Calling All 8/19/06 Special Western Cruisers! AKA "The Cruisin' Castaways" Part 2

[Miffy2003]

Angelina and were flipped off during our August 2003 cruise while on the BBR, in fact that's where I lost my glasses. The glasses are still sitting in the bottom of the ocean.

Oh my!!!

Andy - thank you for that thread, that answers all my questions. I think we will have to do this. Amber (my DD) will love this. Erin (my younger DD) won't be old enough and hates getting her face wet so she can stay with DH I think Don't think this would be her idea of fun at all! Amber and I love swimming underwater and would love this!

 

[florida sun]

Oh my!!!

Andy - thank you for that thread, that answers all my questions. I think we will have to do this. Amber (my DD) will love this. Erin (my younger DD) won't be old enough and hates getting her face wet so she can stay with DH I think Don't think this would be her idea of fun at all! Amber and I love swimming underwater and would love this!

Karen, can you have a look for Andys glasses while your down there

Sue

 

[Verandah Man]

Karen--the minimum age to ride the BB is 8 years old, but anyone under 13 must have an adult with them. Everyone "MUST" wear a life vest to ride on the BBR.

 

[Miffy2003]

Karen, can you have a look for Andys glasses while your down there

Sue

I'll certainly keep my eyes peeled Sue

 

[Miffy2003]

Karen--the minimum age to ride the BB is 8 years old, but anyone under 13 must have an adult with them. Everyone "MUST" wear a life vest to ride on the BBR.

Good news, Amber will be 10 and I am pleased to hear about the life jackets. Better safe than sorry

Thanks for all your help Andy

 

[castoff]

That I'm not real sure about that myself right now. I thought I read that Formal Night will probably be Monday and Pirate Night after the stop in Cozumel, with Semi-Formal Night being Thursday. Don't hold me to that, I'm relying on my "old age" memory, LOL!!!

What's worse then that is I knew I couldn't remember so I wrote it down and don't remember where it is?

Karen: I haven't done either of those at Castaway but Chuck and kids did the tri-bikes and had a blast. I think I would be a little scared to do the parasailing. But I will watch you guys do it.

Andy: What a bummer you didn't get your package. What's up with that? I am sure you will get it tomorrow. Even better hope your stuff fits you.

Kids wen't out to get something to eat. I am busy getting stuff done. Can't you tell ? I am on line checking out the Dis? I asked them to bring me back some ice cream. Figure I will worry about what the doctor says about losing couple lbs. AFTER vacation. Afterall whats a vacation without enjoying all the good FOOD?

 

[Verandah Man]

The following was taken from my trip report that a posted on the DIS upon our return in August 2003...My full trip report, with the photos, can be found on my website at www.verandahman.com and look for "2003 MAGICal Trip Report" on the left hand column.


MAGICal Disney Cruise Day 7 (8-29-03)

8-23-03 Cruise Day 7 (8-29)

*Friday August 29 2003*

It is 6:45am and we are now just 40 nautical miles away from Castaway Cay, Disney's own private island in the Bahamas. It is a beautiful Friday morning as I sit here on the verandah preparing myself for an adventure of a lifetime, at 10:30 this morning, DD and I will be parasailing(still a little nervous), then at 2:00 will on the Banana Boat Ride(more about that later).

DW and DD are still sound asleep in the cabin as I sit here and write my notes, the sea is moderate this morning, with waves averaging 2-4 feet. No one in my family has had to use any of the Bonine we brought along on the cruise, thank goodness!!!

We are due to arrive at CC around 9:00am and should be able to leave the ship around 9:30. Now for some breakfast, this is my last meal before the parasailing adventure!!!

*******************************************************

It is now 3:45pm, and my family just returned to the ship from spending a day of "ADVENTURE" on CC. My DD and I absolutely "LOVED" the parasailing, and I would do it again in a second. It was so peaceful and quiet floating above the water, and the little dip in the ocean at the end was the icing on the cake!!! We all headed for Cookies BBQ around 11:45 for lunch, then went back to the family beach for a little afternoon swim. DD and I headed over for the Banana Boat Ride at 1:45, and our ride began at 2:00. We were getting bounced around like crazy and had a BLAST, then we stopped about halfway through the ride to stretch our fingers, it was hard holding onto the straps. After a few minutes, we headed back to the shore. On the way back, the boat driver made a sharp turn to the right, and all 10 of us, that was on the Banana Boat, were now floating in the water. My DD was sitting in the front seat ahead of me, I saw her lean sharply to the left, and I knew she was going to fall off. I reached to grab her but it was too late, I said to myself before we even started this ride, if my DD falls off, I'm going in after her. So when she fell in the water, I let go, and went in with her. As we were swimming to get back on the boat, I realized that my glasses must have been knocked off my head when I hit the water. Oh well, I needed new glasses anyhow, LOL!!! So, word of warning to anyone that will be doing the BBR, make sure you have everything secure before you get on the boat. Without my glasses, I can't see three feet in front of me.

