Geeks go for broke! Updated 2/17: Wrap-up

[Tink rules]

Hop over and introduce yourselves... we are very friendly... And a bit nutty too, but we're loveable!!!

 

[nenner1]

Hi Erica! It was great to meet you! The cruise was amazing, wasn't it?

Let me guess the number of rum cakes you purchased - 6? We bought two...those things are heavy! LOL!!!!

Glad to see you got home safely!

Hi there Amy! It was such a blast cruising with you! You are such a doll!!!

I'm baaaa-aaaack!

Thanks for the awesome sailaway photo! And for keeping the place company.

I have lots and lots of stories, including a drink that wears a skirt and a coconut bra, some sort of ho-down at Rockin' Bar D, and a bronotsaurus made from a towel.....

But I know what the real question is: exactly HOW many rum cakes did I buy?

You'll have to read to find out.

Sarah is still here for a few days, so we'll be entertaining and uploading 2GB of photos through the weekend. More soon, I swear.

PS - we accidentally booked Tortola for 9/12/09. Oops.

Welcome home guys!!
It was great meeting you all on the cruise, seems like every time we turned around you & Lionel were there! Even to witness our embarassing flat tire! Only us, I tell ya!!!!

Okay...AND....ya'll...I was wondering why there were NO FREAKIN' RUM CAKES left on the boat! Geez. You left none for me. None.
I am in a funk of post-cruise despair without my Original with walnuts. (As I open another window to buy some online!)

It was a blast! Can't wait to hear all the details of your escapades. I'll start my TR by the end of the week!

 

[alleluia5]

Looking forward to hearing your adventures too!

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

PS - we accidentally booked Tortola for 9/12/09. Oops.

Accident, my @$$....

 

[ibouncetoo]

I'm baaaa-aaaack!


PS - we accidentally booked Tortola for 9/12/09. Oops.

And we're glad you did!

Can't wait to read about your adventures.

.

 

[CustardTart]

...PS - we accidentally booked Tortola for 9/12/09. Oops.

And after reading your trip reports, I can't tell ya how happy I am!!! Looking forward to meeting y'all in September '09 and if you get to the bar before me, mine's anything alcoholic 'n fruity with a cherry on the side...

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Congrats on booking Tortula! You'll love the Eastern! We kept telling each other all week in Mexico - if we were on the cruise, we'd be... can't wait to "live it" through you!

 

[zweihund]

And so it begins……

Before I begin our tale, I am going to unleash a few facts that most of you will find unbelievable, especially if you have read any of my prior TR’s:

1) Though we did not hold back, we somehow did not overspend. In fact, we had $35 of credit remaining in our onboard account, which I had stocked prior to departure, AND $70 in cash remaining from port shopping. More on that later.
2) We bought ten rum cakes. Though to be fair, eight of them were the smallest size.
3) We missed TWO drinks of the day. I know. I am so ashamed.
4) Neither Lionel, Mat or myself got sunburned. Sarah, impressively, managed to stay burn-free until the last day. Not bad for a transparent Canadian. Eh?
5) Our clothes still fit. I don’t know how, but they do. Must be all the elastic.

Ok, now that that’s out of the way, here is how this is going to go.
I am going to go through our experiences day by day, and it is probably going to take a long time. But, I make this promise to you right here, right now: I will finish before Thanksgiving. For some of you that may seem very far away, but remember…..this was a SEVEN DAY CRUISE. I have to pack it all in to one TR! And work generally frowns upon calling in sick for the DISboards.

So, if you promise to be patient, I promise to be thorough. I will even throw in a few embarrassing photos, some of which may or may not have happened after one or more drinks were ingested. How about that, does that sound like a fair deal?

Alrighty, then, let’s get this show on the road.

 

[CrazyZeus1]

Yay for the TR!!! I can't wait to read...I don't think I ever caught up with you on the ship, did I? Dang it!

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

I am ready...

 

[zweihund]

Hi Erica! It was great to meet you! The cruise was amazing, wasn't it?

Let me guess the number of rum cakes you purchased - 6? We bought two...those things are heavy! LOL!!!!

Glad to see you got home safely!

It was great to meet you guys too.....it's funny, Jen said she kept bumping into the same people over and over and so did we! I don't think a day wen't by when we didn't chat! Of couse, sitting so close for dinner helped

hi erica! i've just finished reading your trip reportS! they are amazing! can't wait for the next installment

i hope you had a magical cruise

Thanks!

WB!

Whoo Hoo the Geeks are on MY Tortola cruise!

Jill in CO

We are there. Drunken card games will abound!

YOU BOOKED TORTOLA???

I think I may be on that cruise!!!! It's the one that all my friends from the PC repo booked!!!!

So... ahem..... stories, huh???

We're there!

