LIVE! from the Magic 11/1 sailing

[2disneycruzrs]

Hi everyone! It's happy hour in the internet areas so I'm taking full advantage. Palo reservations on this cruise were going fast. We boarded at 1:30 and headed straight to get reservations. Unfortunately, we wanted Monday night but that was the first night to sell out. We're skipping the "Tropical" night and going to Palo on Tuesday. It was a little easier getting ressies for the Champagne Brunch, however. But I would still recommend doing these as soon as you get on board.

Checked out Diversions....it's much bigger than the Skybox was with lots of four-person tables and nicer. In addition to enjoying the games on TV, you can play chess, backgammon and checkers on tables designed with the games in-laid. There's not much to offer in there food-wise. They told me just nachos today and game food on Sunday, and nothing after that.

Also went into The Cove. It's small and narrow but a lot quieter for the internet than the Promenade (at least at night). There was no one in there today.

Overall, it seems as though this cruise is lighter in numbers though I can't verify it. It just doesn't seem as crowded as my previous cruise, especially at the sail-away.

Our gift baskets made by Shirley arrived! They looked great. The only bummer was they weren't delivered until 3:30, so they weren't awaiting our arrival and I started to panic.

For the scrapbookers out there...unfortunately, they don't have stickers sold alone. You have to buy the album kit....at $25, no thank you! Mickey's Mates does have some new photo frames that look great and their ESPN Skybox clothing is all half off. Otherwise, most of the items are the same as a year ago.

And finally, we had our first of two DISMeets. The 7 Aft deck was locked but leave it to a DISer to get it handled! It was nice to be with some of the group as we sailed into the Atlantic.

This is probably the last you'll hear from me for the cruise. I'll have a chocolate souffle for all of you!

 

[Favorite Auntie]

Thanks for thinking of us with the free internet time! Sounds like you are in for a great cruise. Enjoy Palo!!

 

[SweetSpot]

Just wanted to add what a wonderful time we are having aboard the Magic and how fortunate we have been to have met such great DISers. The ship's rocking and it has been rather rough but it hasn't really gotten in the way of having a great time. Amazing to see someone juggle 7 balls while the ship is moving so much.

Will try to bring back Eastern Navigators with us and kid club Navigators.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Have a super time! I didn't know there was free internet time available - how very cool to have a chance to say "hey" to those of us still counting our days! Hope you have smoothe seas for the rest of your week.

 

[Jeanny]

Originally posted by nzdisneymom
Have a super time! I didn't know there was free internet time available - how very cool to have a chance to say "hey" to those of us still counting our days! Hope you have smoothe seas for the rest of your week.

Hey cindy~
yep, there's a free hour the first night... if you look on some of the navigators on Barb & Tony's sites, it's listed in one of the small boxes on the bottom of the page.. and you have the chance to get free internet for the week if your name is drawn... not sure when to sign up for that off the top of my head

 

[Verandah Man]

Have a MAGICal time all you 11-01-03 cruisers. Here is a shot I got off the port cam on Saturday at 4:15pm. When you return home make sure you check out your original 11-01-03 thread, I have included some other photos there as well.

"The Magic being kissed by the sun 11-01-03"

 

[Nysie]

Glad to hear you are having a great time! Our friends are on that cruise as well!!

 

[jlawall]

Have a great cruise, hopefully the seas will settle!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jwann]

Originally posted by SweetSpot
Will try to bring back Eastern Navigators with us and kid club Navigators.

Thanks SweetSpot!!!! We are doing the Eastern and would like to see recent Navagators!

 

[TinkerBellPixie4GOAL]

Have fun! Enjoy your cruise and tell us who your servers are!

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Hey - have a great time - Make sure you go see Miguel in the Cove - He is a great bartender and fun to hang out with in the night-time!

 

[Doucia]

yes...Miguel is the best!
Got my hubby drunk on shooters! Was the funniest thing I ever saw!

Kim

 

[2disneycruzrs]

Hello again everyone!

Quick updates...

They are doing the AP show on the rotation night now even if it is formal night. So you get it either Sat, Sun, or Mon.

Seas have calmed down but we had rain today while at sea.

Someone asked about servers...we're on the 8:30 LAP rotation and we have Dwight from Jamaica, Areli from Chile, Gaspare from Italy for HS and our Stateroom Host is Carlos from Costa Rica. We had Kristof from Belgium twice in Palo and he was awesome!

