Western 6/21/03 - LONG!

[FantasticDisFamily]

June 21-28, 2003 Western Caribbean Cruise Aboard the Disney Magic Trip Report

This report is going to be done in a combination of chronological order and event. I hope you’ll find the information you’re looking for and that it will be helpful to future cruisers. WARNING: It will be long!


First – the cast of characters: Me (Deb), DH (Greg), DS (Andrew – 15 almost 16), and DD (Michelle – 13)

TRAVEL:
We flew into MCO on Friday because we didn’t want to risk any added stress of delayed flights on sailing day. This was a good choice even though it meant getting up at 3:30 am in order to drive to the regional airport and get through all of the security procedures for a 7:00 am flight.

Although I’d read a great deal about the new procedures they are still a little odd and confusing if you haven’t flown through them yet! Hint #1 – when you get to the airport go to the check-in counter for your boarding pass. This is true even when the luggage screening equipment is closer to you than the counters. They don’t screen the bags until you’ve checked in. Also take ALL members of your party with you. They wanted to eyeball each of us. Hint #2 – if you’re traveling with teens take some sort of picture ID. We had passports for our cruise ID and there were a couple of occasions in the airports that my son needed to prove he wasn’t 18! Ok, he stands 6’3” and weighs 200-220 (plays football) and this was the week he chose not to shave. So while I can understand the potential for confusion….

Once you have your boarding pass then you go through having your luggage screened. Essentially a painless process but do use the cable ties instead of locks. We packed a pair of blunt end kids’ scissors in a carry on as well as extra ties in an outside pocket and all went well. Just don’t snug those cable ties TOO tight or they are a bit difficult to cut off at the end of the journey.

Now it is on to the concourse screening of you and your carry-ons. This went pretty smoothly as well. Make note that if you have specific questions about how to pack, written authorization you may need such as for medical equipment, etc. each airport has a number for TSA that you can call. We did this earlier in the week to verify some information on camera equipment/film. No problem going out, although coming home through MCO the woman who drew the hand check wasn’t particularly nice until her supervisor saw her attitude, walked over, and straightened her up. According to TSA regulations you may request a hand check of ANY film speed. Bear in mind that they will ask you if it is high speed. Seems the definition of high speed varies – some would consider it only 1600 and faster while in truth it is 400 or higher with 800 be the generally accepted average of where high speed starts. BUT and this is an important but, multiple exposures will increase the potential for damage. Remember that your film is subjected to X-ray not only in the airport but at the port and every time you board the ship! I had taken my film out of the boxes and all of it was in clear plastic canisters. These canisters were grouped in Ziploc bags, initially so I could identify the different speeds, exposure numbers, etc. I was carrying and then these were inside lead film safe bags. This worked quite well. But do allow a little extra time for this process and stay patient. Be advised that they will ask you to take the film and camera if it is loaded out of a camera bag to be hand checked while the bag, lenses, and everything else goes through the X-ray. In actuality this went more smoothly than we thought it might and we were at the gate with plenty of time to spare. Much to the displeasure of the two teens that had been dragged out of bed. LOL!

It seems we always have three “glitches” to a trip and this was no exception. The first two occurred Thursday evening. We pulled into the kennel where I’d made reservations for our dog back in January and the kennel owner said “Hi Max – did you miss me so much you had to come visit?” Uh no, we’re dropping him off, leaving on vacation at 3 am….Well it seems that the young person working for her when I made the reservation hadn’t bothered to put it in the reservation book! Momentary panic but all turned out well since we would be back before the heavy 4th of July week! Ok, one bullet dodged moving along. The second glitch occurred just as we were leaving the kennel. DS had been working all day and we’d had a new watch band adjusted – TOO SMALL. So race back, made it to the jeweler just as they were closing. This may not seem like a big thing to some, but it was to him. I’m combining it with the minor flight delay in Atlanta due to replacement of a landing gear! as the second glitch.

The trip home was relatively uneventful. Basically a reverse of our trip down. We were “blessed” with the Song partnership from MCO to Atlanta – if they were anymore unorganized I think they’d just spin off into oblivion and maybe they should. While waiting to board a VERY tall gentlemen was speaking with the gate representative about his seats. I couldn’t help overhearing that they were giving him a hard time about his FIRST CLASS seating arrangements. Seems that his son (all of 8 years old!) was with him and wearing shorts which apparently is not allowed in first class. Ok, I haven’t spent my life in a cave, thought I’d traveled a fair amount and this was a first for me! He wasn’t in grubbies for goodness sakes – very nice tailored shorts and a shirt. This man was well over 7 feet tall and could not have flown in coach. After a few moments he stepped away from the desk and I had to get involved. I suggested he go back to the desk and ask for a “red coat”. I had made note of this some time ago from another posting. It worked! He was squared away in first class – so keep that one in your bag of tricks should you be similarly blessed.

HYATT AND EMBARKATION:

We arrived in Orlando only a little behind schedule, claimed our bags and headed for the Hyatt. Glitch #3. Upon checking in the nice young woman “confirmed” that we had 2 double beds. Ok, as long as there is also a roll away or day bed in the room as well. No….Do you see those two teenagers standing behind me? Not sharing a bed with each other, nor are we sharing beds by gender. That was not what I’d booked – so how would you like to solve the problem? Her first suggestion was a second room at the “day rate” of $60. Um, what else can you suggest since I had a confirmation via DCL that said otherwise….Well, if we put you in a room with a king bed we can put two rollaways in there. Perfect – make it so and off we went.

