October 9th western

[traycie2201]

Hi to all my colleague sailors, just a quick report on my trip , can't recall everything i ate or did so an overview really. Here we go

Days 1 - 7 Disney Boardwalk Villas - chekc in smooth welcomed home studio plenty big enough , clean and well decorated, got a boardwalk view - mistake very noisy , didn't really get a whole nights sleep in the entire week, not been a problem before in standard view, won't waste the extra points next time. Rented a car from Avis ate on I drive a few times, Race rock was excellent and servers very friendly, vouchers everywhere for huge free appetizer with every two meals ordered. Espn meal just okay and quite cold in restaurant. Celebration town was interesting we visited on sunday with a market in town everyone friendly and very relaxed day. Played mini golf a few times again coupons everywhere for money off, free sundae at ghiradelli downtown disney through g mail on their website , worth signing up for , a word of advice don't order 3 sundaes for 3 people you'll never eat it all , wet n wild good fun , went all day but saw that after 3pm you can get in for $19 , the same was at Disneyquest, after 9pm it;s $17 DS did this one night while we shopped. Airboat rides near Christmas fantastic experience , joined up with another family and had a great day, even got close to some crocs / gators ? PS at Crystal Palace great meal fab selection on buffet, MNSSHP good fun but queues for treats very long and not all rides open, could do with being from maybe 5 - 10 pm we couldn't stay until 12, the story teller in liberty square was a hoot.

October 9th - CRUISE DAY - YIPEE All report in one go, may get long.

Drove to PC and left car at Avis, shuttled from avis to boat, loved seeing her over the bridge, first glimpse gets you. Check in very quick as non us and line short, however after check in waiting to board was HOT HOT HOT , soon forgot though when they called boarding ( ps no upgrades left and a note on the counters saying ship full and none available) Magical moment when they call your familys name and clap for you coming aboard, regret not having embarkation photo taken. Straight to Rockin Bar D to make Palo brunch 10.30 key west day, changed rotation to Plaplap no problem as didnt want to have formal in Parrot.
Joined rest of family in Parrot Cay for lunch which was good, they do try to direct you up to topsiders i just went straight to PC like i knew what i was doing
Our servers were Conrad and Gerry both were nice and friendly but i was expecting something out of this world and didn't get it , maybe my expectations were too high, didn't get the excellent speech at any time, Head server was attilla who stopped at table around 3 times in week. Room Hostess was Viollette who was marvellous, nothing too much trouble and worked liek a trojan ( horse ! )
Table 37 in Parrot Cay first night table for 6 joined up with Bill, Melissa and Baby Bradley who were really nice, was very suprised though that dcl had paired up a family with a young baby with a family with a teenager ? Maybe it's because we swapped rotation ? In future i will also ask for early dining, we are normally fine eating late but didn't get finished until gone 10 every night and then couldn't do much except head for bed as so tired from day of stuff.
Loved Que and the gang at Bingo , he made it really fun, won first go should have quit while i was ahead :-(
wouldn't bother buying the soda mug again, just used the cups at the drink station which there was plenty of, no probs at any time with getting drinks, ice etc from the deck 9 area.
Palos brunch was lovely atmosphere , Louise from Nottigham exceptional server, food good, unfortunately found a LARGE hair that had been cooked in my fish which put me off the rest of the meal, Meal was replaced but we were still charged the $20 which annoyed me, I also tipped extra to Louise.
Snorkel trip in Key west through sebago , good price on catamaran with free soda and beer, very choppy on journey and in water saw a barracuda, don't forget to take some food to drop overboard the fish will jump right out to get it. Felt on the way back they wanted a party boat atmosphere as promoting the beers way too much, as it was mostly families on the boat not really the best thing to do , extreme motion and beer don't mix !
Visited Ripleys in KW which was fun, didn't feel enough time in KW though unless you wanted to miss dinner and eat there, would like to visit again. Costa Maya, got a cab to Majahual ? $5 pp return, all excursions can be booked in the port area at reasonable prices, spent the day at the beach - LOVELY , had massage $20 for 30 mins (reapply sunblock ! they use oils) snacks and drinks just a couple of dollars.
Cozumel , found too busy and touristy , did some shopping , loved Del Sol, got a cab to paradise beach with another family 11 of us in van for $30 , free beach , chairs etc $5 for each person who wanted to use iceberg, trampoline, kayaks etc, good snorkelling if you go just through the iceberg and trampoline, great beach , should have spent more time there and less shopping.
At sea, privileged to be invited to an onboard wedding of Bob and Vickies , lovely ceremony and massive gorgeous cake ! great memory to take away from our first cruise.
Castaway cay , all excursions cancelled all day, very dissapointed as we had booked fishing and banana boats, could have done these at another island earlier in week for less money but held out for CC :-( refunded to account immediately, did a bit of snorkelling then heavens opened and poured, thundered, lightening for a couple of hours, turned out gorgeous in the afternoon so spent a couple of hours kayaking $10 for 30 mins and snorkelling, again , you don't see anything until further out as sand all disturbed. Cookies opened early so that the rain drenched crowds could eat and drink.
Disembarkation pretty easy, shared a limo with another couple from the disboards which was a great end to the holiday.

