Trip Report for Our B2SB Cruises - Completed!

[WDWLVR]

Tracy - sounds like you are having a great time. Next time you see David and Will tell them I said Hi!

 

[winotracy]

Scott, I did use vinegar and it did help. I planned to use hydrocortizone later, but to be honest, I pretty much forgot about them. The spots are still there today on three of the areas (was much more than one sting per area), but they don't hurt at all.

Mary, you and your DH's names came up the other night with Will and David I will tell them you said hello, unless they give me grief again for being online!!

Good news today, my secretary was out sick so no work to do!!

 

[Hygiene99]

Mary, you and your DH's names came up the other night with Will and David I will tell them you said hello, unless they give me grief again for being online!!

Good Guys in my book!!
ok it will be our turn next week, will do a better Job!

Was going to share a cabin with them! Work always gets in the way!

Knew I liked them for a reason!

Tell them, I said Hi !

 

[GOS]

Tracy-ask your stateroom host to put down the upper bunk (if you have one) for the rest of your cruise. We used the unused bunk bed for storage. It works great and gave us more room.

Now I know that might be like stating the obvious, but here's a tip that a learnt from my Passporter book.

Store your suitcases under the bed! Now if like me, you've already tried this and failled, the tip was...lift the bed up!!!

Didn't think about this, just gave up when I couldn't slip the cases under the bed.

Heather

 

[winotracy]

Now I know that might be like stating the obvious, but here's a tip that a learnt from my Passporter book.

Store your suitcases under the bed! Now if like me, you've already tried this and failled, the tip was...lift the bed up!!!

Didn't think about this, just gave up when I couldn't slip the cases under the bed.

Heather

I'm doing that already. I am using every inch available in the drawers, closet, bathroom, under the bed. You name it, it's got stuff there. Will be checking on the price for the Cat 10 for the Med cruise. I'll do my report later. The sun is calling me

 

[Kborn]

Glad to hear you guys are having fun....look forward to meeting you next week on the 11 day. Don't forget to flip, Oh wait, It might be fun to meet LOBSTER Winotracy.

 

[Hygiene99]

I'm doing that already. I am using every inch available in the drawers, closet, bathroom, under the bed. You name it, it's got stuff there. Will be checking on the price for the Cat 10 for the Med cruise. I'll do my report later. The sun is calling me

Sounds like, you packed for an 11 day cruise instead of 7

 

[WDWLVR]

Mary, you and your DH's names came up the other night with Will and David I will tell them you said hello, unless they give me grief again for being online!!

Good things I hope!

 

[mississaugamom]

There's a BIG difference in space between the Cat 11 and the Cat 10's. (We did a Cat 11 the first time around). Most of the 10's have the steamer trunk for storage as well as the split bath.

Worth the upgrade for the Med Cruise!

 

[Hygiene99]

Our group of gals fly out tomorrow morning, and should all be at the hotel by 4 pm.

To say that we're excited would be a major understatement!!

Maybe this will help !!!

Live shots from the Magic Sorta!

Pj & the desserts Palo CM

Tracy & Bill

Sharon and JM - 2canadianfans

 

[winotracy]

Here is my last post from the beautiful Disney Magic They will be forcing us off the ship in 1 1/2 hours. Getting excited to see the Wonder tomorrow! It has been so much fun meeting so many people -- cast, crew and guests as well.

Back to Pirate Night. Went to Palo to see if we could get the private room for dinner on Thursday or Friday, but no, it was full. But PJ asked us to come for one drink before we went to Topsiders for dinner. We did, but no one gave Christina the bartender the memo. Three later, we were stumbling over to Topsiders. The food was the same as the dining room. The mood was much different than during the day. We enjoyed the company too. Kris and Pat (Kristink) were there so we joined them. Afterwards was the Pirate Deck Party. The party has changed from the last time we saw it. Basically the same idea, but different characters doing the stunts Will leave it at that.

We stayed after and had a bite to eat at the buffet and watch POC. They had POC on the Dumbotron and POC II in the Walt Disney Theater. We didn't last too long because it got awfully windy on Deck 10. So then we called it a night. But it was amazing to sit there with the wind blowing on our faces and watching them with their wind on their faces on the pirate ship!!

Thursday we did nothing. Ok, actually we went to the pool, then the rainforest room, then the pool, then the seafood buffet, then the pool. Then got ready for dinner. I was checking e-mail in the Cove Cafe when I heard Mike's voice (sarangl's DH). They were talking with someone, but I stopped to say hello. Turns out they were talking with WebmasterPete! He asked me to sit down too, so we all chatted for a bit. It was really nice to meet him and thank him for the boards. By the time we were done chatting, Disney Dreams had started so we opted to wait until next week to see it.

