My Trip report with Pics 5/28- 6/1 Wonder page

[steelercrazy]

Ok I am finally able to do a trip report the way I want, (I think). I will probably do this in seperate parts so I can add the pics along the way. Here goes enjoy....
Day before cruise
We left our small town of Dubois PA the day before we set sail, our flight was leaving from Pgh at 7:30 am on the 28th and since we live 100 miles from Pgh we went the day before and stayed the night.Here we are just getting ready to leave, left to right are, Sis-in law Sherri, niece Carli, niece Wendy, son Brad and me Kelly (wannabecruiser/steelercrazy)

We stayed in the Microtel Inn near the airport, good value, we could leave our car parked at the Inn free of charge until we got back! So we got the morning shuttle at 5:15!!! Off to the airport we went. Well we landed in Orland right on schedule, 9:30. Got to the Disney Cruise busses easily and boarded quickly. The bus ride was nice with the anticaption building with each minute.Then before you know it we are walking into the port it was only 11:00!! How beautiful and how full! We were given boarding pass 7.not too bad but so many people. We come to find out the computer system was down and nobody will be boarding until it was fixed. So we found a sit after a while and a gentleman noticed Brads Steeler hat and we got to talking about them and I showed him my terrible towel that I brought!!! They were nice folks...more on them in a little bit.
We are here!!!
Here is Brad at the port.

Finally got to board about 12:45. once they start calling numbers it was not long , with a hop in our step away we were

It was so fun having them announce "Welcome the Divins Family" even thought from reading these boards I knew it was going to happen. So off we went to BBB to have some lunch before our room was ready and mmm-mmm- good. I remember having shrimp, salads, and cheese,crackers and of course dessert!!!!! Now this was not all mine, I shared!!!

Then our room was ready so off we went to our room and changed into our swimsuits. We went directly to the goofy pool, got lounges right next to the pool and for some reason we were able to get these same lounges each time we went to the pool. Could not wait for a refreshing dip, but that was not going to happen, something was wrong with the water temp it was about 95 degrees, warmer than a hot tub. A crew member said they are working on getting it fixed. But it was still fun, then it was time to go to life boat drill, quick and painless that was. When we were going back to our room we happen to run into the folks that we were talking to at the port. They seen the signs on our doors and said are you a "Diser" and I said om my gosh yes I am "wannabecruiser" (now steelercrazy) and she was "cinderelli" we hugged and laughed. It was great to meet someone that I have "talked" to before. Sad to say we really never seen each other again, but it was fun knowing we were on the same floor just a few doors away. So I knew since reading these boards to go right back to the goofy pool for the sail away party. We got a nice spot in the shade, and I was getting so excited Brad and I decided to get a drink (non-alcohol variety) It was refreshing,

We had fun dancing and acting silly, then it came time to blow that horn!!!!!
I was so excited that I got chocked up and teary eyed! I could not believe that we were finally here. So after the party we thought we better go and get ready for dinner out time was 6:00pm and our rotation was APPT. Here we are getting ready to go to dinner, but I needed a pic of our door first....

So off to AP. I could not wait for the light show, it was fun looking all around to see how things changed. I had the filet mignon wrapped in bacon yummy, Brad had pizza, I do think the rest of my group had filet too, we were all stuffed and everything was yummy. Our servers were Daniel from Chile and Vanessa from Trinidad, we really liked them. Our table mates were a family of 3 from Louisanna, Susan, Emily, and Jerry. It was very nice to meet them and we all enjoyed talking to each other. We all declined dessert because we were stuffed. Then Albert(head server) Daniel and Vanessa come walking over to our table and put a napking on top of my nieces head (Wendy) and gave her a cake and started singing Happy Birthday we were all shocked and she said did you tell them it was my birthday... well no I did not and by the way your birthday was 2 days ago. That was such a nice and fun surprise

After dinner Sherri (sil) and Carli(niece) decided to go to Diamond Bingo and the rest of us just going to take a break for a few minutes in our room, she came running back and said come with us to Bingo hardly anyone is in the place, well by the time we got back down it was packed. Anyway of course we did not win but at least I played a game of Bingo. Then it was off to the Walt Disney theater for the Michael Harrison show. Well by now we were pretty tired but we all thought the show was so funny it really woke us up. After the show we went up to deck 9 got some coffee (decaf it was getting late) was going to wal around but we were all getting so tired that we just decided to go back to our rooms and crash for the night. Got back and our first towel animal was a swan, and Brad was so excited to sleep in the "bunk"

wasn't sure if he would fall asleep but as soon as our heads hit the pillow we were out like lightbulbs. We all slept like a baby. Well I am going to stop this for now, I will post more later on today,

p.s Please excuse the different size pics. I am trying to get them all worked out so they are the same but I am having problems. I am trying though!!!
I know it just looks like I am whacked out on too much coffee!!!!

