Back from 10/2/04 Cruisetoberfest 3!

[RellingTwin]

What a wonderful time we had! After 5 cruises I think this was the best!
Our servers in the dinning room Pirom and Luis were fantastic! Our stateroom host Darwin was the best we have ever had. A letter to DCL to praise them all will be sent tomorrow!

Cabin: with verahda on deck 6 (6052) was in a great location. Everything spottless, and in perfect condition.

Food: I must say it was better then last year. I think DCL is really trying to improve this. Just so I'm clear....I have always liked the menus and selections, but this year the new menus are better, and several things I ordered were better then I remembered. Even the breakfast buffet was better!

Entertainment: Loved the "Rhythm Extreme" show.The juggler David Dimuzio was very good and the ventriloquist Michael Harrison was SO funny. Mr 3000 and Ladder 49 were both playing, and we got to see both. Bingo was fun (played once and enjoyed it but once was enough for me). Also did the wine tasting and enjoyed it. Pirate Party was fun (a bit LOUD) for me but fun. The band Seabreeze was on board and they were GREAT! Match your Mate and the 70's dance party in Rock'n Bar D were also VERY funny!

Castaway Cay: We had a very nice day on the island but it was sad to see so much of the greenery gone. Already you can see green sprigs on many of the plants and tress, so I'm sure it will be back in a few months.
There were also about half the normal number on umbrellas on the beach. Although we got off the ship early, we were not able to get an umbrella nearby. I did see some almost to the teen beach. I mentioned this to a CM and was told many were damaged (as well as the "holders" that keep them in place.) He (the CM) said it would be back to the normal number within the next cruise or 2.

Dis'ers!!!! The BEST part of the trip, without question was the wonderful group of friends we cruised with!

More later...got to feed the family!

 

[jlawall]

Thx for your update, everything sounded great! Was Que still onboard? Is DJ Dazzler still MCing? What was your favorite evening entertainment?

 

[Laurarn]

Hi Mary!
We just got in also and totally agree with your report! We had a FANTASTIC time! What a great group of internet friends we have! I'm so glad we made it to CC, but just like you, I was amazed at the damage to the trees, walkway, etc. It was really sad. But I did see a few flowers trying to bloom. I spoke with a CM on the beach and apparently, the beach wasn't there the day before we got there. They just brought all the sand in and set up the chairs the day before. They did such a good job that you would have never known. I thanked them for working so hard to make it happen for us. It was a great day! I need to unpack now and I'll write more later.
Laura

 

[SeaSpray]

Welcome back! Darwin was our cabin steward too (Cabin 6042). I'm glad you had a great cruise and were able to go to Castaway Cay

 

[RellingTwin]

OK...family fed.

Ports:
Antigua...we booked a tour with "Adventure Antigua"and has a wonderful time. He gives a apx 5 hour boat tour of the islands, snorkeling tour, island tour of Bird Island and Devil's gate, as well as very interesting island information and history. The Rum Punch was pretty darn good too!He limits his tour to 25 people, but his boat could probably hold almost twice that number. This made for a very comfortable trip. The tour also included a very nice lunch.
The shops in Antigua were very nice and prices were very reasonable. As always I bought a nice local watercolor as a reminder of our trip.
As we pull into port we saw a British Naval ship docked next to the Magic. The crew waved and took pictures. After our tour, my DH stopped at a dock side bar to have a beer. A Brit from the Naval ship was at the bar and they started talking. Phil, then offered us a tour of the ship! DH was thrilled and we walked over to the dock. He showed us the bridge, the deck and a few of the below deck spaces. It was the highlight of the day for DH! When we got back on board the Magic, our DIS friends who had seen us walking around the deck of the destroyer wanted to know how we managed a tour!!!Can't wait for the pictures!

St Thomas: Since we have done Trunk Bay twice before we went to Coki Beach this time. We arranged a group pick up for 17 of us by the Coki Beach Dive Club.Some of the gang did the dive thing, some snorkeled and some did the "discover scuba", and 2 Dis'ers who had gotten too much sun in Antigua went to Coral World and stayed out of the sun!The beach was nice, but got pretty busy as the day went on. Lots of "waiters" taking drink orders ect. but not too pushy.

The Dis'er met on deck 7 "secret deck" for a group photo. The ship photographer took several pictures and had the best one printed for us. It came out GREAT. Eric (viking) had a large banner with "Cruistoberfest 3" written on it for the photo.Following the photo, we all went to Parrot Cay for seafood buffet lunch.Lots of fun!

