November 5th 2011 Eastern on the Magic

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Us in the Governors house on St. Criox. This was the podium where the governor gives his speeches. The rest of the room can be rented for different events. It use to be where the governor held grand balls.

Original chair from the ball room

Our guide, Heavenly outside the entrance to the Grand Ball room.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Jail cell at Fort Christenson St. Croix.

This one had a window for ventilation. Lesser criminals got this cell if they were lucky.

This cell, no windows, for the worse criminals.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Sunset on board.

Sometimes you may miss the sunsets due to your dinner time but try to catch at least one while on board. Maybe a night when you have Palo's or decide to not go to the dining room one evening.
You won't be disappointed.

Getting ready for the Adventures away party.

Theres our beautiful ship, at CC.

Kathy

 

[LovesToRun]

Those are really neat coasters!! Wow!! What is the coaster material ... Is it stone or tile? And were these cheap to make?? Just wondering the materials cost. They are so cool!

Was this when you lived in florida? If so, then you didn't have to check luggage on a plane... I can just see it now...a suitcase full of stone coasters.......the weight limit for bags is 50lbs....you put your suitcase on the airport scale and it is 700lbs!!

also love all the pics!!

Oh, and early congrats, Kathy!!!! I know you will reach your post goal while I am gone....prob you will reach it today!!

Well, I am almost packed...we are hitting the road in an hour!

Take care!

Kathy

 

[2ksilverbullet]

Kids do not know they are going away yet. We are putting them in the car in the morning and going to the airport. When we get to the airport we will say we are going to FL for the weekend. On Saturday morning we will drop the rental car off and take their shuttle to the ship. I am trying to arrange for the Disney phone call to the kids telling about their upcoming journey either that morning or when we get to the ship. They should be freaking out when they see the ship.

Any other ideas on surprising them?

Great idea! My neighbor just got back from WDW and didn't tell his kids where they were going. They freaked out and were so excited when they got there.

I dropped the bomb on my 14 year old yesterday. Told him no cell phone service on the boat (at least none that I'm willing to pay for). He didn't handle it well but I told him there's a chance I'll spring for the internet that he can use for a short amount of time. He had the same response when we went hunting last year. No cell phone service for 4 days at our cabin, it was devastating..

 

[flygrl]

Have a great weekend Kathy (L2R)
Great pictures Kathy (mom) love the costers too!
I heard on the news the other day about the woman's cell phone bill with her son's text messages... $200,000 ... WOW I think I can live with out a phone or computer for a week, it will be great! lol

tanya

 

[Switzert]

I dropped the bomb on my 14 year old yesterday. Told him no cell phone service on the boat (at least none that I'm willing to pay for). He didn't handle it well but I told him there's a chance I'll spring for the internet that he can use for a short amount of time. He had the same response when we went hunting last year. No cell phone service for 4 days at our cabin, it was devastating..

I don't know what provider you have but St. Thomas and all USVI are part of the AT&T nationwide coverage area. Verizon is 1.99 min, and Sprint from what I can tell it is part of the nationwide coverage. So he may be able to break his communication black hole 4 day and 2 day stints.

He may get off the boat in St. Thomas like this

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Kathy,
The coasters were corkboard and I brought them on the plane from Oregon to Orlando. Cork is light, thank goodness.

The least expensive way is to buy one large cork board and cut it yourself but i was not about to do that. I cant cut a straight line
So I bought them from a web site already cut. I think it was www.createforless.com I watched for sales and then got what i needed.

They had 2 or 3 sizes of squares and even had circles.
I sized then printed off my pictures on glossy photo paper then cut them out. Glued them to the cork board.
Let dry over night, then I used some glossy waterproof stuff. Cant think of the name but each coaster had 25 layers on it and it had to dry for 3 hours between coats. Then 5 layers of a finish spray too. So it wasnt hard but it was time consuming.
All the coats had to be done outside due to the fumes. I gave one to each person, but it was a small group. I think 40 in all. I made them all different pictures..
The photos were actually taken of a few rejects that wernt spaced evenly or centered right and I kept them.
Thye were good for cold drinks only. For hot drinks the coating was way out of my price range. So Mickey sent a note in each FE to tell people cold only.

It was a lot of fun.

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

WOW!! I can't believe were are on page 124 already

Thats alot of posting.
Great job everyone!!

Kathy

 

[clj1410]

LOL on the things to do list! I'm with you! I hadn't thought of most of the things people have said!--mail, batteries, emergency #, call the CC company.... YIKES! And I bet we do go to the same BJ's! on 73? Such a small world!

Kathy LTR, I think I"m going to print your list as my to do list Also, thanks for the Pirate Night menu. Claire has talked me into making it to the dining room that night (now that our original excursion was canceled and the new one is only a half day it won't be a problem-sorry for the vent) and now that I see the menu, I'm even more excited about it! I LOVE LOVE LOVE conch! Can't wait to try the Conch Chowder, I really hope they have it!

