"Is It November Yet?" Magic 11/13-20/04 Day 2 & 3 - At Sea

[GrayFal]

Day 2 – Sunday, November 14, 2004 – At Sea

We awoke to a rolling ship ! It was quite rough with white caps and high winds. I believe the TV in our room reported the seas as 10-13 feet. But it was bright, warm and sunny so why complain! I had ordered room service coffee, fruit and muffins to be delivered at 8 a.m., and it was a nice wake-up call. However, I seemed to have FORGOTTEN to actually circle the coffee on the tag so our server delivered that in about 10 minutes!!! I called PALO’s and asked if we could switch our brunch time to 11 a.m. so we could join some friends as they had ‘room’ at their table. I received a call back from ’Gemma’ whose dad posts on the DIS board. She said it was fine so off we went at 11:00 to join our new friends. On the way, I stopped at the Pin Cart on Deck 9 and traded my first 2 pins with the cast members there…no longer a pin virgin! We arrived at PALO and joined Hannosmom and House_Of_Princesses at a booth in the center of the restaurant by the window. Our server was Kristian – he did a wonderful job in giving us a tour of the buffet – and he brought us a few pizza’s to sample including the dessert one ,,,, WOW ,,,, was that great! Ky John and Susan and PoohJen and DH were also enjoying their REAS brunch today. We finished around 12:45 p.m. and promised to meet up later. DH and I relaxed up on Deck 9 by the Quiet Cove Pool - I went in the hot tub, and then I met Hannosmom at Sessions for the wine tasting at 2:30. It was FUN although I think I only liked 2 wines and the champagne! Met DH at 3:30 - he was still up on Deck 9 relaxing and reading; we went back to our cabin and prepared for the show and dinner.

We had received a letter from the concierge team confirming our REAS appointments for the next few days. It was formal night so DH wore his suit and I got dressed up as well. There was a “Play Bill” on the mirror of our stateroom announcing the show as if it were the ‘Academy Awards’. We went to see the Golden Mickey’s at 6:15, which was a great ‘Broadway’ style show at the Walt Disney Theatre. Then into the lobby for the Captains’ Gala – which really wasn’t anything! The best part was seeing everyone dressed up including the crew and ship’s officers. And all the little ‘princesses’ we were traveling with looked beautiful. I imagine you could have stood in line and gotten a photo with the Captain but we didn’t do this. Instead, we took our own formal pictures by the grand staircase and they came out great! After dinner, we went back to Hannosmom’s suite and chatted away. We then moved on to the “Princesses” suite so the girls could be settled into bed. We all decided it is easier to chat with our mouths instead of our fingers on AOL!!! I got back to my cabin at 1:00 a.m. !! Too much Chat! I had my first towel animal this evening…I am unsure of what it was????? But it was cute and I took its picture…the best part was that it was reclining on my neck roll pillow! Good Night…..

Day 3 – Monday, November 15, 2004 – At Sea

I sleep with the curtains open so whenever I wake up, I can see the beautiful sea – I would never be happy with a solid metal balcony. Again ordered room service breakfast using the door hang tag – brought by the same CM, very pleasant and helpful. I called guest services to see if I was supposed to have set my clock ahead but NO, that was not until tonight. Got an extra hour of sleep before my spa appointment at 10:00 a.m. Felicia from Jamaica did my special Spa Manicure/Pedicure – she was really great. I met up with DH on Deck 9 and around 1 p.m. we went to the Asian Buffet at Topsiders. I did not care for the ambiance here – it was like a school cafeteria! We got our food but could not find a place to sit down inside or out…it was very windy (and still rocking) and when we attempted to sit at an outside table, everything blew away. We handed in our trays and proceeded down to Parrot Cay. We had a nice lunch there without weather interference. And although it was also a buffet and had the same food offerings as Topsiders, it was done much nicer then Topsiders. This is the second time I have been to the ‘top deck’ buffet (the first time was on the Wonder) and I would not go again . Back to our cabin, we picked up a bottle of champagne and went to Hannomom’s Suite for Party at 3:30. It was a great turn out – Hannosmom (of course!) & DH, DD chichihoney & Dsis – GrayFal & DH - cjsmom97 & DH and DS’s – KY John and Susan - House_Of_Princesses – PoohJen & DH – TinaRN & DH – feenie & DH. They had LOTS of champagne and nibblies … I think we were the last to leave! At 5:15 DH, chichihoney and I went down to Rockin’ Bar D for the Castaway Club Reception with the Captain and Officers. Had some tropical drinks and nibblies while the Captain told us about repeat cruisers who have sailed with DCL 40 times (Hi Barb & Tony!) Of the 2700 passengers onboard, 700-1000 are repeat cruisers. Hannosmom, DH and Dsis joined us at the end for some tropical drinks and we thanked them for the lovely party.

