okwmember92
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2000
- Messages
- 96
DCL Eastern Trip Report 4/12-19/2008
Adults only trip, DH-Dennis, me-Kim celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary and our 45th Birthdays!!!
We chose the Eastern, since we have done the Western with our 2 sons about 5 years ago and the Wonder in 2000. We are DVC members since 1992 and have used our points for all three cruises, getting a stateroom with a verandah for each one.
I stayed on the disboards daily and kept up with all previous trip and pre trip reports that I could find. On our meet threads, I came across someone else that posted they were doing a trip without kids and also celebrating their 25th anniversary. So I sent her a PM and we corresponded with each other and found some similarities in our disney likings, except they were California and were not part of the club (sorry KathleenJ) the DVC, that is. We pmd each other several different times and looked forward to meeting each other.
The Saturday before our sail, we took a short trip over to Disney and had dinner at Saratoga Springs Turf Club and while shopping found our base for our door magnet, it was perfect mickey shapes and lime green for the disboards.
So, finally the day came and we were off to Port Canaveral, it was a nice 2 hour drive, thats with stopping at Target on I4 for a quick pickup of what we forgot. Had a near miss accident, older man did not see DH backing up out of parking lot when he started to back out, even with DH laying on the horn, the man never slowed down his process or turned to see us practically back to back. Without any further mishaps we arrived to Port Canaveral at 10:30am, boy were we surprised to see all the people already there.
With our documents completed online, we checked in without a hitch, found us a spot next to the DVC booth and hung out meeting some other limegreen mickey friends and Kurt from the DVC. We were a little disappointed with boarding pass #5 but were on the ship by 11:45 headed up to Topsiders and had a great lunch. Were finished eating and took our tour of the ship while waiting for our stateroom to be ready. Waited for the rope drop and headed down the corridor. Found our door and stepped into our oasis, quickly out on our verandah for a picture so we could send to DS-21yo to gloat. Very excited that we had the coveted dining rotation with pirate night in Parrot Cay.
First nights dinner was in Parrot Cay, met our tablemates, Shannon & Mark, from California who were celebrating their 11th anniversary. Our servers were head server: Jeff, main server: Mizar and assistant server: Erwin, they were efficient and friendly, unfortunately they never really wowed us as on our previous cruises. Come to find out the last day that Erwin had a bad tooth, that was worked on in Mexico and apparently not very good, the dentist in St Thomas would not even touch him, so he had to wait until he got to Pt Canaveral to get some help. We headed up to RocknD Bar and watched Match your Mate, the couple married the longest won, it was quite entertaining and the MC was really making it a lot of fun.
Off to bed for some rest and was rocked to sleep. Kathleen have you invented that bed yet?
First day at sea, Dennis and I got up and headed to the gym. It was crowded and Im not a do it yourself exerciser, I use dvds at home, no treadmills available so I found a bike to ride overlooking the seas. While exercising saw DH talking with someone that he seemed to know, turns out to be a family from home that attends my parents and sisters church. They had their 2 teen girls with them, we only saw them a couple of other times and then the last day leaving the ship. It was kind of fun running into someone from home. After exercise, I staked my claim on a lounger by the quiet cove pool and was most content to stay there for the day. DH did drag me away for lunch at Topsiders, not for long and I was back at my spot. Had a 3:15 massage planned so I headed over to the spa and changed into my robe then sat in the heated tile chairs while I waited my turn, Boris called my name and for the next 50 minutes he crunched and pressed at all my knotted up places, letting me know that I was the most tension filled person hes done in many cruises, thanks FMC (my employers). After a nice rainshower shower I headed back to our room to get ready for Formal night, we were going to be in Palos. Dennis had been in diversions watching the Masters and since Tiger wasnt doing too much he came back to the room to watch from the Verandah.
Well, first time in my life I was ready early, we headed up to Palos for dinner and had a great table by the window, watching a beautiful sunset. Our server Tomas was wonderful and kept bringing us things to try.
