Welcome Home, everybody.
We are local, so we were home about noon yesterday. When we were unpacking, I came across the bandana I wore while I was snorkling. (I was that crazy lady with the bright yellow bandana. I had my hair braided on the ship, and then managed to get my scalp sunburned in St. Marteen; so I was careful to keep it covered most of the time after that.) Anyway, it smelled just like
Castaway Cay, and I just couldn't bring myself to wash it just yet. I wore it yesterday while I finished reading the book I had started on the trip.
It was our first cruise, and we will definitely be back. I learned so much, too, and won't feel so lost on the next one. I enjoyed it from the moment we boarded, but I also spent the first 3 days thinking that I didn't get what the big deal was and couldn't understand why people went back year after year or even several times a year. However, I don't know exactly when it happened, but I was surprised to find myself sad about our trip coming to a close. Seriously, I could've stayed out there another week. So, we will definitely be going back.
I'm sorry I couldn't stay at the meets longer. My family doesn't really understand the whole message board thing and didn't know what to think of my running off to see ya'll instead of hanging with them. Also, I'm so bad at faces and names, I hope I didn't insult anyone by not stopping to chat with a fellow DISer. Thanks GG, for the nametag. I actually put it on my door, and I loved seeing all the DISers that were around us. Thanks all, for the goody bags. My girls (and my friend's girls) loved theirs. Definitely a big hit.
We got off the ship for awhile in St. Marteen. Dh bought me some beautiful Caribean Topaz earrings. Nothing fancy, but something I could wear everyday, and that was exactly what I wanted. DH kept wanting to get me something fancier, but I insisted that I didn't want anything else. Plus, they look great with my braids. LOL!! We stayed on the ship in St. Thomas, and this was when I started to love being on the ship. It was so nice onboard that day because it wasn't crowded. A great day. Also, the next day, we enjoyed all the shows and Bingo and such. The weather didn't bother us at all because we had had a great pool day just the day before. Then there was Castaway Cay!!! I had been told that CC alone was worth the price of a
Disney cruise, but I never believed it because I'm really not a beach person -- eventhough I live about a half mile from the ocean. However, I was so blown away. It was great, and I can't really tell you why. I just had a remarkable time there with my dh, my dds, and my friends. It was perfect. We got back onboard around 2:00 and were sitting on our veranda when the CMs brought the man (with the emergency) back on board. We saw him and at first I thought heat stroke or something like that, but I was concerned when he didn't get up and walk onto the ship under his own power and then appeared to be out. That was when I knew it was serious. After a long time, he was again taken off the boat -- along with his wife to wait for the helicopter. My friend was a little disturbed that the ship left before the helicopter actually arrived, but it is true that we don't know all the factors that went into the decision not to wait. With that exception, it was a great day.
Now for some questions..... What does the head server do?? He stopped by our table the first 2 nights and then we didn't see him again until the last night. Our oackage included tips, so we did tip him, but I would've rather taken that and given it to our server. He was awesome and we did add to his tip and to our stateroom hostess' tip, too. Anyway, I was just wondering.
) and I don't even feel that I can drive safely. 
will post more later. It was great meeting everyone!
and barracuda too 
), plus the fact they can't miss classes, it'll be difficult to plan the next one. 
Hi Paul! 
Welcome to the DIS boards! Better late than never. I LOVED the waves!
