April 23rd Magic Western

[daisymae]

We just returned from the Magic and had the best vacation with perfect weather. This was our first Disney cruise - thanks so much to the Disboard for all the helpful suggestions and information.
Regarding the kids program:
We have 3 ten year olds, and ten years and above can have check out privileges in the Oceaneer's Lab. It took a few days for our kids to adjust to the Lab schedule and for us to work out a good system to keep track of our kids - we apparantly had a pager that didn't work well. Finally I gave the kids a walkie talkie. Whenever they left the lab or moved on to other activities on the ship, my kids would call and let us know so we always knew where they were. They could also always contact us - as they did in the middle of our couples massage just to tell us they were having a great time making flubber!
In addition - the lab activites are not always in the lab. They move around the ship so it's good to keep your kids navigator handy to know the schedule. The lab is organized into planned and unplanned activities. "Stormin the Lab" is when the kids can explore and do what they want. At first my kids didn't enjoy the lab because they said they were forced to participate in activities. If there is a scheduled activity, counselors will expect the kids to participate. I usually would review the kids navigator the night before and my kids would pick out the activities they wanted to try - they almost always went in when it was Stormin the Lab. If they didn't like the planned activity, they would check themselves out to do something else on the ship. They especially liked the kids Bingo - I think it gets pretty rowdy and they always came back happy from that.

Our excursions for the trip included:
Grand Cayman: Captain Marvin's trip - booked direct
Cozumel: Dolphin Snorkel and Swim Adventure - booked through Shoretrips
Castaway Cay: Banana Boats - what fun! A must but not for very young
All excursions were great - highly recommend - contact me if you want more info

The essential things I brought and did:
1. Walkie Talkies - especially if you have older kids who are independent - we had three - could always keep in touch
2. Bungee Cord and clothespins for clothesline if you have a veranda - thank you disboards! My husband ran on the ship everyday and that saved the cabin from smelling like a locker room - also great to dry your swimsuits.
3. Collapsible cooler - refilling water bottles, and ordering the turkey/cheese sandwiches (hold the mayo!) the night before for excursions. That saved us time and money. Don't forget to bring ziploc bags for sandwiches and ice.
4. Over the door hanger - awesome - get a narrow one. I put it in the room with our shower. The room is so small you could reach in the pocket to get your shampoo while you were taking a shower. It kept the bathroom neat.
5. Blow dryer
6. Aloe gel - you will burn somewhere even with SPF 50!
7. Wearing the swimsuit on embarkation and going straight up to Topsiders for lunch. They tell you to go to Parrot Cay but it was so nice to eat lunch outside by the pool.
8. We did the REAS package and that was great advice from this board if you want to splurge. We had all our reservations so we could just get on the ship and relax.
9. Go to the cabaret shows that are in the Rockin Bar D at 7:45 - they finish before the 8:30 show starts. My kids really enjoyed them - a magician, a ventriloquist, and a juggler on different nights.
10. Go to the 2:00 p.m. performance of Disney Dreams - great show and that
freed up our night to explore other things on the ship.
11. If you want to do the aerobics classes, sign up when you get on the ship. I enjoyed the classes, but there was a waiting list to attend them.

Things I would do without
1. Laundry detergent and quarters - never had time
2. The Bumblesquat Show - short term replacement for Hercules - A strange show with a mix of acrobatics and audience participation comedy that became old very fast. At one point they had a girl riding around on a Segway on stage - why? So many better things to do and see on the ship.
3. Too many shorts - not enough bathing suits and cover ups

Sorry I wrote so much - hope this is helpful to future cruisers.

 

[yazee1]

Thanks for the report. I like your suggestion about seeing the show at 2:00 to free up the evening. We'll probably do that with one of the shows next time. There's just so much to do on that something's got to go undone until the next cruise.

It's hard being home after having such an awesome time, isn't it? Or am I the only one having "adjustment problems"? LOL

 

[khoffman923]

Thanks for your posting. Question for you on the Dolphin Excursion. I'm currently looking into booking with Shoretrips for the Dolphine Swim. Can you give me details? Do you recommend it? Is it worth the money? Can this be booked with DCL? Also, did you have any problems finding the meeting point for transportation to this excursion?

K

 

[daisymae]

