My First Ever Trip Report - Inaugural NYC Cruise 05/25/12 & 4 Night NYC Stay

[Cheryl726]

I am enjoying reading your TR, great pics too! That is a great apple towel animal, love it!

 

[jedijill]

Fantastic start!

Jill in CO

 

[BethA]

thanks for posting. We leave in less than 2 weeks

 

[st8y]

I am enjoying your trip report too. It is fun to relive the memories...especially when family and friends are getting bored of listening to me!
We were on the same dining rotation! We were always in the middle back of the restaurants.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Day 4 – Nassau

Woke up early again and went for breakfast, then could see we were approaching Nassau so went and woke the kids up, and Izzy came up on deck with me. We saw a huge object that she thought was a hotel but I knew was another cruise ship, it turned out to be Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas. It was absolutely massive.

It looked a bit overcast, but this soon burnt off and it later turned into a beautiful day.

Captain John had to do a 180 degree turn in order to back into the berth, and we were docked between the Allure and also Carnival Ecstasy.

We left the ship, and were amazed to find a bumper sticker on the back, which we knew nothing about! It looked awesome though, and got lots of pictures:

Also took a picture of Atlantis in the distance:

I had already decided we were going to go to Junkanoo, the free beach, as unfortunately I didn’t really have the funds to do any of the Disney excursions. This is a view from coming in to port of the beach (notice the concrete jettys, the relevance you will see in a minute!):

It was about a 15 minute slow stroll to the beach, not taxing at all. The water was gorgeous, and we all got in straight away and had a swim.

Dom then decided after watching others that he was going to spend hours jumping off the concrete jetty. He had a great time. Some of the locals were doing dives and somersaults of there, was impressive to watch them.

From the beach you can see where the ships are docked. Look how small (but perfectly formed!) the Magic looks in between the Allure and Ecstasy:

We stayed at the beach until around 1.30pm, then started walking back. I bought some wine from the liquor shop – I had bought some Baileys biscotti flavour from duty free to enjoy on the ship, but unfortunately I didn’t like it (but I later gave it to our server Emily who really liked it), so wanted to get some more alcohol! We looked in the straw market but all the stall holders were very pushy, and I thought the prices were expensive. To be honest the shops stock the same kind of stuff, and are actually cheaper. Dom bought a plane made out of a red bull can which was engraved with his name and the year, and cost him $10 – they were trying to get double that in the straw market, and even with bartering wouldn’t go as low as $10, plus it wouldn’t have been engraved.

We then got back on board and showered, then the kids went off to Edge/Vibe whilst I sat in the shade on deck 9 checking my emails. We came back to the room around 7.15 to get ready for pirate night, and got changed into the t-shirts I had made for us. Got a few photos taken before going in to the dining room:

We were in Lumineres for Pirate Night, and our table mates had dressed up as well which was nice. They liked our t-shirts:

I had mushroom risotto and the kids have beef, which Dom liked and Izzy didn’t, so she resorted to her normal request of pasta marinara! The risotto had been ordered specially for me, as Emily had got me to look at the menu the night before and I hadn’t liked the look of any of the vegetarian options. Didn’t fancy the desserts, so we decided to leave and get a spot on deck 10 for the pirate party. Dom stayed with me, but Izzy went off with Edge!

The party was great, as were the fireworks. I love that Disney do that!

After the fireworks Dom went to Vibe, and I went back to the cabin and had some wine, which was very nice.

Towel animal of the day – a monkey (my favourite!):

 

[Ladyshopper]

Would have posted this earlier, but after typing it all all the computer froze up then closed down meaning I lost the entire post, so had to do it all again!

Something I haven't been mentioning in my report but that I did every day was give our room host chocolate every day. I brought 8 different bars from England (I'm afraid that English chocolate is most definitely the best!) then gave him a different one to try each morning. I also gave some to our serves, and Izzy took some for the English CM in Edge. I also gave some to two of the girls in merchandising - Laura who is English and made certificates for my two with all different pins on as she knew we all liked pin trading, and Rita who invited Dom and Izzy to take part in officer pin trading - more about that when I get to it later on!

 

[disney debi]

Thanks for sharing. Really enjoying your trip report!

 

[Ladyshopper]

I've only just noticed I made a spelling mistake in the title - doh!!! Can anyone tell me how I edit the thread title please?

Glad people are enjoying the trip report so far, I am enjoying writing it (apart from when computer loses it, then I am grrrrrrrrr!!).

 

[st8y]

I've only just noticed I made a spelling mistake in the title - doh!!! Can anyone tell me how I edit the thread title please?