Towards the end of dinner the couple behind me turned out to be Kathleen and Ron from the disboards. She heard us telling Tomas that we were from Tampa and asked if it was me. Requested to be with Tomas for the next days brunch and was easily arranged. Pictures were taken and we enjoyed getting to know our new friends.
Golden Mickeys was the show for the night but it was crowded, couldnt find any seats and very hot, with the ship rocking and rolling, Dennis did not feel well, so we left and went on a walk on Deck 4. We headed back to RocknD Bar for Freddie Fusion, then off to bed, for more rocking this baby to sleep. Wow, we do not remember this much movement on our other 2 cruises.
Day 2 at sea was another leisure day, did not make it to the gym for the rest of the week, even though we ate more in 1 week than we do in an entire month at home. Which brings me to our morning Brunch at Palos. We actually were seated where Kathleen and Ron sat the night before, another gorgeous view at the window. Now, if there was anything that Dennis remembers from our cruise 5 yrs ago was the infamous Palos sticky buns, so he made sure to indulge and enjoy every bite. Tomas even brought him a couple to go.
After brunch, we rolled back to our stateroom and I got myself ready for some more sun time, had to take a chair up on Deck 10, enjoying the view, reading my book and letting the wind whip around me. Dennis had a day of lounging on the verandah enjoying his view. Dinner tonight was in Animators Palate, it was good but unfortunately our table was in the back behind a service booth, making it somewhat difficult for our tablemates who were first timers to get to see the room work its magic. After dinner we took some pictures and headed to RocknD Bar for a little while.
The next day we woke up to heading into St Martin, our excursion was the 12-Metre Regatta, this is top notch and not to be missed!! We are from Florida, so beach trips were really not our thing, and DH is certainly not a water mania, but he was willing to risk life & limb, and no bathroom on board for his darling wife of 25 years, what a guy. As it turns out he loved it and had a great time.
After our excursion, we took a little walk around the shops and then headed back to the ship for lunch.
We had to ready ourselves for fun Pirates night.
The little boy in front of us allowed Dennis to borrow his sword for the picture.
We met up with fellow pirates Kathleen and Ron and headed out for the deck party with all its food and fun.
Lots of food and fun, these party pirates loved the fireworks! How great is that?!
The next morning we woke up heading into St Thomas and loved our view of
Another day in paradise now I know how Kenny Chesney was inspired to write his songs, down in the harbor where the ferries come to shore driving down the wrong side of the road I certainly could become one of his personas from any of his songs and stay there forever.
Tonights dinner we were in Lumieres our first there, since we were in Palos before. I had the lamb and was not impressed at all, Dennis had salmon which was very dry, we were really not too impressed with the food this time around, but we certainly ate plenty of it. They brought us a birthday cake, we had a few bites but couldnt each any more.
The next day was another sea day and we woke up to overcasts skies. After breakfast at Topsiders, we were back in our stateroom and I sat out on the verandah much of the day reading my book, Dennis took lots of naps, we were truly in relaxation mode. We turned the TV station to 13 that shows the ships bow and where we are heading, while playing nice relaxing jazz music. We had lunch at Topsiders and walked around the ship seeing the waves that still were registering 8-12 feet, rough seas. By dinner time, Dennis was really feeling the rolling of the ship, we were dressed for dinner, had run out of Dramamine, but because I was a disr I knew they had free Bonine at the health clinic, which we found, but unfortunately for Den it was too late. His only complaint was his head wasnt feeling right. So, I found Kathleen and Ron in the Promenade lounge, where we met up with them every night, and asked if I could join their table for dinner, our table mates were at Palos, and I didnt want to eat alone or miss the food, it was LOBSTER night. They were at a 6 top but only 1 other couple was with them and fortunately they all were very gracious and allowed me to join them. It was a pleasant dinner, sorry Dennis had to miss it. When I got back to the room, he looked spacey, we had the non drowsy kind, but the ship didnt and he was out of it, the man gets woozy on Tylenol, what can I tell ya. Well, we missed the dessert buffet but I was so stuffed and tired it was okay with me. Another rock a bye baby nights sleep.