 

[steelercrazy]

OK pics are a little big!!!! Brad told me how to resize them. I thought I did resize them but I guess not. I will try and fix this problem!!!

 

[Ker-Bear]

category were you in? What was your stateroom number?

Looking forward to the rest. Hope you can get some of those photos back up. I love looking at the photos with the report!

 

[steelercrazy]

We were cat 11 room 6541 Me, my son and 1 niece and my sis in law was in cat 6 room 6542 with a verendah her and other niece stayed in that one. I liked the inside room, not in the room much anyway this is a pic of him in his bed (the one that comes from the ceiling)

 

[steelercrazy]

Monday 6/29/06
After a great night of sleep I actually get up real early and decide to go up onto deck 10 to catch the sunrise

I decided to snap a few other pics of since it was so empty, but how great it was to be walking around and so quiet. I also took a blank photo mat down to guest services for character signatures they said it would be delivered to my stateroom on the last night. A few other people were out and some staff getting ready for the day but that was it.Here is a pic of the family/goofy pool early in the morning.......

This is one of Brad hanging out on the comfy deck chairs on deck 4

Well once everyone else go awake, we all went to BBB for breakfast yummy Mickey waffles, bagels, eggs, fresh fruit galore it was all good.
Today is Nassau day and we decided that we would rather stay on the ship more than go int Nassau. So that is pretty much what we did. We went to the goofy pool and got lounges right next to the pool and just lounged all day, Brad made a couple friends so he was having fun with them in the water and going over to the Mickey slide every once in awhile. The did fix the temp in the pool today, it was no longer like a hot tub! I was so relaxed on those lounges I am sure that I dozed for a time or two!!! We decided to just get lunch here next to the pool, Brad decided on cheese Pizza, Me and niece Wendy had the special of the day bbq chicken Pizza, then I went to get some fresh fruit on the other side near Mickey pool, and Sherri and Carli had chicken fingers everything was very good. One hint, bring your own large cups from home, and you can fill them all day long and not have to make so many trips to the free drink fountain. I had some that I have bought from wal mart I think, they are the kind with a wide tip and screw on lid with straw attached. It was nicer than having to use the cups provided.
Well about 1:00 we decided that we might as well take a trip into Nassau, just to say we did. We only went thru the festival place, I bought a rum cake to bring back for the gals at work, but let me tell you it was so strong we could not even eat it at work!!! Then we walked down toward the straw market stopped into the Harley Davidson shop picked up shirts for our husbands stopped in a jewelry shop or two onto the straw market. It was neat and I probably would of spent some more time in it but it was so hot and close we deceded to head on back to the ship!!! Our total time in Nassau was about 1 hour!!!! If I go back I will try and do something else

We came back and went to the pool again, it was a little more crowded this time. After a while we all decided we better go and start getting ready for dinner, tonight was Parrot Cay night.
Each night Brad would get ready, then I would go get a shower and by the time I got out of the shower this is what I found

