January Thaw cruise/Eastern January 19th/vow renewal

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Thank you....I have had a blast reading everyone elses, I felt it was the least I could do was to write one myself.


cheryl

 

[DMMarla07860]

nice trip report, love reading it

 

[chepic]

Tues morning came and we pulled into St. Martin. I couldn't wait to stick my feet into the sand and just relax.

We head up to the top deck to eat and collect our posse before we disembark. We all get together and the goal is to go to Cupacoy, were one of our party promised us a great beach with a bar tucked into the side of a rock. We find a taxi....2 actually, and climb in. BE AWARE...the rate on the board said $7 if there were more than 6 people, and when we got to the beach they tried to charge $8 per person....

Anyway, the taxi drivers convince us that Cupacoy was not a great beach for the kids, and we went to ?Mullett? beach which was a short walk from Cupacoy. What a great little beach. They had chairs and umbrellas to rent for $5 each, and because we were such a large group he took off $15.00....well, he never came back with Greg's change, so we really didn't get the bargain....BE AWARE....always have correct change.

A view from the water. Anyway, the beach was very nice, had some good waves for the kids to ride in, but generally rather calm. There was a little reef near by that the guys went and snorkled...

And they did have a local person set up a bar and food....very slow....but good prices. We only encountered 2 topless women where we were. However when walking over to Cupacoy area, the clothing was increasing less. Anyway...the taxi said they would need to pick us up by 2:30-3:00 so they would not get caught in traffic. At first we were not that happy and we considered not using them and taking the 10 minute walk to the nearest hotel to flag someone, but I am glad that we changed our minds....BE AWARE....traffic apparently becomes horrific after 3:30 on the island, so pre-think where you will be. We chatted with a local and they said it has to do with a draw bridge to let boats in the harbor.

So the taxi came and got us....dirt, wet suits, and all our bags. The taxi guy was ripped that we were wet?!?!?! I don't know, we are coming off a beach, you pick up people at a beach, wouldn't you buy a vehicle that has non-cloth seats? Anyway, we put towels everywhere, they brushed everyone's feet off with a broom, and away we went.

 

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Back at the pier, we bought our guavaberry jam and saw the same bag that we bought on the beach for a "bargain" at $15 (instead of $20) for $10..... but I quickly got over that!!!! We hopped back on the boat to shower down and clean up. Dave got back off the boat and met some of the other adults at the bar that was set up. Trish and Stacie had the mudslides that were 2 for 1 (they did not realize this at first and ordered 2 each ending up with 4) Max and I stayed on board and went to go to shutters to see our pictures....well imagine our surprise when we spy Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and the set up for Jack Sparrow. We book it back to deck 6, get my camera and autograph book and run back to get in line. We were lucky, only about 10 people in front of us....BUT...no Dad and Max is not in costume....we would just have to improvise.

We then run back up to the cabin to get dressed, Dad arrives just in time....looking a bit shnookered....and gets ready. We meet all of our group tonight at the dining room and I believe we all look preeettty scary.

Dave is the "pirate" on the left, Tim is on the right.

The menu was fantastic and I got the crab cake, and the fried banana....

From that night on, Max called all the salads, Mr. Smee's salad....good thing the waiters follow you so Gede knew what to get!!!

And of course for dessert, Max got the Chocolate Mickey...

After dinner we walked around, got some more signatures and the boys decided that they had enough and had to go to bed.....What, I was to miss fireworks again....(throughout my 20 years of marriage and multiple trips to Disney I have only actually witnessed 4 fireworks displays due to someone's inability to stay awake) So I grabbed my camcorder and camera and went up onto deck 10 so I could tape the display for my family. I met up with Tim, Mark and the kids...apparently Dave wasn't the only one who was tired....and enjoyed a great show.

I tumble into bed happy, with a Disney smile on my face.....Next Day....St. Thomas!!!!!! A day never to be forgotten.

 

[Morgan4]

Love your TR, keep it comming.

What happens in St Thomas!?!

