Halloween Cruise 2004 Trip Report
Part 7: Day 7 and 8 , Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6
Heres the cast: theres me DM Shirley (58), DD Debbie (30), DSIL Paul (39), DGS Hunter (6), DD Beth (36) and DSIL Daryl (30). We were booked in SPH 5520 and inside cabin 5513 which was just down the hall. Me, Debbie, Paul and Hunter were in 5520 and my other daughter Beth and husband Daryl were in 5513.
Today is Castaway Cay day its kind of bittersweet. You love the island but know that tomorrow you must return to the cold, cruel world. We had a beautiful sunny day. Didnt get off the ship until about 10:30 since we had an excursion booked for the Glass Bottom Boat at 11:15 and just didnt want to get too involved in other activities before this.
This excursion was so nice. I had never gone on a glass-bottom boat before so didnt know what to expect. We boarded the boat easily and motored beyond the Magic and just past the islands reef. Saw lots of fish and were able to feed these cool yellow-striped fish that came quickly to the surface for Quaker Instant Oatmeal. The captain had two big containers of the stuff and the fish really like it. He let each of us get a handful to throw to the fish. I think that I was surprised at how rocky the bottom of the sea was. I was expecting just sand but there is lots of coral there.
After returning to the pier, we went to Cookies for lunch and ate at a picnic table in a pavilion. Lots of barbecue choices such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken or ribs. Since the line was long, 2 of us went through the line for the other 2 who saved us a table. This arrangement worked out well.
After eating, we went to the beach and didnt have any problems finding some lounges between the shops and snorkeling equipment rental building. I thought that there might not be any open lounges because we were getting there so late but that wasnt the case. The kids went snorkeling and I held down the fort. There were lots of neat little shells in the sand and I even saw a live hermit crab trying to negotiate the sand dunes. We put him in the vines so that he wouldnt get trampled.
My older daughter and her husband had a reservation to parasail at 3:45 so when they left to go parasailing, we decided to go back to the boat. I tried to get pictures of them parasailing and since they were the last ones to go, I think that I did get their pictures. They said that they could see sharks in the water not near the beach but out beyond the Magic.
At dinner this evening, we handed out our tips and the Head Server Attila earned his tip. My son-in-law had requested a thick New York strip steak and sure enough, Attila came through for him and he got his steak. I kept teasing him that he must have gotten the captains steak that night.
After dinner, we went to see The Incredibles and just loved this movie. The Buena Vista Theater was full, even had some people sitting on the steps. One quick note I had heard an announcement over the intercom yesterday for bright star Buena Vista Theater and this is an announcement for a medical emergency. How do I know? When I walked out of my cabin shortly after the announcement, all of these crew members came rushing out of a Crew Only door with medical equipment and a gurney. Put 2 and 2 together plus checked with a crew member just to be sure. Do hope that person was OK!
Anyway, we completed the packing of our suitcases and put them in the hallway by 11:00. Im astounded that everything fit back into the suitcases. The next morning, we went to breakfast and said our last sad goodbyes to the staff.
Disembarkation went smoothly and we boarded the Radisson shuttle back to the hotel to get our car and start the long trip home. I would love to cruise again soon but will be limited to a 4-day cruise in the next 2 years and maybe the western Caribbean cruise in about 5 years since we will now have to cruise during peak season since Hunter will be in grade school.
Hope that you enjoyed my trip reports I know how much I loved reading the reports before I went on my cruise so I wanted to return the favor. These boards are wonderful and provide so much good information. Until next time .
Part 7: Day 7 and 8 , Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6
Heres the cast: theres me DM Shirley (58), DD Debbie (30), DSIL Paul (39), DGS Hunter (6), DD Beth (36) and DSIL Daryl (30). We were booked in SPH 5520 and inside cabin 5513 which was just down the hall. Me, Debbie, Paul and Hunter were in 5520 and my other daughter Beth and husband Daryl were in 5513.
Today is Castaway Cay day its kind of bittersweet. You love the island but know that tomorrow you must return to the cold, cruel world. We had a beautiful sunny day. Didnt get off the ship until about 10:30 since we had an excursion booked for the Glass Bottom Boat at 11:15 and just didnt want to get too involved in other activities before this.
This excursion was so nice. I had never gone on a glass-bottom boat before so didnt know what to expect. We boarded the boat easily and motored beyond the Magic and just past the islands reef. Saw lots of fish and were able to feed these cool yellow-striped fish that came quickly to the surface for Quaker Instant Oatmeal. The captain had two big containers of the stuff and the fish really like it. He let each of us get a handful to throw to the fish. I think that I was surprised at how rocky the bottom of the sea was. I was expecting just sand but there is lots of coral there.
After returning to the pier, we went to Cookies for lunch and ate at a picnic table in a pavilion. Lots of barbecue choices such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken or ribs. Since the line was long, 2 of us went through the line for the other 2 who saved us a table. This arrangement worked out well.
After eating, we went to the beach and didnt have any problems finding some lounges between the shops and snorkeling equipment rental building. I thought that there might not be any open lounges because we were getting there so late but that wasnt the case. The kids went snorkeling and I held down the fort. There were lots of neat little shells in the sand and I even saw a live hermit crab trying to negotiate the sand dunes. We put him in the vines so that he wouldnt get trampled.
My older daughter and her husband had a reservation to parasail at 3:45 so when they left to go parasailing, we decided to go back to the boat. I tried to get pictures of them parasailing and since they were the last ones to go, I think that I did get their pictures. They said that they could see sharks in the water not near the beach but out beyond the Magic.
At dinner this evening, we handed out our tips and the Head Server Attila earned his tip. My son-in-law had requested a thick New York strip steak and sure enough, Attila came through for him and he got his steak. I kept teasing him that he must have gotten the captains steak that night.
After dinner, we went to see The Incredibles and just loved this movie. The Buena Vista Theater was full, even had some people sitting on the steps. One quick note I had heard an announcement over the intercom yesterday for bright star Buena Vista Theater and this is an announcement for a medical emergency. How do I know? When I walked out of my cabin shortly after the announcement, all of these crew members came rushing out of a Crew Only door with medical equipment and a gurney. Put 2 and 2 together plus checked with a crew member just to be sure. Do hope that person was OK!
Anyway, we completed the packing of our suitcases and put them in the hallway by 11:00. Im astounded that everything fit back into the suitcases. The next morning, we went to breakfast and said our last sad goodbyes to the staff.
Disembarkation went smoothly and we boarded the Radisson shuttle back to the hotel to get our car and start the long trip home. I would love to cruise again soon but will be limited to a 4-day cruise in the next 2 years and maybe the western Caribbean cruise in about 5 years since we will now have to cruise during peak season since Hunter will be in grade school.
Hope that you enjoyed my trip reports I know how much I loved reading the reports before I went on my cruise so I wanted to return the favor. These boards are wonderful and provide so much good information. Until next time .