Highlights - welcome aboard, formal night photos , take loads and buy what you need, meeting other disers, special mentions to jen , jeff , jeff , gaby, chuck , mina, Bob , Vickie, Lori, Bruce, Courtney, DJ, Mason, Dalton, Marie, Garrett, Deborah and Darryl, Bob, Melissa and Bradley the cruise wouldn't have been the same without all of these exceptionally friendly disers. Food at all times of the day, soda bar, plutos, winning at Bingo, Limo Home.

Lowlights - Looking ugly on formal night photos as didn't get enough taken to get a good choice, taking too many clothes and having to repack them ! not winning at bingo, not having embarkation photo taken, castaway cay excursions being cancelled ( no ones fault) mosquitos at Costa Maya and NOT taking bug spray ! 26hr journey home and NOT REBOOKING ONBOARD for that I kick myself !!!!!!!!

A fantastic first cruise and it certainly won't be the last, got the new brochures yesterday 2006 here i come

Feel free to ask any questions and i'll do my best to answer, i brought navigators home with me.

 

[bratray]

thanks for taking the time to post- great report

 

[crainbow]

Tracie,

You lucky dog on not getting the "Excellent" speach. We heard it three times from our waiter that week.

Glad you made it home in good condition.

Chuck

 

[kamgen]

Thanks for the report. We are on the 10/23 Western! Do you still ahve your Navigators? Just wondering if you could tell me when the shows are and what nights are 70's and 80's night in the adult clubs?? Were any spa specials run on certain days??
Would love to hear from you! Thanks!


__________________

 

[westjones]

Originally posted by traycie2201
wet n wild good fun , went all day but saw that after 3pm you can get in for $19 , the same was at Disneyquest, after 9pm it;s $17 DS did this one night while we shopped.

Is this offer good at the Disney Quest door? Or did you have to have a coupon? I had never heard about this for DQ! Thanks for the info!
DJ

 

[traycie2201]

westjones, i'd read about this offer elsewhere so just went up at about 8.30 and asked if they had a special priced evening ticket , they said yes at 9pm, later on i did also see a sign outside the door offering the late ticket price.

Chuck - thanks and thanks for sharing the limo, hope your plane trip was okay, guess what saw two people with Blackberries on the flight home !! now looking for one for shaun, if you know of any UK suppliers let me know.

Kamgen - Here's some info on shows etc from navigators.
Saturday spa special , $89 for 25 min body massage and 25 min foot and ankle , travellers tension special.
Sunday - who wants to be a mouseketeer show 6.30 / 8.30 pm, 60's dance party 10.45 pm rockin bar D, 3 spa specials, Aroma Flex Massage $99, Yoga 30mins and chakra capsule ? 25 mins $83, ab flattening $75 40 mins
Monday - Golden mickeys 6.30/8.30 $83 as above
tuesday - Hercules 6.30 /8.30 80's time warp 10.45pm
Spa specials any 3 of mini facial, scalp massage, alpha capsule massage or foot and ankle massage for $89 , $40 for 3 day rainforest pass and $120 for lime and ginger salt scrub and massage 25 mins.
Wednesday - Pirates in the caribbean party 9.45 deck 9 small dessert and food buffet so don't eat too much on late seating.
Spa specials same as tuesday but no lime massage
Thursday Disney Dreams 6.30 / 8.30 and 70's Disco night.
spa specials Book any fitness service and get 15 min alpha relaxation treatment free, also $83 deal as sunday .
Friday Farewell Variety show 6.30 / 8.30 last day shutters specials on photos, aroma flex massage $89 half hour body massage and half hour foot and ankle.

Hope this helps . Traycie

 

[crainbow]

Traycie,

Both Voda and Orange carry them (Blackberry's that is).

The flight was packed, Mina was stressed (hates to fly), we both had at least a half hour nap during the flight and we both wished we had spent the night in Orlando and gone back to the Food and Wine.

Chuck