Trip report #33 is done

[atigeg]

to read all about it, and the new shutters page with links to the release forms.

www.castawayclub.com

 

[Dukesfamily]

Thanks for the trip report. I look forward to these reports almost as much as the cruise itself. My family has decided that you do not take enough cruises in a year since there is such a long lapse between reports. Therefore, in the best interest of everyone, we have decided that you should schedule an additional 3 cruises for next year. Ha, that ought to fix ya.
Sorry you are not going on ours. Thanks again

 

[gdulaney]

Okay --- I have to say that reading about the smell of that cigar was the funniest thing!!!!

You know how "they" say certain smells invoke certain memories (like fresh baked apple pie might remind you of Sunday dinner at granny's house)....well, burnt horse hair is NOT a smell that I'd want to associate with vacation!!

Thank you for the great trip report (and WONDERFUL website)!!

 

[vgaskin]

Thank you, I visit your site daily for our upcoming November cruise. I totally feel your pain with your sinus infection. My girls caught a cold right before we left and I still had the congestion. Well we had a connecting flight on the way there, and I was in major pain. Did the parks, then the 3 day cruise, had to see the ship doctor and it was an all out major sinus infection by then. She gave me antibotics but said it wouldn't be totally gone by Sunday. We had connnecting flights home and still was incredibly painful but not as bad as it would have been if I hadn't had gotten treatment.

On the way there on the 2nd plane, the flight attendent saw my discomfort and thought we were having problems with my 4 year old. When I explained, she said "I have something to fix that and left" I was thinking drugs but knew she couldn't be handing them out. Well she comes back with styrofoam coffee cups with steaming hot paper towels in them. She said to hold them up in each ear and I would look incredibly stupid but the steam would keep the pressure from building up. My family was horrified to sit next to me but believe it or not, it worked wonderfully. I have had stuffed up ears but not that piercing pain before. I was about to go bezerk before we landed.

Tiffany

 

[inkkognito]

I'll have to remember that ear remedy if I'm ever stuck flying with a sinus infection again. I definitely wouldn't have cared how silly I looked as long as it worked! Besides, the woman across the aisle was hiding under her blanket, so people would have just thought that we were the row of crazies.
The horse hair smell gives me an idea...maybe on my next cruise, I can brush out my horses' tails, roll the hair, and sell them as genuine Cubans. I can always use some extra $$ for spa treatments. And they'd be about as genuine as the "Cubans" sold by many of the street vendors in Nassau (hee hee).
All in all, it was a fantastic trip. I highly recommend sailing over a major holiday, as Disney makes it such a festive event. I loved the fireworks, and hubby was worse than the kids waiting for those balloons to drop in the atrium!
I am hoping they still have the fireworks when we sail at the end of the month, as I am anxious to see the show that is choreographed to "Under the Sea."
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[vgaskin]

We are going during a major holiday. We will be on the W. carribean during Thanksgiving. Really looking forward to it. Any tips about cruising during Thanksgiving on the Magic and any info on the upcoming drydock of the Magic? #1 I want to know, do they replace the regular meal with Thanksgiving dinner or do you have both menu's? If they replace, so we miss the Captain's Gala? My fil was really looking forward to the Lobster.

Also, my 15 year old daughter is anxiously awaiting official news about the changing teen venues. I know that ESPN is going to be the teen club, is common grounds chaging to a coffee bar or will it still be for teens? I am sure you have some scoop!

Also, I think I saw you cruise on Thanksgiving, how is the weather? Sorry to get off topic!

Tiffany

 

[inkkognito]

Thanksgiving is an awesome time to cruise! We do it on the Wonder every year, and we love to see the port and ship all decked out. Look for the giant Mickey hands it ornaments in the terminal...they are so cute!
The Thanksgiving menu will be offered in addition to the regular menu, so you can have either one (or mix and match). From what I've heard, Common Grounds is definitely supposed to be a coffee bar. That's not official, just rumor, but I am hoping it is true because I think it would be a very popular addition.
We've been very lucky and have had really nice weather every year in November. It's always been warm enough to swim, and no rainouts on Castaway Cay.
In 2004, we're going to sail over Christmas for the first time ever, so I can't wait to try a new holiday on board.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[carole88]

Thank you for your wonderful trip reports! I always look forward to reading them. We are sailing over Halloween and are really looking forward to it!

Thanks again!

 

[Dreamer04]

I have to tell you guys, Barb and Tony, I stumbled onto your site last year. I took my first Wonder cruise Jan '03 and are booked on the Jan 11 '04 trip. With all the info you provide, it makes it easy to make the most out of my vacation. From your links, I found Happy Limo (using them this year-was not to fond of the DCL bus) and of course, these boards.

Thank you for all of your hard work! You will probably never know how many people you have helped. But I am one.

Ursula

 

[inkkognito]

Always glad to help.
The main reason I started my website was to repay people for all the wonderful information I got for my WDW vacations. Knowing all the little tips and tricks made the difference between a good trip and a great one. Even though we were on one of the early Magic voyages, we still learned a lot from the people who had gone before us and who were kind enough to post their experiences. We are lucky to sail frequently, but I know that for many people, this is a trip they have been saving up for and looking forward to for a long time. Hopefully my website makes that difference for them and helps them have a great trip. That's what the internet is all about.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Dreamer04]

Hey Barb, Any chance you're on the 4day Wonder on Jan 11? I started one of those threads.."Who's going with me"..no answers I would love to meet you and some of the other DISers.

 

[Jeanny]

Hey Barb & Tony~
#33 is a Great report. You make is seem like we're right there with you enjoying the cruise (and that fabulous plane ride)....glad you decided to go again for Labor Day.

 

[PammyK]

Again, a wonderful report that just whets my appetite for the next cruise, which is also Labor Day weekend. Are you on the 3 night or the 4 night? If you're on the 3 night look for my nephew and me in SPR-5520.

 

[Credit Man]

Thanks for the great report!

 

[inkkognito]

We are on the three night for Labor Day (Aug. 28 to 31), so we will definitely see you! We will be in good old 5650. We were going to take a 3 day Wonder cruise in Jan., but I booked Lion King tickets for the same weekend and they were non-cancellable, so our first cruise of 2004 won't be until Feb.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[PammyK]

Excellent...I never got to see you in February but I hope to see you in a few weeks.

 

[minnieluvzmickey]

hi barb......i have a couple of questions........we are going on a 3 day in november. It's our first cruise and we are leaving the kids at home. CANT WAIT!!!!!

anyway:

1. I want to do Palo. Which restaurant should we skip to do this on the 3 day? Do I really want to skip one or should I skip Palo instead?

2. Would you recomend the cabana massage on castaway cay? How much is it? or should we just enjoy castaway cay and not worry about the massage?

Thank you so much! I absolutely LOVE your website.

 

[minnieluvzmickey]

BUMP

 

[inkkognito]

1) Hard call! We usually skip Animators for Palo, but we have seen the show many times so we do that based on the menu. Of course, you can "double dip" and eat at Palo early (if you are on late seating), then go to Animators for the show or visa versa. We always used to skip Parrot Cay, but their menu is may favorite now, since it was revised a few months ago.

2) We usually don't do the cabana massage because we want to maximize our time on the island. We did it last time, but I don't remember the cost...I think it is more than on the ship. If you do it, I recommend doing it around 10 a.m. so you don't have to rush but it's still early enough so you're not all wet from swimming. As much as I enjoy it, I would probably opt for doing it on the ship if I had to choose one or the other. But that's not to say it's not a great experience...I just love the island so much that I hate to lose beach time.

Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com