October 6th-13th, 2007 Magic. Post your reports HERE!
- Thread starter artmanr
- Start date
I didn't intend to have multi parts....but it happened! 
Part 1:
My trip report .
First, this was our big vacation, planned for 18 months or so. We were really excited. The cruise did not disappoint. We experienced many new things in a very short period of time. There are things we would do again and others we would not. Disney Cruise Line does an excellent job for its passengers and its clear why so many people are huge fans of the experience.
Pre-Cruise:
We arrived in Orland on Wednesday morning from Chicago. We had rented a car from Thrifty (an offsite rental agency about 1 mile from the airport) for use during our short Orlando leg and for our trip to Port Canaveral on embarkation day. We didnt get the car we had reserved, but were upgraded to a Mercury Grand Marquis. Now if you have a Grand Marquis, I am happy for you, but this is not a great car IMHO. Its a huge sedan from the outside that is actually very small on the inside. Its uncomfortable, has no drink holders or storage areas and gets pretty poor gas mileage. That being said it did hold our 7 pieces of luggage 2 adults and 2 children; so it served its purpose. If you get upgraded to this car .renegotiate for an SUV or Minivan.
So, youre in Orlando, its mid-morning, and you have no agenda .what would you do?? We headed over to WDW. Our goal was to hit two parks in one day, but we fell short and only saw Animal Kingdom. We have been there before and I have this WARNING: ANIMAL KINGDOM IS HOTTER THAN HADES!!
This is a known fact. You can see the evidence by all of the fans that are everywhere. I personally feel it is because of all the jungle type foliage that prevents any air from flowing through the park. You cant catch a breeze anywhere. Also, its very humid, which I believe is related to the .foliage .which no doubt requires huge amounts of water each night to stay green and lush. NOTE: If you dont like hot humid environments, dont go to Animal Kingdom when the temperature is over 82 degrees .seriously.
[This is probably a good place to point out that I dont believe Walt Disney was a genius. A creative visionary? Yes. Genius? No. Otherwise he would not have plunked his dream world in a land so un-hospitable to humans. Again IMHO]
That being said, I like Animal Kingdom. I love Expedition Everest. It is my favorite coaster bar none. I saw the Finding Nemo musical and found it very entertaining even from the back row. Good costumes, dancing, and real live singing. Like a Broadway show .and mercifully VERY AIR CONDITIONED. We also did most of the rides in Dino Land and very much enjoyed the parade. The kids enjoyed Camp Mickey Minnie and the food court in that area was another welcome break from the heat.
Pooped from the traveling, heat and fun we retired to Wyndham Bonnet Creek, where we had booked a 3 night stay in a 2 bedroom villa. BC is a nice luxury timeshare development on the fringe of the WDW property. Its tucked back behind WD Caribbean Beach and the Pop Century resorts. A planned development including a Hilton Waldorf-Astoria Hotel is going up next door. We did a BC sales presentation and received some Disney Dollars for the effort. One of the prime selling points was that they were right on top of Disney World and that no one else could compare to the location. To me, that was a negative, as I dont want other hotels and business to spoil Disney World by infringing on their turf. I like my WDW experience to include only Disney.
Pre Cruise Day 2:
On day two we relaxed and swam for a while. It rained and the kids thought swimming in the rain was pretty darned hilarious. I did too. Not a thing we do in Chicago. Our surprise for the kids was the Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party that night. After relaxing around the resort, we did some shopping at the Disney Character Outlet and then headed for Magic Kingdom.
It was again hot and humid and we had a great time going on the rides and collecting candy. We enjoyed the fireworks and the special parade. Everything was really fun. People were dressed up in costumes that were very elaborate, others, like us, had a them (ours was the Incredibles) but opted for no costumes. We closed the place at midnight and headed back for a good nights sleep.
Pre Cruise Day 3:
Disneys Blizzard Beach. I was leery about this choice because I feared someone might get hurt and somehow impact the cruise. However, we all had a great time. I even did the Summit Plummet, which is LIKE THE MOST INSANE WATER SLIDE EVER CONCEIVED BY MAN. The kids enjoyed the smaller slides, lazy river and the wave pool. We had a nice lunch really, really had fun.
A word about tickets: We had leftover non-expiring park hoppers with plus features from prior trips to WDW. In fact, we still have extra days leftover. I do not relish buying new Magic Your Way Tickets. I like to get my Disney Experience cost to less than $40 per day. At that rate, I can justify the costs. When it comes time to replenish our Disney tickets, the cost for my family of 4 is going to be $1543.80 (7 day, non expiring, park hopper, water parks & more (6) for a total of 13 experiences adult net per day $31.) OUCH! Did I hear someone say Sea World and Busch Gardens??
Off to Bonnet Creek to pack it up and sleep for embarkation day.
Embarkation Day:
We left around 10:00 a.m. and got to Port Canaveral just before 11:00 a.m. In case you dont know the cruise ship is at the South Terminal SOUTH. Its not very clearly marked, so we ended up going to the north and turning around. I dropped off the family and luggage and headed to Thrifty (two left turns and follow the main road). Our cost for the 3 day rental and one way drop off was less than $100.00.
My wife had managed all the pre-boarding paperwork, so we were in great shape. I showed up at the terminal, showed my drivers license and went quickly through security. Up the escalator I joined my family and we took a few pictures in the terminal. The building is very nice and designed to move people along quickly and easily; another Disney plus. People were boarding so we joined the line and within 15 minutes were aboard.
Part 1:
My trip report .
First, this was our big vacation, planned for 18 months or so. We were really excited. The cruise did not disappoint. We experienced many new things in a very short period of time. There are things we would do again and others we would not. Disney Cruise Line does an excellent job for its passengers and its clear why so many people are huge fans of the experience.
Pre-Cruise:
We arrived in Orland on Wednesday morning from Chicago. We had rented a car from Thrifty (an offsite rental agency about 1 mile from the airport) for use during our short Orlando leg and for our trip to Port Canaveral on embarkation day. We didnt get the car we had reserved, but were upgraded to a Mercury Grand Marquis. Now if you have a Grand Marquis, I am happy for you, but this is not a great car IMHO. Its a huge sedan from the outside that is actually very small on the inside. Its uncomfortable, has no drink holders or storage areas and gets pretty poor gas mileage. That being said it did hold our 7 pieces of luggage 2 adults and 2 children; so it served its purpose. If you get upgraded to this car .renegotiate for an SUV or Minivan.
So, youre in Orlando, its mid-morning, and you have no agenda .what would you do?? We headed over to WDW. Our goal was to hit two parks in one day, but we fell short and only saw Animal Kingdom. We have been there before and I have this WARNING: ANIMAL KINGDOM IS HOTTER THAN HADES!!
This is a known fact. You can see the evidence by all of the fans that are everywhere. I personally feel it is because of all the jungle type foliage that prevents any air from flowing through the park. You cant catch a breeze anywhere. Also, its very humid, which I believe is related to the .foliage .which no doubt requires huge amounts of water each night to stay green and lush. NOTE: If you dont like hot humid environments, dont go to Animal Kingdom when the temperature is over 82 degrees .seriously.
[This is probably a good place to point out that I dont believe Walt Disney was a genius. A creative visionary? Yes. Genius? No. Otherwise he would not have plunked his dream world in a land so un-hospitable to humans. Again IMHO]
That being said, I like Animal Kingdom. I love Expedition Everest. It is my favorite coaster bar none. I saw the Finding Nemo musical and found it very entertaining even from the back row. Good costumes, dancing, and real live singing. Like a Broadway show .and mercifully VERY AIR CONDITIONED. We also did most of the rides in Dino Land and very much enjoyed the parade. The kids enjoyed Camp Mickey Minnie and the food court in that area was another welcome break from the heat.
Pooped from the traveling, heat and fun we retired to Wyndham Bonnet Creek, where we had booked a 3 night stay in a 2 bedroom villa. BC is a nice luxury timeshare development on the fringe of the WDW property. Its tucked back behind WD Caribbean Beach and the Pop Century resorts. A planned development including a Hilton Waldorf-Astoria Hotel is going up next door. We did a BC sales presentation and received some Disney Dollars for the effort. One of the prime selling points was that they were right on top of Disney World and that no one else could compare to the location. To me, that was a negative, as I dont want other hotels and business to spoil Disney World by infringing on their turf. I like my WDW experience to include only Disney.
Pre Cruise Day 2:
On day two we relaxed and swam for a while. It rained and the kids thought swimming in the rain was pretty darned hilarious. I did too. Not a thing we do in Chicago. Our surprise for the kids was the Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party that night. After relaxing around the resort, we did some shopping at the Disney Character Outlet and then headed for Magic Kingdom.
It was again hot and humid and we had a great time going on the rides and collecting candy. We enjoyed the fireworks and the special parade. Everything was really fun. People were dressed up in costumes that were very elaborate, others, like us, had a them (ours was the Incredibles) but opted for no costumes. We closed the place at midnight and headed back for a good nights sleep.
Pre Cruise Day 3:
Disneys Blizzard Beach. I was leery about this choice because I feared someone might get hurt and somehow impact the cruise. However, we all had a great time. I even did the Summit Plummet, which is LIKE THE MOST INSANE WATER SLIDE EVER CONCEIVED BY MAN. The kids enjoyed the smaller slides, lazy river and the wave pool. We had a nice lunch really, really had fun.
A word about tickets: We had leftover non-expiring park hoppers with plus features from prior trips to WDW. In fact, we still have extra days leftover. I do not relish buying new Magic Your Way Tickets. I like to get my Disney Experience cost to less than $40 per day. At that rate, I can justify the costs. When it comes time to replenish our Disney tickets, the cost for my family of 4 is going to be $1543.80 (7 day, non expiring, park hopper, water parks & more (6) for a total of 13 experiences adult net per day $31.) OUCH! Did I hear someone say Sea World and Busch Gardens??
Off to Bonnet Creek to pack it up and sleep for embarkation day.
Embarkation Day:
We left around 10:00 a.m. and got to Port Canaveral just before 11:00 a.m. In case you dont know the cruise ship is at the South Terminal SOUTH. Its not very clearly marked, so we ended up going to the north and turning around. I dropped off the family and luggage and headed to Thrifty (two left turns and follow the main road). Our cost for the 3 day rental and one way drop off was less than $100.00.
My wife had managed all the pre-boarding paperwork, so we were in great shape. I showed up at the terminal, showed my drivers license and went quickly through security. Up the escalator I joined my family and we took a few pictures in the terminal. The building is very nice and designed to move people along quickly and easily; another Disney plus. People were boarding so we joined the line and within 15 minutes were aboard.
Tickled Tink
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2007
- Messages
- 135
Good report so far. Looking foward to more...
Rather than continue with the narrative style, I thought I would to a chronological list of quick hits, impressions that come to me about each day of the cruise. Here goes:
An Elegant Ship:
Wow! The ship is more impressive than any photo could express. Its huge, bold, clean and sharp. Inside the attention to detail is everywhere. Wood, marble, classic Disney artwork, polished metal, hidden Mickeys; a ship to be proud of for sure.
Sail Away Party (missed it):
After a buffet lunch and some exploration of the decks, I was a bit tired and thought a nap best. I crashed in our stateroom (5th deck, port, forward). My wife took the boys to the sail away party. From the video, it sure looked like fun. The boys loved the characters dancing and singing. Wish Upon A Star on the ship horns is totally cool.
BTW, when it comes to characters, Im a Goofy fan. Hes the best character, fun, caring, daring and of course Goofy. I love ya Goofy!
I Cant Walk Straight:
Whats going on here? I havent been drinking, but Im weaving along the corridors of the 5th deck like a sailor on leave. Wait. Were moving. Thats ocean out the porthole. Whats that on the ocean? The white things that seem to be on the top of the waves. Hey, those waves seem kind of large .and they just keep rolling and rolling and rolling Ive got a headache. Better lay down and wait for dinner.
8:15 Parrot Cay:
My wife informs me that some people on the board dont like Parrot Cay. I liked it. Our server and assistant server made us feel special. I have a great three course meal and dessert. I especially liked the presentation of the meal. Each course had a flair that I did not expect; like an artist created it. Very cool.
Its Official, Im feeling the Boat Moving:
I had a slight headache to begin with, but it got worse as the ship moved out to sea. I noted that the ship channel on the stateroom tv said we were doing 21 knots. Thats almost full speed for the Magic, so I figured the Captain was trying to get us out of bad weather. Interestingly the barometric pressure (as displayed on the ship channel) never changed for the whole cruise. Must be a misprint. I heard a few other passengers commenting on the weather and seas. The ship channel said slight for the seas. Thats 1 to 4 feet. I saw white caps and bigger waves than that. Must have been a misprint.
Cruise Quarters:
Upon returning to the stateroom, we found the origami towel work of our steward. Very cool. Picture time. The boys found the hidden bunk bed was no longer hidden. Negotiations ensue for top bunk. Settled. Looks like theyll take turns. Smile.
We zonk out and the ship rolls onward. Tomorrow Key West. We can't wait.
An Elegant Ship:
Wow! The ship is more impressive than any photo could express. Its huge, bold, clean and sharp. Inside the attention to detail is everywhere. Wood, marble, classic Disney artwork, polished metal, hidden Mickeys; a ship to be proud of for sure.
Sail Away Party (missed it):
After a buffet lunch and some exploration of the decks, I was a bit tired and thought a nap best. I crashed in our stateroom (5th deck, port, forward). My wife took the boys to the sail away party. From the video, it sure looked like fun. The boys loved the characters dancing and singing. Wish Upon A Star on the ship horns is totally cool.
BTW, when it comes to characters, Im a Goofy fan. Hes the best character, fun, caring, daring and of course Goofy. I love ya Goofy!
I Cant Walk Straight:
Whats going on here? I havent been drinking, but Im weaving along the corridors of the 5th deck like a sailor on leave. Wait. Were moving. Thats ocean out the porthole. Whats that on the ocean? The white things that seem to be on the top of the waves. Hey, those waves seem kind of large .and they just keep rolling and rolling and rolling Ive got a headache. Better lay down and wait for dinner.
8:15 Parrot Cay:
My wife informs me that some people on the board dont like Parrot Cay. I liked it. Our server and assistant server made us feel special. I have a great three course meal and dessert. I especially liked the presentation of the meal. Each course had a flair that I did not expect; like an artist created it. Very cool.
Its Official, Im feeling the Boat Moving:
I had a slight headache to begin with, but it got worse as the ship moved out to sea. I noted that the ship channel on the stateroom tv said we were doing 21 knots. Thats almost full speed for the Magic, so I figured the Captain was trying to get us out of bad weather. Interestingly the barometric pressure (as displayed on the ship channel) never changed for the whole cruise. Must be a misprint. I heard a few other passengers commenting on the weather and seas. The ship channel said slight for the seas. Thats 1 to 4 feet. I saw white caps and bigger waves than that. Must have been a misprint.
Cruise Quarters:
Upon returning to the stateroom, we found the origami towel work of our steward. Very cool. Picture time. The boys found the hidden bunk bed was no longer hidden. Negotiations ensue for top bunk. Settled. Looks like theyll take turns. Smile.
We zonk out and the ship rolls onward. Tomorrow Key West. We can't wait.
bellastella227
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2006
- Messages
- 299
We are home and I am in one piece!!! 
We had a good time but it was definitely more work than I expected. I did not get to do even half the things I wanted to. I knew I would have to be flexible with a 21-month old but it was WAY harder than I thought it would be.
To start out our vacation, my suitcase was taken by another passenger. Our first day was spent scrambing and trying to replace everything I would need should I not get my bag back. Thank God we were there two days before the cruise! Of course...we got the call that my bag was returned at 9p.m. so we scrambled to get everything returned as we were going to WDW the next day. My bag finally arrived at the condo at 2 a.m. Needless to say, our first day was not the relaxing day we had planned!!!
I had fun in Disney even though we were soaked most of the day. We started out at MGM and went on the two rides on my list....RNR and TOT. I loved them both and I was so happy to experience them! WHEEEE! Then we walked over to EPCOT to get some treats at the F&WF and ride a couple more rides. I had never seen the BV resort before and it was so cute and looked like fun! I had Mission:Space and Test Track on my list. I got on MS right away. TT kept closing due to the rain. We spent most of our day here and took it easy. We went to the Disney Visa character meet and got our free 5x7 and finally made it on TT right before we left for MK.
My ILs brought DD to MK to meet us for MNSSHP. The evening was a disappointment due to the weather. They cancelled the first parade and were not sure about the fireworks and second parade when we were ready to leave. They were amazing and gave us one-day MK passes with no expiration to use in the future, which was really nice...especially since they cannot control the weather. We basically ran from ride to ride with DD and I got her on everything I wanted her to experience. I was just so bummed because I was really looking forward to the party. DD was adorable and dressed as Tinkerbell!
The next day was Saturday and we were off! We returned the car and our shuttle bus met us there. Of course, they did not have enough room for all our luggage (and we warned them we had a lot!!!) and also they did not have the correct number of carseats. I wasn't happy but there was not much we could do at that point. A second van came with a trailer attached for luggage and that could accomodate us (six adults and three children). We stopped at the airport to pick up SIL and her family (and more luggage!). Then we were on our way to the port...
OK this is turning into a mini-trip report, which is not what I intended. I haven't even made it to the ship yet! I'll come back when I have another minute. Right now I have to finish up my day at work.
We had a good time but it was definitely more work than I expected. I did not get to do even half the things I wanted to. I knew I would have to be flexible with a 21-month old but it was WAY harder than I thought it would be.
To start out our vacation, my suitcase was taken by another passenger. Our first day was spent scrambing and trying to replace everything I would need should I not get my bag back. Thank God we were there two days before the cruise! Of course...we got the call that my bag was returned at 9p.m. so we scrambled to get everything returned as we were going to WDW the next day. My bag finally arrived at the condo at 2 a.m. Needless to say, our first day was not the relaxing day we had planned!!!
I had fun in Disney even though we were soaked most of the day. We started out at MGM and went on the two rides on my list....RNR and TOT. I loved them both and I was so happy to experience them! WHEEEE! Then we walked over to EPCOT to get some treats at the F&WF and ride a couple more rides. I had never seen the BV resort before and it was so cute and looked like fun! I had Mission:Space and Test Track on my list. I got on MS right away. TT kept closing due to the rain. We spent most of our day here and took it easy. We went to the Disney Visa character meet and got our free 5x7 and finally made it on TT right before we left for MK.
My ILs brought DD to MK to meet us for MNSSHP. The evening was a disappointment due to the weather. They cancelled the first parade and were not sure about the fireworks and second parade when we were ready to leave. They were amazing and gave us one-day MK passes with no expiration to use in the future, which was really nice...especially since they cannot control the weather. We basically ran from ride to ride with DD and I got her on everything I wanted her to experience. I was just so bummed because I was really looking forward to the party. DD was adorable and dressed as Tinkerbell!
The next day was Saturday and we were off! We returned the car and our shuttle bus met us there. Of course, they did not have enough room for all our luggage (and we warned them we had a lot!!!) and also they did not have the correct number of carseats. I wasn't happy but there was not much we could do at that point. A second van came with a trailer attached for luggage and that could accomodate us (six adults and three children). We stopped at the airport to pick up SIL and her family (and more luggage!). Then we were on our way to the port...
OK this is turning into a mini-trip report, which is not what I intended. I haven't even made it to the ship yet! I'll come back when I have another minute. Right now I have to finish up my day at work.
Key West Day:
Topsiders Buffet: The seas have calmed, no whitecaps. I feel better and hungry. If you have ever had a breakfast at Chef Mickeys or Cape May you have a good idea of what to expect at Topsiders, minus the characters. Lots of food choices, traditional breakfast foods (eggs, bacon, sausage, cereals, waffles, fruit) lunch foods (cold cuts, bagels, breads, soup, hot carved meats, cheeses) and a cornucopia of desserts; all available in great quantities.
This is a good place to express my gratitude for the Disney Cruise Lines commitment to clean hands. At each restaurant you are handed an antibacterial wipe to clean your hands. You get one when boarding the ship from a shore visit too. On board there are many hand cleaning stations (especially in the kids areas). Its all an effort to quell the spread of the Norovirus (stomach and lower g/i illness) which has plagued some cruise ships from time to time. It seems to be working!!
