July 18 Tortola cruise part 3

[BomaGreg]

They really need to redo Topsiders somehow. It's so out of place with the rest of the fantastic-looking ship. It almost feels dirty by comparison, and I always feel like people are beating me up to get food there.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

They really need to redo Topsiders somehow. It's so out of place with the rest of the fantastic-looking ship. It almost feels dirty by comparison, and I always feel like people are beating me up to get food there.

I think it looks clean, it's just so crowded and combattive. It kind of feels the way DTD did yesterday.

At this point, after a week of frozen veggie burgers and salads, though, even Topsiders sounds lovely.

 

[BomaGreg]

I think it looks clean, it's just so crowded and combattive. It kind of feels the way DTD did yesterday.

At this point, after a week of frozen veggie burgers and salads, though, even Topsiders sounds lovely.

It's not that I think it's ACTUALLY dirty. But Topsiders in comparison to the rest of the ship feels... I don't know... sort of drab, like it needs a quick makeover or something. On any other ship I probably wouldn't have had a second thought about it, but when you go to the restaurants throughout the boat, then eat up there, there's such a huge difference that it's almost off-putting to me. Not in a bad way, but it just has less appeal, I guess. It's great in a pinch, but I hate fighting the crowds that it attracts, and prefer hitting the dining rooms.

 

[gonecrusin]

There is a Walmart at Cocoa Beach (off SR-528 just before you cross US-1)
and an ABC Liquor right near the port. It may be easier to just stop at a gas station. The big stations here sell water by the case, and it's probably worth it for you not to drive around.

There is also a Publix on A1A a few miles south of the port.

Thanks that helps a lot. We will have the GPS but I don't always trust it .

 

[gonecrusin]

Went to go out and the garage door wouldn't open. The main spring broke. Both cars were nicely parked inside. Thank goodness my brother hadn't left. That 16 foot door is heavy. Sure glad this didn't happen tomorrow morning at 4:30 AM when we were leaving for the airport. It would have made for a stressful day. Nothing is going to stop us from getting to the ship.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

It's not that I think it's ACTUALLY dirty. But Topsiders in comparison to the rest of the ship feels... I don't know... sort of drab, like it needs a quick makeover or something. On any other ship I probably wouldn't have had a second thought about it, but when you go to the restaurants throughout the boat, then eat up there, there's such a huge difference that it's almost off-putting to me. Not in a bad way, but it just has less appeal, I guess. It's great in a pinch, but I hate fighting the crowds that it attracts, and prefer hitting the dining rooms.

We haven't been on the Magic since the drydock, so we may be pleasantly surprised!

You just want that lunch burger . . . .

 

[Macavity]

We are at the port right now - just watched RCCL leave.....

tired.... but glad to be here.....

 

[TimeforMe]

I guess I should probably start packing.

 

[BomaGreg]

We haven't been on the Magic since the drydock, so we may be pleasantly surprised!

You just want that lunch burger . . . .

 

[cinderella97]

All packed and ready to go. See all of you tomorrow! Can't wait to meet all of you. My last post pre-cruise.

 

[BomaGreg]

All packed and ready to go. See all of you tomorrow! Can't wait to meet all of you. My last post pre-cruise.

Safe travels! I'll see you tomorrow!

(I wish I was already packed. )

 

[gonecrusin]

Safe travels to everyone! Going to finalize the packing and hopefully get to bed before midnight.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Wow. Now you know everyone is frantically packing -- no posts!

I'll be up finishing things for work for the next 3 hours and then hopefully catch 3 hours before completing packing!

See you real soon!

 

[3princessMommy]

We just got back -- had a great time with Joann, Jamie and their families! It's amazing how you can feel like you've known people after such a short time online. And their girls are all amazing!

I can't believe how much fun we had with both families! I was annoyed that we didn't have longer to hang out. Oh, well. That can be remedied in a couple of days, easy enough.

We had a TERRIFIC time, too! My two girls have not stopped talking about how much fun they had with their new friends and their families! They actually THANKED me repeatedly for getting involved on these boards and making this possible. Felt like a Mastercard commercial . . . priceless!

The girls haven't stopped talking about their new friends! They can't wait to get on the ship tomorrow and see them again!

It was really great to meet all of you guys too! Greg was right - the club at Earl's is REALLY good! But the chocolate dunked, candy covered, caramel drizzled, super-size oreo cookie - probably too over-the-top!

