Live on the way to Key West!

[moocow35]

Hi everyone!

The weather today in Port Canaveral couldn't have been any better. The warmest they say in a while.

Today at Topsiders, they were still serving the buffet, rather than self serve, however the 24 hour drink station was open to serve yourself. Having someone serve you definately cuts down on the amount of shrimp I would of had.

We boarded right at 12:00, pictures are taken before you enter the ship. This was new since my last sailing. The internet cafe is definately smaller, but it seems like there are alot more terminals.

Well time to go walk the deck to work off some of all this food!

Robin ºOº

 

[goofygal1975]

Sounds like you are already off to a good start!!! Isn't the weather today just BEAUTIFUL??? Feels like summer today! Couldn't believe it. Have a great cruise!!!!!

 

[rae519]

Tell them you are eating shrimp for your Dis Board friends and have to have more.

Who are your servers and host/ess?

Hope you continue to have wonderful weather and a great time!

Rae

 

[WDWLVR]

Robin,

Thanks for checking in live from the cruise. Those are some of my favorite reports. We'll look for you on the Key West Web cam later today.

DH and I go on the Western in May so I'll be looking forward to hearing your thoughts about the ports.

Enjoy the cruise!

 

[MarkRG]

They're not there yet, but it looks like a goregous day!

Key West Webcam Link


But here's what it'll look like when they get there(wait a minute for the whole thing to load):

 

[4u2dream]

When does the Magic come into Port at Key West, usually? So we can watch for her.. Thanks for the kool shot Mark RG

 

[Verandah Man]

I would rather be on my way to Key West than here in NJ.This is what it looks like here this morning 2/16/03

 

[Verandah Man]

Thanks for the link to Key West, I'm starting to feel warmer already looking for the Magic.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Thanks, Mark! I enjoyed seeing the Magic dock.

 

[OKWMEMBER]

You traded places with us! We just got off the 2/8/03 Eastern cruise. Please do us a favor and tell Jeff and Fidelio, the Dueling Piano guys in the Off Beat lounge, that Gary and Gail Wilson say HI!. We had a great time on our cruise and we really enjoyed those guys!!! Now we're freezing on the north coast!

 

[jlawall]

Thx for sharing....keep those reports coming....we're getting 2 feet of snow in the Northeast states!!!

 

[rae519]

OKWMEMBER - We saw the Dueling Pianos on our 9/28 cruise and Fidelio is a top notch entertainer. Can't wait to see him and his partner when we get to the Magic in May!

Rae

 

[mmouse37]

The Magic docks at Key West every other Sunday (the Western Itinerary). She usually pull in around 11:00 am or so. Today she is there so every two weeks from today!!!

MJ

 

[snelsonbrown]

man oh man I have been so homesick now and just don't know when Norm and I will be able to get away and get down to Key West and here is a whole bunch of folks that were here yesterday and Key West today and I wasn't there - anyhow I hope you enjoy Key West and to those that got the Key West packs that you requested, hope it helped while you was down there.
Have a great time and blow a kiss to Key West from Norm and I.
Always
Shirley
My gosh - I bet that snow is VERY VERY COLD - here in Florida warm but rainy on the East coast

 

[moocow35]

Hi everyone!

Key West is such an adorable town! We loved it! The weather today was picture perfect, actually a little on the hot side. Upper 80's and a bit humid. Sounds like we escaped the East Coast just in time! We docked around 12:00, just before, as we were approching the dock, some official looking person came up to the Magic, and hopped from his boat to ours. He then joined the Captain and crew on the bridge. He had some clipboard and must have been there to help with the clearance process. It was quite interesting to see how he got onboard from a boat while we were moving. We were clear to go onshore shortly after docking.

We did the trolley tour, and ALOT of shopping. We also did the Hemingway house tour. That was facinating learning about Hemingways life. Poor man!

Already today the breakfast buffet was self service, as well as the drink station. They do shut the 24 hour drink station around 9:00pm however. I went up late last night to get ice, and there was a large curtain hung all around it. I asked the CM this morning why, and he said they sanitize it every 15 minutes during the day, and they can't do that at night.

It's a full moon tonight, time to go out and enjoy!

Robin ºOº

 

[Verandah Man]

Boy, do I envy you. We are expecting 26-32 inches of snow in the Philly area by the time this storm ends.

Enjoy the warm weather while you can!!!

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hello Robin,
Glad you enjoyed my hometown of Key West - unfortunalty Key West is very very warm and humid, but being born and raised in that type of weather, we learned it was a way of life - I have never been inside of Hemingway's home - as I have mention on more than one occassion since as a child, we only lived two blocks north of Mr. Hemingway and he just didn't like children and made it very known by keeping a bag of rocks by his door to throw at us kids if we walked on his side of the sidewalk much less touch his wrought iron fence - he was the only person on the whole island with a wrought iron fence by the way - but I understand his house was very interesting - he and my dad knew each other since my dad was a cab driver back in those early years - Key West is rich with history - Key West is nothing like when I was growing up - we lived on a 2 by 4 island that was very isolated from the world - did I love the way i grew up - oh yes very much - we lived in a world that really was paradise.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise as well.
With love from an ol' conch
Shirley

 

[rae519]

Hemingway threw rocks at children - now that's one of those little bits of information we didn't hear about in college! How disappointing and cruel!

Shirley, I know you were a good girl (and could run real fast!)

Rae

 

[moocow35]

Hi Shirley,

Thanks, yes we did enjoy your hometown. The guide did not share that bit of information with us about throwing rocks at kids. I wonder how he treated his own kids? Very disturbed man, too bad they didn't have the anti-depressants they have today. Next year we look forward to visiting again, and doing the things we missed.

A beautiful day at sea today, and looking forward to Grand Cayman tomorrow. At the Castaway party both the Captain and Cruise director Rick mentioned Barb and Tony and all their cruises. Rick said he "personally knew the cruisers" Palo brunch we were able to serve ourselves also. I guess they are getting a little more lax about the germs. Still everything is being sanitized constantly.

Till tomorrow!

Robin ºOº

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hey Robin and Rae,
Little tidbits (like the scenes behind the screen) about Key West always makes the trips just a little more interesting - like maybe you have studied up or been talking to a native - I can remember Mr. Hemingway so clearly coming running out on this porch in his funny boxer underwears - in just a rage- as I said he was the only person on a 2 by 4 island with a wronght iron fence and we were told if we took a stick, we could run up and down against his fence and it would make a "fuuny" noice - tried it once and that was it - rock time - also we just were not allowed to walk on his "side fo the street" AND we were not allowed to touch his cats - my spanish grandfather taught Mrs. Hemingway how to speak spanish to the cost of 25 cents a lesson - my youngest uncle had to informer her when my grandfather died that he would no longer being giving lessons - even tho my spanish grandmother was capable, she was woman and not allowed to do so at Mr. Hemingway's request - go figure - I believe it would have been a great deal on the tranquilizers for him - he sure could have sure used them
Accross the street from Mr. Hemingways house, a chest was found while conchs were digging out for a sewer line - the chest was taken by the state and what became of it is unknown, but it was pirate's treasure and it is a true story.
anyhow enough tidbits - just those that go to Key West, remember these small things and it makes the trip more interesting.
With Love
Shirley