October 15 - October 22...Read Me (Now with more pictures)!!
- Thread starter oybolshoi
- Start date
oybolshoi said:Saturday October 15 - Embarkation Day!!
Luckily for all of us they started boarding around 1PM. Jason and I were boarding group 7 and we were on the ship and in our room by 1:30PM. Not what we planned but still acceptable.
Comments - the boarding process with designated groups did not work well, probably for two reasons: 1) Late boarding had everyone itching to get on the ship and most of us were crowded together in an effort to be the first in our group to get through those mouse ears, and 2) DCL was not really ready for the new boarding process. Their speaker system was crap - the only way anyone knew that their group was boarding was because a cast member was holding up fingers for people to see and then people in the crowd would tell each other which group was up. No one could hear any announcements over the public address system.
Hi Brenda
My DH and I have been reading your post...and we are going to the Thanksgiving Cruise in a few weeks. This will be our 3rd Western Carribean trip.
First of all, you have a great Diary here...great job! Secondly, we have a question on the new boarding procedures. How does that work? They go in groups by the order of registering in? Would you recommend if we went in early(10am) or wait till 1pm?
Thanks,
Julia
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
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- 11,879
the5J's said:Hi Brenda
My DH and I have been reading your post...and we are going to the Thanksgiving Cruise in a few weeks. This will be our 3rd Western Carribean trip.
First of all, you have a great Diary here...great job! Secondly, we have a question on the new boarding procedures. How does that work? They go in groups by the order of registering in? Would you recommend if we went in early(10am) or wait till 1pm?
Thanks,
Julia
Hi, Julia, thanks for reading! Here's how it worked for us...after you clear security in the terminal and you get ready to take the escalators upstairs to the main terminal there will be a CM standing there with a bunch of little cards and he/ she will hand one to the first member of your party. The card will have a number on it which designates your boarding group number - has nothing to do with when you register.
As far as timing goes I'm not sure what to tell you. Someone else we know who sailed on 10/15 got to port right around 10:30 and ended up with boarding group 4. How the heck does that happen?
I guess the best thing to say is if you want to get on the ship as soon as possible you still want to get to port as early as you can to get the lowest number boarding group being handed out. I'm sure that over the next few weeks DCL will be working on ironing out the kinks we experienced as part of their guinea pig sailing.
Have a lovely trip and thanks again for reading - glad you're enjoying it!
B.
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
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- 11,879
Welcome to our second full day at sea and my 36th birthday today looks to be a good one
in deference to my increasing agedness Snore Monster V.2005 was not installed last night and I enjoy relatively uninterrupted slumber, the sun is shining and the weather is lovely in honor of my special day (hows that for ego?), and I am certain that the Cardinals are going to snatch victory in Houston tonight because they wouldnt dare lose on my birthday (thats not ego, just sad, pathetic delusion).
Were both up early again stupid internal body clocks that are set for 5 AM thanks a lot, work, for ensuring that even on vacation Jason and I are unable to sleep later than 7 on any given morning no matter how late weve stayed up the previous night. We decide to head for the pool and some much needed sun followed by a visit to the Rainforest and then some mochaccinos and croissants at the Cove Café or maybe it was the Rainforest, pool, and then Cove Café or it could have been Cove Café, Rainforest, pool oh well, the sequence doesnt matter the inner lizard is pleased with the sun and the return to warm weather and does a happy dance upon discovering that the Rainforest is fully functional; the birthday girl is happy to be anywhere but work as she sips her iced coffee and basks in the beauty of a sun-kissed Caribbean morning at sea.
We have brunch reservations for 11:30 at Palo and decide that we should make ourselves presentable for the rest of the sailing community. Before leaving Cove Café we notice CNN is reporting that Wilma has exploded into a Category Five hurricane we look at each other somewhat puzzled by this news wasnt Wilma a tropical storm yesterday? How did she get so big so fast? And more importantly will she do anything to help lengthen our vacation?
Upon our return to the cabin we notice that we have been tagged again and many DISers have left birthday cards for me. I am very touched by their thoughtfulness in the midst of their family vacations and this helps to make the day extra special for me because Jason didnt think to: A) bring a card; B) bring a gift; or C) improvise.
Dont worry - this will not turn into a tirade against my husband. Hes a wonderful guy in all the ways that matter that most but hes not the most creative person when it comes to gift giving he always says that he cant think of anything on his own. Im no dummy that translates into Just tell me what youd like or better yet get it for yourself and then tell me what a great job I did.
Well then to celebrate turning 36, entering the less desirable 36-54 marketing demographic, planning years of lovely vacations, and earning a promotion to Assistant Vice-President earlier in the year Brenda thinks that she is finally deserving of that diamond pendant shes been eyeing for the last two years. Yes, dear readers, Brenda is thinking diamonds Brenda is speaking diamonds Brenda is making it crystal clear to Jason that she is not referring to baseball diamonds.
Lets talk brunch! Jason and I are not usually big fans of brunch, feeling that in many cases quality and taste are sacrificed for vast quantities of bland stuff. Notable exceptions to our admittedly skewed perception include Sunday Brunch in New Orleans (think Brennans, Arnauds, Commanders Palace), Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues, and Palo, of course!
We bypass the usual glass of champagne for the more exotic drink being pushed by the Palo crew this morning. I dont know what its called but its made with strawberries, champagne, and Absolute vanilla it sounds good, looks pretty, and tastes fabulous! Were led to a table for two next to a window overlooking the back end of the ship the view is lovely, especially of the trash can that has been placed next to the stairwell that leads down to the outdoor seating area for Topsiders. I can think of no other reason for this trash can wait were in Palo its a waste receptacle. As I was saying, I can think of no other reason for this waste receptacle to be located here other than its proximity to Topsiders surely the ships designers dont think it adds anything to the Palo aesthetic?
Well, it gives Jason and me something else to laugh about. We take a great picture of the lovely vista afforded by our window seat calm blue ocean, clear pale skies with wispy good weather clouds, a yacht motoring behind the Magics wake, and in the foreground a square, wooden waste container - one side marked for plastic and the other for trash. The picture looks great (hooray for digital cameras) and we are terribly pleased with just how goofy we can be.
Our server is Zita who happens to know Kristoff (our Palo god from last year he was wonderful and we were sad to learn he left the Magic late in 2004 but happy to know he is at home in Belgium managing his own restaurant) she takes us on a brief gastronomic tour that leaves my taste buds clamoring and my intestinal tract cringing. We start with the seafood the shrimp, the caviar, the salmon I pass on the crab legs because I prefer snow crab to king crab its sweeter. Next stop fruit and cheese and maybe some prosciutto and well, how can I say no to that stolen with the whipped cream, and did I see sticky buns, and hey will you grab a couple more of those chocolate covered strawberries? We order eggs benedict as well as half orders of pasta and some fish special of the day and we also decide to have another round of those strawberry-vanilla fizzies. By the time we make it to dessert, proper, were stuffed. But that doesnt stop us from trying the tiramisu, ricotta cheesecake, some kind of key lime tart, more chocolate covered strawberries, and something else that was so good it wiped all coherent thought from my mind for at least fifteen minutes.
Sorry for the abrupt stop but...To be continued...must stop now to fold laundry and get ready for work...thanks for reading! I promise to update again tomorrow!
Were both up early again stupid internal body clocks that are set for 5 AM thanks a lot, work, for ensuring that even on vacation Jason and I are unable to sleep later than 7 on any given morning no matter how late weve stayed up the previous night. We decide to head for the pool and some much needed sun followed by a visit to the Rainforest and then some mochaccinos and croissants at the Cove Café or maybe it was the Rainforest, pool, and then Cove Café or it could have been Cove Café, Rainforest, pool oh well, the sequence doesnt matter the inner lizard is pleased with the sun and the return to warm weather and does a happy dance upon discovering that the Rainforest is fully functional; the birthday girl is happy to be anywhere but work as she sips her iced coffee and basks in the beauty of a sun-kissed Caribbean morning at sea.
We have brunch reservations for 11:30 at Palo and decide that we should make ourselves presentable for the rest of the sailing community. Before leaving Cove Café we notice CNN is reporting that Wilma has exploded into a Category Five hurricane we look at each other somewhat puzzled by this news wasnt Wilma a tropical storm yesterday? How did she get so big so fast? And more importantly will she do anything to help lengthen our vacation?
Upon our return to the cabin we notice that we have been tagged again and many DISers have left birthday cards for me. I am very touched by their thoughtfulness in the midst of their family vacations and this helps to make the day extra special for me because Jason didnt think to: A) bring a card; B) bring a gift; or C) improvise.
Dont worry - this will not turn into a tirade against my husband. Hes a wonderful guy in all the ways that matter that most but hes not the most creative person when it comes to gift giving he always says that he cant think of anything on his own. Im no dummy that translates into Just tell me what youd like or better yet get it for yourself and then tell me what a great job I did.
