Well again, the reason we booked this cruise was for the two stops at Castaway Cay. Sunday was our first day at CC, and it was a gorgeous day! This day dawned bright and sunny and warm (coming from Colorado, that warm is key). We had our breakfast on the veranda, which ended up being our ritual for the week. Then we got ready and headed onto the island. Our son headed for the teen beach to find friends and we headed to Serenity Bay. Now this is my idea of paradise! We picked a spot about half way down the beach. The sun was out, the breeze was fresh, and the water was clear! Hand me a Konk Cooler and call it good! We did wander into the water for a bit, but saw a smallish barracuda and I was quickly up the beach and back in my chair!
We saw several large stingrays as well throughout the day.
We stayed at the adult beach until lunch then meandered over to the family area to eat and try and scope out where our son was. He was in a gaggle of other teens and very obviously having fun, so we headed over to the barbeque for a light repast. LOL The food was very good. I had a hot dog and cole slaw and some of the best homemade potato salad you will ever try. Hubby had the ribs and a hamburger and salads. After lunch we headed back to the adult beach where it was quiet! That family beach is a constant cacophony of noise! We headed back to the ship about an hour before last call and met our son at the dock. He had had a great time playing football, volleyball and checking out the girls on the teen beach. (ahhh teens!)
The following day was a sea day and it was incredible to just relax and have people wait on us throughout the day!
Tuesday was Grand Caymen and we had been here 3 different times, so we were in no hurry to get off the ship. We ate breakfast then went up on deck to watch other ships pull in and start tendering. There were five ships in port that day including the Magic. The tenders were cleared at about 10:30 so we could go off anytime we wanted without a ticket. We headed out about 11 and tendered in and shopped for about an hour, then headed back to the tenders.
It was funny because we stopped to talk to one of the crewmembers at the dock and sip our juice that Disney provided. The other cruisers from other ships kept glancing over enviously at us as they were handed a small cup of water and herded onto their tenders without so much as a smile!
Wednesday was Cozumel day and we were very excited for this port! We had been here three different times as well, but last year we had done the Tropical Jeep Safari tour and really enjoyed it so decided to do that again the year. Luckily they moved up the start time, because last year we got back really late. This time we met in Diversions (very nice new club btw) and were escorted to the dock where we walked across the pier and to the waiting jeeps. This time we did have to take on another passenger:a single gal from Germany that was traveling with her host family. Made it a bit awkward as she didn't speak English very well, and I sure as heck don't speak German! We had fun regardless and judging by her laughter, she did too. The only annoying part was one of the guides constantly calling us "familia". Glad he thought we were all like family, but it got irritating after about the nth time! The buffet lunch that they serve on the private beach is heavenly! They really do make the best "wacomole"..."guacomole" for us gringos.
We actually made it back to the dock by about 4 pm this time so had plenty of time to shop before our late seating dinner.
Saw alot of people getting hammered in Carlos n Charlies and at Senor Frogs. Never quite understood the draw in that? Guess I like to remember my vacation! Not to mention, I like to be able to find the ship before it leaves port! The Carnival ship and two others left about 5 pm...sure hope those partiers stumbled their way back to the dock by then!
The deck party was wild but a lot of fun and I was way too full to partake of the buffet. The curse of late seating, I guess.
Thursday was an at sea day and we mainly caught up on sleep, watched movies, etc. (more on those later)
Friday was Castaway Cay again and today was a bit cloudy and nary a breeze, which made for a HOT day. Not that I am complaining...of course Disney tried to cool us off by having snowmen, snow falling, and christmas decorations everywhere on CC. They even had carolers at the Post Office.
We spent the day at the adult beach (of course) and enjoyed the peace and quiet, while ds went to the teen beach and played sports, watched girls...well you get the picture.
For sail away that night they had said we would leave at 5 pm, but reading the Navigator it said that the Captain and Mickey would do a tree lighting ceremony on the island at 5:30 pm. Ok, so what does that mean? The captain decided to stay on CC? Not that I blame him, but it would be nice to have the captain on board when we sail for Port Canaveral. Well, anyway they were wrong and at 5:30 the Captain, Mickey and the tv crew all did a big countdown and lit the tree. (you can see pictures at Barb's site www.castawayclub.com)
Then we were sailing through calm seas back to Port Canaveral and reality. (No, say it ain't so!)
