Oct 9-13, Bahama Dream Cruise

[MadtownMama]

Currently our *new* schedule is


Fri: fly into Florida hit up MK/MNSSHP (not to excited about spending the money for a half day at MK but we had no other options)

Sat: we were thinking of leaving it open. Maybe spending part of it at the hotel swimming, or downtown disney, other Orlando sites, or possibly Epcot (although we orginally planned our budget with one park day, and we are going on 2 other vacations this year so I don't want to over spend) Orginally we had planned for this to be our MK/Halloween Party day but there is no party on this day.

Sun: set sail

Mon: Nassau, we would like to do the dolphin experience at Blue Lagoon, check out the pirate musuem, and go to Paradise Island to see the Versailles Gardens.

Tues: Castaway Cay, renting bikes and beach

Wed: Day at Sea

Thurs: Back home


We have yet to book our hotel, although we are leaning towards Carribbean Beach Resort.

TutuPrincessRockStar is very excited for the NSSHP and her very special costume we've already ordered (Mary Poppins) and for pirate night, so she can dress like a pirate.... I should mention she's a huge fan of dress-up! Oh and I must not forget, she is also super duper excited to meet Rapunzel! We cannot leave without meeting her twin/idol/superduperfavoritepricess.

Questions, comments, reccommendations???


(ps, I never proof read. Just thought I would put that out there right away LOL)

 

[Sparkie]

Hello fellow cruiser!

We will be on the same cruise as you. But the "kids" in my group are infants, teens and college age.

I will throw my opinion out there as far as the pirate museum. Its just ok. It is a walk through and look at set up with lots of plaques to read. I dont know what I was expecting from a museum but I thought it was boring.

We are contemplating not even getting off the boat. Most likely we will because the girls want to shop in the straw market. But I will tell you, I have been to Mexico a few times now and to the Bahamas once and I am nervous in the Bahamas and have never felt unsafe in Mexico.
When we got off the boat and the military police were patrolling the entry building to Nassau and then after we went through the building to where you can get a taxi or walk into downtown and the "Attack of the Hairbraiders" began. My girls have long hair and I'm sure we looked like a goldmine in the hair department anyway but for the woman to chase us through the court yard and to be grabbing at my daughter hair was a bit much.

One thing we did do that we liked was the horse and carriage ride through the streets of Nassau. Its not great but I liked it better than the museum. And in fact it was our horse and carriage driver that removed the hairbraiding woman's fingers from my daughters hair and sent her on her way. I know people are just trying to make a living but I was to the point that I would have just given her money to leave us alone.

I have heard that the activities and the area in general over at the Atlantis Resort is much nicer and not like the experience we had.

So, see you on the boat and happy planning.

 

[MadtownMama]

Thanks for stopping by!

My daughter also has long hair, eek! I was hoping to get her hair braided (not all over braid just top, like a headband type design can't remember the exact name but I've seen seveal pics on here) first day on the ship or morning of second day so maybe that will deter the hair braiders at the port. (probably not, huh LOL) I don't want random strangers coming and touching her though.

Is there a lot to see/do at Atlantis, more then just the waterpark area? We live very close to Wisconsin Dells, and have several friends with timeshares there that get free enteries every day they go up so my daugher and I literally spend at least one day weekly at any number of the waterparks there so waterparks while on vacation isn't really anything we really seek out.



On another note we finally booked our hotel for the days we'll be in Florida before the cruise. We decided against staying at a Disney resort, instead went with a condo 4 miles away. We're just doing one day at MK, then the other lounging at the pool and maybe checking out Gator World as we have never done that before. (I should mention that this is third Disney vacation in a row, and we plan on vacationing in Florida again next fall so no great need to get all the parks in this time)

 

[Sparkie]

From what I have seen about the Atlantis Resort, it looks to be a casino with a fantastic water park. It is also in this area that the dophin swim, sea lion encounter, or you can just go to the beach. I also read to not go to the public beach in nassau because of the number of people attempting to sell drugs to you and the general uncleanliness of the beach area.