Well then to celebrate turning 36, entering the less desirable 36-54 marketing demographic, planning years of lovely vacations, and earning a promotion to Assistant Vice-President earlier in the year Brenda thinks that she is finally deserving of that diamond pendant shes been eyeing for the last two years. Yes, dear readers, Brenda is thinking diamonds Brenda is speaking diamonds Brenda is making it crystal clear to Jason that she is not referring to baseball diamonds.
Lets talk brunch! Jason and I are not usually big fans of brunch, feeling that in many cases quality and taste are sacrificed for vast quantities of bland stuff. Notable exceptions to our admittedly skewed perception include Sunday Brunch in New Orleans (think Brennans, Arnauds, Commanders Palace), Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues, and Palo, of course!
We bypass the usual glass of champagne for the more exotic drink being pushed by the Palo crew this morning. I dont know what its called but its made with strawberries, champagne, and Absolute vanilla it sounds good, looks pretty, and tastes fabulous! Were led to a table for two next to a window overlooking the back end of the ship the view is lovely, especially of the trash can that has been placed next to the stairwell that leads down to the outdoor seating area for Topsiders. I can think of no other reason for this trash can wait were in Palo its a waste receptacle. As I was saying, I can think of no other reason for this waste receptacle to be located here other than its proximity to Topsiders surely the ships designers dont think it adds anything to the Palo aesthetic?
Well, it gives Jason and me something else to laugh about. We take a great picture of the lovely vista afforded by our window seat calm blue ocean, clear pale skies with wispy good weather clouds, a yacht motoring behind the Magics wake, and in the foreground a square, wooden waste container - one side marked for plastic and the other for trash. The picture looks great (hooray for digital cameras) and we are terribly pleased with just how goofy we can be.
Our server is Zita who happens to know Kristoff (our Palo god from last year he was wonderful and we were sad to learn he left the Magic late in 2004 but happy to know he is at home in Belgium managing his own restaurant) she takes us on a brief gastronomic tour that leaves my taste buds clamoring and my intestinal tract cringing. We start with the seafood the shrimp, the caviar, the salmon I pass on the crab legs because I prefer snow crab to king crab its sweeter. Next stop fruit and cheese and maybe some prosciutto and well, how can I say no to that stolen with the whipped cream, and did I see sticky buns, and hey will you grab a couple more of those chocolate covered strawberries? We order eggs benedict as well as half orders of pasta and some fish special of the day and we also decide to have another round of those strawberry-vanilla fizzies. By the time we make it to dessert, proper, were stuffed. But that doesnt stop us from trying the tiramisu, ricotta cheesecake, some kind of key lime tart, more chocolate covered strawberries, and something else that was so good it wiped all coherent thought from my mind for at least fifteen minutes.
Sorry for the abrupt stop but...To be continued...must stop now to fold laundry and get ready for work...thanks for reading! I promise to update again tomorrow!
PearlandPaige
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 3, 2005
- Messages
- 151
Hey, Brenda. First of all, I can't believe we missed meeting each other on this cruise. We were the ONLY Astros fans in Diversions so we were hard to miss. I met loads of Cards fans, but you weren't one of them. Anyway, reading your report is making me sorely miss the cruise and I want more! It is also making me wish I had taken advantage of the spa, Cove Cafe and the adults-only areas a little more. Come to think of it, though, the adult pool was VERY chilly the one time I dipped my toe in it and there was that beautiful pregnant Brazilian woman wearing a bikini who intimidated the heck out of me (I don't wear a bikini when I'm not pregnant, so I certainly wasn't donning one 21 weeks along on this cruise). Anyway, I am quite eagerly awaiting the rest of your reports. I especially love that wicked Handsome Pete!
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
- Messages
- 11,879
There is no doubt about it...brunch inspires gluttony. I haven't eaten this much since, well, since dinner last night...wait a minute...maybe brunch isn't to blame for our lack of dietary restraint...
Fine, you want me to say it? We're pigs! It's only the second full day of the cruise and we've already eaten enough to feed a small village in Alaska. Jason takes it in stride... we're using the stairs 90% of the time and we have some pretty active excursions planned...it's vacation...we can behave when we get home.
That mind-blowing dessert at Palo, by the way, was a cappuccino mousse in some sort of chocolate pie crust. We close out the brunch session - the staff practically has to push us out the doors and even then we're beating on the windows...I know you have more shrimp in there...I saw it!! That couple at table 20 didn't finish their Pizza!! Come on, let us have the rest of the chocolate covered strawberries...please?!
Now, I must confess to a rather bone-headed lack of forethought on my part...before our vacation Jason and I (Jason more than me but I was sporadically trying to get into a workout program) were working on getting into better shape and trying to eat a healthier diet. So for some reason I thought that it would be a great idea to have this metabolism body fat composition thing they offer in the spa...only $30 for 30 minutes and supposedly it helps you target those problem areas (the belly for Jason and everywhere for me). And then we got on the ship and I was like, "I scheduled this for the day we're going to brunch? And on my birthday?" If this doesn't qualify as the D'OH moment of the entire trip I don't know what will.
Right now I know what my body composition is, thank you very much, and I don't need to pay extra money for that information. It is 40% shrimp, 20% fruit, 10% alcohol, and 30% dessert - all converting to fat on my hips and thighs. I call the spa to reschedule for Thursday only so that I can get around the 24-hour cancellation policy by calling back tomorrow to actually cancel the whole thing. When I hang up the phone Jason smiles at me and says in his best impersonation of Ralph Wiggum, "Hi, Liar!"
It's time to do a little onboard shopping...I am new to scrapbooking but I want to give it a try and raid one of the shops for a DCL album and a scrapbook kit. We buy some new pins for the lanyards that we never seem to wear on this trip...pin trading just isn't what it used to be before everyone stopped washing their hands after using the bathroom. And then, because it is my birthday, we proceed to buy Jason a new watch. He really does need a new one and I've been telling him that once we get to St. Thomas we'd pick him a really nice one to replace the Gucci watch I gave him before we were even married. Treasure Ketch has a special on watches and we find a very spiffy Skagen wristwatch at a very attractive price. I bide my time for jewelry store shopping once we hit the US Virgin Islands.
Shopping complete we decide it would be a crime to stay inside when the weather is so gorgeous. It's time for the pool and some sun! Recalling the amount of food I just packed away at Palo, I opt for the one-piece and suck in my gut (I seem to be doing a lot of that lately). We head for deck 10 overlooking the Adult Pool and proceed to nap in the sun until about 3:30...ahhh...the sun, the warmth, the ocean breeze...Calgon take me away!!!
Sadly we are called away from the sun to clean up for the Castaway Club reception being held in Rockin' Bar D...there's that D again...I think in this case it stands for "Drink" because at this shin-dig the alcohol is free and people are sucking it down like college freshmen at their first fraternity party. And I gotta go on record here to say that those frothy green concoctions were really really good!! I don't normally have an interest in drinking anything flourescent, but this drink was the S***, as my nephew would say. There were some tasty snackables provided as well, and then Captain Thord came on stage to mumble a few words about the weather and the fact that there were something like 700+ returning cruisers on this trip. He still looks dazed to me...I find myself wondering what he did in his previous life and how it must feel to play second fiddle to a very large, very wealthy, extremely popular rodent.
I'm not sure how many of those green dreams we sucked down but I think we took one for the road when it was time to leave. End up back at the cabin where I discover that the dress I want to wear for dinner tonight is just a weeeee bit tooooo tight for comfort - let's just say that if I had tried to wear this dress to dinner there would have been talk of assigning my rear end its own zip code. Thank goodness for overpacking...I choose something that will allow me to breathe, sit, and eat simultaneously and we head down to the Promenade Lounge in search of Lourdes and her Love Potion. We each have one of our own and they are tasty...
Somehow before dinner we end up in line to have our picture taken with Captain Mickey and his gal Minnie...this is desperation on my part because every time I try to get a picture with Goofy I just miss the line cut-off. You'd think I'd pay attention to the navigator and just call the number to find out where each character is going to be on a given day but that would be too easy. I suffer through the week until I randomly stumble across the goofster at Castaway Cay.
Dinner tonight is at Animator's - the menu here leaves me cold but the show is a blast. Julio runs down to Lumiere's and grabs me one of those fabulous shrimp appetizers that I had last night...what a man!! Jason orders chianti for dinner and ends up drinking most of it...too much red wine gives me a headache and I have had enough alkie-hall for the day. At dessert I get a birthday cake, a birthday button, and a rousing chorus of "You're the Birthday Boy or Girl."
We debate whether or not to go watch the baseball game and then give in to the urge. Diversions is packed - there is nowhere to sit - everyone is watching Monday night football (it never ends!) but there are one or two televisions that are showing our game. I cave under the pressure and leave during the 7th inning when the Birds fall behind again...I go back to the room and watch the ESPN crawl and soon there is a pounding on the cabin door. Jason has sprinted up five flights of stairs to tell me of Albert Pujols' 9th inning home-run to win the game and send the series back to St. Louis - now that's love. I am smugly pleased...I knew they wouldn't lose on my birthday. Optimism rears its head in Cabin 8578...the tide has turned...momentum has shifted...by the time we get home the Cardinals will be playing in the World Series again. Perhaps cruising during post-season isn't so bad after all.
