cabaca2011
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2011
- Messages
- 4
June 7th to June 12th Double Dip Cruise
1) Father and Son Cruise. (Son:10)
2) Arrived the afternoon before (June 6th) and spent night at Airport Marriott (free using Marriott Rewards Points). Great pool.
3) We used Executive VIP Limo to get to port on the 7th. We had a Stretch Limo and had a great rate ($125 + tip). 8:30 a.m. pick-up at hotel. Driver even took us to McDonalds for breakfast stop since we were very early to port (drive only took about 35 minutes from hotel to port.) since there was not any traffic on Tuesday morning.
4) We left McDonalds and arrived to the port at 9:35 a.m. after eating breakfast. We were the fifth group in line. Porters came by to pick-up luggage.
5) The port opened at about 10:05 a.m. (There were still people getting off the previous cruise until then.) We went smoothly through the security check and up to check in. (Please note that the terminal was very empty at this time as very few people arrived until about 10:45 a.m.) We filled out the medical form and asked about the boarding number. Were told that boarding number would be given at the check-in counter. We checked in and were given #2. It was now about 10:20 a.m. and we went to sit down at the tables and chairs that are to the right of the entrance line ropes before you get to the Concierge Area. (No one sits at these as everyone assumes that these are for someone important, etc.) Later, since we only used two chairs we offered the other chairs to another family and had a great conversation with them. (They had checked in at the airport and had #2 also.) At 11:45 a.m. Family of Day, Concierge, Platinum, etc. boarded. We boarded at about 11:50 a.m. and went directly to Cabanas. Very painless boarding and then we had a great meal. We sat ourselves and went to each buffet station. (Most of the folks did not understand this concept.)
6) We looked around the ship awhile after lunch and then went to our cabin at 1:30 p.m. We changed and went swimming. Not crowded at all. The Aqua Duck had a line but we waited until the evening the next day.
7) We went back to the room at 3:00 p.m. and our luggage had arrived. We unpacked and went to explore before the Life Boat Drill. The drill went very smoothly, quickly, and professionally.
8) We went to relax and change for supper (Main Seating). (ERAAE rotation) All restaurants were very good. Server: Daniel from Hungary and ***t. Server: Camilla from Brazil were both very, very good and we were very lucky to have them. Head Server: Ronald (Yuk!!!!) The other folks (two families of 3 each) were super great and we really enjoyed them.
9) We ate in Cabanas for breakfast every day (except disembarkment) and for lunch on the sea day. Castaway Cay had several different types of lunch items (different ribs and fish) besides regular burgers and hot dogs for each of the two stops. The food was very good. Ate at Cookies the 1st stop and Cookies Two the 2nd stop.
10) Enjoyed both days at Castaway Cay. Plenty to do and the island was not crowded. Plenty of empty chairs and hammocks both days on the family beaches. Snorkeling was very fun as was swimming. Also played ping-pong, basketball, etc.
11) Nassau was a lot of fun. We went to Atlantis and wish we could have had three or four days there to do and see everything. We will return some day to spend at least four days to experience the whole resort. It really was a lot of fun. Meal voucher was decent food. Everyone was very friendly.
12) The day at sea we went swimming (not really that crowded), played miniature golf, did the Mid Ship Detective twice, played basketball on the Sports Court, and played shuffle board. There was plenty to do and plenty of space to do it.
13) We rode the Aqua Duck a total of 35 times during the cruise. The best time to ride is from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each night. The 2nd night, we rode 15 times straight from 8:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. There was not any wait. All you had to do is ride, go back up the stairs, and ride again. (Everyone was at the show or at the second dinner seating.) The 3rd evening was the same, but we rode only 9 times but stopped because of the chill from the wind once you got off the raft and you got chilly going back up the stairs. The 4th evening we rode 5 times but stopped again because of the chilly wind. The last night we rode only 6 times and stopped because we were tired.
14) We went to the Alfred and Seymour show. They are comedians and are funny but 90% of their show was the same as the one we saw when they did it on the Magic during the summer of 2009. We did not go to any of the other shows opting to go swimming and ride the Aqua Duck instead.
15) My son is almost 11 and he felt that he was too old for the Oceaneer Club/Lab. He did not attend this. He probably would have gone to Edge to hang out, but was not yet 11.
16) Disembarkment was a breeze. We got up at 7:30 a.m. and got ready (shower, etc.). Did not eat on the ship (Stopped later at McDonalds). We went downstairs and got in line at about 8:15 a.m. A porter asked if we needed assistance and he took us right to our luggage in our assigned area. (Without him, it would have taken much longer as he knew where within our assigned Gray Daisy luggage area, our luggage would be.) He then took us through the short line for customs (that very few persons were in compared to the other lines). Apparently this line was mainly for those who were not U.S. residents but anyone can go through it according to the porter. We were off the ship by 8:30 a.m. and got on the second shuttle to Budget Rental. We arrived at Budget by 9:00 a.m., went to McDonalds and were at Kennedy Space Center by 10:00 a.m.
17) We stayed on the 6th deck aft in a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom. Plenty of space and the Stateroom Host (Nata from Indonesia) was vey good. He even showed my son how to make the towel animals each night and gave my son a nice certificate stating as such.
18) We found that the aft elevators were the best to use most of the time for all of our journeys and were located only a couple of staterooms down from our stateroom. The other elevators were not crowded when we used them to go to supper.
19) Overall, the ship and Castaway Cay did not feel crowded at all. Plenty of space and plenty of room to do whatever or whatever not you wished to do.
20) We had only two dislikes: Stateroom Alarm Clock and Head Server: Ronald (Yuk!!!). Everything else was great and we really had a great time.