Dinner was delicous as usual, I had spare ribs with sweet potato fries, I am not postive but I think Brad had mac and cheese I am not sure what the rest of the group had but it was all very good. Our table mates were not in attendance tonight they went to Palo for dinner.
After dinner we wne to the show Who wants to be a Mouseketeer. It is like who wants to ba a millionaire but with a Disney twist!!! Well low and behold guess who'se number gets called!!! So Brad and I go up on stage and the first question was pretty easy, (sorry I do not remember it) then they got a tad bit harder, the next one was something I didn't even know and took a wild guess, a lucky one too, I think we did use the life lines but we wind up getting all the way to the end and we won!!! We got a very nice crystal and two pins it was fun. After that it was onto the Walt Disney Theater for Hercules the Musical. It was very funny and entertaining. After the show we walked around for a bit and then Sherri and Wendy went to the adult comedy show at wave bands, me Brad and Carli decided to send an e-mail home, by the way one quick e-mail cost about $7.45!!! I did not get a package because I knew I would have lots of other things to do I juyst want ed to send a note home to the rest of the family telling them the fun they were missing out on. After we did that we went to watch some family Karoke at Studio Sea, some of the people were funny, I know I would not get up and sing I would probable clear the ship!!! We walked up to deck 9 i got some coffe at the drink station we went to deck 10 Brad played some basketball and then after awhile we all decided to turn in again for the night I think we might of made it until 11:00 tonight.
Day three to follow in a day or two............

 

[steelercrazy]

Tuesday Castaway Day....5/29/06 part 1
Today was the day I been waiting for, and I do believe that it lived up to my expectations!!!
Here is my first view of Castaway Cay I was so excited.

After watching us dock, we decided to go to Parrot Cay for breakfast. Pretty much the same as BBB, for some reason I was so into bagels with cream cheese and fresh fruit. It tasted so good.
We all got ready and were off the ship by 9:00 am
I could not wait to be laying on that beautiful beach.

We got our seats under an umbrella, and was in the beautiful crystal clear water within minutes

It was so nice and relaxing, we got rafts and lazed around. At noon Brad and I had our stingray excursion, so we started to walk the Stingray spot, once we got a few instructions we started feeding them and then got to swim around, this was pretty interesting and I am glad that we did it.

After we finished with the stingrays, we meet up with the rest of the family and went to cookies bbq. Yummy again, had cheeseburgers,cookies fresh fruit, banana bread and choco chip cookie dough ice cream!!!
Went back and swam some more, before we had to call it a day on castaway.........

I wish we could of spent more time on Castaway but we had to be back on the ship by 5:00. Now I know what everyone was always saying, it is a special place..

We had to go and get ready to eat again!!!!! I am so shocked I did not gain 10 lbs. I will post more on the rest of the nights activities an a day or two......

 

[Tiggery]

Great report, wonderful pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post.

 

[MIRealtor]

Really enjoying your trip report so far! It's fabulous to see photos of each experience...makes you feel like you're a part of it. Keep writing when you can!

As a side note: Is it just me or does anyone else notice that a majority of Castaway Cay photos show dark skies? Is it often overcast when you dock but clear later? Our family is headed on this very same cruise in early November and I'm obviously concerned about the weather. We've been truly blessed with regard to weather when in Caymans, Maui or Jamaica...hoping this upcoming trip is the same!

Kimberly

 

[taeja71]

who were your servers?

 

[tjeagle]

Love your report! Keep it coming!

 

[Us2]

What a great trip and report. Glad you had a blast with your family. I am sitting here wishing for our next one now. This is worse then eating potato chips. Bet you can't cruise just once type thing!! May is so far far away. So..um....when's your next one?

 

[steelercrazy]

Really enjoying your trip report so far! It's fabulous to see photos of each experience...makes you feel like you're a part of it. Keep writing when you can!

As a side note: Is it just me or does anyone else notice that a majority of Castaway Cay photos show dark skies? Is it often overcast when you dock but clear later? Our family is headed on this very same cruise in early November and I'm obviously concerned about the weather. We've been truly blessed with regard to weather when in Caymans, Maui or Jamaica...hoping this upcoming trip is the same!

Kimberly

It does seem cloudy in a lot of photos, but the amazing part is if it was cloudy it always seemd to be off in the distance, I know the photos don't show it that way, but it was like that, now walking back to the ship we did get a few drops of rain, but that was it.

 

[steelercrazy]

who were your servers?

They wer Daniel from Chili and Vanessa from Trinidad..wonderful people. I will post pictures in a later report.

 

[DisTeach1]

Can you tell me where the Rum cakes are sold? We are going to walk around a bit, go to the Straw Market and Atlantis, but I'd like to pick up a rum cake.

 

[steelercrazy]

I got them at a stand in the Festival Place. It is the bright building to the right. A large one is $20 and a small single serve size is $6 And they have different flavors too. There is no doubt that it is rum cake!!!