Time for bed - tomorrow we'll be in St. Martin...we're going on a 12-Metre Regatta, we're going to try to find that Guavaberry place I keep hearing so much about, there's a Pirate party, and...well, isn't that enough?
Thanks for reading!
PS. I think our towel animal tonight was a dachschund...a dachshund...a weiner dog!
Fine, you want me to say it? We're pigs! It's only the second full day of the cruise and we've already eaten enough to feed a small village in Alaska. Jason takes it in stride... we're using the stairs 90% of the time and we have some pretty active excursions planned...it's vacation...we can behave when we get home.
That mind-blowing dessert at Palo, by the way, was a cappuccino mousse in some sort of chocolate pie crust. We close out the brunch session - the staff practically has to push us out the doors and even then we're beating on the windows...I know you have more shrimp in there...I saw it!! That couple at table 20 didn't finish their Pizza!! Come on, let us have the rest of the chocolate covered strawberries...please?!
Now, I must confess to a rather bone-headed lack of forethought on my part...before our vacation Jason and I (Jason more than me but I was sporadically trying to get into a workout program) were working on getting into better shape and trying to eat a healthier diet. So for some reason I thought that it would be a great idea to have this metabolism body fat composition thing they offer in the spa...only $30 for 30 minutes and supposedly it helps you target those problem areas (the belly for Jason and everywhere for me). And then we got on the ship and I was like, "I scheduled this for the day we're going to brunch? And on my birthday?" If this doesn't qualify as the D'OH moment of the entire trip I don't know what will.
Right now I know what my body composition is, thank you very much, and I don't need to pay extra money for that information. It is 40% shrimp, 20% fruit, 10% alcohol, and 30% dessert - all converting to fat on my hips and thighs. I call the spa to reschedule for Thursday only so that I can get around the 24-hour cancellation policy by calling back tomorrow to actually cancel the whole thing. When I hang up the phone Jason smiles at me and says in his best impersonation of Ralph Wiggum, "Hi, Liar!"
It's time to do a little onboard shopping...I am new to scrapbooking but I want to give it a try and raid one of the shops for a DCL album and a scrapbook kit. We buy some new pins for the lanyards that we never seem to wear on this trip...pin trading just isn't what it used to be before everyone stopped washing their hands after using the bathroom. And then, because it is my birthday, we proceed to buy Jason a new watch. He really does need a new one and I've been telling him that once we get to St. Thomas we'd pick him a really nice one to replace the Gucci watch I gave him before we were even married. Treasure Ketch has a special on watches and we find a very spiffy Skagen wristwatch at a very attractive price. I bide my time for jewelry store shopping once we hit the US Virgin Islands.
Shopping complete we decide it would be a crime to stay inside when the weather is so gorgeous. It's time for the pool and some sun! Recalling the amount of food I just packed away at Palo, I opt for the one-piece and suck in my gut (I seem to be doing a lot of that lately). We head for deck 10 overlooking the Adult Pool and proceed to nap in the sun until about 3:30...ahhh...the sun, the warmth, the ocean breeze...Calgon take me away!!!
Sadly we are called away from the sun to clean up for the Castaway Club reception being held in Rockin' Bar D...there's that D again...I think in this case it stands for "Drink" because at this shin-dig the alcohol is free and people are sucking it down like college freshmen at their first fraternity party. And I gotta go on record here to say that those frothy green concoctions were really really good!! I don't normally have an interest in drinking anything flourescent, but this drink was the S***, as my nephew would say. There were some tasty snackables provided as well, and then Captain Thord came on stage to mumble a few words about the weather and the fact that there were something like 700+ returning cruisers on this trip. He still looks dazed to me...I find myself wondering what he did in his previous life and how it must feel to play second fiddle to a very large, very wealthy, extremely popular rodent.
I'm not sure how many of those green dreams we sucked down but I think we took one for the road when it was time to leave. End up back at the cabin where I discover that the dress I want to wear for dinner tonight is just a weeeee bit tooooo tight for comfort - let's just say that if I had tried to wear this dress to dinner there would have been talk of assigning my rear end its own zip code. Thank goodness for overpacking...I choose something that will allow me to breathe, sit, and eat simultaneously and we head down to the Promenade Lounge in search of Lourdes and her Love Potion. We each have one of our own and they are tasty...
Somehow before dinner we end up in line to have our picture taken with Captain Mickey and his gal Minnie...this is desperation on my part because every time I try to get a picture with Goofy I just miss the line cut-off. You'd think I'd pay attention to the navigator and just call the number to find out where each character is going to be on a given day but that would be too easy. I suffer through the week until I randomly stumble across the goofster at Castaway Cay.
Dinner tonight is at Animator's - the menu here leaves me cold but the show is a blast. Julio runs down to Lumiere's and grabs me one of those fabulous shrimp appetizers that I had last night...what a man!! Jason orders chianti for dinner and ends up drinking most of it...too much red wine gives me a headache and I have had enough alkie-hall for the day. At dessert I get a birthday cake, a birthday button, and a rousing chorus of "You're the Birthday Boy or Girl."
We debate whether or not to go watch the baseball game and then give in to the urge. Diversions is packed - there is nowhere to sit - everyone is watching Monday night football (it never ends!) but there are one or two televisions that are showing our game. I cave under the pressure and leave during the 7th inning when the Birds fall behind again...I go back to the room and watch the ESPN crawl and soon there is a pounding on the cabin door. Jason has sprinted up five flights of stairs to tell me of Albert Pujols' 9th inning home-run to win the game and send the series back to St. Louis - now that's love. I am smugly pleased...I knew they wouldn't lose on my birthday. Optimism rears its head in Cabin 8578...the tide has turned...momentum has shifted...by the time we get home the Cardinals will be playing in the World Series again. Perhaps cruising during post-season isn't so bad after all.
Time for bed - tomorrow we'll be in St. Martin...we're going on a 12-Metre Regatta, we're going to try to find that Guavaberry place I keep hearing so much about, there's a Pirate party, and...well, isn't that enough?
Thanks for reading!
PS. I think our towel animal tonight was a dachschund...a dachshund...a weiner dog!
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
- Messages
- 11,879
PearlandPaige said:
Paige, I was also sorry that we weren't able to meet up on the cruise...I wanted to tell you congratulations after your boys blew us away in the NLCS. Now I guess I have to offer my condolences after the 'stros suffered the same loss in the series that we did last year.
I guess that means I am happy and sad for you.
Glad you're enjoying the trip report - I'll be sure to let Pete know that you enjoyed his little trick. He's been very full of himself since we returned...thinks he's all clever and famous since I mentioned him here. And I know what you mean about the bikini...I brought one to wear while lounging at the pool and then saw how I looked and was back to the one-piece in a heartbeat!
OR, maybe we were just blacklisted from the last cruise. Okay, whadya do? 
perdidobay
<font color=green>Will work for travel ;-)<br><fon
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2001
- Messages
- 6,216
those green drinks at the CC reception were tooo good...only problem, I guess I didn't look thirsty, the servers kept asking everyone around me if they wanted one.... but not me.. Ah, excuse me?! 
I'd like one ( more) 
thank you....
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
- Messages
- 11,879
It's early...it's very early...Snore Monster V.2005 seems to run effortlessly on an unlimited and heretofore unsuspected power source. I remind myself to ask Jay if he has ever tried hooking his iPod into his nose to see if that doesn't recharge the battery faster than an electrical outlet. Feeling somewhat grumpy I decide to pull back the curtains and let the early morning sun shine in (I feel a song coming on...Let the sun shine, let the sun shine, the sun shine in...Sorry, I was listening to the Oldies station on my excruciating drive home tonight and they played this song and now it's stuck in my head). Jay wakes up screaming, "Natural light! It burns! Get it off! Get it off!"
Actually he apologizes for being such a noisy-nose and staggers out to the verandah with me to enjoy the first view we have of St. Martin...St. Martaan...Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis...oh well, wherever we are (and we think it's St. Martin) it's lovely - calm, clear blue water, white sand beaches, hilly terrain with lots of trees - somehow this seems much more exotic than Costa Maya or Cozumel. We have an 8:15AM meet time for our excursion - the 12-metre regatta. The weather is already warm and sunny - we decide a light breakfast is probably the best course of action and head...you guessed it...for the Cove Cafe. By now James recognizes us and just asks if we're having the usual. This man was a gem - one of the few cast members we encountered on the ship who really did make our week extra special. Is there any better way to start the day than with a mochaccino, a croissant, and the prospect of 90 degree weather in paradise?