Glad people are enjoying the trip report so far, I am enjoying writing it (apart from when computer loses it, then I am grrrrrrrrr!!).

Go to your original post and click on edit in the lower right corner and then go to the advanced editing. It will allow you to change it there.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Day 5 - Castaway Cay

Was really excited about visiting Castaway Cay as read so many trip reports and seen so many pictures, and it looked beautiful. So, up and out for breakfast at 7am (had to wait for Topsiders to open at 7.30) only to find it was pouring with rain and all overcast:

Putu our assistant server was working in Topsiders clearing the rain from the floor and he told me not to worry it would clear up. It turned out he was right, it did clear up fairly quickly, but I was still worried until it did! Here are a couple of pics as we approached Castaway Cay to dock:

By the time we made it on to the Island it was already brightening up. We stopped at the post office so the kids could send postcards to their Father and Grandparents, then got on the tram and got off at the second stop. The beach was deserted as it was still early, so the kids had a go on the hammocks:

Dom loved his, and was rocking back and forwards. Izzy wasn't quite so good and managed to fall out 3 times before giving up - unfortunately I didn't get a picture!

We picked some sunloungers with an umbrella, as I burn so easily, then Dom went for a snorkel whilst me and Izzy chilled out checking email (I loved my kindle on holiday, having free 3G for checking mail was so useful!). They then went and played on a tube for a while:

The day seemed to pass really quickly - we had lunch, played some basketball and table tennis, and the kids went to the Edge/Vibe hangout, then before I knew it it was time to get back on the boat. The kids went back with their clubs, and I walked past Mount Rustmore to get a pic, then I couldn't resist another pic of the awesome bumper sticker:

Before getting back on board they had cool flannels which they gave out which were soooo nice! I then headed to the room for a shower, then went off and did some washing. Dinner that night was in Animaters Palette where they did the show which was great. I had mushroom risotto for starter then pasta in a creamy mushroom sauce which was off the kids menu but was lovely. Its a very good job I like mushrooms, as nearly all the vegetarian options seem to be focussed round them! The head server had also done me a special order of stir fried vegetables, which was lovely but I was so stuffed by then (I didn't know he was doing it!) that I couldn't finish it! Izzy had the stir fry veggies and noodles which looked good:

As ever, it was back to the cabin after dinner, and I had some wine then bed, as I knew it was an early start for Disney World. Towel animal of the day - a rabbit (I think!):

 

[Ladyshopper]

Go to your original post and click on edit in the lower right corner and then go to the advanced editing. It will allow you to change it there.

Thanks so much, have done it now!

 

[Sereina]

Castaway Cay look so beautiful! Really enjoying your TR.

 

[Stokkie20]

Such a nice TR so far!!!!

1 question for you! You were saying that you had 3G on Castaway Cay! Did you use a sim card from the US? Or one from the UK?

I'm from Belgium and would also like to use a 3G connection while we are on the cruise the 20th of July!

 

[Ladyshopper]

Such a nice TR so far!!!!

1 question for you! You were saying that you had 3G on Castaway Cay! Did you use a sim card from the US? Or one from the UK?

I'm from Belgium and would also like to use a 3G connection while we are on the cruise the 20th of July!

I have a 3G Kindle, bought specifically with holidays in mind, as it doesn't need a sim card! If there is wifi connection it will connect to that, but if not it automatically connects to 3G if there is signal (which I found out there isn't in the middle of the ocean on sea days, but was great at ports!).

It isn't the best browser on there for internet surfing, but I only really wanted it for checking emails and it was fine. Also let me on facebook as well, but froze up a few times so I gave up on that (but am not a huge facebook lover anyway so didn't mind).

I did take my mobile phone but didn't turn it on the whole time as didn't want a huge bill.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Day 6 - Walt Disney World

So, remember earlier on when I said about my rules for the kids - they could stay out late at the clubs as long as they weren't grumpy on port days? So far this had worked well. I did tell them that we were getting up at 6.30am to go to WDW and suggested they may want an early night. Izzy came in at 11.30pm, but Dom decided to stay out until 1.30am. Not the best idea he'd ever had!!

I'd set a Mickey wake up call for 6.30am, and also ordered room service breakfast. They were obviously very busy as it came later than I ordered, and some of the stuff ordered was missing, but it wasnt a problem.

Me and Izzy got up fine, but Dom was a nightmare as he was exhausted. I was full of sympathy - NOT. I was not very happy with him that day, and boy did he know it!

Our bus was supposed to be 7.15am but there was an announcement to say that due to a fatality, the buses couldn't get through so would be running late. On hearing this the kids promptly went back to bed, and I went on the hunt for more food that was missing from our breakfast order.

