Our trip starts at 3 AM on April 11th as we climb into the car and head south from NY towards what should have been a dream vacation. I wont say it turned into a nightmare but it sure wasnt the stuff dreams are made of.
Our first day on the road was going great we are making good time, missing all the construction and make it all the way to Florence SC before we had to make a choice. Stop for the night or strap the two teenage kids in the back seat to the roof for the remainder of the trip. DH opted for option 1 while I was a strong supporter of using bungee cords.
Another early start on Sat morning was DHs idea. I think Vacation lets sleep until at least 5 am I mean really we get up at 1 am everyday for his work I am on vacation I deserve a break. But an early start we got and in the long run it was a good idea (no one tell him I said that). We again missed all the construction and arrived at Port Canaveral around 1. Check in early to the Best Western Ocean beach hotel and suites.
Let me tell you what a nice place. Friendly staff clean rooms short walk to a really nice beach. So glad I made the reservation there. This was my kids first time ever to the ocean and we had tons of fun playing in the surf, and watching the Magic sail out thinking tomorrow that will be us and we are all excited.
Sunday I get up in time to walk down to the beach with my youngest to see the Sunrise. It was really beautiful.
We go back to the room wake the two sleepy heads and head over for the continental breakfast.
It was a nice set up and we all enjoyed it. Back to the room packing up the bags and head to the lobby to meet the shuttle driver. The driver I think his name was John was very nice and he was funny giving up as rundown on cocoa beach as we drove to the port. Did you know they have a laundry mat there with a bar??
Hmmmmmmm never thought about that combination but I bet it works.
There is the WONDER!!!
Not sure what I am more excited about finally going on my first cruise or meeting up with Lovetoscrap and her family. We have a Dis meet on board to meet up with a bunch of Disers from the Cruise thread but I have been friends with LTS for a long time and cant wait to finally meet her in person. As we come up the escalator I think I see her Yup scooter with bling pink tiara defiantly her but I have to hurry in line to get our KTTW so DH goes over to let her know where I am. Suddenly I am grasped in a HUGE BEAR HUG!!! Poor lady at the desk trying to talk to me and all I wanna do is meet my friend. So we finally get the cards and head over to register DD with the Lab.
Ummm Password ??? I gave them a password on line OH CRAP what did I use??? LTS to the rescue
dont forget we used your dogs name she says
Oh yeah good thing I told her I could have been there the whole 4 days trying to remember.
So now we wait and here comes Patsal and family so we all hang around getting to know each other a bit while we wait for boarding. I am a # 4 so It didnt take to long and on we go so far so good this is looking like FUN. Little did we know
We head to parrot cay for lunch and amongst 4 kids trying food they have never seen and the funny faces ( Hi Liz) and the broken desert cups ( Erica J ) we all relax and enjoy lunch.
Then off to find our staterooms.
Now I had been preparing DH for a SMALL room cause I didnt want him shocked when we got there. We are in a cat 9 and he opens the door and we are all pleasantly surprised they are actually larger cabins than we expected.
Get our luggage into the room cause it is being brought up as we arrive and head to deck 4 for the DIS MEET. Unfortunately thru a series of events what should have been 13 or so families ended up only being 4. We hang out for a few minutes but time to get ready for the Sail Away party. We get a nice spot on Deck 9 over looking the pool right behind Pinocchios pizza. Me DH LTS and her DH hang out there while the 4 girls go down to dance and enjoy. Really nice way to get underway the start to a great vacation ..
And than it went down hill fast we have early dining so we head to the room to get dressed for our first dinner at Tritons. And than it began the SEASICKNESS!!!!!!! OMG it was horrible I think the two DHs were the only ones not effected by it that first night. We get thru dinner and head to the room and that is where my family stays. We down seasick pills and lay down praying the motion will stop. DH just watches TV and orders room service HE is feeling FINE.
