Journal Through Panama Canal

[calmom]

Also, forgot to report the Coast-to-Coast sleepover they did in the club. All ages had a sleepover, each in different areas. Our three older boys did it, and liked it (although were a mess later!).
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[Joy2theWorld]

Thanks for the information! I heard about a few "scares" in Cabo. I am a good swimmer and still don't trust myself from what I heard, but DH is not and he is the one that tries to venture out to see fish and such. I'm going to have to keep him on shore.

 

[Joan1]

Did you like the Westin in PV? We are thinking of doing the same thing and was wondering wether to just pay for the use of their facilities or was having a room worth it?

 

[calmom]

Did you like the Westin in PV? We are thinking of doing the same thing and was wondering wether to just pay for the use of their facilities or was having a room worth it?

Having a room was half the fun for us. We had a beautiful view with a balcony (didn't have a balcony on the ship). Also, was able to take a nice shower and bath as the bathroom was awesome. It also was very big so easy to bath the 4 boys and get them ready for dinner. So we could go straight from the beach to dinner without having to go back to our cabin on the ship to get ready. Saved some time.

Also, our rate was pretty good so I wouldn't think the rate for using just the facility would be much less. That being said, we never looked into that rate so not sure.

The hotel is VERY close. You can see it from the ship. It looks like you could just walk there, but you can't as you can't go straight there. The taxi ride was about 5-10 minutes. It was $10 to get there, $6 to get back.
Lisa

 

[Joan1]

Having a room was half the fun for us. We had a beautiful view with a balcony (didn't have a balcony on the ship). Also, was able to take a nice shower and bath as the bathroom was awesome. It also was very big so easy to bath the 4 boys and get them ready for dinner. So we could go straight from the beach to dinner without having to go back to our cabin on the ship to get ready. Saved some time.

Also, our rate was pretty good so I wouldn't think the rate for using just the facility would be much less. That being said, we never looked into that rate so not sure.

The hotel is VERY close. You can see it from the ship. It looks like you could just walk there, but you can't as you can't go straight there. The taxi ride was about 5-10 minutes. It was $10 to get there, $6 to get back.
Lisa

Thanks - you can use the facilities for $15 per person but without the room of course - I can see where the room would come in handy to get ready for the evening if you are staying all day, thanks

 

[sue l]

Hi,

We were on the cruise as well and had a great time. Can you tell me where I might get all the cool images people had on their cabin doors. I would love to have some of them. Please let me know. Thansk Sue L

I'm trying to download a photo of the welcome gift - and it keeps timing out. It is a map of the cruise stops - about the size of a dinner placemat. It is nice.

We got to the port around 9:45am. DH stayed out with the luggage and a couple kids and I went inside. I got number 2. Once on board, we went straight to Palo's and got our brunch, no problem. The sailaway party was as usual. Ricky Kalmon is on tonight. The shows listed:
1) Welcome Aboard
2) Ricky Kalmon
3) Golden Mickeys
4) When Mickey Dreams
5) Kevin Johnson
6) Scott Record
7) Twice Charmed
8) Art of the Story
9) Los Caporales Festival Folklorico
10) Joey Fatone and Alphonso Ribeiro
11) Crew Talent SHow
12) Mike Super
13) Enchanted
14) Remember the magic

 

[Joan1]

Having a room was half the fun for us. We had a beautiful view with a balcony (didn't have a balcony on the ship). Also, was able to take a nice shower and bath as the bathroom was awesome. It also was very big so easy to bath the 4 boys and get them ready for dinner. So we could go straight from the beach to dinner without having to go back to our cabin on the ship to get ready. Saved some time.

Also, our rate was pretty good so I wouldn't think the rate for using just the facility would be much less. That being said, we never looked into that rate so not sure.

The hotel is VERY close. You can see it from the ship. It looks like you could just walk there, but you can't as you can't go straight there. The taxi ride was about 5-10 minutes. It was $10 to get there, $6 to get back.
Lisa

Thanks for the info - I have reserved a room for the day as it wasn't much more then what it would have cost to just use the facilities.

Did they let you have the room early in the day? The reservation says check in is at 3pm. I have put in a request for early check in but just wondering what your experience was

Thanks again

 

[Rand0mTh0ughts]

So excited! Thanks for report! We are on the east bound and I am so excited!

How did the meals work? Did each night have the same menu in all of the restaurants? Did they did the restaurant specific menu rotation?

Thanks!

 

[littleaussie]

Hi Lisa!
It was great to meet your family during the cruise! I enjoyed the ventriloquist show when your oldest participated in it. And the talent show was fun to watch with your boys' skits!
Glad you had a good time, we did too!

Take care,

 

[calif disney 1]

I am so bummed, we wanted to go on this trip sooooo bad, but just could not make it happen this year...can somebody please send me the link that sounds the Magics horn.........so I can at least hear it and wish upon a star.......thanks

 

[RLccweems]

 

[tadsdaddy]

Thanks for the information! I heard about a few "scares" in Cabo. I am a good swimmer and still don't trust myself from what I heard, but DH is not and he is the one that tries to venture out to see fish and such. I'm going to have to keep him on shore.

Speaking of beach "scares," be careful at the "Acapulco Beach Break" or if you go to El Morro beach at all.