After the BBR, we headed back to the ship, but made one quick stop at the post office to send our postcard home with the Castaway Cay postmark.

We missed the Farewell Variety Show, because without my glasses, I couldn't see anything, anyhow. We will be having our final dinner aboard the ship in Animator's Palate tonight, it's sad just thinking about it. For dinner tonight, I had the Kentucky Bourbon Glazed Pork Tenderloin, it was so tasty and for dessert tonight, I selected the Celebration Cake, which was also "EXCELLENT." Tommy, our head waiter, stopped by our table and had my DD blushing again, and as always, Roberto had a magic trick to show us. We got a few more photos of Roberto, Prudence, and Tommy, then it was time to say good night to our serving team.

Tomorrow morning will be our final meal on the Magic for this cruise, and it will give us one last chance to say good-bye to our new found friends, and you too Ian, LOL!!!

*Tomorrow the kicking and screaming begins, "Heck no, I won't go!!!"*


__________________




MAGICal Disney Cruise - The Final Day (8-30-03)

8-23-03 Cruise The Final Day (8-30)

*Saturday August 30 2003 The Final Day*

The saddest day of all has arrived, it is 5:00am, and I just stepped out onto the verandah to see the Magic has just turned up the Port Canaveral channel. In a few short hours, we will have to disembark this "MAGICal" ship. I have to finish putting the last minute items into my back pack, and wake my girls up shortly so we can get ready for our last meal on the August 23-30, 2003 Cruise. I have had the best time this past week, and have met some of the most "WONDERful" people, and "ALL" the "DCL CM's" have been "MAGICal" as well!!! A special thanks to all my "DIS'ers" who helped to make this cruise so enjoyable, now if only Travis (mostyn17) would have come forward, so that I could have met him, that would have been icing on the cake!!!


We headed for the gangway, and left the ship at 8:55am, it was reported that screams were heard from one "Captain Verandah" as he was leaving the ship, "Heck no. I won't go! Heck no, I won't go!

*The Trip Home*

After picking up our Avis rental car, we stopped and visited Shirley of "The Perfect Gift" for a few minutes at her store, then it was on to "DIXIE CROSSROADS" for some "ROCK SHRIMP." Upon arriving we found Lynn (moosysmom) already waiting for us. The Rock Shrimp tasted as good as ever, and we shared some laughs around the table, Lynn is such a sweetie!!! After lunch we headed for the Orlando Airport for our flight home.

At the airport, my DD found an internet computer, since we had over two hours until our flight, I had to get on and make a few posts to the DISboards, fancy that!!! I found the "Welcome Home Verandah Man" thread and made a post, then headed back to sit with my family while we waited for our flight.

While my DW was headed to the Mc Donald's in the airport for a soda and some fries for our DD, I headed towards the restrooms. Remember now, I can't see very well without my glasses, I walked into the restroom, and thought to myself, this is very strange, there aren't any urinals, only stalls. As I started to go into one of the stalls, my DD comes running into the restroom screaming, "Dad, you're in the Ladies Room!!!" As I walked out and headed towards the Men's Room, I could see my family was nearly on the floor, in a fit of laughter!!!

I sure hope I have an old pair of glasses at home, or I can be in "BIG TROUBLE!!!"

 

[Miffy2003]

Figure I will worry about what the doctor says about losing couple lbs. AFTER vacation. Afterall whats a vacation without enjoying all the good FOOD?

Hear, hear Tina I totally agree

 

[Miffy2003]

Andy, that's so great - thank you for posting!

I will check out the rest of your Trippie as well.

 

[florida sun]

Oh Andy,

That is so funny

How on earth you managed for the rest of your holidays I just dont know, I am so shortsighted without my glasses, I would'nt even have been able to find a toliet door, let alone the wrong one. I must remember to pack a spare pair, or even better wear my contact lenses on the day we do the bbr.

Sue

 

[Verandah Man]

If you wear contacts, I suggest wearing a pair of goggles as well, heck I've heard it being suggested to wear goggles anyhow just to keep the salt water out of your eyes, the water really does burn the eyes, I know it did mine after I lost my glasses!!!

The funny thing was, I had the rental car in my name, but we had to add my mom as a second driver, because I couldn't see to drive. When we landed at the Atlantic City airport, my sister had to drive my car home, which was an hour away, even though she lived near Atlantic City. My mom had to drive my sister back home on Sunday. I finally got a new pair of glasses on Tuesday, because Monday was a holiday. I went to work on Tuesday with an old pair of glasses I had at home, but it sure was hard reading the water meters with those old glasses, I'm sure I probably read a few meters wrong that day!!!!