Oceaneer Club/Lab:
For the first time we checked the kids into the Oceaneer Club. They are excited, but not as much as we are. The kids have wrist bands and are checked in individually; no one can get them out but us. Cool. As a plus we have a pager in case the kids or staff need us.
Vista Spa and the Exotic Rasul:
Were not scheduled into Key West for a while. No kids, tropical cruise hmm? What would you do? We had planned a spa treatment in the Vista Spa (9th deck, starboard, forward). The spa is very nice. The staff was great and showed us around. We had booked an Exotic Rasul which I highly recommend. Its basically a do it yourself steam, exfoliation and body mud mask; except you dont do it yourself ..you do it with someone special.
There is a small room with a ceramic tiled built in bench. On one end is a steam room and on the other end a shower. Included are lots of towels, various facial scrubs, masks, moisturizers from the spa for you to use after the mud. You get the room for 50 minutes and at approximately 40 minutes they will knock to let you know time is almost up.
The idea is to lather up with the green exfoliation scrub and then take a nice hot steam. Then you shower and lather up with the mud, more steam and then another shower. The steam room is very hot and you cant stay in there for more than 5 minutes or so. You end up having lot of extra time ..use it at your own discretion.
The Quest for Key West:
Feeling like a million bucks we went to get the kids and had a quick room service lunch before heading out to the Conch (pronounced Conk) Republic. We departed the ship right onto the dock snapping photos (we have over 1100) and video. Again, the ship is impressive. Huge.
Not sure what we wanted from Key West, we just wander. The Customs House is an excellent old building from the 1890s or so. Around the corner, more souvenir shops. One has everything for $5. Hmm. No sale. Its hot, sticky and were still not sure what we wanted from the island. One thing we needed was batteries. Theres a CVS a few blocks down. We load up and get some beverages too. Outside we decide to rent one of those minicars and drive around the island. I take out the card which was handed to me a few blocks back and call from my cell phone. Two minutes later, were in an air-conditioned van on our way to the rental center.
We Get A Deal:
The owner of the rental agency is driving our van. Hes older and retired from Upstate New York. A nice guy, I ask him if we can get a deal on the rental. He says sure. So we end up paying for 2 hours and getting 3. Ten minutes later, map in hand, we are driving a glorified golf cart with 4 seats through the streets of KW. Its bright orange and the kids have named it Herbie. Total cost $84.00.
We amble around town going up and down, north and south, east and west. We go south as far south as anyone can go in the USA. We line up and wait for pictures. We take turns with others taking pictures/posing. Its kind of cool. Lots of other interesting buildings an old, old cemetery. A really great beach with some daring windsurfers. We stop and snack on some munchies from CVS. Its a fun time and were on no ones time but our own. The boys are snapping photos with their cameras. Later, at home, Ill laugh out loud at the dozen or so pictures they took of each other laughing, giggling and hamming it up for the camera.
Somehow time is flying and we end up back at the rental agency to drop off Herbie no worse for the wear. An air-conditioned van ride back to the dock. We go through security and are back on board. Time for a snack and a swim.
We grab small bites at Goofys galley and decide to take a swim in the Goofy Pool. We are relaxing and getting into this cruising thing. Fun
At some point we decide to head to the stateroom, shower and take a nap. Mickey calls at around 6 and we head out to the Walt Disney Theatre for a show.
Walt Disney Theatre Rocks!
WDT is a first class place to see a show. Great sound and site lines. Productions are first class. We have fun and start to get hungry.
Lumieres No Kids:
Kids are restless and want more Oceaneer Club. We drop them off and go to dinner at Lumieres sans children. Our server is sad the boys arent there. Escargot is really good. I had no idea I liked it that much. Again, food is creatively served and very good. We feel special.
Karaoke in Studio Sea:
All of the kids in Studio Sea are great. I am really proud of our two. I even take a shot at an Elvis cover. We enjoy it for an hour and then head back to the stateroom.
Goofy Pool Late Show:
The kids want to swim, so I take the boys to the Goofy Pool. On the jumbo screen, the Bears are playing the Packers and it seems Bears fans are outnumbered. Bears win! After midnight and time for some zzzzzz. Tomorrow a day at sea.
Topsiders Buffet: The seas have calmed, no whitecaps. I feel better and hungry. If you have ever had a breakfast at Chef Mickeys or Cape May you have a good idea of what to expect at Topsiders, minus the characters. Lots of food choices, traditional breakfast foods (eggs, bacon, sausage, cereals, waffles, fruit) lunch foods (cold cuts, bagels, breads, soup, hot carved meats, cheeses) and a cornucopia of desserts; all available in great quantities.
This is a good place to express my gratitude for the Disney Cruise Lines commitment to clean hands. At each restaurant you are handed an antibacterial wipe to clean your hands. You get one when boarding the ship from a shore visit too. On board there are many hand cleaning stations (especially in the kids areas). Its all an effort to quell the spread of the Norovirus (stomach and lower g/i illness) which has plagued some cruise ships from time to time. It seems to be working!!
Oceaneer Club/Lab:
For the first time we checked the kids into the Oceaneer Club. They are excited, but not as much as we are. The kids have wrist bands and are checked in individually; no one can get them out but us. Cool. As a plus we have a pager in case the kids or staff need us.
Vista Spa and the Exotic Rasul:
Were not scheduled into Key West for a while. No kids, tropical cruise hmm? What would you do? We had planned a spa treatment in the Vista Spa (9th deck, starboard, forward). The spa is very nice. The staff was great and showed us around. We had booked an Exotic Rasul which I highly recommend. Its basically a do it yourself steam, exfoliation and body mud mask; except you dont do it yourself ..you do it with someone special.
There is a small room with a ceramic tiled built in bench. On one end is a steam room and on the other end a shower. Included are lots of towels, various facial scrubs, masks, moisturizers from the spa for you to use after the mud. You get the room for 50 minutes and at approximately 40 minutes they will knock to let you know time is almost up.
The idea is to lather up with the green exfoliation scrub and then take a nice hot steam. Then you shower and lather up with the mud, more steam and then another shower. The steam room is very hot and you cant stay in there for more than 5 minutes or so. You end up having lot of extra time ..use it at your own discretion.
The Quest for Key West:
Feeling like a million bucks we went to get the kids and had a quick room service lunch before heading out to the Conch (pronounced Conk) Republic. We departed the ship right onto the dock snapping photos (we have over 1100) and video. Again, the ship is impressive. Huge.
Not sure what we wanted from Key West, we just wander. The Customs House is an excellent old building from the 1890s or so. Around the corner, more souvenir shops. One has everything for $5. Hmm. No sale. Its hot, sticky and were still not sure what we wanted from the island. One thing we needed was batteries. Theres a CVS a few blocks down. We load up and get some beverages too. Outside we decide to rent one of those minicars and drive around the island. I take out the card which was handed to me a few blocks back and call from my cell phone. Two minutes later, were in an air-conditioned van on our way to the rental center.
We Get A Deal:
The owner of the rental agency is driving our van. Hes older and retired from Upstate New York. A nice guy, I ask him if we can get a deal on the rental. He says sure. So we end up paying for 2 hours and getting 3. Ten minutes later, map in hand, we are driving a glorified golf cart with 4 seats through the streets of KW. Its bright orange and the kids have named it Herbie. Total cost $84.00.
We amble around town going up and down, north and south, east and west. We go south as far south as anyone can go in the USA. We line up and wait for pictures. We take turns with others taking pictures/posing. Its kind of cool. Lots of other interesting buildings an old, old cemetery. A really great beach with some daring windsurfers. We stop and snack on some munchies from CVS. Its a fun time and were on no ones time but our own. The boys are snapping photos with their cameras. Later, at home, Ill laugh out loud at the dozen or so pictures they took of each other laughing, giggling and hamming it up for the camera.
Somehow time is flying and we end up back at the rental agency to drop off Herbie no worse for the wear. An air-conditioned van ride back to the dock. We go through security and are back on board. Time for a snack and a swim.
We grab small bites at Goofys galley and decide to take a swim in the Goofy Pool. We are relaxing and getting into this cruising thing. Fun
At some point we decide to head to the stateroom, shower and take a nap. Mickey calls at around 6 and we head out to the Walt Disney Theatre for a show.
Walt Disney Theatre Rocks!
WDT is a first class place to see a show. Great sound and site lines. Productions are first class. We have fun and start to get hungry.
Lumieres No Kids:
Kids are restless and want more Oceaneer Club. We drop them off and go to dinner at Lumieres sans children. Our server is sad the boys arent there. Escargot is really good. I had no idea I liked it that much. Again, food is creatively served and very good. We feel special.
Karaoke in Studio Sea:
All of the kids in Studio Sea are great. I am really proud of our two. I even take a shot at an Elvis cover. We enjoy it for an hour and then head back to the stateroom.
Goofy Pool Late Show:
The kids want to swim, so I take the boys to the Goofy Pool. On the jumbo screen, the Bears are playing the Packers and it seems Bears fans are outnumbered. Bears win! After midnight and time for some zzzzzz. Tomorrow a day at sea.
As an add on the this post, I want to note that the Cove Cafe is a great place to unwind for adults. Like a very comfortable coffee shop....big, soft chairs. Great coffees and liqueurs. Always something tasty in the snack case...no charge of course. Sit down, grab some headphones and listen to some music...(tv too.)
Vista Spa Hair Salon:
My wife decides to change her hair style. No problem, the Vista Spa has a salon. Prices are very reasonable. She gets a great cut that she’s still happy with. Later I call for a men’s cut and they get me right in. I love this spa stuff.
Shopping School:
I attend the shopping presentation conducted by Pippa in the Buena Vista Theatre. I hear about great shopping in the ports; unique shops, best prices, must see stores. Less than captivating, I take a nap and wait for the raffle. The hook to the presentation was raffle for real prizes. The prizes are a t-shirt, some small jewelry, and a few other items that I can’t recall. I don’t win any.
From what I can tell, the shops sponsor these presentations. You get a pamphlet with a map and highlighted "guaranteed" stores. The guarantee applies if you have a problem such as the item not being what they said it was or being of inferior quality. Pippa was entertaining, but I would not do that again.
Animator's Palate:
It’s dinner time and we’re in formal clothes. Rotation wise we’re up for Animator’s Palate. Before dinner we stop in the atrium for the Captain's reception. Servers with trays of tropical drinks circle the room. The drinks are free. I like.
We head into AP and have another great meal. Presentation is tops. Variety and quality match that of any of the finer restaurants we’ve been to before. Our servers are really great. We enjoy the light show and the Mickey “parade”. Smiles all around. We are having fun.
Studio Sea AGAIN!
In Studio Sea they are having a dance party with kids and parents whooping it up. These are the young kids and it’s a hoot to watch them in their formal clothes doing the “Hey, Hey, Baby” dance which I believe has become the trademark song and dance for the cruise (we find ourselves singing it everywhere we go….”Oooh….Ahhhh”)
We dance, take pictures and video. Next up is Karaoke and why not? The boys are more confident now and really belt it out. It’s great fun.
Late Night at the Goofy Pool:
After dinner we took some photos and changed into swim clothes for a splash in the Goofy Pool. Monday Night Football was on the big screen. Cowboys won in a squeaker. Buffalo, you we’re sooooo close to an upset!
The boys want some late night pizza from Pinocchio's. Why not? We're on vacation!
Vista Spa Hair Salon:
My wife decides to change her hair style. No problem, the Vista Spa has a salon. Prices are very reasonable. She gets a great cut that she’s still happy with. Later I call for a men’s cut and they get me right in. I love this spa stuff.
Shopping School:
I attend the shopping presentation conducted by Pippa in the Buena Vista Theatre. I hear about great shopping in the ports; unique shops, best prices, must see stores. Less than captivating, I take a nap and wait for the raffle. The hook to the presentation was raffle for real prizes. The prizes are a t-shirt, some small jewelry, and a few other items that I can’t recall. I don’t win any.
From what I can tell, the shops sponsor these presentations. You get a pamphlet with a map and highlighted "guaranteed" stores. The guarantee applies if you have a problem such as the item not being what they said it was or being of inferior quality. Pippa was entertaining, but I would not do that again.
Animator's Palate:
It’s dinner time and we’re in formal clothes. Rotation wise we’re up for Animator’s Palate. Before dinner we stop in the atrium for the Captain's reception. Servers with trays of tropical drinks circle the room. The drinks are free. I like.
We head into AP and have another great meal. Presentation is tops. Variety and quality match that of any of the finer restaurants we’ve been to before. Our servers are really great. We enjoy the light show and the Mickey “parade”. Smiles all around. We are having fun.
Studio Sea AGAIN!
In Studio Sea they are having a dance party with kids and parents whooping it up. These are the young kids and it’s a hoot to watch them in their formal clothes doing the “Hey, Hey, Baby” dance which I believe has become the trademark song and dance for the cruise (we find ourselves singing it everywhere we go….”Oooh….Ahhhh”)
We dance, take pictures and video. Next up is Karaoke and why not? The boys are more confident now and really belt it out. It’s great fun.
Late Night at the Goofy Pool:
After dinner we took some photos and changed into swim clothes for a splash in the Goofy Pool. Monday Night Football was on the big screen. Cowboys won in a squeaker. Buffalo, you we’re sooooo close to an upset!
The boys want some late night pizza from Pinocchio's. Why not? We're on vacation!
After being home a week, I think I've finally caught up enough to post a report.
First comment - buy TRIP INSURANCE - read on for the reason.
Our crew:
Me and DH, Reine and Paul (59-62 but really young)
DS and DDIL, Chris and Julia (31-24)
DMIL and DSIL, Lois and Janet (80+ and 50 but young at heart)
Chris and Julia went to WDW on Wednesday, Oct 3 and spent two days doing the parks including dinner at Ohana's on Thursday night, thanks to nanatink who share pdrs they weren't going to use. I think Ohaha's was the highlight of their WDW experience. They spent an hour on Friday night telling us about it.
Friday, Oct 5...Flew into MCO and got the rental van - upgraded the size when we really thought about luggage for 6 and a wheelchair. Met Lois and Janet at the airport later, then drove to Animal Kingdom lodge to pick up Chris and Julia, then on to PC and the Comfort Inn and Suites (Hotwire deal for 59.99 each room). Everyone was tired so DH and I made a Pizza run and we picniced in our rooms.
Saturday, Oct 6...DH was up early and got donuts for all. Then we're off to the ship. DH dropped us all off and returned the van (at 11:00 allow an hour for this by the way). Called DD (CM on the ship) when we got to the terminal and she came over to say Hi. Got everyone checked in and boarded the ship for lunch with DD and her new hubby in Parrot Cay. He was very nervous since it was his first time meeting all of us but since DD picked a winner, that went really well. Then off to our rooms to get settled in and then to the Deck party. Had a great time watching the excitement but Janet left to go inside. She came back saying she was having a problem with her heart rate. Went down to her room and she tried a cold shower and still couldn't get it under control so we went to the med center. To make a long story short, she was experiencing Tachycardia - her heart rate over 200. The medical staff on board was fantastic but they couldn't get her heart rate below 200 with either meds or cardioversion so DCL turned the ship around and headed back to port for a medical debark. Fortunately the Coast Guard sent a boat to pick her up - gurney, defibrillator, oxygen and all winched off the ship and onto the deck of the Coast Guard boat. DCL sent a nurse with her (he got to climb down a rope ladder) and it looked like a bumpy ride indeed. Fortunately, when she got to the hospital they had a medication that DCL can't keep on board that stabilized the heart rate by about 8:00 Saturday night. She stayed with friends in Winter Haven when she was released from the hospital on Monday and was able to join us for breakfast on Saturday morning when we returned to port and ride the DCL bus to the airport so she got a little taste of the Magic. Guess we'll have to schedule another cruise so Janet can enjoy more than 4 hours on the ship.
After the Coast Guard boat left we tried to return to something approaching normal and had a fantastic dinner in Palo then went to bed.
Sunday, Oct 7. Key West. Paul, Reine, Chris and Julia went on the Back to Nature Kayaking excursion. It was really fun - but plan on getting wet and wear your swimsuit. It rained on us and the waves splashed a bit but we really enjoyed it. Used up enough calories to eat all I wanted at dinner with no regrets. Back on board, we called Janet and verified that she was doing fine but still in the hospital for observation. We relaxed on board that afternoon and then went to the show and then dinner to meet our out of this world serving team. John from Scotland, Cyprian from India and Greg from Barbados. These guys rock and were fantastic the whole week. Couldn't ask for better. Lots of fun, very knowledgeable, and very attentive. They actually exceeded our expectations.
Not going to give a detailed report of the rest of the week but have some thoughts to share:
DCL is fantastic in an emergency. Their medical team is first rate and very caring. They assigned a shoreside person to keep up with Janet and sent regular reports to the ship on how she was doing. (She didn't want anyone to get off with her since this was something that had happened before and she knew it would be fine once they got the right meds). They were also able to replace some of MILs meds that went off the ship with Janet accidentally. Definitely top notch folks and well equipped and stocked infirmary.
Definitely get a DisMeet together. Meeting the friends I had been corresponding with was really fun and we continued to see folks we know all week.
Our DisMeet organized a stateroom tour among our group so those that wanted to could see the various classes of staterooms and get an idea of whether we wanted to book a different class the next cruise. That was really fun and confirmed my thoughts that the sideways Cat 11s (our cabins) are the best value for the money on the ship.
DCL people are also great with folks in wheelchairs. Although DMIL normally uses a walker and brought it with her, we also had a wheelchair for her for the distances on the ship. Absolutely the right call. She was able to participate in much more without getting tired. The servers were great at assisting and helping her to her chair at dinner and parking the wheelchair till we needed it to leave. Also DCL has a designated area at the Pirate Party for those in wheelchairs so she got to enjoy the fun without having to look at someone's back.
Got to go down to DD and son-in-law's cabin on the crew deck. After seeing their cabin, I'll never complain about not enough space again. Imagine a 7 ft x 10 ft space, then put in two bunk beds, two small wardrobes, a desk AND a bathroom - yes all within the 7ft x 10 ft footprint. Our cat 11 was palatial in comparison. But they're together and happy - I think it also helps to be young.
It rained on Cozumel so our hiking excursion was cancelled but that gave us more time on the ship.
This time we didn't try to cram too many activities in the cruise so I think I enjoyed the time a lot more. I actually got to lay out by the Quiet Cove pool and read a book a couple of days and relax in the water at Serenity Bay.
Bicycle rentals at Castaway Cay are really cheap and a lot of fun - unless you fall off when stopping like I did. Oh well, just a skinned knee, which at 59 you would think I'm a little old for.
The trams at Castaway Cay are equipped for wheelchairs and enabled DMIL to enjoy the island.
Also, DCL transportation is fantastic for wheelchairs. Just be sure to let them know so they have a lift equipped bus.
Other than Janet missing most of the fun, we had a wonderful time and made lasting memories. FYI, the new son-in-law is a prize. DD chose well.
First comment - buy TRIP INSURANCE - read on for the reason.
Our crew:
Me and DH, Reine and Paul (59-62 but really young)
DS and DDIL, Chris and Julia (31-24)
DMIL and DSIL, Lois and Janet (80+ and 50 but young at heart)
Chris and Julia went to WDW on Wednesday, Oct 3 and spent two days doing the parks including dinner at Ohana's on Thursday night, thanks to nanatink who share pdrs they weren't going to use. I think Ohaha's was the highlight of their WDW experience. They spent an hour on Friday night telling us about it.
Friday, Oct 5...Flew into MCO and got the rental van - upgraded the size when we really thought about luggage for 6 and a wheelchair. Met Lois and Janet at the airport later, then drove to Animal Kingdom lodge to pick up Chris and Julia, then on to PC and the Comfort Inn and Suites (Hotwire deal for 59.99 each room). Everyone was tired so DH and I made a Pizza run and we picniced in our rooms.