The day has finally arrived we awoke to the seas a bit more calm and after breakfast we had Castaway Cay in our sights. I held my breath that we would be able to make it to the dock, since I had read the trip reports of those who did not make it. We went to deck 4 to watch them unload everything off the ship.
Around 9:30 we were given the okay from Brent to disembark and we were off. We walked instead of waiting on the tram to the family beach and then took the tram to Serenity Bay, There were only a couple of people on the beach, but we headed down towards the end to get far away and ended up with the last hammock with umbrella and chairs, can I say peace and serenity.
After an hour or so, we headed up for some lunch, Dennis had a cheeseburger, I had the ribs and a burger without the bun, but with a delicious bbq salsa. Then we had the chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.
We headed back to our spot and enjoyed more sun and beautiful weather.
The next thing we know its time for my cabana massage, Sara from the UK was great and I was so very relaxed. Dennis had already headed back to the ship and I took my time taking pictures.
We had dinner at Parrot Cay and enjoyed our last night talking with Shannon & Mark.
This trip was awesome but Dennis warned me when we booked it, that it would come to an end and we would have to leave. We truly made new friends and had a great time, exchanged emails and addresses then said our evening goodbyes.
The next morning we had late breakfast and ran into Kathleen and Ron, Ron was really ready to get off the boat, again said our goodbyes to them, met up with Shannon and Mark for breakfast and then got booted off.
We stopped by Saratoga for lunch debating whether we should stay or just go home, well practicality won out and we didnt want to use our points for a Saturday night so we headed onto home, besides we had not seen Nick for 2 weeks and wanted to hear about his trip to Brazil.
I know Im not the quality writer that some can do with their trip reports but I was anxious to read anything I could when I was planning so I wanted to give a little back.
Until the new ships come out, we probably will try a different cruise line, so I guess this is it.
My link to view pictures, there are lots, be warned...
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj246/kimnail/disney Cruise 2008/
Adults only trip, DH-Dennis, me-Kim celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary and our 45th Birthdays!!!
We chose the Eastern, since we have done the Western with our 2 sons about 5 years ago and the Wonder in 2000. We are DVC members since 1992 and have used our points for all three cruises, getting a stateroom with a verandah for each one.
I stayed on the disboards daily and kept up with all previous trip and pre trip reports that I could find. On our meet threads, I came across someone else that posted they were doing a trip without kids and also celebrating their 25th anniversary. So I sent her a PM and we corresponded with each other and found some similarities in our disney likings, except they were California and were not part of the club (sorry KathleenJ) the DVC, that is. We pmd each other several different times and looked forward to meeting each other.
The Saturday before our sail, we took a short trip over to Disney and had dinner at Saratoga Springs Turf Club and while shopping found our base for our door magnet, it was perfect mickey shapes and lime green for the disboards.
So, finally the day came and we were off to Port Canaveral, it was a nice 2 hour drive, thats with stopping at Target on I4 for a quick pickup of what we forgot. Had a near miss accident, older man did not see DH backing up out of parking lot when he started to back out, even with DH laying on the horn, the man never slowed down his process or turned to see us practically back to back. Without any further mishaps we arrived to Port Canaveral at 10:30am, boy were we surprised to see all the people already there.
With our documents completed online, we checked in without a hitch, found us a spot next to the DVC booth and hung out meeting some other limegreen mickey friends and Kurt from the DVC. We were a little disappointed with boarding pass #5 but were on the ship by 11:45 headed up to Topsiders and had a great lunch. Were finished eating and took our tour of the ship while waiting for our stateroom to be ready. Waited for the rope drop and headed down the corridor. Found our door and stepped into our oasis, quickly out on our verandah for a picture so we could send to DS-21yo to gloat. Very excited that we had the coveted dining rotation with pirate night in Parrot Cay.
