Question from my spouse....

[Amyg]

What does the "Mickey" horn sound like?

 

[Disney Lover Linda]

What does the "Mickey" horn sound like?

That's what I call the "when you wish upon a star" that the horn plays. It's so unique it could only belong to Disney. Makes me smile whenever I hear it on the boat.

 

[Amyg]

That's what I call the "when you wish upon a star" that the horn plays. It's so unique it could only belong to Disney. Makes me smile whenever I hear it on the boat.

Oh that sounds SOOO wonderful! Can't wait to hear it on our cruise!

 

[luv2cruzsus]

On our cruise in January they were calling for three families. We had view of the port from our verandah and stayed out there until we left. We saw them put everything away, still calling for three families. We finally left about 30 minutes lates. Our server at dinner told us that three families didn't make it back to the ship. He also said that happens pretty much every time and normally the ships will only wait 15 minutes.

 

[jrabbit]

What does the "Mickey" horn sound like?

That's what I call the "when you wish upon a star" that the horn plays. It's so unique it could only belong to Disney. Makes me smile whenever I hear it on the boat.

More specifically - the first 7 notes of "when-you-wish-up-on-a-star"

And yes, its unique and wonderful and makes the passengers on the other cruise lines wish that they were over here with us on the Magic or Wonder!!

 

[angelam]

When we were in Cozumel, they started calling a list of missing people. Like other posters said, the list got smaller and smaller, but one family continued to be called. We pulled away late (don't remember how late), and a CM said that they couldn't leave until the late family boarded because the family had children checked into the clubs.

 

[Anal Annie]

I did see posted on DIS a problem where the parents missed the boat and the children were in the lab/club....I think the ship went back (perhaps someone remembers the details)

Barb

I was so-o afraid that would happen to us! When we were in Puerto Vallarta in '05 we did the Sierra Madre excursion which was most of the day - but then we had a couple of hours before departure and we wanted to buy tequila to bring home as gifts - so we checked DS into the club and hopped a taxi & asked the driver to take us to a good place to buy tequila and wait for us etc... We made it back in time but my heart was pounding and we were waving $ at the guy the whole way back to step on it!!! I was so glad to see that ship, let me tell ya! I had no desire to pull a stunt like that again in the other ports! Poor DS would've been totally freaked out... I won't leave the immediate port area again with DS onboard alone. It worked out OK but it was not the brightest move we've ever pulled!

 

[Seahunt]

Here's something you will enjoy if you love the horn
Video of the DCL horn:

http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g305/bekkik/Cruise Sept 06/?action=view&current=WonderHorn.flv

sound file:

http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/Sounds/MAGIC.wav

Over the years we have seen quite a few people running for the ship - especially in St Thomas.

My DH & I have actually seen some of the CREW left behind before! One time in St Maarten when we were on the old NCL Norway, we were on the last tender and there was about 5 crew members waiting there with us on the beach that they wouldn't allow on the tender with us as the crew was supposed to have been back on board an hour before. I don't know what happened to them, but all the passengers felt so bad for them because they were sooo upset (the girls were crying, the guys were angry) - hopefully the captain was just making them worry and then sent another tender for them to drive home the point that they HAD to make their deadlines -otherwise I don't know what they would have done because they didn't have anything with them of course (passports,etc.)

Another time on the Carnival Sensation, we were pulling away from Ocho Rios and were steaming away pretty well when we came to an abrupt slow down - we had a balcony and so we looked over the side and saw the tiny pilot boat pull up, and our room steward said a waiter had missed the ship. The crew threw a rope ladder over and the crew man on the little boat had to climb up to the opening they had ready for him. He was having a very hard time climbing and the officer on our ship was so mad at him, yelling at him to hurry up! Our room steward said that the waiter would be fired.

Be sure of the time anytime you leave the ship! Better safe than sorry! Another reason to take the ships excursions - they will wait if they have a lot of passengers on a ships excursion that is late returning.

 

[tinytink]

Here's something you will enjoy if you love the horn
Video of the DCL horn:

http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g305/bekkik/Cruise Sept 06/?action=view&current=WonderHorn.flv

sound file:

http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/Sounds/MAGIC.wav

Over the years we have seen quite a few people running for the ship - especially in St Thomas.