Stay tuned for more of Thanksgiving with Mickey and the Gang: Shows/Entertainment and the final wrap up!
Lisa
We saw several large stingrays as well throughout the day.We stayed at the adult beach until lunch then meandered over to the family area to eat and try and scope out where our son was. He was in a gaggle of other teens and very obviously having fun, so we headed over to the barbeque for a light repast. LOL The food was very good. I had a hot dog and cole slaw and some of the best homemade potato salad you will ever try. Hubby had the ribs and a hamburger and salads. After lunch we headed back to the adult beach where it was quiet! That family beach is a constant cacophony of noise! We headed back to the ship about an hour before last call and met our son at the dock. He had had a great time playing football, volleyball and checking out the girls on the teen beach. (ahhh teens!)
The following day was a sea day and it was incredible to just relax and have people wait on us throughout the day!
Tuesday was Grand Caymen and we had been here 3 different times, so we were in no hurry to get off the ship. We ate breakfast then went up on deck to watch other ships pull in and start tendering. There were five ships in port that day including the Magic. The tenders were cleared at about 10:30 so we could go off anytime we wanted without a ticket. We headed out about 11 and tendered in and shopped for about an hour, then headed back to the tenders.
It was funny because we stopped to talk to one of the crewmembers at the dock and sip our juice that Disney provided. The other cruisers from other ships kept glancing over enviously at us as they were handed a small cup of water and herded onto their tenders without so much as a smile!
Wednesday was Cozumel day and we were very excited for this port! We had been here three different times as well, but last year we had done the Tropical Jeep Safari tour and really enjoyed it so decided to do that again the year. Luckily they moved up the start time, because last year we got back really late. This time we met in Diversions (very nice new club btw) and were escorted to the dock where we walked across the pier and to the waiting jeeps. This time we did have to take on another passenger:a single gal from Germany that was traveling with her host family. Made it a bit awkward as she didn't speak English very well, and I sure as heck don't speak German! We had fun regardless and judging by her laughter, she did too. The only annoying part was one of the guides constantly calling us "familia". Glad he thought we were all like family, but it got irritating after about the nth time! The buffet lunch that they serve on the private beach is heavenly! They really do make the best "wacomole"..."guacomole" for us gringos.
We actually made it back to the dock by about 4 pm this time so had plenty of time to shop before our late seating dinner.
Saw alot of people getting hammered in Carlos n Charlies and at Senor Frogs. Never quite understood the draw in that? Guess I like to remember my vacation! Not to mention, I like to be able to find the ship before it leaves port! The Carnival ship and two others left about 5 pm...sure hope those partiers stumbled their way back to the dock by then!
The deck party was wild but a lot of fun and I was way too full to partake of the buffet. The curse of late seating, I guess.
Thursday was an at sea day and we mainly caught up on sleep, watched movies, etc. (more on those later)
Friday was Castaway Cay again and today was a bit cloudy and nary a breeze, which made for a HOT day. Not that I am complaining...of course Disney tried to cool us off by having snowmen, snow falling, and christmas decorations everywhere on CC. They even had carolers at the Post Office.
We spent the day at the adult beach (of course) and enjoyed the peace and quiet, while ds went to the teen beach and played sports, watched girls...well you get the picture.
For sail away that night they had said we would leave at 5 pm, but reading the Navigator it said that the Captain and Mickey would do a tree lighting ceremony on the island at 5:30 pm. Ok, so what does that mean? The captain decided to stay on CC? Not that I blame him, but it would be nice to have the captain on board when we sail for Port Canaveral. Well, anyway they were wrong and at 5:30 the Captain, Mickey and the tv crew all did a big countdown and lit the tree. (you can see pictures at Barb's site www.castawayclub.com)
Then we were sailing through calm seas back to Port Canaveral and reality. (No, say it ain't so!)
Stay tuned for more of Thanksgiving with Mickey and the Gang: Shows/Entertainment and the final wrap up!
Lisa