The Hyatt was very nice. A couple of notes – don’t bother with the hotel restaurant as it is definitely overpriced. There is a Chili’s Too just down the hallway from the area where the Hyatt is located. Other than fast food sorts of places this is pretty much the choice. Everything else is down in the concourses and that means going through security. Another point of note is the pool – since thunderstorms in Orlando are not uncommon you may see a “Pool Closed” sign on the door leading to the pool. If it has stopped raining it is pretty likely that the door has been unlocked (it opens out – push) but the sign not changed!

One other airport eating note – since airlines no longer include food service on most flights it is likely you may be looking for food in an airport. Atlanta had a great place call La Petit Bistro. Choices were much healthier than the typical greasy, fast food fare that is all too common. And pack some snacks – especially if traveling with kids, everyone is happier when they aren’t hungry too!
We were supposed to meet up with Amy and Matt (Amous) on Friday around dinner time but they were delayed. You’ll have to read her trip report for those details. Saturday morning we met up in the lobby of the Hyatt just before 9 as we headed to register for the busses. Definitely get there at 9. By 9:30 you’re going to be several busses down the line. They do bring separate busses to the Hyatt lobby entrance so you aren’t shlepping over to the DCL airport busses waiting for flights. Luggage was whisked away from outside the room shortly after 8:30.

I love the DCL busses because of the movie – I know if you’ve seen it once but it just gets the mood going that much more quickly. Before we knew it there she was…the Disney Magic in all her glory. We were off the bus and into the terminal by 10:45. Lines weren’t too bad but definitely look for the shortest and keep your eyes open. There are so many lines that sometimes one or more are overlooked! Check in was a breeze – all of the documents were filled out and we had valid passports. HINT: seriously consider passports! I saw several people who were having some difficulty with birth certificates. Believe it or not there was a lady there with a hospital birth certificate! She also had her marriage license with her for some reason and a supervisor eventually granted an ok but did sternly tell her that those were really not ok, and it was possible she would have to see the immigration people upon return. Don’t know if she did or not.

The CBAGGS group was spotted while we were in line based on an email from Kari about what she’d be wearing. So we were all in the embarkation line by a few minutes after 11, well within the “ropes” set up. It wasn’t long though before the line was stretching through the terminal. I’d guess by 11:30. We spent the little bit of time in line chatting with the DISers we’d already found (Amous & CBAGGS) and looking for others. Also double checking our reservation plan now that we knew our dining rotation, etc.

We began boarding a few minutes before noon! Thanks to the group from the June 14th cruise for being so good at their disembarkation so we could board nice and early! DH headed for Palo with DS and one radio while DD and I headed for the spa with the other radio. We both walked right in without any lines. The CM in Rockin’ Bar D where Palo reservations were being made advised DH that Monday when we wanted brunch would be our character breakfast day – no matter we went with that anyway. Perfect! Also booked couples massage on Thursday at the time we planned for. Point of note – the galley tour seems to shift during Thursday afternoon. We had booked our massage for 2:15 thinking the tour would be over but it actually started at 2 pm. Good news though they start people through about every 10 minutes with the latest heading in about an hour and a half after the first group. We went at 3:25. But I digress. By 12:15 we were all heading for Topsiders for lunch. On the way DH called me on the radio to verify our decision on the wine package. There were tables set up for this everywhere. Very simple. There was also a soda package table set up outside of Topsiders so the kids took care of this on the way to lunch. By 12:30 we were enjoying lunch with all the rush behind us. As they finished the kids popped to Common Grounds to register their presence and we all met in the cabin about 1:45.

The Perfect Gift had delivered wonderful baskets from Mickey & Minnie. Totes filled with snacks and books for DD, snacks and a waterproof camera for DS – they also had glow sticks for the various evening events. There was also a gorgeous bouquet of roses, a bottle of champagne, a handful of sweets (someone let M&M know I’ve been staying away from candy ;-}) and silk corsage/boutenniere for formal night! We were celebrating our 20th anniversary on this cruise. The flowers stayed absolutely fresh & fragrant the entire time. I did leave them to our stateroom hostess when we left only because trying to bring them home on the airplane would not have been very easy!

Our luggage began arriving almost immediately so I began to unpack. All 4 bags were delivered, unpacked and stowed in plenty of time for the safety drill. DH enjoyed his traditional beer on the verandah and we placed a call to my dad as it was his birthday. He and mom sailed with us on our previous cruise and had the stateroom we were in on this cruise! Speaking of luggage stowage - two of our bags did fit under the bed. These were the 26” wheeled bags. But we did have to sort of stuff the top inside the bag a little. The two 28” bags we had were too thick. They went in the closet.

By 4pm we headed for the mandatory safety drill. Painless for the most part, but there were a few people who straggled in late. They received nasty glares from everyone else. Just as the drill ended it began to rain. The sail away party was moved to the atrium. We had planned a meet on Deck 10 during the sail away but needless to say that was pretty well rained out. The rain did let up just as we pulled away from the dock so many of the folks in the atrium headed topside. They did have music playing up there but the band stayed inside.

DINING:

We had LAP rotation so about 5:30 we headed for the stateroom to change. DH remarked afterwards that although he was well within dress code with nice trousers and a button down shirt he felt underdressed for Lumiere’s. We met our servers – Ritesh (India) and his assistant Dragan (yep pronounced just like the mystical creature - from Macedonia). Our head server was Alain from Monaco. Strange coincidence he had been our head server on our first trip! We had table 63 right along the main aisle in the three dining rooms. Or is it? In Parrot Cay it seemed to “move”. Actually every time we were in Parrot Cay the tables were rearranged. All in the same vicinity – I think Ritesh and Dragan were playing with us.

