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

[Ski-and-Sea]

Hey everyone, made it home safely.

It was freezing on our flight home from FL. Fortunately we were in the back of the plane and boarded first so I snagged some blankets to use.

Its cold and gloomy here in NJ.

Wow, what a cruise. I know there was the danger that we waited so long for this cruise that we may have set our expectations too high.....but, it really, really was a magical cruise. Although I didn't get to meet as many of you as I wanted, just knowing you were all on this cruise was such a treat.

I see that people have posted that Slash and the Saudi royal family were on our cruise. So in addition to being known as the "Cruisin Castaways", we should also be dubbed as the "Rock Star and Royalty cruisers".

I'm going to read Andy's blog and then post some of my own experiences.

The group photo came out great.

 

[PoohJen]

Hi Y'all! We too made it home safely in about 12 1/2 hours; the drive really didn't seem too bad.

It was great meeting everyone!!! I'm sure I have many posts and trip reports to catch up on, but just wanted to say "Hi!" and wish everyone safe travels.

TTFN!

 

[Lainie1222]

Hello Fellow Cruisers, New Friends, and hopefully longterm friends

I thank all of you for the wonderful vacation I had, and all everyone did to make the new kid welcome! I will remember the Magic forever.
I'm glad I was able to meet so many nice people. I surprised Jaclyn and Daniel with a stretch limo at the port and that was a great end to a fantastic trip. The flight home was good, my luggage never made it out of Orlando, but when it does arrive, they will deliver it. Thank goodness that it was on the way home and not down.
I haven't seen my husband yet, as he is working, but my son just left for the evening, we talked for over 2 hours. I really missed him. And he missed Mom also. He leaves for his Senior year at LeMoyne College tomorrow. Wow, I can't believe how fast that time has gone!

Terry and John and family, Mary Rose and John and family, Andy and Hazel and family, and all my other cruise buddies, I thank you. But most of all, Doreen, for this great vacation.

Talk soon

Elaine

 

[Verandah Man]

We met up with some DISfriends last evening for Pizza and some fun talk. This family moved from upstate New York to Florida a month before my mom moved to Florida in 2004. Hazel and I sailed with them on the special 4 day sailing of the Magic in January 2005. They are dear friends of ours, and we shared many laughs last night, it was great seeing them again.

My deepest sympathies to Chuck and Tina. I can't imagine how you guys are feeling after being on such a high all week. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers during this time of loss.

Not sure what we are going to do today, we might go to one of the local springs near here and go swimming later this afternoon. Everyone else is still sleeping of course, LOL!!! I crashed in bed about 10:30 last night and got up at 6:00 this morning.

Can't wait to hear about everyone's experiences from the cruise!!!

 

[O'BWV]

First, let me express my deepest condolences to Chuck and Tina our wonderful dining mates at Table 12 during our cruise. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during the difficult days ahead. If there is anything we can do please don't hesitate to contact us.

Mary Rose & John

 

[O'BWV]

Good Morning Cruisin' Castaways!

And so we're home..................

After a long day of travelling we arrived home around 11:20 pm. Unfortunately we had a really turbulent flight (AND YOU KNOW ME WITH FLYING). Also, we lost our rolling garment bag with all of our formal clothes and many souvineers (sp) and spa purchases. It never made it to the luggage terminal at DCL and we didn't realize it until we were on the road to the Jacksonville airport. When we called lost and found they didn't see it. They only had one leftover bag and it wasn't ours. So I guess I'll have to make a claim thru Access America. Anyone have any experience with that?? Also, Southwest managed to put a big gash in another brand new suitcase, but they said they'd handle that.

ALL THAT ASIDE............WE HAD A PHENOMENAL TIME!!!!!!


It was so absolutely great to meet and hang with so many of you!!

Andy - love reading your blog - great job!



MR

 

[O'BWV]

Cruise Highlights:

Dinner at Grills & night before at the RAD (THANKS SHIRLEY & NORM!!!!)
DIS Meet
FAMILY Palo Dinner
DIS Palo Dinner
Snorkeling at Cozumel
APL 8:00 Dining Rotation with DIS friends
Palo High Tea
Magnets and playing Tag (our doors looked great)
Fish Mail (thanks for all the surprises everyone and Shanna especially for the personalized magnets you made for us!)
Nights at Rockin' Bar D with Paula, Bob, Johna, Jim, Maria & Chris
Nights at Rockin' Bar D with Terry, John, Doreen, Marty, Elaine, & Karen
Coffee at Cafe Cove with Terry, John, Elaine, Denise, John & Lyn
Lunch with Andy & Hazel at Cookie BBQ on Friday
A cabana massage at SB and a couples massage with Hubby!
The DIS and 3 Friends Photo Shoot - Awesome Picture Guys! (Thanks Chuck!)
Michael Harrison, Rich Purpura, Taylor Mason - All hysterical!
PJ & Karina (sp?) at Palo - Extraordinary Service Thank You!
Celebrating my daughter Taryn's Sweet 16 with two of her best friends
Cruising all week with my sisters and their families
Cruising all week with my new Cruisin' Castaways Dis friends
Cruising AGAIN with my 2004 Lost At Sea Reunion Buddies
Two stops at Castaway Cay - Oh Yeah!

