We don't wanna go home!!! Nov 1-8, 2008 Magic Western

[i<3castawaycay123]

When we went on our 3rd cruise back in October 2007, my dad and I did the exact same dolphin swim at the same place! We loved it, even though it was pouring down rain. When my dad did the foot push he yelled, "I'm king of the world!" and flexed his muscles, it was an awesome pic so we got it! We had a bad experience because it was raining. One little boy on the Disney Cruise slipped on the wet wood and broke his leg like in 2 or 3 different parts and he was in a full body cast to keep from moving. Another girl got stung by a jellyfish. We loved it, even though those things happened. I'm glad you guys had a great time!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Excellent updates, Ellen! That picture of the two dolphins out of the water is amazing. Some of your photos look like brochure material!

I didn't know you formerly worked at an aquarium. One of my favorite animals on the planet is the manatee, closely followed by dolphins. I would LOVE for our family to swim with the dolphins. That is a great experience that you all got to share with your boys. Nice!

 

[podsnel]

Love the dolphin pics!!! We are doing a Dolphin Excursion in June- and cannot wait!!!!

That's excellent! Have fun!!

El - All I can say is WOW! AMAZING!

Thanks, sweetie!

I love your TR. What an awesome day in Mexico. Did you find Chankanaab crowded (doesn't seem like it in the pics)? Pool looks nice!

Hi! No, I didn't think it was crowded at Chankanaab at all- just the right amount of people. I forgot to mention we all got lockers to put our stuff into, so there was no worrying over where's my wallet gonna go while I'm hangin with the dolphins.

Of all the posts I just caught up on (and believe me, I've been sitting here a LOOOOONG time, neglecting work!) this one had me laughing so hard!!!! Kept thinking you were gonna tell us about your lovely parting gifts or something!

Bob, tell us what she's won! Yea, that one had me laughing really hard too!

And NO, we didn't make it to WDW this month - wow, I sound like a spoiled brat, don't I? But we totally missed out on all the lights this year. Oh, well, there's always next year.

Your report is wonderful!!! I keep bringing it up to DH and he just rolls his eyes at me. He tells me we need to try this el cheapo Carnival cruise that leaves from here in town, just to make sure we enjoy the whole cruise thing. I'm a little concerned about it though..... Think we're gonna do something on Carnival in the spring to "test the waters" so to speak. I'm afraid that I will feel obligated to hop off in each port and rush rush rush. When we go to Jamaica, we do NOTHING but float in the pool, float in the ocean, oh, and hang by the pool bar. We have yet to see Dunns River Falls, we just do nothing but relax. We never leave the resort. So on a cruise will I feel like I HAVE to disembark in each port? That is the question.

OK, enough about me! On to your report! It's awesome!

I'd be the same way you are if I lived in Fla- at WDW as much as humanly possible! There has to be some perk for livin' with all those lizards and snakes!! Glad you've got DH at least thinking about a cruise! Just remember on that Carnival cruise, DCL will be much nicer- sometimes the short cruises on Carnival are more "party boats" (not that there's anything WRONG with that), so keep that in mind. It's up to you on what to do at the ports- staying on the ship when you're in port is probably a very good thing- there is still stuff going on, and the spa usually has discounts on treatments. Plus, there's that feeling of "we own the ship". I know what you're talking about with the never seeing Dunn's Falls- we're headed to St John in January for the third time, and I've never seen Trunk Bay or the Sugar Cane thingee- I have, however, spent a LOT of time laying around the pool!! Never undervalue the do-nothing vacation- it's awesome, too!

When we went on our 3rd cruise back in October 2007, my dad and I did the exact same dolphin swim at the same place! We loved it, even though it was pouring down rain. When my dad did the foot push he yelled, "I'm king of the world!" and flexed his muscles, it was an awesome pic so we got it! We had a bad experience because it was raining. One little boy on the Disney Cruise slipped on the wet wood and broke his leg like in 2 or 3 different parts and he was in a full body cast to keep from moving. Another girl got stung by a jellyfish. We loved it, even though those things happened. I'm glad you guys had a great time!

Love that King of the world comment!! It DOES feel that way! Glad you didn't let the bad weather spoil your fun. That is so sad about that boy falling down and breaking his leg!! That poor family must have been a wreck-

Excellent updates, Ellen! That picture of the two dolphins out of the water is amazing. Some of your photos look like brochure material!

I didn't know you formerly worked at an aquarium. One of my favorite animals on the planet is the manatee, closely followed by dolphins. I would LOVE for our family to swim with the dolphins. That is a great experience that you all got to share with your boys. Nice!

Thanks again, Alan! I forget- have you gone to HHI? If you're into the dolphins, that island is loaded with them- there are between 400 - 600 dolphins that live there year round. It's kind of impossible not to see them when you're there! And manatees are just so sweet- how could you NOT love them?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Ellen! Thanks for sharing your dolphin memories with us! Your "foot push" pics look so awesome! I love dolphins, ever since I watched Flipper as a child.