I hope it is just the first night getting used to it and we will be fine the next day. Well most of the next day we were OK we were NOT MOVING.
We were at Nassau.
Our plan here was to go the Pirate Museum and shop a bit and than go back to enjoy the ship.
I know several have said the museum was a lot of fun and worth the Money. We didnt find it to be such. Maybe if I hadnt seen all the pics here on the DIS, but pretty much that is all there is the stuff in the pics
Took us only about 25 minutes to go thru the whole thing maybe a whole half hour. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT for us.
So off to the straw market and some shops. We buy a few things and than we head back to the ship. Time for lunch. That is one thing I can say good about ship. Lots of food .
We have dinner that night at Animator palate and DH had a headache so he crashed in the room so he would be ready for TOY STORY that night.
Dinner was good the show was Ok but not what I expected. I think they really focused on Sid but I will say the actors who played Andy and Sid were Very talented.
All is good and than the Ship starts to MOVE again. We are pretty much sick from than on. My youngest while seasick did ok so long as she kept taking the seasick pills and had a lot of fun with the Lab. My oldest suffered the worst. She was feeling pretty crappy the whole time.
Ok so time for reviews .
The Lab my DD loved it there made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun.
Aloft . BORING!!!!!! And no fun at all was the opinion of my DD she went once and was not impressed at all. Bummer since she had been emailing others on the cruise her age and they had hoped to hang out there and have some fun.
Palo.. Well we had a brunch booked for just me and Laura a Moms break and girls lunch out
Would have been Great but wow the confusion around it. First they call Tues morning and say they are changing the brunch to Tues since we cant make CC so that will be our sea day. So I go with my family to breakfast but dont eat since it is 9:30 and brunch is at 11. Get back to the room to another message Brunch is NOT today it is back on for WED. Great Now I am hungry but dont wanna eat alone. SO then Wed they say we will be docking so I call Laura and we decide that going to the Island is important and we dont wanna miss it so I call and cancel the reservation and than NO CASTAWAT CAY. So we got no Island and No Palo. Double bummer.
Castaway Cay Well it Looked beautiful I have lots of pictures from out to sea. We never got to make it ashore. The seas were to rough and while I understand Why it was still disappointing for us all.
these are not the "good" pics those are not on the computer yet
And honestly 2 days worth of trying got a bit frustrating. My cabin shook each time they tried and since I dont drink and I dont play bingo not really much to do on the cruise for 2 days at sea. So we saw a few movies and just hung out in the room a lot.
The sad part NY where we left had better weather those 4 days than we did on the cruise.
Not sure all of what happened but we also lost power on Wed so no elevators and the toilets werent working for awhile either.
Can't forget Pirate Night...
The deck party was alot of fun and fireworks from the ship were cool.
Wednesday night was the worst. There were some crew members getting ill. It was really hard on my DD rocking all night.
So needless to say we have decided cruising is just not for us. I know I know people keep telling me we just got unlucky and we cant judge all cruises on just this one. Well look on the bright side I just left a cabin and Palo reservation open for all you brave cruising souls. Ill be in the parks where the ground stays still.
So Thursday I just cant wait to get off the ship and head to the Swan.
We are staying at the Swan another first for us. But we are Not doing WDW this trip. Got a great deal on Universal tickets so we thought we would go there this trip.
The rooms at the swan were nice and the pool is BEAUTIFUL!!!! We couldnt get a fireworks view but were upgraded to a balcony room which was nice and at the end of our hallway we could see the Epcot fireworks so that was cool.
First night about Midnight we hear noises and someone tries to get in our room. Front desk had given them the wrong room #.
Day one in Universal was great. Rode things 2 and 3 times. Longest line was 25 minutes. We had a great day.
Went back to the swan and got dinner at picabos. They have a great deal on a family chicken dinner.
Early the next morning around 6 or so KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK on the door so I go to see and this women started to walk in than looked up noticed I wasnt who she was expecting and she walked away embarrassed mumbling about her sons room.
