Pudge Controls the Weather-A Land and Sea TR Apr 6-Apr 15 ( Last Day new 5/26)

[jecskc]

Day 6 – Part Four

Back on the ship.

Our plan was to ride Aquaduck and the slides and enjoy some time on the deck.

We had a few Drinks of the Day

And I took some photos of an empty Cabanas

A photo of the splash area. I thought I got more, but I guess not.

And we generally enjoyed ourselves and the children. About 3:30 PM or so we headed back to the room and we all had a shower. DS went to his club, while DD, DH and I watched Dumbo. And then DD wanted to go to her club and DH came back and we watched Wall-E and had a glass of wine.

I am going to take this time to tell you two things the bothered me just a little about our otherwise awesome stateroom. First, the bathroom with the toilet in it always smelled like urine. Sometimes it would be stronger than other times, but it was noticeable and not pleasant. I am not sure that anything could have been done about it. Perhaps it was something in the plumbing and the confinement of the ship that caused it. Maybe they just couldn’t vent the system properly. I dunno. But it smelled. It wasn’t horrible, but noticeable. I did mention it on our comment card. In hindsight, I should have mentioned it to our stateroom host, but I only thought about it when I had to use the bathroom. The side with the shower in it didn’t smell at all.

The second thing was our neighbors. They had a VERY loud little girl that spent a lot of time out on the veranda in the afternoons before they went to dinner. And this was the time that we would always come back for an afternoon break. They obviously had early seating, and she would be out there when everyone was getting ready which took a couple of hours. Or maybe they just PUT her out there because she was so intense. She wasn’t nasty and she didn’t cry or anything, but she was LOUD ….. and annoying. Just a very excited kid, I guess. We called her little Miss Megaphone. They would come out and try to shush her, but it was never effective. We were always glad to hear them leave for dinner. Blessed silence after she left, though.

Photo of some Fish Extender gifts we received.

These were fortune cookies. They were really fresh and good, too.

Some photos from our veranda of Castaway Cay.

A panoramic view.

When it was about time for dinner, we went to get the kids from their clubs, but they said they had already eaten and didn’t want to go to dinner. And who are we to argue ?? So we went to dinner alone. Well, we had our tablemates, but our kids weren’t there and that was nice.

So we decided that we would head over to Pink

Menu

Champagne bubble lights.

I am pretty sure that I can’t say on the DIS what this light fixture reminded me of ….

We ordered a glass of Iron Horse Fairy Tale Celebration Cuvée.

And it was pink and bubbly and it made me happy. We talked to a very nice couple from New Jersey who had just bought a house in North Carolina and since we had said we were from South Carolina, they asked us lots of questions about the south. It was an interesting conversation. But we enjoyed their company very much.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

That (literally!) stinks about your bathroom - and your noisy neighbor!

laughing: over the Pink light fixture...)

 

[jecskc]

That (literally!) stinks about your bathroom - and your noisy neighbor!

laughing: over the Pink light fixture...)

Those are the only negative things I could say and they really weren't that bad. Miss Megaphone couldn't be helped. But that smell was weird.

Yeah ... that light fixture. Surely I am not the first person to think that.

 

[marDgreen88]

Did you see my comment yesterday about the stingrays? I was just wondering if they were scary at all... like did they come really close? Just wondering, I have a weird fear of ocean creatures (except for dolphins)!

You're probably gonna get tired of me saying how beautiful everything is but... yeah. SO PRETTY.

Hahah, I love that there's an elephant on the PINK sign. Reminds me of Dumbo, which I'm guessing is the point!

 

[jecskc]

Did you see my comment yesterday about the stingrays? I was just wondering if they were scary at all... like did they come really close? Just wondering, I have a weird fear of ocean creatures (except for dolphins)!

You're probably gonna get tired of me saying how beautiful everything is but... yeah. SO PRETTY.

Hahah, I love that there's an elephant on the PINK sign. Reminds me of Dumbo, which I'm guessing is the point!

No they were not scary at all. They had trimmed their barbs which is what stings you. Basically, if you don't hurt them, they don't hurt you. They tell you everything to expect so you know what is going to happen. I figure that Disney would never put a customer in danger, so nothing to worry about. We weren't scared at all.