 

[taeja71]

They wer Daniel from Chili and Vanessa from Trinidad..wonderful people. I will post pictures in a later report.

Thank you for the server info. and I'm not talking computers here. I enjoy reading your trip report. I have to say, your stateroom door look great too!

 

[steelercrazy]

Sorry that I have not finished this part of the report yet, I have had a busy weekend. Between working amd then I had to go and pick up my older son (the one that did not go on the cruise) at Camp Woodward this weekend. He was away for 1 week and you know what kind of laundry he brought home!!!! Geez my and the washer have become good friends!!! Ok back to my trip report...........
Well once we left beautiful Castaway, we all got ready ( I think Brad took his little nap again!!!) and went to Parrot Cay for dinner. I wish I would of taken a picture of all the servers, the looked so cute in the Pirate costumes. We got to our table and tonight was a special menu, you get to take it home with you. My selection for tonight was Treasure of the Seas Grilled Shrimp and Seared Scallops with pasta in a creamy tomato sauce. I wasn't sure if I would like the tomato sauce so I asked if I could get it without and Daniel so no problem. He then did bring some out on the side and asked if I wanted to try it and I did and it was very good. Brad had Pizz and Mac & cheese tonight, along with vegies and the smoothie of the day. I did have a dessert tonight and I deceded on The lost Banana treasure found with Carmel Rum Sauce and vanilla Ice cream, Flambeed by your Head Server in the dining room. It was very good, but I did not see anyone Flambee it!! Also everyone gets bandanas for Pirate night here is a pic of Brad and I with ours..........

After we were done eating the limbo started. It was fun clapping and watching everyone else limbo!!! Brad did got in line and went around a couple times. That was fun.
After dinner we went to Studio Sea to watch Walk The Plank gameshow, while we were watching the show, I looked out one of the portholes and noticed the sun was setting and I decided to go out and get some pics of the sunset..................

I was glad that I got a sunset too. After walk the plank show we headed right up to the Walt Disney Theater to get ready to watch the Golden Mickeys show, before we went to sit we stopped in at the Treasure Ketch to see if we wanted to pick up som souvies. We just kinda window shopped and will pick up a few things tomorrow. We then went to get our seats, we were always pretty lucky in getting half decent seats for all 5 of us. I really liked tonights show, I happen to be able to get this pic without using my flash,

After the show we went and headed up toward deck 10 to get ready for the Pirate party!!! We did get next to the railing, not in chairs, but that was ok. One thing I regret is that I did not have my video camera with me!! I had my digital camera, but I really could not get any good pics with this. The show was so much fun, I can not believe how much all the entertianers dance around, I would be so tired I get tired watching them!!! It was great especially when Mickey came flying out of the sky and said I promised you a party in the sky and here it is!!! Then boom the fireworks start. I was able to get this pic...........

That was fo much fun knowing that here you are out in the middle of the ocean and we are watching fireworks!!! Then out came the buffet!!! Even though we had early seating we were still full. Next time I think I would only eat very light at dinner, (if anything) to save room for this buffet. I thought that it was going to just a dessert buffet, but it was tons of other food. I could not eat anything (still to full for dinner)and was a little dissapointed, we did grab a few chocolate coverd strawberries, I think you always have room for that!! The party went on for a while, I think we danced until about midnight. It was a long day and we were all winding down, I think this is the latest that we stayed up til. We all headed to our room, and turned in for the night. We decided to order room service for breakfast, got our slip ready for the door and turned on the tv (I used this as a nightlight a lot) I think Beauty and the Beast was playing and I watched some of that until I dozed off for the night. This day was by far the busiest but in my opinion the best. Well onto tomorrow, day at sea.
p.s. if anyone wants to know anything else that was on this menu or any of the kids menus just let me know, I have tose ones at home with me.

 

[Babs417]

Thank You your pic are great!

 

[nzdisneymom]

I enjoyed reading your trip report and especially glad you included pictures along the way! I wrote our trip report out a couple of months ago but keep thinking I'll go back and add pictures (when I put it on my family's web site) to make it more interesting and also to chronicle for us.

Sounds like you had a great trip.

 

[Lindy Loo]

loving your trip report, and of course the fab pictures, it really brings the info "to life".... i read this to my DD4 as a story! We go in oct on 4 night so any tips you have.......................... xxx