The Lampy family DCL sailing #6-11/24/07 Eastern trip report

[LAMPSKIES]

Wednesday before Thanksgiving......

Well we were watching the weather a winter storm was a brewing and heading for Chicago, we just wanted to get off the ground. We were flying out of Midway for the first time in 4 sailings....we usually fly out of Indy. All baggs are packed, car is full of fuel and the "dog sitter" is set......

Thanksgiving morning.....

It's finally here, the day to head to some warm weather and fun......but we have a few concerns, for the first time EVER sailing with DCL we aren't staying at a WDW resort, we will be staying at the Raddison PC and not using DCL transportation for the first time.........

We get to the airport and as you can see Jessica was unhappy to be ready to fly....she was dancing with EVERYONE

Alli is a little more concervative, she just made sure everything on "my space" was going to survive without her for 10 days....

 

[LAMPSKIES]

well everything went perfect, the flight was on time and smooth and we landed at MCO at 6:30. Now our "Happy Limo" guy Danny........would we find him? No Magical express this time........We walked down to the luggage area and there he was with his sighn....... What a relief.....one thing out of the way, buy the way BOTH airports were virtually empty, I couldn't believe it. Out luggage (8 bags) we out in no time and off to the Town car we went.....hhmmmmmmmmm where were we going to put it all? "No Problen" Danny assured us. And it wasn't, in they went and off we were....to the Raddison (another unfamilliar port of call).
The limo ride was surprisingly fast, I guess a town car goes faster than the DCL busses Danny told us about his family and where he was from and just that quick we were at the raddison.......

We had a bell hop take our things to our room and went to the resturant for some dinner. VERY good I might add but they were out of ALL chicken products and a few other things and appologized over and over....it didn't matter everything we ordered was great and we were happy to be in Florida......dinner was over, we went back to our room and Alli found "wireless" connection so "myspace" wouldn't be without her for 2 more days and Jessica and I put on our suits and hit the hot tub......after a few beers and about and hour we decided to head to the room to end a very long day.....but there is tomorrow.....

 

[LAMPSKIES]

1st full day in Florida, Friday 11/23

Well we woke up, Jessica headed to the rest. to get her tea and cereal, Kim strapped on her walking shoes and Alli and I grabbed our suits and headed to the pool

It was very nice, for the 89.00 a night I got it for I must say I was surprised......Thanks Barb for the reccomendation on both the Happy Limo and the Raddison

We pretty much say around by the pool enjoying the warm weather

Playing water football

swimming under the waterfall

Eating

And doing nothing

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Kim and I took a walk up the street purchased a couple cases of beer (for the ship of course) and headed back. We asked EVERYONE at the hotel if there was a store to buy some and of course nobody know of any Think they didn't want me to find a place Night time came and we ate again at the Raddison and then after another hour or so in the hot tub back to the room

Where the girls got some room service

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Saturday morning surprisingly we were ALL up early, another BEAUTIFUL day in Florida I believe it was in the low 80's both days, I remember the local weather forcaster saying something about record highs.......

We had a 10:30 shuttle to port so at 9:30 we went up front to get ready, have a bight to eat and get ready for boarding the Magic

 

[LAMPSKIES]

The transfers were painless and the lines were short going thru security at port quick....even with my 2 cases of beer with the sighn in front of me BOLDLY saying "no alcohol or firearms permitted past this point". Well up the stairs we went and found our castaway club line and the wait began!

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Off to a great start! can't wait to hear all about it!!!

 

[PizzieDuster]

Great reporting! Love the pictures!

I can't wait to read more! I keep looking for updates

 

[IrishCowboy]

Looking forward to more updates...

We'll be joining you next Thanksgiving!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

great start Ron,
keep it coming.
I love reliving the cruise thriugh your report.

great photos too !!

kathy

 

[Mejesspooh]

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Kay1]

Wow, the Raddison looks nice! Great report.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Yay - a Lampy report! I remember reading your T'giving report in 2005 just before we sailed our first time on DCL.

Can't wait to read the rest!

 

[LAMPSKIES]

O.K. sorry for the delay but I have to work sometime! LOL

As I was saying, off to port we went, we used the Raddisons transfers (free), they were organized and on time. We had a 10:30 reservation and at 10:20 we were on our way. we made it to port in minutes and yes, this was our 6th sailing but when you see the ship I still get the "feeling".
We were in the security line for no more than 5 minutes and yes they still have the sighn, "no alcoholic beverages or firearms past this point" but my case and a half made it thru in my carry on no questions asked! We went right to the Castaway Club check in (we didn't do the on line check in Kim has an issue with credit card info on the computer). As we were waiting they started calling numbers, they got to 6 and I realized OH NO! I didn't get a number. I went to the desk told the CM I have been here for 45 mins. and I realized I didn't get a number, she said "here is a number 3 just board!" And we did!

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Where did we go? Yep, right to topsiders....

It had been 2 years since our last sailing and it came back to me right away.....get the shrimp......although I remember the Jumbo being a little more "Jumbo"......

We grabbed our plates and headed for a table

Where some "Dude" tried to pick up my eldest DD Jessica.....

 

[LAMPSKIES]

He took her to the desert bar!

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Then off to our rooms.......We had a cat. 7 navigators verandah for the first time and an inside for DDs like always. We were still a little early the halls were taped off 'till 1:30 then off to them we went!

I had to "test drive" the verandah

As did Alli..........

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Kim had to "dest drive" the rest of the room......No comments please!!!!!

And check out the Navigators decor.......It was really different.....Nice

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Then off to my DDs "favorite thing"

Where is my beer?

We were on Animators for the lifeboat drill and I noticed what appeared to be police/military some sort of navy seal uniformed officers that I don't remember from before....dont know if anyone else saw them but I did!


Now that that is over LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!!!!

 

[LAMPSKIES]

The sailaway I though was going to be a bummer.....no Pikey! But Trent Chris and the other CMs soon made us forget about all the fun we had with them on the last sailing!