Hey all!
I was afraid to get the internet package onboard, as I thought I would spend too much time there. So, I will post some thoughts now.
A couple of things - our waiter indicated he would be making a speech about service. We told him he didn't need to make it, so he didn't. I appreciated him letting us know it was coming so we could cancel it. We also found out on the last night that his father was in a serious accident in India the week before. He was departing the Magic today to try to be with him. The main concern was for his father's vision. Knowing that he provided the excellent service he did while he was probably more concerned about his father, showed us even more of his professionalism and his excellence.
Castaway Cay - We took some pictures at the dock, and they look like they were taken at night, due to all the dark clouds. Just as our family got off the the tram from the ship, the skies opened up. DW and DD's headed back to the ship to partake in all the new activities on board. I continued to explore the island. All beaches were closed, so I wound up walking down the runway to Serenity Bay (Beach?) in the rain. I think the Tram operator didn't want to be driving in those conditions. I had lunch there (it was a bit soggy) and took some pictures of the empty beaches.
I took the tram back, and went into She Sells. The place was hoping, but they were also in the process of shutting down. The same staff works Mickey Mates / Treasury Ketch, and they made the decision to open the shops on board (where there were more people to buy things). The skies cleared and the beaches were finally being opened. The life guards indicated the snorkel area would probably not be opened, and if it was, it probably would not be good snorkeling. I decided to head back to the ship and found my family just coming back from doing the Toad Race. They tried on the t-shirts I purchased, and I needed to go back to Sea Sells to do an exchange (never let a man do the shopping!). I rushed back, and they were trying to get the last customers out. They were nice enough to let me do the exchange, and they locked up as I left. We all wound up on the same tram back to the ship.
Ironically, by this time, the day was beautiful, and the beach was starting to fill up. However talking to a lot of people, they made alternative arrangements for the day, and didn't venture out again.
Damage from the Hurricanes - a portion of the walkway immediately from the ship (almost in front of the Post office) was gone. You could see how the ocean had eroded the land underneath it, and had crumbled it. The missing piece now had sand, so no concerns about walking there. I couldn't figure out at first why there was sand in the middle of the walk.
The trip was wonderful, even with the rain. We had done well to avoid it up to then. On one sea day, we were cruising next to another ship. They kept going in and out of rain storms, while we stayed dry.
Jeff brought a bubble machine to the first deck party. You could find our group very easily. As we docked in Cozumel next to another ship (it seemed like it was only twenty feet away), I could see bubbles coming from deck 8. Jeff was blowing bubbles to the other ship.
Enough for now. We have to dress for dinner...
Oops, just remembered, we aren't on board anymore.
: now all that is left is the report and pictures!
