May 25, 2012 Innaugural NYC Sailing

[BethA]

It is tough when people who don t have to use the handicapped seating. My mom has had to sit alone because she is in a scooter and others were in the seats designated for family of handicapped

 

[glnrcker]

Yes, the explanation regarding the ship being sold out but not necessarily the total amount of people it can hold, makes perfect sense! Thanks.

The ship drifting the couple of hours wasn't scary and they were great about keeping us informed. Also, at that point we were pretty close to Cape May. We also diverted once to pick up a life raft in the water just to make sure there was no one on it....and there wasn't.

The theater seating at the Buena Vista theater has regular plush seats. Sometimes only having one small step to the last row seats. The handicapped seating when you first walk in offers fold down seats but they could be spread apart to offer some seclusion for a family or couple as well as additional elbow room. Correct statement about handicaps, though there were no lines at the regular bathroom when I made the observations.

Thank you for the extra blessing, I am so grateful for all I have been given, but you can never get enough prayers said for you! God Bless all of you too (yes, even the obese, that they may get the help they need and find the strength to help their children have a much healthier life).

 

[AlexandNessa]

sweet I love my kids, but if I could get a moment alone in the Mickey Pool.....

We had no line at Pelican Plunge on that cruise...probably the only time we've ever had that!

OP, thanks again for your review. Enjoyed hearing about Dcl's NYC maiden voyage.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Losing propulsion on our last sea day. Again, the bridge did an excellent job and within two hours we were moving again. But it was an odd feeling when all of a sudden we were drifting in the middle of the ocean and black & white smoke coming from the stack.

That must have been a bit terrifying...glad that whatever it was only took a couple hours and everything ended up okay!

Non handicapped people using the handicapped bathrooms as their own personal bathroom. Also, doing the same in the movie theatre with the handicapped seating.

As a person with a disability, and who has a handicapped car tag, I feel the need to point out that not all disabilities are visible. I look "normal" to others. I don't have a cane, or wheelchair, and I am not elderly. Remember that heart conditions, multiple sclerosis, lupus, cancer and many many other health issues are not visible to others!

Regarding restrooms, I am sometimes unable to stand in line for long periods of time, plus I deal with urinary issues. Therefore, sometimes I need the handicapped restroom, and sometimes not. Yes, I get looks, but those are better than having an accident!

For movie theatre seats, I have to say all I can think of are the empty spots for wheelchairs. I sure don't want to sit on the floor! Were they wider seats or something? I've seen those at theatres, but they are for couples and not marked handicapped. Curious as to what they are...and depending on my health that day, I may use one if it's something that would help me.

I am looking forward to being on the Magic soon...sooo ready for my vacation!

Can I ask you a question? If I did this on the main board, it would turn into a huge debate. My daughter asked me this question and I don't know the correct answer. If there is a bathroom designated with a handicapped sign, does that mean only handicapped people can use it? Or does it mean it is accessible to handicapped? For example, we were at a USC game, going to the bathrooms at the stadium. Huge lines as you can imagine. Does the stall designated for handicapped mean we can't use it? Handicapped only? I'm thinking you answered my question with your explanation, but just want to give my daughter the correct answer.

 

[DMMarla07860]

I'd say good trip report, but I was turned off by the obese comments. Sure it's a problem, but you should really only worry about your own health

 

[kellym506]

How were the seas on the sea days leaving from and returning to NYC? I know the ship dodged storm Beryl on the way south. How was the trip north? The mid/north Atlantic isn't as flat as the Caribbean...trying to anticipate the need for Bonine...

Thanks!

 

[glnrcker]

Forgot to add to the GOOD, sailing by Statue of Liberty, the Verrazano Bridge, and seeing the Freedom Tower progress.

The way down on the day we sailed (Friday) was surprisingly calm. Like I said earlier on Saturday afternoon we had 15 foot waves and ocean swells from Beryl. I'm glad you asked though, because I had forgotten that the Friday night or actually Saturday morning of our return, (between 1am-3am), we must have been going through a storm. The boat was really rocking!

"Sure it's a problem, but you should really only worry about your own health"
I really don't want to get into a debate about this, but let's just say I respectfully and completely disagree with this statement. We have a problem that will now be part of the next generation of children....I can only imagine the cost of health care when my children get older. It just can't end up good, if we just "worry about our own health".

okay, i'm mean, rude, negative, and don't mind my own business, but I couldn't sit on my hands on that last comment.

 

[lulubella1609]

Forgot to add to the GOOD, sailing by Statue of Liberty, the Verrazano Bridge, and seeing the Freedom Tower progress.

The way down on the day we sailed (Friday) was surprisingly calm. Like I said earlier on Saturday afternoon we had 15 foot waves and ocean swells from Beryl. I'm glad you asked though, because I had forgotten that the Friday night or actually Saturday morning of our return, (between 1am-3am), we must have been going through a storm. The boat was really rocking!

"Sure it's a problem, but you should really only worry about your own health"
I really don't want to get into a debate about this, but let's just say I respectfully and completely disagree with this statement. We have a problem that will now be part of the next generation of children....I can only imagine the cost of health care when my children get older. It just can't end up good, if we just "worry about our own health".

okay, i'm mean, rude, negative, and don't mind my own business, but I couldn't sit on my hands on that last comment.

Seriously get over yourself! Just because a parent is over weight does not mean that their kids are. My daughter is perfectly healthy.I gained weight at 19 because of a side effect of a medication. Once you gain it, it is really hard loose. It shouldn't be a surprise to you that people called you out on your insensitive comments. What's worse is you bring other peoples kids into and judge them. It really is NONE of you business.

