September 22, 2007 -- WESTERN

[CustardTart]

So long my cruise friends. I will still be checking the boards from time to time, but we have booked our next cruise on the Mariner of the Seas out of Port Canaveral. After 7 Disney cruises, they have priced themselves out of our budget. Have enjoyed sailing with you all, and maybe we will meet again in the future. Mike

Good for you, Mike! Please let us know what you think of RCCL - I'd really appreciate your feedback as some of their ships look amazing! Plus it's great to see a countdown ticker - enjoy...

 

[CustardTart]

...Penny and I had a wonderful dinner at Victoria & Alberts and topped off the evening by watching the MNSSHP fireworks from the lagoon side of the Grand Floridian...

Sounds wonderful, Bob - very romantic! Sophie (DD) and I enjoyed some great food in WDW last week - if you haven't tried Jiko in AKL, I thoroughly recommend it! Amazing wine list too - largest selection of South African wines in the US apparently! We also had an outstanding feast at the Yachtsman Steakhouse - great steaks and another impressive wine list! Can you see a pattern developing here..?

...We had a scare with our youngest granddaughter Savannah(15 months). She was taking a nap at her day care and they noticed she had turned blue. As soon as she was picked up, her color returned, but the cause is so far unknown. The kids are taking her here and there for various tests. The possible diagnoses are anything from enlarged tonsils (2+ according to their measuring scale) to a possible seizure. She was a premmie (8 weeks early), but I do not know if that has anything to do with it. We are hoping for the best...

Fingers crossed everything stabilises for Savannah - it must be a anxious time for you all...

 

[CustardTart]

...Friday was my offical last day of being employed. Will admit the reality really hit me on Friday.

I think more of how my company handled it more than anything.

I already started looking at another cruise this year as they have announced FL resident rates. Would love to go again but this time on an eastern. price isn't bad for one person either.

yet then more reality, if i don't have a job how could I pay for the cruise. oh sure put it on a credit card, but then how to pay off that credit card LOL.

but the Dec 8 7 nights is sure looking good LOL

Sending bucketfuls of and your way, Marsha! I really hope something positive turns up soon - in the meantime where's the harm in fantasising about an Eastern Caribbean cruise?! Having something so fab to look forward to can only be therapeutic, right??!

 

[CustardTart]

It sounds like a lot of you have rebooked another cruise. (Some DCL, some not) I'm a bit jealous. I'm not sure when our next one will be. We kicked it around a bit during the cruise, and while we really enjoyed the cruise, we have decided to wait a few years before taking another one. We just booked an Adventure by Disney yesterday and will be going on the Viva Italia tour next September. That and a week at WDW will do us for 2008. I hope everyone has a great time on their next cruise!

Hey Eva! So glad to hear you didn't let the grass grow under your feet and booked the Viva Italia ABD tour - like I said, it sounds absolutely fantastic and I hope to be able to book one of them for 2009! How crazy does that sound but we're fully booked up for 2008 and it seems logical to turn my thoughts to the following year, right?!! We like the sound of the Costa Rica tour but TBH they all sound fascinating...

2009 will probably be a park and cruise-free year for us as we've got something of a DCL/WDW/DL overload going on in 2008!!! I've just managed to book 6 nights concierge at DLH (using DVC points) for our LA stay after the DCL Mexican Riviera cruise next summer and, needless to say, I'm delighted! Made the request online and it worked no problem - you gotta love DVC...

 

[papa]

Karen, glad that you and your DD had a wonderful time at Disney World.

We are looking forward to trying to learn to ice skate before we board the Mariner of the Seas. Figure if I hit the bum a time or two before hand, i will not look like a complete idiot. Mike

 

[CustardTart]

Oh Mike, you guys are so much braver than me! I used to skate as a kid - could even do it backwards, but I would be terrified nowadays! Good luck and I hope to see photographic evidence of you and Kathy shimmying up that climbing wall too!!!

 

[papa]

The only way we can get up that climbing wall is to be hoisted up there with a power winch. Mike

 

[CustardTart]

The only way we can get up that climbing wall is to be hoisted up there with a power winch. Mike

OK! But I'm definitely holding out for a photo of you guys skating onboard! On your bums or upright, I don't mind...