Speaking of Palo...I obtained a chef-autographed copy of the choc souffle recipe! Wonderful as always...and they served us each of the desserts to sample.

Don't miss the Art of Entertaining Series...excellent!

One of our fellow DIS husbands won the chipping and putting contests on board! Someone won $8K today in Bingo.

Rich Purpura was funny! We read not to miss him and it's so true! They also had Siegfried & Roy's protoge Darren Romeo on board for a magic, singing show and he was great too!

Finally, I picked up navigators to send to DCL Tribute website and also have each of the kids navigators for all age groups, and some kids dinner menus. If it's printed, I picked it up.

Take care everyone! Castaway Cay tomorrow!

 

[Verandah Man]

Oh, to be back on Castaway Cay again, here's wishing you a great day!!!

 

[jlawall]

Thx for the updates......best wishes for good weather in CC tomorrow!

 

[2disneycruzrs]

We returned home today, and I felt like Verandah Man..."No I won't go!" They had to drag me off the ship kicking & screaming! I'll file a full trip report later.

Yesterday at Castaway Cay was GORGEOUS! It seems like that port of call goes the fastest and you wish it was the longest. Parasailing was the best excursion we have done yet. It averages out to $10 a minute/person but well worth it! We felt like Scuttle.

I think I covered most of the changes. Menus are mostly the same with one or two things changed per night (if that) and I wrote them down. I also obtained three of the kids menus so those with concerns can see them as well.

We didn't "lose" any passengers (almost had three families lost on St. Thomas) but we did see a couple miss their RCCL ship! It's sad that we laughed and recorded it but it was a tad funny.

Just a quick list of things we'd change or things we'd do again:

CHANGE: bring less clothes, stay on the ship while in St. Maarten, bring more reading material, book Palo on Lumiere rotation night or on Small World (menu only) night (Wed.), bring more photo memory (had a 64 and 128), bring 3 waterproof cameras instead of 2 (and we're NOT snorkelers), emphasize our request for dinners at a larger table (we like meeting people), remember to take a DISMeet group pix, stay in P.C./Radisson the night before rather than WDW, parasail earlier at CC, complete my postcards before getting on CC, take a camcorder to British Pub Night (in Diversions last night-stay up for it even if you're tired!), attend the Gary Delena show.

DO AGAIN: parasail-next time solo, attend all of the Art of Entertaining series, pay for internet by the minute, take postcards to the last dinner to exchange addresses & emails, postcard labels, debark luggage tag labels, Rich Purpura show and all of the Disney shows.

Thanks for your well wishes during the cruise!

 

[Verandah Man]

So glad to hear you had a MAGICal time!!! The day at CC sure does go fast, doesn't it???

 

[strasfamily]

We were so tired Friday night, even though we tried to stay awake, we missed the British Pub night! What did they do?

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hi Jen,
Am glad to hear you had a great time - Magical times seem to last such a short time doesn't it?
Anyhow am sorry the baskets arrived late at your room - apparentely there have been numberous packages disappearing before they make it to the rooms or delivered to the wrong rooms and kept by those that were not intended for, or sent to the original room, but the customers are upgraded and the next cruisers still keeping the packages even tho their names are not on the cards - this has happened twice to us and many times with DCL - I understand DCL is trying to come up with a more sure way to keep things honest - I just don't understand how someone can sign for a package knowing they are NOT john or mary doe, keep it and not wonder what child has been disappointed - we do not get reimbursed for the loss and if we do it takes months and numberous phone calls to get compensaded - I don't get as fusterated with DCL as I do with those that would take something that doesn't belong to them - I just wonder how they can look anyone in the eye knowing that they actually stole and yet what do they teach their children.
DCL is going to plan to deliver all packages after a certain time to make sure all bases are covered or at least this is what I have been told - also no more candles in rooms since they are not being attended and it could cause great harm - which I believe is right -
Anyhow glad you did enjoy the baskets and most of all your cruise.
Much love
Always
shirley

 

[2disneycruzrs]

Thanks, Shirley. The gifts were great and we realize it wasn't your fault. We only got concerned that DCL sent it to the wrong room or something else since they told us deliveries are completed by 2:30 and they weren't there. My parents loved theirs and we did as well. Thanks!