We put the DYS in Functional, Completing our ABC’s

[jenseib]

I'm back, but I am still catching up with work.
I have nothing else written up ahead of time, so I hope to start doing that in the next few days and start posting again.
I still have lots of pics to edit from this trip too, so I will trudge on as soon as I can!

 

[dizneeat]

Don't worry. We will be here whenever you are ready! And ......... welcome back, Jen!

 

[lklgoodman]

Yea, Glad you are back. Hoping this trip had a less stressful beginning, I was worried you're flights were messed up, but figured they must have worked out ok and you were on your trip when we didn't hear from you. Hope it was fun.

 

[nancy drew]

Following along! We are doing a Southern Caribbean sailing (on Royal) next spring. Looking forward to seeing and hearing more about your cruise!

 

[jenseib]

Don't worry. We will be here whenever you are ready! And ......... welcome back, Jen!

I keep thinking I am caught up...then I get more work emails. hahaha. But that is good too.

Yea, Glad you are back. Hoping this trip had a less stressful beginning, I was worried you're flights were messed up, but figured they must have worked out ok and you were on your trip when we didn't hear from you. Hope it was fun.

It was less stressful sort of...to start...but any vacation with my husband always has a level of stress. hahaha.

Following along! We are doing a Southern Caribbean sailing (on Royal) next spring. Looking forward to seeing and hearing more about your cruise!

I love this itinerary. I would sail it again in a heartbeat!

 

[jenseib]

Wed. Jan. 30, 2019, Bonaire


ABC….B is for Bonaire…..We were traveling around the ABC islands. Claire and I have now been to Aruba (A) twice, Bonaire (B) today, and Curacao (C) a year and a half ago. We were completing our ABC’s on this cruise. Pretty cool! It just amazes me that I have been able to visit these islands. If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have NEVER imagined having the opportunity to visit any of these destinations! I am so grateful!


We had an excursion for just the 2 of us today and it wasn’t till a little later. I let her sleep in a little bit and went off to watch us pull into Bonaire.


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As I walked around I heard music and saw Cast Members on the stage dancing.


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I clicked a few pictures as I walked by and went to get a drink.


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I then stopped and watched a bit and went to line up a great picture and was told I couldn’t take one. OK….???? Then I found out they were working on a new Sail Away show. I later found out it would have a soft opening the very next cruise and would have its official opening the one after that. (I believe it was the Feb. 7 sailing).

I have since heard mixed reviews on it. It looked fun and the old one is basically the original show, so it needed updating, but I think many people don’t like the drastic change. Hopefully I will see it someday.


I took some pics of the port and it is so pretty.


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The water was so blue and the island so colorful!


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Those colorful tents were so neat looking.


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A walk by the sports deck.


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And a video I took at some point this morning.

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Off in the distance you can see colorful buildings. We found out later that those are condos being built.


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[kjmollypup]

Following along!
We've never been on a cruise, let alone a Disney cruise. But our first trip to WDW with our kids several years ago was supposed to be a once every five years or so event, according to DH. He was sure he wouldn't like it. Well, he asked me to email the travel agent on our way home and book for the following year, lol. We've now been three times and are booked for our fourth this summer. Even though I'm really prone to motion sickness, I'm finding myself wondering if we're missing out by not trying a cruise, so I came on the boards to look for trip reports and I think this is the third of yours I've read! I'm really enjoying it!
That being said...which boat or cruise do you think would be best for beginners like us?

 

[TestingH2O]

I have since heard mixed reviews on it. It looked fun and the old one is basically the original show, so it needed updating, but I think many people don’t like the drastic change. Hopefully I will see it someday.

We saw it on our Magic cruise last week. We thought it was very fun!

Those colorful tents were so neat looking.

I love when you use that filter that makes everything look like toys.

 

[bcwife76]

Just got back from 5 nights on the Wonder followed by 2 nights at GCV and Disneyland - saw the new Sail a Wave party (first time going to the sailaway party since our first cruise) and I thought it was pretty cute. My kids loved it, esp my youngest who was fist pumping with her paper hand the whole time

 

[jenseib]

We've never been on a cruise, let alone a Disney cruise. But our first trip to WDW with our kids several years ago was supposed to be a once every five years or so event, according to DH. He was sure he wouldn't like it. Well, he asked me to email the travel agent on our way home and book for the following year, lol. We've now been three times and are booked for our fourth this summer.

That's great that he enjoyed it! Disney does know how to get you hooked!

Even though I'm really prone to motion sickness, I'm finding myself wondering if we're missing out by not trying a cruise, so I came on the boards to look for trip reports and I think this is the third of yours I've read! I'm really enjoying it!