We were walking on deck 10 taking photos of the sunset when Bill spotted dolphins. We moved back to the back of the ship but didn't get a good picture of them. We did get a picture (many pictures) of the sunset. PJ came out of Palo to check out the sunset and asked us to come in for one drink. It ended up being two, but we did make it to dinner in time. LOBSTER NIGHT!!!! Very good!! Then we ended up in Sessions.

I got my picture taken with the friend of Tarzan, after setting up a scene with him to make Will and David jealous

Friday was Castaway Cay! The island was beautiful!!! We spent the day with Sara and Mike. We swam the snorkeling trail backwards and then went to Heads Up Bar. Two things I have never done on the island. Got a picture with Mickey underwater!! After our first Konk Kooler, we headed to Serenity Beach. There we sat for a while. Then snorkeled out to the first wreck. That was KEWL!!! Lots of fish!! Then we sat in the shade. Yes, I am not lobster Winotracy

We started packing when we returned and then we had a couple visitors. Sharon stopped by and then Sara and Mike came by. It's so hard to say goodbye!! We reminded everyone that we were having drinks in Palo again at 7 and they should come up. Marianne and Thom, Vicki and Clint, Sara and Mike, Sharon and JM all stopped up. We exchanged contact info and headed down to Parrot Cay for dinner.

At dinner, we exchanged e-mails with our tablemates, had a great meal again, and said our preliminary goodbyes. I found out that night that WebmasterPete had been at the table right next to us all week After dinner we went back to the room and finished packing then off to Sessions to say goodbye to everyone again. Finished up in the Internet Cafe at nearly 12 o'clock and said goodbye to some of the entertainment this week, Don and Tommie. Ran into Kris and said goodbye to her. We're hoping to see a few of the DISers at our wine and cheese meet tonight and looking forward to seeing them again in the future.

I will not have unlimited access next week, so my posts will be limited. Part One of the cruise has been outstanding!!

 

[KristinK]

Wino/Rummo/Martini-o Tracy - Mom and I are off the ship and back at her house, and I just got my first chance to read thru your trip report!! Great report and I can't wait to be reading your 11-day report...

It was wonderful to meet you and Bill, and so many GREAT folks on our first (definitely not last!) cruise - SaraAngel & hubby, SeaDooken & wife, Foxboys, etc., You guys just took us right under your wings and showed us how it's done! A great experience became a phenomenal one because of our new DIS friends!

Mom and I will be posting a trip report here also - hopefully I'll get started today once the shaking stops from the alcohol withdrawl... I'm off to find a buffet around here for lunch, but my dad says I'm going to have to "MAKE MY OWN?!?!" What's up with that??

Hopefully we'll see you all tomorrow, but if not, have a WONDERFUL cruise!!

KrisTink

 

[captchris]

I just read your TR. It was great, as I was totally able to relate being on the ship with you. Sorry I wasn't able to meet, but with all the people on the ship, my chances were slim!

It was a great cruise!

PS I hope my kids weren't the ones misbehaving! LOL

 

[winotracy]

Kris, we had a great time with you and Pat. Chris, I wish we could have met you. There were a lot of DISers we didn't meet.

This week has been incredible. Yesterday, we got a call from Andy and Ray on the Magic! It was really cool

Today we are in St. Lucia. We arrive in about 4 hours. Can't wait!! Yesterday we were snorkeling in St. Johns at practically a deserted beach. It was fantastic!! Today is also the Castaway Clubhouse party. Rumors are floating around that we will be able to go in the kids club one of these days and that there will be a crew talent show.

 

[DMMarla07860]

would someone find out if travis will be on the ship in march or if he is on there now?

 

[winotracy]

We're back! Laundry is done. Most of the packing is done. Went and got Carson today. We missed him dearly. I will start to finish my trip report in the next few days.

 

[Dancind]

Tracey, looking forward to reading your report on the 11 day. Particularly, how did the creme brulee compare? I thought the Wonder food was exceptionally good, the first night's meal was truly impressive. I ate so much, and I usually quit eating on cruises!

Loved the Wonder cruise staff too, it was so much fun to see Ian again. Do you remember him from the Oct. '02 Magic cruise? He was the Bingo caller!