Another activity that we are considering is the Adastra Gardens Tour- their claim to fame is "marching flamingos". My mom is a bird lover and would enjoy seeing the parrots and other birds and marching flamingos..... she had a great time seeing the "marching ducks" at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN.

Our group loves to snorkle. There is a snorkle excursion in Nassau but also 2 snorkle opportunities on Castaway Cay.

On the hairbraiding subject..... Yes, get the braiding done on the ship. Another thing we were told to be careful of was getting headlice from the local braiders combs Now... talk about your bedbugs!!!

I think we only have 123 days left to cruise time.....

 

[nrpofp]

Just wanted to say Hi. We will be on the same cruise as you. Its our first cruise Me, dh 2 kids and my mom. Were also spending 5 nights at the bwi for the food and wine. Happy planning.

 

[divabydisney]

Hello,

We will be joining you as well! My two DS and I are extremely excited, we are doing the parks after. Not sure that we will even get off the boat for Nassau as well but the boys and I want our passports stamped. So if we get off it will be for that only. Hoping our weather is beautiful. I've never cruised before so our excitement meter is off the charts. I don't even know how we'll make it until then.

 

[MadtownMama]

Yay! Visitors! Thanks for stopping by!

So lucky for us our flight going home was cancelled by the airlines, we called them up to figure out a new flight and we're now flying back home Friday instead of Thrusday (for no extra charge). So now instead of trying to fit the MNSSHP in the day we fly into Florida and only having the evening to spend at the park we're going to go to the party the Thrusday the ship comes back to Florida. Much more time for the park/party.

Trying to figure out our costumes for the party. DD has had her mind set on being Mary Poppins this Halloween since last. She wants DH to dress up as Bert, and suggested I be the "bird lady" that's in Mary Poppins. Gotta love her!

We just got back from another vacation, we did a Michigan road trip. Mackinac Island, Taqhaumenon Falls, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Silver Lake. Great time.

 

[MadtownMama]

Wow! Didn't realize how quickly our cruise is approaching! Pay off date is next week. We're going to try to book the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter for Nassau and the Seahorse Catamaran Snorkel Adventure for Castaway.

So what are we doing to pass the time while we wait for our vacation to get here?! We have a pretty big surprise for our DD tomorrow! We booked lunch at the American Girl Cafe in Chicago! She has been saving all of her birthday and holiday money as well as our spare change (and of course the random bills my dad gives her when he comes to visit) to get Kit! She actually has enough saved up for not only the doll but a few accessories so we thought now would be a perfect time to surprise her! She has no idea we're even going to Chicago tomorrow. Cannot wait to see her face.

Photo from last's year WDW vacation

On an added note DD is asking if we can eat breakfast with mary, alice, and mad hatter again this year so we are debating if we should book that or not. She loved the interaction there last year and fell head over heels in love with Mad Hatter from that moment on!

 

[mousetravel]

My DD did the Blue Lagoon Dolphin SWIM, in 2009 and LOVED it!!!!!!

I have lots of pics & info in my 2009 TR, with the blue lagoon portion starting on page 7.

 

[MadtownMama]

Thank you! I'm going to stop by and check it out for sure! I love reading other's experiences. I wish DD was old enough to do the swim (she will be 4 months shy of 6 at the time of our cruise). I really wanted to do the sea lion experience since DH and I did a dolphin swim on our honeymoon but the age requirement for that is 8.

 

[MadtownMama]

So updated plans,

Dolphin encounter booked as well as snorkling/caterman excursion!

pirate costume and DD's halloween costume purchased

still need to: make DH's costume, figure mine out, purchase MNSSHP tickets, book hotel for after the party, change to early dining.

Getting more and more excited!

 

[MadtownMama]

40 days until we set sail! I cannot believe how fast it is approaching!

 

[MadtownMama]

It's getting closer! Just booked our hotel for after the cruise, since it's one night we decided to just stay at Pop Century had a pin for $76. Can't believe everything is coming togetether and almost here. Waiting to hear back on some prices for town cars (from port to Pop Century).

 

[MadtownMama]

Costumes are all ordered both Halloween for MMNSSHP and Pirate for the cruise, rental and transportation all booked and paid in full, hotel booked.