See Danielle i told you, you wouldn't want to miss Pirate Night in the dining room

We do go to the BJ's on 73, although the one in Maple Shade sells beer and wine

I think i will also print out Kathy (LTR) to do list, it has everything on there that i need to do, except the whole 40th birthday cupcakes, I don't need to worry about that until next year

 

[clj1410]

HI All,

Well, today, one of my best girl friends and I are driving up to Vancouver BC (it's only about 2.5 hours from Seattle) for the weekend!! We're staying in a hotel downtown Vancouver and going to have a fun girl's get-away!!! Can't wait!

So, I probably won't post this weekend... but I'll be back here on Sunday night or Monday morning.

Two weeks from today, we are flying to Orldando!!! At this time in 2 weeks, we will have been in the air for 30 minutes... with only 5 1/2 hours to go!




Hands down for our entire family --- Sun Screen with a high SPF!! We ALL burn! I have a lot of Irish in me, so that is where I get my fair skin from (and dark hair), and that is where my son gets his red hair from, too... Anyway, fair skin + Caribbean sun = BAD NEWS without sunscreen!! Our vacation would be miserable if we didn't have sun screen.



I have definitely heard of this happening, but we've never done it. Doesn't hurt to put the request in, and see what happens.



Yes, the cover on the menus have been different, but the food for the most part has been the same. I agree... if you are late dining on Pirate Night, don't fill up too much at dinner because there is a huge midnight buffet! I still have yet to eat at the midnight buffet! I have always been too full to eat at it. But, the food looks good!

Ok, everyone... have a great weekend! We are hitting the road in a couple hours, and I still need to pack!!!!

Take care,
Kathy

Have a great weekend Kathy

 

[ketwinn]

Lobster night is the same night they have the Captain's Gala. I "think" this is Thursday night of the cruise, because Monday is formal night, and Thursday is Semi-Formal night, and I'm quite sure they do the Captain's Gala on Semi-Formal night... and they always serve Lobster on the Captain's Gala night. FYI, when they serve Lobster in the main dining rooms, they always offer it in Palo on the menu, too! So, if you have Palo booked for Lobster night in the main dining rooms, don't worry... you can get it in Palo, too!

I NEVER knew they had Lobster at the buffet at Serenity Bay! Oh my goodness! I probably didn't know that because we never go there because of our kids! Hmmmmm... might just have to get over there somehow for the buffet!

-kathy

Is Monday Formal night or is it Sunday? For some reason I thought it was on night 2.... I will be so excited if it is indeed Monday... That's my wedding night

 

[Switzert]

I don't know if anyone is wanting to read recent trip reports, but there are a few new ones on there that started posting this week the EASTERN 8 OCT. This was the one that left and went through the storm with 18ft waves. They still had fun but it is interesting read. They are not nearly done, and there is another one that has put a recent personal navigator. Well at least the first day so far. I don't know why but I like reading trip reports and see if anything has changed on the navigators.

 

[GreensboroKG]

I read some of those trip reports, they looked pretty good and everyone seemed to have fun. Very positive! We are counting down the days, only two more weekends to go!

 

[clj1410]

I also don't think anyone has mention this, but there is also a midnight dessert buffet one night, which i also believe is Captains Gala night. Which was on semi-formal night, night 6 on the Western Caribbean. There were also cocktails in the lobby.

Formal night was night 3and pirate night was night 5, on the western. I am not sure if the Western and Eastern follow the same schedule?

I know all this as i just found my navigators from last year

I also found the price list for the Spa, so i can give some prices on their services if anyone is interested (although i am sure they have gone up since then)

 

[GreensboroKG]

I also found the price list for the Spa, so i can give some prices on their services if anyone is interested (although i am sure they have gone up since then)

My DW definitely thinks my toes are gross, so if you can give a price on a pedi, that would be great!

Scott

 

[clj1410]

My DW definitely thinks my toes are gross, so if you can give a price on a pedi, that would be great!

Scott

Hi Scott

The traditional 45min pedi is $44

Just a reminder these prices are from last year, but they should give you a good starting point on prices!

Claire

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Remember most will expect a tip with that pedi too.

Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

We usually look at TR on the weekend. If nothing else it helps keep the excitement going
Will look for those new ones tomorrow.
Kathy

 

[mikeejay]

Cabins are generally ready by 1:30 P.M. for you to drop offyour carry on luggage.

Kathy

Another first timer question... we were planning to save a few $$ and carry on most of our luggage and only check 1 bag between the 4 of us. Sandals and swimsuits don't take up much room

Is is better to just check everything and let our bags magically appear in our room? It sounds like some people hit the ground running as soon as they show up and might be slowed down by multiple carry on bags?

Your thoughts?

- Michael