1) Father and Son Cruise. (Son:10)
2) Arrived the afternoon before (June 6th) and spent night at Airport Marriott (free using Marriott Rewards Points). Great pool.
3) We used Executive VIP Limo to get to port on the 7th. We had a Stretch Limo and had a great rate ($125 + tip). 8:30 a.m. pick-up at hotel. Driver even took us to McDonalds for breakfast stop since we were very early to port (drive only took about 35 minutes from hotel to port.) since there was not any traffic on Tuesday morning.
4) We left McDonalds and arrived to the port at 9:35 a.m. after eating breakfast. We were the fifth group in line. Porters came by to pick-up luggage.
5) The port opened at about 10:05 a.m. (There were still people getting off the previous cruise until then.) We went smoothly through the security check and up to check in. (Please note that the terminal was very empty at this time as very few people arrived until about 10:45 a.m.) We filled out the medical form and asked about the boarding number. Were told that boarding number would be given at the check-in counter. We checked in and were given #2. It was now about 10:20 a.m. and we went to sit down at the tables and chairs that are to the right of the entrance line ropes before you get to the Concierge Area. (No one sits at these as everyone assumes that these are for someone important, etc.) Later, since we only used two chairs we offered the other chairs to another family and had a great conversation with them. (They had checked in at the airport and had #2 also.) At 11:45 a.m. Family of Day, Concierge, Platinum, etc. boarded. We boarded at about 11:50 a.m. and went directly to Cabanas. Very painless boarding and then we had a great meal. We sat ourselves and went to each buffet station. (Most of the folks did not understand this concept.)
6) We looked around the ship awhile after lunch and then went to our cabin at 1:30 p.m. We changed and went swimming. Not crowded at all. The Aqua Duck had a line but we waited until the evening the next day.
7) We went back to the room at 3:00 p.m. and our luggage had arrived. We unpacked and went to explore before the Life Boat Drill. The drill went very smoothly, quickly, and professionally.
8) We went to relax and change for supper (Main Seating). (ERAAE rotation) All restaurants were very good. Server: Daniel from Hungary and ***t. Server: Camilla from Brazil were both very, very good and we were very lucky to have them. Head Server: Ronald (Yuk!!!!) The other folks (two families of 3 each) were super great and we really enjoyed them.
9) We ate in Cabanas for breakfast every day (except disembarkment) and for lunch on the sea day. Castaway Cay had several different types of lunch items (different ribs and fish) besides regular burgers and hot dogs for each of the two stops. The food was very good. Ate at Cookies the 1st stop and Cookies Two the 2nd stop.
10) Enjoyed both days at Castaway Cay. Plenty to do and the island was not crowded. Plenty of empty chairs and hammocks both days on the family beaches. Snorkeling was very fun as was swimming. Also played ping-pong, basketball, etc.
11) Nassau was a lot of fun. We went to Atlantis and wish we could have had three or four days there to do and see everything. We will return some day to spend at least four days to experience the whole resort. It really was a lot of fun. Meal voucher was decent food. Everyone was very friendly.
12) The day at sea we went swimming (not really that crowded), played miniature golf, did the Mid Ship Detective twice, played basketball on the Sports Court, and played shuffle board. There was plenty to do and plenty of space to do it.
13) We rode the Aqua Duck a total of 35 times during the cruise. The best time to ride is from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each night. The 2nd night, we rode 15 times straight from 8:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. There was not any wait. All you had to do is ride, go back up the stairs, and ride again. (Everyone was at the show or at the second dinner seating.) The 3rd evening was the same, but we rode only 9 times but stopped because of the chill from the wind once you got off the raft and you got chilly going back up the stairs. The 4th evening we rode 5 times but stopped again because of the chilly wind. The last night we rode only 6 times and stopped because we were tired.
14) We went to the Alfred and Seymour show. They are comedians and are funny but 90% of their show was the same as the one we saw when they did it on the Magic during the summer of 2009. We did not go to any of the other shows opting to go swimming and ride the Aqua Duck instead.
15) My son is almost 11 and he felt that he was too old for the Oceaneer Club/Lab. He did not attend this. He probably would have gone to Edge to hang out, but was not yet 11.
16) Disembarkment was a breeze. We got up at 7:30 a.m. and got ready (shower, etc.). Did not eat on the ship (Stopped later at McDonalds). We went downstairs and got in line at about 8:15 a.m. A porter asked if we needed assistance and he took us right to our luggage in our assigned area. (Without him, it would have taken much longer as he knew where within our assigned Gray Daisy luggage area, our luggage would be.) He then took us through the short line for customs (that very few persons were in compared to the other lines). Apparently this line was mainly for those who were not U.S. residents but anyone can go through it according to the porter. We were off the ship by 8:30 a.m. and got on the second shuttle to Budget Rental. We arrived at Budget by 9:00 a.m., went to McDonalds and were at Kennedy Space Center by 10:00 a.m.
17) We stayed on the 6th deck aft in a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom. Plenty of space and the Stateroom Host (Nata from Indonesia) was vey good. He even showed my son how to make the towel animals each night and gave my son a nice certificate stating as such.
18) We found that the aft elevators were the best to use most of the time for all of our journeys and were located only a couple of staterooms down from our stateroom. The other elevators were not crowded when we used them to go to supper.
19) Overall, the ship and Castaway Cay did not feel crowded at all. Plenty of space and plenty of room to do whatever or whatever not you wished to do.
20) We had only two dislikes: Stateroom Alarm Clock and Head Server: Ronald (Yuk!!!). Everything else was great and we really had a great time.