 

[fairfax]

Great TR and awesome pictures! It makes me homesick for the Magic!

 

[pjstevens]

I just found your TR and I can't wait to read more (and see more). I think I talked dh into a vow renewal on a disney cruise in september. I am so excited. I want to hear it all.

 

[chepic]

Morgan, fairfax, and pjstevens: Thank you for reading and commenting....it's nice to know someone is getting info from me instead of me getting info from everyone else.

 

[chepic]

Wednesday everyone wakes up moaning and groaning...why do we have to go through customs after Pirate night, why oh why. I just made my 2 men get their butts up, pack all the things for our private excursion and head down stairs. I must say that the whole process was quick and painless. Also, they had a continental style breakfast set up. It was great, we took a bunch of the individual cereal packets to munch on for the day on the boat. Excellent and cheap snacking for kids, and adults too!!!

Now, I had read somewhere here on the Dis that Disney lets their excursions off first. I called my consierge person and told her that we needed to get off the boat right away because obviously we wanted to spend as much time on the boat ride as possible. David and I had the wonderful experience of riding on the Stormy Petrel about 17 years ago when we went to St. Thomas. They take you all around St. John and the British Virgin Islands, you get to snorkel and lay at the beach for a bit, and see lots of things in one day. So whe we knew we were going to St. Thomas, I googled the name and found that the company still existed and would do a private tour....the boat holds 12 people and comes with a fully stocked bar. We booked it, this time on the sister boat, Pirates Penny. Well as the cruise got closer we saw that we would have to tender in. So me with my obsessive compulsive travel issues, I start to panic I called the company and he said to make certain that we were the first one's off because we should alot 1 hour to get to Red Hook depending upon traffic.

Well, Florenca agreed that Disney people do get off first, but do our best to be first in line.

Here is a shot as we were pulling in....of course I was up at 5:00 am!!

So anyway, I get our 11 person group together as we exit out of Immigration and we all gobbled our food and ran up to the theater to get in line. A nice CM told us that we had about 40 minutes before they would begin giving numbers, but we would need to all be there. So, Stacie....who did not bring her stuff with her....had to run back to her room to get their things.....O.K.....calm down.....we have time....

Then another CM comes over and states that they are going to start in 10-15 minutes. So panic driven me, freaks and calls Stacies cabin and yells...."Get down here NOW" So she rushes, we get in line and we are the first Tender off the boat!!!!!!! Yeah!!!

We get a cab that can take us to Red Hook....$10 per person each way.....and we take the winding, wrong side of the road ride to the boat. I took about 45 minutes to get there.

A view from the tender.

A beautiful rainbow....it had rained there earlier.

Next up, we get to the dock and some fun begins.

 

[bertalander]

I am loving your TR. And I totally remember seeing you guys around the ship more than just the Capt Jack line!! How fun.

 

[pjstevens]

another great update!!!

 

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So we get to the boat with about 15 minutes to spare, so the captain has us get on board to discuss where it is we want to go, and what we want to do. Capt. Rick also tells us that he will be able to drop us off where the tender is to give us an extra hour on the boat!!!!!! What a great captain he was.

We leave Red Hook and head to St. John and our first stop to snorkle and swim. The water was perfect, and the fish were plentiful....

Max getting wet as we book out to the island.

SHARK!!!

He took us to a couple of different reef areas where the guys went off to explore and we stayed close to the boat with the kids to swim. The first mate, Amanda, was great with the kids. She took them to shore to collect shells. We were able to cannonball off the front, and we saw lots of terrific stuff!!!!

We also go to see ****ee rock, apparently the home of the ****ee Bird. The kids...and adults....got a laugh with that one.

We had lots of yummy rum tropical punch. OOOOO it was good.

that's me floating and sipping....DON'T GET THE DRINK!!!!!

captain Rick let the kids have a chance at the helm....some were better at it than others.

Kenny Chesney's house on St. John

We had to rush to get back in time for the last tender.....he was cranking. We arrived with 10 minutes to spare, however not without me...the ever worrier...that we wouldn't make it.

