The McSparklesons Sail the Magic... AGAIN! $500 Potato Chips! 3/13

[KristiMc]

The first time I did the spanx thing was on the March 2011 cruise. Let's just say I am done with spanx. It sucked everything in so much that I started getting sick at our Palo dinner - no where for all the food to go - never again.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh the spanx! Our formal night wasn't bad, but by semi-formal night when I had already gained 5 pounds and had to squeeeeeeeze myself into a dress, oh Lordy. It was ugly. I feel your pain!

Seeing all your pics makes me want to be back on that ship RIGHT NOW!!!!

 

[podsnel]

I don't care if the dress was tight or not- you looked GORGEOUS on formal night! You rocked that red, my friend!

Love the MIB dudes- did they ever find the aliens on board? (It was the captain, right?)

How many more days until CA? Joanie gets back from her southwest odessey tomorrow night- she's been sending me updates everyday, and it looks like they were VERY active and having a blast.

I had a dream last night and you came to visit me- for my birthday. Hmmmm........

 

[LittleGirlGrey]

Hi! Love all of your updates! I don't know if anyone answered your question about the Sugar Sculpture at Palo's?

But I'm a Chef *just graduated!!!* and yes, that is made of sugar. But not the sugar you eat. It would make you sick if you did!

Going to go read more now!

 

[karajeboo]

So soon Jeff was up (with no alarm again) and after roaming around and grabbing the sunrise shot....

it was time for him to wake the rest of us.....

We were all really excited to be seeing a new port today, so up on deck we went to check out Grand Cayman as we dropped anchor....

It's flat. Pancake flat. So not that exciting or beautiful to see upon approach. No mountains. Just flapjacks.....

We were all ready to go pretty fast because we had heard horror stories about getting on early tenders or being stuck waiting..... And McSparklesons do NOT like to wait!

We were on the second or third tender, mainly because we had a bit of confusion regarding our excursion.

Let me just say up front that this was the BEST excursion we've ever had in 2 cruises. So much so that we booked them again for next year's Royal Caribbean cruise.

But when I was doing final confirmations a couple weeks before we left, I was exchanging emails and asking what time we should meet them upon arrival. I was told 10:00 am.

But we were getting in at 7? No, I was told, GC Port Authority had us coming in at 9. But everything I read on DCL's site and our DCL confirmations, showed us arriving at 7.

They wouldn't budge because they have to go by Port Authority since they are the "authority." Hmmmm.

So I emailed Grand Cayman Port Authority and was told......"We have you scheduled at 9am but really anytime after 7 they can come in."

Well, isn't that just clear as mud!!!! No problem, we'll just hang out and enjoy the sights of Flapjackland until our excursion begins.

Even the map showed us tendered just off a pancake....

I think we made it on the 2nd tender so we were off for the short trip to the mainland....

There's just something about the lines of a DCL ship. Beautiful.

Once on land we wanted to get our bearings. Knowing we had to meet our captain (not Bobby, but my NEW favorite captain... Jordan ), at the Hard Rock Cafe at 10am, we quickly found the Hard Rock and just decided to kill some time until then. We told Tammie and Tori to just meet us there.

Ally quickly made new friends....

We were all getting antsy, wondering if our captain would show up early, knowing that we were already in. We tried everything to make a local call from the island, even trying one of the 6,457 pay phones advertising, "Call Home!" I felt like E.T. the entire time but still couldn't make a call!

That's when Jeff made a friend.

We asked this lovely lady at the "soda cart" how to dial local from the pay phones and she asked us for the number and called our excursion operator for us and told them we were ready.

They said, "Tell them we'll pick them up at 10!"

No problem. Because that's when Jeff said, "Well look who's coming...."

Here comes the Fantasy!!!!

At first I felt silly taking all these pics, but before long the street was full of other people just like me, all getting shots of "history in the making" again!

Nah nah nah nah nah nahhhhhh, we got here fiiiirrrrsssttt!!!!

Before long, we saw a van pull up with "Fat Fish Adventures" on the side. Here comes our ride!!!!!!

Up next, The BEST excursion EVAH!!! And here's why......

Oh yeah..... But despite our yummy captain, or maybe BECAUSE of our yummy captain, I was finally able to relax for the first time on this cruise......

 

[LittleGirlGrey]

I would add Second Breakfast.

Don't forget Elevenses!

 

[KristiMc]

Our neighbors across the street were on the Fantasy's maiden voyage. Great pictures of it sailing in.

 

[CRdisMom]

ally's looking a bit too comfortable there. I like the eye candy!!

 

[anewmac]

There's just something about the lines of a DCL ship. Beautiful.

gorgous!

Once on land we wanted to get our bearings. Knowing we had to meet our captain (not Bobby, but my NEW favorite captain... Jordan ), at the Hard Rock Cafe at 10am, we quickly found the Hard Rock and just decided to kill some time until then.
drink time? LOL

Here comes the Fantasy!!!!
how awesome!

At first I felt silly taking all these pics, but before long the street was full of other people just like me, all getting shots of "history in the making" again!
you didnt take pictures of all the silly people I would have LOL

Before long, we saw a van pull up with "Fat Fish Adventures" on the side. Here comes our ride!!!!!!

Up next, The BEST excursion EVAH!!! And here's why......