It really is beautiful.

I think that is what it is supposed to represent as well. It was the first thing I thought of anyway.

 

[jecskc]

That place looks completely amazing! SO beautiful. Was it a little creepy to be around the stingrays??

I am so sorry I missed this. You must have snuck it in there when I was answering Sara and Kathy

We loved Castaway Cay. So glad we got to go back for a second time.

 

[LissaW16]

I read something a while back here on these boards, and "Miss Megaphone" reminded me of it. It went something like this... there will be children on board, and they are excited. There will be squeals of delight. Some people are bothered by this, but I find it charming.

I realize a repeatedly loud child isn't charming, but it could have been worse, right? She could have been loud when you were trying to sleep, right?

I have always said that I'm just not a fan of "other people's children", but surprisingly, I have never found (on my all of two past Disney cruises) myself in a situation where I was all, "OMG that kid! Why don't they DO something!"

Anyway, I ramble on...

 

[jecskc]

I read something a while back here on these boards, and "Miss Megaphone" reminded me of it. It went something like this... there will be children on board, and they are excited. There will be squeals of delight. Some people are bothered by this, but I find it charming.

I realize a repeatedly loud child isn't charming, but it could have been worse, right? She could have been loud when you were trying to sleep, right?

I have always said that I'm just not a fan of "other people's children", but surprisingly, I have never found (on my all of two past Disney cruises) myself in a situation where I was all, "OMG that kid! Why don't they DO something!"

Anyway, I ramble on...

She was excited and I knew that. And she wasn't mean or nasty or whiny or anything. She was just so LOUD. We kinda laughed about it. But she always seemed to be around when we were trying to enjoy a quiet moment on the verandah with a glass of wine. She was out there late one night about 11 ish, but we just came in a closed the door. One day she yelled out to whoever was part of their group, "We are going now !!!" And DH and I said at the same time, "YAY !!!" She was just so LOUD and intense. It was kinda funny. Nothing like the full-on meltdowns you see at the parks.

 

[jecskc]

Day 6 – Part Five

Our dinner on this night was at :

Such a beautiful restaurant. I forgot my camera on this night, so all of these are photos I pinched from the internet.

They brought us some bread and here is what the bread basket looked like.

For appetizers, DH ordered • Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp White and Green Asparagus, Micro Greens and Lemon-dill dressing with Horseradish Cream (couldn’t find a photo of this),

and I got the • Double Baked Spinach Soufflé Coated with a Three-Cheese Cream.

Very rich, but very tasty.

We each got

I just love French onion soup and this didn’t disappoint.

For our entrée, DH ordered - Roasted Wild Boar Tenderloin - sweet carrot and onion potato cake with a red currant reduction.

Which he said was very good. He talked about this a lot in the days after.

I ordered - • Royal Palace Aged Angus Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Lobster Medallions Sautéed Snow Peas and Marquis Potatoes with a Cognac Reduction

Mine didn’t have the lobster on it because I am allergic, but it was very tasty. The beef was very tender. I enjoyed it very much.

In the middle of our entrée, they called our wave phone from DD’s club and said she was ready to be picked up, so when DH was finished, he went to get her. They came back just in time for dessert. DD got a Mickey Bar and the waiters gave her some cupcakes, too.

DH ordered • Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brûlée With Macaroon

He really liked this, and I had a bite and it was good.

I ordered – • Grand Marnier Soufflé Infused with fresh Orange Zest and served with Crème Anglaise

So, so good. The soufflé was so fluffy and with the cream, it was amazing. We both had coffee to go with it and the coffee at the restaurants was much better than the coffee you got at the drink stations or at Cabanas. I think they actually brewed it at the restaurants, whereas at the other places, it was Nescafe, which is nasty.

We loved our dinner at Royal Palace this night. And we got some good photos.

After dinner we came back to the room

and DS was there, so DH took the kids shopping.

While I stayed behind to write in my journal. They all came back and we watched a movie and fell asleep.

 

[marDgreen88]

That restaurant is just gorgeous! Those glass slippers on the chandelier?? Unbelievable!

The food looks delicious! That's a really good picture of you and your DH!