The beach was fairly steep and the current was strong in and out (but not side to side). Every eighth or ninth wave in was much bigger for the next two or three waves. This made it fun and a little scary for my 12, 13, and 15 year olds, but dangerous for younger kids. We all got tossed a few times, but a young boy and his Dad who was trying to help him really got hammered to the point where myself and others rushed in to help them. To their credit, a site employee got to the boy very quickly and he was better off than I thought he would be after I saw this wave land on him and slam him down face first. Dad was relatively okay too, but I don't think either got back in the water.

Basically, the outbound current from the first big wave prevents one from escaping up the beach from the next big wave. It would have been better and easier if they dove into the wave.

On the bright side, Ducky Williams was on this excursion with his traveling friends, but we didn't say more than hello. They also had jet skis and parasailing nearby.

From Disney Web site:
Acapulco Beach Break
Retreat to Acapulco's stunning El Morro beach for an unforgettable excursion awash in sun, sand and surf.

 

[fourmcds]

Lisa....love your TR!!! You write just like I would if I wasn't so lazy I dreamed of writing a TR for this cruise, and in my sleep it was great

It was a great cruise....just wish I had more time to get to hang with everyone more.

Glad your birthday was such a wonderful day....enjoyed spending just a bit of it with you.

And, your boys are very handsome and so wonderfully behaved....

 

[amesmom]

Having a room was half the fun for us. We had a beautiful view with a balcony (didn't have a balcony on the ship). Also, was able to take a nice shower and bath as the bathroom was awesome. It also was very big so easy to bath the 4 boys and get them ready for dinner. So we could go straight from the beach to dinner without having to go back to our cabin on the ship to get ready. Saved some time.

Also, our rate was pretty good so I wouldn't think the rate for using just the facility would be much less. That being said, we never looked into that rate so not sure.

The hotel is VERY close. You can see it from the ship. It looks like you could just walk there, but you can't as you can't go straight there. The taxi ride was about 5-10 minutes. It was $10 to get there, $6 to get back.
Lisa

Hi, Lisa. We did the same thing in Aruba and Acapulco at the Hyatt. The Hyatt Aruba is amazing and we had a wonderful beach/pool day. The shower was heaven compared to the showers in the staterooms, and we were able to go back to the ship refreshed rather than hot and tired. The Acapulco Hyatt was just OK, but I don't know what else we would have done in Acapulco. That port didn't appeal to us at all.

 

[calmom]

Hi,

We were on the cruise as well and had a great time. Can you tell me where I might get all the cool images people had on their cabin doors. I would love to have some of them. Please let me know. Thansk Sue L

Do you mean the magnets? If you post on our meet thread, I'm sure people would post their magnets. Everyone has different ones, and mostly with their names on it. Let me know if that is what you mean and I can post a couple.

 

[calmom]

Thanks for the info - I have reserved a room for the day as it wasn't much more then what it would have cost to just use the facilities.

Did they let you have the room early in the day? The reservation says check in is at 3pm. I have put in a request for early check in but just wondering what your experience was

Thanks again

Yes, we could check in early. I just said "any room" and it was ready I think around noon. Not terribly early, but before 3pm. If I did it again, I'd email them as well to make sure they had my request.

 

[calmom]

So excited! Thanks for report! We are on the east bound and I am so excited!

How did the meals work? Did each night have the same menu in all of the restaurants? Did they did the restaurant specific menu rotation?

Thanks!

Different every night! Someone just posted the navigators on the main thread which listed the rotation. Some nights all restaurants had the same, other nights specific to the restaurant. It was great. I asked to keep several of the menus, especially the Panama Canal Crossing one (which was specific to our cruise). The California Cuisine night wasn't the best...but most everything was great.

 

[calmom]

Hi Lisa!
It was great to meet your family during the cruise! I enjoyed the ventriloquist show when your oldest participated in it. And the talent show was fun to watch with your boys' skits!
Glad you had a good time, we did too!

Take care,

I love reading your report! It was great to meet you as well. I wish the boys were up to doing the dance with the girls...they got "shy" being the only boys!

The girls were great - that was a great dance rotation.

 

[calmom]

Lisa....love your TR!!! You write just like I would if I wasn't so lazy I dreamed of writing a TR for this cruise, and in my sleep it was great

It was a great cruise....just wish I had more time to get to hang with everyone more.

Glad your birthday was such a wonderful day....enjoyed spending just a bit of it with you.

And, your boys are very handsome and so wonderfully behaved....

It was so great hanging out with you on my b-day passing through the first locks! I wish I had more time to hang out with all the great people from DIS, but with the family, we were pretty tapped (as I'm sure most with young ones can relate). It was the BEST cruise. I have so much more I'd like to say about the cruise, but am quite lazy myself!
Lisa

 

[calmom]

Hi, Lisa. We did the same thing in Aruba and Acapulco at the Hyatt. The Hyatt Aruba is amazing and we had a wonderful beach/pool day. The shower was heaven compared to the showers in the staterooms, and we were able to go back to the ship refreshed rather than hot and tired. The Acapulco Hyatt was just OK, but I don't know what else we would have done in Acapulco. That port didn't appeal to us at all.

I wish we did a hotel in Acapulco...Owen was determined to see the divers. We went back to the ship pretty early.