Inaugural Eastern Caribbean - Disney Fantasy - 4/21 - 4/28

[Donald_Quackers]

Disney Fantasy Inaugural Eastern Caribbean, April 21st through April 28th (with paying customers, anyway) – A Fantasy come true!

Cast - Me, myself, and I (and a bunch of DisBoard'ers)

April 20th

Well, the day has arrived to fly out to Orlando and board the Disney Fantasy! April 20th, and my Mother and I board our flight, which will make a stop in Pittsburgh before going on to Orlando. The first leg was just fine, but the second part, a storm system hit Orlando and caused a delay for us to take off, not to say the least of the turbulence as we were landing, but it turned out ok.

We got off the tram from the gate area and met my sister outside security about an hour late. We get our luggage, pack up her car, and head to her house were we get everything out and pick up the kids to go eat at Rainforest at DTD, as well as renewing my Mother’s Annual pass.

I found it hard to go to sleep that night knowing that I'd be on the ship the next day.

April 21st – Boarding the ship

A good meal and sleep later, and it’s the morning of the cruise. We load up my BIL’s truck and head out to the port where I get my first look at the Fantasy and they drop me off. After handing my luggage off to a porter, I go through the checkpoint, security, and the health questionnaire, followed by checking in. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the KTTW cards had changed…they have Captain Mickey mouse on them instead of Goofy for Castaway Club members (I don’t know if it was the same card for everyone or not). They were already boarding and I got boarding number 5 despite getting there after 11:30am and I was able to go board right away.

As soon as I stepped aboard, I was awestruck at how beautiful the atrium was – I’ve seen the photos, but they seem to pale in comparison to the real deal. I head to Cabanas for lunch and bump into my first Disboards friends, susan and her Mother. We walk around Deck 11 for a while and took a tour of the spa until we could get into our staterooms, and I have to say I loved where my stateroom was! A few decks down from Cabanas, 4 decks above Europa making for easy access to food and beer (LOL). My luggage was already waiting for me, so I get it inside and unpack. I never did make it to get Palo Brunch, but that’s just fuel for the next cruise, eh?

After getting settled, I go walk around the ship a little more before our group photo at 3pm, which turned out extremely well, I thought. By the time we were done, I headed back to my room to drop off my tripod and head to my muster station for the drill, which happened to be in the Tube. They scanned my card and I sat down in a section they directed me to and went through the drill. Afterward, I go back to my room to get my camera and head up for the sailaway party. It’s different than the ones on the Wonder/Magic, but still fun in its’ own right. I still got chills hearing the horn the first time, and again as we were going through the channel to the ocean, but this time it played both parts to ‘When you wish…’. By that time, there was a live group playing in the atrium, so I went to enjoy that before going into the theater for the first show. Before going into the theater, I got my first character picture of the cruise with Donald!

Now like the Magic, the first and last night shows are introductory/remembering shows, so they’re nothing to write home about…I’ll probably skip next time (they were also playing Tangled in the Buena Vista Theater). I then get ready for dinner and play around with the on demand video on the stateroom tv – I have to learn to hide the remote!

My rotation is RAERAER (R=Royal Court, A=Animator’s Palate, E=Enchanted Garden), so I headed down to deck 3 and went in the back entrance to Royal Court, which turned out to be a good thing since my table was closest to that door. I met my friends from earlier (I had linked our reservations for dining) and the rest of our tablemates. One couple treated the table to a glass of wine about every night, and Champagne the last night. I really enjoyed getting to know them and bumping into them throughout the ship.