Day two we head to IOA .WHOAAAAAA Crazy busy I mean HUGE crowds lines are 90 to 105 minutes
Went on Cat in the hat first and the ride was broke. Sat there in the car for awhile than they get it running and it doesnt spin at all so they sent us thru again.
Went on a few more things and than got lunch in the dinosaur area. DH holds a table outside for us while I go with the kids to get food. Come out and this Lady give me a nasty look goes humph and walks away.
I look at DH with confusion. Apparently she tried to sit with him or maybe I should say on him. He said she practically sat on his lap and he told her sorry but he was waiting for his wife to join him. I guess she wasnt happy with his answer cause if looks could kill the one I got would have ended our vacation right than.
So after lunch we head towards Spiderman.. The ride was down and they had no estimate as to when it would be up and running. It is only around 2 by now and we are getting really tired of the huge crowds full of rude people. We had planned on staying for the Mardi Gras parade and fireworks but we decide this is just nuts. The kids wanna go back and swim so off we go back to the swan and we had a Great afternoon just hanging by the pool.
Lots of loud people checking in. Young kids all dressed up we thought it was maybe Prom party or something. Erica and I head to the big window to watch the fireworks at Epcot. Not like being there but nice no the less.
Really loud at the hotel that night. We are suppose to head to NY that morning anyway and I am up sick by 2 am so we just leave. The front desk was really nice I felt bad for them they were dealing with a Frat party.
Drunk guests and people knocking over there beautiful flower displays.
We drive home as fast as we can stopping outside of Washington DC on the way home.
Couldnt believe the jump in gas prices in the week we were down in Fla.
While a bad day on vacation is better than a good day at work we were all glad to be home.
We started planning our next trip on the way home. We will be headed back south in Feb of 2010 and we learned an important lesson this trip. For our family vacation means WDW and that is what we will do from now on.
Hope I didnt bore you all but I promised I would write this up.
Our first day on the road was going great we are making good time, missing all the construction and make it all the way to Florence SC before we had to make a choice. Stop for the night or strap the two teenage kids in the back seat to the roof for the remainder of the trip. DH opted for option 1 while I was a strong supporter of using bungee cords.
Another early start on Sat morning was DHs idea. I think Vacation lets sleep until at least 5 am I mean really we get up at 1 am everyday for his work I am on vacation I deserve a break. But an early start we got and in the long run it was a good idea (no one tell him I said that). We again missed all the construction and arrived at Port Canaveral around 1. Check in early to the Best Western Ocean beach hotel and suites.
Let me tell you what a nice place. Friendly staff clean rooms short walk to a really nice beach. So glad I made the reservation there. This was my kids first time ever to the ocean and we had tons of fun playing in the surf, and watching the Magic sail out thinking tomorrow that will be us and we are all excited.
Sunday I get up in time to walk down to the beach with my youngest to see the Sunrise. It was really beautiful.
We go back to the room wake the two sleepy heads and head over for the continental breakfast.
It was a nice set up and we all enjoyed it. Back to the room packing up the bags and head to the lobby to meet the shuttle driver. The driver I think his name was John was very nice and he was funny giving up as rundown on cocoa beach as we drove to the port. Did you know they have a laundry mat there with a bar??
Hmmmmmmm never thought about that combination but I bet it works.
There is the WONDER!!!
Not sure what I am more excited about finally going on my first cruise or meeting up with Lovetoscrap and her family. We have a Dis meet on board to meet up with a bunch of Disers from the Cruise thread but I have been friends with LTS for a long time and cant wait to finally meet her in person. As we come up the escalator I think I see her Yup scooter with bling pink tiara defiantly her but I have to hurry in line to get our KTTW so DH goes over to let her know where I am. Suddenly I am grasped in a HUGE BEAR HUG!!! Poor lady at the desk trying to talk to me and all I wanna do is meet my friend. So we finally get the cards and head over to register DD with the Lab.