Saturday, Oct 6...DH was up early and got donuts for all. Then we're off to the ship. DH dropped us all off and returned the van (at 11:00 allow an hour for this by the way). Called DD (CM on the ship) when we got to the terminal and she came over to say Hi. Got everyone checked in and boarded the ship for lunch with DD and her new hubby in Parrot Cay. He was very nervous since it was his first time meeting all of us but since DD picked a winner, that went really well. Then off to our rooms to get settled in and then to the Deck party. Had a great time watching the excitement but Janet left to go inside. She came back saying she was having a problem with her heart rate. Went down to her room and she tried a cold shower and still couldn't get it under control so we went to the med center. To make a long story short, she was experiencing Tachycardia - her heart rate over 200. The medical staff on board was fantastic but they couldn't get her heart rate below 200 with either meds or cardioversion so DCL turned the ship around and headed back to port for a medical debark. Fortunately the Coast Guard sent a boat to pick her up - gurney, defibrillator, oxygen and all winched off the ship and onto the deck of the Coast Guard boat. DCL sent a nurse with her (he got to climb down a rope ladder) and it looked like a bumpy ride indeed. Fortunately, when she got to the hospital they had a medication that DCL can't keep on board that stabilized the heart rate by about 8:00 Saturday night. She stayed with friends in Winter Haven when she was released from the hospital on Monday and was able to join us for breakfast on Saturday morning when we returned to port and ride the DCL bus to the airport so she got a little taste of the Magic. Guess we'll have to schedule another cruise so Janet can enjoy more than 4 hours on the ship.
After the Coast Guard boat left we tried to return to something approaching normal and had a fantastic dinner in Palo then went to bed.
Sunday, Oct 7. Key West. Paul, Reine, Chris and Julia went on the Back to Nature Kayaking excursion. It was really fun - but plan on getting wet and wear your swimsuit. It rained on us and the waves splashed a bit but we really enjoyed it. Used up enough calories to eat all I wanted at dinner with no regrets. Back on board, we called Janet and verified that she was doing fine but still in the hospital for observation. We relaxed on board that afternoon and then went to the show and then dinner to meet our out of this world serving team. John from Scotland, Cyprian from India and Greg from Barbados. These guys rock and were fantastic the whole week. Couldn't ask for better. Lots of fun, very knowledgeable, and very attentive. They actually exceeded our expectations.
Not going to give a detailed report of the rest of the week but have some thoughts to share:
DCL is fantastic in an emergency. Their medical team is first rate and very caring. They assigned a shoreside person to keep up with Janet and sent regular reports to the ship on how she was doing. (She didn't want anyone to get off with her since this was something that had happened before and she knew it would be fine once they got the right meds). They were also able to replace some of MILs meds that went off the ship with Janet accidentally. Definitely top notch folks and well equipped and stocked infirmary.
Definitely get a DisMeet together. Meeting the friends I had been corresponding with was really fun and we continued to see folks we know all week.
Our DisMeet organized a stateroom tour among our group so those that wanted to could see the various classes of staterooms and get an idea of whether we wanted to book a different class the next cruise. That was really fun and confirmed my thoughts that the sideways Cat 11s (our cabins) are the best value for the money on the ship.
DCL people are also great with folks in wheelchairs. Although DMIL normally uses a walker and brought it with her, we also had a wheelchair for her for the distances on the ship. Absolutely the right call. She was able to participate in much more without getting tired. The servers were great at assisting and helping her to her chair at dinner and parking the wheelchair till we needed it to leave. Also DCL has a designated area at the Pirate Party for those in wheelchairs so she got to enjoy the fun without having to look at someone's back.
Got to go down to DD and son-in-law's cabin on the crew deck. After seeing their cabin, I'll never complain about not enough space again. Imagine a 7 ft x 10 ft space, then put in two bunk beds, two small wardrobes, a desk AND a bathroom - yes all within the 7ft x 10 ft footprint. Our cat 11 was palatial in comparison. But they're together and happy - I think it also helps to be young.
It rained on Cozumel so our hiking excursion was cancelled but that gave us more time on the ship.
This time we didn't try to cram too many activities in the cruise so I think I enjoyed the time a lot more. I actually got to lay out by the Quiet Cove pool and read a book a couple of days and relax in the water at Serenity Bay.
Bicycle rentals at Castaway Cay are really cheap and a lot of fun - unless you fall off when stopping like I did. Oh well, just a skinned knee, which at 59 you would think I'm a little old for.
The trams at Castaway Cay are equipped for wheelchairs and enabled DMIL to enjoy the island.
Also, DCL transportation is fantastic for wheelchairs. Just be sure to let them know so they have a lift equipped bus.
Other than Janet missing most of the fun, we had a wonderful time and made lasting memories. FYI, the new son-in-law is a prize. DD chose well.
Part 5 Lets Go Caymania!
Room Service
Doesnt room service just rock. Before bed I call for an early breakfast and find out that you simply fill out the card located in the desk. Hang it outside the door and youre good to go. We choose cereals, breads, coffee, juices, fruit and milk. Its a light meal and were out the door.
Tender Me Cross Sea:
Somewhere there were detailed instructions on getting a tender to the port. I dont have them and wander to the Buena Vista Theatre with my family. There we are told to get into rows. One crew member is giving instructions. As soon as enough rows are filled were led out to the tender. The actual boat is pretty large and carries about 50 or so. In about 5 minutes were on shore.
Passports:
I forgot to give our passports to guest services for stamps. Therefore I am carrying them in my backpack inside a ziplock bag. The person at guest services told me to ask the Cayman Islands shore official for a stamp. I see someone in uniform, but he says he cant stamp anything and to look for someone else on the North Pier. Its a few blocks and I find no one there. I was hoping for stamps from all 3 foreign countries. Im slightly bummed. (I would, much later in the day, find someone in an official looking building on the harbor who directed me to the Immigration Department. The nice lady there stamps all four passports).
Shopping:
There are a couple of jewelry stores that are must sees. I suppose jewelry could be a great deal in the Caymans, but I cant tell. Jewelry is not a wise purchase without knowing something about it. I know nothing. The stones look sparkly, the metals all shiny. I take a pass and figure I could do as well (or not much worse) at Costco. I briefly wonder if the movie Blood Diamond is a Disney production (it is, in fact, a Warner Bros. film). How can something so small and insignificant though beautiful be sooo valuable? Especially when so many just as beautiful, though synthetic, diamonds are available (Yup, I occasionally watch Home Shopping Network). I dont get it. But I am getting hungry.
Lunch and a Plan:
We loosely had a plan to either go to the beach or to stingray city. After the jewelry shops and the North Pier, we saunter over to a store that advertised Captain Marvins excursions. For about $130 all four of us could go on a 2 hour snorkel and stingray excursion. Sounds good, so we sign up. Since we are hungry we walk down to a convenience store on the side street next to Senor Frogs. They have a rather large buffet of hot foods. We buy some fried plantains, snacks and drinks and head over to the meeting point for the excursion. The bus driver lets us on early. Its still very hot and humid. The bus has air-conditioning. I relax.
Coral Gardens:
Captain Marvins on our own is a breeze. Were on a bus with 15 other people for about 20 minutes. The driver points out some sites on the way. At the dock we board the ship. It motors through an intracoastal waterway towards the ocean. There are some nice houses a dock with lizards. In about 20 minutes were in the coral gardens. These small humps of coral pepper the sea floor in about 15 feet of water. Lots of fish and some really cool coral. A videographer buzzes around taking pictures of all of us that we will buy later. Its fun.
Stingray City:
There are other boats already here. Its weird. In the middle of nowhere a sand bar. We wade out and our guide takes out some chopped up squid to feed the rays. The rays respond by coming over in hordes. Its cool and scary. Everyone who wants to holds, touches, pets, kisses, poses with and feeds a ray. I find it to be really great. I love it.
On the way back to the dock we have ice water and fruit punch. Very importantly the boat has a head or bathroom. The boat ride is almost as much fun as snorkeling and stingrays. This excursion rocks! Bus ride back to Georgetown in the a/c. A bit more shopping for small items. I find the passport stamp person. We head over to the tender. This time the tender is much larger and a double decker. Cool.
Parrot Cay w/o Kids:
This time we eat in PC without the kids. They wanted to do the kids club, so we let them. It was a nice calm dinner. Again I love the food. Everyone is pretty tired, so we make an early night of it.
Room Service
Doesnt room service just rock. Before bed I call for an early breakfast and find out that you simply fill out the card located in the desk. Hang it outside the door and youre good to go. We choose cereals, breads, coffee, juices, fruit and milk. Its a light meal and were out the door.
Tender Me Cross Sea:
Somewhere there were detailed instructions on getting a tender to the port. I dont have them and wander to the Buena Vista Theatre with my family. There we are told to get into rows. One crew member is giving instructions. As soon as enough rows are filled were led out to the tender. The actual boat is pretty large and carries about 50 or so. In about 5 minutes were on shore.
Passports:
I forgot to give our passports to guest services for stamps. Therefore I am carrying them in my backpack inside a ziplock bag. The person at guest services told me to ask the Cayman Islands shore official for a stamp. I see someone in uniform, but he says he cant stamp anything and to look for someone else on the North Pier. Its a few blocks and I find no one there. I was hoping for stamps from all 3 foreign countries. Im slightly bummed. (I would, much later in the day, find someone in an official looking building on the harbor who directed me to the Immigration Department. The nice lady there stamps all four passports).
Shopping:
There are a couple of jewelry stores that are must sees. I suppose jewelry could be a great deal in the Caymans, but I cant tell. Jewelry is not a wise purchase without knowing something about it. I know nothing. The stones look sparkly, the metals all shiny. I take a pass and figure I could do as well (or not much worse) at Costco. I briefly wonder if the movie Blood Diamond is a Disney production (it is, in fact, a Warner Bros. film). How can something so small and insignificant though beautiful be sooo valuable? Especially when so many just as beautiful, though synthetic, diamonds are available (Yup, I occasionally watch Home Shopping Network). I dont get it. But I am getting hungry.
Lunch and a Plan:
We loosely had a plan to either go to the beach or to stingray city. After the jewelry shops and the North Pier, we saunter over to a store that advertised Captain Marvins excursions. For about $130 all four of us could go on a 2 hour snorkel and stingray excursion. Sounds good, so we sign up. Since we are hungry we walk down to a convenience store on the side street next to Senor Frogs. They have a rather large buffet of hot foods. We buy some fried plantains, snacks and drinks and head over to the meeting point for the excursion. The bus driver lets us on early. Its still very hot and humid. The bus has air-conditioning. I relax.
Coral Gardens:
Captain Marvins on our own is a breeze. Were on a bus with 15 other people for about 20 minutes. The driver points out some sites on the way. At the dock we board the ship. It motors through an intracoastal waterway towards the ocean. There are some nice houses a dock with lizards. In about 20 minutes were in the coral gardens. These small humps of coral pepper the sea floor in about 15 feet of water. Lots of fish and some really cool coral. A videographer buzzes around taking pictures of all of us that we will buy later. Its fun.
Stingray City:
There are other boats already here. Its weird. In the middle of nowhere a sand bar. We wade out and our guide takes out some chopped up squid to feed the rays. The rays respond by coming over in hordes. Its cool and scary. Everyone who wants to holds, touches, pets, kisses, poses with and feeds a ray. I find it to be really great. I love it.
On the way back to the dock we have ice water and fruit punch. Very importantly the boat has a head or bathroom. The boat ride is almost as much fun as snorkeling and stingrays. This excursion rocks! Bus ride back to Georgetown in the a/c. A bit more shopping for small items. I find the passport stamp person. We head over to the tender. This time the tender is much larger and a double decker. Cool.
Parrot Cay w/o Kids:
This time we eat in PC without the kids. They wanted to do the kids club, so we let them. It was a nice calm dinner. Again I love the food. Everyone is pretty tired, so we make an early night of it.
The Coz (umel):
So this is sunny Mexico? One of the local inhabitants tells me it's the tail end of a tropical depression. I call it rain. Not pouring rain or thunderstorms, just a steady, constant....rain. It's ok though we're going to Chankanaab for the Dolphin Discovery and expect to be wet.
Disney Excursion to Chankanaab and Dolphin Discovery:
We meet in Diversions and are led by the tour coordinator off the ship, down the dock, through the mall, over the street, through another mall, past lots and lots of tourist shops (many of which are no doubt "must sees"). Down another set of stairs and to the waiting taxis. The taxis are full sized vans and we share with another family (from New Jersey and very nice). It's been raining a lot here and some roads are flooded, but in the van we're ok. 20 minutes later we're in Chankanaab.
By the way, just about everywhere there is lots of ceramic tile. With the rain, it has become very slick. Later we learn a toddler broke his leg after a slip and fall. We hope he's ok (reading these posts, I understand he's on the mend, thank goodness).
Shadia the Dolphin:
The Dolphin Experience in Chankanaab takes place in the ocean, but in a holding pen of sorts. There is a long dock out from the shore. It forms a large double football field sized rectangle in the ocean. In the middle are smaller, shorter docks that form the holding pens. From these docks you can walk down some stairs onto a submerged platform. From here everyone, pets, hugs, holds, kisses, poses with and dances with Shadia. On the dock is a videographer and we will later buy the video. The Dolphin Discovery is very entertaining, not so much educational. If the weather was better we would explore more of the park, but instead we swim in the huge pool (in the rain), buy some souvenirs and head back to the dock. On the way through the mall I stop and buy some Kahlua and Coronas. A few more trinkets and I'm on the dock headed for the majestic looking Magic.
Were rained out from more adventures in Cozumel, but our consolation prize is the Magic. Tonight is Pirates in the Caribbean night Yo ho!
So this is sunny Mexico? One of the local inhabitants tells me it's the tail end of a tropical depression. I call it rain. Not pouring rain or thunderstorms, just a steady, constant....rain. It's ok though we're going to Chankanaab for the Dolphin Discovery and expect to be wet.
Disney Excursion to Chankanaab and Dolphin Discovery:
We meet in Diversions and are led by the tour coordinator off the ship, down the dock, through the mall, over the street, through another mall, past lots and lots of tourist shops (many of which are no doubt "must sees"). Down another set of stairs and to the waiting taxis. The taxis are full sized vans and we share with another family (from New Jersey and very nice). It's been raining a lot here and some roads are flooded, but in the van we're ok. 20 minutes later we're in Chankanaab.
By the way, just about everywhere there is lots of ceramic tile. With the rain, it has become very slick. Later we learn a toddler broke his leg after a slip and fall. We hope he's ok (reading these posts, I understand he's on the mend, thank goodness).
Shadia the Dolphin:
The Dolphin Experience in Chankanaab takes place in the ocean, but in a holding pen of sorts. There is a long dock out from the shore. It forms a large double football field sized rectangle in the ocean. In the middle are smaller, shorter docks that form the holding pens. From these docks you can walk down some stairs onto a submerged platform. From here everyone, pets, hugs, holds, kisses, poses with and dances with Shadia. On the dock is a videographer and we will later buy the video. The Dolphin Discovery is very entertaining, not so much educational. If the weather was better we would explore more of the park, but instead we swim in the huge pool (in the rain), buy some souvenirs and head back to the dock. On the way through the mall I stop and buy some Kahlua and Coronas. A few more trinkets and I'm on the dock headed for the majestic looking Magic.
Were rained out from more adventures in Cozumel, but our consolation prize is the Magic. Tonight is Pirates in the Caribbean night Yo ho!
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Hope you had a great time on the disney cruise line
Pirate Night Fun -
Almost everyone is in some kind of piratey garb. We get a great picture which we will later buy at Shutters. We're out and about and having fun. People have gone all out in their costumes. The crew members and staff are outfitted in pirate gear too. There is an air of excitement everywhere.
Later, on deck 9 midship there is a stage show with Mickey, Hook and more (even Stitch gets into the mix). It culminates with a really great fireworks show. I watch from deck 10 which is very crowded. In fact, the whole ship seems crowded right now.
Treasure Ketch and Mickey's Mates:
On Deck 4 midship are two stores that sell gifts souvenirs and things you might need while on board. Treasure Ketch has some great people who always seem willing to do a little bit extra. I find the prices for jewelry in the store to be very good. Better than in Grand Cayman. One CM from Japan teaches the boys their names in Japan and how to say good morning (o hiy ohh).
Mickey's Mates is more like a Disney Store from the mall or Downtown Disney. We buy some pins and make some trades with castmembers. Again they are beyond nice. I highly recommend both stores.
That's all I really have to say about Pirate Night. Have fun with it, but expect crowds.
Almost everyone is in some kind of piratey garb. We get a great picture which we will later buy at Shutters. We're out and about and having fun. People have gone all out in their costumes. The crew members and staff are outfitted in pirate gear too. There is an air of excitement everywhere.
Later, on deck 9 midship there is a stage show with Mickey, Hook and more (even Stitch gets into the mix). It culminates with a really great fireworks show. I watch from deck 10 which is very crowded. In fact, the whole ship seems crowded right now.
Treasure Ketch and Mickey's Mates:
On Deck 4 midship are two stores that sell gifts souvenirs and things you might need while on board. Treasure Ketch has some great people who always seem willing to do a little bit extra. I find the prices for jewelry in the store to be very good. Better than in Grand Cayman. One CM from Japan teaches the boys their names in Japan and how to say good morning (o hiy ohh).
Mickey's Mates is more like a Disney Store from the mall or Downtown Disney. We buy some pins and make some trades with castmembers. Again they are beyond nice. I highly recommend both stores.
That's all I really have to say about Pirate Night. Have fun with it, but expect crowds.
Our Anniversary:
This was a big trip for us that we planned 18 months ahead. We wanted to do something special for our 10 year anniversary, so we gave each other the cruise. Oh, we had small gifts too and cards, but this trip was our big gift.
I think we always wanted to take a cruise on DCL. We had visited WDW 10 times in the last 10 years. We had heard about DCL from friends, the Travel Channel and the DVD they gladly send out. Still, we had not seriously considered it because our kids were small. Our only prior cruise was a 3 night Norwegian Cruise Line from Miami 9 years before. It was fun, but not something for the small ones; so we thought. Now with the kids being 6 and 7, and with our anniversary the timing just seemed right. Also, where else can you take your kids on vacation and not have them with you for long extended periods??
For the big day, we planned to relax and then have dinner at Palo. Luckily my wife had the foresight to get a reservation at the earliest possible date, which for us first time DCL cruisers was 75 days prior to the cruise. I heard from other cruisers that they could not get a reservation for Palo.
Of course the boys want to get into the club as soon as possible, so we let them. We proceed to relax and take some video and photos. I like the days at sea. There are lots of things to do, but we decide to just take it easy. I believe we even do laundry!!
Quiet Cove Pool:
I highly recommend the Quiet Cove Pool. Its adult only and a great break from the buzz surrounding other areas of the ship. I really like the fact that DCL pools are fresh water and not salt. I hear that other ships have salt water in the pools.
Reality Begins to Set In:
I don't know if my wife shared this type of moment, but at some point on Thursday, reality set in....
What I mean by this is that I realized the trip was rapidly coming to an end. I guess that now since our anniversary was actually here, all of the planning, thinking, hoping, and yearning for a great trip had come full circle. We had achieved our goal .and now its almost over .and I feel like Im just now getting into it.
Its been a whirlwind, but now I believe I have the hang of it. I know where my stateroom is! I know a few shortcuts and how to avoid waiting for an elevator (though you never wait long). It cant be almost over! Better really savor the rest.
Buying Duty Free Booze:
Forget about shopping for booze onshore. It you want the best duty free prices, look no further than the Magic. The prices are outstanding. Of course, you cant have the booze until you are off the ship in Port Canaveral, so if you want a lil something for the cruise, either pack it in your suitcase or buy it onshore (but not at a duty free shop).
Graduation Night:
Were at the Walt Disney Theatre for graduation. The kids are taking part in a ceremony which includes Mickey and Minnie. They all file in wearing Mickey ear caps and sporting matching t-shirts. Its really cool watching them on stage. Our six year old walks on stage and immediately turns and starts waiving. I think hes liking the stage after all the karaoke lately. Its very cute and fun. When we meet them after, they want to go back to the club .so they do.