We are surprised to find that only a baker's dozen of us from the Magic are taking this excursion. It sounds like a blast even though we have never sailed on a racing yacht before...and perhaps that's why it was so under-attended. Not the ideal excursion for anyone with small children, or anyone prone to motion sickness, or anyone who isn't relatively active, or anyone who can't swim...now that I think about it this excursion sounds a little risky...thank goodness for insurance. There end up being a handful of stragglers from a cruise ship on the other side of the island who have also booked this excursion...turns out they are all British and all experiencing to some extent their own "hair of the dog" morning. Jason and I experience one of those "perpetuate the stereotype" moments when we first see a few of them...the British really don't pay much attention to their teeth, do they? It's like seeing a live illustration from the Big Book of British Smiles.
The guys running this excursion are young (well, younger than me at any rate!) and very cute, and they are all experienced sailors / racers - their overall appeal is enhanced by those "to-die-for" British and Australian accents. We get a fascinating lesson on the history of the America's Cup including this helpful bit of info: As far as the losers of the race are concerned, the winners always cheat; the winners of the race think the losers should just piss off.
We are split into two teams...all the Brits on one yacht and all the Yanks on the other...uh oh...too many Yanks. Jason and I volunteer to join the Mother Country...they look like they could use an infusion of strong vibrant "in-your-face" American work ethic. Jason and I promise them that they will win the race with us as part of their team...for some reason they believe us. Jay's motto: "Say it with conviction and they'll believe you every time" seems to be working.
We get to race on actual America's Cup yachts, how cool is that? We let the whiny Americans have the Stars and Stripes while we sail on True North IV, a Canadian yacht that also sailed in the 1987 America's Cup against the aforementioned Stars and Stripes. We also have to earn our keep...each one of us is assigned a task as part of the racing crew. I am a "winch-wench." This means that I am responsible for trimming the sails...quickly...without falling overbaord as the yacht tacks one way and then the other...sounds easy enough...heh heh heh heh. Jason is a grinder - if I think my job is hard it is nothing compared to the workout he receives.
One other crucial thing we learn before the race begins is the importance of insulting our opponents...the better the insult the more respect you earn from your crewmates. Jason and I will excell at this.
Sailing in these racing yachts is incredible - they are fast and light and it feels like we are skimming over the ocean. My job is more difficult than I expected and on more than one occassion I worry that I am going to slide right off of my side of the yacht down into the ocean where I will become chum for the local underwater wildlife. We get soaked with sea spray and then get dried out by the sun and wind and no one even notices because we're so busy with our jobs that we don't even realize that we've made three circuits on the course and we're coming in for the finish. Someone from the Yankee boat yells something...I can't hear what it is but I very clearly hear Jason yell back, "cram it with walnuts, buddy!"
The Yanks yell back again, and I decide to enter they fray. "You're the product of a bankrupt culture!" I holler, shaking my fist for emphasis. There is silence for a moment and then everyone on our ship cracks up...I seem to have forgotten that as a fellow-American I, too, am a product of that same bankrupt culture. The Brits make me an honorary unofficial citizen and comment that if it hadn't been for the energy of Jason and yours truly they would never have won the race. Yeah, baby! That's right - we won the race and bragging rights for the rest of the cruise as the only two passengers on the Magic this week to sail on the winning yacht!! It feels good to win...we have earned our rum punch and on a relatively empty stomach it makes us even more inclined to purchase souveniers of our adventure. I suspect they plan it that way on purpose.
Oh dear...I have to stop again. I will continue this in part two of Land, ho where you too will wonder where the heck that guaverberry place is, enjoy the perks of room service, learn about the outrageous cost of postage in St. Whereever-we-are, glean some tips from J&B about enhancing your Magic, and finally learn what we notice about the drydock changes to the ship.
Thanks for reading my ridiculously long and self-indulgent trip reports!
Brenda
Actually he apologizes for being such a noisy-nose and staggers out to the verandah with me to enjoy the first view we have of St. Martin...St. Martaan...Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis...oh well, wherever we are (and we think it's St. Martin) it's lovely - calm, clear blue water, white sand beaches, hilly terrain with lots of trees - somehow this seems much more exotic than Costa Maya or Cozumel. We have an 8:15AM meet time for our excursion - the 12-metre regatta. The weather is already warm and sunny - we decide a light breakfast is probably the best course of action and head...you guessed it...for the Cove Cafe. By now James recognizes us and just asks if we're having the usual. This man was a gem - one of the few cast members we encountered on the ship who really did make our week extra special. Is there any better way to start the day than with a mochaccino, a croissant, and the prospect of 90 degree weather in paradise?
We are surprised to find that only a baker's dozen of us from the Magic are taking this excursion. It sounds like a blast even though we have never sailed on a racing yacht before...and perhaps that's why it was so under-attended. Not the ideal excursion for anyone with small children, or anyone prone to motion sickness, or anyone who isn't relatively active, or anyone who can't swim...now that I think about it this excursion sounds a little risky...thank goodness for insurance. There end up being a handful of stragglers from a cruise ship on the other side of the island who have also booked this excursion...turns out they are all British and all experiencing to some extent their own "hair of the dog" morning. Jason and I experience one of those "perpetuate the stereotype" moments when we first see a few of them...the British really don't pay much attention to their teeth, do they? It's like seeing a live illustration from the Big Book of British Smiles.
The guys running this excursion are young (well, younger than me at any rate!) and very cute, and they are all experienced sailors / racers - their overall appeal is enhanced by those "to-die-for" British and Australian accents. We get a fascinating lesson on the history of the America's Cup including this helpful bit of info: As far as the losers of the race are concerned, the winners always cheat; the winners of the race think the losers should just piss off.
We are split into two teams...all the Brits on one yacht and all the Yanks on the other...uh oh...too many Yanks. Jason and I volunteer to join the Mother Country...they look like they could use an infusion of strong vibrant "in-your-face" American work ethic. Jason and I promise them that they will win the race with us as part of their team...for some reason they believe us. Jay's motto: "Say it with conviction and they'll believe you every time" seems to be working.
We get to race on actual America's Cup yachts, how cool is that? We let the whiny Americans have the Stars and Stripes while we sail on True North IV, a Canadian yacht that also sailed in the 1987 America's Cup against the aforementioned Stars and Stripes. We also have to earn our keep...each one of us is assigned a task as part of the racing crew. I am a "winch-wench." This means that I am responsible for trimming the sails...quickly...without falling overbaord as the yacht tacks one way and then the other...sounds easy enough...heh heh heh heh. Jason is a grinder - if I think my job is hard it is nothing compared to the workout he receives.
One other crucial thing we learn before the race begins is the importance of insulting our opponents...the better the insult the more respect you earn from your crewmates. Jason and I will excell at this.
Sailing in these racing yachts is incredible - they are fast and light and it feels like we are skimming over the ocean. My job is more difficult than I expected and on more than one occassion I worry that I am going to slide right off of my side of the yacht down into the ocean where I will become chum for the local underwater wildlife. We get soaked with sea spray and then get dried out by the sun and wind and no one even notices because we're so busy with our jobs that we don't even realize that we've made three circuits on the course and we're coming in for the finish. Someone from the Yankee boat yells something...I can't hear what it is but I very clearly hear Jason yell back, "cram it with walnuts, buddy!"
The Yanks yell back again, and I decide to enter they fray. "You're the product of a bankrupt culture!" I holler, shaking my fist for emphasis. There is silence for a moment and then everyone on our ship cracks up...I seem to have forgotten that as a fellow-American I, too, am a product of that same bankrupt culture. The Brits make me an honorary unofficial citizen and comment that if it hadn't been for the energy of Jason and yours truly they would never have won the race. Yeah, baby! That's right - we won the race and bragging rights for the rest of the cruise as the only two passengers on the Magic this week to sail on the winning yacht!! It feels good to win...we have earned our rum punch and on a relatively empty stomach it makes us even more inclined to purchase souveniers of our adventure. I suspect they plan it that way on purpose.
Oh dear...I have to stop again. I will continue this in part two of Land, ho where you too will wonder where the heck that guaverberry place is, enjoy the perks of room service, learn about the outrageous cost of postage in St. Whereever-we-are, glean some tips from J&B about enhancing your Magic, and finally learn what we notice about the drydock changes to the ship.
Thanks for reading my ridiculously long and self-indulgent trip reports!
Brenda
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
- Messages
- 11,879
Welcome back, my dear cruise-report junkies! Before we take up with Brenda and Jasons continued adventures on the island of many names a few comments:
The 12-Metere Regatta was quite possibly the best shore excursion Jason and I have ever participated in. It was challenging, exciting, fun, and even semi-educational four thumbs up! But consider yourselves warned this excursion is definitely of a more active nature and will leave you grunting and sweating. If you are looking for calm and relaxation go find yourself a beach and a smooth alcoholic beverage - Jason and I will join you once were done opening up another can of whoop a**. Oh, and be sure to come prepared with some insults / catcalls for your racing opponents. Two of our favorites were: Suck our sea spray! and Is that the stench of losing wafting across the waves?