Ritesh figured out that very first night how to make Andrew happy. As he was finishing his dessert Ritesh came up to him and asked, “Would you like another? Don’t think – say yes.” And produced a second dessert instantly. He’d already ordered it! He also seemed to know without having to ask which entrees would require seconds for this same teenager. By night #2 he simply brought one of every dessert, sometimes more if we ordered that way. But no matter what everyone ordered, those items not ordered showed up anyway. And of course we then had to sample and taste. A few extra appetizers showed up as well.

We had purchased the premium wine package and thoroughly enjoyed it throughout the cruise. The only minor disappointment (which we pointed out to the head server and the head of dining when we happened to run into him!) was that the Frog’s Leap wasn’t available. Since this isn’t a wine we can get in Michigan we had wanted to try it. It is perfectly understandable that something isn’t available – it should just be noted when the package is being purchased. We would still have purchased that package as it contained two proprietary items – the Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee’ (excellent!) and the Fess Parker Chardonnay (a wonderful Chardonnay and I don’t usually like Chardonnay that well). HINT: these are available for purchase to take home via your dining room server on the last night of the cruise. The Caymus Conundrum is also a good choice, and one of our favorites, the Chateauneuf de Pape Mont Redon. Keep in mind that the Kendall Jackson and Robert Mondavi choices in the package are not the same level that might be available at your local grocery! :-}

Needless to say the food throughout the cruise was wonderful. Also don’t be in a rush to leave the dining rooms. There is PLENTY of time to enjoy your meal without rushing even at first seating. But BE ON TIME. And if you leave early you’ll miss the various shows at the end of many meals. Also if one of these starts up don’t be shy about joining in! One note on dessert. If you’ve indicated a special occasion such as an anniversary or birthday those cakes are served AFTER all of the other desserts. We took our anniversary cake back to the stateroom and snacked on it all week. Stayed nice and fresh in the “fridge”. But if you’re hurrying out you might miss this. Something to keep in mind especially if it is a child’s birthday.

The rotation has changed a little on the Western once again. I posted this in an immediate update but will include it here as well.
Sat, Sun, Mon are the regular menus for the dining room you are in that night.
Tues is Small World,
Wed is Mexicali night,
Thurs is Captain’s Gala with the lobster, and
Fri is Best of Series.

Monday is FORMAL while Thursday is SEMI FORMAL.

On Sunday (Key West day) a very nice brunch is served in Lumiere’s. With many excursions meeting around 11:30 & 12 and not returning until late afternoon this is a great option. We ordered room service for 7:30 knowing DH & I would be awake. We ate muffins and enjoyed our coffee on the verandah leaving the kids sleeping. When they woke up it was waiting for them. We headed for brunch at 10:30, enjoyed a leisurely meal and then headed for our excursion. While everything was very nice be sure to ask about the crepes! Our server at brunch forgot to mention them and I don’t think they were listed on the menu. But Ritesh had done his job well the night before. They are wonderful!

Character breakfast for those with LAP is Monday. To the best of the information I could gather those with PLA had character breakfast on Sun, with APL on Thursday. Even though we had character on Monday we also did brunch. Initially on Sat night the kids were sort of rolling their eyes about getting up for an 8:15 breakfast with characters. But they did, totally enjoying themselves! DH & I just had coffee and toast knowing we were headed for Palo. Ritesh said we had to eat more until we told him and then he agreed with us.

Palo brunch was fantastic! It is everything you’ve read here and more. Eleanora was our server. We had 10:30 reservations and I think we rolled out (literally) about 12:30. There is just so much food and it is all so good. By the time we grazed through the antipasto, bread, and cheese tables we were wondering if we could handle any entrees! We did. LOL! We ordered half orders of the eggs Julia and Florentine and then shared. Then we tried dessert. We had mentioned that Andrew would really love that Lemon Meringue pie and we had a piece to take with us for him when we left! The Stolle bread with the berries, etc. is to die for also. The only other entrée we managed was one of the very thin crust pizzas. The Tilapia looked great but we were eating a great deal of fish at dinner, and this is one fish we can get fairly easily at home. For those coffee drinkers out there this is the place for the mocha, latte, cappuccino, and more! Although we found the coffee in the dining rooms and at Topsiders to be perfectly palatable in the morning and after dinner.

Ok, if I’ve left you all hungry enough I’ll move on to excursions and activities.

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES:

Sunday was Key West. We docked right about noon on schedule. Although we were already in Off Beat gathering for our excursion. Keep in mind that you may not be the only group in a given venue so it is important to pay attention to what the cruise staff is telling you so as to not delay everyone. Yep this happened!

We had decided to try the Back to Nature Kayaking through DCL. We’d done some advance research and it seemed to be what we were looking for. Although we weren’t entirely sure based on some of what we’d heard from Shirley. I can now say without reservation this is an awesome excursion. You board a boat right off the Magic’s gangway practically. They take you on about a 20 minute ride to Archer Key which is a mangrove wash. That means there is no soil attached to the trees, they grow out of the ocean floor. Now that isn’t that phenomenal when you realize that is less than 2 feet away. In fact it drops to about 6 inches or less in places and depending on the tide. Just off Archer Key we transferred to another boat where we received some basic instruction on how to get in and out of the kayaks and paddle in unison as they are two person kayaks. As this was taking place a squall popped up over the key with a good deal of wind. The group went for it anyway. Just as we reached the meeting spot for the trip around and into some of the passages of the key (it is a guided tour) the rain broke. And I mean RAIN! It poured. You couldn’t see a thing. It cleared within about 10 minutes and we proceeded. Unfortunately being summer and now with this unexpected, albeit brief, storm the tide and weather turned against us. It was simply too shallow to get as close to the key as usual and the wind was too stiff to paddle all the way around the key as they normally would. Even so we had a grand time, the guides pointed out a wide variety of birds, shared natural history information, we saw a shark, and much more. Because the excursion did not go quite as long as planned due to the weather the excursion operator did refund back 50% of the excursion price. All in all we were quite pleased with the excursion.

