Sail Away Question

[bobf320]

Hi All-

During the sail away leaving port, are there a lot of people tossing streamers or blowing bubbles as the ship leaves? I know on "other" cruise lines they do it. If so, what else do you use to celebrate leaving port?

Thanks-
Bob

 

[GenieDana]

No streamers (litter). Several people blow those wedding bubbles (they're not soap) that you can get in individual sizes at Michael's. Most dance or observe.

 

[WDWLVR]

We've done bubbles before. Now we like to take our Mickey Mitts and wave back at those on land. There is plenty to see as the ship pulls out, then we get ready for dinner.

 

[Clam Catcher]

We brought small $1 bottles of bubbles for the kids. They used them during the sail away party on Deck 9 - the ship also blows bubbles.

 

[webray]

The ship also has streamers flying everywhere.

I am taking my mickey mitts next time, to wave back at the people on land also.

 

[huckster]

dance and sing lots of fun .. also if you look over at the other ships waiting to leave port they are all standing on the edge of thier ship wishing they were having as much fun!!

 

[invaderzim]

Huckster -- you are so right! I was amazed during our last 7-day cruise in November 2002. We were parked in port next to Sovereign of the Seas. They left port before us -- as we prepared to depart, we realized that there wasn't a single sound coming from their ship. No music, no yelling, no whistle, no steamers, NOTHING. It just crept out of port.

When DCL has their sail away -- it is amazing. The floor over the pool on Deck 9 is brought over the pool and all the characters come out. There is dancing, singing and a LIVE band. Waiters are walking around with trays selling all kinds of wonderful tropical drinks (alcohol and non) in souvenir glasses. Everyone is celebrating. And yes, there are lots of bubbles from the stacks -- but everyone also brings their own. In fact, we just bought a bubble machine today to bring with us this time.

A helpful tip -- go up to Deck 10 to watch is all. You will have a perfect view of everything on Deck 9, but will be away from all the screaming and dancing children. Plus you will be able to walk the whole length of the ship and watch the coast of Florida drifting away.

Here's a funny story someone out there might enjoy -- my husband had a friend whose family of 4 went on Carnival two years ago. While out at sea, they saw another ship coming toward them to pass. As it passed them in the night, they could hear singing, music, laughing, shouting and partying. He said nothing was going on on the decks of Carnival. He looked over at his wife and said -- that's the ship I want to take next time. It was The Magic.

 

[MrsPete]

My family isn't all that difficult to please, but we HATED the sail away celebration. Even though the ship wasn't full, the sail away party was incredibly crowded, and crowds are something we don't really enjoy. We went up to Deck 10, but we couldn't get close enough to the railing to see a thing that was going on down on Deck 9. It wasn't much fun standing there hearing the music and seeing nothing.

We went back to the back of the ship where we were able to watch the tugboats doing their thing. We also saw two dolphins swim out to sea with us (or maybe they were manataes -- I'm not really sure).

I mentioned the overcrowded sail away party on the evaluation at the end of the cruise. I suggested that they hold the party at BOTH the Goofy pool AND the Mickey pool. They'd need to have the music and dancers in both places, but that shouldn't really be a problem. This would divide the crowd and allow people to enjoy the party.

 

[bobf320]

Thanks for the tips!!

I will have to make a trip to a party store to see what they have.

Bob

 

[ThreeCircles]

Tugboats?

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

DH and I were up on Deck 10 enjoying a cocktail and waving to everyone on shore as we went by. It was a terrific way to start off our very first cruise!!!

 

[MariettaC]

I thought the sail-away party was magical It was a perfect way to start our vacation and I can't wait to experience it again

 

[TheWog]

me too tugboats????????

Sail Away party was a great time - Don't miss it. We just showed up and danced and had a great time.

 

[crisi]

The dance floor over the Goofy pool was really crowded by the end, but there was lots of room to dance around the deck (they stack all the chairs that normally occupy the space). And by knowing it was happening and getting straight there after the safety drill, we snagged a great table on the deck overlooking the stage on Deck 9 - we had to wait five or ten minutes for the show to get started. To some extent, the sail away party is a little like a WDW parade, you can't expect to walk up when the parade is half done and get a good seat. But if you really don't like crowds, neither a WDW parade or the sail away party is for you, and you may have more fun on the prominade, deck 4.

If you want to blow bubbles, deck 9 isn't the place for you anyway, as the plexiglass goes pretty high.