Dry-dock changes well, we did notice a few things and I thought Id better mention them before I forgot. It looks like the color scheme at Parrot Cay has been toned down a bit and the carpet looks new kind of feels like DCL is going for sort of an Asian theme although the menu retains its Caribbean flavor. The Dumbotron, as Paul so cleverly christened it, was impossible to miss. It does look kinda cool and Im sure it probably adds something to the deck parties, but I dont cruise to watch TV unless were talking about playoff baseball and now that I think about it a baseball game would have been really wicked on that thing. The good news is that even when its in use the rest of the ship is pretty well sound-proofed from it I admit to having some concerns about noise when I first learned of the installation. The spa changes were incomplete so I cant comment about them and since we dont have kids I likewise cannot comment on any changes or additions to the children's areas.
Had we known that the 10/15 cruise was a post dry-dock sailing I doubt that we would have booked it. There were a lot of things that DCL wasnt able to finish during the two-week period and the ongoing maintenance, wet paint, and irritable toilets on this trip were not conducive to smooth sailing. Dont misunderstand me Jason and I had a great trip and a great time but we also noticed that things in general seemed out of sync and were not nearly as effortless or seamless as they were when we sailed last year. Jason summed it up best when he said, Everything seems just a little bit off. There were many cruisers we spoke with during the week who expressed the same sentiment and who agreed that they would not be sailing on another cruise immediately after dry-dock again if they could avoid it. But hey! Its still better than being at work, isnt it??
And now Brenda and Jasons Top Five Tips for Creating Adult Magic!!!
1) Go to the Cove Café, even its only for 30 minutes, and bask in the calm, relaxed atmosphere while sipping an iced coffee and munching on one of those awesome chocker-chip muffins that show up in the afternoons. Revel in the peace and quiet and if the bartender makes a recommendation take him up on it youll like it! And be sure to tell James we said hi!
2) Try the Rainforest, just once you may be pleasantly surprised. This thermal suite is filled with soothing relaxation choices and you get to share them all with your beloved. The lizard queen highly recommends the gentle sauna and is even now trying to figure out how she can add one to her basement
3) Indulge each other with the Surial Bath AKA Naughty Mud Treatment for Two. How can you go wrong with a private treatment suite that includes a shower, a sitting area with all kinds of spa product samples, and a steam room with mini-showers and a fountain?? Youve got 60 minutes alone here people why not use it to remind each other why you got married in the first place? There are no rules just make up your own!
4) Do your part to protect the environment and help conserve water take a shower together, or two, or be daring and go for the entire length of the cruise!!
5) Have a drink (ok, have a lot of drinks), eat what you want, dont worry about your appearance so much, hold hands, and get in touch with your inner child as you have fun, fun, fun!! Grown-ups deserve to have a good time, too!
**Thank you for your attention to the authors random editorializing we now return you to our trip report, already in progress**
That excursion was a blast, but we are tired, hungry, and stinky. We return to the ship to get cleaned up and then grab a quick bite at Plutos Dog House. It is a very hot day and we keep it light a hot dog apiece and some bottled water. Now its time to go check out the shopping district. When we leave the ship around 1:30PM the all aboard is posted for 7PM we reluctantly decide that we probably dont have enough time to explore the Dutch side of the island where we are docked as well as the more civilized French side where everyone roams freely in the nude. Oh well, just another reason to come back some day!
I decide that I must mail my vacation correspondence from St. Martin. Ouch! Airmail from the middle of nowhere must be expensive, how else do you explain $1 per stamp per postcard? And I cant even mail my letters!?! After mailing five postcards I experience the DOH moment of the day: I could have just sent everything from St. Thomas tomorrow at US Postal Service rates. I ask Jason why he did not point this out to me and his response is that I do not pay him enough to think while we are on vacation.
Fair enough.
We catch the water taxi over to the courthouse area and try to do some shopping. For $5 per person you get unlimited transportation on these contraptions between the shopping areas / beaches and the area where the ship has docked. Its a fun little ride and kicks up a nice breeze we purposefully ignore all the potential safety hazards and violations on this ride, reassuring each other that we probably are strong enough swimmers to survive should the ferry capsize.
We are in search of a reputable jeweler to trim the links on Jasons new watch whats the point of having a watch if you cant wear it? I decide that Little Switzerland is the place to go. When Jason questions my choice I dazzle him with my logic: Switzerland is known throughout the world for producing high-quality watches and clocks it only stands to reason that a retail outlet in the Caribbean named after said country would specialize in quality timepieces.
He thinks I am nuts.
He may be correct, but
he leaves the store wearing his new watch.
It is a very hot day the inner lizard is pleased but that sailing excursion this morning really took a lot out of us. We just want to find the fabled guavaberry emporium, try a colada or two, and head back to the ship for some air conditioned napping. The map that DCL has provided for our edification is not helping we walk up and down the main drag looking for this place and never find it. We encounter many people along the way who want to sell us phone cards, drive us somewhere in their taxis, braid my hair, or sell us a doubtful interest in a local timeshare but no one will tell us what we want to know. We end up back at the 12-metere regatta pier and alternate water taxi pick-up and still cant find the damn store. At this point we decide it is not meant to be on our way back to the ship we completely overlook the stand selling guavaberry coladas and opt for the rum-jumbie stand. I have a lemon flavored rum squishie .this really hits the spot on a hot afternoon. Jason goes for the banana-rum squishie (yecch! too sweet) and we sit in the shade of the Magic playing footsies in front of the security guard.
Back on board the ship by 4PM we see they have changed the all aboard to 9PM. If we had known that three hours ago we might have ventured over to France, but were too tired now. Back to the room where I suddenly decide that I must have a snack free room service I order tuna salad and fresh fruit nice and light and it sure hits the spot only took about 15 minutes to arrive and someone decided we needed some big yummie cookies to go with. Jason says he is not hungry and then proceeds to eat half of my entire afternoon snack.
After a brief nap we decide to head up to the pool, which is busier than I would have thought at this time of day. We squeeze into the whirlpool with about 150 other couples and it sure feels good on those tired muscles, especially when 148 other couples decide it is too crowded and they leave. Shortly thereafter we head for the Rainforest and the gentle sauna then more good stuff from the Cove Café! Does James ever leave this place?
Tonight is the Pirate dinner we experienced this last year so there arent really any surprises. The menu is the same as the last time and is presented as a rolled up treasure map and everyone gets red Pirates in the Caribbean bandannas to wear. All the servers are dressed in pirate gear and they look terrific just before dessert they leave us to start a dance party through the dining room there was even a bit of limbo going on. I know for a fact the only reason that I was able to snake under the limbo stick was due to the wine I had for dinner it helps with my flexibility.
We are too late for the fireworks by the time we get upstairs for the Pirate deck party. But we hang out for a while watching the show and its a lovely night balmy, light breeze, full moon so romantic. We take a nice walk around the ship and then reluctantly turn in for bed immigration tomorrow and an early shore excursion in St. Thomas means maybe we shouldnt bother sleeping at all??
PS. I forgot to mention that once the race is over the guys on our yacht let me "drive" for a few minutes...this was a hoot, but I kept looking for the gas pedal so that we could go faster! Our towel animal tonight is a shark wearing sunglasses and we are deeeeelighted!
The 12-Metere Regatta was quite possibly the best shore excursion Jason and I have ever participated in. It was challenging, exciting, fun, and even semi-educational four thumbs up! But consider yourselves warned this excursion is definitely of a more active nature and will leave you grunting and sweating. If you are looking for calm and relaxation go find yourself a beach and a smooth alcoholic beverage - Jason and I will join you once were done opening up another can of whoop a**. Oh, and be sure to come prepared with some insults / catcalls for your racing opponents. Two of our favorites were: Suck our sea spray! and Is that the stench of losing wafting across the waves?
Dry-dock changes well, we did notice a few things and I thought Id better mention them before I forgot. It looks like the color scheme at Parrot Cay has been toned down a bit and the carpet looks new kind of feels like DCL is going for sort of an Asian theme although the menu retains its Caribbean flavor. The Dumbotron, as Paul so cleverly christened it, was impossible to miss. It does look kinda cool and Im sure it probably adds something to the deck parties, but I dont cruise to watch TV unless were talking about playoff baseball and now that I think about it a baseball game would have been really wicked on that thing. The good news is that even when its in use the rest of the ship is pretty well sound-proofed from it I admit to having some concerns about noise when I first learned of the installation. The spa changes were incomplete so I cant comment about them and since we dont have kids I likewise cannot comment on any changes or additions to the children's areas.
Had we known that the 10/15 cruise was a post dry-dock sailing I doubt that we would have booked it. There were a lot of things that DCL wasnt able to finish during the two-week period and the ongoing maintenance, wet paint, and irritable toilets on this trip were not conducive to smooth sailing. Dont misunderstand me Jason and I had a great trip and a great time but we also noticed that things in general seemed out of sync and were not nearly as effortless or seamless as they were when we sailed last year. Jason summed it up best when he said, Everything seems just a little bit off. There were many cruisers we spoke with during the week who expressed the same sentiment and who agreed that they would not be sailing on another cruise immediately after dry-dock again if they could avoid it. But hey! Its still better than being at work, isnt it??