My DH & I have actually seen some of the CREW left behind before! One time in St Maarten when we were on the old NCL Norway, we were on the last tender and there was about 5 crew members waiting there with us on the beach that they wouldn't allow on the tender with us as the crew was supposed to have been back on board an hour before. I don't know what happened to them, but all the passengers felt so bad for them because they were sooo upset (the girls were crying, the guys were angry) - hopefully the captain was just making them worry and then sent another tender for them to drive home the point that they HAD to make their deadlines -otherwise I don't know what they would have done because they didn't have anything with them of course (passports,etc.)

Another time on the Carnival Sensation, we were pulling away from Ocho Rios and were steaming away pretty well when we came to an abrupt slow down - we had a balcony and so we looked over the side and saw the tiny pilot boat pull up, and our room steward said a waiter had missed the ship. The crew threw a rope ladder over and the crew man on the little boat had to climb up to the opening they had ready for him. He was having a very hard time climbing and the officer on our ship was so mad at him, yelling at him to hurry up! Our room steward said that the waiter would be fired.

Be sure of the time anytime you leave the ship! Better safe than sorry! Another reason to take the ships excursions - they will wait if they have a lot of passengers on a ships excursion that is late returning.

My DH's name was being called on the our last Disney Cruise because when he got back on board his card was stuck to my DS's and when they scanned it I guess it didn't register or something. So he was in the shower and I was putting the baby down for a nap when I hear him being called to report to Guest Services. I am glad I knew where he was.

 

[Footnotegirl]

St. Thomas seems to be very bad for this. On our last cruise, we were hanging out on the 'secret' deck with four or five other people, watching the preparations for the boat to take off. We noticed that it was running quite late, as in >45 minutes.

And then very slowly, the boat started to take off. Which is about when a cab came up the dock. A woman came running out, screaming loud enough we could hear her "That's my boat!!! That's my boat!!!" There was a port agent or someone there, and she ran up to him, and you couldn't hear them, but you could tell what she was saying, pointing to the boat and then herself and her family behind her as they (husband, looked like a four year old, and a baby in a stroller) got out of the cab.

The port agent looked to her, pointed to the boat.. and then when she nodded that that was her boat, tilted his head back and laughed sooo loud we could hear him! She totally deserved it to.

But, the ship slowed, and the port folks got a rubber dinghy out and they loaded the family in and shuttled them to the still somewhat moving boat. Really, there is no excuse, the boat was already an hour and a half past the "You must be on by this time." deadline.

 

[calebsmommy]

Well...we were one of those almost left behind. Don't be too quick to judge some of those you see rushing down the dock frantically.

In Cozumel, we were hit by another vehicle while driving back to return our rental car. We were held up at the police station for HOURS. I have never been so scared in all my life. They wouldn't let us go. And WE were the ones that were hit. The ships departure came and went, and there I stood with my very hungry and tired 4 year old, my husband, and my mom and dad. Finally, after much negotiation and money spent, the Port Authority rushed us back to the dock and we boarded a tender that took us back to the Disney ship that already set sail! It was already on its way out of port.

Advice: never leave your credit card in the safe in your room. You never know what can happen and when you'll need money to get out of a situation.

In our situation, the Disney crew helped us out tremendously. If it wasn't for them, we would all probably be sitting in a mexican jail.

 

[FutureSailor]

Well...we were one of those almost left behind. Don't be too quick to judge some of those you see rushing down the dock frantically.

In Cozumel, we were hit by another vehicle while driving back to return our rental car. We were held up at the police station for HOURS. I have never been so scared in all my life. They wouldn't let us go. And WE were the ones that were hit. The ships departure came and went, and there I stood with my very hungry and tired 4 year old, my husband, and my mom and dad. Finally, after much negotiation and money spent, the Port Authority rushed us back to the dock and we boarded a tender that took us back to the Disney ship that already set sail! It was already on its way out of port.

Advice: never leave your credit card in the safe in your room. You never know what can happen and when you'll need money to get out of a situation.