Arriving back in Key West we went back aboard the Magic for a quick shower and change. We met up with Amy & Matt and headed back into Key West for a walk about with a mission. We strolled down to Duval Street and down Duval to Margarittaville! Hey we couldn’t get that close without at least stopping in! Taking pictures along the way naturally of the “local color” or perhaps this is where the REAL wildlife was located! LOL!! Anyway, once at Jimmy’s place we couldn’t resist a margarita and Cheeseburger in Paradise. Actually I split one with Michelle and Greg sampled from us. Hey it was only 2 hours until dinner! A quick stop for t-shirts and hat for Andrew at the shop next to the restaurant and it was time to head back for the ship.

After dinner Greg & I headed back ashore to observe the festivities in Mallory Square. This is not to be missed. The kids stayed onboard as teen activities were starting up that they didn’t want to miss. Unfortunately while the earlier rain had disappeared it left some clouds behind and there was not actual sunset. Guess that just means we’ll have to go back some day!

Monday is a Sea Day on the Western. After our character breakfast I popped into the internet café. I teach some of my courses online and class was still in session. I had another instructor covering for me but still took the unlimited package so I could get in a number of times without worrying about how many minutes I was using. I know I at least broke even. Of course our highlight of the day was brunch at Palo. After brunch we went to the Behind the Scenes event. This, the Navigator series, and Art of Entertaining are listed as “Adult Enrichment” but do not specifically state guests 18 and over. DS is big into theater, and as already noted can be mistaken for being older. He was most interested in this event so we had him meet us there. A number of older teens were present and this was not a problem. Being a daytime activity it seemed DCL was looking for “adult behavior”. Not everyone may agree but this is an area where I think the discretion displayed by DCL in allowing the older teens to attend was a good thing.

We spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool – partly at Quiet Cove and some at Goofy. Oddly enough because we had some cloud cover pass over throughout the afternoons neither of these pools were very crowded. Michelle did report that around noon Goofy was packed but it cleared by 2! No problems with lounge chair hogs were noted either. Michelle did mention that she spent large chunks of her sea days reading on Deck 4 or our verandah – watching the ocean go by. A perfect activity for her.

Around 4:30 I headed for the stateroom to shower and get ready for formal night. Make note the if you want to plug in BOTH a hair dryer and curling iron at the desk at the same time an extension cord is a must. Michelle joined me about 4:45, Greg about 5 and Andrew about 5:15. At that point Michelle and I headed for the atrium to scope out the picture situation. Hey, I had EVERYONE dressed up so formal pictures were a given! We stopped for a quick picture with Goofy in his tux and the guys joined us. The lines were essentially non-existent until about 5:40 and then they exploded. Check out the options before getting in line. We chose the ship lit up at night as our backdrop for this photo. More on photos later.

After dinner Greg & I headed for the Captain’s Reception. Captain Tom was back – he was the captain on our first cruise. The Captain’s Reception takes place outside the Walt Disney Theater. There was a misprint in the Navigator saying it was in the atrium – which it obviously wasn’t. A simple inquiry of a crew member pointed us in the right direction. This was a nice moment to chat with the Captain and have a photo taken. Walt seems to be looking over the Captain’s shoulder in the photo. We took it to the signing on Thursday and then had Captain Tom sign it.

Speaking of crew I have to say that with only one very minor exception EVERYONE we came in contact with was friendly, helpful, and really customer service oriented. The exception was when Greg was leaving Castaway Cay and was going to leave his towel with a CM that was collecting them from the beach, she said he could return that at the gangway to the ship.

After the reception we went on in to Hercules. Have to say this was the only main stage show we saw on this trip. Andrew went to see it earlier in the day with the gang he was hanging out with and over dinner made some comments about certain characters referencing some dress rehearsal antics from our local theater. This may have added to some of the hilarity I saw in the show. The Muses, along with Hades, Pain & Panic have to be my favorite characters in any of the shows I’ve seen.
After Hercules we stopped in the stateroom to see what the kids were up to, clothing in various locations informed us that changes had taken place and notes pointed out the activities they were busy with. We changed and headed for Rockin’ Bar D. A comedian for the Cabaret that night and then it was 50s & 60s night. We met up with Amy (Amous) and Chris & Ed (CBAGGS) – had a great time. They were also filming a new crew recruiting video while we were on board and our server was being followed at that time. So a quick waiver was signed and DCL bought us a round of drinks. And that HAD to be the moment we chose to order club soda! Hey, we placed the order before they said they were buying! We all turned in fairly early as the next day was Grand Cayman.