Palo:
We get there early. There are empty tables and we get one. Our waiter is good, but somehow we miss our regular servers. The food is good, but IMHO not so much better than other dishes weve had so far. Ambience is great; couples, small groups of friends, everyone smiling.
Its a very warm and inviting restaurant. Is it the best meal Ive ever had? No. Best service? No. But it is very good though and you should try it if 1) you like Italian food and 2) you want an intimate meal while onboard. This is the only place besides room service that you will find an intimate setting for a meal. If you miss Palo, its not the end of the world.
More Karaoke and Late Night Swimming:
After Palo we get the kids and head over to Studio Sea. I cant remember exactly, but I believe the kids partake in more Karaoke and other fun. They have friends everywhere now. Its a great feeling to watch them having fun. I believe they will never forget this trip.
After, we head to the stateroom for a clothing change and were off to the pool. Late night swims have become our routine. A great way to wear the kids down for a good nights sleep.
Tomorrow is Castaway Cay and were ready. We planned to snorkel on this trip. The kids even took lessons back home. Our packing list included fins, masks and snorkels. A slight hassle because they take up some suitcase space, I believe it was worth it having our own gear.
Tipping:
Before we head off to bed, I stop at Guest Services to check our stateroom bill and pay for our gratuities. Its easy to pay for your gratuities on your ship account and they give you little tickets which you can put into envelopes for each person.
Someone could write a book about tipping. At home its an art form. On the ship, as I understand it, there are certain positions that are compensated almost entirely by tips. We have felt good with our room steward, servers, etc. Its a level of service you dont normally expect. In fact, all of the crew and staff have been excellent. Great attitudes. A real joy.
Our stateroom bill is not too bad. Weve been good.
We've had a nice day and though we haven't talked much about our wedding day, we're both really happy we're together and have our little family unit. There have been ups and downs during our 10 years; such as life. But we're hooked on each other and living our childhoods over through our two little guys. Who knows what lies ahead, but regardless, we'll do it together...
Off to bed. Rest up for Castaway Cay.
This was a big trip for us that we planned 18 months ahead. We wanted to do something special for our 10 year anniversary, so we gave each other the cruise. Oh, we had small gifts too and cards, but this trip was our big gift.
I think we always wanted to take a cruise on DCL. We had visited WDW 10 times in the last 10 years. We had heard about DCL from friends, the Travel Channel and the DVD they gladly send out. Still, we had not seriously considered it because our kids were small. Our only prior cruise was a 3 night Norwegian Cruise Line from Miami 9 years before. It was fun, but not something for the small ones; so we thought. Now with the kids being 6 and 7, and with our anniversary the timing just seemed right. Also, where else can you take your kids on vacation and not have them with you for long extended periods??
For the big day, we planned to relax and then have dinner at Palo. Luckily my wife had the foresight to get a reservation at the earliest possible date, which for us first time DCL cruisers was 75 days prior to the cruise. I heard from other cruisers that they could not get a reservation for Palo.
Of course the boys want to get into the club as soon as possible, so we let them. We proceed to relax and take some video and photos. I like the days at sea. There are lots of things to do, but we decide to just take it easy. I believe we even do laundry!!
Quiet Cove Pool:
I highly recommend the Quiet Cove Pool. Its adult only and a great break from the buzz surrounding other areas of the ship. I really like the fact that DCL pools are fresh water and not salt. I hear that other ships have salt water in the pools.
Reality Begins to Set In:
I don't know if my wife shared this type of moment, but at some point on Thursday, reality set in....
What I mean by this is that I realized the trip was rapidly coming to an end. I guess that now since our anniversary was actually here, all of the planning, thinking, hoping, and yearning for a great trip had come full circle. We had achieved our goal .and now its almost over .and I feel like Im just now getting into it.
Its been a whirlwind, but now I believe I have the hang of it. I know where my stateroom is! I know a few shortcuts and how to avoid waiting for an elevator (though you never wait long). It cant be almost over! Better really savor the rest.
Buying Duty Free Booze:
Forget about shopping for booze onshore. It you want the best duty free prices, look no further than the Magic. The prices are outstanding. Of course, you cant have the booze until you are off the ship in Port Canaveral, so if you want a lil something for the cruise, either pack it in your suitcase or buy it onshore (but not at a duty free shop).
Graduation Night:
Were at the Walt Disney Theatre for graduation. The kids are taking part in a ceremony which includes Mickey and Minnie. They all file in wearing Mickey ear caps and sporting matching t-shirts. Its really cool watching them on stage. Our six year old walks on stage and immediately turns and starts waiving. I think hes liking the stage after all the karaoke lately. Its very cute and fun. When we meet them after, they want to go back to the club .so they do.
Palo:
We get there early. There are empty tables and we get one. Our waiter is good, but somehow we miss our regular servers. The food is good, but IMHO not so much better than other dishes weve had so far. Ambience is great; couples, small groups of friends, everyone smiling.
Its a very warm and inviting restaurant. Is it the best meal Ive ever had? No. Best service? No. But it is very good though and you should try it if 1) you like Italian food and 2) you want an intimate meal while onboard. This is the only place besides room service that you will find an intimate setting for a meal. If you miss Palo, its not the end of the world.
More Karaoke and Late Night Swimming:
After Palo we get the kids and head over to Studio Sea. I cant remember exactly, but I believe the kids partake in more Karaoke and other fun. They have friends everywhere now. Its a great feeling to watch them having fun. I believe they will never forget this trip.
After, we head to the stateroom for a clothing change and were off to the pool. Late night swims have become our routine. A great way to wear the kids down for a good nights sleep.
Tomorrow is Castaway Cay and were ready. We planned to snorkel on this trip. The kids even took lessons back home. Our packing list included fins, masks and snorkels. A slight hassle because they take up some suitcase space, I believe it was worth it having our own gear.
Tipping:
Before we head off to bed, I stop at Guest Services to check our stateroom bill and pay for our gratuities. Its easy to pay for your gratuities on your ship account and they give you little tickets which you can put into envelopes for each person.
Someone could write a book about tipping. At home its an art form. On the ship, as I understand it, there are certain positions that are compensated almost entirely by tips. We have felt good with our room steward, servers, etc. Its a level of service you dont normally expect. In fact, all of the crew and staff have been excellent. Great attitudes. A real joy.
Our stateroom bill is not too bad. Weve been good.
We've had a nice day and though we haven't talked much about our wedding day, we're both really happy we're together and have our little family unit. There have been ups and downs during our 10 years; such as life. But we're hooked on each other and living our childhoods over through our two little guys. Who knows what lies ahead, but regardless, we'll do it together...
Off to bed. Rest up for Castaway Cay.
Can't forget about the Chocolate:
Thursday night, to our surprise, there was a spectacular Chocolate and Dessert Buffet in Lumiere's. I think we stumbled upon it and ducked in for a quick bite. There must have been a mile of sweets. Tons of chocolate. White chocolate fountain and milk chocolate fountain. I don't know how that passed us by in the planning....but you don't want to miss it.
Castaway Cay:
What a glorious 24 hours. Thursday at sea was spectacular. The sea - remember the sea - has been very calm since day 2. Yesterday it was perfect. At night we saw stars in a whole new light. Did I mention you can see Cuba from the ship? You pass thisssssclose.
This morning is as good as they get. Sun shines, light winds blow. The ship is backing into it's berth at Castaway Cay. Today we snorkel in the Bahamas. I've heard it can be great. It's the last day of the cruise and we're going to end it on a high note.
The Rush:
We eat breakfast at Topsiders. There seems to be a rush for Castaway Cay. Not sure why, but we get caught up in it. Getting off the ship is like following a maize. Go up to go down, around the bend out to the dock. Stop, send a postcard. Take a few pictures (lens is moist; humidity and temperature change, pics look foggy, ghostly). Hey is that the Flying Dutchman? It is...
We pick of the "tram" for the beach area. It saves a 10 minute walk, though the walk has some great picture spots. Out to the beach. There are hundreds of umbrellas, lounges and chairs. We take one close to the path leading back to the food, bar and restrooms (priorities!!). A dash to the water ensues and its snorkel time. Our 7 year old is a natural. He loves skimming along the surface. Our 6 doesn't like salt water and decides to just float and play in the sand.
Out past the first lifeguard stand is a white buoy. Look for the sunken Mickey. It's cool. Dorrie is swimming and I follow her. No Nemo yet. Out much further there is a sunken ship and tons of fish. I snap away using our digital camera inside a DiCaPac waterproof housing ($35 on eBay). I take about 50 pictures of colorful fish. Some really great ones of the Magic too.
Lunchtime:
After snorkeling for an hour or more, we head in to shore. It's lunch time. During lunch DJ Dan and Dave (very nice guys) conduct a crab race at the gazebo. Our crab is "Pete" and he makes it to the final, but loses out. It's a riot of good fun. Later the band from the ship come over to play some tunes. the gazebo rocks. The boys have learned a few lines to "Sweet Home Alabama" and they rock out with the band.
2 for 1 at the Conched Out Bar and Serenity Bay:
Nothing like a cold cocktail on a warm tropical day. 2 for 1 drinks prevail upon me and I polish one off in short order. I sip the other and enjoy the perfect day from my barstool. Off to Serenity Bay for some photos and to just check it out. It's very serene, almost deserted. Maybe 50 people tops. I wonder why such an Island would have it's own landing strip (it predated Disney). They have a small bar and while tempted, I decline, fearing a necessary siesta and missing the boat. I head back to the family on the tram.
It's getting late as we snorkel and have more fun in the water. It's probably a good idea to head back now and beat the crowds. We do and in minutes we're back in the stateroom. We clean up and change clothes. Judicious use of sunscreen has prevented sunburns on this trip. Today is no exception. Also, rashguard shirts (spf 70) provide great cover. Highly recommended (if you can't find them at home, they sell them at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Get a "shopping pass" at Guest Services and you can shop for 30 minutes without having to pay the entry fee.)
Last Night on the Magic:
Guess what? The kids want to go to the Oceaneer's club. So we let them.
We plan to rendezvous for dinner at Parrot Cay.
Prior to dinner I take some pictures of the "absolutely perfect" sunset. The boys take pictures too. I like theirs more than mine.
It's our last night and we bring our envelopes to our Head Waiter, Server and Assistant Server. We have liked them all. If I do this cruise again, I hope to remember that dinner is the best meal of the day and not to eat very much for breakfast or lunch. The dinners are very special. Save room for dessert (or two).
It's our last night and we're happy and sad. We make our final picture choices at Shutters. We packed most of our things the night before, so as not to spend our last night packing. We're tired though from all the action today and we head to the stateroom for much needed rest.
My Feather Pillow:
As I rest my head on the pillow for the last time, I try to recall the whole trip from beginning to end. It's been a whirlwind, of which I surely have forgotten key points and omitted them from this trip report. Our room steward has been great. I believe he may actually be a magician. How else can our room be transformed morning and night from complete disarray to comfortable order. The towel origami (See! I forgot to mention the towel origami class) has been a delight for us all. The hospitality is summed up in my feather pillow. I merely mentioned the pillows being too hard for my liking. Next time the bed was made, not one, but two feather pillows.
Disembarkation:
I think we intended to eat at Topsiders. We only had our backpacks (luggage was put out before 11:00 the night before). On our way to the restaurant at 7:15 we notice the line going off the ship is quite short. Why not? We skip breakfast and join the line. Within 10 minutes we are through customs and waiting curbside for the Thrifty shuttle. Be prepared for lots of tipping, you have tons of luggage.
Do You Want Fries With That?:
After getting our car and tipping everyone along the way, we decide to eat breakfast at McDonald's. Our first encounter with a non-cruise employee in 7 days. It does not go well. We've come to expect great service and attitudes. We're not on the Magic anymore.....and except for the feeling of the room moving, that fact could not be more clear.
We drive to Orlando in a PT Cruiser. I'm glad it's a cruiser....because now, we are all cruisers.
POP!....Century:
We had half a mind to go to parks on Saturday. We were just too tired. We had booked Pop Century for the night. Upon arriving, we moved some luggage into the room. Not much larger than a Category 8, I'd say. Pop is a budget hotel on WDW property. It's got some great decorations like 3 story Bigwheels and 5 story cell phones. My fave is the 5 story Mickey Phone. Icons of pop culture abound. It's very entertaining.
Some friends are in Orlando on the tail end of their vacation. We get together, swim in the fantastic pool at Pop. Later, we all head to Macaroni Grill on 192 for a fun dinner. Tomorrow the airports and home.
Final Thoughts....to come.
Thursday night, to our surprise, there was a spectacular Chocolate and Dessert Buffet in Lumiere's. I think we stumbled upon it and ducked in for a quick bite. There must have been a mile of sweets. Tons of chocolate. White chocolate fountain and milk chocolate fountain. I don't know how that passed us by in the planning....but you don't want to miss it.
Castaway Cay:
What a glorious 24 hours. Thursday at sea was spectacular. The sea - remember the sea - has been very calm since day 2. Yesterday it was perfect. At night we saw stars in a whole new light. Did I mention you can see Cuba from the ship? You pass thisssssclose.
This morning is as good as they get. Sun shines, light winds blow. The ship is backing into it's berth at Castaway Cay. Today we snorkel in the Bahamas. I've heard it can be great. It's the last day of the cruise and we're going to end it on a high note.
The Rush:
We eat breakfast at Topsiders. There seems to be a rush for Castaway Cay. Not sure why, but we get caught up in it. Getting off the ship is like following a maize. Go up to go down, around the bend out to the dock. Stop, send a postcard. Take a few pictures (lens is moist; humidity and temperature change, pics look foggy, ghostly). Hey is that the Flying Dutchman? It is...
We pick of the "tram" for the beach area. It saves a 10 minute walk, though the walk has some great picture spots. Out to the beach. There are hundreds of umbrellas, lounges and chairs. We take one close to the path leading back to the food, bar and restrooms (priorities!!). A dash to the water ensues and its snorkel time. Our 7 year old is a natural. He loves skimming along the surface. Our 6 doesn't like salt water and decides to just float and play in the sand.
Out past the first lifeguard stand is a white buoy. Look for the sunken Mickey. It's cool. Dorrie is swimming and I follow her. No Nemo yet. Out much further there is a sunken ship and tons of fish. I snap away using our digital camera inside a DiCaPac waterproof housing ($35 on eBay). I take about 50 pictures of colorful fish. Some really great ones of the Magic too.
Lunchtime:
After snorkeling for an hour or more, we head in to shore. It's lunch time. During lunch DJ Dan and Dave (very nice guys) conduct a crab race at the gazebo. Our crab is "Pete" and he makes it to the final, but loses out. It's a riot of good fun. Later the band from the ship come over to play some tunes. the gazebo rocks. The boys have learned a few lines to "Sweet Home Alabama" and they rock out with the band.
2 for 1 at the Conched Out Bar and Serenity Bay:
Nothing like a cold cocktail on a warm tropical day. 2 for 1 drinks prevail upon me and I polish one off in short order. I sip the other and enjoy the perfect day from my barstool. Off to Serenity Bay for some photos and to just check it out. It's very serene, almost deserted. Maybe 50 people tops. I wonder why such an Island would have it's own landing strip (it predated Disney). They have a small bar and while tempted, I decline, fearing a necessary siesta and missing the boat. I head back to the family on the tram.
It's getting late as we snorkel and have more fun in the water. It's probably a good idea to head back now and beat the crowds. We do and in minutes we're back in the stateroom. We clean up and change clothes. Judicious use of sunscreen has prevented sunburns on this trip. Today is no exception. Also, rashguard shirts (spf 70) provide great cover. Highly recommended (if you can't find them at home, they sell them at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Get a "shopping pass" at Guest Services and you can shop for 30 minutes without having to pay the entry fee.)
Last Night on the Magic:
Guess what? The kids want to go to the Oceaneer's club. So we let them.
We plan to rendezvous for dinner at Parrot Cay.
Prior to dinner I take some pictures of the "absolutely perfect" sunset. The boys take pictures too. I like theirs more than mine.
It's our last night and we bring our envelopes to our Head Waiter, Server and Assistant Server. We have liked them all. If I do this cruise again, I hope to remember that dinner is the best meal of the day and not to eat very much for breakfast or lunch. The dinners are very special. Save room for dessert (or two).
It's our last night and we're happy and sad. We make our final picture choices at Shutters. We packed most of our things the night before, so as not to spend our last night packing. We're tired though from all the action today and we head to the stateroom for much needed rest.
My Feather Pillow:
As I rest my head on the pillow for the last time, I try to recall the whole trip from beginning to end. It's been a whirlwind, of which I surely have forgotten key points and omitted them from this trip report. Our room steward has been great. I believe he may actually be a magician. How else can our room be transformed morning and night from complete disarray to comfortable order. The towel origami (See! I forgot to mention the towel origami class) has been a delight for us all. The hospitality is summed up in my feather pillow. I merely mentioned the pillows being too hard for my liking. Next time the bed was made, not one, but two feather pillows.
Disembarkation:
I think we intended to eat at Topsiders. We only had our backpacks (luggage was put out before 11:00 the night before). On our way to the restaurant at 7:15 we notice the line going off the ship is quite short. Why not? We skip breakfast and join the line. Within 10 minutes we are through customs and waiting curbside for the Thrifty shuttle. Be prepared for lots of tipping, you have tons of luggage.
Do You Want Fries With That?:
After getting our car and tipping everyone along the way, we decide to eat breakfast at McDonald's. Our first encounter with a non-cruise employee in 7 days. It does not go well. We've come to expect great service and attitudes. We're not on the Magic anymore.....and except for the feeling of the room moving, that fact could not be more clear.
We drive to Orlando in a PT Cruiser. I'm glad it's a cruiser....because now, we are all cruisers.
POP!....Century:
We had half a mind to go to parks on Saturday. We were just too tired. We had booked Pop Century for the night. Upon arriving, we moved some luggage into the room. Not much larger than a Category 8, I'd say. Pop is a budget hotel on WDW property. It's got some great decorations like 3 story Bigwheels and 5 story cell phones. My fave is the 5 story Mickey Phone. Icons of pop culture abound. It's very entertaining.
Some friends are in Orlando on the tail end of their vacation. We get together, swim in the fantastic pool at Pop. Later, we all head to Macaroni Grill on 192 for a fun dinner. Tomorrow the airports and home.
Final Thoughts....to come.
Conclusions:
Disney Cruise Line is a great, well run, experienced cruise line. You would have to try very hard not to have fun. That being said, I believe DCL is probably not for everyone.
If you don’t like kids, you won’t like it. If you are a single adult, looking to meet other singles, there must be better choices. Not to say that there aren’t adult things to do on board. Disney Cruise Line promotes many things for adults only: cooking classes, wine tastings, trivia games, Wii Bowling, and of course many Spa treatments. It’s just that the whole experience is heavily weighted towards families with kids and extended families traveling together.
Been There Done That:
While the thought of taking another cruise is very appealing, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want to do another Western Caribbean on the Magic. I loved the ship and the hospitality, but I think I’d like to see something else.
Things just don’t change very much in Island communities like Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Are there things I didn’t do on those islands that I still might want to do? Sure. Still, I’m of the mindset that it’s a big, big, world out there and I’d like to see more of it…not the same places. An Eastern? I’d be happy to do that route.
Could There Be Any Other Cruise Line?
The devotion, enthusiasm and generosity of Disboarders is testament to the quality of Disney Cruise Lines. Like most things Disney, there is a feeling that the experience is a “cut above” other competitors.
For years I felt that way about the WDW parks. No one else could possibly compare…or so I thought. Then one year, in a momentary lapse of reason, we strayed from the camp to Universal Orlando. Guess what? We had a great time; equal to many or our park experiences at WDW. Then one day we did Sea World; again an excellent, high quality park. True, there was something missing (let’s call it magic), but we found the “other” parks quite entertaining.
As a first timer on DCL, I expected a well operated, high quality cruise experience. I was not disappointed. However, I believe that – just as my experiences with Universal and Sea World showed – there are other ships in the sea that would also provide a similar, high quality experience. Indeed cruisecritic.com rates other ships ahead of the Magic and Wonder. Not even the excellent, high quality kid programs run by DCL are rated as best on the seas (RCL gets the nod).
