Trip Report: My first ever!!

[maryr1oz]

Just came across your report, and loving it so far!! I'm in

 

[shushh]

I know I've been AWOL for a while but I've been lurking. Just don't seem to have time to post things...

Great photos! Especially the view of the city from the TOTR. Love that lovely brick look of Chelsea markets. Did the kids enjoy High Line Park? We'd love to go back in warmer weather.

And you didn't get to go to B&H?!?!!??! TRAGEDY!!!!

 

[Travel Mum]

Yep, loving your trip report Jade and so great that it is from a family of five perspective!

 

[Jade+3]

Oh dear, how neglected is my poor trip report! I have every excuse under the sun - dance concerts, swimming carnivals, end of school year, busy at work, computer troubles, annoying children taking over the computer, all combined with the post holiday blues.

I will make an effort to update shortly, before I forget all the details.

 

[gogo65]

Loving your trip report Jade
Look forward to reading more

 

[alicia1506]

loving your report, especially the NYC section -- i got so ill when we were there, that we didn't get to do TOTR or empire state or statue of liberty, so i'm living vicariously through your pics.

can't wait to go back to nyc in 2013 and do it up right.

 

[Travel Mum]

Jade, I was just re-reading your trip report (as I seemed to remember you stayed at Radio City Apartments and my sister was asking about them) and was happily enjoying reading along until I realised YOU NEVER FINISHED IT!!!

Is there any chance you will? It would be great to hear how the rest of your trip went

 

[Jade+3]

Jade, I was just re-reading your trip report (as I seemed to remember you stayed at Radio City Apartments and my sister was asking about them) and was happily enjoying reading along until I realised YOU NEVER FINISHED IT!!!

Is there any chance you will? It would be great to hear how the rest of your trip went

Hi Travel Mum

I have been away, hence the late reply. No, I never finished!! I admire anyone who can write a detailed trip report or a blog. I am so slack that I still have not edited my photo's.

 

[Travel Mum]

Oh what a shame but understandable as it is a big thing to do and probably easiest to do in the first month or two after you get home while you are in the post-holiday blues as I found that doing my trip report really helped me with that.

I was particularly interested in yours as it's not often I get to read of other family-of-five experiences and because I think you stayed at POR while at WDW like we did so I was keen to hear your thoughts.

 

[Jade+3]

Travel Mum, we stayed at CBR. Our youngest was under 3 and therefore not included in the occupancy. We loved the resort and the kids are disappointed that we are not staying there next year. I am telling them they will like POR just as much.

I will try and get around to posting some photo's.

 

[Travel Mum]

Oh that would be great Jade!

 

[5ofus]

I don't know how I missed this when you posted it Jade! I've enjoyed reading through it all now though and wish you had finished, although I can completely understand why you didn't

Travelmum have you already stayed at POR? We're a family of five as well and POR is where we're likely to stay when we go to WDW (not until 2015, but never too early to start planning!) for the majority of the time. We're also looking at staying the Cars section in AoA for a few nights since we have three Cars-mad boys.

 

[Jade+3]

OK, time to stop being slack and try and remember the events of almost 1 year ago

DAY 11 - Miami - Cruise

It was a beautiful sunrise in Miami. It was the only sunrise I was up early enough to catch for our entire holiday, and considering I was up all night doing laundry, I have no idea why I woke so early.

The view from the balcony

We would be boarding one of those beautiful ships shortly.

We headed down to the buffet for breakfast. Breakfast for 2 adults was included in our rate. We had to pay for 2 of the kids (I think it was $4.99 each). The buffet at the Marriott was beautiful. Plenty of fresh food. The only thing I did not like was our table. The dining room overlooked the bay, but we were ushered to booths in what looked like an overflow room. We were the only people seated in the area and the server seemed to forget about us. We had to hunt her down to get coffee or juice refills. After breakfast I headed back to the room to pack while DH took the kids to a playground down the street.

We headed to the Port of Miami around mid-day. We had to get a town car/van which was a totally over priced, but not much else we could do without a car seat for DS2 to use in the taxi.

For once we picked the quick security line. There was no wait at the international guests check in queue. We bypassed the welcome aboard photo and were on the ship in no time. We headed to the buffet for lunch as our rooms would not be ready for some time, and we needed to put down our carry on bags which were getting heavy.

The buffet was packed. The only seat we could find was outside, and thankfully undercover as it started to rain. The buffet stations were all over the place. On the outside, near the pool was the grill (hamburgers, hot dogs and fries) and the wok (cooked to order stir fry - never got to try this as the line was too long). Inside there were 2 identical buffet lines. The lunch theme changed every day, dinner was a selection from the dining room menu. The 24 hour drink station had tea, coffee, iced tea, water and lemonade. Juice was available at breakfast. There was a salad bar, two dessert stations, and 24 hour ice cream machine. Finally there was a pizza bar and sandwich bar. The sandwich bar was actually toasted/grilled sandwiches. We were expecting something more like Subway. We were also caught out like this at Earl of Sandwich. They looked at me like I had rocks in my head when I asked if I could have something not toasted. I think the sandwiches and pizza may have been open 24 ours.

After numerous trips to the buffet we finally ate lunch (how I wish my kids would all eat the same foods). I am waiting for the day when they are old enough to get their own food and I can actually sit down and eat.

Our room was ready after lunch so we dropped our bags and went to sign the kids up for Camp Carnival. DS2 was not impressed with his Camp Carnival wrist band. He was still screaming hysterically when we went to the muster station. We were directed to sit up the front, and it was no wonder none of the other passengers would sit near us. The staff would not let us take him outside so everyone listened to his screaming. We then had to make our way up to the life boats.

DH took DS2 back to the cabin while the other kids and I explored the ship. The Carnival Imagination is not a huge ship, and I think it is one of the older ships in the fleet. However it was fine for us. It was only a 4 night cruise and it was so cheap in comparison to the Disney cruise we had taken 2 years before.

We discoverd waterworks on the top deck. The kids raced back to change, and this is where we spent the rest of the afternoon.

We had opted for any time dining in the main dining room. No food porn from tonights meal. I had steak (which I had for all 3 meal in the dining room). The service was good, but not as good as Disney. The wait staff do a performance during the meal service. Our waiter picked DD to go and dance with him. She is a pretty good little dancer for a 6 year old. There was a crowd of people videoing her but silly me did not take the camera.

Kids went to Camp Carnival after dinner. DS2 lasted a whole 5 minutes before they paged us to come and get him. We had planned to go to the gym, but ended up at the buffet eating more dessert and drinking coffee.

Early night as we were arriving at Key West early in the morning.

I should add here that we picked this cruise as we could have 5 people in a stateroom, and it was cheap. It was a 4 night cruise. We paid $1400 USD in total for 5 of us, including tips. I do have pictures which I will add to another post.

 

[Travel Mum]

Oh awesome Jade, thanks so much for continuing your TR!! That's great to read a recount of a Carnival cruise because we get so many Disney cruise recounts plus recently a couple of us did Royal Caribbean ones. Considering this was a year ago, you are doing very well with your remembering Please do continue when you have a chance