Grand Cayman:

The morning dawned clear and bright. Everyone was up by 6:15, pulling on bathing suits with shorts & T shirts over them. HINT: dress for your excursion – don’t plan to change on shore anywhere. The necessary items were in the tote bag and we were off to Topsiders for breakfast and in to Studio Sea for our excursion meet by 7:30. This was our Stingray Swim. The excursion is as awesome as we’d heard. We took the DCL sponsored tour and have no complaints. We were on one of the first large tenders (there are large and small tenders going back and forth throughout the day) to head in from the Magic. HINT: Make sure if you on a tender in the morning to look back towards the ship about half way in – the lighting & angle is excellent for a ship photo. Once off the tender it was a short walk – 4 or 5 blocks to a bus. Had a really interesting driver who told stories and sang songs during the short, about a 10 minute, drive to the dock roughly in the middle of the island. From there we boarded the boat, headed down a canal and out to sea. The sandbar you’re going to is about 6 miles out. It is really weird at first to see nothing but ocean and then these boats around a light patch of water. It was exceptionally calm on this day but the swells in the sandbar area are still enough to lift you off your feet. Especially if you’re 5’5” or less this is a little unnerving. Also the first bit of getting used to the stingrays swishing past you is pretty bizarre. There are screams everywhere! Michelle had enough after about 15 minutes and Greg helped her back to the boat where she very happily watched everything from topside – and took some great pictures for me! There is a photographer and videographer onboard. On the way back to shore you can order photos and videos. If you forget to bring enough cash or some international plastic (like I did – I was only thinking tips!) no problem mon. I was given a slip of paper with an email address and the identification numbers of the photos and video. Later that evening I sent an email from ship with the necessary information. Everything is mailed anyway so it isn’t like you are waiting for photos longer than someone else.

We arrived back to the dock area around noon and decided to head back to the ship. This is a little more of an undertaking than when the ship is docked but not terribly bad. Kids didn’t have any desire to walk around town, they had activities onboard to do so they said. And we wanted to rinse off the Sea Safe and saltwater. Besides lunch was being served!

About 1:30 – 2:00 we boarded another tender to go back to the island. A little walking around the immediate area and some shopping were in order. Some rum cake & rum flavored coffee, a Grand Cayman Harley t-shirt for hubby’s boss, and a stingray charm for DD’s bracelet were the extent of our purchases. Although we did take our time browsing through several of the finer jewelry stores!

Back on board I went ahead and changed for dinner then went to decks 9 & 10 for the sail away party to Cozumel. This was a really fun party with characters showing up in Mexican costume. There was also a Mexican musical hat game with a bunch of men – pretty amusing to watch. A family was chosen to blow the sail away horn – ok, it was blown from the bridge but on cue so it looked like that family depressed the big lever. If this was the “family of the week” I’ve read about I have to say it was a great choice. The son was quite visibly Down’s Syndrome and having a grand time. As the week went on you could see Mom relax more and more too! Now you just try and tell me this isn’t a Magical ship!

This was a night to turn in early for all of us, except Andrew that is! A little too much sun and perhaps not enough water in take had us wiped out.

Wednesday – Cozumel:

A slightly more leisurely start to our day on Wednesday. Andrew and Greg were heading for the snorkeling excursion at 9:15 while Michelle & I were going horseback riding at 11:15. After the guys left we headed up on deck so I could take pictures. Since I had the time I wanted to spend time playing with my longer lens. Glanced through those photos last night and the light was perfect. HINT: For those taking an SLR don’t forget the polarizing filter! I was even able to get some shots of the guys leaving the ship. Make note that although the ship actually docks it is a LONG dock. For those who might not want to walk there are bike cabs that will take you between the ship and check point.

The previous reports you may have read about timeliness of excursions in Cozumel is 100% accurate. When we arrived at Off Beat for our excursion meet the previous group was still waiting. Their excursion operator hadn’t arrived at the dock yet! However, we were soon on our way to Rancho Buena Vista with Clint (Pancho) and Clinton (I can’t remember his nickname). Once aboard the bus we took about a 30 minute drive to the ranch on the far side of the island. The ride was wonderful! The jungle was beautiful, the “ruins” were mainly recreated but the guide was knowledgeable and quite funny.

I would caution anyone taking this excursion to PLEASE be honest with the ranch hands about your level of riding experience. My daughter rides all the time and I used to but over the last few years it has dwindled to probably 9-12 times over a 5 year period. I did take a lesson with DD’s instructor just to brush up before we left but still placed myself in the moderate group. There were people who claimed a great deal of experience and were put on horses to match who absolutely had NO CONTROL over those animals. Which created somewhat of a safety hazard on the trail when horses crowded others, at one point a bridle ring was caught in the tail of another horse and at another a horse nipped another on the flank as we broke into a trot. You are not required to do anything but walk your horse, but there is opportunity to trot and canter or gallop – DD knows the technical difference I don’t! LOL! We were on horseback about 1 ½ to 2 hours. After arriving back at the stable area there were beverages available – I had a mini Corona and Michelle had a “real” Coke in the bottle. They formulate with sugar in Mexico not corn syrup so it tastes like some of you may remember from your childhood days! Remember to take along some cash for tips and souvenirs. The hand painted plates are now $15. We were supposed to get back to the dock area about 3 – it was much closer to 4.

The guys were back onboard but we decided to do a little shopping first. We headed down to Viva Mexico, about 4 blocks from the dock. Here we were able to pick up essentially everything we were looking for. I had decided ahead of time to look for one of the traditional Mexican embroidered dresses with the cut work underskirt and found precisely that. Michelle found a hand woven blanket in colors that worked perfectly with her bedroom, and a couple of things for people back home that were watching over the house, etc. About the time we finished paying a torrential rain let loose! I mean it didn’t just rain it flooded the streets in about 2 minutes! Oh well, we tightened down the backpack, made sure the packages (which were in plastic bags) were closed at the top and headed out into it. About half way back we ducked into another little shop where Michelle found a pretty embroidered fuschia skirt and top and I found the perfect shawl/waist wrap to go with my dress. Then we dashed the rest of the way to the ship. We were drenched when we boarded but there were CMs on hand just past the security checkpoint handing out warm, dry towels.

