Vista Theatre and the on the huge Funnel View screen. Maybe we’ve decided to play shuffleboard, ping-pong, foosball, basketball, putt-putt, Wii games, board games, bingo, the Midship Detective Agency adventure, find all the interactive art, or take a guided ship tour. The Navigator is full of so many things to do that we sometimes have to chose between two or more enticing activities! The kids aren’t the only ones enjoying their age-specific areas… we adults can partake in beer/wine tastings, relax in the spa , work out in the gym, read, relax, snack, sample delicious treats in Cove Café, etc., etc., etc. Characters will be out and about in various locations for photos and autographs. Hey, isn’t it time to eat again? Lunch buffets await!

As evening approaches, those with Main Dining will head to restaurant #2 on their dining rotation. What was that table number? Some servers will greet you by name as you enter the dining room! How in the world do they remember us when their guests change every 3-4 nights?!? We, in turn, greet our tablemates, asking how their day was and comparing notes. We’ll also notice that our servers wear different outfits for each restaurant, reminding us that everything Disney does is a “show” and the entire crew is part of the “cast”. The rest of us will soon be entering the Walt Disney Theatre for Villians Tonight! But first, maybe we’ll stop by Tow Mater’s Grill and pick up some piping hot french fries to tide us over until dinner… or better yet, get some ice-cream from Eye Scream!

Nassau’s all-aboard time is 6:00 p.m. Will everyone make it back on board? We’ll know some guests are AWOL if we start hearing names being paged over the sound system! As the ship pulls away from the dock, keep an eye out for the Pilot Boat. It’s small and has a very thick black rubber bumper all the way around it. Once we’ve cleared the channel and are heading out to sea, watch as the pilot boat speeds closer and closer to one side of our ship, carefully matching our speed. When it gets within inches of The Dream, you’ll see a person jump (yes, JUMP!) from below on our ship onto the Pilot Boat! You have to watch carefully… blink and you’ll miss it! And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, Girls and Boys, was the Nassau Port Pilot who’s job is to help guide large ships safely out to sea without a Titanic mishap along the way.

Soon, late diners are headed to dinner and main diners will have their turn to watch Villians Tonight! But, this won’t be our only show tonight! Aye Matey, tis Pirate Night, too! Did you pack some pirate wear? A pirate t-shirt or head-to-toe authentic outfit? Or maybe you found some pirate-themed items in your FE? Thanks, DCL, for our pirate bandanas! In between dinner and Pirate Night festivities, there are plenty of other activities listed in the Navigator! Keep an eye out for Captain Jack Sparrow and other characters available for photos and autographs!

As darkness descends, sailors beware - the pool deck has been transformed into a pirate’s lair! Aye, there be not one, but two pirate parties awaitin’ ye brave souls: the Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean family-oriented show and then the livelier Buccaneer Blast as darkness descends. Arrrrrrrrgh! Yes, there be Pirates IN the Caribbean tonight! Let’s get this party started! We’ve learned that DCL is the only cruise line in the world with permission to set off fireworks at sea and we can hardly wait to experience this!

As the pirate party winds down, the Pirate Dessert Buffet is being readied for us in Cabana’s! Oh yeah, it’s time to eat again! Definitely check out all of the spectacular food sculptures on display! But, go soon because it’s only open from 10:30pm to 11:15pm! Afterward, pull up a lounge chair on the pool deck and experience watching Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl on the huge Funnel View movie screen outside on deck 11. Really, how many people can say they have watched one of the Pirates’ movies with the amazing built-in special effect of actually being onboard a real live moving ship?!? Shiver me timbers!

And after everyone has had a full day of fun, it’s time to head back to our cabins for a good night’s sleep before docking at paradise in the morning! Another check in our FEs yields more bounty! And, another towel animal patiently awaits our arrival inside our cabin, along with little chocolates and the Castaway Cay Navigator! We fall asleep thinking about how what a great time we've had so far in just a day and a half, and how happy we are that we brought our families on this wonderful cruise!

Next up tomorrow... Castaway Cay!

 

[Deb T.]