Too Much of a Good Thing?:
Before I get flamed here, I just want to note that I understand the magic of Walt Disney’s dream. His dream was to provide a place where families could have fun together. He succeeded beyond his wishes. When I see Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Minnie, I feel like a kid again….and that says it all. We all get to be kids again; with our kids.
However, in my humble opinion, a big part of the magical and “special” feeling is 1) I am on vacation; and 2) I’m doing something that I don’t always get to do. Would it be as special if I did it all the time. To me that would cheapen the experience.
I was in the Goofy Pool hot tub with my own 6 year old and a couple of boys around his age were there too. As they talked I heard the other boys say that this was their 4th DCL cruise. Matter of factly they boasted that they had done everything and seen everything….now all they wanted to do was swim. Just another vacation for them.
I realize that many of the cruisers sharing the Magic with us were “Castaway Club” members (people who have sailed with DCL before). I can see the attraction. It’s a great trip and a ton of fun. While I’m inclined to take another cruise on DCL “someday”, I’m not compelled to make it an every year affair. But maybe I said that about WDW too. Then I went every year for 10 straight years. Hmmm.
Southern Exposure:
Being from a large Midwestern city, I have to mention that, by far, the vast majority of cruisers on our Magic trip were from Southern states. Nothing at all wrong with that, it’s just a fact. On the first night at the show in the Walt Disney Theatre, one of the entertainers asked where people were from. “Northern States (small applause). Eastern states (small applause), Midwestern states (small applause), Western states (small applause), Canada (small applause), Other countries (one clap), Southern states (thunderous applause).” There you have it.
Although I have no numbers, I believe that Florida residents get special rates for cruises. I wonder how much better their deal is than us Midwesterners. Perhaps not much. Who knows. If you know, why not post it here. Also, being able to drive to Port Canaveral must be a great advantage. It probably saves anywhere from 25-50% of the total cruise cost (no airfare, no DCL transfers).
Cruise Economics:
This isn’t about the costs of cruising. It’s roughly comparable to going to WDW and staying on property at a moderate or better resort and having the “length of stay pass” and the “dining option”. So, while pricey, it’s doable with some planning and saving. This is about the people who work on the cruises.
I wondered how much people earn on cruise ships. I googled it and found that they don’t earn much. (see this link for more http://www.cruisejunkie.com/ot.html). The range for non-tipped positions is pretty low: $400 to $700/month, with free room and board. According to the article, their working conditions can leave much to be desired. Tipped positions do better and can actually earn a lot.
I am hoping and believing that DCL pays the non-tipped people more than cruise industry averages. Almost every employee that I encountered seemed genuinely happy. They were polite, hard working and had great attitudes. I conclude that they must be well compensated. That’s my wish upon a star for now. That alone would be a reason for me to sail again with the mouse. I hope someday to find out.
So that’s my report. If you read it and have any questions/comments, let me know.
AR
Disney Cruise Line is a great, well run, experienced cruise line. You would have to try very hard not to have fun. That being said, I believe DCL is probably not for everyone.
If you don’t like kids, you won’t like it. If you are a single adult, looking to meet other singles, there must be better choices. Not to say that there aren’t adult things to do on board. Disney Cruise Line promotes many things for adults only: cooking classes, wine tastings, trivia games, Wii Bowling, and of course many Spa treatments. It’s just that the whole experience is heavily weighted towards families with kids and extended families traveling together.
Been There Done That:
While the thought of taking another cruise is very appealing, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want to do another Western Caribbean on the Magic. I loved the ship and the hospitality, but I think I’d like to see something else.
Things just don’t change very much in Island communities like Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Are there things I didn’t do on those islands that I still might want to do? Sure. Still, I’m of the mindset that it’s a big, big, world out there and I’d like to see more of it…not the same places. An Eastern? I’d be happy to do that route.
Could There Be Any Other Cruise Line?
The devotion, enthusiasm and generosity of Disboarders is testament to the quality of Disney Cruise Lines. Like most things Disney, there is a feeling that the experience is a “cut above” other competitors.
For years I felt that way about the WDW parks. No one else could possibly compare…or so I thought. Then one year, in a momentary lapse of reason, we strayed from the camp to Universal Orlando. Guess what? We had a great time; equal to many or our park experiences at WDW. Then one day we did Sea World; again an excellent, high quality park. True, there was something missing (let’s call it magic), but we found the “other” parks quite entertaining.
As a first timer on DCL, I expected a well operated, high quality cruise experience. I was not disappointed. However, I believe that – just as my experiences with Universal and Sea World showed – there are other ships in the sea that would also provide a similar, high quality experience. Indeed cruisecritic.com rates other ships ahead of the Magic and Wonder. Not even the excellent, high quality kid programs run by DCL are rated as best on the seas (RCL gets the nod).
Too Much of a Good Thing?:
Before I get flamed here, I just want to note that I understand the magic of Walt Disney’s dream. His dream was to provide a place where families could have fun together. He succeeded beyond his wishes. When I see Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Minnie, I feel like a kid again….and that says it all. We all get to be kids again; with our kids.
However, in my humble opinion, a big part of the magical and “special” feeling is 1) I am on vacation; and 2) I’m doing something that I don’t always get to do. Would it be as special if I did it all the time. To me that would cheapen the experience.
I was in the Goofy Pool hot tub with my own 6 year old and a couple of boys around his age were there too. As they talked I heard the other boys say that this was their 4th DCL cruise. Matter of factly they boasted that they had done everything and seen everything….now all they wanted to do was swim. Just another vacation for them.
I realize that many of the cruisers sharing the Magic with us were “Castaway Club” members (people who have sailed with DCL before). I can see the attraction. It’s a great trip and a ton of fun. While I’m inclined to take another cruise on DCL “someday”, I’m not compelled to make it an every year affair. But maybe I said that about WDW too. Then I went every year for 10 straight years. Hmmm.
Southern Exposure:
Being from a large Midwestern city, I have to mention that, by far, the vast majority of cruisers on our Magic trip were from Southern states. Nothing at all wrong with that, it’s just a fact. On the first night at the show in the Walt Disney Theatre, one of the entertainers asked where people were from. “Northern States (small applause). Eastern states (small applause), Midwestern states (small applause), Western states (small applause), Canada (small applause), Other countries (one clap), Southern states (thunderous applause).” There you have it.
Although I have no numbers, I believe that Florida residents get special rates for cruises. I wonder how much better their deal is than us Midwesterners. Perhaps not much. Who knows. If you know, why not post it here. Also, being able to drive to Port Canaveral must be a great advantage. It probably saves anywhere from 25-50% of the total cruise cost (no airfare, no DCL transfers).
Cruise Economics:
This isn’t about the costs of cruising. It’s roughly comparable to going to WDW and staying on property at a moderate or better resort and having the “length of stay pass” and the “dining option”. So, while pricey, it’s doable with some planning and saving. This is about the people who work on the cruises.
I wondered how much people earn on cruise ships. I googled it and found that they don’t earn much. (see this link for more http://www.cruisejunkie.com/ot.html). The range for non-tipped positions is pretty low: $400 to $700/month, with free room and board. According to the article, their working conditions can leave much to be desired. Tipped positions do better and can actually earn a lot.
I am hoping and believing that DCL pays the non-tipped people more than cruise industry averages. Almost every employee that I encountered seemed genuinely happy. They were polite, hard working and had great attitudes. I conclude that they must be well compensated. That’s my wish upon a star for now. That alone would be a reason for me to sail again with the mouse. I hope someday to find out.
So that’s my report. If you read it and have any questions/comments, let me know.
AR
Here's the entire report for easy cutting and pasting. This way you can print it and read it later.
I've re-read it again and think I would change a few things, but nothing major. I am eventually going to post some further thoughts...but for now...
My trip report .
First, this was our big vacation, planned for 18 months or so. We were really excited. The cruise did not disappoint. We experienced many new things in a very short period of time. There are things we would do again and others we would not. Disney Cruise Line does an excellent job for its passengers and its clear why so many people are huge fans of the experience.
Pre-Cruise:
We arrived in Orland on Wednesday morning from Chicago. We had rented a car from Thrifty (an offsite rental agency about 1 mile from the airport) for use during our short Orlando leg and for our trip to Port Canaveral on embarkation day. We didnt get the car we had reserved, but were upgraded to a Mercury Grand Marquis. Now if you have a Grand Marquis, I am happy for you, but this is not a great car IMHO. Its a huge sedan from the outside that is actually very small on the inside. Its uncomfortable, has no drink holders or storage areas and gets pretty poor gas mileage. That being said it did hold our 7 pieces of luggage 2 adults and 2 children; so it served its purpose. If you get upgraded to this car .renegotiate for an SUV or Minivan.
So, youre in Orlando, its mid-morning, and you have no agenda .what would you do?? We headed over to WDW. Our goal was to hit two parks in one day, but we fell short and only saw Animal Kingdom. We have been there before and I have this WARNING: ANIMAL KINGDOM IS HOTTER THAN HADES!!
This is a known fact. You can see the evidence by all of the fans that are everywhere. I personally feel it is because of all the jungle type foliage that prevents any air from flowing through the park. You cant catch a breeze anywhere. Also, its very humid, which I believe is related to the .foliage .which no doubt requires huge amounts of water each night to stay green and lush. NOTE: If you dont like hot humid environments, dont go to Animal Kingdom when the temperature is over 82 degrees .seriously.
[This is probably a good place to point out that I dont believe Walt Disney was a genius. A creative visionary? Yes. Genius? No. Otherwise he would not have plunked his dream world in a land so un-hospitable to humans. Again IMHO]
That being said, I like Animal Kingdom. I love Expedition Everest. It is my favorite coaster bar none. I saw the Finding Nemo musical and found it very entertaining even from the back row. Good costumes, dancing, and real live singing. Like a Broadway show .and mercifully VERY AIR CONDITIONED. We also did most of the rides in Dino Land and very much enjoyed the parade. The kids enjoyed Camp Mickey Minnie and the food court in that area was another welcome break from the heat.
Pooped from the traveling, heat and fun we retired to Wyndham Bonnet Creek, where we had booked a 3 night stay in a 2 bedroom villa. BC is a nice luxury timeshare development on the fringe of the WDW property. Its tucked back behind WD Caribbean Beach and the Pop Century resorts. A planned development including a Hilton Waldorf-Astoria Hotel is going up next door. We did a BC sales presentation and received some Disney Dollars for the effort. One of the prime selling points was that they were right on top of Disney World and that no one else could compare to the location. To me, that was a negative, as I dont want other hotels and business to spoil Disney World by infringing on their turf. I like my WDW experience to include only Disney.
Pre Cruise Day 2:
On day two we relaxed and swam for a while. It rained and the kids thought swimming in the rain was pretty darned hilarious. I did too. Not a thing we do in Chicago. Our surprise for the kids was the Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party that night. After relaxing around the resort, we did some shopping at the Disney Character Outlet and then headed for Magic Kingdom.
It was again hot and humid and we had a great time going on the rides and collecting candy. We enjoyed the fireworks and the special parade. Everything was really fun. People were dressed up in costumes that were very elaborate, others, like us, had a them (ours was the Incredibles) but opted for no costumes. We closed the place at midnight and headed back for a good nights sleep.
Pre Cruise Day 3:
Disneys Blizzard Beach. I was leery about this choice because I feared someone might get hurt and somehow impact the cruise. However, we all had a great time. I even did the Summit Plummet, which is LIKE THE MOST INSANE WATER SLIDE EVER CONCEIVED BY MAN. The kids enjoyed the smaller slides, lazy river and the wave pool. We had a nice lunch really, really had fun.
A word about tickets: We had leftover non-expiring park hoppers with plus features from prior trips to WDW. In fact, we still have extra days leftover. I do not relish buying new Magic Your Way Tickets. I like to get my Disney Experience cost to less than $40 per day. At that rate, I can justify the costs. When it comes time to replenish our Disney tickets, the cost for my family of 4 is going to be $1543.80 (7 day, non expiring, park hopper, water parks & more (6) for a total of 13 experiences adult net per day $31.) OUCH! Did I hear someone say Sea World and Busch Gardens??
Off to Bonnet Creek to pack it up and sleep for embarkation day.
Embarkation Day:
We left around 10:00 a.m. and got to Port Canaveral just before 11:00 a.m. In case you dont know the cruise ship is at the South Terminal SOUTH. Its not very clearly marked, so we ended up going to the north and turning around. I dropped off the family and luggage and headed to Thrifty (two left turns and follow the main road). Our cost for the 3 day rental and one way drop off was less than $100.00.
My wife had managed all the pre-boarding paperwork, so we were in great shape. I showed up at the terminal, showed my drivers license and went quickly through security. Up the escalator I joined my family and we took a few pictures in the terminal. The building is very nice and designed to move people along quickly and easily; another Disney plus. People were boarding so we joined the line and within 15 minutes were aboard.
Rather than continue with the narrative style, I thought I would to a chronological list of quick hits, impressions that come to me about each day of the cruise. Here goes:
An Elegant Ship:
Wow! The ship is more impressive than any photo could express. Its huge, bold, clean and sharp. Inside the attention to detail is everywhere. Wood, marble, classic Disney artwork, polished metal, hidden Mickeys; a ship to be proud of for sure.
Sail Away Party (missed it):
After a buffet lunch and some exploration of the decks, I was a bit tired and thought a nap best. I crashed in our stateroom (5th deck, port, forward). My wife took the boys to the sail away party. From the video, it sure looked like fun. The boys loved the characters dancing and singing. Wish Upon A Star on the ship horns is totally cool.
BTW, when it comes to characters, Im a Goofy fan. Hes the best character, fun, caring, daring and of course Goofy. I love ya Goofy!
I Cant Walk Straight:
Whats going on here? I havent been drinking, but Im weaving along the corridors of the 5th deck like a sailor on leave. Wait. Were moving. Thats ocean out the porthole. Whats that on the ocean? The white things that seem to be on the top of the waves. Hey, those waves seem kind of large .and they just keep rolling and rolling and rolling Ive got a headache. Better lay down and wait for dinner.
8:15 Parrot Cay:
My wife informs me that some people on the board dont like Parrot Cay. I liked it. Our server and assistant server made us feel special. I have a great three course meal and dessert. I especially liked the presentation of the meal. Each course had a flair that I did not expect; like an artist created it. Very cool.
Its Official, Im feeling the Boat Moving:
I had a slight headache to begin with, but it got worse as the ship moved out to sea. I noted that the ship channel on the stateroom tv said we were doing 21 knots. Thats almost full speed for the Magic, so I figured the Captain was trying to get us out of bad weather. Interestingly the barometric pressure (as displayed on the ship channel) never changed for the whole cruise. Must be a misprint. I heard a few other passengers commenting on the weather and seas. The ship channel said slight for the seas. Thats 1 to 4 feet. I saw white caps and bigger waves than that. Must have been a misprint.
Cruise Quarters:
Upon returning to the stateroom, we found the origami towel work of our steward. Very cool. Picture time. The boys found the hidden bunk bed was no longer hidden. Negotiations ensue for top bunk. Settled. Looks like theyll take turns. Smile.
We zonk out and the ship rolls onward. Tomorrow Key West. We can't wait.
Key West Day:
Topsiders Buffet: The seas have calmed, no whitecaps. I feel better and hungry. If you have ever had a breakfast at Chef Mickeys or Cape May you have a good idea of what to expect at Topsiders, minus the characters. Lots of food choices, traditional breakfast foods (eggs, bacon, sausage, cereals, waffles, fruit) lunch foods (cold cuts, bagels, breads, soup, hot carved meats, cheeses) and a cornucopia of desserts; all available in great quantities.
This is a good place to express my gratitude for the Disney Cruise Lines commitment to clean hands. At each restaurant you are handed an antibacterial wipe to clean your hands. You get one when boarding the ship from a shore visit too. On board there are many hand cleaning stations (especially in the kids areas). Its all an effort to quell the spread of the Norovirus (stomach and lower g/i illness) which has plagued some cruise ships from time to time. It seems to be working!!
Oceaneer Club/Lab:
For the first time we checked the kids into the Oceaneer Club. They are excited, but not as much as we are. The kids have wrist bands and are checked in individually; no one can get them out but us. Cool. As a plus we have a pager in case the kids or staff need us.
Vista Spa and the Exotic Rasul:
Were not scheduled into Key West for a while. No kids, tropical cruise hmm? What would you do? We had planned a spa treatment in the Vista Spa (9th deck, starboard, forward). The spa is very nice. The staff was great and showed us around. We had booked an Exotic Rasul which I highly recommend. Its basically a do it yourself steam, exfoliation and body mud mask; except you dont do it yourself ..you do it with someone special.
There is a small room with a ceramic tiled built in bench. On one end is a steam room and on the other end a shower. Included are lots of towels, various facial scrubs, masks, moisturizers from the spa for you to use after the mud. You get the room for 50 minutes and at approximately 40 minutes they will knock to let you know time is almost up.
The idea is to lather up with the green exfoliation scrub and then take a nice hot steam. Then you shower and lather up with the mud, more steam and then another shower. The steam room is very hot and you cant stay in there for more than 5 minutes or so. You end up having lot of extra time ..use it at your own discretion.
The Quest for Key West:
Feeling like a million bucks we went to get the kids and had a quick room service lunch before heading out to the Conch (pronounced Conk) Republic. We departed the ship right onto the dock snapping photos (we have over 1100) and video. Again, the ship is impressive. Huge.
Not sure what we wanted from Key West, we just wander. The Customs House is an excellent old building from the 1890s or so. Around the corner, more souvenir shops. One has everything for $5. Hmm. No sale. Its hot, sticky and were still not sure what we wanted from the island. One thing we needed was batteries. Theres a CVS a few blocks down. We load up and get some beverages too. Outside we decide to rent one of those minicars and drive around the island. I take out the card which was handed to me a few blocks back and call from my cell phone. Two minutes later, were in an air-conditioned van on our way to the rental center.
We Get A Deal:
The owner of the rental agency is driving our van. Hes older and retired from Upstate New York. A nice guy, I ask him if we can get a deal on the rental. He says sure. So we end up paying for 2 hours and getting 3. Ten minutes later, map in hand, we are driving a glorified golf cart with 4 seats through the streets of KW. Its bright orange and the kids have named it Herbie. Total cost $84.00.
We amble around town going up and down, north and south, east and west. We go south as far south as anyone can go in the USA. We line up and wait for pictures. We take turns with others taking pictures/posing. Its kind of cool. Lots of other interesting buildings an old, old cemetery. A really great beach with some daring windsurfers. We stop and snack on some munchies from CVS. Its a fun time and were on no ones time but our own. The boys are snapping photos with their cameras. Later, at home, Ill laugh out loud at the dozen or so pictures they took of each other laughing, giggling and hamming it up for the camera.
Somehow time is flying and we end up back at the rental agency to drop off Herbie no worse for the wear. An air-conditioned van ride back to the dock. We go through security and are back on board. Time for a snack and a swim.
We grab small bites at Goofys galley and decide to take a swim in the Goofy Pool. We are relaxing and getting into this cruising thing. Fun
At some point we decide to head to the stateroom, shower and take a nap. Mickey calls at around 6 and we head out to the Walt Disney Theatre for a show.
Walt Disney Theatre Rocks!
WDT is a first class place to see a show. Great sound and site lines. Productions are first class. We have fun and start to get hungry.
Lumieres No Kids:
Kids are restless and want more Oceaneer Club. We drop them off and go to dinner at Lumieres sans children. Our server is sad the boys arent there. Escargot is really good. I had no idea I liked it that much. Again, food is creatively served and very good. We feel special.
Karaoke in Studio Sea:
All of the kids in Studio Sea are great. I am really proud of our two. I even take a shot at an Elvis cover. We enjoy it for an hour and then head back to the stateroom.
Goofy Pool Late Show:
The kids want to swim, so I take the boys to the Goofy Pool. On the jumbo screen, the Bears are playing the Packers and it seems Bears fans are outnumbered. Bears win! After midnight and time for some zzzzzz. Tomorrow a day at sea.
