F&W + Cruise (Sept 2014)
The exciting news is our cruise is paid off in full and we booked excursions. The not exciting news is that our main babysitter for the E's during this trip suffered a very big injury this week. On Wednesday my dad fell at the mariners game, landing hard on both knees. He was unable to get up. 2 days later and he was still unable to get up. They had waited on an MRI for swelling to go down thinking it was muscle trauma. Unfortunately the MRI showed something quite different, he tore the patellar tendons on BOTH knees, completely detached. Which is why he couldn't lift his legs, or stand, or bear any weight.
He had surgery yesterday to reattach. It is a very proven and successful procedure however, it's usually only done on one knee. Usually you have a good leg to use while the other one heals. He does not have that. This means my poor dad will have to live at an inpatient rehab facility, with his knees/legs basically immobilized for 6-8 weeks. After than another 1 month before he is really using a walker etc and one more after that before he is really able to walk much and drive.
Cynthia- I am so sorry to hear about your dad! I hope his recovery is going well. Sending positive energy his way.
Oops- I meant to quote about your dining at DL, although I didn't go to any of the places you are planning. I will of course have complete dining reviews, with pictures. For table service meals, Carthay Circle (World of Color dining package) lunch was our favorite. Blue Bayou was not worth the money for us, I think Café Orleans is a great alternative.
We had lots of great counter service experiences.
F&W + Cruise (Sept 2014)
St. Lucia and the Gros Piton Climb. This is the only thing booked via a non DCL tour operator. That makes me a tiny bit nervous but DCL does not offer this. He gets great reviews but it really does use up the entire day and that makes me a tiny bit nervous from a missing the ship standpoint. Granted Ive yet to find a review where anyone missed their ship because of this tour outfit but still. We are curious to see just how hard it really is, based on reviews and descriptions. We figure its our Koko Steps outing of this trip (if anyone remembers that ).
To me it seems better for the going down, the hardest part of Koko to me was that it's so exposed, looking down was scary for me. This is in foliage for much of it, that alleviates a lot of my issues. Or at least I think so. Either way we both think this may be our one "must do".
Barbados and the Beach Escape. We may do this on our own; you can do something similar for about $18 less either at that same beach club or one next door. Still, for $18, not having to even think about it and transportation, has its own attraction.
St. Kitts, Railway and Brimstone Hill. There is a version of this that has a sail outing combined with the Railway. That is the one we wanted but is sold out. This is a pricey one and St. Kitts is only a half day. We may just do Brimstone Hill on our own. It sounds like it's a pita to get a taxi in St Kitts and we will need to ensure someone comes back to get us (as apparently you can't catch one from there) but it would be a lot cheaper. That said, Jeff really wants to do the railway.
One thing that is a bit of a drag is that the first 3 days excursions, if we really did do them all (days 3-5 of the cruise) are all EARLY starts. Which is good in the sense of still having plenty of time to explore on our own for Grenada and St. Lucia but bad from an early wake up standpoint.
They all sound fun. But
some or maybe even all will have to go.
Unless we win the lottery
Or I get my bonus in Sept instead of Oct. LOL! Which is possible. Not necessarily probable though.
Cruise excursions-
Of course I love your kayak, snorkel, hike adventure in Antigua. One of my favorite snorkel experiences ever was snorkeling in mangroves which all kinds of marine creatures use as a nursery.
The fort/train trip in St. Kitt's looks pretty nice.
I can totally see your dilemma about trying to do a beach day yourself vs. an organized trip that includes transportation in Barbados. I am sure a little research on the DIS cruise forums and maybe cruise critic can help you with some of the options.
And then, Gros Piton...
I immediately thought of Koko Head when I read that.
My second thought was that you two may just be crazy enough to pull that off!
Jalousie Beach is gorgeous.
If you are looking for an alternative, something with a sail around the coastline would be a good choice. St. Lucia is so gorgeous from the water.
I hope it all works out for you! Sounds like we will know soon.
I feel better that it had been less than a day!
I was like OMG, she's cleaning and running on vacation.
How crazy that it wasn't heated. 
At least you were able to salvage things a little on the verandah.......even though there wasn't any coffee involved. 
Somehow, I'm guessing that you did! 
The Tree house looks lovely, so rustic looking !!! As for an unheated pool 
I wouldn't put a toe in it !!! Hope you were let in for your ressie !!!!
Big Thunder at Night 