They kept us well informed of what was going on, but I must have missed an announcement, as one minute it was "they are on their way" and the next it was the last call for the 7.15 bus ticket holders, so I had to get the kids up and race down to catch the bus to the Magic Kingdom.

As expected, Dom fell straight back to sleep on the bus. Top tip - the buses are FREEZING as they have the air conditioning on. This is great after a hot day in the park, but we were really cold on the way there.

Had an easy drive to the park, so off we went. Dom was still half asleep, feeling sick and trying not to cry. As I said before, I had no sympathy at all for him, as far as I was concerned he had caused it himself, and as he had chosen to stay out he could deal with the consequences.

We posed for some pictures - unfortunately the half asleep look didn't turn out too well so none of our pictures from the park turned out well, as I had been hoping to buy some nice ones. You are given a special photo card which is linked to your KTTW, so all the pics taken at the park are available to view and buy at the ship, and you can also have them on your CD if you buy one. Anyway, here is a pic I took:

We had a slow wander round - luckily we have been to WDW before, so there wasn't the urgency to do the rides. Had I never been before I would have been even crosser at Dom! We went on "Its a small world", just so I could have the annoying song stuck in my head! Izzy and I went on Haunted Mansion, and left Dom with the bags. I'm sure you'll be suprised to know he was asleep when we got back! We also went on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and something else I can't remember, then decided to go to Epcot. On our way out we caught a parade in Main Street:

We caught the monorail to Epcot and bumped into Izzy's favourite character:

Had a wander round the science area. I would have liked to walk round all the different lands, but no way Dom would have made it, he was still suffering and it was boiling hot. We went on Universe of Energy (think thats what its called) which I didn't know what it was, but it was actually really good.

We then went into the shops and did some pin trading, as we are all really into that. We also bumped into the family we shared dinner with which was nice! By this point it was clear that Dom had had enough, and I had had enough of walking round with a tired grumpy boy who was trying to pretend he wasn' tired and grumpy, so we decided to get the bus back. We just made the 4.30pm bus, and they were giving out cold water which was bliss.

After an easy drive back to port we got to see the ship model in port:

And also the famous Mickey ears:

It was about 5.45pm by this time, and we had been told that Parrot Cay had a buffet open at 6.30pm, and Topsiders wasn't open til around 9pm. We went to Parrot Cay and I have to say it was probably the nicest choice of food I had eaten as a vegetarian since being on the ship, there was lots of good food (and yummy desserts!).

Dom was grounded that night so me and him went back to the cabin and found our towel animal - a snake:

I told him he had to go to bed for 9, and when I turned his lights out he was practically asleep straight away, and didn't get up until 11am the next morning! Izzy came in at 10.30 as she was also tired, so they both had a catch up on sleep.

 

[disney debi]

Just catching up. Great trip report so far. Love the photos! Castaway key looks so beautiful! Can definitely relate to the sleepy kid troubles!

 

[Ladyshopper]

Just catching up. Great trip report so far. Love the photos! Castaway key looks so beautiful! Can definitely relate to the sleepy kid troubles!

I honestly don't know how parents with younger kids do it all without them being exhausted and children from hell! At least my two are the age where on the sea days, I just basically leave them to sleep and go off and do my own thing, and we're not trying to fit in all the family activities and stuff.

 

[Ladyshopper]

Day 7 - Sea Day and Semi Formal Night

I was looking forward to today, as it was officer pin trading night, which we all like, and Rita from merchandising had invited Dom and Izzy to take part with the officers, which I thought was pretty cool.

Anyway, more about that later!

I woke around 7.45am and left the kids snoring whilst I went for breakfast, then I headed to the adult pool. I had left them a note on the board (we had a magnetic whiteboard) saying where I was if they needed me, and to put the service room sign out when they left!

I stayed there until 12, but it was just too hot and I could feel myself burning, so went back to the cabin for a shower, then went to Topsiders for lunch. On my way back I took this cool picture at Goofy's Galley:

The towel folding demonstration/lesson was on today, so I decided to go to that, which was fun. I wasn't great, this is my dog, and the only thing that really looked like it was supposed to:

I then did some washing (again, I know! In my defence we were staying in New York for 5 days after the trip so I needed to get all the stuff for there clean) and other mundane things, and before I knew it the kids were back, as I told them to come back at 6.30pm to get ready for semi-formal night, as they wouldn't have time to come back to the cabin after pin trading.

Me and Izzy were ready first, so had a wander round, and managed to get a picture with one of the nice background boards as the photographers weren't there:

I did later buy a family pic of this as it was so nice (don't even get me started on how much photos cost, but they do such a good job of making you look good you feel obliged!).

