ELEVATE! Is that a whale out there? A three-generation cruise to Alaska!UPDATE 8/29

[RGirl]

Uh oh! Hope the computer is alright now! I'll be interested to hear what you think about the differences.

Yes, I was very happy to have just the 3 of us in there! But, for about 20 minutes we did have 3 adults & 1 child in there. Our stateroom host had come in to tell us something & ended up playing with Reid on the floor & his new toys for about 10 minutes. And it still wasn't crowded!

Computer *seems* fine now. I don't know what the deal was - maybe it was tired. That nonsense doesn't usually happen with Mac!

Your pics are great. I can definitely tell that the Dream is newer, and the kids club looks amazing. DD would be very disappointed, however, if there is no slide! If I ever have time, I would love to go back and read your whole report!

 

[RGirl]

7. Sail Away!!! (Part 1)

When I last left you, I had just peeked outside our stateroom door to see if our luggage had arrived. It was there! I asked DD to hold the door while I went out to wrestle our suitcases into the room. So, of course, she promptly stepped out and shut the door. We started knocking on The Judies’ door. And knocking. And knocking. And knocking.

DD’s input: “I thought it was funny.”

Finally, they let us in! We all brought our bags in and did some unpacking while waiting for the Boat Drill.

DD did this:

We got pretty close to done with unpacking before we were required to exit our staterooms for the Boat Drill. We made our way down to Deck 4 (Judy 2, DD and I by stairs and Judy 1 via elevator as instructed by a CM), lined up, and listened to all the instructions about what to do in the event of an emergency.

DD’s input: “It was cool.”

When the drill was over, it was nearing time for the big Adventures Away party, which was scheduled for 4:30. This party takes place on Deck 9 at the Goofy’s Pool Stage. I knew that Judy 1 was not going to be interested in or able to stand up and dance around for a party, so I decided to take our group up to Deck 10 immediately after the Boat Drill - Deck 10 looks out over Deck 9. Because we went up there so quickly, we were able to grab a table and chairs right at the railing looking over Deck 9. This is really the only way that Judy 1 would have been able to see any of the party, so I was pretty proud of myself.

DD showing off our location:

Our view:

Soon we were enjoying the party!

[CONT. IN NEXT POST FOR TOO MANY PICTURES]​

 

[RGirl]

7. Sail Away Part 2

DD’s input: “Celebration! I liked it so much!” and “I thought it was fun to see the characters.”

Everyone was having so much fun, we hadn’t even noticed that we had sailed away!

I took a couple pictures of Seattle as we sailed away.

And then we headed back to our staterooms because we were on the early dining rotation and needed to get ready!

Up next: 8. Let the Eating Begin in Earnest!​

 

[amandaw]

Bags unpacked.....check!

Boat drill......check!

Yep, let the cruise begin!

So happy for you that you were able to snag that great table for y'all to watch the Sail Away party!

I'm so excited to see what the dining rooms on the Wonder!

Your pics are great. I can definitely tell that the Dream is newer, and the kids club looks amazing. DD would be very disappointed, however, if there is no slide! If I ever have time, I would love to go back and read your whole report!

Thanks! That slide is really fantastic! I know Reid would love having something like that. It'll be there if you ever feel like perusing through all of it!

 

[shan23877]

I am kicking myself for forgetting to compliment your magnets. They turned out awesome, and I love that you surprised the Judies with some as well! Great Crafting Roni!! You'll be a master crafter yet.

Love all of Willow's dresses lined up in the closet, too cute. And she was being so helpful! Is that the Tiana dress I spy? I keep trying to talk Maddie into it. It's gorgeous.

Great work getting a table to watch the party from! It seems to be the only way that anyone really enjoys the party. I read lots of crowd complaints.

Love the Seattle shots! Can't wait to hear about your first dinner!

 

[hstrickland]

All caught up!!

You won't believe this...our boarding # was also 9! No kidding!! The terminals look a bit different, though. I'm not sure why I thought they would be the same. Disney has done a great job with getting people through quickly.

Question about the Ariel statue...was that in the atrium area? Just wondering if all ships have a different one. Donald is on the Dream. Love your room pics! Wasn't the verandah great!!?? Since you had connecting rooms, did the verandahs open to one long one? I'm not sure I could cruise without one...they spoil you for sure. Since it was misting rain when we left, we used our verandahs for our own sail away party

Heather

 

[pas130]

We were really impressed with our home on the sea. And I am not sure why the kids club is so great, but the kids all think it is! Haha

All good, as long as she is happy right??? I never had cool places like that when I was little....haha.