First nights dinner was in Parrot Cay, met our tablemates, Shannon & Mark, from California who were celebrating their 11th anniversary. Our servers were head server: Jeff, main server: Mizar and assistant server: Erwin, they were efficient and friendly, unfortunately they never really wowed us as on our previous cruises. Come to find out the last day that Erwin had a bad tooth, that was worked on in Mexico and apparently not very good, the dentist in St Thomas would not even touch him, so he had to wait until he got to Pt Canaveral to get some help. We headed up to RocknD Bar and watched Match your Mate, the couple married the longest won, it was quite entertaining and the MC was really making it a lot of fun.
Off to bed for some rest and was rocked to sleep. Kathleen have you invented that bed yet?
First day at sea, Dennis and I got up and headed to the gym. It was crowded and Im not a do it yourself exerciser, I use dvds at home, no treadmills available so I found a bike to ride overlooking the seas. While exercising saw DH talking with someone that he seemed to know, turns out to be a family from home that attends my parents and sisters church. They had their 2 teen girls with them, we only saw them a couple of other times and then the last day leaving the ship. It was kind of fun running into someone from home. After exercise, I staked my claim on a lounger by the quiet cove pool and was most content to stay there for the day. DH did drag me away for lunch at Topsiders, not for long and I was back at my spot. Had a 3:15 massage planned so I headed over to the spa and changed into my robe then sat in the heated tile chairs while I waited my turn, Boris called my name and for the next 50 minutes he crunched and pressed at all my knotted up places, letting me know that I was the most tension filled person hes done in many cruises, thanks FMC (my employers). After a nice rainshower shower I headed back to our room to get ready for Formal night, we were going to be in Palos. Dennis had been in diversions watching the Masters and since Tiger wasnt doing too much he came back to the room to watch from the Verandah.
Well, first time in my life I was ready early, we headed up to Palos for dinner and had a great table by the window, watching a beautiful sunset. Our server Tomas was wonderful and kept bringing us things to try.
Towards the end of dinner the couple behind me turned out to be Kathleen and Ron from the disboards. She heard us telling Tomas that we were from Tampa and asked if it was me. Requested to be with Tomas for the next days brunch and was easily arranged. Pictures were taken and we enjoyed getting to know our new friends.
Golden Mickeys was the show for the night but it was crowded, couldnt find any seats and very hot, with the ship rocking and rolling, Dennis did not feel well, so we left and went on a walk on Deck 4. We headed back to RocknD Bar for Freddie Fusion, then off to bed, for more rocking this baby to sleep. Wow, we do not remember this much movement on our other 2 cruises.
Day 2 at sea was another leisure day, did not make it to the gym for the rest of the week, even though we ate more in 1 week than we do in an entire month at home. Which brings me to our morning Brunch at Palos. We actually were seated where Kathleen and Ron sat the night before, another gorgeous view at the window. Now, if there was anything that Dennis remembers from our cruise 5 yrs ago was the infamous Palos sticky buns, so he made sure to indulge and enjoy every bite. Tomas even brought him a couple to go.
After brunch, we rolled back to our stateroom and I got myself ready for some more sun time, had to take a chair up on Deck 10, enjoying the view, reading my book and letting the wind whip around me. Dennis had a day of lounging on the verandah enjoying his view. Dinner tonight was in Animators Palate, it was good but unfortunately our table was in the back behind a service booth, making it somewhat difficult for our tablemates who were first timers to get to see the room work its magic. After dinner we took some pictures and headed to RocknD Bar for a little while.
The next day we woke up to heading into St Martin, our excursion was the 12-Metre Regatta, this is top notch and not to be missed!! We are from Florida, so beach trips were really not our thing, and DH is certainly not a water mania, but he was willing to risk life & limb, and no bathroom on board for his darling wife of 25 years, what a guy. As it turns out he loved it and had a great time.
After our excursion, we took a little walk around the shops and then headed back to the ship for lunch.
We had to ready ourselves for fun Pirates night.
The little boy in front of us allowed Dennis to borrow his sword for the picture.