BTW I've just posted Day 3 of my Trip Report - this is an exhausting and time consuming exercise! My own bottom has been firmly wedged in the sofa for most of the day whilst I've tried to commit to paper (well, laptop) what I can remember of our whirlwind week! Anyway I hope you enjoy - there's a link in my signature...

Have a great weekend one and all...

 

[eva]

Karen, your trip report is wonderful. I wish that I had written down more details. Are you doing it all by memory? Or did you take a few notes during the cruise?

Mike, the RCL cruise sounds fun too. Steve and I have decided we may venture away from DCL some day too. I am enticed by the free style dining with Norwegian. On DCL early seating is too early, but 8:30 is just too late.

Bob, thanks so much for the picture! I am going to have my DD print it off for us. She used to work at a photography studio and has a lot of equipment at home. It is a great picture of the 6 of us. Thanks again!

 

[papa]

Great trip report Karen.

Eva we enjoyed meeting you and maybe we will cruise again together one day.

I think that with DCL we had just grown accustomed to every thing on board and there was not the expectation of something new around the corner. When the new ships come online we will look at cruising DCL again. Right now, with me being retired, and Kathy semi retired, Disney is just too expensive. Mike

 

[Bareacuda]

[/IMG]

Ok... so there is only one pic from our races last weekend.
it ... me, Jen, Carolyn, KimmBerly,Shelia, Pam and Anita. We took first place in the Sr Women's. Jen's our mascot since she's going thru her last bit of chemo... and she's a darn good paddler.
I dont have a good pic of the Co-ed team... but we took first place in that one too.

Now you know... I expect some of you out for next years races!!!

Ann

 

[papa]

Great photo Ann. Mike

 

[CustardTart]

Karen, your trip report is wonderful. I wish that I had written down more details. Are you doing it all by memory? Or did you take a few notes during the cruise?

Thank you, Eva! It's all from our shared memories - despite some wonderful intentions, I wrote absolutely nothing down! We've had to pore over the menus to attempt to recall who ordered what as well as re-read Navigators to try and remember what happened in our downtime - pathetic really!

Great trip report Karen...

Thanks Mike!

Ok... so there is only one pic from our races last weekend...Now you know... I expect some of you out for next years races!!!

What a fab photo, Ann. Congratulations! If I lived nearer I'd love to give it a go - I guess the distance makes me safe, right..?!

 

[Bareacuda]

I dont know all that distance will keep you that far away Karen...
after the races... you can head stright to Disneyland, only 6 hrs away!

Up date on this past week end races...Sr Women's team took 1st (again) in Lake Las Vegas!!! Yeah girls!!! I believe the women's teams have taken over 75 medals in the past 2 years.I believe the men's have about 30, they have a tougher race with all the Hawaiian men!!!

BTW... I didnt make it, I have a good case of bronchitius at the moment (insert cough here!!!).

Thanks everyone

Ann

 

[papa]

Hope that you get better soon Ann. Mike

 

[Bareacuda]

Hope that you get better soon Ann. Mike

Thanks Mike...
I have to get better... I have to fly to Orlando on Wednesday!
And sorry to say, we are NOT going to Disney
Howard has a wedding to photograph and I do all his finish work.You know... the nagging lady that fixes all the guys ties and the ladies's necklaces!! YUP... that's me.
Matter of fact... I do feel a whole lot better today.

Ann

 

[CustardTart]

Glad to hear you're feeling better, Ann!

Hope everyone's well and having a good weekend! I've almost finished writing my trip report of our fab cruise and it's been wonderful to relive it all - even if I haven't moved off the sofa for almost a week!

 

[Bareacuda]

Thanks Karen... Im doing much better.
Looks like I'll be waxing the oc2 today so we can go paddling with a bunch of club members on Monday morning.
Awwww to paddle again..... Man I love the weather this time of year

Ann

 

[papa]

Hope that everyone had a good halloween. Mike

 

[CustardTart]

Great, thanks Mike! Tho' I can't top eating the leftover candy so no chance of losing those post-cruise pounds anytime soon!!!