Fantasy Surf & Turf: Day 3 - Boarding The Fantasy

[wickesy]

Today was a day that I had been looking forward to for nearly two years - we were finally going to go on the maiden voyage of the Disney Fantasy!!

Thanks to a combination of jet lag, excitement and a very noisy air con unit I had a pretty restless night and at 5:30 I finally gave up trying to sleep and put my iPad on for a bit of surfing and to update my trip report.

I eventually got up just before 7:30 and after a wash and brush up we went out for a wander.

This actually said Disney Fantasy but I think the sign must have been refreshing too fast for my camera.

Once we got back we sat by the pool for an hour before going back to the room to collect our bags and check out.

We drove the short distance to Budget where I had my third 'Doh' moment of the holiday - as I got to the desk the lady asked me for the keys to the car and I couldn't find them anywhere! Bearing in mind I had only walked 100 yards from the car to the desk they couldn't have gone that far!! I eventually found them on top of my suitcase underneath my hand luggage bag.

Unfortunately with all that kerfuffle we had missed the shuttle to the Fantasy and we had to wait quite a while for the next one. We were still at the cruise terminal for about 10:45 where we joined the back of a long queue to get into the terminal.

The queue moved quite quickly and so we were soon inside and picking up our lanyards and first Navigator.

Click for full size



Our boarding number had already been called so there was time for a few quick photos.

I had this big idea to video us as we boarded but due to a mixture of nervous excitement, being a bit self-conscious of holding the camera and trying to hold the camera and pull my bag at the same time it didn’t come out that great – but join us anyway as we board the Fantasy for the first time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjbjH_PpowU

Our cabin was already ready so we made our way up to deck 7 and stateroom number 7082 where we met our stateroom host Donovan.

Continued in next post

 

[wickesy]

We were soon under way and there were plenty of people about to see us off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQJXH_zXV-A

Once we passed the last part of land we went back downstairs, had a quick wander round the shops and then into the Walt Disney Theatre for the show, which tonight was magician Justin Willman. He was okay but I had seen variations of some of the tricks
before.

After the show we went up to La Piazza for a pre-dinner drink where we both had an Escalus.

From there we went down to dinner, which tonight was in the Enchanted Garden restaurant. We met our server, Noel from India, assistant server Jelena from Croatia and Head Server, Burak from Turkey - who had been our Head Server on our Baltic cruise on the Magic in 2010. We also met our table mates, Susan and Julie, and mother and daughter, Lyndsey and Nicole. We all seemed to get on really well which was good news for the upcoming week.

Dad started with stuffed brioche and I had stuffed cucumber roll, then we both had tomato soup, followed by pork tenderloin for Dad and sea bass for me. For dessert Dad had the banana sundae and I had the sweet temptations, which was strawberry cheesecake, “Sacher” chocolate torte and passion fruit tart.

After dinner we went back up to La Piazza where Dad had a Volto and I had a large Courvoisier, served by Vendy from Czech Republic, who was fast becoming our friend on this cruise.

Once we had finished our drinks we went back down to the cabin where we found our first fish extender gifts.

We were in bed at 11:30, which was really 10:30 as the clocks were going back tonight.

Day 4

 

[mandymouse]

What a great day David, I love your photos and I can't wait to read your Navigators in depth as we're hoping to sail the Fantasy in September

 

[wilma-bride]

Wow David, I can just imagine how excited you must have been. We have just last night switched our next cruise to a Western on the Fantasy next October and I can't wait. How was your stateroom? What Cat was it?

 

[Chilly]

Wow so many people saw you sail away.

On your video i'm a bit disturbed by how long you lingered on the behind of the man in front of you as you boarded the ship

 

[wickesy]

Wow so many people saw you sail away.

On your video i'm a bit disturbed by how long you lingered on the behind of the man in front of you as you boarded the ship

I hadn't even noticed! It was supposed to be this great video of our point of view as we boarded the ship for the first time but it didn't really turn out that way - and now it will be forever remembered as a video of a man's butt!

 

[luvslikepi]

Thank you so much for posting your TR. I've been searching for Fantasy TR's since the end of the MV and yours is the first big one I've found.

 

[PJB71]

Wow so many people saw you sail away.

On your video i'm a bit disturbed by how long you lingered on the behind of the man in front of you as you boarded the ship

I was thinking exactly the same

 

[Floridagram]

I can hardly wait to hear more! three weeks from now I will be sailing on her.

 

[darthtatty]

great pictures

 

[florida sun]

Wow what a great turnout of people to see the ship off, she looks fantastic

 

[irongirlof12]

Wow, how exciting and what a great send off

 

[Ware Bears]

Loved the turnout of people to wave you off.

 

[disneyfabfive]

I really enjoyed this. We sail in Oct. and can't wait. Thank you, Karen

 

[jockey]

Great day

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Sooo cool.... was that a rainbow too? I so want to book a cruise on the Fantasy.

 

[wickesy]

Sooo cool.... was that a rainbow too? I so want to book a cruise on the Fantasy.

Well spotted. I forgot to mention it when I wrote the report and wondered if anyone would notice.