We met up with fellow pirates Kathleen and Ron and headed out for the deck party with all its food and fun.
Lots of food and fun, these party pirates loved the fireworks! How great is that?!
The next morning we woke up heading into St Thomas and loved our view of
Another day in paradise now I know how Kenny Chesney was inspired to write his songs, down in the harbor where the ferries come to shore driving down the wrong side of the road I certainly could become one of his personas from any of his songs and stay there forever.
Tonights dinner we were in Lumieres our first there, since we were in Palos before. I had the lamb and was not impressed at all, Dennis had salmon which was very dry, we were really not too impressed with the food this time around, but we certainly ate plenty of it. They brought us a birthday cake, we had a few bites but couldnt each any more.
The next day was another sea day and we woke up to overcasts skies. After breakfast at Topsiders, we were back in our stateroom and I sat out on the verandah much of the day reading my book, Dennis took lots of naps, we were truly in relaxation mode. We turned the TV station to 13 that shows the ships bow and where we are heading, while playing nice relaxing jazz music. We had lunch at Topsiders and walked around the ship seeing the waves that still were registering 8-12 feet, rough seas. By dinner time, Dennis was really feeling the rolling of the ship, we were dressed for dinner, had run out of Dramamine, but because I was a disr I knew they had free Bonine at the health clinic, which we found, but unfortunately for Den it was too late. His only complaint was his head wasnt feeling right. So, I found Kathleen and Ron in the Promenade lounge, where we met up with them every night, and asked if I could join their table for dinner, our table mates were at Palos, and I didnt want to eat alone or miss the food, it was LOBSTER night. They were at a 6 top but only 1 other couple was with them and fortunately they all were very gracious and allowed me to join them. It was a pleasant dinner, sorry Dennis had to miss it. When I got back to the room, he looked spacey, we had the non drowsy kind, but the ship didnt and he was out of it, the man gets woozy on Tylenol, what can I tell ya. Well, we missed the dessert buffet but I was so stuffed and tired it was okay with me. Another rock a bye baby nights sleep.
The day has finally arrived we awoke to the seas a bit more calm and after breakfast we had Castaway Cay in our sights. I held my breath that we would be able to make it to the dock, since I had read the trip reports of those who did not make it. We went to deck 4 to watch them unload everything off the ship.
Around 9:30 we were given the okay from Brent to disembark and we were off. We walked instead of waiting on the tram to the family beach and then took the tram to Serenity Bay, There were only a couple of people on the beach, but we headed down towards the end to get far away and ended up with the last hammock with umbrella and chairs, can I say peace and serenity.
After an hour or so, we headed up for some lunch, Dennis had a cheeseburger, I had the ribs and a burger without the bun, but with a delicious bbq salsa. Then we had the chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.
We headed back to our spot and enjoyed more sun and beautiful weather.
The next thing we know its time for my cabana massage, Sara from the UK was great and I was so very relaxed. Dennis had already headed back to the ship and I took my time taking pictures.
We had dinner at Parrot Cay and enjoyed our last night talking with Shannon & Mark.
This trip was awesome but Dennis warned me when we booked it, that it would come to an end and we would have to leave. We truly made new friends and had a great time, exchanged emails and addresses then said our evening goodbyes.
The next morning we had late breakfast and ran into Kathleen and Ron, Ron was really ready to get off the boat, again said our goodbyes to them, met up with Shannon and Mark for breakfast and then got booted off.
We stopped by Saratoga for lunch debating whether we should stay or just go home, well practicality won out and we didnt want to use our points for a Saturday night so we headed onto home, besides we had not seen Nick for 2 weeks and wanted to hear about his trip to Brazil.
I know Im not the quality writer that some can do with their trip reports but I was anxious to read anything I could when I was planning so I wanted to give a little back.
Until the new ships come out, we probably will try a different cruise line, so I guess this is it.
My link to view pictures, there are lots, be warned...
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj246/kimnail/disney Cruise 2008/