Hey Everyone! Since some of us are going to start packing this weekend , this website might be helpful:
http://www.caribbeanportreviews.com/NassauBahamas.htm

What is the weather like?
Nassau enjoys a subtropical climate with mild winters, seldom dipping below 60°F. Average temperatures range in the low to upper 80’s; with water temperature never below 72°. With that said, however, just like Florida, these are averages and during winter months be prepared for an occasional cold front to cause drastic temperature drops.

I'll be packing a little bit of everything - shorts, t-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts, light jacket, and sweater - so I'll be ready for any type of weather.

 

[nonniemaria]

I am exhausted just reading about the first day--now I am sure I will go with my husband on his business trip to Orlando the week before the cruise just to rest up for the adventure with the 3 grand children!
do people really leave the kids there at night and go off on their own???

 

[ohsodisney]

Hi Everyone
Sorry its been so long since Ive posted, life got in the way.
We received all our docs 2 days ago, how exciting. Althou because of our stay at Disney prior and after there seems to be quite a bit of tags and tickets LOL. I still have to do the on-line check in for AKL and PORS, usually I'm on top of things. I will admit thou we have been packed for 12 weeks now
The girls talk about it daily and what they want to do right down to the very minute. We decided no tours this time we want to wander around the new ship and check everything out, and Castaway Cay is by far the best Island so that is always such a nice beach day.

Are you all dressing up for pirate night? Last time I had a 40 pound costume and was absolutely dying of heat stroke, this time its pirate jeans and white top and tees for the kids.

Is there any other little girls coming around 9 years old or so? My girls have asked. Sorry I'd read back but my daughter is sick tonight and wanting cuddle time

We cant wait and hope to meet some of you onboard. My girls are wearing their Hanna Andersson dress and bike shorts with matching headbands one purple and yellow the other pink and blue boarding day and I'll probably have a simple white top and blue floral skirt so if you see us please say hi.
Is anyone planning a meet time?

I'll try and read back hopefully this weekend to try and catch up

 

[MPS516]

WOW we sure had a full day at Port Nassau, glad to be off to bed for some rest before the real day begins - Castaway Cay

First time visit since the renovations and plan to be everywhere all day.

 

[Deb T.]

WOW we sure had a full day at Port Nassau, glad to be off to bed for some rest before the real day begins - Castaway Cay

Thanks for the chuckle!

 

[Deb T.]

It is Saturday, and exactly four weeks from today we are looking forward to enjoying a full day on a little piece of heaven on earth we call Castaway Cay! As the captain docks the ship, we gaze longingly at the pristine white sand beach dotted with colorful umbrellas and lounge chairs that are beckoning us ashore. We eagerly don bathing suits, sunscreen and cover-ups and then head up to Cabana’s to indulge in another wonderful breakfast onboard. It is so nice not to have to cook! Beginning around 8:30am, we’ll make our way down to Deck 1 to debark directly onto the island – no tenders for us here!

As we stroll past the tiny little post office on the right, some of us will stop to purchase Bahamian stamps to adhere to postcards destined for family and friends who aren’t enjoying pure paradise with us today. “Wish you were here!” Sometimes, Donald Duck is standing outside for photos! We’ll also run into Mickey, Minnie, and even Captain Jack Sparrow throughout the day for fun photo ops! This is the second time (and the last) that we can get "up close and personal" photos of our beautiful ship!

We’ll make our way to one of several beaches... families will settle on the first beach on the left, arriving by tram or by walking. Seasoned castaways who prefer fewer crowds will continue on down to the far end of the family beach. Teens will head to their own private hideaway, feeling very grown up with all their new found freedom from parents and happy to spend the day with their friends again. Adults sans children will continue on to Serenity Bay. Everyone will marvel at the crystal clear pale blue ocean water! Look closely, and you’ll see tiny little fish darting around in the water, reminding us that we really are on a teeny tiny natural tropical island in the middle of the ocean!

Now that we have staked out our little piece of paradise for the next several hours, it’s time to relax! With any luck, the sun is shining brightly, there’s a gentle tropical breeze, and the crystal clear Caribbean ocean is warm. We sit back in our beach chair (or hammock or lounge chair) and enjoy the gorgeous view! The ocean stretches out in front of us for as far as we can see! Those on the family beach have a fabulous view of The Dream docked to the left. Laughter and squeals fill the air as children of all ages begin to frolic in the water. We can’t help but smile as our picture perfect vacation plays out before our very eyes.