Ummm Password ??? I gave them a password on line OH CRAP what did I use??? LTS to the rescue
dont forget we used your dogs name she says
Oh yeah good thing I told her I could have been there the whole 4 days trying to remember.
So now we wait and here comes Patsal and family so we all hang around getting to know each other a bit while we wait for boarding. I am a # 4 so It didnt take to long and on we go so far so good this is looking like FUN. Little did we know
We head to parrot cay for lunch and amongst 4 kids trying food they have never seen and the funny faces ( Hi Liz) and the broken desert cups ( Erica J ) we all relax and enjoy lunch.
Then off to find our staterooms.
Now I had been preparing DH for a SMALL room cause I didnt want him shocked when we got there. We are in a cat 9 and he opens the door and we are all pleasantly surprised they are actually larger cabins than we expected.
Get our luggage into the room cause it is being brought up as we arrive and head to deck 4 for the DIS MEET. Unfortunately thru a series of events what should have been 13 or so families ended up only being 4. We hang out for a few minutes but time to get ready for the Sail Away party. We get a nice spot on Deck 9 over looking the pool right behind Pinocchios pizza. Me DH LTS and her DH hang out there while the 4 girls go down to dance and enjoy. Really nice way to get underway the start to a great vacation ..
And than it went down hill fast we have early dining so we head to the room to get dressed for our first dinner at Tritons. And than it began the SEASICKNESS!!!!!!! OMG it was horrible I think the two DHs were the only ones not effected by it that first night. We get thru dinner and head to the room and that is where my family stays. We down seasick pills and lay down praying the motion will stop. DH just watches TV and orders room service HE is feeling FINE.
I hope it is just the first night getting used to it and we will be fine the next day. Well most of the next day we were OK we were NOT MOVING.
We were at Nassau.
Our plan here was to go the Pirate Museum and shop a bit and than go back to enjoy the ship.
I know several have said the museum was a lot of fun and worth the Money. We didnt find it to be such. Maybe if I hadnt seen all the pics here on the DIS, but pretty much that is all there is the stuff in the pics
Took us only about 25 minutes to go thru the whole thing maybe a whole half hour. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT for us.
So off to the straw market and some shops. We buy a few things and than we head back to the ship. Time for lunch. That is one thing I can say good about ship. Lots of food .
We have dinner that night at Animator palate and DH had a headache so he crashed in the room so he would be ready for TOY STORY that night.
Dinner was good the show was Ok but not what I expected. I think they really focused on Sid but I will say the actors who played Andy and Sid were Very talented.
All is good and than the Ship starts to MOVE again. We are pretty much sick from than on. My youngest while seasick did ok so long as she kept taking the seasick pills and had a lot of fun with the Lab. My oldest suffered the worst. She was feeling pretty crappy the whole time.
Ok so time for reviews .
The Lab my DD loved it there made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun.
Aloft . BORING!!!!!! And no fun at all was the opinion of my DD she went once and was not impressed at all. Bummer since she had been emailing others on the cruise her age and they had hoped to hang out there and have some fun.
Palo.. Well we had a brunch booked for just me and Laura a Moms break and girls lunch out
Would have been Great but wow the confusion around it. First they call Tues morning and say they are changing the brunch to Tues since we cant make CC so that will be our sea day. So I go with my family to breakfast but dont eat since it is 9:30 and brunch is at 11. Get back to the room to another message Brunch is NOT today it is back on for WED. Great Now I am hungry but dont wanna eat alone. SO then Wed they say we will be docking so I call Laura and we decide that going to the Island is important and we dont wanna miss it so I call and cancel the reservation and than NO CASTAWAT CAY. So we got no Island and No Palo. Double bummer.