 

[Verandah Man]

Well, my DisneyDirect.com package did arrive today after all...

....but next door.


The package did arrive today, only at the house next door, our neighbor just came home and brought it over to me, LOL!!! I now how some new Disney shorts, t-shirts and even a Disney dress shirt to pack away for our WDW trip next month. Hazel's package should be arriving on Saturday.

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

, in fact that's where I lost my glasses. The glasses are still sitting in the bottom of the ocean.

Andy, Im not so sure of that, I thought I saw a fish wearing glasses on one of the see cams.

 

[Verandah Man]

Andy, Im not so sure of that, I thought I saw a fish wearing glasses on one of the see cams.

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

Still waiting for my DisneyDirect package, maybe tomorrow.

Wow, go to work and not log on untill the night and wow a couple of pages in a day.

Not sure what I will try once the cruise comes, at least I have some time to plan still.

 

[Reenieny18]

Hello everyone..
WOW we had one terrific storm herre last night. TINA did youget hit at all? All the trees and power lines that came down. It looked like the LABOR DAY STORM of 1998 all over again. We lost our power thanks to some severe damage 2 blocks over. Lightening stuck a transformer> a large tree> and in doing so took down the power lines down to the whole block of wires off the housesm there were live wires laying all over the place. At least 4 POWER LINEs and TELEPHONE poles laying there in splinters...

We luckily have a generator.. driving to gas for it was a real challenge. All the trees and traffic lights were down. Even today was a bit EERIRRRIEE!!!

Had a few power failure today as they got the lines back up too....My poor tomatoes plants were blown right over in the storm...

And they say that was only part of HURRICANINE DENNIS...

DOREEN

 

[Reenieny18]

MIFFY.. here is my take on the CC excurions.. My family did the PARASAILING and the BANANA BOAT as well.. We LOVED the PARASAILING.. I am a larger woamn and thay got my big butt up inthe air and it was great. It was so peacful to be floating on air and when they DIP you in the ocean after.. Well, for me they really DUNKED me..We have it on VIDEO.. it was so funny. My whole familydid it.. they just dipped theor ankles in.. I got my whole body DUNKED,,lol Of clurse my kids loved it.. Now mind you my HUSBAND hates heights and he even did it.. He may do it again.. but he did do it..

As for the BANANA boat.. we did not like it.. You do need upper body strength and need to hold tight. It was suggested to wear goggles and we did.. The person behind me kept telling me to move up.. well when your on that ride you bounce all over the place.. I know I am a bigger woman,, but I am not HUGE.. It was an uncomfortable ride for me.. and the kids really didnt like it either.. But you have to try it for yourself. You need to keep your body toward the inside of the boat or you will fall off. I guess it also depends on the people your with.. If a bunch of DISERS go together.. it wont matter if the boat stops and scoops you up.. ( maybe we had party poopers with us,,lol)

But thats just my opinion.. And I was told once "when I want your opinion I will give it to you"..lol

Doreen

 

[newholidayx2]

Good morning!
Andy - I made it here this morn before you did! Hows the knee?

 

[mickeymom923]

Good morning everyone,

First time I ever posted this early. lol. Been up for awhile and thought I catch up on the posts for the last week or so.

Barb and Darlene - hang in there Here's some PD for Dave and Stan.

Tina - that's great news. Enjoy your vacation

Terry - welcome back and hope you had a safe trip going to NJ

Andy - how's your knee today? Enjoyed reading about your trip. I can't see anything if lost my glasses. How'd you manage? I loved the part with you walking into the ladies room.

Don't know what is planned for today but hope it doesn't

Hope all that are not well, gets better soon.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Bev

 

[Verandah Man]

Good morning!
Andy - I made it here this morn before you did! Hows the knee?

I've been up since 5am, posted a new pic on the DCL pic of the day thread, then checked all my other messages. Knee is doing O.K., of course I haven't been up on it much today. I see my surgeon on Monday afternoon to see what our next course of action is going to be.

I was wondering if anyone was interested in me starting a new page on my website where I can add family photos of those who are part of the Cruisin' Castaways August 2006. I did this for our August 2003 and August 2004 cruises, in fact I still have the 2004 cruise photos on my website. It isn't anything fancy, just a way of seeing who everyone will be cruising with. If there is enough interest, I can get a page started. What I would need is a .jpg file photo and some fun information to go along with the photo, ie names, number of Disney Cruises, what you are looking forward to doing on this cruise. If you don't have my e-mail address and would like to be a part of this, send me a PM and I'll send you my e-mail address where photos can be sent.