Extras: DCL gave everyone a wonderful lithograph by "Ducky" Williams. Since he was on board we were able to get him to sign it! Return cruiser gift was a wonderful blanket with a map of the caribbean on it.Perfect for bringing to the chilly movie theater!

Of the 42 familys who joined our Dis thread and "List" I was able to meet about 30. Of the 30, 12 we have sailed with before. So we meet lots of new friends! About 15 families have already re-booked for 10/14/06 Special Western Cruise!!!

 

[RellingTwin]

jlawall...Que was there, but it was his last cruise before going back to England.He was SO funny!


SeaSpray...Darwin was the BEST! So nice, so attentive. When we rebooked we got 6050 which is also his room. He said he will take care of us, if he is still with DCL in 2006.

Laura!!! Glad you are home safe and sound. It was such a plesure meeting you and your family! Megan is such a doll!

I forgot to mention...I asked about the Castaway Cay kitty, and he is safe!I had heard he was evacuated for the 1st storm, but did not know about the 2nd. A CM I asked, said he (or she??) was taken off the island both times.

 

[jrp]

Hi to all you DIS'ers
Sounds like it was an ejoyable cruise for all who have posted here. Looking foward to some of the reports and pics that I am sure to follow soon.
James

 

[lookingforward]

Welcome back! I am so glad you had a wonderful time. Thanks for the great review.

 

[jlawall]

Thx RT! Q is special to me b/c he sailed with us the last two years!!!

I'm so glad that recent sailors have finally had a nice week! I'm trying to decide if we should sail in March or just go to WDW...what do you think???

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by RellingTwin
SeaSpray...Darwin was the BEST! So nice, so attentive. When we rebooked we got 6050 which is also his room. He said he will take care of us, if he is still with DCL in 2006.

I hope he still IS with DCL in 2006 because we've already booked our same cabin for August 19th, 2006, so I guess we'd get him again! Did he say that he would normally still be on the same deck, taking care of the same cabins? I'd love to get him again as our cabin steward

 

[Laurarn]

I just saw Chris' picture of our Cruisetoberfest group. It turned out great! He took over 600 pics on this cruise. I'll get him to give you a link to see them once he gets them up My kids are watching the video right now. And I'm still rocking back and forth as I write this
Laura

 

[Laurarn]

Oh! We had Darwin also! I hope we get him again. What a nice person!

 

[dan and scott]

Mary,

Glad you had a great time! WE crusied 2 weeks prior to you guys and really missed the Cruisetoberfest bunch!

Did you book for 2006? We plan to in January.

Dan

 

[videoman]

What a great trip!!!!!!!!
I was great finally meeting the DISer's.
Made lots of friends....now the fun part...
WASHING ALL THE DAMM CLOTHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laura Ashley & Christie told me to tell the girls HELLO!!!! and when are we going to the Club!!!!

 

[Zapp1213]

jlawall--

Mary got the info backwards. (Understandable! She's exhausted!)

Que is still on board. He's from South Africa. I'm not sure when his contract is up.

Dazzler is the one who's last day was Saturday. He's returning to England.

We sailed in Sep '02, and I saw Iketut on Deck 6 this year. So it is VERY likely that you will see your cabin steward on the next cruise.

We also found out about our dinner server from 2 years ago. Her husband is still onboard (Saffron?), but she's home in Croatia with a baby! We were so excited to hear about that.

 

[jlawall]

Thx for the updates, Dazzler was fun, it makes sense for him to return to England, I knew Q was from SA. He'll be leaving soon too.

Did you happen to run across SheShe from SA or Shawn? They are in Entertainment and Excursions. They are two friends from previous cruises as well.

Thanks again for the updates!!

Jo

 

[Tluvs2talk]

Hi Mary,
Glad to hear you had a great cruise! Rick and I are cruising on the 30th. Post some of your cruise picture's.


Teri

 

[RellingTwin]

Jo...sorry for the incorrect info

Hi Terri!!! Have a wonderful time on your cruise! Sorry, I have not learned how to post pictures! Sad, but true
You and Rick should join our 10/14/06 cruise!!!

 

[NAT&MAGSMOM]

Mary...

Please post when you get your trip report done....can't wait to read it......

Phyllis

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by RellingTwin
....Food: I must say it was better then last year. I think DCL is really trying to improve this. Just so I'm clear....I have always liked the menus and selections, but this year the new menus are better, and several things I ordered were better then I remembered. Even the breakfast buffet was better!....

Mary, we cruised in June (our 3rd cruise) and I also thought the food was much improved!!

BTW, we booked Eagle Ray Divers. You and many others had given them rave reviews. The snorkeling was spectacular and we all had a fantastic time!!!