We all showered, changed and headed out for the evening fun. While we were changing Andrew called to let us know they’d just been informed at Common Grounds the Teen Fury had been cancelled due to weather. A little disappointing but being from Michigan we are well aware of how weather can impact the best laid plans. He joined us for dinner and we had a grand evening. After dinner the pools were pretty much deserted so Greg and I decided to take a little time in the hot tub. About 9 pm the rain cleared off, although it was a little windy yet and the crew started setting up for the Mexicali night on deck. It was fascinating to see the buffet go up. This deck party was a great deal of fun and definitely not to be missed.

Thursday – Sea Day: We spent a relatively lazy morning not doing much of anything. Well I should say that we did walk deck 4, as we did most days. Then we wandered up for some breakfast and no more than finished and Michelle asked us to join her. After showers I wandered up to Shutters, did some onboard shopping, picked up our galley tour tickets and then we went to lunch. This was the seafood buffet and was excellent. Ok, getting the idea – food is excellent and there is always plenty of it! LOL!

We attended the Captain’s Signing and had the earlier photo signed as well as a chart that was available in the shops ($18) and just the thing for my map guy! At 2 pm we headed for the Spa for our couples massage. This was scheduled for 2:15 and arriving 15 minutes early is a good idea. We changed in our respective dressing rooms and relaxed in the comfy chaises for a few minutes. The music playing starts to relax you almost immediately. The two attendants collected us and it was in to a treatment room. For the next 50 minutes they proceeded to turn us into jello. A most wonderful experience. One I’d highly recommend. It was $89 per person plus tip for those wondering.

We took the galley tour at 3:25. This is something I’d also highly recommend. I’ve seen a number of commercial and industrial kitchens but this was unique. 120 chefs on board – 2 for just butchering fish, 2 for just cutting melon. 10,000 rolls coming fresh out of the oven as guests are entering the dining room for each seating. And the list of information goes on. The tour lasts about 30 minutes and when we went through the pastry area there were fresh cookies. I heard they are often chocolate chip but we had oatmeal, which just happen to be our favorites!

The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging by the pool. Once again we ended up by the Goofy pool with the steel drum band playing. And it wasn’t busy. About 5 we headed down to get ready for Semi-formal dinner. Greg & I did a photo of the two of us that night and we met at Parrot Cay for dinner. CBAGGS & Amous also had main seating on the same rotation we did which meant before the trip was too far over we were stopping by tables, etc. We tried meeting up before dinner but ended up doing so after for a group photo! The one from my camera turned out great thanks to whatever nice passenger that was that did camera duty. Chris & Amy I’ll send you a copy!

Tonight everyone wanted out of the fancy clothes pretty quickly. The kids disappeared quickly as well. Mickey & Minnie had left us that bottle of champagne when we came on board so we invited Amy, Chris & Ed to our room for a drink on the verandah. We ended up hanging out on the verandah chatting for quite a while – missing Disney Dreams. But that is ok. We’d all seen it before and the others made it to the matinee while we were being turned to jello. We were living the Disney Dream at that moment anyway – an exotic location, good people and good conversation. But soon we did decide that the ventriloquist and 80s night could not be missed! We split up to do kid checks and met shortly in Rockin’ Bar D. Michael Harris was too funny! It was here that we finally ran into Wes and his group (WRH3MD). I have a picture of Wes as the ventriloquist’s dummy…uh puppet and must post that. What was that about ladies underwear Wes? And of course there was 80s night. Oh my – Gloria Gaynor #3 had Que so flustered he could barely talk. Austin Powers speechless is something to be seen. And the John Travoltas! Well, let’s just say it is a good thing the 18 & over rule was being enforced! Naturally the Village People – somewhat older and uh, shall we say larger around the middle? than I remember made an appearance.

Friday – Castaway Cay:

Andrew went on the Wild Side Excursion and reported that it was a wonderful trip. They did end up on the far side of the island in areas that most guests never get to. And that was about all we heard. If I had one complaint, and I really don’t, it would be that on these teen excursions one of the ship photographers went along to get a few shots. But I completely understand about the sensitivity of teens to having a camera pointed their way.

Greg, Michelle, & I disembarked as soon as we were cleared. We quickly stopped at the post office to mail a few cards (don’t forget cash for this) and She Sells for some shopping. HINT: If you shop early you can ask the CM to have your package sent back to the ship. You pick it up at Upbeat after 6:30 pm. Then we ambled our way to the beaches. We dropped Michelle at the teen beach. HINT: The easiest way to access this is through Grouper’s Game Pavillion. Otherwise it is a little weird getting to it. No clear sign off the main path. After settling her at the beach with one of the radios we strolled down to Serenity Bay. Yes we walked. We found chairs and went in the water. After about 20 minutes we decided this part of CC was just too quiet for us! Great if you just want to quietly lounge in the water or on the beach but not enough in the way of snorkeling, etc. for DH.

We headed back for the family beach. Found a great spot just past the lifeguard stand prior to the point between the family beach and the teen beach. Even an umbrella. It seemed to me they’ve added a LOT of umbrellas since our last visit. Greg took a short walk to let Michelle know we’d moved (she wasn’t answering the radio) and managed to catch a couple of pictures of her without her knowledge! Scrapbook material.

By this time it was about 11:30 and we were smelling delectable bar be que smells from Cookies. So we decided to have lunch. It had been 3 years since we were at CC and I must say the set up at Cookies is much better than in the past. The lines moved quickly even at peak times. Michelle went with a bunch of kids and counselors from the teen beach a little later. That was good to know – as we were a bit worried that she’d forget to get lunch until it was over and then be crabby. The lobster burgers were offered at Cookies that day.