Welcome home guys!!
It was great meeting you all on the cruise, seems like every time we turned around you & Lionel were there! Even to witness our embarassing flat tire! Only us, I tell ya!!!!

Okay...AND....ya'll...I was wondering why there were NO FREAKIN' RUM CAKES left on the boat! Geez. You left none for me. None.
I am in a funk of post-cruise despair without my Original with walnuts. (As I open another window to buy some online!)

It was a blast! Can't wait to hear all the details of your escapades. I'll start my TR by the end of the week!

Lionel was going to stop and help with the tire, but you guys looked like you had it under control.....of course, reading our thread I see now that you didn't! I'm so sorry! At least I didn't take a photo Glad you made it home ok, even if it was without rum cakes

Looking forward to hearing your adventures too!

Thanks lady!

Accident, my @$$....

And we're glad you did!

Can't wait to read about your adventures.

.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. I can't believe I have less than a year to plan, I feel so behind already!

And after reading your trip reports, I can't tell ya how happy I am!!! Looking forward to meeting y'all in September '09 and if you get to the bar before me, mine's anything alcoholic 'n fruity with a cherry on the side...

It's going to be a blast.......THREE days at sea!!!

Congrats on booking Tortula! You'll love the Eastern! We kept telling each other all week in Mexico - if we were on the cruise, we'd be... can't wait to "live it" through you!

You were missed in 6080. Those poor people had no idea why I kept bothering them

 

[nenner1]

It was great to meet you guys too.....it's funny, Jen said she kept bumping into the same people over and over and so did we! I don't think a day wen't by when we didn't chat! Of couse, sitting so close for dinner helped

????? Okay so where were you sitting in the restaurants? Did you see us there? We were like two tables away from Amy, Dave , Melodie and Grandma (oops! Sorry I never got her name! ) But I don't remember seeing you all in there.....??

Lionel was going to stop and help with the tire, but you guys looked like you had it under control.....of course, reading our thread I see now that you didn't! I'm so sorry! At least I didn't take a photo Glad you made it home ok, even if it was without rum cakes

Actually we did have it under control then, the AAA guy finally had busted through security. It is unbelievable, to get to the spare, there is this 3 foot tall T-shaped metal tool that goes THROUGH the console (yep. Console. where the cup holders and such are!) through the floor to release the spare in this special little pocket under the van. There was no diagram in the manual so it took us both forever to figure out you had to rip out the console and stick this monster crowbar through the floor to get to it. Chrysler needs to work on that one.

You were missed in 6080. Those poor people had no idea why I kept bothering them

I was going to knock once too...

Hope Sarah and Mat liked their pens...we had about 10 extras so we were going around looking for "other" FE's to drop them in, and I saw their door and said "I know them!" lets give them some!

 

[zweihund]

????? Okay so where were you sitting in the restaurants? Did you see us there? We were like two tables away from Amy, Dave , Melodie and Grandma (oops! Sorry I never got her name! ) But I don't remember seeing you all in there.....??





Actually we did have it under control then, the AAA guy finally had busted through security. It is unbelievable, to get to the spare, there is this 3 foot tall T-shaped metal tool that goes THROUGH the console (yep. Console. where the cup holders and such are!) through the floor to release the spare in this special little pocket under the van. There was no diagram in the manual so it took us both forever to figure out you had to rip out the console and stick this monster crowbar through the floor to get to it. Chrysler needs to work on that one.





I was going to knock once too...

Hope Sarah and Mat liked their pens...we had about 10 extras so we were going around looking for "other" FE's to drop them in, and I saw their door and said "I know them!" lets give them some!

We were on the table on the other side of theirs - we saw you guys a few tables away in Lumiere's, but I don't know where you guys were in the other two restaurants.

That was one CRAZY tire change! Makes for a good story, too.

And Mat and Sarah were so happy to get a few little presents! They loved everything extra that came their way. Sarah would say "we got something!" and hold up her little treasures just like a little princess. Except she's 29.

OK, TR installment incoming, just waiting on pics to load. Pinky swear.

 

[zweihund]

As most of you know, I was up and hobbling around Saturday morning before anyone else. Shocking, I know. Can I just tell you, my pesky ankle was giving me grief on and off for the entire cruise? But fortunately, I discovered something that numbs pain: rum.

Anyhow, I had set a goal for us to be out of the house by 9 am, and we beat that goal by 15 minutes! Mostly because we packed the car the night before, and only had Mat and Sarah’s bags to throw on top. We stopped at Einstein’s for our traditional morning-of-cruise breakfast of bagel sandwiches and apple juice bombs, and off we went!