I love what Willow did with her dresses, a Princess has got to have her priorities right?

Joining in! So happy to see another Alaska trip report! And Willow is the same age as our youngest son, so I really appreciate the information regarding the kids club and detailed photos. Looking forward to hearing more!

Hi heather & amanda

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

I love the picture of your closet - with all the princess dresses!!!!! If that's not a little girls' dream wardrobe, then what is??!!

 

[RGirl]

Bags unpacked.....check!

Boat drill......check!

Yep, let the cruise begin!

So happy for you that you were able to snag that great table for y'all to watch the Sail Away party!

I'm so excited to see what the dining rooms on the Wonder!

Thanks! That slide is really fantastic! I know Reid would love having something like that. It'll be there if you ever feel like perusing through all of it!

We are finally sailing on this TR!

You will be seeing PLENTY of dining pics - I seriously think I have more food-related pics than almost anything!

I am kicking myself for forgetting to compliment your magnets. They turned out awesome, and I love that you surprised the Judies with some as well! Great Crafting Roni!! You'll be a master crafter yet.

Love all of Willow's dresses lined up in the closet, too cute. And she was being so helpful! Is that the Tiana dress I spy? I keep trying to talk Maddie into it. It's gorgeous.

Great work getting a table to watch the party from! It seems to be the only way that anyone really enjoys the party. I read lots of crowd complaints.

Love the Seattle shots! Can't wait to hear about your first dinner!

Just call me Crafty McCrafterson!

Yes, that is the Tiana dress. She wore it to MNSSHP in October. We love it - it is soooo pretty! And, really, it has a LOT of sparkle.

You know, I didn't feel like this sail away party was all that crowded at all - we could definitely have found a place on Deck 9, but Judy 1 would not have been able to join us. I think people are less inclined to participate in a big, bright sail away party from cloudy Seattle, maybe.

 

[RGirl]

All caught up!!

You won't believe this...our boarding # was also 9! No kidding!! The terminals look a bit different, though. I'm not sure why I thought they would be the same. Disney has done a great job with getting people through quickly.

Question about the Ariel statue...was that in the atrium area? Just wondering if all ships have a different one. Donald is on the Dream. Love your room pics! Wasn't the verandah great!!?? Since you had connecting rooms, did the verandahs open to one long one? I'm not sure I could cruise without one...they spoil you for sure. Since it was misting rain when we left, we used our verandahs for our own sail away party

Heather

The terminal is definitely different - they just took over a terminal in Seattle, and rumor was that they would be moving back to Vancouver next year, so I am sure they weren't inclined to do much with it. It was pretty nice though - especially when CAPTAIN Mickey came out.

Yes, Ariel is in the atrium - I believe that each ship has it's own statue "mascot." But someone much more knowledgable than I can correct me on that one!

The connecting rooms had two separate verandahs - we would holler to each other over the wall. Actually, we could easily hear with pretty normal level voices, we just like to holler.

I knew I would not be able to cruise without a verandah even before this - I would feel really claustrophobic if I couldn't step outside. And I do spend time in my stateroom (just like at a resort), so the notion that "you are never in your room so it doesn't matter" just doesn't work for me.

All good, as long as she is happy right??? I never had cool places like that when I was little....haha.

I love what Willow did with her dresses, a Princess has got to have her priorities right?

Exactly - if the kids like it, it ROCKS! Speaking of cool things we didn't have when we were little, I would have passed out with joy if they had offered those amazing princess dresses when I was a kid.

I love the picture of your closet - with all the princess dresses!!!!! If that's not a little girls' dream wardrobe, then what is??!!

Thanks! And thanks for joining in!!!!

 

[megan511]

I love love love Willow's princess dresses! I agree that Tiana's dress is gorgeous.

The Sail Away party looks so fun! I love the characters in their nautical gear and Captain Mickey too!

I'm glad you were able to find a spot so that Judy 1 could enjoy the party. It must be so hard to be limited in what you want to do. I'm glad you all could experience that together.

I love the Seattle pics! I'd love to get there one day.

 

[amandaw]

You will be seeing PLENTY of dining pics - I seriously think I have more food-related pics than almost anything!

Well, if you ask me (not that you did ), the food is one of the best parts of the cruise!

Yes, Ariel is in the atrium - I believe that each ship has it's own statue "mascot." But someone much more knowledgable than I can correct me on that one!