After lunch I took one of the chairs to the water’s edge and sat reading while Greg snorkeled. I did make one mistake here. Although we’d all sunscreened pretty heavily I didn’t reapply before heading into the water. And I splashed water up on my arms – bad move! The water acted like a magnifying glass and the next morning I had several areas of raised areas like blisters. Blistering sunburn is not a good thing! I’m pleased to report that it has basically disappeared now (Wed).

About 1:45 we walked over to rinse off the seawater, etc. and ran into Andrew. He hadn’t shopped earlier and asked about a couple things. We handled that shopping and he was off for the game pavilion and teen beach. On the way back I noticed that the hair braiding area was taking walk ups. Prior to the trip Michelle had indicated interest in this, but then decided to cut her hair the day before we left. On Monday she suddenly asked about getting her hair braided. Of course there were no reservations left. Later that day we noticed them taking walk ups on the ship. By that time she’d changed her mind again! Teens! I stopped to check and found that indeed they were doing walk ups and decided to have 3 braids put in on one side of my head. A little bit of island fun to take home!

Around 3 Michelle caught up with us and was ready to head back to the ship. She was worn out and grumpy. It didn’t take long to figure out she hadn’t been drinking water all day. Two cups later she was better but still ready to get out of the sun. So she and I started back to the ship. There were a fair number of folks heading back to get kids ready for the Discover the Magic show. We showered and I popped into the disembarkation talk only because some of the customs rules have changed since we sailed last. As soon as they covered that part I ducked out again!

Although I’d packed many of the worn/dirty items as the week went along I decided to finish packing before dinner. We were a little worried because we hadn’t seen Andrew yet but he wandered into the cabin at about 4:45 informing us he’d been back on board in plenty of time. The CMs were herding the stragglers back to the ship. I almost didn’t make it with a pile on the bed and thought I’d have to leave the Privacy Please card on the door for Novletta! But Greg helped me finish up the pile that had accumulated on the bed before time to go to dinner. We did have a few things left after dinner but not much. At dinner Ritesh and Dragan had to kid me about the braids – it was a bit different from the look I’d had all week, and Michelle was starting to show some serious sunburn on her back. We found out she’d spent most of the day in the water proving she was Queen of the Surfboard, and beating some of the boys roundly with the time she could stay up! That’s my daughter.

Friday evening after dinner I decided to go up to Shutters for a final time. The zoo that everyone has reported is accurate. Fortunately (I thought) I’d made most of my purchases earlier so only had to look at the CC photos and the formal taken the night before. The rest of the evening was pretty quiet. We didn’t go to the Farewell Show and there is nothing going on in Rockin’ Bar D or pretty much anywhere else for that matter. I know that many people have to pack but it would be nice to have something in that 9-11 or 12 range. Yes we have to get up early the next morning but we didn’t go to bed that early anyway. Well I should say 3 of us tried but we had some rather noisy neighbors who decided to come in about 11:30, turn on the tv loudly and start packing. Not sure how they got all those bags off the ship…

The Until we Meet Again event in the atrium at 10:15 is definitely worth heading too. A good chance to get some photos of the main stage actors and you can join them in the photos.

DISEMBARKATION:

We docked Saturday morning about 5:30. I looked out and then crawled back into bed for a while. Andrew had come in about 2:00 am as no one was really hanging out all night – at least in his group! So we’d decided to forgo the sit down restaurant having said our farewells to our servers the night before. We knew that was going to be hard. Andrew especially misses Ritesh. Quite something for a 15 year old to admit missing anyone! About 6:30 we decided it was time to get up and get around. We had only a few things from the night before and toiletries to stuff in the carry on bags.

Breakfast was fairly leisurely at Topsiders. It is continental but not too different from the sit down restaurants. Ritesh had told us the night before they have gone to a very limited menu in those restaurants and that things would be a little slow because Public Health was expected onboard. The ship didn’t clear for disembarkation until nearly 8:30 so I’m guessing they made it.

Once the announcement was made we headed down to deck 3 and off the ship. None of us really wanted to leave, although we knew the dog missed us and it was time to go home. Most people seemed to have paid attention to the instructions and kept the necessary paperwork handy. In the terminal bags were a little more scattered than usual. Generally they are all together but not this time. However, we located them fairly quickly. We took a moment to move a few items from the night before from the carryons to outside pockets of the big bags and secured them with zip ties I’d left in one of the outside pockets. A porter hefted our bags to a cart, took our customs declaration and soon we were in line for Delta. It took about an hour from the time we walked off the ship until we were on the bus. This included checking in for our flights and turning our bags over at the port.

We did find that one of our bags had been inspected by TSA when we arrived home. Opening it I wasn’t surprised. It was the last one packed and in addition to some clothing it had several books, most of the shoes, a metal makeup case, playing cards, the extension cord, hairdryer & curling iron, the extra batteries, radios, and more. It must have looked pretty suspicious when it was X-rayed! LOL! We could tell because it was re-secured with a different cable tie and there was a note inside. Things weren’t too messed up.

ARRIVING HOME:

As mentioned in the travel section the trip home was relatively uneventful. That changed when we got home. We found out that DH’s work truck which is always parked in the front drive had been vandalized. The back window was completely broken, glass everywhere, one taillight smashed, and the blue lights from the back window had been stolen. Fortunately we had great neighbors keeping an eye on things and a police report had already been made with the truck secured in their garage. On Sunday morning we discovered that these same vandals had also thrown rocks at the house breaking the double pane glass on the front picture window. So now we are waiting for the glass people to get the materials and make that repair. Oh well, no one was hurt, we had a grand vacation, and can’t WAIT to go back!