What is your favorite thing do do on a beach? Build sandcastles, swim, lay out in the sun? Want to do more? There's beach volleyball, a basketball free-throw challenge, and Crab Races starting soon. A DJ is playing popular beach music. Yes, the family beach area is alive with energy! Some have already ventured off on rented bicycles or are floating lazily in rented inner tubes. Getting hungry? Cookies' BBQ and Cookies’ BBQ2 have been preparing barbecue feasts for us, buffet style! We gather the family and migrate toward the aroma of hamburgers and barbecued chicken. After filling our plates full, we find a picnic table in the shade of the shelter and proceed to fill our bellies, being careful to save some room for ice cream!

After lunch, some will check the younger children into Scuttle's Cove so parents can have a little bit of “couple” time. The kids will enjoy fun activities while parents explore the island on their own and possibly even decide to see what the adults-only beach is all about. Serenity Bay can be found at the end of an abandoned air strip and what seems like worlds away from the family beach. Peaceful and serene, it is bliss for those wanting true rest and relaxation. Some are reading, some are dozing, some are floating in the pale blue water, and some are sitting in beach chairs at the edge of the ocean with their feet in the water. The Air Bar is nearby, and a server passes by frequently to make sure we all stay properly “hydrated”. Next to the Air Bar is Serenity Bay’s very own private barbecue lunch spot. And just like at Cookies’ and Cookies’2, they even have ice cream and cookies! We're on vacation, so calories don't count, right??? Those of you who have young children might wish they were older so you, too, could spend the entire day here at Serenity Bay, but those of us who’s children are grown know that those days pass all too quickly and we secretly wish our children were still young and enjoying Castaway Cay with us.

A fun spot to walk off lunch (and get a little exercise) is the walking/bike path half-way down the runway between the family and adult beaches. Our reward for venturing inside this maze-like trail is coming across the little tower where you can look out over most of the island. It’s a pretty long walk, so be sure to grab some cold water before heading in if the day is hot.

All too soon, we realize it’s getting closer and closer to the 4:30pm all-aboard time. Wait! Have we checked out the little souvenir shops yet? Although there are a few Castaway Cay items in the onboard gift shops, a bigger variety of exclusive CC merchandise is for sale only on the island! Don’t worry about not having cash, though, because only our Key to the World cards are accepted here. Very convenient… too convenient according to my DH!

We hear the ship’s horn and that is our cue that all aboard time is approaching. Reluctantly, we start gathering our belongings. Did you know that a sprinkle of baby powder makes brushing off the fine white sand a very easy task? With a heavy heart, we begin heading back toward the ship. Do we REALLY have to leave the island? Say it isn’t so. If we hadn’t thought about rebooking onboard yet, we are certainly thinking about it now!

Back on the Dream, we find the sail away party underway on the pool deck. The upbeat music puts us in a festive mood! Shortly, we’ll head to our cabins to begin getting ready for tonight’s activities as our vessel slowly pulls away from the beautiful tiny island. It’s mind boggling that 4,000 people are showering at practically the same time and we all still have plenty of hot water to wash the remnants of Castaway Cay off of us! Gosh, the water heater in my house barely makes it through three people showering!

Unfortunately, it is also the last full day aboard the ship, which means we need to begin preparations for tomorrow's dreaded departure. First, on the list is stopping by guest services to charge tips to our cabin so we can put the little tip vouchers in the little tip envelopes that were left on our bed last night. We’ll be sure to leave our cabin host’s tip envelope on the bed before we head to dinner – sort of a reversal of roles since he/she is the one who has been leaving us little surprises there each night. (We’ll hand our other three tip envelopes out at the end of dinner.) We also need to pack – a most unpleasant task since we have now decided that we never want to leave the ship – ever! Suitcases need to be outside our cabin door (ironically pretty much in the same spots we found them just two short afternoons ago!) by 10:30pm so they can be whisked away and waiting for us in customs in the port terminal. Don’t forget to set out a full set of clothes for the trip home though, including shoes! DCL crew have lots and lots of stories about people disembarking in their pjs!