 

[jecskc]

That restaurant is just gorgeous! Those glass slippers on the chandelier?? Unbelievable!

The food looks delicious! That's a really good picture of you and your DH!

Thanks !!! It was a really good meal. Very enjoyable evening.

 

[LissaW16]

We both had coffee to go with it and the coffee at the restaurants was much better than the coffee you got at the drink stations or at Cabanas. I think they actually brewed it at the restaurants, whereas at the other places, it was Nescafe, which is nasty.

A-freakin-men! I am by no means a "coffee snob" - in fact I rather dislike Starbucks, it's too strong for me. I like a little coffee with my cream, if you know what I mean. Do you know why they call it half & half? Half coffee, half cream... Anyway, I totally agree. I SO looked forward to my after dinner decaf every night, because my breakfast cup o' swill at Cabanas was simply a caffeine delivery vehicle. I should just have a diet Coke there...

 

[jecskc]

A-freakin-men! I am by no means a "coffee snob" - in fact I rather dislike Starbucks, it's too strong for me. I like a little coffee with my cream, if you know what I mean. Do you know why they call it half & half? Half coffee, half cream... Anyway, I totally agree. I SO looked forward to my after dinner decaf every night, because my breakfast cup o' swill at Cabanas was simply a caffeine delivery vehicle. I should just have a diet Coke there...

The coffee at Cabanas was absolutely horrible. I was surprised Disney serves that stuff. Completely nasty. I drink my coffee black. I like it strong and black, so I was thrilled to hear about Starbucks being in the parks. But that Nescafe stuff ?? Ackk !!!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Royal Palace really does look gorgeous!!! I'm glad you enjoyed your meal there - and that DD got dessert too!

 

[jecskc]

Royal Palace really does look gorgeous!!! I'm glad you enjoyed your meal there - and that DD got dessert too!

It is a very lovely restaurant. Lots of inlaid marble. Much like the Grand Floridian. DD was very happy about her dessert for sure.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Where else but Castaway Cay can you say that you met Pluto on the beach? That's just awesome.

It looked perfect there. I just love sitting on the beach and doing nothing. Such a great way to spend the day.

The Royal Palace restaurant looks beautiful! And at Pink, the lightbulbs? Totally had the same thought.

 

[jecskc]

Where else but Castaway Cay can you say that you met Pluto on the beach? That's just awesome.

DD loves Pluto !! We were first in line to see him.

It looked perfect there. I just love sitting on the beach and doing nothing. Such a great way to spend the day.

And don't forget - the weather - it was PERFECT !! Thanks Pudge !!

The Royal Palace restaurant looks beautiful! And at Pink, the lightbulbs? Totally had the same thought.

I know .. right ?? Just keep swimming .....

 

[jecskc]

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Day 7 – Part One

Nassau

Our day 3 navigator

We woke up with the boat docking in Nassau about 7:30 AM. It was really smoky around the island because apparently something was on fire.

And then it cleared up some.

We had a tough time getting the kids up, but we finally managed. We went to Enchanted Garden for breakfast and it was just regular buffet food. It was OK.

DD said the Mickey waffles didn’t taste as good as they did in the parks.

We went back to the room and took some more photos.

Our excursion wasn’t until noon, so we went out on the top deck on the front of the ship.

We got some REAL coffee from the Cove Café.

A ship coming in.

Another pan

It was about time for our excursion, so we went to 687 where we were to meet for our excursion which was the glass bottom boat.

We actually tried to cancel this excursion because we were tired, but they wouldn’t let us cancel it, so we just decided to do it.

 

[marDgreen88]

I just can't get over how blue the water is in the Bahamas. It's so beautiful! I bet it's even prettier in person.

Too bad the Mickey waffles weren't as good!

 

[jecskc]

I just can't get over how blue the water is in the Bahamas. It's so beautiful! I bet it's even prettier in person.

Too bad the Mickey waffles weren't as good!

I can't get over it either. It is just so perfect. Even the sand is a tad bit coarser than east coast beaches, so it was easier to get off of everything. I can see why people fall in love with the place.

Yeah, we went there specifically for Mickey waffles. And she had maybe two bites. Ahh, children .... gotta love them !!