And now Brenda and Jasons Top Five Tips for Creating Adult Magic!!!
1) Go to the Cove Café, even its only for 30 minutes, and bask in the calm, relaxed atmosphere while sipping an iced coffee and munching on one of those awesome chocker-chip muffins that show up in the afternoons. Revel in the peace and quiet and if the bartender makes a recommendation take him up on it youll like it! And be sure to tell James we said hi!
2) Try the Rainforest, just once you may be pleasantly surprised. This thermal suite is filled with soothing relaxation choices and you get to share them all with your beloved. The lizard queen highly recommends the gentle sauna and is even now trying to figure out how she can add one to her basement
3) Indulge each other with the Surial Bath AKA Naughty Mud Treatment for Two. How can you go wrong with a private treatment suite that includes a shower, a sitting area with all kinds of spa product samples, and a steam room with mini-showers and a fountain?? Youve got 60 minutes alone here people why not use it to remind each other why you got married in the first place? There are no rules just make up your own!
4) Do your part to protect the environment and help conserve water take a shower together, or two, or be daring and go for the entire length of the cruise!!
5) Have a drink (ok, have a lot of drinks), eat what you want, dont worry about your appearance so much, hold hands, and get in touch with your inner child as you have fun, fun, fun!! Grown-ups deserve to have a good time, too!
**Thank you for your attention to the authors random editorializing we now return you to our trip report, already in progress**
That excursion was a blast, but we are tired, hungry, and stinky. We return to the ship to get cleaned up and then grab a quick bite at Plutos Dog House. It is a very hot day and we keep it light a hot dog apiece and some bottled water. Now its time to go check out the shopping district. When we leave the ship around 1:30PM the all aboard is posted for 7PM we reluctantly decide that we probably dont have enough time to explore the Dutch side of the island where we are docked as well as the more civilized French side where everyone roams freely in the nude. Oh well, just another reason to come back some day!
I decide that I must mail my vacation correspondence from St. Martin. Ouch! Airmail from the middle of nowhere must be expensive, how else do you explain $1 per stamp per postcard? And I cant even mail my letters!?! After mailing five postcards I experience the DOH moment of the day: I could have just sent everything from St. Thomas tomorrow at US Postal Service rates. I ask Jason why he did not point this out to me and his response is that I do not pay him enough to think while we are on vacation.
Fair enough.
We catch the water taxi over to the courthouse area and try to do some shopping. For $5 per person you get unlimited transportation on these contraptions between the shopping areas / beaches and the area where the ship has docked. Its a fun little ride and kicks up a nice breeze we purposefully ignore all the potential safety hazards and violations on this ride, reassuring each other that we probably are strong enough swimmers to survive should the ferry capsize.
We are in search of a reputable jeweler to trim the links on Jasons new watch whats the point of having a watch if you cant wear it? I decide that Little Switzerland is the place to go. When Jason questions my choice I dazzle him with my logic: Switzerland is known throughout the world for producing high-quality watches and clocks it only stands to reason that a retail outlet in the Caribbean named after said country would specialize in quality timepieces.
He thinks I am nuts.
He may be correct, but
he leaves the store wearing his new watch.
It is a very hot day the inner lizard is pleased but that sailing excursion this morning really took a lot out of us. We just want to find the fabled guavaberry emporium, try a colada or two, and head back to the ship for some air conditioned napping. The map that DCL has provided for our edification is not helping we walk up and down the main drag looking for this place and never find it. We encounter many people along the way who want to sell us phone cards, drive us somewhere in their taxis, braid my hair, or sell us a doubtful interest in a local timeshare but no one will tell us what we want to know. We end up back at the 12-metere regatta pier and alternate water taxi pick-up and still cant find the damn store. At this point we decide it is not meant to be on our way back to the ship we completely overlook the stand selling guavaberry coladas and opt for the rum-jumbie stand. I have a lemon flavored rum squishie .this really hits the spot on a hot afternoon. Jason goes for the banana-rum squishie (yecch! too sweet) and we sit in the shade of the Magic playing footsies in front of the security guard.
Back on board the ship by 4PM we see they have changed the all aboard to 9PM. If we had known that three hours ago we might have ventured over to France, but were too tired now. Back to the room where I suddenly decide that I must have a snack free room service I order tuna salad and fresh fruit nice and light and it sure hits the spot only took about 15 minutes to arrive and someone decided we needed some big yummie cookies to go with. Jason says he is not hungry and then proceeds to eat half of my entire afternoon snack.
After a brief nap we decide to head up to the pool, which is busier than I would have thought at this time of day. We squeeze into the whirlpool with about 150 other couples and it sure feels good on those tired muscles, especially when 148 other couples decide it is too crowded and they leave. Shortly thereafter we head for the Rainforest and the gentle sauna then more good stuff from the Cove Café! Does James ever leave this place?
Tonight is the Pirate dinner we experienced this last year so there arent really any surprises. The menu is the same as the last time and is presented as a rolled up treasure map and everyone gets red Pirates in the Caribbean bandannas to wear. All the servers are dressed in pirate gear and they look terrific just before dessert they leave us to start a dance party through the dining room there was even a bit of limbo going on. I know for a fact the only reason that I was able to snake under the limbo stick was due to the wine I had for dinner it helps with my flexibility.
We are too late for the fireworks by the time we get upstairs for the Pirate deck party. But we hang out for a while watching the show and its a lovely night balmy, light breeze, full moon so romantic. We take a nice walk around the ship and then reluctantly turn in for bed immigration tomorrow and an early shore excursion in St. Thomas means maybe we shouldnt bother sleeping at all??
PS. I forgot to mention that once the race is over the guys on our yacht let me "drive" for a few minutes...this was a hoot, but I kept looking for the gas pedal so that we could go faster! Our towel animal tonight is a shark wearing sunglasses and we are deeeeelighted!
SuzieDizney
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2005
- Messages
- 147
Brenda....Oh my God you are too funny!!! I wish we were still on the boat!! 
I haven't been on the boards too much since we got back and I saw your trip report and have been glued.....I must tuck my kids into bed....about an hour late 
I'll be checkin in tomorrow!!
Suzie
I wish we were still on the boat!! I haven't been on the boards too much since we got back and I saw your trip report and have been glued.....I must tuck my kids into bed....about an hour late I'll be checkin in tomorrow!!
Suzie
cntkg1
<b><font color=blue>Runs with Scissors!!<br><font
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2005
- Messages
- 10,349
Brenda....and you work at a bank???? You missed your calling girl!! You could make a bundle writing instead of what you pull in approving loans. Remember...I worked at a bank for 27 years and those paychecks just aren't all that great! 
Keep em coming!!
Nancy
Keep em coming!!
Nancy
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
- Messages
- 11,879
Thanks guys for reading and for your comments... you make me blush 
see?
Yeah, that whole "how did I end up here?" thing hits me at least once a week while I'm at work. I'm just another one of millions of wanna-be authors...it's tough suppressing your artistic urges when you work for the souless diminions of finance!
Hope to update tonight on our exciting time in St. Thomas...you too can look forward to tales of blearey-eyed immigration, the story of Pinucchio, kayaking through mangroves (it's not what you think, ladies), rush-hour traffic flashbacks, It's all about the rocks, baby and don't you love duty-free shopping, dinner at Palo, and the final baseball humiliation.
Thanks again for reading!!
Brenda
see?Yeah, that whole "how did I end up here?" thing hits me at least once a week while I'm at work. I'm just another one of millions of wanna-be authors...it's tough suppressing your artistic urges when you work for the souless diminions of finance!
Hope to update tonight on our exciting time in St. Thomas...you too can look forward to tales of blearey-eyed immigration, the story of Pinucchio, kayaking through mangroves (it's not what you think, ladies), rush-hour traffic flashbacks, It's all about the rocks, baby and don't you love duty-free shopping, dinner at Palo, and the final baseball humiliation.
Thanks again for reading!!
Brenda
cntkg1
<b><font color=blue>Runs with Scissors!!<br><font
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2005
- Messages
- 10,349
oybolshoi said:Does anyone know what that drink actually was??? It was soooo good and I'd love to try to make it at home since the odds of us cruising with the mouse anytime soon are pretty slim.
Man...were we pounding those things down, or what?
Hey Brenda... why do you think cruising with the mouse anytime soon is pretty slim? I was looking forward to cruising with the same group in Oct of 2007 again.
nancy
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
- Messages
- 11,879
cntkg1 said:Hey Brenda... why do you think cruising with the mouse anytime soon is pretty slim? I was looking forward to cruising with the same group in Oct of 2007 again.
nancy
Nancy,
Jason and I have cruised the Western and now the Eastern itineraries with Mickey and while we've had a blast we feel like it's time to explore other travel options...Hawaii...Europe...Australia. We have our timeshare with the Disney Vacation Club and the points dont really translate over too well on the cruise line but they are very attractive for other hotel properties around the globe.