 

[DMMarla07860]

"Sure it's a problem, but you should really only worry about your own health"
I really don't want to get into a debate about this, but let's just say I respectfully and completely disagree with this statement. We have a problem that will now be part of the next generation of children....I can only imagine the cost of health care when my children get older. It just can't end up good, if we just "worry about our own health".

okay, i'm mean, rude, negative, and don't mind my own business, but I couldn't sit on my hands on that last comment.

We can agree to disagree on this. Other then that seems like the cruise was great. And I wasn't trying to be rude in my post so you know, and I don't think you are. Different people different opinions. As long as people are nice doesn't matter one bit.

 

[Minnie2024]

The Cruise sailing from NYC on 5/25 was not sold out. They had about 500 cabins available.

Regardless of people's size they should feel comfortable in sailing with Disney. Your post was very critical over size passengers. Maybe these folks had some type of medical condition you were not aware of it.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly:

We (Me, DH, DD(6), and DS(5))just returned from the first New York City sailing. Overall we had an excellent time!

Good: The Disney experience onboard is unmatched. Crew is great, Character experiences, fireworks, Castaway Cay, the beauty of the ship, Dreams show, not having to fly to the pier! Oceaneers Club & Lab that my kids never wanted to leave from when we arrived to pick them up. The HORN sounding at noon on sea days followed by the Captain's announcements. The food (although I enjoyed it more on our Magic cruise 2 years ago). The inexpensive hair braiding. The Disney movies in the theatre with popcorn. I'm sure there is plenty more that I'll remember later on.

The Bad: I will never sail on a sold out cruise again! Those 4 days at sea with SO MANY people gathered at the pools was awful. It was like a giant hot tub, even at the adult pool! Swimming was not an option at any pool! Yet in my opinion, no one else seemed to be bothered by this! People happily stuffed themselves and their children into the Goofy and Mickey pool.

At Castaway Cay, we made the mistake of going to the second stop family beach. This turned out to be a mistake as again everyone was packed together. It was only towards the end that we saw the first family beach had only about a third of the people.

Tropical Storm Beryl. Made us divert 200+ miles to avoid but we still had some rough seas. Nothing horrible but who would have thought there would have been a tropical storm in May?! The bridge did a great job though.

Losing propulsion on our last sea day. Again, the bridge did an excellent job and within two hours we were moving again. But it was an odd feeling when all of a sudden we were drifting in the middle of the ocean and black & white smoke coming from the stack.

Blue Lagoon Beach Day excursion. Would not recommend this at all! Again very crowded and we waited about an hour outside in the scorching sun (and I'm a sun worshipper) for the last boat back to the ship. There was no scheduled service so it was just standing around in a long line. Also none of the bouncers were included and the lunch was not good at all. Not really the paradise we expected. Plus, we kind of felt bad for the dolphins living there.

The Ugly: I hate to say it, but I have never seen so many obese people in my life!

Non handicapped people using the handicapped bathrooms as their own personal bathroom. Also, doing the same in the movie theatre with the handicapped seating.

Again, we had an amazing time and will probably sail with Disney again. These are just my own personal observations.

SORRY, JUST REALIZED I SPELLED INAUGURAL WRONG IN THE TITLE!!

 

[Minnie2024]

This cruise was definitely not sold out by any means. I did read the same sign how there was no more upgrades available. They probably upgraded everyone before sailing as much as possible.

You are still very critical about obese people. You are not paying for their meals on the ship what difference does it make to you and your family how many ice cream cones or desserts someone is eating. [




QUOTE=glnrcker;45071103]We did go to Disney World. Took the 7:15 shuttle to MK and then the 9:30 shuttle back from Epcot. It was organized well and took about 1 hour and 10 minutes to arrive at the MK. We were a little delayed because there was a serious accident and those that were on the 6:15 shuttle were stuck in traffic for a while.


I did not mention fat. I said obese, which is the technical term once passed overweight. I didn't say they shouldn't cruise. It is ugly that America has an obesity problem, and what's uglier is how many of these people are letting their children follow that path as well. There was a little girl at Castaway Cay (about 7 or 8 years old) hanging around the ice cream machine. We could see her from where we ate lunch. She had 4 cones and I was wondering where the adult supervision was. Finally her mother and sister came and they were also obese. Not fat, obese. It's just sad. Was not trying to be mean. It was my observation that America seems to have a problem that we don't seem to want to address.

I wasn't watching people. The little girl at the cone machine cut in front of my husband who was trying to make a cone for my son and then again later when he was getting one for my daughter and then himself. Believe me, I wasn't watching anyone eat. Some folks you couldn't help but see.

I don't think I'm perfect, nor need to be with just pretty people. This is an issue that obviously makes people upset, but in my opinion needs to be dealt with. Possibly the First Lady will have luck trying to teach children healthier eating options, because in some homes, it's just not happening. I used the phrase, the good, the bad, and the ugly, as the expression goes. Not saying the people were ugly, but the obesity problem is definitely ugly. Not looking to debate this any longer and I do consider myself to be a decent person.

Regarding the pools, it was best to use them either first thing in the morning or when the first seating people were getting ready for dinner.

When we arrived at the pier, it said that the ship was sold out and no upgrades were available. It is correct though that there were empty tables during second seating. Maybe those tables were not used or the families didn't attend, I'm not sure.[/QUOTE]

 

[Carol36]

Compassion and consideration for others is important. How about the feelings of your fellow Disers? It's hard out there for obese individuals. Show some love!!!

Your comments have been "hanging out" with me for a few days, and have been the topic of conversation in our family. I hope my children do NOT judge others by their appearance.