I can't believe how crowded DTD was though! It was worse than MK! I'm bummed I wasn't able to get a Disney swimsuit, but did take Marcy's advice and hit the Outlet today during naptime. Found one at a swim place because the Disney Outlet only had bottoms...

1300!!!!

Captain Last Minute!

Virgil

CONGRATS Virgil!

That's tricky. Going from the airport isn't far from being a straight shot down the expressway (528), so I can't think of any sort of shopping centers on the way right off the top of my head. It's sort of a swampy wilderness all along 528, with not much shopping that I can think of off the top of my head.

Marcy might be able to think of something different since she's always up that way for work traveling, but that's all I can remember.

There is a Walmart at Cocoa Beach (off SR-528 just before you cross US-1)

We always eat at Parrot Cay, even if they say it's full. I'd rather wait in the Parrot Cay hallway than fight people with my luggage in tow at Topsider's, but that's just me. Plus, Parrot Cay always puts me in a happy mood. Topsider's, not so much.

Yep! We've stopped at that Walmart before too. It's not hard to find from the highway. But I think this time we'll try Target before we leave Orlando.

Wow. Now you know everyone is frantically packing -- no posts!

I'll be up finishing things for work for the next 3 hours and then hopefully catch 3 hours before completing packing!

See you real soon!

We were enjoying the FANTASTIC firework show at Epcot with JoAnn #1, Maryann, Lissa, and families. It was great to actually meet JoAnn - now that we've basically been talking to one another almost every day for a year!

Thanks so much to Lissa for organizing the event - the VIP area for the show was marvelous! You almost needed a heat shield we were so close to the action.

Well - going to sleep so that we can join the great race to the port in the morning.

See everyone tomorrow!!!!

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

The girls haven't stopped talking about their new friends! They can't wait to get on the ship tomorrow and see them again!

It was really great to meet all of you guys too! Greg was right - the club at Earl's is REALLY good! But the chocolate dunked, candy covered, caramel drizzled, super-size oreo cookie - probably too over-the-top!

I can't believe how crowded DTD was though! It was worse than MK! I'm bummed I wasn't able to get a Disney swimsuit, but did take Marcy's advice and hit the Outlet today during naptime. Found one at a swim place because the Disney Outlet only had bottoms...

Abbie and Cassie have not stopped talking about the girls since the moment we walked away. Abbie is already planning for Greg to accompany she and Alex to some event. There was so much fast talking that I'm not sure what the event was, but she has a definite plan in mind.

I am dying over the cookie comment -- when I saw Aaron order the cookie, I thought, "Uh oh. Should I warn him to get the pretzels instead?" He just didn't look like a giant oreo covered in chocolate and then covered in chocolate chips and then covered in caramel and then covered in chocolate drizzle kind of guy.

DTD was insane. I get frustrated in big crowds, but that crowd was worse than Christmas-time. I'm sure it didn't help that I was still in my suit and my core body temperature had raised to about 102, but still . . . . too many people for me. I promise I'll be in leisure wear the rest of the cruise!

I just finished reading a 700 page deposition and now I am OFFICIALLY ON VACATION!!!!!!!

 

[cinderella97]

on our way to the airport. see ya real soon!

 

[BomaGreg]

That was probably the worst I've ever seen DTD. We were lucky to have hit Earl's when we did, because I imagine the lines were out the door an hour later. I can't even imagine what the rest of the parks were like, but thinking about it made me want to curl up in a ball on the floor of the living room.

Anyway, this is the big push... Time to go empty out the van of whatever various foodstuffs the girls left in the back seat so we don't have problems with ants, toss the luggage in the back, and get out butts on the ship. Can't wait to hear that guy yell, "Thhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeee LYNCH FAMILY!" like Ed McMahon. It's like the bell that says, "You are now on vacation!"

See you in a few hours and the shrimp bar!

Greg out!

 

[Macavity]

Okay,I wonder (oops, I magic) if I can get a pirate this morning? It would only be a 70ish fluff?

I could take that many posts to tell everyone that I watched the magic come in this morning....

 

[Macavity]

...as it came in, it moved a little.....

 

[Macavity]

and then it moved a little more (okay, I can't do this for 60 more posts.....)



Or can I?