After dinner, I headed to O’Gills to get a mug (didn’t think I could bring my old one – now I know better) and sample the brew they made for the venue, and it wasn’t bad – a nice red ale. I then went to the Tube to watch ‘Match Your Mate’ which was funny and got to meet what I think was one of the most, if not the most, energetic cruise staff I’ve ever seen since Tisa on the Magic/Wonder, Max from Scotland. I was pooped at this point, so I headed back to the room.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

April 22nd – Day at sea

I wake up to an overcast day outside, and it wasn’t something that enticed me to take a picture of, so I get dressed and head up to Cabanas for breakfast. After filling myself, I head down to the Tube for the DVC member celebration. They had some awesome videos and I won a travel document holder, along with what they gave everyone (a hat and a leather notepad holder). I walked around the ship a bit, then did the cabin crawl with the rest of the group -- the rest of the day is kind of a blur until the first show of the cruise. Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular was very cool, especially when they sang ‘Friend Like Me’. After the show, I hung at the Captain’s reception for a bit before heading to dinner in Animator’s Palate, and they had the Crush show going on tonight. What was cool was that he could recognize things we were wearing, for example, one of my tablemates was wearing a necklace, and he told me to loosen my tie (I don’t remember what he called it). I didn’t feel it was too intrusive and had a great time with the other things that were going on the screens when Crush wasn’t by us.

They had Michael Holly doing an adult cabaret in The Tube, but the venue filled up, so Disney was using La Piazza to show what was going on via camera feed. He was funny and walked a tightrope! Afterward, the Tube emptied and I had a drink or two before going up with Julia. After a while we went wandering, took a couple of pics inside Cabanas and walked around deck until about 1am, and then went to bed.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

April 23rd – Second Day at sea
Woke up to another rather overcast day, seas still a little rough, but I enjoyed a little pool/hottub time. Relaxed around the ship, watched some hockey in O’Gill’s and had some ale. I was really looking forward to tonight’s performance, Disney Wishes. I loved all the songs in it, especially the version of “Got no strings”, and afterwards I got a picture with Stitch before heading to dinner at Enchanted Garden.

Afterwards, I met up with Julia in The Tube, had a beer or two, then back to my room. Next stop, St. Maarten!

 

[Donald_Quackers]

April 24th – St. Maarten

Morning arrives and breakfast in Cabanas calls. We’re docking in St. Maarten today and I’ve got a tour with Bernard’s tours. After I eat and we’re given the all clear to disembark, I get my things together and head to meet up with the Bernard’s tours rep. I pay the fee and soon we were headed to the bus. The driver went by the name “Sugar”, was very knowledgeable, personal, and entertaining. He had a cooler in the bus with pop, water, beer, and something he called “happy juice”. I was happy to have some beer. Our first stop was at some farm where there were Ducks and Iguanas, and we fed the Iguanas. There were lots of them around to be had.

We then stopped at this shoreline where someone had gone to the trouble of cleaning up sea shells among other things, and we could grab something for free – he just asked for tips.

After a bit more driving, we stop at Orient beach for an hour. I wasn’t interested in swimming, so I volunteered to watch some friends’ beer while they swam, and was paid with beer (not a bad deal there). I just enjoyed laying on a chair and soaking the sun in. Our next stop was for some shopping in Marigot. I tried to find a t-shirt that a friend needed, but couldn’t find it, even in the shop I saw it in last time I was here. Did some window shopping, and then back to the bus to stop at Maho beach. It was exciting seeing the planes land and take off. Another stop at a local place for more shopping, and I found a music cd that would be perfect for another friend of mine. Back to the ship, and I was surprised to see we were the only ship there today. The locals said there would be three (I think) the next day, which made me wonder if we would be alone in St. Thomas as well.

Tonight’s show was DisneyNature: Chimpanzee, but I wasn’t feeling like watching it, so I went off and watched Cars 2 in the Buena Vista Theater. I see that there was NHL going on in O’Gills, so I head over there before checking out Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean, then went to dinner in Royal Court. After another filling meal, I head up to the pirate party. I loved how Jack Sparrow made his entrance, and the fireworks were as good as you could get at sea. Club Pirate was interesting, along with some great dancing that I’ve not quite seen before.
I finished the night again drinking in The Tube with Julia before going to bed. Next stop, St. Thomas!