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST............SEEING A FRIENDLY DIS FACE ALMOST EVERYWHERE I WENT.....................


So, did everyone rebook our 2008 Reunion Cruise??????????

WE DID!!!



Thanks for a truly amazing week everyone!
Mary Rose

 

[Verandah Man]

Let the dieting begin once again, LOL!!!

 

[O'BWV]

Let the dieting begin once again, LOL!!!

YOU SAID IT ANDY!!!!!!!!! (But no dieting today though, I'm still starving LOL)






MR

 

[Mjasp]

WELCOME BACK EVERYONE

Glad you had a great time and are sharing

BTW, who brought the wine to Grills? Wondering if I am correct by guessing Shirley & Norm?

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Mary Rose,

So sorry to hear about your luggage problems. That is not the way to end such a magical vacation.

Yes, we had a bumpy ride from FL to NJ. But we had some bumpy nights on the ship so we were all used to it.

Did you guys see Pikey at night in the clubs? I saw him on Thursday and I was wearing Andy's t-shirt and Pikey noticed the "cruisin castaways" design and knew the group immediately. He said the group was very enthusiastic and would go to every opening.

His exact quote was "you guys would go to the opening of an envelope".

We never did make it to the clubs. Our dinners always lasted to after 10pm and we were utterly exhausted by then.

Yes, we rebooked a temporary cruise. I did that right away as the lines got pretty long later in the week.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

Let the dieting begin once again, LOL!!!

Andy,

Loved reading your blog. I did not know about Boyz to Men being onboard. I'm wondering if they were in my dining rotation.

I saw Slash only once. Colestat told us he was on the ship and described what he looked like. I then told the story to DH and how if we see him we can't miss him.

Sure enough, Thursday morning DH and I were sitting in the Cove Cafe and Slash walked right by us arm in arm with a woman. DH saw him again the next day walking down from deck 9 to deck 8.

No wonder Buddy Bear kept on seeing him......Slash and his family had two rooms just a couple of doors up from the Roy suite.

The Saudi royal family left the ship to return home early on Wednesday.

 

[Verandah Man]

WELCOME BACK EVERYONE

Glad you had a great time and are sharing

BTW, who brought the wine to Grills? Wondering if I am correct by guessing Shirley & Norm?

You were correct in your guess, LOL!!! A great time at Grills was had by all!!!

Thanks Shirley and Norm for the special treat!!!

 

[Verandah Man]

Andy,

Loved reading your blog. I did not know about Boyz to Men being onboard. I'm wondering if they were in my dining rotation.

I saw Slash only once. Colestat told us he was on the ship and described what he looked like. I then told the story to DH and how if we see him we can't miss him.

Sure enough, Thursday morning DH and I were sitting in the Cove Cafe and Slash walked right by us arm in arm with a woman. DH saw him again the next day walking down from deck 9 to deck 8.

No wonder Buddy Bear kept on seeing him......Slash and his family had two rooms just a couple of doors up from the Roy suite.

The Saudi royal family left the ship to return home early on Wednesday.

I heard later in the week that it was just one of the members from Boyz to Men that was on our cruise.

Maybe the prince found out his cover was blown and decided to leave the ship early, LOL!!!

 

[castoff]

Hello Everyone
We made it home late last night. Our filght came in an hour late. We spent most of the day at a Hampton Inn using Chuck's status to try and get an earlier flight and make flight arrangements to Biloxi.

It was our intention to have breakfast with everyone and say our goodbyes but it didn't work out that way. Around 6:00 am we turned on our cell phones and got all the messages about Chuck's Mom passing at 4:00 AM. It was not the way we wanted to leave the ship with tears running down our faces.


With all the confusion it actully turns out that Mom passed on Friday not Saturday morning. The funeral is this Wednesday ( Brooke's birthday ) Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts. Even though we knew it was coming we still feel the shock if that makes any sense. It was peaceful and I am thankful for that and there is no longer pain for her.

We picked up our babies ( dogs ) at 7:30 am and Dante is giving me much comfort. He doesn't seem to be to mad at me for leaving him. The kids get home at 4:30 and are quite upset. Brooke especially is not taking the news well. There has been so much loss for our family this past year.

 

[Mjasp]

Tina...Our condolences to you and Chuck. We are thinking of you.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Chuck and Tina....we are very sad to hear you news. Know that you are in our prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.

Shirley, Ron, Alex/Ace, and Allison

 

[Lainie1222]

Chuck and Tina,

My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Elaine

 

[Lainie1222]

So my luggage finally found it's way home about 3:30 this afternoon. So now the unpacking and laundry start. It will be so good to go back to work tomorrow to rest up from the journey home.

 

[Ct_TiggerFan]

Tina...Our condolences to you and your family