That being said...which boat or cruise do you think would be best for beginners like us?

I am prone to motion sickness too and I take bonine daily (2 in the morning and 2 at night). If you are unsure, probably a 3 night on the Dream to start with would give you a good taste of cruising and then if you don't like it you aren't "stuck" on a ship for long.

We saw it on our Magic cruise last week. We thought it was very fun!

Good to here. We did ask if it was going to the Magic too and they said eventually, so I guess it went over sooner than they thought.

I love when you use that filter that makes everything look like toys.

I love that function too!

Just got back from 5 nights on the Wonder followed by 2 nights at GCV and Disneyland - saw the new Sail a Wave party (first time going to the sailaway party since our first cruise) and I thought it was pretty cute. My kids loved it, esp my youngest who was fist pumping with her paper hand the whole time

Awesome! I have really looked at the April 28 sailing, but I really can't make it work. I could afford the cruise, but the flights are outrageous!

 

[jenseib]

I continued walking around and taking pictures around the ship and of the port.


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I kept trying to take pictures of those condos, but it was too far away and the light was doing funky things to my pictures.


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If you watched the video you will see I was videoing with one hand and most of these pictures were taken at the same time with my camera.


A look down at Cabana’s.


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I hadn’t realized there was more seating up here…..and obviously no one else did either.


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A look at another island off in the distance.


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I headed down to deck 4 to take an official walk.


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And I took some more video.

I did a few laps but as soon as I felt hot I stopped as I didn’t want a migraine all day long.


Then it was time for breakfast.


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I pretty much get the same thing every day.


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[TestingH2O]

hadn’t realized there was more seating up here…..and obviously no one else did either.

I think those are the tables outside Palo. For a while last year you could request to sit outside. They may have discontinued that though.

 

[Timon]

Bonaire looks beautiful! Glad you could complete your ABC's

Weird that they would stop you from taking photos, you are in a huge, public, open space! I watched a YT video of the new party, looks lamer than the old one

I get the exact same thing for breakfast every day on a cruise too

 

[lklgoodman]

I think those are the tables outside Palo. For a while last year you could request to sit outside. They may have discontinued that though.

I bet you're right. When we had our Palo brunch last year, we would see people sit at the tables and then get up and move because it was really windy.
I really want to go to Bonaire, looking forward to hearing how you liked it and what excursion you did.

 

[Lesley Wake]

I then stopped and watched a bit and went to line up a great picture and was told I couldn’t take one. OK….???? Then I found out they were working on a new Sail Away show. I later found out it would have a soft opening the very next cruise and would have its official opening the one after that. (I believe it was the Feb. 7 sailing).

I have since heard mixed reviews on it. It looked fun and the old one is basically the original show, so it needed updating, but I think many people don’t like the drastic change. Hopefully I will see it someday.

I had a friend who was on the Fantasy in December. He caught them rehearsing for SWDAS (I think just the takeover in the lobby - it started raining on deck for the stage show). But they didn't let him take photos either.

I didn't really get to experience the show. It was rainy on our first day (well it had stopped by the time we cast-off, but there were still puddles on deck), so they moved it to the atrium and we didn't get there early enough to get a railing spot. I didn't really care enough to watch.

 

[jenseib]

I think those are the tables outside Palo. For a while last year you could request to sit outside. They may have discontinued that though.

that could be, but doesn't seem nice enough.

Bonaire looks beautiful! Glad you could complete your ABC's

I sometimes am just amazed how lucky I have been to visit these amazing places.

Weird that they would stop you from taking photos, you are in a huge, public, open space! I watched a YT video of the new party, looks lamer than the old one

I thought it was stupid too....but they had crew ALL over the place standing around guarding and I saw them tell several people not to take pics. I guess they wanted it to be a surprise.
I hardly directly watch the sail away show anymore. I used to not miss it, but it seems to have a lot less people out there now for the last few sailings I have been on and I rather wave and watch us sail! Of course my last 4 or 5 cruises I have been with a group of people too, so maybe that makes a difference?

I get the exact same thing for breakfast every day on a cruise too

I am a creature of habit in the morning and I know what I like...and NONE of it is healthy!

I bet you're right. When we had our Palo brunch last year, we would see people sit at the tables and then get up and move because it was really windy.
I really want to go to Bonaire, looking forward to hearing how you liked it and what excursion you did.

Yeah I can imagine it would be really windy.
Bonaire is beautiful! I would go again in a heartbeat!

I had a friend who was on the Fantasy in December. He caught them rehearsing for SWDAS (I think just the takeover in the lobby - it started raining on deck for the stage show). But they didn't let him take photos either.