 

[Donald_Quackers]

April 25th, St. Thomas

As has been the past couple of days, I woke up around 7 and got breakfast at Cabana’s (love the scrambled eggs!). When we docked at St. Thomas, I was kinda taken aback when we were docked at the farthest spot, but I shouldn’t have, since we were going to be the first ship leaving. I saw a Carnival ship, and then a Royal Caribbean ship coming in, so this would be a busy day. I originally had an excursion planned, but had to cancel it because I didn’t realize I didn’t meet the health requirements. Instead, I decide to try and walk to Charlotte Amalie to do some shopping, but it was about halfway there when I realized I bit off a bit more than I could chew. Fortunately, a taxi stopped and took me the rest of the way, and the driver told me that there was a carnival going on and it would be busy. I start going down Dronnigens Gade, checking out the various shops and looking for something for friends. After heading down an alley back toward the waterfront, I find a t-shirt shop. Going in and looking around, I see a shirt that would be perfect for a friend. It has “Hurricane Evacuation Plan” on it, and on the back it goes: 1. Grab beer, 2. Run like hell.

Having enough of the hullabaloo, I grab a taxi back to the ship. I decide to take a walk and see a swarm of bees up on deck 11, then wind up on the deck 4 promenade as we leave St. Thomas. This is when one of the most magical things happened. I saw that Minnie was lying on a chair interacting with another guest. I wave and continue on. A short while after, I feel like I’m being followed, when I turn I see Minnie looking at me with what I would describe as a look of interest. I offer my arm and we walk arm-in-arm down Deck 4 to the aft elevators which was my destination, having a ‘conversation’ along the way. I SOOO wish I had a camera with me at the time! We then get a photo with Mickey before heading to the theater to see Kevin Johnson, a ventriloquist.

I thought that his act was hilarious and made a note to see his adult act in the Tube the next night. After that, I convince them to come to the Tube to play ‘The Quest’. We didn’t win, but we had a fantastic time, nonetheless.

Tonight was Animator’s Palate, and the new dinner show to the Fantasy, Animation Magic. I draw my character, which I made as a kind of tribute to Charlie Brown, and proceed to enjoy dinner. There was some sort of popcorn soup with a side of caramel popcorn , which I found to be very delicious (I can’t remember the appetizer). When the show came on, it was just exciting seeing what I had drawn come to life like that and I recorded the whole thing. You can see it here.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

April 26th, Day at sea
Well, the last relaxing day at sea – started off as usual by eating breakfast at Cabana’s before going to Meridian for the Art of the Theme Show Tour. Got some great pics of Palo

and Remy, including a $10,000 crystal replica of Remy the rat from Ratatouille, as well as learning a bit more about the ship.

Got to check out the Oceaneer’s club and see the playfloor in action, as well as seeing Pixie Hollow, Andy’s Room with a Mr. Potato Head (Susan had fun moving the eyes and nose around), Monster’s Inc. floor, and a submarine that kids could play with computer stations inside it. Checked out The Tube, Ooh La La, and Skyline, before ending at the Atrium.

Afterward, Susan, her mother, and I go to see Chimpanzee. Very interesting, I liked Tim Allen as the narrator and that he got a few of his trademark grunts in.

By that time it was about noon, so I grabbed something to eat from Flo’s V8 Café on Deck 11 and decided to check out a Disney Animation: Staging a Scene. It was an interesting seminar and got to understand how the point of view can show different things about a scene, like how powerful an opponent can be in a fight, and so forth.

After that I think I just walked around the ship until the 80’s music challenge in O’Gills, where I enjoyed the music, but couldn’t remember many names of the songs/artists, followed by the final jackpot Bingo (the only time I played Bingo this cruise). I think I went back to my room and changed to ride the aquaduck a couple of more times as well as soak in the hot tub before getting ready for tonight’s show, Disney Believe. I thought it was excellent, and the Genie was as good as he was in Wishes. I don’t recall much of what happened between getting out of the show and dinner, other than getting a pic with Daisy,

and then Chip and Dale in their tuxes.

