Just returned from 11/6 Magic

[jel0511]

Well, it unforunate that a cruise has to come to an end, but they do. We had a fabulous time and here are a few tidbits, ask any additional questions!

- All the ports were GREAT, we didn't do any DCL excursions, but visited the Butterfly Farm in Key West, Nativeway to Stingray City in Grand Cayman and went to Paradise Beach in Cozumel. All excursions were GREAT, and I'd definately recommend them to all. Grand Cayman is definately re-building, but it is open for business and they are VERY grateful to have tourists coming back.

- Our servers weren't the best, they just didn't have that extra touch of Disney Magic. We did have Milan at Palo, and we was GREAT. Our stateroom host was Loel, and he was GREAT, always had a smile and our room was always perfect!

- The ship was in perfect shape with upkeep always being done to keep it in top top shape.

- We had SO MUCH fun, we're rebooked on the 11/12/05 and 11/04/06 sailings!!!

Sorry for the short report, but I have TONS of laundry to do AND try to get back to normal life. It was very depressing last night when I went to bed with no towel animal or no chocolate on my pillow.... Oh well, until next year....

 

[DOOGIERUNNER]

Which Native way excursion did you take? We are using them next week. If you've got anymore detail, let me know. WE are also going to Paradise Beach for the day.

 

[jel0511]

We took the Stingray City/Coral Reef trip. We wanted to go on the Stingray City/Rum Point excursion, but Rum Point is currently closed. Eldon met us at the pier around 8:30AM, and then we left the pier at 9AM. The two guides with us on the boat were GREAT, they even dived down for some conch for themselves for later, and gave the shells to us on the boat. They were very informative and helpful, and I'd definately recommend it. We didn't do the Island Tour or go to the Turtle Farm, but we did meet people on board who did go to the Turtle Farm, and it is up and running! Paradise Beach does get VERY crowded, so I recommend getting of the ship as early as possible. When were were in Cozumel, there were 7 ships in port, and we were the last to arrive. So, finding chairs at Paradise Beach was a challenge at 11:30 when we arrived. The beach is beautiful and it is free. There is a $5 per person charge to use the floats, water trampoline, and iceberg. We had a 6 and 3 YO with us, so we didn't use it. The food at Paradise Beach is very reasonable, and VERY good!!! We had a blast, and would definately return!!!!

 

[HookedonMagic]

Welcome home, Jel! Sounds like you had a Magical trip. Thanks for posting.

We're booked on your Nov, 2005 cruise (we booked two more cruises while we were onboard in September...it is addicting!) We'll have to start a thread over on the cruise meets board.

Good luck with the laundry!

Lisa

 

[kellimomo3]

Welcome home! How was Paraside Beach? We are planning on taking a taxi there when we cruise in January. Did you take a cab? If so, how much was it? Was the beach crowded? Clean? Good food/drinks? Sorry for all the questions but I'd love to hear all about your experience there!!

Kelli

 

[babsnabbs]

Where do you find out about excursions outside of DCL? Some of the DCL excursions do sound interesting, but I'd like to know what my other options are. You found some great ones.

Welcome back to good ol' NJ!

 

[dis4me]

If you don't mind me asking who were your servers?We had so-so servers the week before I am just curious if it was the same 2.
Glad you had a great trip

 

[scottygirl]

Hi Lori!!

We were on the 11/6 sailing also. I met Lori and her family and they are wonderful people. We rebooked for 7/22/06 Alternate Western with two stops at Castaway Cay, Cozumel and Costa Maya!!

We did a waverunner tour of Key West which was too long. The water was choppy and it was too much DS7 and DD7. Dh and DS10 loved it though! One of the highlights was the Blue Angels were doing an air show at the local airbase and we got a free show sitting on our waverunners in the Atlantic Ocean!!!

We also did the Nativeway Stingray Snorkel. Eldon and his employees did a great job even when they couldn't restart the boat out at sea! After some tinkering they got it started and we made it back to shore safe and sound. DS7 got sick and fed the stingrays himself. Like Lori said, Grand Cayman definately has a lot of rebuilding to do, but the people were very gracious and glad to see us.

We had originally planned to go on the Fury Catamaran in Cozumel, but after DS7 getting sick on the Stingray excursion we decided to be landlubbers and went to Paradise Beach. We took a taxi ride during which I had my eyes closed while saying Hail Mary's and the Lords Prayer. Paradise Beach is beautiful. The owner (a Canadian I think?) came by and asked us how how our day was and how the service was. He seems to be running a nice business there.

Castaway Cay is breathtaking. We absolutely loved it and it helped make our decision to rebook. Two stops at Castaway Cay can't be beat. We snorkeled, ate, and relaxed.

Our servers Dennis(Philipines) and Maria (Hungary) were fabulous and our stateroom host Don (Trinidad and Tobago) was outstanding also. We had a towel animal every night!

babsnabbs,

We got most of our info on booking excursions from the DISboards!

Any other questions? Feel free to ask!

 

[jel0511]

Hey there Jackie!!!! Thanks for the compliment, you guys are the best also!!!! Too bad we didn't live closer to each other, but that's the nature of the DIS boards, you met GREAT people you wish you'd could spend more time with, but alas, it just can't be done!!! Did you end up going with the 6 and 11 or the two category 10's for your 06 sailing? Our tablemates are going to rebook for our 11/12/05 sailing, so we're going to try to get our ressies linked so we can sit together again. Hopefully, we'll receive better servers, since they agreed with us that they weren't the best. They even tipped their server from LAST YEAR, since she stopped by and said hello every night and did some tricks for their son, we got NONE of that from our servers this year. It's such a chore being home now... I haven't even finished unpacking, and have about 8 loads of laundry still waiting. Talk to you soon!!!!

 

[SeaSpray]

Welcome back! Glad you had such a great time!! And it's a great feeling to know you'll be back on the ship again, isn't it!!