I did see the team rehearse in the atrium a few times too. After I knew what was going on, I would see them rehearse when we were at port or early in the morning. Once late at night I was out and heard loud music but never figured what it was. Someone told me the next day they had been rehearsing then too. And Jo made a few commits over the course of the cruise they would rehearse sometimes in the middle of the night.

I didn't really get to experience the show. It was rainy on our first day (well it had stopped by the time we cast-off, but there were still puddles on deck), so they moved it to the atrium and we didn't get there early enough to get a railing spot. I didn't really care enough to watch.

My first cruise had the sail away in the atrium. We had a good spot, but if you don't get a good spot it is hard to see. And it gets crowded.

 

[jenseib]

I think went for a walk inside and took some more pictures since I had been failing at getting pictures around the ship.


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The back entrance to Azure.


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I headed back to the room and M was up and ready. She was going to spend time in port with her crew member friend when he was done working. We decided to head out to port now and just shop right there till he was ready to meet her. Claire decided sleep was more important.


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Sadly there weren’t a lot of stores right there, but we did find a shirt for Claire. M picked it out, so even if Claire would normally say she didn’t like it, with M picking it out, she now would. Hahaha. She has worn it several times now, so she must like it somewhat. It was one of those spirit jersey type shirts with Bonaire across the back and it was yellow and other pastel colors tie dyed.


Her friend found us just as we were walking out of the store and I took a couple of pictures of them together and we parted ways.


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I went walking around, but I couldn’t find really any stores in the area. I later found out I would have had to walk about ½ a mile before I found much in the way of shopping.


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I didn’t have time to explore so I headed back to the ship.


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I got Claire and we headed off to D Lounge to sign in for our excursion. We were REALLY early, but we grabbed towels and packed them in my bag and just relaxed. Connor was signing everyone in and he was the nicest guy and funny too.


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When in port we get free data on our phones….and Claire doesn’t waist one minute of it. LOL!


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We were led off the ship then and then taken to some vans/buses.


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This gentleman would be our caption on our snorkeling adventure. I really liked him.


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We had to walk through a resort area to get to our boat. It looked beautiful.


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[jenseib]

We arrived at the marina and boarded our boat. It was a shoe free boat, so we all had to take off our shoes before getting on.


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This couple in front of us….we end up talking quite a bit with them later. The wife has the same profession as I…..what a small world…..she was super nice. As we were talking I found out that she had tried to upgrade their room when they arrived at San Juan port….and the couple right in front of them took the last balcony…..that would have been J and MK! hahahah…Small World!


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She said they actually had a balcony already but they didn’t think they would like it. I think it was a navigator. She also said that there were security cameras pointed basically at her balcony and she didn’t like that and asked about it. I guess their cabin was at a blind spot for other “over board” cameras and that the camera didn’t actually film anything but had a sensor if someone jumped or fell off. She said they told her basically she would have to throw a chair off or something bigger for it to turn on.


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Off we go! We would have 2 locations for snorkeling.


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Hello Disney Wonder!


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Even our Captain was taking pictures of the ship.


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We arrived at our first stop. He told us under that pier up ahead the snorkeling was pretty good.


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He gave us some instructions and he was thorough and actually I learned some new stuff from him. Did you know when you take off your mask and rest it on your forehead….like James Bond…That is the universal signal that you are in trouble and need help? I didn’t either. He said if you need to take it off, wear it around your neck.


We waited to be some of the last in the water as I hate rushing around a crowd of people. Of course there was “that” family in front of us that were slow and not moving and finally we had to say excuse me to get in.


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Claire took a little longer to get in as she was having fin problems, but the girl on the boat helped her and she jumped in a little later.


Right where we jumped in there wasn’t much, but under that dock/pier there were a TON of fish.


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Jackpot!!!!


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These fish would just swim in a circle…round and round and round.


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PT would have totally freaked out seeing all these fish so close.


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I headed back to the boat.


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A look back at the Wonder.


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We had to take our flippers off before climbing up….a lot harder than you would think.

 

[Lesley Wake]

PT would have totally freaked out seeing all these fish so close.

I always get a bit freaked out, then calm down and enjoy it, then freak out a bit more, and so on! In Hawaii I was snorkling by my hotel and a guy had a handful of sandwich meat which he was feeding to the fish. He gave me some pieces and I didn't want to look like a wimp, so I let them eat from my hands!

 

[jenseib]

I always get a bit freaked out, then calm down and enjoy it, then freak out a bit more, and so on! In Hawaii I was snorkling by my hotel and a guy had a handful of sandwich meat which he was feeding to the fish. He gave me some pieces and I didn't want to look like a wimp, so I let them eat from my hands!

hahahaha