So, unless Jason and I have a little mouse of our own and that's doubtful given some of my medical issues, it looks like future trips involving the Mickey will be limited to WDW. Besides...the DCL prices are starting to get cost-prohibitive. I do think it would be fun to reunite in 2007...but I'd have to sell Jason on that idea and I think he'd be more open to a reunion on land over at the Mousetrap. Anybody going to be there the last week of October 2006?
B.
oybolshoi
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2004
- Messages
- 11,879
Welcome back one and all to the trip report that never ends! I heartily beg your pardon in advance for the following commercial advertisement:
**Crunchie-Munchies are the best;
Look delicious on your vest;
Serve them to unwanted guests;
Stuff the mattress with the rest!!**
*Cruchie-Munchies not a registered trademark*
And now...part five-hundred-sixty-seven in Brenda and Jason's Alcoholic Travels Through the Caribbean...
Wednesday, October 19 - Welcome to St. Thomas!!
"To sleep, perchance to dream...ay, there's the rub." I do not usually quote Shakespeare while on vacation - well, I might if I ever make it to England, but I'm not in England...I'm on a ship in a fairly small rectangle of a room with a man who is now snoring so loudly and so continuously that I find myself simultaneously concerned for his health and fighting the urge to smother him with a pillow so that I can finally get more than 20 minutes of shut-eye. Sounds like Snore Monster V.2005 has been upgraded since its last roll-out.
I decide to try sleeping on the sofa, as if somehow that five feet of distance is going to make a difference in the noise level. For good measure I pull the privacy curtains between the bed and the seating area because my muddled brain thinks that the noise may bounce off the curtains and rebound back over to the bed. Words of advice - don't bother...it doesn't work. Time to turn on the TV - I don't know how but after cranking the television volume to something like 65 I actually manage to fall alseep while sort-of watching Miracle for the twentieth time this week. I wake up four hours later to a lovely pale pink sunrise...the Magic is pulling into St. Thomas and it's only 6AM. I snap some pictures and then take great pleasure in waking up Jason for that 6:30 immigration check-in at the Walt Disney Theatre.
Ahhhhh...immigration. I guess I understand why this needs to take place...although I'm not sure that they couldn't do the exact same thing to each passenger when (and if) he / she debarks the ship in port. But then again, there would still be a human back-log so what are you going to do? The intricacies of US immigration policy and Homeland Security are obviously beyond my feeble grasp and I decide that my best course of action will be one that the current administration can really get behind: Don't Ask Questions!! All I know is that there are a lot of people in the WD Theatre at 6:30AM...and you can't tell me they all have early morning excursions scheduled. But considering how early it is most people are fairly well mannered - they even applaude when the two immigration officials show up. Sheeeesh...I'm not that good humored. No one gives me an ovation when I show up to work...how about you?
I learn this morning that immigration is no laughing matter. We shuffle single-file past the officer and flash a passport to verify that we belong to the good guys. Our officer's name is Dave - his name tag is upside down - when I ask him if he did it on purpose he says "no" and then looks at my passport another time. The lesson: good Americans do not question the name tag propensities of their immigration officials. Jason pulls me along so that I can get a US Certified! immigration hand stamp and tells me to stop being such a trouble maker. I thought he would be impressed by my early morning powers of observation ...guess not.
Constant Reader, I bet you can't guess where we ended up for breakfast before we left to join our excursion group!!! (If you don't know the answer you obviously haven't read the other tomes that make up my trip report - I suggest you do so...there will be a quiz.)
We meet in Sessions at 8:15 for the Mangrove Preserve Kayak Tour. Again, a small turnout...I think there were eleven of us total. Our group gets Pinocchio stickers to differentiate us from the other excursion groups leaving the Magic at this time. Now...I have to share with you a little "in-joke" that Jason and I were kicking around this week. We love the Simpsons...and we quote things to each other all the time that probably leave other people scratching their heads. Thanks to an Itchy and Scratchy spoof of Pinocchio we now refer to the little puppet as "PINUCCHIO." In this spoof Pinucchio (played by the psychotic mouse Itchy) is re-born and he looks up at his creator Gapeto (played by the equally psychotic but infinitely more stupid cat Scratchy) and says, "I will never hurt you." Well, of course he's lying and his nose grows by a foot and goes right through Gapeto's eye into his brain...end of cartoon. We think it's hilarious... although it probably loses a little something in translation here, and those of you who were already wondering about my mental state will probably run screaming from this thread never to return. Sorry - we've got a pretty twisted sense of humor at our house.
Anyway, much to the puzzlement of our fellow kayakers Jason and I keep quoting Pinnuchio to each other and cracking up...they probably wonder if we have a secret stash of ganja in our stateroom but I can assure you that alcohol is as far as we go. This goofiness is all natural and thus probably all the more disturbing.
We take an open air taxi ride across part of the island to get to the Eco-Tours starting point. The island itself is lovely - clear water, rolling hills, lots of trees - but I am surprised by the level of poverty here and am a bit depressed by the sense that this is really just an island version of any-city USA. Maybe it was the KFC, and the Mickey D's, and the Wendy's...
I am distracted from the less than appealing scenery on my side of the taxi-bus by two things: the take-my-breath-away view of the bay from Jason's side of the bus and the very narrow stretch of road we are traveling on at a very high speed. I tell Jason that if the driver isn't more careful he will end up on the not road. Jay is puzzled - he has never heard me make use of this phrase before...probably because I just made it up. The "not road" is what I call that space where the shoulder should be...in this case the "not road" is open air...the brief hang-time you'd get just before your taxi-bus plummets down the side of the big hill ending in a loud, firery crash thus negating all positive vacation experiences.
Jason says I think too much.
Ten minutes later we arrive safely, if somewhat breathlessly, at our destination. It looks like the middle of nowhere and it probably is...I wonder briefly what we have gotten ourselves into this time. No worries...although it looks a little run-down the tour guides are good - they are experienced divers, swimmers, and kayakers. They explain exactly what we're going to do and where we're going to go. We all have to wear life jackets even though the preserve is in relatively shallow water, and we all get a crash course in kayaking. I sit in the front so that means I set the pace for how quickly we're going to move through the water - Jason sits in the back and will be responsible for steering. This is a good thing because if I try to steer we will end up grounded in a mangrove before you can say "Watch Out for That Tree!"
Troy is our primary guide and he is very well informed - we learn a lot about mangroves (there are no men on these trees...perhaps they are out of season?) and how they protect the island and the local wildlife, especially birds and fish. It is a beautiful morning - hot and sunny - and we have a lovely time paddling through the preserve to an inlet near the ocean. The rest of the group snorkles for about 30 minutes, but this blind-as-a-bat tourist has never figured out how to snorkle with glasses ('cause it doesn't work with gas permeable contact lenses). I'm happy wandering the beach with another guide who gives me a brief history lesson that I have since forgotten - shame on me!
Now it's time to go back...all total, Troy says we've covered about 2.5 miles today - not a bad workout! I think we've earned another bout of drinking, don't you? Troy pulls up along side us at one point and asks if we're on our honeymoon. Jason and I smile at each and then he answers, "Nope - we've been married about 6 and 1/2 years."
Troy professes amazement. "Really? 'Cause I'm gettin' a honeymoon vibe off you two."
I smile at Jason and then at Troy. "It's probably because we don't have children."
Troy laughs so hard he actually tips his kayak and then he tells me that's the best explanation for marital bliss he's ever heard. Hey, I'm glad I can amuse, you know what I mean?
Once we return to our starting point there is the usual push to purchase souveniers and Jason and I are happy to oblige. An air conditioned taxi-van is waiting to take us back to the Magic and this is good because it looks like a squall is rolling in. We are tired but pleased with our excursion - all participants agree that this is a most excellent excursion choice and will recommend it to all their friends.
And now...the traffic jam from hell. Our driver tried to take us back the way we came that morning but there was an accident...See! I told Jason someone was going to end up on the not road. The path to the ship is completely blocked - we must turn around and take the long way home. We did get a pretty nice tour of some really impoverished areas of the island on our way back - this serves to make me feel very guilty and sad which Jason says is pointless. I ask where his social conscience is and he says he left it in the safe in the room.
That effectively squashes this topic of conversation.
It's now close to 1PM and we can see the Magic's smokestacks but we are sitting in a traffic jam the likes of which I haven't seen since the last morning I drove to work (I think that was October 7th). It takes 20 minutes to drive a block...I am getting very fidgety...finally after another 10 minutes I just ask to be let out of the stupid van. I can walk back to the ship faster than anyone on the island can drive at this point. Yay for me - I've started a revolution! The entire van empties right in the middle of the street and we all trek back to ship - probably a 15 minute walk that would have easily taken another hour in traffic. I do feel bad that I probably cost this woman her tip, but if I had waited any longer I think my bladder would have exploded in the back of her van...in the long run I'm sure I did her a favor by leaving when I did.