A gorgeous orange sunset comes all too soon, but there is still plenty to do as we try to fit in every last moment of this magical vacation! There are plenty of activities listed in the Navigator - a dance party, another game show, and karaoke just to name a few. It will be difficult to narrow down which photographs to purchase from Shutters – they’re all great memories that are captured forever! It’s time for one last souvenir shopping spree in the gift shops! Oh - and don't forget the Captain will be signing autographs tonight in Whitecaps!

Main diners are headed to the 3rd restaurant in their rotation, now with their table number ingrained in their brain. We’ll greet our servers and tablemates by name tonight having become very familiar with them over the last two nights. We’ll also realize that many of the servers who we saw working hard at Cookies BBQ today are now busy making sure our dinner is as perfect as possible for us tonight! Do they ever get a day off? (The answer is: rarely – all DCL crew work 70+ hours each week! ) As we look around the restaurant, we observe that a few guests failed to apply enough sunscreen during the day ouch! By the time dessert arrives, some will exchange email addresses with tablemates, planning to keep in touch. We’ll save our goodbyes to our new friends and servers until the morning during our quick sit-down breakfast before having to leave the ship. Tonight’s stage show, Disney’s Believe, is brand new for the Dream! If it’s half as good as Disney Dreams, then there will be at least one cruiser all choked up at the end… ahem… sent over the edge by a well-performed and sentimental Disney story!

Eventually, those with young children will have to retrieve them from the Kids’ Clubs one final time. Wouldn't it be great to have those wonderful Counselors at home with us!? Then, we all head to the atrium for a final farewell from all the characters at 10:15pm. They have gathered together in the atrium for a little show called See Ya Real Soon. And we really do hope to see them again real soon!!!!

We head back to our cabins and peek in our FE’s one last time before unhooking them from our fish/starfish/seahorse. We greet our last towel animal and set up an all-too-early wake-up call. And then we snuggle into bed, a little bit sad that our cruise is coming to an end. And finally, after a very full day, the gentle rocking motion lulls us to sleep one... last..... time..........

Tomorrow... debarkation.

 

[ohsodisney]

28 days away from a wonderful day at Castaway Cay and an umbrella drink

 

[MPS516]

Boy that was sure a great day on the beach

Maybe should have taken the bike ride after lunch to ride off some of the BBQ and ice cream I ate too much of

Oh well, if calaries don't count on Castaway Cay then magically there is no extra pounds.

Must get ready for the morning when I go crying off the ship along with all the other young kids who don't ever want to leave.

 

[Deb T.]

And now, the final installment of the Cruise Countdown, the day we are all already dreading... Sunday, Debarkation Day...

It's Sunday, and exactly 4 weeks from today the wake-up call comes way too early. There’ll be no sleeping in this morning anyway because of all the hustle and bustle of cabin stewards in the hallways who are frenetically turning the ship over for the next batch of 4,000 new cruise guests! Do we really have to vacate our comfortable cabin? Please say it isn’t so! But, alas, it is, and so we rise and begin preparations for the next leg of our trip, whether it’s a stopover at WDW or a flight/drive back home.

It's Easter morning, and we'll probably eat our first sit-down breakfast of the cruise - in the exact same spot we ate dinner last night with the same attentive server and assistant server who we’ve grown to love and will miss. We say our final goodbyes to tablemates, then, we linger... stall, actually... as we slowly and reluctantly made our way toward the exit in the atrium. This large opening in the wall on Deck 3 has been concealed and largely unnoticed during the duration of the cruise, and we take a moment to marvel at how clever Disney engineering is! After all, it's the same opening that we entered through with great anticipation just 3 days prior! Momentarily, we mentally weigh the consequences of becoming a stow-away onboard just so we can extend our wonderful vacation a little longer. Some of us will be comforted by the fact that we rebooked our next Disney cruise onboard a day or two ago, and will already be counting down the days until that next adventure!!