Kara, I would agree with Ellen - lots of people enjoy staying on a quiet ship and relaxing while in port. There is still plenty of pampering to be had. I liked cruising because you can see lots of places without buying lots of plane tickets.... We chose one morning excursion at each port, and then relaxed in the afternoon - a little shopping and then getting back to the ship early for drinks by the pool.

I think it will be easier to go on DCL after Carnival than to go on Carnival after DCL - but, I wouldn't base your whole "this is what cruising is" on that experience. Of course we are all Disney Snobs, right?

 

[plutospup]

Wow! Looks like you had a great day with the dolphins. Glad your boys got to experience the joy and wonder of marine mammals.

 

[podsnel]

Ellen! Thanks for sharing your dolphin memories with us! Your "foot push" pics look so awesome! I love dolphins, ever since I watched Flipper as a child.

Kara, I would agree with Ellen - lots of people enjoy staying on a quiet ship and relaxing while in port. There is still plenty of pampering to be had. I liked cruising because you can see lots of places without buying lots of plane tickets.... We chose one morning excursion at each port, and then relaxed in the afternoon - a little shopping and then getting back to the ship early for drinks by the pool.

I think it will be easier to go on DCL after Carnival than to go on Carnival after DCL - but, I wouldn't base your whole "this is what cruising is" on that experience. Of course we are all Disney Snobs, right?

That's one of my favorite things about any cruise- waking up somewhere new to explore every day!!

And yes, we are!

Wow! Looks like you had a great day with the dolphins. Glad your boys got to experience the joy and wonder of marine mammals.

I'm glad, too! I wanted to tell you, I loved hearing you put up the ornaments and remember all your prior trips with them- I do the same thing. Love collecting those ornaments on vacation!!

 

[Camster0307]

Ellen - Those dolphin pix are awesome! What a great experience for everyone!

So glad to see you still had a good time -- minus the alcohol!

 

[podsnel]

Ellen - Those dolphin pix are awesome! What a great experience for everyone!

So glad to see you still had a good time -- minus the alcohol![/QUOTE]


SHHHHHH!!!!!! Don't tell anyone! I'd hate for that to start a trend!

 

[karajeboo]

What???? No alcohol? Where? And WHY did you stay there???

 

[podsnel]

The kids were back at their clubs, and we realized DH had forgotten to buy a tshirt somewhere- so of COURSE we needed to go back out to Cozumel, and have a margarita and a tshirt! For no reason imparticular other than it was close, we ended up at Senor Frogs.

There seemed to be alot of large family groups here, and from the looks of them, they had been here all day- They were having alot of fun playing games with balloon critters on their heads while they drank shots upside down. But we were boring, and ordered a giant margarita and a Sol beer, and watched them all having a good time. This was not exactly what I imagined for a margarita in Mexico (I think I have since learned SR Frogs is owned by Americans- that would explain a LOT about the drinks). However, I have approximately 2 years to figure out where in Cozumel you would go for a REAL margarita made with (GASP!) limes, tequila & sugar, so if you hang in there, in 2 years you can read about that one. But for today, all I can say is that I wouldn't go back to Senor Frogs for another giant Rita- unless it was raining, and I was with a HUGE group. And I couldn't convince them to go try a REAL Rita at the place I'm gonna find in the next 2 years. Or we go there after the REAL Ritas. And it's raining a LOT. Anyway, here's the view from our table-

Me with my giant glass of sugar and chemicals-

We headed into the tshirt shop, where DH purchased a shirt with frogs doing some crazy, witty frog stuff, and then were done for the day. I really seemed to be wiped out, I guess we'd had a busy one!

The streets of Cozumel-

A gorgeous end to a gorgeous day-

Back to the ship- I need a pot o' coffee to wake up for Pirate Night!!

 

[wuv tigger]

thanks for sharing your pix.

wuv tigger

 

[anewmac]

guess Ill have to keep checkin in 2 yrs to find the real place to get a Rita LOL.

Man you cruised after me and are already on pirate night... I still havent got to Grand Cayman in my trippy LOL... sorry the holidays have me laggen

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hey Ellen! Nice end to your Cozumel day! We went to Sr. Frog's in PV. We think that's where we got sick. It was the only place we all ate the same thing. I'm glad it was okay for you. Did you find it unusually expensive for Mexico? In PV they had Vegas prices

 

[podsnel]

What???? No alcohol? Where? And WHY did you stay there???

You always make me LOL! I guess the dolphins were worth it.

thanks for sharing your pix.

wuv tigger

You're welcome! Are you going to be starting up your TR again?

guess Ill have to keep checkin in 2 yrs to find the real place to get a Rita LOL.