In our situation, the Disney crew helped us out tremendously. If it wasn't for them, we would all probably be sitting in a mexican jail.

Oh my gosh. Thanks for sharing this--it's a good reminder to be prepared. I'm glad it worked out okay for you.

 

[GJM]

Me & DH were on a RCCL cruise, we were in Cozumel and sat on the veranda watching the people get back on the boat, it was past our sail time and it was amazing some of the people just taking their time walking down the dock.

There was a husband & wife that missed the boat and they had the smaller boat take them out to the ship that was sailing away. The woman couldn't make herself get from the little boat to the ship, it was right below our room and I have to say it looked pretty scary!

 

[cocoswife]

We saw this happen to a couple when we cruised on RCCL. Ten minutes after we left the port, the pilot boat approached our ship and this couple had to climb a rope ladder into our ship. It was extremely windy and very difficult for them to do this, but, after a couple of tries they were able to board. We saw them on the pool deck hours later and the woman was still crying. I fell bad for her, I saw them climbing up the ladder and it looked like a very scary experience

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Well...we were one of those almost left behind. Don't be too quick to judge some of those you see rushing down the dock frantically.

In Cozumel, we were hit by another vehicle while driving back to return our rental car. We were held up at the police station for HOURS. I have never been so scared in all my life. They wouldn't let us go. And WE were the ones that were hit. The ships departure came and went, and there I stood with my very hungry and tired 4 year old, my husband, and my mom and dad. Finally, after much negotiation and money spent, the Port Authority rushed us back to the dock and we boarded a tender that took us back to the Disney ship that already set sail! It was already on its way out of port.

Advice: never leave your credit card in the safe in your room. You never know what can happen and when you'll need money to get out of a situation.

In our situation, the Disney crew helped us out tremendously. If it wasn't for them, we would all probably be sitting in a mexican jail.

Something similar happened to a passenger on a RCCL but it involved a JetSki. The rental owner wouldn't let him leave, called the police, etc. but in that case the owner was falsely (so he said) accusing him of damaging the jet ski. He was just demanding money or he wouldn't let the guy make his boat.

 

[happiest in Disney]

we were on the Magic Eastern and were ready to leave ST. Thomas and a man missed the ships departure. They were paging him and his family the familiy was onboard but he was not. We saw him running up the pier as we pulled away from the dock...he had to charter a boat out to us (his own expense) as the ship would have been charged $1000 per minute that they stayed at the dock. I felt so bad for him...running as fast as he could but it was too late. That is why they tell you to make sure you are on the ship by a certain time. The ship waits for NO ONE! LOL

 

[nokidz]

so in other words, DONT MISS THE SHIP.......
we are not doing any excusions as of now, just hanging out, so we will be onboard with plenty of time to spare.

 

[Tink rules]

Ok... maybe it's just me...

But why not plan your day to end at a certain time so you KNOW you can make it back to the ship on time.... you know, instead of shopping until you drop or having too many excursions planned... why not actually plan something ON the ship for later in the afternoon or whenever so you can definately be back on the ship in time!!!

I'm sure a manicure is cheaper than trying to get to the next port!!!

 

[Vivianne]

I am going on my first cruise and appreciate the advice because I make a habit of looking at the clock.

I do plan on going out on our own. We're just 2 ppl. I'm not going to plan more than I can reasonably fit in the designated time-frame This also helped me decide to take our passports with us. (In the worst case).

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Amyg]

Ok... maybe it's just me...

But why not plan your day to end at a certain time so you KNOW you can make it back to the ship on time.... you know, instead of shopping until you drop or having too many excursions planned... why not actually plan something ON the ship for later in the afternoon or whenever so you can definately be back on the ship in time!!!

I'm sure a manicure is cheaper than trying to get to the next port!!!

Yes that is true, but if you read some of the other posts, sometimes there are other reasons people are late such as accidents and such.

Which brings me to another statement some else mentioned. When you plan a tour or rent a car on your own instead of through the cruise ship and something happens to make you late, you take the chance of being left behind and paying to meet the ship elsewhere. Whereas if you booked through the cruise, they will be sure to get you back to the ship.