As an add on the this post, I want to note that the Cove Cafe is a great place to unwind for adults. Like a very comfortable coffee shop....big, soft chairs. Great coffees and liqueurs. Always something tasty in the snack case...no charge of course. Sit down, grab some headphones and listen to some music...(tv too.)
Day at Sea:
Vista Spa Hair Salon:
My wife decides to change her hair style. No problem, the Vista Spa has a salon. Prices are very reasonable. She gets a great cut that shes still happy with. Later I call for a mens cut and they get me right in. I love this spa stuff.
Shopping School:
I attend the shopping presentation conducted by Pippa in the Buena Vista Theatre. I hear about great shopping in the ports; unique shops, best prices, must see stores. Less than captivating, I take a nap and wait for the raffle. The hook to the presentation was raffle for real prizes. The prizes are a t-shirt, some small jewelry, and a few other items that I cant recall. I dont win any.
From what I can tell, the shops sponsor these presentations. You get a pamphlet with a map and highlighted "guaranteed" stores. The guarantee applies if you have a problem such as the item not being what they said it was or being of inferior quality. Pippa was entertaining, but I would not do that again.
Animator's Palate:
Its dinner time and were in formal clothes. Rotation wise were up for Animators Palate. Before dinner we stop in the atrium for the Captain's reception. Servers with trays of tropical drinks circle the room. The drinks are free. I like.
We head into AP and have another great meal. Presentation is tops. Variety and quality match that of any of the finer restaurants weve been to before. Our servers are really great. We enjoy the light show and the Mickey parade. Smiles all around. We are having fun.
Studio Sea AGAIN!
In Studio Sea they are having a dance party with kids and parents whooping it up. These are the young kids and its a hoot to watch them in their formal clothes doing the Hey, Hey, Baby dance which I believe has become the trademark song and dance for the cruise (we find ourselves singing it everywhere we go .Oooh .Ahhhh)
We dance, take pictures and video. Next up is Karaoke and why not? The boys are more confident now and really belt it out. Its great fun.
Late Night at the Goofy Pool:
After dinner we took some photos and changed into swim clothes for a splash in the Goofy Pool. Monday Night Football was on the big screen. Cowboys won in a squeaker. Buffalo, you were sooooo close to an upset!
The boys want some late night pizza from Pinocchio's. Why not? We're on vacation!
Lets Go Caymania!
Room Service
Doesnt room service just rock. Before bed I call for an early breakfast and find out that you simply fill out the card located in the desk. Hang it outside the door and youre good to go. We choose cereals, breads, coffee, juices, fruit and milk. Its a light meal and were out the door.
Tender Me Cross Sea:
Somewhere there were detailed instructions on getting a tender to the port. I dont have them and wander to the Buena Vista Theatre with my family. There we are told to get into rows. One crew member is giving instructions. As soon as enough rows are filled were led out to the tender. The actual boat is pretty large and carries about 50 or so. In about 5 minutes were on shore.
Passports:
I forgot to give our passports to guest services for stamps. Therefore I am carrying them in my backpack inside a ziplock bag. The person at guest services told me to ask the Cayman Islands shore official for a stamp. I see someone in uniform, but he says he cant stamp anything and to look for someone else on the North Pier. Its a few blocks and I find no one there. I was hoping for stamps from all 3 foreign countries. Im slightly bummed. (I would, much later in the day, find someone in an official looking building on the harbor who directed me to the Immigration Department. The nice lady there stamps all four passports).
Shopping:
There are a couple of jewelry stores that are must sees. I suppose jewelry could be a great deal in the Caymans, but I cant tell. Jewelry is not a wise purchase without knowing something about it. I know nothing. The stones look sparkly, the metals all shiny. I take a pass and figure I could do as well (or not much worse) at Costco. I briefly wonder if the movie Blood Diamond is a Disney production (it is, in fact, a Warner Bros. film). How can something so small and insignificant though beautiful be sooo valuable? Especially when so many just as beautiful, though synthetic, diamonds are available (Yup, I occasionally watch Home Shopping Network). I dont get it. But I am getting hungry.
Lunch and a Plan:
We loosely had a plan to either go to the beach or to stingray city. After the jewelry shops and the North Pier, we saunter over to a store that advertised Captain Marvins excursions. For about $130 all four of us could go on a 2 hour snorkel and stingray excursion. Sounds good, so we sign up. Since we are hungry we walk down to a convenience store on the side street next to Senor Frogs. They have a rather large buffet of hot foods. We buy some fried plantains, snacks and drinks and head over to the meeting point for the excursion. The bus driver lets us on early. Its still very hot and humid. The bus has air-conditioning. I relax.
Coral Gardens:
Captain Marvins on our own is a breeze. Were on a bus with 15 other people for about 20 minutes. The driver points out some sites on the way. At the dock we board the ship. It motors through an intracoastal waterway towards the ocean. There are some nice houses a dock with lizards. In about 20 minutes were in the coral gardens. These small humps of coral pepper the sea floor in about 15 feet of water. Lots of fish and some really cool coral. A videographer buzzes around taking pictures of all of us that we will buy later. Its fun.
Stingray City:
There are other boats already here. Its weird. In the middle of nowhere a sand bar. We wade out and our guide takes out some chopped up squid to feed the rays. The rays respond by coming over in hordes. Its cool and scary. Everyone who wants to holds, touches, pets, kisses, poses with and feeds a ray. I find it to be really great. I love it.
On the way back to the dock we have ice water and fruit punch. Very importantly the boat has a head or bathroom. The boat ride is almost as much fun as snorkeling and stingrays. This excursion rocks! Bus ride back to Georgetown in the a/c. A bit more shopping for small items. I find the passport stamp person. We head over to the tender. This time the tender is much larger and a double decker. Cool.
Parrot Cay w/o Kids:
This time we eat in PC without the kids. They wanted to do the kids club, so we let them. It was a nice calm dinner. Again I love the food. Everyone is pretty tired, so we make an early night of it.
The Coz (umel):
So this is sunny Mexico? One of the local inhabitants tells me it's the tail end of a tropical depression. I call it rain. Not pouring rain or thunderstorms, just a steady, constant....rain. It's ok though we're going to Chankanaab for the Dolphin Discovery and expect to be wet.
Disney Excursion to Chankanaab and Dolphin Discovery:
We meet in Diversions and are led by the tour coordinator off the ship, down the dock, through the mall, over the street, through another mall, past lots and lots of tourist shops (many of which are no doubt "must sees"). Down another set of stairs and to the waiting taxis. The taxis are full sized vans and we share with another family (from New Jersey and very nice). It's been raining a lot here and some roads are flooded, but in the van we're ok. 20 minutes later we're in Chankanaab.
By the way, just about everywhere there is lots of ceramic tile. With the rain, it has become very slick. Later we learn a toddler broke his leg after a slip and fall. We hope he's ok (reading these posts, I understand he's on the mend, thank goodness).
Shadia the Dolphin:
The Dolphin Experience in Chankanaab takes place in the ocean, but in a holding pen of sorts. There is a long dock out from the shore. It forms a large double football field sized rectangle in the ocean. In the middle are smaller, shorter docks that form the holding pens. From these docks you can walk down some stairs onto a submerged platform. From here everyone, pets, hugs, holds, kisses, poses with and dances with Shadia. On the dock is a videographer and we will later buy the video. The Dolphin Discovery is very entertaining, not so much educational. If the weather was better we would explore more of the park, but instead we swim in the huge pool (in the rain), buy some souvenirs and head back to the dock. On the way through the mall I stop and buy some Kahlua and Coronas. A few more trinkets and I'm on the dock headed for the majestic looking Magic.
Were rained out from more adventures in Cozumel, but our consolation prize is the Magic. Tonight is Pirates in the Caribbean night Yo ho!
Pirate Night Fun -
Almost everyone is in some kind of piratey garb. We get a great picture which we will later buy at Shutters. We're out and about and having fun. People have gone all out in their costumes. The crew members and staff are outfitted in pirate gear too. There is an air of excitement everywhere.
Later, on deck 9 midship there is a stage show with Mickey, Hook and more (even Stitch gets into the mix). It culminates with a really great fireworks show. I watch from deck 10 which is very crowded. In fact, the whole ship seems crowded right now.
Treasure Ketch and Mickey's Mates:
On Deck 4 midship are two stores that sell gifts souvenirs and things you might need while on board. Treasure Ketch has some great people who always seem willing to do a little bit extra. I find the prices for jewelry in the store to be very good. Better than in Grand Cayman. One CM from Japan teaches the boys their names in Japan and how to say good morning (o hiy ohh).
Mickey's Mates is more like a Disney Store from the mall or Downtown Disney. We buy some pins and make some trades with castmembers. Again they are beyond nice. I highly recommend both stores.
That's all I really have to say about Pirate Night. Have fun with it, but expect crowds.
Our Anniversary:
This was a big trip for us that we planned 18 months ahead. We wanted to do something special for our 10 year anniversary, so we gave each other the cruise. Oh, we had small gifts too and cards, but this trip was our big gift.
I think we always wanted to take a cruise on DCL. We had visited WDW 10 times in the last 10 years. We had heard about DCL from friends, the Travel Channel and the DVD they gladly send out. Still, we had not seriously considered it because our kids were small. Our only prior cruise was a 3 night Norwegian Cruise Line from Miami 9 years before. It was fun, but not something for the small ones; so we thought. Now with the kids being 6 and 7, and with our anniversary the timing just seemed right. Also, where else can you take your kids on vacation and not have them with you for long extended periods??
For the big day, we planned to relax and then have dinner at Palo. Luckily my wife had the foresight to get a reservation at the earliest possible date, which for us first time DCL cruisers was 75 days prior to the cruise. I heard from other cruisers that they could not get a reservation for Palo.
Of course the boys want to get into the club as soon as possible, so we let them. We proceed to relax and take some video and photos. I like the days at sea. There are lots of things to do, but we decide to just take it easy. I believe we even do laundry!!
Quiet Cove Pool:
I highly recommend the Quiet Cove Pool. Its adult only and a great break from the buzz surrounding other areas of the ship. I really like the fact that DCL pools are fresh water and not salt. I hear that other ships have salt water in the pools.
Reality Begins to Set In:
I don't know if my wife shared this type of moment, but at some point on Thursday, reality set in....
What I mean by this is that I realized the trip was rapidly coming to an end. I guess that now since our anniversary was actually here, all of the planning, thinking, hoping, and yearning for a great trip had come full circle. We had achieved our goal .and now its almost over .and I feel like Im just now getting into it.
Its been a whirlwind, but now I believe I have the hang of it. I know where my stateroom is! I know a few shortcuts and how to avoid waiting for an elevator (though you never wait long). It cant be almost over! Better really savor the rest.
Buying Duty Free Booze:
Forget about shopping for booze onshore. It you want the best duty free prices, look no further than the Magic. The prices are outstanding. Of course, you cant have the booze until you are off the ship in Port Canaveral, so if you want a lil something for the cruise, either pack it in your suitcase or buy it onshore (but not at a duty free shop).
Graduation Night:
Were at the Walt Disney Theatre for graduation. The kids are taking part in a ceremony which includes Mickey and Minnie. They all file in wearing Mickey ear caps and sporting matching t-shirts. Its really cool watching them on stage. Our six year old walks on stage and immediately turns and starts waiving. I think hes liking the stage after all the karaoke lately. Its very cute and fun. When we meet them after, they want to go back to the club .so they do.
Palo:
We get there early. There are empty tables and we get one. Our waiter is good, but somehow we miss our regular servers. The food is good, but IMHO not so much better than other dishes weve had so far. Ambience is great; couples, small groups of friends, everyone smiling.
Its a very warm and inviting restaurant. Is it the best meal Ive ever had? No. Best service? No. But it is very good though and you should try it if 1) you like Italian food and 2) you want an intimate meal while onboard. This is the only place besides room service that you will find an intimate setting for a meal. If you miss Palo, its not the end of the world.
More Karaoke and Late Night Swimming:
After Palo we get the kids and head over to Studio Sea. I cant remember exactly, but I believe the kids partake in more Karaoke and other fun. They have friends everywhere now. Its a great feeling to watch them having fun. I believe they will never forget this trip.
After, we head to the stateroom for a clothing change and were off to the pool. Late night swims have become our routine. A great way to wear the kids down for a good nights sleep.
Tomorrow is Castaway Cay and were ready. We planned to snorkel on this trip. The kids even took lessons back home. Our packing list included fins, masks and snorkels. A slight hassle because they take up some suitcase space, I believe it was worth it having our own gear.
Tipping:
Before we head off to bed, I stop at Guest Services to check our stateroom bill and pay for our gratuities. Its easy to pay for your gratuities on your ship account and they give you little tickets which you can put into envelopes for each person.
Someone could write a book about tipping. At home its an art form. On the ship, as I understand it, there are certain positions that are compensated almost entirely by tips. We have felt good with our room steward, servers, etc. Its a level of service you dont normally expect. In fact, all of the crew and staff have been excellent. Great attitudes. A real joy.
Our stateroom bill is not too bad. Weve been good.
We've had a nice day and though we haven't talked much about our wedding day, we're both really happy we're together and have our little family unit. There have been ups and downs during our 10 years; such as life. But we're hooked on each other and living our childhoods over through our two little guys. Who knows what lies ahead, but regardless, we'll do it together...
Off to bed. Rest up for Castaway Cay.
One more thing about Thursday night - Can't forget about the Chocolate:
Thursday night, to our surprise, there was a spectacular Chocolate and Dessert Buffet in Lumiere's. I think we stumbled upon it and ducked in for a quick bite. There must have been a mile of sweets. Tons of chocolate. White chocolate fountain and milk chocolate fountain. I don't know how that passed us by in the planning....but you don't want to miss it.
Castaway Cay:
What a glorious 24 hours. Thursday at sea was spectacular. The sea - remember the sea - has been very calm since day 2. Yesterday it was perfect. At night we saw stars in a whole new light. Did I mention you can see Cuba from the ship? You pass thisssssclose.
This morning is as good as they get. Sun shines, light winds blow. The ship is backing into it's berth at Castaway Cay. Today we snorkel in the Bahamas. I've heard it can be great. It's the last day of the cruise and we're going to end it on a high note.
The Rush:
We eat breakfast at Topsiders. There seems to be a rush for Castaway Cay. Not sure why, but we get caught up in it. Getting off the ship is like following a maize. Go up to go down, around the bend out to the dock. Stop, send a postcard. Take a few pictures (lens is moist; humidity and temperature change, pics look foggy, ghostly). Hey is that the Flying Dutchman? It is...
We pick of the "tram" for the beach area. It saves a 10 minute walk, though the walk has some great picture spots. Out to the beach. There are hundreds of umbrellas, lounges and chairs. We take one close to the path leading back to the food, bar and restrooms (priorities!!). A dash to the water ensues and its snorkel time. Our 7 year old is a natural. He loves skimming along the surface. Our 6 doesn't like salt water and decides to just float and play in the sand.
Out past the first lifeguard stand is a white buoy. Look for the sunken Mickey. It's cool. Dorrie is swimming and I follow her. No Nemo yet. Out much further there is a sunken ship and tons of fish. I snap away using our digital camera inside a DiCaPac waterproof housing ($35 on eBay). I take about 50 pictures of colorful fish. Some really great ones of the Magic too.
Lunchtime:
After snorkeling for an hour or more, we head in to shore. It's lunch time. During lunch DJ Dan and Dave (very nice guys) conduct a crab race at the gazebo. Our crab is "Pete" and he makes it to the final, but loses out. It's a riot of good fun. Later the band from the ship come over to play some tunes. the gazebo rocks. The boys have learned a few lines to "Sweet Home Alabama" and they rock out with the band.
2 for 1 at the Conched Out Bar and Serenity Bay:
Nothing like a cold cocktail on a warm tropical day. 2 for 1 drinks prevail upon me and I polish one off in short order. I sip the other and enjoy the perfect day from my barstool. Off to Serenity Bay for some photos and to just check it out. It's very serene, almost deserted. Maybe 50 people tops. I wonder why such an Island would have it's own landing strip (it predated Disney). They have a small bar and while tempted, I decline, fearing a necessary siesta and missing the boat. I head back to the family on the tram.
It's getting late as we snorkel and have more fun in the water. It's probably a good idea to head back now and beat the crowds. We do and in minutes we're back in the stateroom. We clean up and change clothes. Judicious use of sunscreen has prevented sunburns on this trip. Today is no exception. Also, rashguard shirts (spf 70) provide great cover. Highly recommended (if you can't find them at home, they sell them at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Get a "shopping pass" at Guest Services and you can shop for 30 minutes without having to pay the entry fee.)
Last Night on the Magic:
Guess what? The kids want to go to the Oceaneer's club. So we let them.
We plan to rendezvous for dinner at Parrot Cay.
Prior to dinner I take some pictures of the "absolutely perfect" sunset. The boys take pictures too. I like theirs more than mine.
It's our last night and we bring our envelopes to our Head Waiter, Server and Assistant Server. We have liked them all. If I do this cruise again, I hope to remember that dinner is the best meal of the day and not to eat very much for breakfast or lunch. The dinners are very special. Save room for dessert (or two).
It's our last night and we're happy and sad. We make our final picture choices at Shutters. We packed most of our things the night before, so as not to spend our last night packing. We're tired though from all the action today and we head to the stateroom for much needed rest.
My Feather Pillow:
As I rest my head on the pillow for the last time, I try to recall the whole trip from beginning to end. It's been a whirlwind, of which I surely have forgotten key points and omitted them from this trip report. Our room steward has been great. I believe he may actually be a magician. How else can our room be transformed morning and night from complete disarray to comfortable order. The towel origami (See! I forgot to mention the towel origami class) has been a delight for us all. The hospitality is summed up in my feather pillow. I merely mentioned the pillows being too hard for my liking. Next time the bed was made, not one, but two feather pillows.
Disembarkation:
I think we intended to eat at Topsiders. We only had our backpacks (luggage was put out before 11:00 the night before). On our way to the restaurant at 7:15 we notice the line going off the ship is quite short. Why not? We skip breakfast and join the line. Within 10 minutes we are through customs and waiting curbside for the Thrifty shuttle. Be prepared for lots of tipping, you have tons of luggage.
Do You Want Fries With That?:
After getting our car and tipping everyone along the way, we decide to eat breakfast at McDonald's. Our first encounter with a non-cruise employee in 7 days. It does not go well. We've come to expect great service and attitudes. We're not on the Magic anymore.....and except for the feeling of the room moving, that fact could not be more clear.
We drive to Orlando in a PT Cruiser. I'm glad it's a cruiser....because now, we are all cruisers.
POP!....Century:
We had half a mind to go to parks on Saturday. We were just too tired. We had booked Pop Century for the night. Upon arriving, we moved some luggage into the room. Not much larger than a Category 8, I'd say. Pop is a budget hotel on WDW property. It's got some great decorations like 3 story Bigwheels and 5 story cell phones. My fave is the 5 story Mickey Phone. Icons of pop culture abound. It's very entertaining.
Some friends are in Orlando on the tail end of their vacation. We get together, swim in the fantastic pool at Pop. Later, we all head to Macaroni Grill on 192 for a fun dinner. Tomorrow the airports and home.
Final Thoughts....to come.
Conclusions:
Disney Cruise Line is a great, well run, experienced cruise line. You would have to try very hard not to have fun. That being said, I believe DCL is probably not for everyone.
If you dont like kids, you wont like it. If you are a single adult, looking to meet other singles, there must be better choices. Not to say that there arent adult things to do on board. Disney Cruise Line promotes many things for adults only: cooking classes, wine tastings, trivia games, Wii Bowling, and of course many Spa treatments. Its just that the whole experience is heavily weighted towards families with kids and extended families traveling together.
Been There Done That:
While the thought of taking another cruise is very appealing, Im pretty sure I wouldnt want to do another Western Caribbean on the Magic. I loved the ship and the hospitality, but I think Id like to see something else.