As we near the doors, we pass by tall wooden containers, each with a slot for the all-important Guest Comment Cards. DCL cast and crew live and die by these surveys. It's been said that every department has a meeting soon after each cruise and the comments are read aloud. Those who receive top marks can be rewarded with things such as leave time, computer time, etc. Those who don’t could be terminated. DCL is very serious about exceeding guest expectations. Whenever you encountered excellent service over the last few days, be sure to note the castmember’s name and write about it on the comment card. They will greatly appreciate it, and you'll feel good, too!

Last night, we had to put all of our luggage out in the hallway by 10:30pm, so hopefully we’ve all remembered to keep a full change of clothes out for today. If not, then you will join the ranks of guests who have had to wear, um, “creative” outfits as they disembarked - until they could be reunited with their luggage in the Customs area!

It will take a lot of effort to walk out the doors toward the port building, but we know we have to debark (or risk arrest ), so onward we go and finally walk through the doors that separate bliss from reality. The life preserver signs that just four days ago said “Welcome Aboard” now say “See You Real Soon!” We head toward the right and down a different escalator to the cavernous luggage storage area. Suitcases are laid out in rows under signs that match the luggage tags we were given the night before. We gather our belongings and head toward the Customs agents. We pull out our passports and Customs Declaration form and proceed through and out the doors to the many modes of transportation waiting to take us to our next destination. And so ends our DREAMy cruise.

Over the next couple of days, some of us will occasionally be caught off guard with a sudden sensation of the ship rocking! It’s a phenomenon that occurs while you get your land legs back. These unexpected subtle reminders of having been onboard a Disney ship always make me smile.

As soon as we get home, we’ll pull up the DIS Boards to check on all our new friends. Some of us will begin posting on the Meets threads of our newly booked cruises, ready to make more friends!

We’ll really miss having all our meals prepared for us and our rooms cleaned twice a day. Yes, we are back to reality, but we now have many new wonderful memories to cherish forever!

 

[MPS516]

Alas,

Haven't even boarded and now feel sad about leaving, Darn

I have been hearing that the booking desk on earlier Dream cruises has been very busy, hopefully they will react to that and staff up for those of us who are certain to re-book.

 

[Deb T.]

Alas,

Haven't even boarded and now feel sad about leaving, Darn

I know. The 3-night cruises go by soooo fast!!

I have been hearing that the booking desk on earlier Dream cruises has been very busy, hopefully they will react to that and staff up for those of us who are certain to re-book.

The last few times we've cruised, we've just filled out the "interest card" by the cruise desk on the first day, popped it in the box, and then waited for them to get back to us with the quote. Then, all you have to do is call them back, give them the "okay" to charge the deposit on the credit card you have on file, and then you're all booked! Easy peasy! Oh - and if you use Dreams Unlimited, you have to also state on the interest card that they will be your travel agent in order to receive DU's full OBC for booking (in addition to whatever OBC DCL is offering).

 

[ohsodisney]

Alas,

Haven't even boarded and now feel sad about leaving, Darn

I have been hearing that the booking desk on earlier Dream cruises has been very busy, hopefully they will react to that and staff up for those of us who are certain to re-book.

Oh no not good news. I was planning my first Mom's relaxing cruise for January and was all excited. My girls have been so many places and cruises that I just wanted one to relax, relax, relax. Its the only line I'd feel safe enough to travel alone on.

We were in Jamaica at Sandals in October and my honey and I tried to book a vacation for ourselves this Spring, my daughter said she was so excited when we were on the bus back to the airport, then I had to tell her it was for me and Allen, OMG the tears came rolling down her face, needless to say the guilt made me cancel the trip, thus our Disney vacation coming up.
Ah the things we do for our kids

Sorry Deb T Id love to do the Fishy thing but I have no idea how to and Im thinking you have to make something for your door? Well, I'm Martha Sterwarts black sheep sister, I couldn't even cut out a circle if I tried

 

[MPS516]

The last few times we've cruised, we've just filled out the "interest card" by the cruise desk on the first day, popped it in the box, and then waited for them to get back to us with the quote. Then, all you have to do is call them back, give them the "okay" to charge the deposit on the credit card you have on file, and then you're all booked! Easy peasy! Oh - and if you use Dreams Unlimited, you have to also state on the interest card that they will be your travel agent in order to receive DU's full OBC for booking (in addition to whatever OBC DCL is offering).