No need for correcting - you are correct, ma'am! On the Fantasy, the statue is Minnie. I don't know who is on the Magic. Do you know?

 

[megan511]

No need for correcting - you are correct, ma'am! On the Fantasy, the statue is Minnie. I don't know who is on the Magic. Do you know?

It's Mickey!

 

[amandaw]

It's Mickey!

Thank you! That makes perfect sense. Guess I should have thought about it for a second. Now, I know!

 

[RGirl]

I love love love Willow's princess dresses! I agree that Tiana's dress is gorgeous.

The Sail Away party looks so fun! I love the characters in their nautical gear and Captain Mickey too!

I'm glad you were able to find a spot so that Judy 1 could enjoy the party. It must be so hard to be limited in what you want to do. I'm glad you all could experience that together.

I love the Seattle pics! I'd love to get there one day.

The party really was fun. I don't know whether Judy 1 enjoyed it or not , but DD and I had fun as did Judy 2, I think. It was nice that we were all able to be together for it.

Well, if you ask me (not that you did ), the food is one of the best parts of the cruise!

No need for correcting - you are correct, ma'am! On the Fantasy, the statue is Minnie. I don't know who is on the Magic. Do you know?

Well, I *should* have asked you! If for no other reason than that I agree! Next time we cruise, I think we will do even MORE food!

It's Mickey!

I had NO idea!

Thank you! That makes perfect sense. Guess I should have thought about it for a second. Now, I know!

I NEVER would have guessed. How dumb am I?????

 

[amandaw]

Well, I *should* have asked you! If for no other reason than that I agree! Next time we cruise, I think we will do even MORE food!

I'm DEFINITELY planning on eating a lot more on our 7 night cruise! Hmmm....might need to buy some pants with elastic waists.

I NEVER would have guessed. How dumb am I?????

No dumber than me! I didn't guess it either.

 

[RGirl]

I'm DEFINITELY planning on eating a lot more on our 7 night cruise! Hmmm....might need to buy some pants with elastic waists.

No dumber than me! I didn't guess it either.

I think it is worth investing in a "cruise wardrobe" a size or two larger than one's usual clothing.

You know, I never would have guessed it. It doesn't seem right - one ship gets MICKEY? I mean, how do the other ships ever live up to that? Ariel? Please! She makes a lot of sense - being a mermaid (sometimes) and all, but really, she's no Mickey!

 

[amandaw]

You know, I never would have guessed it. It doesn't seem right - one ship gets MICKEY? I mean, how do the other ships ever live up to that? Ariel? Please! She makes a lot of sense - being a mermaid (sometimes) and all, but really, she's no Mickey!

And what about putting Donald as the head of the Dream? Kind of made me nervous having "Admiral" Donald in charge of our vessel.

It actually kind of surprises me that Ariel made it onto a boat. I get the whole mermaid thing but she always wanted to be away from the sea. Hmmm.....but then again, she did want to be where the people are. See them walking & dancing. So, maybe it's the best of both worlds for her.

 

[RGirl]

And what about putting Donald as the head of the Dream? Kind of made me nervous having "Admiral" Donald in charge of our vessel.

It actually kind of surprises me that Ariel made it onto a boat. I get the whole mermaid thing but she always wanted to be away from the sea. Hmmm.....but then again, she did want to be where the people are. See them walking & dancing. So, maybe it's the best of both worlds for her.

I'm not sure I would feel at all safe with Donald in charge!!!!

I felt pretty comfortable with Ariel. She's quite good at pulling people out of the ocean when necessary. Of course, she's only interested in saving strapping young princes she's never met but somehow loves, so I and my feminine crew would not have gained much from her fin-flipping skills......

 

[amandaw]

I'm not sure I would feel at all safe with Donald in charge!!!!

Though, I must say that I'd pick Donald over Goofy any day.

I felt pretty comfortable with Ariel. She's quite good at pulling people out of the ocean when necessary. Of course, she's only interested in saving strapping young princes she's never met but somehow loves, so I and my feminine crew would not have gained much from her fin-flipping skills......

True, she is very good at rescuing. But, you do have a point about those princes. Well, at least she might save Reid for me.

Can I vent real quick about the Little Mermaid? Thanks, here it goes: I LOVED that movie when it came out. It came out in 1989 & I was going from 5th to 6th grade. I was obsessed with that movie & the music! I still love it as an adult. However, I must say that as a grown woman, I am now very troubled that King Triton let his 16 year old daughter just run off with this prince who is basically a stranger & get married!!! No one at Disney thought it might be better to make her a little bit older?