Things just dont change very much in Island communities like Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Are there things I didnt do on those islands that I still might want to do? Sure. Still, Im of the mindset that its a big, big, world out there and Id like to see more of it not the same places. An Eastern? Id be happy to do that route.
Could There Be Any Other Cruise Line?
The devotion, enthusiasm and generosity of Disboarders is a testament to the quality of Disney Cruise Lines. Like most things Disney, there is a feeling that the experience is a cut above other competitors.
For years I felt that way about the WDW parks. No one else could possibly compare or so I thought. Then one year, in a momentary lapse of reason, we strayed from the camp to Universal Orlando. Guess what? We had a great time; equal to many or our park experiences at WDW. Then one day we did Sea World; again an excellent, high quality park. True, there was something missing (lets call it magic), but we found the other parks quite entertaining.
As a first timer on DCL, I expected a well operated, high quality cruise experience. I was not disappointed. However, I believe that just as my experiences with Universal and Sea World showed there are other ships in the sea that would also provide a similar, high quality experience. Indeed cruisecritic.com rates other ships ahead of the Magic and Wonder. Not even the excellent, high quality kid programs run by DCL are rated as best on the seas (RCL gets the nod).
Too Much of a Good Thing?:
Before I get flamed here, I just want to note that I understand the magic of Walt Disneys dream. His dream was to provide a place where families could have fun together. He succeeded beyond his wishes. When I see Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Minnie, I feel like a kid again .and that says it all. We all get to be kids again; with our kids.
However, in my humble opinion, a big part of the magical and special feeling is 1) I am on vacation; and 2) Im doing something that I dont always get to do. Would it be as special if I did it all the time. To me that would cheapen the experience.
I was in the Goofy Pool hot tub with my own 6 year old and a couple of boys around his age were there too. As they talked I heard the other boys say that this was their 4th DCL cruise. Matter of factly they boasted that they had done everything and seen everything .now all they wanted to do was swim. Just another vacation for them.
I realize that many of the cruisers sharing the Magic with us were Castaway Club members (people who have sailed with DCL before). I can see the attraction. Its a great trip and a ton of fun. While Im inclined to take another cruise on DCL someday, Im not compelled to make it an every year affair. But maybe I said that about WDW too. Then I went every year for 10 straight years. Hmmm.
Southern Exposure:
Being from a large Midwestern city, I have to mention that, by far, the vast majority of cruisers on our Magic trip were from Southern states. Nothing at all wrong with that, its just a fact. On the first night at the show in the Walt Disney Theatre, one of the entertainers asked where people were from. Northern States (small applause). Eastern states (small applause), Midwestern states (small applause), Western states (small applause), Canada (small applause), Other countries (one clap), Southern states (thunderous applause). There you have it.
Although I have no numbers, I believe that Florida residents get special rates for cruises. I wonder how much better their deal is than us Midwesterners. Perhaps not much. Who knows? If you know, why not post it here. Also, being able to drive to Port Canaveral must be a great advantage. It probably saves anywhere from 25-50% of the total cruise cost (no airfare, no DCL transfers).
Cruise Economics:
This isnt about the costs of cruising. Its roughly comparable to going to WDW and staying on property at a moderate or better resort and having the length of stay pass and the dining option. So, while pricey, its doable with some planning and saving. This is about the people who work on the cruises.
I wondered how much people earn on cruise ships. I Googled it and found that they dont earn much. (see this link for more http://www.cruisejunkie.com/ot.html). The range for non-tipped positions is pretty low: $400 to $700/month, with free room and board. According to the article, their working conditions can leave much to be desired. Tipped positions do better and can actually earn a lot.
I am hoping and believing that DCL pays the non-tipped people more than cruise industry averages. Almost every employee that I encountered seemed genuinely happy. They were polite, hard working and had great attitudes. I conclude that they must be well compensated. Thats my wish upon a star for now. That alone would be a reason for me to sail again with the mouse. I hope someday to find out.
So thats my report. If you read it and have any questions/comments, let me know.
AR
I've re-read it again and think I would change a few things, but nothing major. I am eventually going to post some further thoughts...but for now...
My trip report .
First, this was our big vacation, planned for 18 months or so. We were really excited. The cruise did not disappoint. We experienced many new things in a very short period of time. There are things we would do again and others we would not. Disney Cruise Line does an excellent job for its passengers and its clear why so many people are huge fans of the experience.
Pre-Cruise:
We arrived in Orland on Wednesday morning from Chicago. We had rented a car from Thrifty (an offsite rental agency about 1 mile from the airport) for use during our short Orlando leg and for our trip to Port Canaveral on embarkation day. We didnt get the car we had reserved, but were upgraded to a Mercury Grand Marquis. Now if you have a Grand Marquis, I am happy for you, but this is not a great car IMHO. Its a huge sedan from the outside that is actually very small on the inside. Its uncomfortable, has no drink holders or storage areas and gets pretty poor gas mileage. That being said it did hold our 7 pieces of luggage 2 adults and 2 children; so it served its purpose. If you get upgraded to this car .renegotiate for an SUV or Minivan.
So, youre in Orlando, its mid-morning, and you have no agenda .what would you do?? We headed over to WDW. Our goal was to hit two parks in one day, but we fell short and only saw Animal Kingdom. We have been there before and I have this WARNING: ANIMAL KINGDOM IS HOTTER THAN HADES!!
This is a known fact. You can see the evidence by all of the fans that are everywhere. I personally feel it is because of all the jungle type foliage that prevents any air from flowing through the park. You cant catch a breeze anywhere. Also, its very humid, which I believe is related to the .foliage .which no doubt requires huge amounts of water each night to stay green and lush. NOTE: If you dont like hot humid environments, dont go to Animal Kingdom when the temperature is over 82 degrees .seriously.
[This is probably a good place to point out that I dont believe Walt Disney was a genius. A creative visionary? Yes. Genius? No. Otherwise he would not have plunked his dream world in a land so un-hospitable to humans. Again IMHO]
That being said, I like Animal Kingdom. I love Expedition Everest. It is my favorite coaster bar none. I saw the Finding Nemo musical and found it very entertaining even from the back row. Good costumes, dancing, and real live singing. Like a Broadway show .and mercifully VERY AIR CONDITIONED. We also did most of the rides in Dino Land and very much enjoyed the parade. The kids enjoyed Camp Mickey Minnie and the food court in that area was another welcome break from the heat.
Pooped from the traveling, heat and fun we retired to Wyndham Bonnet Creek, where we had booked a 3 night stay in a 2 bedroom villa. BC is a nice luxury timeshare development on the fringe of the WDW property. Its tucked back behind WD Caribbean Beach and the Pop Century resorts. A planned development including a Hilton Waldorf-Astoria Hotel is going up next door. We did a BC sales presentation and received some Disney Dollars for the effort. One of the prime selling points was that they were right on top of Disney World and that no one else could compare to the location. To me, that was a negative, as I dont want other hotels and business to spoil Disney World by infringing on their turf. I like my WDW experience to include only Disney.
Pre Cruise Day 2:
On day two we relaxed and swam for a while. It rained and the kids thought swimming in the rain was pretty darned hilarious. I did too. Not a thing we do in Chicago. Our surprise for the kids was the Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party that night. After relaxing around the resort, we did some shopping at the Disney Character Outlet and then headed for Magic Kingdom.
It was again hot and humid and we had a great time going on the rides and collecting candy. We enjoyed the fireworks and the special parade. Everything was really fun. People were dressed up in costumes that were very elaborate, others, like us, had a them (ours was the Incredibles) but opted for no costumes. We closed the place at midnight and headed back for a good nights sleep.
Pre Cruise Day 3:
Disneys Blizzard Beach. I was leery about this choice because I feared someone might get hurt and somehow impact the cruise. However, we all had a great time. I even did the Summit Plummet, which is LIKE THE MOST INSANE WATER SLIDE EVER CONCEIVED BY MAN. The kids enjoyed the smaller slides, lazy river and the wave pool. We had a nice lunch really, really had fun.
A word about tickets: We had leftover non-expiring park hoppers with plus features from prior trips to WDW. In fact, we still have extra days leftover. I do not relish buying new Magic Your Way Tickets. I like to get my Disney Experience cost to less than $40 per day. At that rate, I can justify the costs. When it comes time to replenish our Disney tickets, the cost for my family of 4 is going to be $1543.80 (7 day, non expiring, park hopper, water parks & more (6) for a total of 13 experiences adult net per day $31.) OUCH! Did I hear someone say Sea World and Busch Gardens??
Off to Bonnet Creek to pack it up and sleep for embarkation day.
Embarkation Day:
We left around 10:00 a.m. and got to Port Canaveral just before 11:00 a.m. In case you dont know the cruise ship is at the South Terminal SOUTH. Its not very clearly marked, so we ended up going to the north and turning around. I dropped off the family and luggage and headed to Thrifty (two left turns and follow the main road). Our cost for the 3 day rental and one way drop off was less than $100.00.
My wife had managed all the pre-boarding paperwork, so we were in great shape. I showed up at the terminal, showed my drivers license and went quickly through security. Up the escalator I joined my family and we took a few pictures in the terminal. The building is very nice and designed to move people along quickly and easily; another Disney plus. People were boarding so we joined the line and within 15 minutes were aboard.
Rather than continue with the narrative style, I thought I would to a chronological list of quick hits, impressions that come to me about each day of the cruise. Here goes:
An Elegant Ship:
Wow! The ship is more impressive than any photo could express. Its huge, bold, clean and sharp. Inside the attention to detail is everywhere. Wood, marble, classic Disney artwork, polished metal, hidden Mickeys; a ship to be proud of for sure.
Sail Away Party (missed it):
After a buffet lunch and some exploration of the decks, I was a bit tired and thought a nap best. I crashed in our stateroom (5th deck, port, forward). My wife took the boys to the sail away party. From the video, it sure looked like fun. The boys loved the characters dancing and singing. Wish Upon A Star on the ship horns is totally cool.
BTW, when it comes to characters, Im a Goofy fan. Hes the best character, fun, caring, daring and of course Goofy. I love ya Goofy!
I Cant Walk Straight:
Whats going on here? I havent been drinking, but Im weaving along the corridors of the 5th deck like a sailor on leave. Wait. Were moving. Thats ocean out the porthole. Whats that on the ocean? The white things that seem to be on the top of the waves. Hey, those waves seem kind of large .and they just keep rolling and rolling and rolling Ive got a headache. Better lay down and wait for dinner.
8:15 Parrot Cay:
My wife informs me that some people on the board dont like Parrot Cay. I liked it. Our server and assistant server made us feel special. I have a great three course meal and dessert. I especially liked the presentation of the meal. Each course had a flair that I did not expect; like an artist created it. Very cool.
Its Official, Im feeling the Boat Moving:
I had a slight headache to begin with, but it got worse as the ship moved out to sea. I noted that the ship channel on the stateroom tv said we were doing 21 knots. Thats almost full speed for the Magic, so I figured the Captain was trying to get us out of bad weather. Interestingly the barometric pressure (as displayed on the ship channel) never changed for the whole cruise. Must be a misprint. I heard a few other passengers commenting on the weather and seas. The ship channel said slight for the seas. Thats 1 to 4 feet. I saw white caps and bigger waves than that. Must have been a misprint.
Cruise Quarters:
Upon returning to the stateroom, we found the origami towel work of our steward. Very cool. Picture time. The boys found the hidden bunk bed was no longer hidden. Negotiations ensue for top bunk. Settled. Looks like theyll take turns. Smile.
We zonk out and the ship rolls onward. Tomorrow Key West. We can't wait.
Key West Day:
Topsiders Buffet: The seas have calmed, no whitecaps. I feel better and hungry. If you have ever had a breakfast at Chef Mickeys or Cape May you have a good idea of what to expect at Topsiders, minus the characters. Lots of food choices, traditional breakfast foods (eggs, bacon, sausage, cereals, waffles, fruit) lunch foods (cold cuts, bagels, breads, soup, hot carved meats, cheeses) and a cornucopia of desserts; all available in great quantities.
This is a good place to express my gratitude for the Disney Cruise Lines commitment to clean hands. At each restaurant you are handed an antibacterial wipe to clean your hands. You get one when boarding the ship from a shore visit too. On board there are many hand cleaning stations (especially in the kids areas). Its all an effort to quell the spread of the Norovirus (stomach and lower g/i illness) which has plagued some cruise ships from time to time. It seems to be working!!
Oceaneer Club/Lab:
For the first time we checked the kids into the Oceaneer Club. They are excited, but not as much as we are. The kids have wrist bands and are checked in individually; no one can get them out but us. Cool. As a plus we have a pager in case the kids or staff need us.
Vista Spa and the Exotic Rasul:
Were not scheduled into Key West for a while. No kids, tropical cruise hmm? What would you do? We had planned a spa treatment in the Vista Spa (9th deck, starboard, forward). The spa is very nice. The staff was great and showed us around. We had booked an Exotic Rasul which I highly recommend. Its basically a do it yourself steam, exfoliation and body mud mask; except you dont do it yourself ..you do it with someone special.
There is a small room with a ceramic tiled built in bench. On one end is a steam room and on the other end a shower. Included are lots of towels, various facial scrubs, masks, moisturizers from the spa for you to use after the mud. You get the room for 50 minutes and at approximately 40 minutes they will knock to let you know time is almost up.
The idea is to lather up with the green exfoliation scrub and then take a nice hot steam. Then you shower and lather up with the mud, more steam and then another shower. The steam room is very hot and you cant stay in there for more than 5 minutes or so. You end up having lot of extra time ..use it at your own discretion.
The Quest for Key West:
Feeling like a million bucks we went to get the kids and had a quick room service lunch before heading out to the Conch (pronounced Conk) Republic. We departed the ship right onto the dock snapping photos (we have over 1100) and video. Again, the ship is impressive. Huge.
Not sure what we wanted from Key West, we just wander. The Customs House is an excellent old building from the 1890s or so. Around the corner, more souvenir shops. One has everything for $5. Hmm. No sale. Its hot, sticky and were still not sure what we wanted from the island. One thing we needed was batteries. Theres a CVS a few blocks down. We load up and get some beverages too. Outside we decide to rent one of those minicars and drive around the island. I take out the card which was handed to me a few blocks back and call from my cell phone. Two minutes later, were in an air-conditioned van on our way to the rental center.
We Get A Deal:
The owner of the rental agency is driving our van. Hes older and retired from Upstate New York. A nice guy, I ask him if we can get a deal on the rental. He says sure. So we end up paying for 2 hours and getting 3. Ten minutes later, map in hand, we are driving a glorified golf cart with 4 seats through the streets of KW. Its bright orange and the kids have named it Herbie. Total cost $84.00.
We amble around town going up and down, north and south, east and west. We go south as far south as anyone can go in the USA. We line up and wait for pictures. We take turns with others taking pictures/posing. Its kind of cool. Lots of other interesting buildings an old, old cemetery. A really great beach with some daring windsurfers. We stop and snack on some munchies from CVS. Its a fun time and were on no ones time but our own. The boys are snapping photos with their cameras. Later, at home, Ill laugh out loud at the dozen or so pictures they took of each other laughing, giggling and hamming it up for the camera.
Somehow time is flying and we end up back at the rental agency to drop off Herbie no worse for the wear. An air-conditioned van ride back to the dock. We go through security and are back on board. Time for a snack and a swim.
We grab small bites at Goofys galley and decide to take a swim in the Goofy Pool. We are relaxing and getting into this cruising thing. Fun
At some point we decide to head to the stateroom, shower and take a nap. Mickey calls at around 6 and we head out to the Walt Disney Theatre for a show.
Walt Disney Theatre Rocks!
WDT is a first class place to see a show. Great sound and site lines. Productions are first class. We have fun and start to get hungry.
Lumieres No Kids:
Kids are restless and want more Oceaneer Club. We drop them off and go to dinner at Lumieres sans children. Our server is sad the boys arent there. Escargot is really good. I had no idea I liked it that much. Again, food is creatively served and very good. We feel special.
Karaoke in Studio Sea:
All of the kids in Studio Sea are great. I am really proud of our two. I even take a shot at an Elvis cover. We enjoy it for an hour and then head back to the stateroom.
Goofy Pool Late Show:
The kids want to swim, so I take the boys to the Goofy Pool. On the jumbo screen, the Bears are playing the Packers and it seems Bears fans are outnumbered. Bears win! After midnight and time for some zzzzzz. Tomorrow a day at sea.
As an add on the this post, I want to note that the Cove Cafe is a great place to unwind for adults. Like a very comfortable coffee shop....big, soft chairs. Great coffees and liqueurs. Always something tasty in the snack case...no charge of course. Sit down, grab some headphones and listen to some music...(tv too.)
Day at Sea:
Vista Spa Hair Salon:
My wife decides to change her hair style. No problem, the Vista Spa has a salon. Prices are very reasonable. She gets a great cut that shes still happy with. Later I call for a mens cut and they get me right in. I love this spa stuff.
Shopping School:
I attend the shopping presentation conducted by Pippa in the Buena Vista Theatre. I hear about great shopping in the ports; unique shops, best prices, must see stores. Less than captivating, I take a nap and wait for the raffle. The hook to the presentation was raffle for real prizes. The prizes are a t-shirt, some small jewelry, and a few other items that I cant recall. I dont win any.
From what I can tell, the shops sponsor these presentations. You get a pamphlet with a map and highlighted "guaranteed" stores. The guarantee applies if you have a problem such as the item not being what they said it was or being of inferior quality. Pippa was entertaining, but I would not do that again.
Animator's Palate:
Its dinner time and were in formal clothes. Rotation wise were up for Animators Palate. Before dinner we stop in the atrium for the Captain's reception. Servers with trays of tropical drinks circle the room. The drinks are free. I like.
We head into AP and have another great meal. Presentation is tops. Variety and quality match that of any of the finer restaurants weve been to before. Our servers are really great. We enjoy the light show and the Mickey parade. Smiles all around. We are having fun.
Studio Sea AGAIN!
In Studio Sea they are having a dance party with kids and parents whooping it up. These are the young kids and its a hoot to watch them in their formal clothes doing the Hey, Hey, Baby dance which I believe has become the trademark song and dance for the cruise (we find ourselves singing it everywhere we go .Oooh .Ahhhh)
We dance, take pictures and video. Next up is Karaoke and why not? The boys are more confident now and really belt it out. Its great fun.
Late Night at the Goofy Pool:
After dinner we took some photos and changed into swim clothes for a splash in the Goofy Pool. Monday Night Football was on the big screen. Cowboys won in a squeaker. Buffalo, you were sooooo close to an upset!
The boys want some late night pizza from Pinocchio's. Why not? We're on vacation!
Lets Go Caymania!
Room Service
Doesnt room service just rock. Before bed I call for an early breakfast and find out that you simply fill out the card located in the desk. Hang it outside the door and youre good to go. We choose cereals, breads, coffee, juices, fruit and milk. Its a light meal and were out the door.
Tender Me Cross Sea:
Somewhere there were detailed instructions on getting a tender to the port. I dont have them and wander to the Buena Vista Theatre with my family. There we are told to get into rows. One crew member is giving instructions. As soon as enough rows are filled were led out to the tender. The actual boat is pretty large and carries about 50 or so. In about 5 minutes were on shore.
Passports:
I forgot to give our passports to guest services for stamps. Therefore I am carrying them in my backpack inside a ziplock bag. The person at guest services told me to ask the Cayman Islands shore official for a stamp. I see someone in uniform, but he says he cant stamp anything and to look for someone else on the North Pier. Its a few blocks and I find no one there. I was hoping for stamps from all 3 foreign countries. Im slightly bummed. (I would, much later in the day, find someone in an official looking building on the harbor who directed me to the Immigration Department. The nice lady there stamps all four passports).
Shopping:
There are a couple of jewelry stores that are must sees. I suppose jewelry could be a great deal in the Caymans, but I cant tell. Jewelry is not a wise purchase without knowing something about it. I know nothing. The stones look sparkly, the metals all shiny. I take a pass and figure I could do as well (or not much worse) at Costco. I briefly wonder if the movie Blood Diamond is a Disney production (it is, in fact, a Warner Bros. film). How can something so small and insignificant though beautiful be sooo valuable? Especially when so many just as beautiful, though synthetic, diamonds are available (Yup, I occasionally watch Home Shopping Network). I dont get it. But I am getting hungry.