Hello Captain... watch out El Alley may drop the T's for a J lol

Oh yeah..... But despite our yummy captain, or maybe BECAUSE of our yummy captain, I was finally able to relax for the first time on this cruise......
poor Jeff... but I do that to E too

ally's looking a bit too comfortable there. I like the eye candy!!

right... im hoping there will be LOTS of pics in the next installment... where is the drooling smilie?

 

[kid-at-heart]

Oh yea, that is one purty captain. Glad you snagged a photo of him. Like you would not snap the picture of anything/one that purty.

 

[Beth D]

Hottie alert! Woohoo! Break out the hoses now to keep it cool in here! Although if I was on an excursion with the hunk i'd probably be trying to figure out how to wear the Spanx under my swimsuit!

Go Allie! Got a pic on the lap of yummy captain gorgeous!

It sounds like it was a good thing you got on an early tender, as it looks as if the ships are quite a ways out! We had to tender in St. Thomas, and the ship was close to shore, but it still took a while. We did a Disney excursion, and had to travel in as a group...

Chub rub on the Spanx! I about lost it there! No go on the less restrictive ones! I really need their help holding it in!

 

[karajeboo]

Don't forget Elevenses!

And then some!!!!

Our neighbors across the street were on the Fantasy's maiden voyage. Great pictures of it sailing in.

Don't worry, there are LOTS more Fantasy pics! Sometimes I felt like I was on that ship, I have so many shots! It was awesome talking to people in the ports from that cruise.

ally's looking a bit too comfortable there. I like the eye candy!!

She fought me for his lap, and she won.... But I'm working out now for next year. I'll take her down!

right... im hoping there will be LOTS of pics in the next installment... where is the drooling smilie?

I'm looking....

Oh yea, that is one purty captain. Glad you snagged a photo of him. Like you would not snap the picture of anything/one that purty.

Jeff was laughing at me when I told Ally to go stand by him. He KNEW who I was actually wanting in the photo, and it wasn't my daughter!!!!

Hottie alert! Woohoo! Break out the hoses now to keep it cool in here! Although if I was on an excursion with the hunk i'd probably be trying to figure out how to wear the Spanx under my swimsuit!

Go Allie! Got a pic on the lap of yummy captain gorgeous!

It sounds like it was a good thing you got on an early tender, as it looks as if the ships are quite a ways out! We had to tender in St. Thomas, and the ship was close to shore, but it still took a while. We did a Disney excursion, and had to travel in as a group...

Chub rub on the Spanx! I about lost it there! No go on the less restrictive ones! I really need their help holding it in!

Hmmm, waterproof spanx for stop in GC next year.... CHECK!!!! I've already requested Captain Gorgeous for next cruise! And I'm not kidding. I said, "We'd really love to have Jordan, or someone equally hot, er, I mean, equally qualified....."

 

[MAGICFOR2]

So soon Jeff was up (with no alarm again) and after roaming around and grabbing the sunrise shot....

Beautiful!


Once on land we wanted to get our bearings. Knowing we had to meet our captain (not Bobby, but my NEW favorite captain... Jordan ), at the Hard Rock Cafe at 10am, we quickly found the Hard Rock and just decided to kill some time until then. We told Tammie and Tori to just meet us there.

Ally quickly made new friends....

Well, Hello! Cute shot - I can just hear you - "come on Ally, SIT on it so I can take your picture!".... "Mom!" "Come on - just one shot! It's for the DISboards!"



Here comes the Fantasy!!!!

At first I felt silly taking all these pics, but before long the street was full of other people just like me, all getting shots of "history in the making" again!

Why feel silly - you were a tourist!

Nah nah nah nah nah nahhhhhh, we got here fiiiirrrrsssttt!!!!

Love it! Wanna be ON it!

Before long, we saw a van pull up with "Fat Fish Adventures" on the side. Here comes our ride!!!!!!

Up next, The BEST excursion EVAH!!! And here's why......

Oh yeah..... But despite our yummy captain, or maybe BECAUSE of our yummy captain, I was finally able to relax for the first time on this cruise......

Ummm, you know I'm not usually very "cougarish" but OMG! I didn't know you got Matthew McConaughey for your captain! Did he take his shirt off?

 

[TheTexasGal]

I can't wait to read more!!! You are a hoot!!!

 

[karajeboo]

Ummm, you know I'm not usually very "cougarish" but OMG! I didn't know you got Matthew McConaughey for your captain! Did he take his shirt off?

Um, YES HE DID!!!!!! And NO I didn't get a picture! I pulled out the camera and Jeff gave me one of those "oh no you don't" looks, then he just shook his head and laughed.... and I STILL didn't get the shot!

I can't wait to read more!!! You are a hoot!!!

I'll try to update this week!!!! Thank you!

 

[jenseib]

Wow...I'm gonna have to take a cruise there just for him!

 

[tony64]

Looks like you're in for a good day, bet you wished DH had missed the ship at Key West now.

 

[karajeboo]

Wow...I'm gonna have to take a cruise there just for him!

Well worth the $$$!

Looks like you're in for a good day, bet you wished DH had missed the ship at Key West now.

Oh my, uh, er, um.... I plead the fifth!!!

 

[kgoldenh]

oh my - looks like an awesome excursion. If we ever end up in grand cayman again I will definitely remember to book.

we were at sea grape beach being bums and talking to tons of folks from the fantasy. love the beaches there and am so ready to go there for a week.

ok... I am all caught up... next installment

kate

 

[reevesinga]

Love reading your TR's! I think y'all are fixin to be my constant DCL entertainment at home!! .