Hi everyone --- we are back and had a truely Magical time on the first double-dip cruise to Costa Maya, Cozumel and
Castaway Cay.......Thanks to those of you who posted and lurked on the DD scoop thread and live thread. There are some good trip reports already. I have posted some, more to come, but here is a summary...
Day 1 - We had a meet at a seafood resturant in New Symrna Beach - luckily the fires were out. It was great to see some of the posters we had never met....and then stayed for a beer and watched the dolphin round up fish....
Day 2 - At the Port - check-in has gotten better than in November. We were the 5th car, not the 1st this time....and boarded right after first classers made it on the ship around 12. We had to rush to book Palo's. There were so many returning cruisers 1300, that all the brunch ressies were taken by 3:00 am 90 days out.....Then we switched Palo's dinner so it was not the night before the dive. As we were there early, it all worked out but I heard there were not enough seats for all cruisers at the Brunch this time. The nonto Parrot Cay for those wonderful shrimp before the Sail-Away. We were on deck 4 with the banner for Garry....who is going through a rough time. And time to unpack, change for the show....some great talent this trip, and diner in AP. Went to Match Your Mate and one of our posters was selected....Shall I say, I hear the video is making the rounds on the thread...hee hee.....
Day 3 - Our first stop to CC - we had booked Seahorse snorkel but it was cancelled....we had also booked for the second CC day, so we were not disappoined. the weather was beautiful, The seas calm, calm, calm, all trip....smooth as silk....Anyway we snorkeled at the Family Lagoon - much better than in November after the storms, lots and lots of fish. Had a recovery brew at the Bar, met familiar bartenders, ate at Cookies....And yes, they have improved the food....more snorkeling, back on board to change for Palo's dinner......And Palo's did not disappoint.....The show was the ventriliquest and she was hysterical!
Day 4 - Sea Day - Up early - hum, why????Ducky Williams, one of the last remaining Disney illusrators in the old ways provided a performance.....and I won STITCH!!!!!! He authographed a charcoal drawing...It was our Palo's brunch day.....Memorial Day as well.....we had beer tasting in the pm....missed Johnny but Jez was good and formal night in Lumeire's. Golden Mickey's still as neat as ever....
Day 5 - Costa Maya - a great trip to the ruins...we booked through Native Choice ont he island. I posted a detailed report on the live thread. But the ruins were very interesting and impressive. It was my first time to see any Mexican ruins so while this might be smaller in height, they were still very interesting. The guide made it all the more so. And we went to a Mayan family for lunch afterards. Highly recommended, so if anyone wants more info, let me know. Oh yes, back to port, with one hour left for shopping and then to the show and dinner. Twice Charmed was the show that night. Too tired for any adult entertainment after dinner. Dinner back at AP. Many of the table mates had chosen that night for Palo. It was our first choice but we gave it up because of diving....
Day 6 - THE LONG AWAITED DIVE OF THE COZUMEL WALL - Oh WOW - oh WOW - oh - WOW ---- we had t tender (long post about that on the live thread). Not much of a problem when you consider what the residents went rhough with Wilma....And our dive boat was near-by - the divemaster was so great. Professional, knowledgeable - we did 3 dives (nitrox) the first 90 feet of the wall and the blue void to the east - hypnotic. The water was clear, the coral magnificant and the fish abundant. The second a 60 foot reef dive and the third a 30 foot reef dive (or thre abouts). Sam took pictures, I am still too new for that on this dive......We rested on the beach between dives. We made it back to shore with less than an hour before the last tender left so no shopping or cervezas on Coz. for us. We did not bring lunch so we snacked at the remains of the members buffet, washed suits and missed the movie - the wild. Dinner was in PC and a good time had by all.....
Day 7 - Another Day at sea - Up early for a spa treatment, the frangipani and hair braid, another showing by Duckey - not so lucky for me this time, but I have STITCH.....lunch at Topsiders, can you believe I am full!!!!! Wine tasting as I missed it in November, no pins.....and beer tasting, fun...we had black and tans on the house afterwards, and the show was Disney Dreams, I still cried.....dinner in Lumieres.
Day 8 - Castaway Cay - Seahorse Snorkel went off on schedule and the reef was abundant with smaller fish. The storms wrecked the coral, but still pretty....and we enjoyed the day. We thought of making it to the adult beach for lunch and heard the menu was very much enhanced, but we enjoyed our lazt day. Back on board, time to start packing. Did not start soon enough as we missed Pub Night - oh well.....but the farewell show, sad, but talent good, and out last dinner with the table mates was back in AP....
Day 9 - sob, sob, sniff.......time to leave and say good-by to all our Disney friends.......
We did rebook on board but wil change the days to 2008. We are taking a cruise to Alaska on DVC points, that is, if I remember to book it....
More later, esp. about the Hawaii but not this am...
Have a Great Day....