Lunch and a Plan:
We loosely had a plan to either go to the beach or to stingray city. After the jewelry shops and the North Pier, we saunter over to a store that advertised Captain Marvins excursions. For about $130 all four of us could go on a 2 hour snorkel and stingray excursion. Sounds good, so we sign up. Since we are hungry we walk down to a convenience store on the side street next to Senor Frogs. They have a rather large buffet of hot foods. We buy some fried plantains, snacks and drinks and head over to the meeting point for the excursion. The bus driver lets us on early. Its still very hot and humid. The bus has air-conditioning. I relax.
Coral Gardens:
Captain Marvins on our own is a breeze. Were on a bus with 15 other people for about 20 minutes. The driver points out some sites on the way. At the dock we board the ship. It motors through an intracoastal waterway towards the ocean. There are some nice houses a dock with lizards. In about 20 minutes were in the coral gardens. These small humps of coral pepper the sea floor in about 15 feet of water. Lots of fish and some really cool coral. A videographer buzzes around taking pictures of all of us that we will buy later. Its fun.
Stingray City:
There are other boats already here. Its weird. In the middle of nowhere a sand bar. We wade out and our guide takes out some chopped up squid to feed the rays. The rays respond by coming over in hordes. Its cool and scary. Everyone who wants to holds, touches, pets, kisses, poses with and feeds a ray. I find it to be really great. I love it.
On the way back to the dock we have ice water and fruit punch. Very importantly the boat has a head or bathroom. The boat ride is almost as much fun as snorkeling and stingrays. This excursion rocks! Bus ride back to Georgetown in the a/c. A bit more shopping for small items. I find the passport stamp person. We head over to the tender. This time the tender is much larger and a double decker. Cool.
Parrot Cay w/o Kids:
This time we eat in PC without the kids. They wanted to do the kids club, so we let them. It was a nice calm dinner. Again I love the food. Everyone is pretty tired, so we make an early night of it.
The Coz (umel):
So this is sunny Mexico? One of the local inhabitants tells me it's the tail end of a tropical depression. I call it rain. Not pouring rain or thunderstorms, just a steady, constant....rain. It's ok though we're going to Chankanaab for the Dolphin Discovery and expect to be wet.
Disney Excursion to Chankanaab and Dolphin Discovery:
We meet in Diversions and are led by the tour coordinator off the ship, down the dock, through the mall, over the street, through another mall, past lots and lots of tourist shops (many of which are no doubt "must sees"). Down another set of stairs and to the waiting taxis. The taxis are full sized vans and we share with another family (from New Jersey and very nice). It's been raining a lot here and some roads are flooded, but in the van we're ok. 20 minutes later we're in Chankanaab.
By the way, just about everywhere there is lots of ceramic tile. With the rain, it has become very slick. Later we learn a toddler broke his leg after a slip and fall. We hope he's ok (reading these posts, I understand he's on the mend, thank goodness).
Shadia the Dolphin:
The Dolphin Experience in Chankanaab takes place in the ocean, but in a holding pen of sorts. There is a long dock out from the shore. It forms a large double football field sized rectangle in the ocean. In the middle are smaller, shorter docks that form the holding pens. From these docks you can walk down some stairs onto a submerged platform. From here everyone, pets, hugs, holds, kisses, poses with and dances with Shadia. On the dock is a videographer and we will later buy the video. The Dolphin Discovery is very entertaining, not so much educational. If the weather was better we would explore more of the park, but instead we swim in the huge pool (in the rain), buy some souvenirs and head back to the dock. On the way through the mall I stop and buy some Kahlua and Coronas. A few more trinkets and I'm on the dock headed for the majestic looking Magic.
Were rained out from more adventures in Cozumel, but our consolation prize is the Magic. Tonight is Pirates in the Caribbean night Yo ho!
Pirate Night Fun -
Almost everyone is in some kind of piratey garb. We get a great picture which we will later buy at Shutters. We're out and about and having fun. People have gone all out in their costumes. The crew members and staff are outfitted in pirate gear too. There is an air of excitement everywhere.
Later, on deck 9 midship there is a stage show with Mickey, Hook and more (even Stitch gets into the mix). It culminates with a really great fireworks show. I watch from deck 10 which is very crowded. In fact, the whole ship seems crowded right now.
Treasure Ketch and Mickey's Mates:
On Deck 4 midship are two stores that sell gifts souvenirs and things you might need while on board. Treasure Ketch has some great people who always seem willing to do a little bit extra. I find the prices for jewelry in the store to be very good. Better than in Grand Cayman. One CM from Japan teaches the boys their names in Japan and how to say good morning (o hiy ohh).
Mickey's Mates is more like a Disney Store from the mall or Downtown Disney. We buy some pins and make some trades with castmembers. Again they are beyond nice. I highly recommend both stores.
That's all I really have to say about Pirate Night. Have fun with it, but expect crowds.
Our Anniversary:
This was a big trip for us that we planned 18 months ahead. We wanted to do something special for our 10 year anniversary, so we gave each other the cruise. Oh, we had small gifts too and cards, but this trip was our big gift.
I think we always wanted to take a cruise on DCL. We had visited WDW 10 times in the last 10 years. We had heard about DCL from friends, the Travel Channel and the DVD they gladly send out. Still, we had not seriously considered it because our kids were small. Our only prior cruise was a 3 night Norwegian Cruise Line from Miami 9 years before. It was fun, but not something for the small ones; so we thought. Now with the kids being 6 and 7, and with our anniversary the timing just seemed right. Also, where else can you take your kids on vacation and not have them with you for long extended periods??
For the big day, we planned to relax and then have dinner at Palo. Luckily my wife had the foresight to get a reservation at the earliest possible date, which for us first time DCL cruisers was 75 days prior to the cruise. I heard from other cruisers that they could not get a reservation for Palo.
Of course the boys want to get into the club as soon as possible, so we let them. We proceed to relax and take some video and photos. I like the days at sea. There are lots of things to do, but we decide to just take it easy. I believe we even do laundry!!
Quiet Cove Pool:
I highly recommend the Quiet Cove Pool. Its adult only and a great break from the buzz surrounding other areas of the ship. I really like the fact that DCL pools are fresh water and not salt. I hear that other ships have salt water in the pools.
Reality Begins to Set In:
I don't know if my wife shared this type of moment, but at some point on Thursday, reality set in....
What I mean by this is that I realized the trip was rapidly coming to an end. I guess that now since our anniversary was actually here, all of the planning, thinking, hoping, and yearning for a great trip had come full circle. We had achieved our goal .and now its almost over .and I feel like Im just now getting into it.
Its been a whirlwind, but now I believe I have the hang of it. I know where my stateroom is! I know a few shortcuts and how to avoid waiting for an elevator (though you never wait long). It cant be almost over! Better really savor the rest.
Buying Duty Free Booze:
Forget about shopping for booze onshore. It you want the best duty free prices, look no further than the Magic. The prices are outstanding. Of course, you cant have the booze until you are off the ship in Port Canaveral, so if you want a lil something for the cruise, either pack it in your suitcase or buy it onshore (but not at a duty free shop).
Graduation Night:
Were at the Walt Disney Theatre for graduation. The kids are taking part in a ceremony which includes Mickey and Minnie. They all file in wearing Mickey ear caps and sporting matching t-shirts. Its really cool watching them on stage. Our six year old walks on stage and immediately turns and starts waiving. I think hes liking the stage after all the karaoke lately. Its very cute and fun. When we meet them after, they want to go back to the club .so they do.
Palo:
We get there early. There are empty tables and we get one. Our waiter is good, but somehow we miss our regular servers. The food is good, but IMHO not so much better than other dishes weve had so far. Ambience is great; couples, small groups of friends, everyone smiling.
Its a very warm and inviting restaurant. Is it the best meal Ive ever had? No. Best service? No. But it is very good though and you should try it if 1) you like Italian food and 2) you want an intimate meal while onboard. This is the only place besides room service that you will find an intimate setting for a meal. If you miss Palo, its not the end of the world.
More Karaoke and Late Night Swimming:
After Palo we get the kids and head over to Studio Sea. I cant remember exactly, but I believe the kids partake in more Karaoke and other fun. They have friends everywhere now. Its a great feeling to watch them having fun. I believe they will never forget this trip.
After, we head to the stateroom for a clothing change and were off to the pool. Late night swims have become our routine. A great way to wear the kids down for a good nights sleep.
Tomorrow is Castaway Cay and were ready. We planned to snorkel on this trip. The kids even took lessons back home. Our packing list included fins, masks and snorkels. A slight hassle because they take up some suitcase space, I believe it was worth it having our own gear.
Tipping:
Before we head off to bed, I stop at Guest Services to check our stateroom bill and pay for our gratuities. Its easy to pay for your gratuities on your ship account and they give you little tickets which you can put into envelopes for each person.
Someone could write a book about tipping. At home its an art form. On the ship, as I understand it, there are certain positions that are compensated almost entirely by tips. We have felt good with our room steward, servers, etc. Its a level of service you dont normally expect. In fact, all of the crew and staff have been excellent. Great attitudes. A real joy.
Our stateroom bill is not too bad. Weve been good.
We've had a nice day and though we haven't talked much about our wedding day, we're both really happy we're together and have our little family unit. There have been ups and downs during our 10 years; such as life. But we're hooked on each other and living our childhoods over through our two little guys. Who knows what lies ahead, but regardless, we'll do it together...
Off to bed. Rest up for Castaway Cay.
One more thing about Thursday night - Can't forget about the Chocolate:
Thursday night, to our surprise, there was a spectacular Chocolate and Dessert Buffet in Lumiere's. I think we stumbled upon it and ducked in for a quick bite. There must have been a mile of sweets. Tons of chocolate. White chocolate fountain and milk chocolate fountain. I don't know how that passed us by in the planning....but you don't want to miss it.
Castaway Cay:
What a glorious 24 hours. Thursday at sea was spectacular. The sea - remember the sea - has been very calm since day 2. Yesterday it was perfect. At night we saw stars in a whole new light. Did I mention you can see Cuba from the ship? You pass thisssssclose.
This morning is as good as they get. Sun shines, light winds blow. The ship is backing into it's berth at Castaway Cay. Today we snorkel in the Bahamas. I've heard it can be great. It's the last day of the cruise and we're going to end it on a high note.
The Rush:
We eat breakfast at Topsiders. There seems to be a rush for Castaway Cay. Not sure why, but we get caught up in it. Getting off the ship is like following a maize. Go up to go down, around the bend out to the dock. Stop, send a postcard. Take a few pictures (lens is moist; humidity and temperature change, pics look foggy, ghostly). Hey is that the Flying Dutchman? It is...
We pick of the "tram" for the beach area. It saves a 10 minute walk, though the walk has some great picture spots. Out to the beach. There are hundreds of umbrellas, lounges and chairs. We take one close to the path leading back to the food, bar and restrooms (priorities!!). A dash to the water ensues and its snorkel time. Our 7 year old is a natural. He loves skimming along the surface. Our 6 doesn't like salt water and decides to just float and play in the sand.
Out past the first lifeguard stand is a white buoy. Look for the sunken Mickey. It's cool. Dorrie is swimming and I follow her. No Nemo yet. Out much further there is a sunken ship and tons of fish. I snap away using our digital camera inside a DiCaPac waterproof housing ($35 on eBay). I take about 50 pictures of colorful fish. Some really great ones of the Magic too.
Lunchtime:
After snorkeling for an hour or more, we head in to shore. It's lunch time. During lunch DJ Dan and Dave (very nice guys) conduct a crab race at the gazebo. Our crab is "Pete" and he makes it to the final, but loses out. It's a riot of good fun. Later the band from the ship come over to play some tunes. the gazebo rocks. The boys have learned a few lines to "Sweet Home Alabama" and they rock out with the band.
2 for 1 at the Conched Out Bar and Serenity Bay:
Nothing like a cold cocktail on a warm tropical day. 2 for 1 drinks prevail upon me and I polish one off in short order. I sip the other and enjoy the perfect day from my barstool. Off to Serenity Bay for some photos and to just check it out. It's very serene, almost deserted. Maybe 50 people tops. I wonder why such an Island would have it's own landing strip (it predated Disney). They have a small bar and while tempted, I decline, fearing a necessary siesta and missing the boat. I head back to the family on the tram.
It's getting late as we snorkel and have more fun in the water. It's probably a good idea to head back now and beat the crowds. We do and in minutes we're back in the stateroom. We clean up and change clothes. Judicious use of sunscreen has prevented sunburns on this trip. Today is no exception. Also, rashguard shirts (spf 70) provide great cover. Highly recommended (if you can't find them at home, they sell them at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Get a "shopping pass" at Guest Services and you can shop for 30 minutes without having to pay the entry fee.)
Last Night on the Magic:
Guess what? The kids want to go to the Oceaneer's club. So we let them.
We plan to rendezvous for dinner at Parrot Cay.
Prior to dinner I take some pictures of the "absolutely perfect" sunset. The boys take pictures too. I like theirs more than mine.
It's our last night and we bring our envelopes to our Head Waiter, Server and Assistant Server. We have liked them all. If I do this cruise again, I hope to remember that dinner is the best meal of the day and not to eat very much for breakfast or lunch. The dinners are very special. Save room for dessert (or two).
It's our last night and we're happy and sad. We make our final picture choices at Shutters. We packed most of our things the night before, so as not to spend our last night packing. We're tired though from all the action today and we head to the stateroom for much needed rest.
My Feather Pillow:
As I rest my head on the pillow for the last time, I try to recall the whole trip from beginning to end. It's been a whirlwind, of which I surely have forgotten key points and omitted them from this trip report. Our room steward has been great. I believe he may actually be a magician. How else can our room be transformed morning and night from complete disarray to comfortable order. The towel origami (See! I forgot to mention the towel origami class) has been a delight for us all. The hospitality is summed up in my feather pillow. I merely mentioned the pillows being too hard for my liking. Next time the bed was made, not one, but two feather pillows.
Disembarkation:
I think we intended to eat at Topsiders. We only had our backpacks (luggage was put out before 11:00 the night before). On our way to the restaurant at 7:15 we notice the line going off the ship is quite short. Why not? We skip breakfast and join the line. Within 10 minutes we are through customs and waiting curbside for the Thrifty shuttle. Be prepared for lots of tipping, you have tons of luggage.
Do You Want Fries With That?:
After getting our car and tipping everyone along the way, we decide to eat breakfast at McDonald's. Our first encounter with a non-cruise employee in 7 days. It does not go well. We've come to expect great service and attitudes. We're not on the Magic anymore.....and except for the feeling of the room moving, that fact could not be more clear.
We drive to Orlando in a PT Cruiser. I'm glad it's a cruiser....because now, we are all cruisers.
POP!....Century:
We had half a mind to go to parks on Saturday. We were just too tired. We had booked Pop Century for the night. Upon arriving, we moved some luggage into the room. Not much larger than a Category 8, I'd say. Pop is a budget hotel on WDW property. It's got some great decorations like 3 story Bigwheels and 5 story cell phones. My fave is the 5 story Mickey Phone. Icons of pop culture abound. It's very entertaining.
Some friends are in Orlando on the tail end of their vacation. We get together, swim in the fantastic pool at Pop. Later, we all head to Macaroni Grill on 192 for a fun dinner. Tomorrow the airports and home.
Final Thoughts....to come.
Conclusions:
Disney Cruise Line is a great, well run, experienced cruise line. You would have to try very hard not to have fun. That being said, I believe DCL is probably not for everyone.
If you dont like kids, you wont like it. If you are a single adult, looking to meet other singles, there must be better choices. Not to say that there arent adult things to do on board. Disney Cruise Line promotes many things for adults only: cooking classes, wine tastings, trivia games, Wii Bowling, and of course many Spa treatments. Its just that the whole experience is heavily weighted towards families with kids and extended families traveling together.
Been There Done That:
While the thought of taking another cruise is very appealing, Im pretty sure I wouldnt want to do another Western Caribbean on the Magic. I loved the ship and the hospitality, but I think Id like to see something else.
Things just dont change very much in Island communities like Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Are there things I didnt do on those islands that I still might want to do? Sure. Still, Im of the mindset that its a big, big, world out there and Id like to see more of it not the same places. An Eastern? Id be happy to do that route.
Could There Be Any Other Cruise Line?
The devotion, enthusiasm and generosity of Disboarders is a testament to the quality of Disney Cruise Lines. Like most things Disney, there is a feeling that the experience is a cut above other competitors.
For years I felt that way about the WDW parks. No one else could possibly compare or so I thought. Then one year, in a momentary lapse of reason, we strayed from the camp to Universal Orlando. Guess what? We had a great time; equal to many or our park experiences at WDW. Then one day we did Sea World; again an excellent, high quality park. True, there was something missing (lets call it magic), but we found the other parks quite entertaining.
As a first timer on DCL, I expected a well operated, high quality cruise experience. I was not disappointed. However, I believe that just as my experiences with Universal and Sea World showed there are other ships in the sea that would also provide a similar, high quality experience. Indeed cruisecritic.com rates other ships ahead of the Magic and Wonder. Not even the excellent, high quality kid programs run by DCL are rated as best on the seas (RCL gets the nod).
Too Much of a Good Thing?:
Before I get flamed here, I just want to note that I understand the magic of Walt Disneys dream. His dream was to provide a place where families could have fun together. He succeeded beyond his wishes. When I see Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Minnie, I feel like a kid again .and that says it all. We all get to be kids again; with our kids.
However, in my humble opinion, a big part of the magical and special feeling is 1) I am on vacation; and 2) Im doing something that I dont always get to do. Would it be as special if I did it all the time. To me that would cheapen the experience.
I was in the Goofy Pool hot tub with my own 6 year old and a couple of boys around his age were there too. As they talked I heard the other boys say that this was their 4th DCL cruise. Matter of factly they boasted that they had done everything and seen everything .now all they wanted to do was swim. Just another vacation for them.
I realize that many of the cruisers sharing the Magic with us were Castaway Club members (people who have sailed with DCL before). I can see the attraction. Its a great trip and a ton of fun. While Im inclined to take another cruise on DCL someday, Im not compelled to make it an every year affair. But maybe I said that about WDW too. Then I went every year for 10 straight years. Hmmm.
Southern Exposure:
Being from a large Midwestern city, I have to mention that, by far, the vast majority of cruisers on our Magic trip were from Southern states. Nothing at all wrong with that, its just a fact. On the first night at the show in the Walt Disney Theatre, one of the entertainers asked where people were from. Northern States (small applause). Eastern states (small applause), Midwestern states (small applause), Western states (small applause), Canada (small applause), Other countries (one clap), Southern states (thunderous applause). There you have it.
Although I have no numbers, I believe that Florida residents get special rates for cruises. I wonder how much better their deal is than us Midwesterners. Perhaps not much. Who knows? If you know, why not post it here. Also, being able to drive to Port Canaveral must be a great advantage. It probably saves anywhere from 25-50% of the total cruise cost (no airfare, no DCL transfers).
Cruise Economics:
This isnt about the costs of cruising. Its roughly comparable to going to WDW and staying on property at a moderate or better resort and having the length of stay pass and the dining option. So, while pricey, its doable with some planning and saving. This is about the people who work on the cruises.
I wondered how much people earn on cruise ships. I Googled it and found that they dont earn much. (see this link for more http://www.cruisejunkie.com/ot.html). The range for non-tipped positions is pretty low: $400 to $700/month, with free room and board. According to the article, their working conditions can leave much to be desired. Tipped positions do better and can actually earn a lot.
I am hoping and believing that DCL pays the non-tipped people more than cruise industry averages. Almost every employee that I encountered seemed genuinely happy. They were polite, hard working and had great attitudes. I conclude that they must be well compensated. Thats my wish upon a star for now. That alone would be a reason for me to sail again with the mouse. I hope someday to find out.
So thats my report. If you read it and have any questions/comments, let me know.
AR
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