ok let's get started:
Day 1
here is a link for todays pictures because each day has at least 100 pictures and I am having trouble posting separate ones so for now I will just post a link for that day and you can enjoy them all.
http://figment1986.smugmug.com/gallery/5022258_qzTqE/1/301473665_Qnwzv
To refresh your memory. There were four of us in two cabins. My mother(age 73) my DH( age 53) myself(39) and my personal photographer. Well he is my DS(21)and also a member of the boards so if you see the name figment1986 weighing in in this thread, its him. And the pictures posted are all his.
Ok lets get started. We live in Tampa Florida, which is just a little over 2-hour drive to the port. I checked into the cost of driving to Orlando airport and taking the shuttle over, and found out it was actually cheaper to just rent a car one way. My mother lives in Iowa. She flew down early to spend some extra time visiting because my 25-year-old daughter couldnt go on the cruise with us. Unfortunately she had to work. So they spent a couple of days shopping and enjoying each others company.
On Friday we picked up the minivan from
Avis. We spent the rest of the night packing up six pieces of luggage and too many carry ons to count.
Finally Saturday morning arrived. We hopped into the van and drove to port Canaveral. We got to the avis counter around 12:30, turned the car in and grabbed the shuttle to the ship. We werent the only ones traveling that day, there were two other couples that were sailing on the carnival glory that afternoon. Avis is right down the road from the port so in no time at all we were dropping our luggage off with security and heading into the terminal.
After passing through security, we headed up the escalator to check in. I expected a big crowd, but there really werent that many people left in the terminal. We actually waited just a few minutes in line to check in. We did have a couple of small glitches with out paperwork but for the most part things went smoothly. We finished check in and headed for the line to board. We didnt get a group number because they had just called open boarding before we arrived. Just a note, I know everyone talks about getting on the ship early but to be honest it was nice not waiting with 1100 to board. We actually were behind goofy who had his suitcase, got his picture taken and was announced as if he were a regular passenger. I have to admit that it was nice to be announced and welcomed aboard as if you are a VIP. Really makes things special. For those of you who dont know, you board on the third floor, not far from guest relations. I dont know if it was just for our cruise, or if they do this for all, but they had an ice sculpture of the ship placed nearby with welcomed aboard, carved into a melon.
It was almost 1:30 , so we decided to drop off our stuff in the cabin and then go to topsiders to get something to eat. While at lunch we were offered a deal on a case of water which we decided to take. I have to say that this was the only time while onboard that anyone came up to me and offered me something. The rest of the time if anything was on special or for sail, it was listed in the navigator and wasnt even announced over the intercom. A big difference from other cruises I have taken.
After lunch , my son took the walking tour of the ship while hubby mom and I returned to cabin for a break until lifeboat drill.
The lifeboat drill took place on deck 4 at 4:00 pm. It only lasts about 15 minutes or so and yes they do take attendance. After the drill, DS and I handed hubby our life jackets and he went back to the cabin while we headed up to deck 9 for the sailaway party, aka adventures away. The ariel view had a map of all the places we were going and the cruise staff danced along with the characters. Of course they had the final countdown and then the horn sounded. I swear that horn gives me shivers whenever I hear it. In no time at all we were off blowing kisses and waving goodbye to the staff in the terminal.
We headed back to the cabin where to our surprise, our luggage had already started arriving. DH had already begun to unpack and hang up things in the closet. The steamer trunk had plenty of space for things that couldnt be hung up and there was plenty of drawer space for underwear and swimsuits. One thing to note. We had three big suitcases and then three smaller ones a piece. And unfortunately they didnt fit under the bed. So we nested the smaller ones in the larger and stacked the three big ones in the closet. Oh one more thing, we also brought a small popup hamper for dirty clothes. I think it was the best thing we brought on the cruise.
Once unpacked my mom, son and I decided to go to the show. That night it was All Aboard and featured John Charles, and the hypnotist Ricky Kalmon as well as the performers of the Disney magic and of course Brent, the cruise director. After the show my son and I took in the Mickey Mania show in Studio Sea and then met my DH and Mom at animators palette for the Let the Magic Begin Dinner. Our Server was levent from turkey and our assistant server was Adrian from New Zealand. Because it was the first night, it took almost two hours to finish dinner. By then it was almost 10:30 so my DH and I decided to call it a night, while my son headed to rockin bar D to meet the cruise staff and have a good time.