We then headed to Preludes. Now, when we got the invitations to pin trade, I assumed there would be other kids apart from my two, but it turned out they were the only two invited. They were given lanyards complete with pins to wear by Rita, as she didn't want them to have to use their own pins, and they got to keep them afterwards.

The pin trading was so busy. I did a lot of trading, as well as my own I had to look out for Chip and Dale for Dom, and Stitch and Tinkerbell pins for Izzy, as they couldn't look themselves.

Here is them with the lanyards on:

And one at the end with the officers, looking very smart:

It was good fun, and took us right through to dinner time, where we were in Parrot Cay. Emily and Putu both looked very smart:

For this meal I had so much food it was unbelieveable, as I was brought a load of special orders! The previous night I had discovered mozzarella sticks at the buffet, and asked Emily if I could have them as a starter, and she brought a massive dish out! She had then put in an order of both mushroom risotto and vegetable lasagne for me which were both lovely but I couldn't finish! For pudding it was the gorgeous lava pudding. We were all so stuffed after dinner!

After dinner I went to Shutters and sorted out my photo package, did some wandering, then went back to the cabin for some wine and bed. Towel animal of the day - a scorpion:

 

[Ladyshopper]

Day 8 – Sea Day (and last full day aboard )

So, today was our last full day on the Disney Magic. We were all so sad, it really had been a fantastic cruise.

I was up and out for breakfast around 8.15, then straight to the adult pool for my last bit of sunbathing there. I also snuck in some pastries from Quiet Cove (have conveniently forgotten to mention I’d been doing that all week!!). Again, it was so hot and I knew I would burn, so I left there around 11am and went to the cabin for a shower.

I went to the future bookings desk and booked a Med Cruise for next year – who knows if I can afford it, but I will put my all into saving up for it, as it is worth every penny! Lunch was at Topsiders and Emily my server was outside handing out wipes (she had been on that duty every day, think they must have to do a cruise each!) and she gave me a big hug. Buffet was great if you like seafood, not so wonderful if you’re vegetarian like me. I just had salad, however, there was fresh crepes being cooked for dessert, so I did indulge!

After lunch I decided to go and sit on the secret deck, as I had loved it there on my last cruise, but hadn’t really been there on this one. It was empty bar one other person, so I got comfy, but it was even hotter than out by the pool, so I quickly gave up. View of secret deck:

I then went and sat on a comfy lounge chair on deck 4 instead, which was nice and shady. I read my kindle, wrote up my travel diary, and watched all the joggers who looked far too energetic!

I had told the kids to be back at 4 so that we could pack, as suitcases had to be outside by 10.30pm and obviously we had to go to dinner, plus I wanted to go to the show. Remembered to leave out pyjamas and clothes for the next day! It was sad packing up.

During the late afternoon the ship came to a stop for a couple of hours, and there was an announcement by Captain John that it had lost propulsion. Also the wave phones and computer systems were down, but everything else was working. I was hoping we would be stranded for ages and get another day on board, but no such luck!

I went to the show (think it was called Til We Meet Again) and it was really good, wish I’d told the kids to come but hadn’t decided to go until later in the day. Alfred and Seymour were part of it, and they were so funny I wish I’d made an effort to go to some of their shows during the week.

Our last dinner was at Lumineres. I had a spinach thing that wasn’t very nice, so asked Emily if I could have pasta marinara like Izzy had been having every day, and she got it for me. It was lovely, I eat a lot of simple food at home so this was my idea of great food!

After dinner the chefs did their thing coming out with the flaming baked Alaska. My pictures of them parading round didn’t turn out, but here is my slice (not sure why the lighting is so yellow!):

The servers and head servers then did their flag parade where they come out with all the flags representing all the different nationalities working on board. We did a big cheer as Emily and Putu came by! After that we said our final goodbyes, both to our family we had shared the dinner service with, and our servers. Dom had a final pic with Emily and Putu:

Kids went of to Edge and Vibe for the last time to say goodbye to all their friends, swap email addresses and sign t-shirts etc. They had had a brilliant time and Izzy especially made some great friends. I went to the atrium to wait for all the characters to appear down the stairs, which looked very impressive. I didn't get great photos from there because of where I was stood, but here is one of Belle:

I then went off with Cathy and her Mum from our dinner table to the Pub Show in Rockin Bar D which was hilarious! After that it was to the cabin – towel animal of the day……… I’m not entirely sure!!

 

[Bronxgirl]

Your trip sounds awesome. Thanks s much for posting such wonderful pictures. It's getting me very excited for my cruise in September.