As we sat ready to pull out of the tender spot, a young man came running to stop us, as his wife/girlfriend walked behind him. Of course we all cheered.

So onto the boat we went to change for dinner and then relax before the big day tommorrow....vow renewal day.....

but would we really relax????? You will have to wait to see.

 

[chepic]

I am loving your TR. And I totally remember seeing you guys around the ship more than just the Capt Jack line!! How fun.

It's funny reading all these TR's from our cruises and seeing other people's pictures, because I remember seeing familiar faces. What a hoot.

cheryl

 

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O.K., so we all make it back and can't wait to talk to the rest of our group to see what they did that day.....all went to Megan's Bay.....we ate at Lumieres which was very nice, and again, had great rolls. I was soooooo tired from all the sun, and the boat was heading out again at a pretty good clip that the rocking was slowly putting me to sleep.

I told my friend Sue (the one with the 3 boys) to leave them with me and Max in our cabin and I would watch them while they went for a drink. Also, Tim, Greg, and Frank were going to take Dave out for a "bachelor" party. They had strict instructions to bring him back in one piece and that he should be capable of performing the next day....we had lots planned!!! And I wanted to go out the next night dancing and what not. I was assured that they would take good care of him.

Meanwhile, back in my cabin, the kids are all out cold...or so I thought....I sent the 2 girls to go out and have fun (10 and 12 y.o. nieces) because I could certainly handle 4 sleeping boys. Well, as I said, I had lots of rum punches and the boat was gently rocking....next thing I know I hear Sue and Mark laughing hysterically from my open cabin door. Their 4 y.o. had gotten up and opened it when they knocked.. ..some babysitter I turned out to be. I swear...I only closed my eyes for 5 minutes tops....we were watching Cinderella and wwweeeelllllll. What can you do.

So now it is 11:00 and no Dave. Max and I are asleep on the bed when I hear a loud bang that jolts me up, and 3 giggling boys....I mean men. Greg and Tim are yelling....IT'S NOT OUR FAULT, WE DIDN'T DO IT....Didn't do what? My husband has a shine on him that could have been used as a beacon in a fog. What is going on.....it's 2:00am. Well, apparently it was 70's night and my husband decided that he would show off his age and moves...he's 43. Somewhere along the way he was dressed as Kong-Fu-Fighter, the Cop from the Village people, a Russian dancer, and God only knows what else. Apparently he was the life of the party. And did any of them have a camera on them.....NNNNNOOOOOO. Although, a woman that Greg had met did snap a few shots of him, I am hoping that she will remember to e-mail them to us. Otherwise, there is no proof. Although the next day on deck a Chinese man approached Dave and said "oo you the kong fu guy." and laughed as he walked away. All I can say is it's a good thing I love him.

Thurs. morning brings a hangover, the spa, and our pledge of love for another 20 years.

 

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This is Dave in the morning. I had to force him up so that we could go to breakfast....of course he he got an egg sandwich and a coke....I forgot my ginger chews at home, so he had to make due.....and then we went to go to the deck to lie in the sun for a few minutes. We get there and Tim and Greg start giggling. Of course, I get the play by play....first they were on the dance floor when a person in an afro-wig grabs Dave and brings him in the back. He comes out in a "Fung Foo Fighter" outfit and starts to dance. Then they give him the cop hat and he does the YMCA, then they start to play one fast song after another and he starts to do this Russian kick thing with his arms crossed with his bottom hitting the stage.....the 2 of them were laughing so hard, they couldn't quite get it all out. Then the girl that Greg hooked up with comes over and shows me the 3 pictures she took....I couldn't see too well with the glare of the sun but it was funny.

He tells me he needs to lie down for a while and goes back to the cabin, Max goes to the kids club to learn how to be a detective, and then later how to work in the Monster Scare Lab. I go and deliver all my Dis-candy and postcards to the fish extender people. (I was going to put stamps on them, however they needed cash and I only had my Key to the World card!!!! Make certain you have cash to buy stamps for Cast-a-way Cay post office)

I finally get Dave up because we have a spa villa schedule to pamper us on this wonderful day......he wasn't getting up!!!! I told him I was going to get Trish to take his place if he didn't move his behind up; so I go on deck to find Trish, when the love of my life finds me by the pool...

