Live from the Magic!

[lbgraves]

Have you noticed the dress code for the dining rooms on the navigators? The boards have posted a change to casual that includes jeans and some of us would like the "official" word on the ship right now. Thanks!

 

[crhenderson]

We have a cruise booked for this June but we are stuck with the late dining time and we have a 1 year old so we are deciding if we will still go on the cruise as the dining room for dinner is one of our favorite things about cruising. Anyway, my question is Can you tell me what dining at Topsiders is like at dinner time? Thanks!

 

[michamato]

Hi
I just wanted to share that we just got back from Feb 26th Magic, and we were stuck with late dinner also, I have a 4, 2 1/2 and 8 month old. When we got there, we had been changed to early seating. It was a HUGE suprise, and a pleasant one at that.
You can put your name on a waiting list, and see if you get it when you get to port.
Try not to let that ruin your trip!! I was worried about it too, but Topsiders had a good selection, and a seperate line for children's food and I was very happy with that.

 

[jdm]

Another fabulous day, it just keeps getting better. Today we got up around 8 and had room service. We were off the ship about 9:30 and were at the butterfly farm about 10. We enjoyed it, I was a little preoccupied about the horseback ride at 11 as I didn't want to be late. Weather was hot and dusty. We walked next door to Bayside and did the one hour ride and did NOT swim with the horses (Thank God- for me, anyway). Let me say the ride itself was beautiful. My dd12 is quite the horse girl and was very pleased to tell me how well taken care of these horses are. Let me say that I have NO experience riding but spend a lot of time around horses to know when they are not happy. My horse was not happy. His ears layed flat the entire time and he shifted between refusing to keep up with the group and trying to take off. I'm sure I'm being overly dramatic but I was terrified and couldn't wait for it to be over. Everyone else seemed completely relaxed and loving it.... so it was probably just me!! After the ride we got back in our cab (we pre-arranged with her to come and get us at 12:15) and she dropped us off at Bikini Beach on Orient Bay which was a mile or 2 from Bayside. We were there by 12:30 and told her to come back and get us around 4. I was almost speechless when I laid eyes on the beach. I've never seen anyplace quite so beautiful. We had a ball. I was kind of on the fence because of the whole nudity thing with the kids and all (My dh says, "I don't mind topless woman but I'm not sure I want the girls to see full nudity of men..... right , he "doesnt mind the topless woman" pu-leese) but I needn't have worried. There was one old naked guy walking down the beach and a couple of topless woman. For the most part, it was cruise ship people, families etc. My kids loved it, there was a small surf and water trampolines. I'm so glad I didn't miss this beach!

We got back on board and were all sandy, sunburned etc. We cleaned up, rested a while and went to AP for our pirate night dinner. Another GREAT meal, (haven't had a bad one yet) and then to the deck party. Very fun, and festive. We have to be up at 7 tomorrow for Customs and then we are planning to cab it to Magan's Bay for the day.

I don't know about the night life, clubs etc. Haven't set foot in one. We have late dinner so we usually go up to our room afterwards and have a few drinks on the balcony. There is so much to do all of the time, we just can't make it all.

The movies that I know of in the theater this week are The Incredibles, The new Winnie the Poo movie, The pacifier, Ladder 49, Around the World in 80 days and a couple more that escape me right now. I don't know what's on TV specifically. The kids have it on and I think last night they were watching Dinosaur, another night it was Shrek 2. The kids went to a movie the other night but DH and I haven't been with them yet. We are planning to see the Pacifier one of these days, probably Thurs.

Well, folks, gotta get up to bed. Really beat today. But, we had the greatest time!!

Jenn

Oh, about the jeans.... when I read that post yesterday I went up and told DH and he did wear jeans with a kind of dress tropical shirt last night. You will find people all over the board. Some dressing up and some not. I don't really care what people decide works for them. Personally, I follow the dress code but on formal night the other night, the guy at the next table had on shorts and a tshirt. I could've cared less. It didn't lesson my experience at all. Whatever turns ya on!!

 

[jlawall]

Wow.........sunburned and drinks on the balcony....you're killing me!!!!!!!! Best wishes for continued sunshine!!

 

[happytraveler65]

We are leaving in 4 weeks and one day for L & S cruise, and your updates are getting me more in the mood (if that is possible) Thanks!

 

[lbgraves]

Thanks for the great reports! You are giving me ideas about what to do on our next Eastern since the kids will be a little older & might cooperate with going a couple places off the ship.

 

[yazee1]

We have a cruise booked for this June but we are stuck with the late dining time and we have a 1 year old so we are deciding if we will still go on the cruise as the dining room for dinner is one of our favorite things about cruising. Anyway, my question is Can you tell me what dining at Topsiders is like at dinner time? Thanks!

I'd call DCL and ask for a switch. When we booked rather late for our April cruise (early January) and all that was left was late seating. The TA put in a request for the earlier one and told me we'd get a call if it was approved. We didn't get a call so I called DCL and the CM made the switch for me. It's worth a shot even if you have to call periodically.

Before we were switched, I had the same concerns but I figured worse comes to worse, we just roll with it. You never know how things will work out. I was figuring on having the little one take a nap late in the day, or if the nap thing didn't work on a certain night either my husband or I would stay in the cabin with the littlest and the rest would dine together. Just take it one day at a time.

Let us know if calling DCL gets you results. I'm praying for you.

 

[crhenderson]

I called Disney direct and was told that since I booked through Costco, they can not help me and I need to contact costco which I have done a few times already and haven't been able to get it switched yet.