I had planned to go see “Hercules The Muse-ical” but after our busy afternoon, we decided to nap! I caught a few minutes of the show on TV but then nodded off. Slept until 7:30 and got up to dress for our REAS PALO dinner. We were able to Puerto Rico off to starboard from our stateroom before we left for dinner. We were shown to a lovely table by the window in the center of the room. I ordered a Lemoncello Martini that was VERY good. Kristian, our server from brunch, was at the next table and said hello. Our server tonight was a woman from Norway? who talked way too much. She was pleasant but did not explain the various dishes to us and forgot to put in our order for the pizza appetizer…bummer. And then my steak was tough – but I had a replacement in less than 4 minutes – medium rare and juicy. We of course had the famous soufflé’s for dessert along with Panna Cotta – a sweet creamy custard. As we were eating, we saw the lights of St Thomas in the distance. We were excited to know we would visit there in 2 days after a 20-year absence - it is a very beautiful island.

After dinner, I went to our cabin to mix the Cosmopolitans – and there was our ‘Romantic Turndown’. Loel had arranged rose petals in the shape of a heart and had 2 towel swans nose to nose on the bed – it was beautiful! We again had a lovely time at House_Of_Princesses – DH had missed it yesterday and was very impressed by the splendor! She had the best towel animal – but we couldn’t decide if it was a pig (it had a snout) or a rabbit! It was great to have a place to meet that was big enough and private, too. Not as late a night as last as we were all anticipating our arrival in St Maarten tomorrow morning. After a few moments on the verandah (LOVE IT) it was off to bed….and I remembered to turn the clock ahead!

<a href=http://130.94.75.33/showthread.php?t=689398>Click for Day 4 – St Maarten</a>

 

[JenB]

Did you keep that stickee thing announcing the Golden Mickey's? I kept mine and it's an awesome souviner.
We were one of the 3 people to wait in line for the Captain. I think the line for Pochahontas was longer! Oh, and then dh and I went to shake his hand and it was like shaking a cold, dead fish-blech! You would think a man in charge of this large of ship could have a manly handshake, eh?
Keep it up-I'm lovin' your report!

 

[GrayFal]

Did you keep that stickee thing announcing the Golden Mickey's? I kept mine and it's an awesome souviner.
We were one of the 3 people to wait in line for the Captain. I think the line for Pochahontas was longer! Oh, and then dh and I went to shake his hand and it was like shaking a cold, dead fish-blech! You would think a man in charge of this large of ship could have a manly handshake, eh?
Keep it up-I'm lovin' your report!

I was thinking of keeping the "Mickey" poster but it was gone the next day!!!! But I did get a great picture of it that I will post a link to! <a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAtmzho3ZNWJu">Gold Mickeys' Poster</a>

I didn't even look for the Captain that evening it was sooooo busy in the atrium but here is a picture from the Castaway Cay Reception with my friend Sarah. <a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAtmzho3ZNWJ_">Captain Tom</a>

 

[chichihoney]

i have the golden mickeys

 

[PoohJen]

Great report Pat, I love the narrative and descriptions!

Yes, Topsiders is too cafeteria-like, and the food there, in all honesty, was not good (with a few exceptions - like the flan!). We never ate at a restaurant for lunch, because Topsiders was easier with the kids, as their main focus was the pools! At least that will be something new for us to try next time!

And I LOVED my verandah! I too slept with the curtains open. Too many mornings I went into our other room to find DH and two of the boys (not morning people) sound asleep in the dark room with the curtains shut. HEY! I'm paying for that view, and you're gonna wake up and enjoy it!!!!

P.S. we felt like royalty when visiting the Roy O. Disney suite - thanks House of Princesses!!!

 

[Hannosmom]

I had planned to go see “Hercules The Muse-ical” but after our busy afternoon, we decided to nap!

D'oh! I knew I forgot to do something on this cruise, I forgot to nap! No wonder you were so perky and chipper at dinner!

I feel the same about Topsiders, so I don't eat there at all. But I do love the chicken fingers, hamburgers, and tacos at Pluto's! Their hamburgers are the best (that must be a magical drawer they get those burgers from, LOL!).

 

[GrayFal]

D'oh! I knew I forgot to do something on this cruise, I forgot to nap! No wonder you were so perky and chipper at dinner!

My secret is out !

i have the golden mickeys

I wish I did

I feel the same about Topsiders, so I don't eat there at all. But I do love the chicken fingers, hamburgers, and tacos at Pluto's! Their hamburgers are the best (that must be a magical drawer they get those burgers from, LOL!).

We LOVED the food at Pluto's. How do they make those 'drawer burgers' taste so good. And now you know my trick of putting the guacamole on the burgers....YUMMY

Great report Pat, I love the narrative and descriptions!

Yes, Topsiders is too cafeteria-like, and the food there, in all honesty, was not good (with a few exceptions - like the flan!).

And I LOVED my verandah! I too slept with the curtains open.

P.S. we felt like royalty when visiting the Roy O. Disney suite -

Ditto!!!!

 

[natdencro]

So glad Gemma managed to get you a place at PALO as requested. We are hoping that she will do the same for us (parents) very soon. Loved your report! Nat