I had another excellent dinner in Enchanted Garden tonight. I wasn’t expecting the room to transition from day to night, thinking like Animator’s Palate on the Magic/Wonder where you have the show, and afterward that’s it. I’m glad I was wrong, because I totally missed when it changed the first time in here. I then went to The Tube to get a good seat and watch Kevin Johnson in his adult cabaret act. He was funny and continued to pick on the two that he chose to focus on in the family shows with Matilda. His “Godzilla theater” routine was excellent.

I then decided to roam the ship and got some nighttime photos up on deck 12 before heading to bed. Next up, Castaway Cay!

 

[OrcaPotter]

Enjoying your trip report! I wish the characters had roamed around like that when I was on the Dream. The Dream was the shortest cruise itinerary I'd ever done, and I know why--too short! Too rushed! It was still a blast, so my family can't wait until we can sail on the Fantasy for what we feel as the "proper" length.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

April 27th, Castaway Cay

Today I got up earlier than normal and got a couple of good sunrise pics from my veranda.

After taking a shower, I went up to Cabanas for breakfast and ate outside after we docked. The ships horns apparently played all the tunes, but I couldn’t hear them from where I was – I was disappointed, but it just means I have to go on another cruise.

When I got off the ship, I bumped into Niki and she was kind enough to take a couple of pictures of me with the Fantasy behind.

I then take the trams over to Serenity Bay, getting a picture of myself in my Donald Duck hat with Donald.

I was going to sit on the beach, but as I looked at the walking trail that led behind the Serenity Bay cabanas, I felt like taking a walk instead. So I strolled along the path, taking pictures along the way until the end, and then I went back to eat.

They had some steak at the adult picnic grotto, where I bumped into my tablemates for dinner. I had dessert with them and then went over to the Air Bar and had a Bahama mama with them. I then went back to the main part of the island and did some shopping before returning to the ship and taking in the hot tub and Aquaduck a couple of more times. I go back to my room and do most of my packing before dinner. I wasn’t planning on going to tonight’s show, so I just watch some movies in my room before heading down to the atrium and got pics of Tiana prior to dinner in Royal Court.


A couple of our tablemates treated the entire table to a glass of champagne, which was cool, and I had another pleasant dinner. Took pictures of our serving staff as well as gave them their tip envelopes.

I wanted to see the “see ya real soon” event in the atrium, which brought a tear when I remembered all the fun I had in the past several days on the ship. But the fun was not over – they were going to do the Cruise staff farewell with “If I were not upon the sea”. In checking the western Fantasy navigator for the 4/14/2012 cruise, this appears to be the first time they were doing this on the Fantasy, so I was excited to be able to see this in person. It was hilarious, and Max was extra funny as the ballerina. Julia had taken a video of it on her youtube page. We drank together afterward, when in comes Kevin Johnson and treats us to a shot of Tequila and coffee (I don’t know its’ name), and we got a picture with him.

Kevin in the back, myself on the left, Julia in the middle, and Susan on the right.

We had an interesting chat with him before we left for our respective cabins.

All in all, I had an awesome time, and it was good to visit St. Maarten and St. Thomas again. I was happy to be seeing my family afterward. After I got picked up by my sister and got to her house, we all got together and went to the MK to spend the day.

My full photo album can be found here.

 

[DMMarla07860]

Love your report. I loved Max, he was so nice. That last night with the shots from Kevin Johnson, was awesome. I want a shot now. I heard Tisa is on the Magic.

 

[catgirl]

Loved your report! Thanks for sharing your photos.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

Love your report. I loved Max, he was so nice. That last night with the shots from Kevin Johnson, was awesome. I want a shot now. I heard Tisa is on the Magic.

I would love to be on the Magic right now...I really liked Twice Charmed...