There are three different Dolphin Encounters at Chankanaab National Park. The DCL version is the shortest and most crowded. You pet the dolphin and perhaps kiss it - it lasts for about a half hour and is a large group. Disney charges $105 and I'm assuming that includes the taxi ride to the park and park admission. (Taxi is $10 for 4 people and $3 for an additional person). Admission to the park is $12 for adults and $6 for kids. The park is beautiful and safe with nice beach chairs under shaded coverings. The other two encounters are the Dolphin Adventure and the Royal Dolphin Swim. We did the Dolphin Swim Adventure. There were 8 people in our group - we played and snorkeled with the dolphin and swam with it by holding onto its fins. We spent about 40 - 50 minutes in the water with it and had a blast - expensive ($99) but a great experience. The big difference with the Royal Swim was that they worked with two dolphins in your group and you were also pushed up in the water by the dolphin's nose. Your swim with the dolphin was with two by holding on to fins from both. Their group looked about the same number as ours. They started about the same time as us but finished about 5 - 10 minutes later. I think this was $119 a person, but I remember reading about the price of the swims increasing. The website is DolphinDiscovery.com - click on the Cozumel site for more info and pricing. If you book online directly with Dolphin Discovery or Shoretrips.com, you will pay the taxi ride and park entrance. We had a great experience with Shoretrips - you pay ahead and receive a voucher to bring to the park. They were the same price as the park - very friendly and helpful. I registered online for the Royal Swim - it was booked so she put me into the Swim Adventure right away and then called to offer me this option. Glad she did because we had five people and the extra $100 for the Royal didn't seem worth it - had plenty of interaction with the dolphin in ours. We stayed at the park for the day - plenty to do. Also, when you get off the ship and walk down the long pier, do not bother with any of the drivers yelling and putting signs in your face. The taxi stand is across the street. Make a right up the escalator and walk through the market to go down the stairs to the taxi stand - just follow the signs. The taxi driver should charge $10 for 4 people and $3 for each additional person - it's a 15 - 20 minute ride. Give yourself another 20 -30 minutes to enter the park, check in, and put your stuff in the lockers. The lockers have keys and they post a guard to watch them. Have fun!

 

[DiaLady]

Did you enjoy your REAS package? We're planning to do it for our trip in November and I'd love to hear more feedback!

Thanks for the other goodies!

 

[Q's My Princess]

I have a question about the dining rooms...what was the largest table size that you saw? We have heard it is 8 now, but have heard that in the past there were tables with up to 14 people.

Thank you!

 

[daisymae]

Regarding dining table sizes - do not worry. We saw many large tables with at least 12 - 14 people on them all around us. Appeared to be a lot of extended families on this cruise. Our servers were great but definitely working hard with a full capacity ship. For a 6 pm seating, we were usually out of the dining room by 7:30.
Regarding the REAS - I was planning on trying a massage anyway(never had one), so for us it was so convenient to do because we could book the Palo ressies - they did go very quickly on this cruise. We tried to add friends to our Palo dinner reservations but they said no. My husband said the massage was good - no better or worse than what he gets at home. My husband had the full 50 minute massage and I had the spa taster which is 25 minutes massage and 25 minute facial. You're both in the same room with two massage therapists and it's very relaxing. One regret - we made our dinner reservation at 8:30 so we could take our kids to the regular dinner. They wanted to eat with the lab instead so we could have been at dinner earlier when it was lighter outside. You miss the beautiful view of the water when you eat later and we found we were used to eating sooner - filled up faster. Bring a huge appetitie - they get you to try everything. We actually enjoyed brunch better - better view and all those crab legs. We went to brunch at 11:30 and had the massage at 3:15 on Thursday - the last sea day - along with the Disney Dreams matinee that filled up our day. That worked out very well - very good to avoid the pools on sea days - we always found other plaes to be. My husband and I called it the "pits." If you don't have to be at the pools, just head up to deck 10 for a lounge chair - it's quieter and you have great views of the ocean. You'll know why we called the pool the pits because you can look down on all the chaos on deck 9 from here. This is also a great location for the Farewell Party and Pirate Night (unless you like to get into the crowds and dance). On Pirate night, right after the caberet show, we went up to Deck 10 and relaxed with a drink in some chairs near the railing. In about an hour the party will start and you'll have great seats. Also - with the REAS package you get one full breakfast in your room. You can add as much food as you want to this meal. We ordered for the whole family and they had no problem with this. Have a great trip!

 

[Q's My Princess]

Thank you so much for your reply Daisymae!!

 

[goldilocks_63]

What is REAS?

Goldi

 

[daisymae]

The REAS package (I think it's Romantic Escapes at Sea) package can be preordered before your cruise - kinda pricey - I think it was $339. You recieve a gift basket in your room on embarkation day. It has Korbel champagne, chocolates, and a pretty DCL photo album in a wire basket. You also receive a couples massage - you choose between a spa taster or an all over massage - both 50 minutes. We did one of each. One morning you are given a full breakfast from room service with mimosas etc. We ordered for the whole family - not just couples - and that was fine. By the way, our breakfast was late by about 10 minutes. They called and we said no problem. When we returned from Cozumel that day, room service had sent a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries along with a nice apology letter for being late - what a nice treat after being out all day. One great thing about the package is that it includes dinner at Palo's and you can make your reservations ahead of time so you don't have to wait in lines on the ship. There is a number to call for the ressies - I found it on the disboards - her name is Debbie. She also allows you to make brunch reservations but that is not included in the package. Be sure to look at your bill when you pay at Palo's. They initially charged us another $20 when we had paid with the package. You also have a very pretty turn down service the night of your PAlo dinner. I thought it was worth it - we were doing the massages anyway and we didn't have to wait in lines when we got on the ship.