Castaway Cay Well it Looked beautiful I have lots of pictures from out to sea. We never got to make it ashore. The seas were to rough and while I understand Why it was still disappointing for us all.
these are not the "good" pics those are not on the computer yet
And honestly 2 days worth of trying got a bit frustrating. My cabin shook each time they tried and since I dont drink and I dont play bingo not really much to do on the cruise for 2 days at sea. So we saw a few movies and just hung out in the room a lot.
The sad part NY where we left had better weather those 4 days than we did on the cruise.
Not sure all of what happened but we also lost power on Wed so no elevators and the toilets werent working for awhile either.
Can't forget Pirate Night...
The deck party was alot of fun and fireworks from the ship were cool.
Wednesday night was the worst. There were some crew members getting ill. It was really hard on my DD rocking all night.
So needless to say we have decided cruising is just not for us. I know I know people keep telling me we just got unlucky and we cant judge all cruises on just this one. Well look on the bright side I just left a cabin and Palo reservation open for all you brave cruising souls. Ill be in the parks where the ground stays still.
So Thursday I just cant wait to get off the ship and head to the Swan.
We are staying at the Swan another first for us. But we are Not doing WDW this trip. Got a great deal on Universal tickets so we thought we would go there this trip.
The rooms at the swan were nice and the pool is BEAUTIFUL!!!! We couldnt get a fireworks view but were upgraded to a balcony room which was nice and at the end of our hallway we could see the Epcot fireworks so that was cool.
First night about Midnight we hear noises and someone tries to get in our room. Front desk had given them the wrong room #.
Day one in Universal was great. Rode things 2 and 3 times. Longest line was 25 minutes. We had a great day.
Went back to the swan and got dinner at picabos. They have a great deal on a family chicken dinner.
Early the next morning around 6 or so KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK on the door so I go to see and this women started to walk in than looked up noticed I wasnt who she was expecting and she walked away embarrassed mumbling about her sons room.
Day two we head to IOA .WHOAAAAAA Crazy busy I mean HUGE crowds lines are 90 to 105 minutes
Went on Cat in the hat first and the ride was broke. Sat there in the car for awhile than they get it running and it doesnt spin at all so they sent us thru again.
Went on a few more things and than got lunch in the dinosaur area. DH holds a table outside for us while I go with the kids to get food. Come out and this Lady give me a nasty look goes humph and walks away.
I look at DH with confusion. Apparently she tried to sit with him or maybe I should say on him. He said she practically sat on his lap and he told her sorry but he was waiting for his wife to join him. I guess she wasnt happy with his answer cause if looks could kill the one I got would have ended our vacation right than.
So after lunch we head towards Spiderman.. The ride was down and they had no estimate as to when it would be up and running. It is only around 2 by now and we are getting really tired of the huge crowds full of rude people. We had planned on staying for the Mardi Gras parade and fireworks but we decide this is just nuts. The kids wanna go back and swim so off we go back to the swan and we had a Great afternoon just hanging by the pool.
Lots of loud people checking in. Young kids all dressed up we thought it was maybe Prom party or something. Erica and I head to the big window to watch the fireworks at Epcot. Not like being there but nice no the less.
Really loud at the hotel that night. We are suppose to head to NY that morning anyway and I am up sick by 2 am so we just leave. The front desk was really nice I felt bad for them they were dealing with a Frat party.
Drunk guests and people knocking over there beautiful flower displays.
We drive home as fast as we can stopping outside of Washington DC on the way home.
Couldnt believe the jump in gas prices in the week we were down in Fla.
While a bad day on vacation is better than a good day at work we were all glad to be home.
We started planning our next trip on the way home. We will be headed back south in Feb of 2010 and we learned an important lesson this trip. For our family vacation means WDW and that is what we will do from now on.
Hope I didnt bore you all but I promised I would write this up.
Although since CC was outside we were allowed to go out. I would be pretty disappointed not to get to go to CC, but at the same times its not all that exciting..
The ship looks nice and so does the Swan. I have not stayed there yet and the rooms like great.