Man you cruised after me and are already on pirate night... I still havent got to Grand Cayman in my trippy LOL... sorry the holidays have me laggen

Good! I'm glad I can count on having one reader when I write the 2010 cruise tr!

Yea- don't think I haven't noticed you haven't posted lately! I think everyone is swamped with the holidays- I just need to finish mine asap because I'm going on vacation in January and I don't want to get confused. Although, that trip is very different from this one- it goes like this- My friends and DH & I went to ST John without our kids. It was gorgeous. We drank this, we drank that, we ate a bunch, drank some more, slept a little and repeated all of it a bunch. Then DH & I left on Weds because tax season is coming, and on the ferry on WEDS in ST Thomas we saw this-

and I went a little mental. The end.

Hey Ellen! Nice end to your Cozumel day! We went to Sr. Frog's in PV. We think that's where we got sick. It was the only place we all ate the same thing. I'm glad it was okay for you. Did you find it unusually expensive for Mexico? In PV they had Vegas prices

Gee, I dunno- I LIKE spending $17 for a drink of chemical warfare, don't you? I wish I had read your TR before we were on our cruise instead of after!

 

[karajeboo]

: Although, that trip is very different from this one- it goes like this- My friends and DH & I went to ST John without our kids. It was gorgeous. We drank this, we drank that, we ate a bunch, drank some more, slept a little and repeated all of it a bunch. Then DH & I left on Weds because tax season is coming, and on the ferry on WEDS in ST Thomas we saw this-

and I went a little mental. The end.

You are so not right....

And tell us how you really feel about Senor Frogs - on a rainy day. Or maybe just mostly cloudy with sprinkles? You crack me up!

 

[podsnel]

You are so not right....

Yes, I know...that's why I like YOU so much!!!!

And tell us how you really feel about Senor Frogs - on a rainy day. Or maybe just mostly cloudy with sprinkles? You crack me up!

I would not like it in the rain, or on a train, or in a tree-i do not LIKE it, Kara, you see. I do not like it in a box. I do not like it with a fox. i do not like it here OR there. I do not like it ANYWHERE! I do not like margaritas and spam! I do not like them...Kara I am!-

but I would dance on the tables for REAL tequila!!

And I'm guessin'....you would be right there with me!

 

[karajeboo]

Yes, I know...that's why I like YOU so much!!!!



I would not like it in the rain, or on a train, or in a tree-i do not LIKE it, Kara, you see. I do not like it in a box. I do not like it with a fox. i do not like it here OR there. I do not like it ANYWHERE! I do not like margaritas and spam! I do not like them...Kara I am!-

but I would dance on the tables for REAL tequila!!

And I'm guessin'....you would be right there with me!

I LOVE it!!!!! And YES, I'd be dancing with ya!

 

[podsnel]

Ok- I have written my next installment TWICE now, when I go to post it I have to re- log in and it loses the whole thing! I am SOOOO FRUSTRATED!!!!!! So, I'll come back later and try again-

E

 

[dvc4life]

Ellen - I just love reading your reports. I have showed the DH your excursions and said how you booked them on your own and how much fun you have had. He is just not that adventurous (sp) to book something not through the cruise line. He worries about something going wrong or getting ripped off or missing the ship. So, I am happy reading it through your experiences.

Oh, you have another reader waiting for the next trip report in 2010!

 

[podsnel]

Ellen - I just love reading your reports. I have showed the DH your excursions and said how you booked them on your own and how much fun you have had. He is just not that adventurous (sp) to book something not through the cruise line. He worries about something going wrong or getting ripped off or missing the ship. So, I am happy reading it through your experiences.

Oh, you have another reader waiting for the next trip report in 2010!

I'm so glad you like reading my TR! Thanks so much! I'm sorry your DH is too worried to book an excursion on his own, but I understand- I wasn't worried about getting ripped off because I chose excursions other people on these boards have done, and I also wasn't worried about something going wrong (like not being able to dock in Grand Cayman) but the excursions both had clauses that stated we would not be charged if the ship couldn't get into port. I worry about missing the ship, too- but we were very careful to always come back early, we didn't wait until the last minute. I would gladly have done this all through DCL if it had been offered, but unfortunately it wasn't. It would have been nice to have that safe, Disney is in charge kind of feeling that I'm sure you have when you book one of their tours. Hopefully I'll be booking something through them the next time! And I'm so glad I'll have 2 readers now for that report!

Well, good news- after installing 1 GB more of memory, and spending hours on the phone with Dell, McAfee etc, my computer is now running well again!! Gosh, that is soooo frustrating!! It was all because I had some tiny piece of another security system left on my hard drive that I wasn't even aware of. Plus the McAfee was slowing everything down because it uses so much memory. Soooo...for the third and final time, I'm going to write about Pirate Night!