That's my plan for now anyway depending on what they have listed for cruises. I have the list of fall and winter Fantasy dates and am going to book a 7 day eastern, just have to decide whether to do the holiday or the regular.

 

[Deb T.]

Oh no not good news. I was planning my first Mom's relaxing cruise for January and was all excited. My girls have been so many places and cruises that I just wanted one to relax, relax, relax. Its the only line I'd feel safe enough to travel alone on.

We were in Jamaica at Sandals in October and my honey and I tried to book a vacation for ourselves this Spring, my daughter said she was so excited when we were on the bus back to the airport, then I had to tell her it was for me and Allen, OMG the tears came rolling down her face, needless to say the guilt made me cancel the trip, thus our Disney vacation coming up.
Ah the things we do for our kids

Sorry Deb T Id love to do the Fishy thing but I have no idea how to and Im thinking you have to make something for your door? Well, I'm Martha Sterwarts black sheep sister, I couldn't even cut out a circle if I tried

The Dream has been sailing completely full, and is reported to be sold out through August. But it's a big ship, so I'm sure you'll be able to find some nice spots for rest and relaxation.

The Fish Extender Exchange is a lot of fun. If you're still thinking about it, the last day to join is this Friday, April 1st. As far as what to hang outside your door, you can use any kind of bag. We used a medium-sized canvas bag for years. Whatever you use, you'll want to be sure to attach it with a plastic zip tie so it doesn't go "wandering". The other part of the FE Exchange is giving out little gifts to the other participants. Here is my description of what the FE Exchange is all about:


Beside every cabin door is a large metal silver fish (or starfish or seahorse) with an indentation in the back for cruise personnel to leave information, invitations, etc. Teenagers receive invitations to Teen Club activities and we've also received "rebooking onboard" price quotes tucked in our fish.

DISboarders have taken the silver fish (starfish, seahorse) one step further... by creating hanging pockets (much like cloth letter holders) to hang from the fish (or starfish, or seahorse) - thus the name, "Fish Extender". The Fish Extenders (FEs) can be made of practically anything (cloth, plastic, paper gift bags, etc.), as long as they have at least one pocket that can hold surprises. My FE had always been just a plain canvas bag on which I'd added a tropical scene, the names of the Disney ships, and our names. But recently, a very sweet DISer surprised me with a beautiful "real" FE for this cruise!!!

On each "Cruise Meets" thread (such as this 4-21-11 one) someone usually organizes a little gift exchange during the cruise. People sign up by giving their cabin number, names of everyone in their cabin, and ages of the kids so that everyone will know how many goodies to bring and where to deliver them. Some people give one gift per family, some people give a little gift to each person. It's totally up to the giver to decide what to give and when to give it during the cruise.

There are several threads on the main cruise boards that discuss ideas for FE gifts. Some gifts are from Dollar Stores, some are handmade, and some are bought in bulk from websites that sell trinkets like the Oriental Trading Company. Often, they are stickers, candy, glow sticks, lanyards, etc., with themes such as pirates, beach, cruise, tropical, hometown, holiday, etc. The main idea is just to have fun finding little goodies in your FE throughout the cruise. Kids LOVE running back to their cabin to see if anything's been left in their FE. As an adult, I have to admit that I love it, too!!!

If you'd like to join in on the fun on our cruise, please let me know. You can either post your information here in this thread or send me a private message by clicking on my name in the upper left hand corner of this post and then clicking "send a private message to Deb T.". I will only post your DIS name and gender/ages of children on the public forum. However, I will send private messages with names and cabin numbers to all participants to keep everyone up-to-date. Since some people travel earlier in the week prior to cruising, we will close the list on 4-1-11 in order to give everyone time to purchase/prepare gifts and pack them. You'll also need to print the final list of participants and pack it with your gifts so you'll know where to deliver them once you're onboard the ship.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Also, this thread has tons of info and ideas about FE Gift Exchanges: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607