I originally posted this on the main board, but it turned out to be more of a mini-trip report, so I copied it to here too.
Had a WONDERFUL cruise, met some fantastic DIS'ers, and participated for the first time in the FE exchange and got some really cool stuff!!!
Now for the GOOD:
KUDOS to Patti, the Cabanas attendant!!!
We had originally reserved Cabana 19 on Serenity Bay on our first stop at Castaway, because all the family cabanas were booked. I was worried that our son, who is 16 and could not come with us, would feel left out, since it was just the second day of the cruise. But shortly after our Sail Away, I got a call from Patti at Concierge Services, saying that they had an opening for Cabana 11 on the beach, and did we want to switch? YES!!!
It was especially nice because we ran the 5K that morning, with DS coming in second, and he REALLY appreciated the water, snacks, and cold towels in the cabana, and the lounger to stretch out in!
The BAD:
Tropical Depression Emily, which turned our Double Dip into more like a 1 1/2 Dip.
Emily decided to hit the Bahamas on Saturday, August 6, which was our second Castaway Cay day. The first few hours were OK; we missed the second running of the 5K (which was OK; DS really didn't want to do it again). DH, DS, and DD all rode bikes for an hour while I read on the beach. We thought we could still do the Glass Bottom Boat tour I booked for 11:15, but when we got to Marge's Barges, they said that ALL excursions were cancelled. The skies were looking pretty ominous by then, so we just decided to get back on the ship and ended up going on the Aqua Duck a couple of times with less than 10 minute waits. Then we went to eat lunch indoors at Cabanas, which was a good thing, because the storm hit with full force!! 40 mph winds, pouring rain!! Those still on the island said that the sand hitting their faces and bodies felt like stinging needles!!! Captain decided to leave by 2:30 because conditions were continuing to deteriorate.
and finally, the UGLY:
Only ran into one idiot, but he was a doozy!
At the Villians Tonight show, we proceed down the aisle and see a row with 6 - 8 seats open. At the end of that row is a guy in black tank top (DD calls them "wife beaters" ), with a sun visor on the seat next to him. OK, so there are still several open seats for the 4 of us. I proceed down the row and sit a couple of seats from wife-beater guy. He immediately gets up and SHOVES me out, saying that "These are taken". I was not going to budge; I said "No saving seats", but DH did not like wife-beater guy TOUCHING me (I didn't either), so we leave and get other seats a couple of rows back. DH goes to tell a female CM, who comes with a male CM as well, and tell the guy "You have to move down, there is no saving seats", but he doesn't even listen to them! CM's were great, very apologetic, and at the end of the show, they told me that the Assistant Cruise Director has been informed of this incident!
The next day, we got a nice gift bag with a DVD "The Making of the Dream", some party items, and a personal note from the Assistant Cruise Director Leslie hoping that the rest of our cruise is magical.
And no, we did not ask for or demand any "compensation" - they just did this on their own!
There's a lot more that I don't have time right now to write, but I will be happy to answer any questions anyone might have!
Had a WONDERFUL cruise, met some fantastic DIS'ers, and participated for the first time in the FE exchange and got some really cool stuff!!!
Now for the GOOD:
KUDOS to Patti, the Cabanas attendant!!!
We had originally reserved Cabana 19 on Serenity Bay on our first stop at Castaway, because all the family cabanas were booked. I was worried that our son, who is 16 and could not come with us, would feel left out, since it was just the second day of the cruise. But shortly after our Sail Away, I got a call from Patti at Concierge Services, saying that they had an opening for Cabana 11 on the beach, and did we want to switch? YES!!!
It was especially nice because we ran the 5K that morning, with DS coming in second, and he REALLY appreciated the water, snacks, and cold towels in the cabana, and the lounger to stretch out in!
The BAD:
Tropical Depression Emily, which turned our Double Dip into more like a 1 1/2 Dip.
Emily decided to hit the Bahamas on Saturday, August 6, which was our second Castaway Cay day. The first few hours were OK; we missed the second running of the 5K (which was OK; DS really didn't want to do it again). DH, DS, and DD all rode bikes for an hour while I read on the beach. We thought we could still do the Glass Bottom Boat tour I booked for 11:15, but when we got to Marge's Barges, they said that ALL excursions were cancelled. The skies were looking pretty ominous by then, so we just decided to get back on the ship and ended up going on the Aqua Duck a couple of times with less than 10 minute waits. Then we went to eat lunch indoors at Cabanas, which was a good thing, because the storm hit with full force!! 40 mph winds, pouring rain!! Those still on the island said that the sand hitting their faces and bodies felt like stinging needles!!! Captain decided to leave by 2:30 because conditions were continuing to deteriorate.
and finally, the UGLY:
Only ran into one idiot, but he was a doozy!
At the Villians Tonight show, we proceed down the aisle and see a row with 6 - 8 seats open. At the end of that row is a guy in black tank top (DD calls them "wife beaters" ), with a sun visor on the seat next to him. OK, so there are still several open seats for the 4 of us. I proceed down the row and sit a couple of seats from wife-beater guy. He immediately gets up and SHOVES me out, saying that "These are taken". I was not going to budge; I said "No saving seats", but DH did not like wife-beater guy TOUCHING me (I didn't either), so we leave and get other seats a couple of rows back. DH goes to tell a female CM, who comes with a male CM as well, and tell the guy "You have to move down, there is no saving seats", but he doesn't even listen to them! CM's were great, very apologetic, and at the end of the show, they told me that the Assistant Cruise Director has been informed of this incident!
The next day, we got a nice gift bag with a DVD "The Making of the Dream", some party items, and a personal note from the Assistant Cruise Director Leslie hoping that the rest of our cruise is magical.
And no, we did not ask for or demand any "compensation" - they just did this on their own!
There's a lot more that I don't have time right now to write, but I will be happy to answer any questions anyone might have!