**I have to stop now...sorry. I'll pick up part two later tonight but right now I need to take care of something for work and do some laundry and just spend some time in silent adoration of Handsome Pete. Thanks!**
Brenda
**Crunchie-Munchies are the best;
Look delicious on your vest;
Serve them to unwanted guests;
Stuff the mattress with the rest!!**
*Cruchie-Munchies not a registered trademark*
And now...part five-hundred-sixty-seven in Brenda and Jason's Alcoholic Travels Through the Caribbean...
Wednesday, October 19 - Welcome to St. Thomas!!
"To sleep, perchance to dream...ay, there's the rub." I do not usually quote Shakespeare while on vacation - well, I might if I ever make it to England, but I'm not in England...I'm on a ship in a fairly small rectangle of a room with a man who is now snoring so loudly and so continuously that I find myself simultaneously concerned for his health and fighting the urge to smother him with a pillow so that I can finally get more than 20 minutes of shut-eye. Sounds like Snore Monster V.2005 has been upgraded since its last roll-out.
I decide to try sleeping on the sofa, as if somehow that five feet of distance is going to make a difference in the noise level. For good measure I pull the privacy curtains between the bed and the seating area because my muddled brain thinks that the noise may bounce off the curtains and rebound back over to the bed. Words of advice - don't bother...it doesn't work. Time to turn on the TV - I don't know how but after cranking the television volume to something like 65 I actually manage to fall alseep while sort-of watching Miracle for the twentieth time this week. I wake up four hours later to a lovely pale pink sunrise...the Magic is pulling into St. Thomas and it's only 6AM. I snap some pictures and then take great pleasure in waking up Jason for that 6:30 immigration check-in at the Walt Disney Theatre.
Ahhhhh...immigration. I guess I understand why this needs to take place...although I'm not sure that they couldn't do the exact same thing to each passenger when (and if) he / she debarks the ship in port. But then again, there would still be a human back-log so what are you going to do? The intricacies of US immigration policy and Homeland Security are obviously beyond my feeble grasp and I decide that my best course of action will be one that the current administration can really get behind: Don't Ask Questions!! All I know is that there are a lot of people in the WD Theatre at 6:30AM...and you can't tell me they all have early morning excursions scheduled. But considering how early it is most people are fairly well mannered - they even applaude when the two immigration officials show up. Sheeeesh...I'm not that good humored. No one gives me an ovation when I show up to work...how about you?
I learn this morning that immigration is no laughing matter. We shuffle single-file past the officer and flash a passport to verify that we belong to the good guys. Our officer's name is Dave - his name tag is upside down - when I ask him if he did it on purpose he says "no" and then looks at my passport another time. The lesson: good Americans do not question the name tag propensities of their immigration officials. Jason pulls me along so that I can get a US Certified! immigration hand stamp and tells me to stop being such a trouble maker. I thought he would be impressed by my early morning powers of observation ...guess not.
Constant Reader, I bet you can't guess where we ended up for breakfast before we left to join our excursion group!!! (If you don't know the answer you obviously haven't read the other tomes that make up my trip report - I suggest you do so...there will be a quiz.)
We meet in Sessions at 8:15 for the Mangrove Preserve Kayak Tour. Again, a small turnout...I think there were eleven of us total. Our group gets Pinocchio stickers to differentiate us from the other excursion groups leaving the Magic at this time. Now...I have to share with you a little "in-joke" that Jason and I were kicking around this week. We love the Simpsons...and we quote things to each other all the time that probably leave other people scratching their heads. Thanks to an Itchy and Scratchy spoof of Pinocchio we now refer to the little puppet as "PINUCCHIO." In this spoof Pinucchio (played by the psychotic mouse Itchy) is re-born and he looks up at his creator Gapeto (played by the equally psychotic but infinitely more stupid cat Scratchy) and says, "I will never hurt you." Well, of course he's lying and his nose grows by a foot and goes right through Gapeto's eye into his brain...end of cartoon. We think it's hilarious... although it probably loses a little something in translation here, and those of you who were already wondering about my mental state will probably run screaming from this thread never to return. Sorry - we've got a pretty twisted sense of humor at our house.
Anyway, much to the puzzlement of our fellow kayakers Jason and I keep quoting Pinnuchio to each other and cracking up...they probably wonder if we have a secret stash of ganja in our stateroom but I can assure you that alcohol is as far as we go. This goofiness is all natural and thus probably all the more disturbing.
We take an open air taxi ride across part of the island to get to the Eco-Tours starting point. The island itself is lovely - clear water, rolling hills, lots of trees - but I am surprised by the level of poverty here and am a bit depressed by the sense that this is really just an island version of any-city USA. Maybe it was the KFC, and the Mickey D's, and the Wendy's...
I am distracted from the less than appealing scenery on my side of the taxi-bus by two things: the take-my-breath-away view of the bay from Jason's side of the bus and the very narrow stretch of road we are traveling on at a very high speed. I tell Jason that if the driver isn't more careful he will end up on the not road. Jay is puzzled - he has never heard me make use of this phrase before...probably because I just made it up. The "not road" is what I call that space where the shoulder should be...in this case the "not road" is open air...the brief hang-time you'd get just before your taxi-bus plummets down the side of the big hill ending in a loud, firery crash thus negating all positive vacation experiences.
Jason says I think too much.
Ten minutes later we arrive safely, if somewhat breathlessly, at our destination. It looks like the middle of nowhere and it probably is...I wonder briefly what we have gotten ourselves into this time. No worries...although it looks a little run-down the tour guides are good - they are experienced divers, swimmers, and kayakers. They explain exactly what we're going to do and where we're going to go. We all have to wear life jackets even though the preserve is in relatively shallow water, and we all get a crash course in kayaking. I sit in the front so that means I set the pace for how quickly we're going to move through the water - Jason sits in the back and will be responsible for steering. This is a good thing because if I try to steer we will end up grounded in a mangrove before you can say "Watch Out for That Tree!"
Troy is our primary guide and he is very well informed - we learn a lot about mangroves (there are no men on these trees...perhaps they are out of season?) and how they protect the island and the local wildlife, especially birds and fish. It is a beautiful morning - hot and sunny - and we have a lovely time paddling through the preserve to an inlet near the ocean. The rest of the group snorkles for about 30 minutes, but this blind-as-a-bat tourist has never figured out how to snorkle with glasses ('cause it doesn't work with gas permeable contact lenses). I'm happy wandering the beach with another guide who gives me a brief history lesson that I have since forgotten - shame on me!
Now it's time to go back...all total, Troy says we've covered about 2.5 miles today - not a bad workout! I think we've earned another bout of drinking, don't you? Troy pulls up along side us at one point and asks if we're on our honeymoon. Jason and I smile at each and then he answers, "Nope - we've been married about 6 and 1/2 years."
Troy professes amazement. "Really? 'Cause I'm gettin' a honeymoon vibe off you two."
I smile at Jason and then at Troy. "It's probably because we don't have children."
Troy laughs so hard he actually tips his kayak and then he tells me that's the best explanation for marital bliss he's ever heard. Hey, I'm glad I can amuse, you know what I mean?
Once we return to our starting point there is the usual push to purchase souveniers and Jason and I are happy to oblige. An air conditioned taxi-van is waiting to take us back to the Magic and this is good because it looks like a squall is rolling in. We are tired but pleased with our excursion - all participants agree that this is a most excellent excursion choice and will recommend it to all their friends.
And now...the traffic jam from hell. Our driver tried to take us back the way we came that morning but there was an accident...See! I told Jason someone was going to end up on the not road. The path to the ship is completely blocked - we must turn around and take the long way home. We did get a pretty nice tour of some really impoverished areas of the island on our way back - this serves to make me feel very guilty and sad which Jason says is pointless. I ask where his social conscience is and he says he left it in the safe in the room.
That effectively squashes this topic of conversation.
It's now close to 1PM and we can see the Magic's smokestacks but we are sitting in a traffic jam the likes of which I haven't seen since the last morning I drove to work (I think that was October 7th). It takes 20 minutes to drive a block...I am getting very fidgety...finally after another 10 minutes I just ask to be let out of the stupid van. I can walk back to the ship faster than anyone on the island can drive at this point. Yay for me - I've started a revolution! The entire van empties right in the middle of the street and we all trek back to ship - probably a 15 minute walk that would have easily taken another hour in traffic. I do feel bad that I probably cost this woman her tip, but if I had waited any longer I think my bladder would have exploded in the back of her van...in the long run I'm sure I did her a favor by leaving when I did.
**I have to stop now...sorry. I'll pick up part two later tonight but right now I need to take care of something for work and do some laundry and just spend some time in silent adoration of Handsome Pete. Thanks!**
Brenda
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