 

[winotracy]

The creme brulee was much, much better!! No lumps! And a nice coating on top.

I do remember Ian from 2002 and also again in 2005. He was always in the pool last year and again this year. What a riot!!

I started writing my report when I get free moments and hope to start typing in the first day (actually Saturday and Sunday) tonight.

 

[winotracy]

On Saturday we went to breakfast and said our goodbyes. We all exchanged e-mail addresses and hugged our servers. We left and found Michael the porter to help us with our bags. The location for car rental pick up has changed and is now closer to the port terminal. We waited just a minute or two and the Avis bus picked us up.

Once we got the car, it was off to Orlando to pick up Peter and Jenn (Hygiene99). We knew we would be late as we didn't get the car until 9:30 and their plane would be in at 10:00. Jenn called us when we were about 20 miles away. In no time we were at the airport and picked them up. It was great to see them again. We decided to go check in a Old Key West. Our room was linked with Scott's (ScottH) and it was not ready. If we wanted another room, we could have gotten one right away, but decided it was best to wait. We parked the car in the lot where our room was and were going to head over to DTD by boat. When we got out of the car, Scott and Lynn were walking to the parking lot! I recognized Scott immediately from his grass skirt picture with Bob. They were going to DTD too so we all went together. We had lunch at Earl of Sandwich. This was our first time there and the food was great! After lunch we stopped at Goofy's Candy Store and I called twin Leslie to arrange for delivery of the cheese for the wine and cheese party. Leslie and Elaine would get there around 3:00. We decided to head back to OKW and swim. I was trying to limit the sun exposure because I got a bit too much at Castaway Cay on Friday. Scott let us use his room to change because ours wasn't ready. We did notice cleaning supplies outside of the one bedroom next door so Peter tried our keys there and they worked!! Good thing we waited for our room to be ready! It wasn't ready yet, but we knew which room it would be.

After swimming, we started bringing stuff to the room and it still wasn't ready, but almost so housekeeping let us bring our stuff in. After she left, I started sorting laundry. Shortly after, people starting arriving at Scott's. It was so much fun meeting so many people that I had corresponded with over the previous year. I kept running between our room and Scott's party to do laundry, but in no time the laundry was done. Leslie offered to keep some stuff at her MouseHouse until we got back. This was great so I didn't have to make room for stuff we wouldn't be using on the second cruise. After everyone left, we went to a place for burgers at OKW (by the boat dock - don't remember the name of the place). Then I finished repacking and getting everything ready for morning.

Sunday:

We didn't sleep well, we were too excited to sleep!! We were up early and often. I heard Peter leave the room about 6:15 and I got up and got moving. I don't recall what time we left but it must have been by 7:30. We returned the car and got to the port to find we were the fifth group in line. Tigger24 was first. She said they got there by 7:30. We met more people waiting for the port to open and then at 10:00 they let us in the terminal. Shortly after that, we had our key to the world cards and boarding group number 3. This appeared to be the first general boarding group. We found a place to park ourselves by the Mickey Ears to the ship. We met a lot of people in the terminal. It was so much fun. I really enjoyed finally meeting Christina and had an interesting conversation with Haley (krdisneybound's niece?). She was wondering why Mickey was wearing a funny outfit. Christie told her it was because he was the Captain. She was wondering if Mickey would let her drive the boat. I told her to ask him if she could. Don't know how that all ended up LOL.

More later!!

 

[winotracy]

Sunday continued:

We finally met Sue and Christina (SweetSue). christina was so excited to meet me. She seemed a bit confused in the beginning though and I think she thought I was going to be a kid. Just a big kid! By the time we were ready to go onboard I had met everyone from our table except Bob and Lee.

We walked onboard when boarding number three was called. It was a little different in the atrium, but to be honest, I'm not sure what it was (other than of course Tritons and Ariel). It seems to me the color of the carpet is different, but I'm not certain (will have to check photos). We made our way to lunch at Parrot Cay. This was a first for us as we usually go to Topsiders. We had lunch at our table - Table 23. The buffet was good, but there were NO SHRIMP!!!!!!!! We were assured there would be shrimp on the cruise, just not on this buffet. As it turned out, they had shrimp at Beach Blanket Buffet.

After lunch we were leaving Parrot Cay and I heard my name. I turned and it was Bob and Lee! Finally I got to meet them! We went up to Deck 9 and got a Coke, then went to Quiet Cove. There were two people in the pool already so we changed into our suits and got in the pool. Due to the sun I got in the past few days, I tried to sit in shady areas or put a towel around my back. The people in the pool said we obviously have cruised before since we packed swimsuits in our carryon. They had cruised 30 and 34 times. The joys of living in Florida!!