 

[TJGorman]

jdm.. Thank you so much for the update. We are going to book the horseback riding at Bayside in November. I was glad to hear positive comments about the place. I hope you enjoy Magen's Bay. I thought it really was a beautiful, relaxing beach. We got there in the morning and stayed until to mid-day. We were able to avoid the crowds which arrived as we were leaving! Please keep us updated!

 

[Lynda Silk]

Thanks for your posts! I'm so glad you are having such a wonderful time! Our friends are on the same cruise as you so I was so glad to see your thread!

We went to the Bayside Riding Stables last October and it was very nice! We didn't swim in the water with the horses but we did ride along the beach. The scenery around the stables is beautiful, especially the mountains. The guide we had was very nice; a young girl in her 20's. My DD is a horse lover and she really enjoyed it. I thought it might be too tame for her as she's been riding for 2 years and does jumps, but she loved it! It was my 2nd time on a horse and I was nervous but I found the horse knew exactly what to do with little instruction from me.

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your cruise! Have fun and enjoy the rest of your cruise!

 

[newcruiser05]

Our flight leaves in 38 hours (if you do the math that is Sat 3/12 at 5:30 am) for our 7 day Western on Magic. Thanks so much for your fun reports. I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited.

 

[suesings]

crhenderson - we are in the same boat as you. We booked through Costco Travel for our May cruise and I've called them about moving to early seating (we have a will-be 22 month old and a one who will just have turned 5). There is no way they will make it to an 8:30 PM dinner. Their bedtimes are at 8 and 8:30 normally!!

I am crossing my fingers that we can change on the boat if possible. It will be such a bummer to bring all the formal night clothes and never make it into any of the restaurants (besides Topsiders and Plutos )

Good luck to you!

 

[DrCavin]

JDM or ANYONE:

If your staying in a Cat 5 or below can you PLEASE look on the front of your TV & see if it has input jacks to hookup a device, ie gamecube, PS2, camera... A previous thread is getting ugly & the answer should calm everyone down http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=760656 in case someone missed it...

THANKS!!!!

 

[jdm]

Hi Everyone!

Back again with some quick notes. I'll try and do a full scale trip report when we get back but for now a little bit.....

DGD did like the Oceaneers Lab better than the club but I have to say that the kids really have spent practically no time there. Maybe 5 hours tops all together for DGD7 and my DD12 went for a couple of hours when they were having the Captain there and some other educational type thing. She is missing school and has to do a full blown power point presentation when she gets back so she is scouring for educational anything! The kids like hanging out with us and frankly we've been on the go so much that there really isn't time for them to be in the clubs. We have late seating (and love it, I couldn't imagine early but then my kids aren't babies) and by the time we have our fun filled day and then shower etc. it's then time to go to the show and dinner etc. It's OK, as I love hanging with them anyway.

We went to Magan's Bay yesterday. Just took a cab on our own (this is not for the faint of heart) and it was just a really nice day. The kids saw an iguana snoozing in the tree above our picnic table. They got such a kick out of it. DD12 and I left early to get dropped off in town and DGD stayed with DH to play at the beach a little more and then they headed back separately. Was a little later than I wanted to be getting back to the ship waiting for an impulse jewelery buy to be sized. Watch that impulse buying!!! I'll save that whole story for the full blown trip report (you guys'll be sick of me by then!!). Also, the sun is so hot.... DD got a very bad burn on her face. Her cheeks blistered for the first time in her life and she was quite miserable yesterday. I just didn't worry too much about her as she never burns and we had been out in the sun a few days before we went to St. Martin. I did lather up DGD but poor neglected DD really suffered with it. What kind of Mom does that kid have anyway . Anyway, we picked up some 50 sunscreen from guests services and you can bet we are using it religiously now. Moral of the story.... watch that caribbean sun!

In answer to some questions I skimmed over..... the navigator doesn't say anything about jeans anymore. DH has worn them twice on casual nights with a nice polo or dress shirt etc.

I can't help you on the tv cable question. We are staying in a Cat 6 and I am just not a cable/tech person. I'm not even sure I understand the question. Hopefully, someone who knows more about that kind of stuff can help you.

We did not do the swim with the horses in the ocean. OOOhhhhh no, we didn't do that. Of course DD is dying to do that and she can, next time when her cousin comes and I can find a nice beach chair to curl up on and wait As I said, this was not my cup of tea!! But, I'm so glad I did it for her. I thought she might be bored also as she is a very experienced rider use to running barrels etc. It really wasn't about that though, it was about seeing another stable, riding on the beach, scenery etc. She loved it!

We saw The Pacifier this afternoon. It was very cute and funny. Kids got a huge kick out of seeing it on the ship. Me too!

Well, it's been an absolutely great, beautiful week and I hate seeing it come to a close. It has flown by. I'm thankful that we have 5 nights planned for Orlando to kind of come down slowly!

I'll try and check in tomorrow briefly but if not, expect a trip report in a week or so after we return home.

Thanks
Jenn

 

[mommasita]

So nice hearing about your time before I lay me down to sleep.. I really envy you...not badly, just MISS the MAGIC.

Glad to hear all is good except for your poor DD. THat sun is something unbelievable. Just keep slathering on the 50... Hope you enjoy your CC day tomorrow....

 

[lwilliam]

Thank you for taking time out of your cruise to keep us
informed. I really enjoy the reports (except if the report
is ALL negative - I don't bother reading those reports).
I can picture everything you are doing - keep 'em coming -
makes my time to wait for our cruise (4 months) a little
bit easier. - Lucy