The drive passed quickly, and before we knew it we were pulling into the port. And, into traffic. We hit the terminal at 10:20, apparently after every single other person who was getting on the boat that morning. This was a sharp contrast to last year’s budget cruise, in which the terminal had fewer cruisers than CMs. I was only slightly concerned when I saw the security line snaking out the door. But that was balanced by the excitement of seeing people I knew as we waited in the car line……we saw Drea, and Skoi (who I never saw again), and Kimberly, and I called their names out at the top of my lungs despite the fact that the windows were up. Lionel spent the remainder of the morning working to get his hearing back.

After dropping the bags we popped over to wait at Security for Lionel, and bumped into Tiffany who showed me not only that she had the same bag as me, but that hers was fancily embroidered with her initials! You may know that she made my FE. After seeing her purse, her handmade Mickey-ear tie-dye shirts, practically half of the FE’s on the boat AND her adorable and creative FE gift, I remain convinced that there is nothing Tiffany cannot make. I might commission her to crochet me a new house.

The terminal was bustling with activity, and from the CC member line we spotted Erik and Hadley at the official Double Dip Delight table, complete with logo. Kimberly found us, and so did Amy and Jen. And after about ten minutes, I realized Lois had been standing behind us the entire time. I would drop more names, but it was check in time. Much to my dismay, we got a number 5 card. Number 5??? Don't they know who I am???? Ah well, should have known. I hung my head and braced myself for the fact that I would not be the first person to get to the chocolate chip cookies.

And then? Sarah came bouncing over with a number 2 card! Turns out her check-in CM decided to give our little Canadian a magic moment. We were happy to ditch our card and join Sarah’s extended family. "What do you mean she doesn't look like my sister?"

Envy us, pleebs.

In the terminal, we met a few other DISers: ilovemangos, FatCat, and many more. Having our special lanyards and badges really helped us identify one another. In fact, by the end of the cruise we were just waving to anyone with a lanyad, regardless of what it said, including the guy who had a Lexus lanyard.

Lexus? Seriously?

So if you are reading this Erik, thanks again for making them! We were the object of envy for many people on this cruise because of them. I only relished in that a little bit

Erik and Hadley man the badge table

Mat has a bagde, and you don't. Well, unless you're one of the 179 or so DISers.

Time passed quickly and before I knew it they were calling number 2. That’s us! We made our way to the photo op (which we later bought with our free 8x10 pic, thanks to the REAS package) and started for the gangway. Where I started bawling like a baby.

Right before the tears began....

Ok, to be fair, there are a number of reasons for this. First and foremost, I am a little bit of a sap when it comes to sentimental things. Disney cruises are one of Lionel’s and my sentimental things. Therefore, I usually get a little teary as we make our way onto the boat. This time, however, there was more at play. It’s been a rough couple of months at work, as they merged two entire hospital units into a much smaller space and expected us all to get along swimmingly, which surprisingly (can you taste the sarcasm?) did not happen. Also, I’ve had some health issues as of late. Mind you, it’s nothing that will really hurt me, but enough to require a few unpleasant procedures and a surgery. Add that to the fact that Lionel and I have not had an actual week-long vacation together since we got married, and you come up with many tears.

I cried on the gangway. I cried after I got into the lobby. I cried on the way to the buffet. And, while declaring that I was not going to cry any more, I started crying again at the table in Parrot Cay, right into my salad. This vacation was off to a rip-roaring start!

Next up: DIS meet, sailing away, and being chased by the police!

 

[Tink rules]

And we're glad you did!

Can't wait to read about your adventures.

.

And after reading your trip reports, I can't tell ya how happy I am!!! Looking forward to meeting y'all in September '09 and if you get to the bar before me, mine's anything alcoholic 'n fruity with a cherry on the side...

OH... Erica... you are just going to fall in love with everyone from the WB Repo!!! They are just such incredible people!!!

Hey Jackie.... Should we break it to her about the CHAMPAGNE GIRLS????

 

[podsnel]

OK- I am teary because I'm so happy for you!!! I admit it- I am a HUGE SAP!!!!! Anyway....

SOOOOO excited to read your TR!!!!!! Go on, word woman!!! Do your thing!!

 

[Mozart]

I cried on the gangway. I cried after I got into the lobby. I cried on the way to the buffet. And, while declaring that I was not going to cry any more, I started crying again at the table in Parrot Cay, right into my salad. This vacation was off to a rip-roaring start!

Next up: DIS meet, sailing away, and being chased by the police!

Pathetic. Get a grip, girl.

 

[CrazyZeus1]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who cries! I cried again when we saw the Magic as we drove closer to port...I cried when they said "The Williams Family!" as we boarded the boat...I cried when they blew the horn at the sail away party....i'm such a SAP!!! Love your TR..more, more, more!

 

[nenner1]

We got a 5 boarding card too.
I tried to bring along my 2 or even my 3 from last year but I couldn't find 'em.

What?!?!You can't reuse them on every cruise? Humph, who knew!

 

[Tink rules]

Erica... very good beginning!!!

I'm already crying along with you!!!

(sorry mozart...)