Once our room was ready, we went down to get rid of our carryon. We were in 7614, category 5. I loved our room location, very close to the aft lifts, but then I realized we were right across from the CM access and lifts (where they bring in the luggage, etc.). It was very noisy on the first day and I noticed it first thing the next morning, but after that, never noticed any noise. It actually turned out to be great on Friday night when they took our luggage. I put one bag to hold our door open and started to bring the luggage out and a CM came in and took all of it for us and put it in the piles in the room. I had less to do!!

Back to Sunday. Our bags kept arriving and I kept unpacking. I felt so much better this cruise as I could put things together in one place rather than spreading it all out. One time when I looked outside for more luggage, I noticed that the CMs were using one of my bags to hold their door open I said I can see why my bags aren't coming and they gave me that one It was the bag with the over the door shoe holder so I really needed it. When we left for the 3:00 DIS meet, all bags had arrived but one. Met quite a few more people, including WebmasterRegina who I had spoken to many times before, but never met. It was weird meeting some of the people that I felt I totally knew, but had no idea who they were until I saw their nametags.

After the meet we went back to our room to get our life jackets. I saw our last bag in the room across the hall and our cabin steward Nerine gave it to me. We were hoping that we wouldn't be outside for the muster drill and we weren't!! We were again in Topsiders. The only time we've been outside was when we were in 6590 on the PC cruise.

After the drill we dropped off the life jackets and Bill got on his grass skirt. We went up to the sailaway party. Hollywood was up there and talking to some of the DISers. He kept mentioning the DISboards which got a rise from our group. Not long after the sailaway, we were talking with Bob and Cheryl and Bob and Lee. They asked us if we wanted to play Pub Quest with them. We said we would.

We then went back to the room and got dressed for dinner and the show. We went to the show with Peter and Jenn and then to Pub Quest after. I think the usual comedians that DCL uses are getting boring to me. I didn't laugh nearly as much as I did before, though some of it was funny. I think they need to work on their acts and freshen it up. The other thing I was thankful for is that we didn't go to many of the cabaret acts and first and last shows on the Magic so it wasn't a repeat for us.

We went to Diversions after the show and could not find Bob, Cheryl, Bob or Lee. In fact there weren't many people there. We looked a little lost I'm sure and then turned and saw Rich Purpura. We said hello and told him we saw the show. Then I noticed he was chatting with Tom McAlpin. I gave Tom my 11 days in Paradise pin. We talked about being on the Magic the previous week. Shortly, the Diversions landlord Rich asked if we were there for Pub Quest. We said we were but couldn't find the rest of our team. After chatting about Wisconsin and cheese curds with Rich P. and Tom, Rich (landlord) named our team the Cheese Curds. We had to play foozball with the Garbage Plates, fellow DISers. Bill and I squeaked out a win.

It was then off to dinner in Animator's Palate. This was the rotation we requested. I think what the Wonder did with dining rotations was much smarter than the Magic. On the Magic we had 2147 guests and they eliminated one rotation - LAP for late dining. On the Wonder we had 1900 and some guests and they spread out the guests more. We had quite a few empty tables on our rotation. This has the potential to make service faster because the kitchen is not working with a crowded restaurant and the servers have less tables. However, this did not turn out to be the case. We were one of the last tables to leave every night. This was probably due to having 12 people at our table, which we found out later is difficult because the server can't put all of our entrees on the tray at once. We met Charlie (server) and Chris (asst server). Chris was fairly new. I had a different opinion of Chris than others on our table. I think he was trying really hard to be fun that the service was lacking. I think it is more important to get the service down first and then have more fun. I think everyone's opinion of Charlie suffered because he was covering for Chris so often getting us water, etc. in the first part of the week. We also met Michelle our head server. Let me say Michelle was the best head server we have ever had. At first I thought she wasn't going to be very friendly, but after a couple days, she was great! Every time we saw her we made a point of stopping to say hi.

After dinner we went to WaveBands for the Match your Mate game show. We got there a bit late and the couples had already been selected. The middle couple was tde1969 (Bill and Tim) from the DISboards. I think this may have been the first time the Wonder had ever had a gay couple in this show. We did note that Tom McAlpin was in the audience. Between Bill and Tim and the couple that had been married 34 years (I think), we were laughing so hard!

After the show, it was time for bed.