Off to the spa.

He just can't take it!!!!

Me in the tub.

The reports are correct, you can see into the tub area if you are leaning over the deck above. However there are quite a few curtains that can be drawn to give you the utmost privacy.

Dave post massage. She told him that he had a lot of issues!!!!!! I wonder why????

We sat down on the wonderful couch/lounger and look what we saw; a Mickey profile in the clouds above....do you think they put them up there somehow???

the delicious fruit tray they bring to you when you are all done, relaxing on the deck.

The experience was wonderful, even though it was truely expensive, but really, aren't we worth it?

So then it is off to the club to get Max. We get back in time for more Fun in the Sun with Goofy.....Max loved this.

Max is all the way behind Goofy in the one-piece blue suit....look how good his push-up is. I give Goofy alot of credit, it sure must be hot in that suit!!!

We get the seafood lunch buffet...although Dave just wants to lie down?!?

I then leave to get my hair done, Trish meets me there. What a beautiful job they did.

Soon, I will be walking down an aisle again....every girl's dream, to marry prince charming again...

My prince!!!!!!

 

[Bethipooh4]

awesome TR!!!

Sorry I haven't been posting more, first my router went out, then it took out my wireless card in my computer as a added insult. So I am online for now, barely....the computer needs CPR.

Keep up the great job, and I love the pics.

 

[LITTLEKID58]

Awesome.. TR ... TFS

 

[chepic]

awesome TR!!!

Sorry I haven't been posting more, first my router went out, then it took out my wireless card in my computer as a added insult. So I am online for now, barely....the computer needs CPR.

Keep up the great job, and I love the pics.

Thank you....I hope you revive your computer soon. Just kick it, that always works for me....ooops sorry that is to revive Dave.

che

 

[chepic]

Awesome.. TR ... TFS

Thank you, here comes the next part now.

che

 

[chepic]

So Florencia comes and drops off my gown, the flowers, and a good luck hug....have I said that she was truely the best!!!...and says that someone will be coming by to pick me and the other girls up. Dave and Max need to make their way to Sessions by 5:10.

they leave and the girls come in and we get them ready.

We were picked up by Florencia's helper and brought through the back to Sessions. It was all so mysterious. Then the pianist began to play When you Wish Upon A Star.....which always brings a tear to my eye, and Max walked out. They had created an aisle to walk, that was sprinkled with rose petals. As I said I ended up caving in for the lowest priced picture package, so just like the first time I got married, everyone had to stop and get their picture taken. I ended up having Max as a "ring boy", 2 flower girls (which we didn't have at our wedding), Trish as my matron of honor, and her son Jake walked me in. It was all very romantic and memorable. We exchanged rings and vows with a very stern faced Captain Thord presiding over us. He then asked if we would like to say anything to each other on a personal note, I yelled out NO!!!! Capt. Thord looked at Dave, expecting something from him. I just wanted to yell out....This in NOT Days of Our Lives....

The pianist continued to play all the Disney songs I picked out, Dave and I danced to Clint Black's "It's something that we do", and then toasted to more great years together. The cake was fantastic...chocolate with strawberry mousse inside...and of course with Mickey and Minni on top. The chef was trying a new style and made it square versus round, so if you do renew your vows, and see the cake in the book, it is ours!!!!

Dave, Tim and Captain Thord

my flowers

Stacie had all the kids lie in the port hole that Tim had fallen asleep in the first night of the cruise.

Mine and Tricia's hair.

It was soooooo wonderful to do this....worth every penny. All our guests were sent invitations to their staterooms, we all got to spend some time together with the Captain, shared in the joy of each other's company.....then we sent the kids to the club so we could go eat at Palo!!!!!!!!!!!!!