If anyone has any questions don’t hesitate. I know this was really long and I’ve left things out without a doubt.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Ooops! Just realized I had intended to make this a separate section and then forgot to include it altogether.

I had read a lot about the photo packages before going and wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. But since I take a lot of pictures and am and avid scrapbooker I knew I had to check out what Shutter's photogs took.

The first evening I went up to check on our embarkation photo and found not only the regular 6 x 8 but also a collage version which I thought would be great for the opening page of the book and one of DD on the pool deck.

I checked with the CM and this is what I was told. If you buy a package and decide you need more you can upgrade. If you don't use everything you purchase through the package you have two options - 1) they will refund the unused portion or 2) you can get 2 for 1 stock photos. Throughout the cruise I found many that I wanted that were taken by the ship's photogs. I ended up with the biggest package and used all but 2 options for pictures of our family. For the remaining 2 options I picked up 4 stock photos that will add nicely to my book.

I also bought a number of formal pictures that we had taken - 1 of the 4 of us with the Key West sunset background, 3 from formal night; 1 of the family, 1 of just DH & me and 1 of the kids. Also on semi-formal night I had a formal taken of just DH & myself. We sorted through each day and generally picked up the 6 x 8 photos I liked. The larger ones I bought the family Key West shot and left the DH & me and kids shots until the formal night pics were in. Keep in mind that you can download a waiver for copying from the website (sorry don't have the address handy at this moment) and I was thinking grandparents and Christmas all over those formal pics!

One other thing that can be a bit confusing. The formal portraits are printed as 8 x 10s. These will have a pretty good sized stand on an easle that says they are "formal portraits". The other pre-set options such as with the characters in formal wear, Mexican costume, etc will print as 6 x 8s.

Taking my own pictures:

If you read many of my posts prior to the cruise you probably got an idea that I take a LOT of pictures. This trip was no exception. I took with me almost all of my equipment and plenty of film.

SLR body with 28-80, 80-200, and 70-300 lenses. UV & Polarizing filters, shoe flash, monopod, a total of 6 underwater cameras, 5 rolls of B&W film, a couple rolls of 1600, ~15 rolls of 800, and over 40 rolls of 400 in 36 & 24 exposure versions. (400 is as slow as I shoot). All of the film was packed in lead film safe bags any time it went through X-ray including going on and off ship. No problems for the most part. The exception was a bit of attitude by the "girl" that drew the hand inspection at the Orlando airport.

Since I didn't snorkel this trip and only did the Stingray water excursion I probably could have taken 1 or 2 fewer underwater cameras. The guys just don't shoot as much as I do. But going in it seemed like the right amount. And if it hadn't rained at Key West on the Kayaking we may have used 2 up there as planned.

Doing it again I'd leave the 80-200 lense and its filters home. The other two covered the entire range with some overlap. I didn't use the shoe flash mainly because I kept forgetting to grab it and then didn't have it when I wanted. It would have helped in some of the atrium shots and shots on deck in the evening. I also didn't use the monopod but would probably take it in the future because you never know when it will be useful.

As for film - I'd leave about 3/4 of the 800 home - just didn't need it. Although the 1600 works well in the theater. Used a large portion of the 400 and probably would have used more if our excursions had been different. B&W is always good to have on hand but I just wasn't in a B&W mood this trip. Those of you who shoot film know what I mean!

The two most useful accessories I took along were the lead bags from Lands End (I have the large version and can tuck the camera and extra film in them) - they were great for taking camera and extra film on and off ship without worrying about X-ray damage. I also have the Bob Krist series of bags (the big one for all the gear) and the smaller one which will hold a couple extra rolls of film, the camera with the lens attached and a few bills/KTTW, etc in the front pocket. This was great around ship.

Deb

 

[beanteam]

Hey Deb! We probably sat next to you at Margarittaville! We were also on the stingray city tour. I'm so glad we went on the early one because I talked to some people who went on the afternoon trip and they only saw about 5 stingrays! There were hundreds when we went!

Sounds like you had a great trip! I'm sorry about the vandal situation That really stinks. Did you stop your newpaper from being delivered? We do that when we leave town because thieves look for uncollected newpapers as a sign you may be gone.

You gave lots of great tips! hopefully they will be useful to future Western Cruisers

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Hey Beanteam!

We were on that early excursion too and that is too weird that we were in all those same places and never connected.

Go figure.

No we didn't but the neighbor was putting paper and mail in the house every day as well as watering plants, etc.

DH is in law enforcement and we think someone just happened to do it while we were gone that it could just as easily have happened if we'd been out for the evening. Or even been there, although then it isn't likely the window would have been hit as well as the truck. We have a pretty good description of a suspicious vehicle so hopefully someone will get caught with their "trophies"!

Deb

 

[tezb]

Enjoyed reading your trip report!! Great writing and tips.

Do you really need the safe Sea for the Stingray Excursion? I have a bottle from 2 yrs ago that I haven't opened and wonder if it expires...didn't think I would need it anymore.

Also, does DCL provide life vests? I am 5'1 and don't feel all that comfortable in the ocean to begin with...my youngest son is under 5 feet also. Did you like the Stingray City w/ DCL? We have booked w/ them and Capt Bryan's and haven't decided on which one yet. Does DCL do the video, pictures or both? Also, did you find the trip rocky on their double decker catamaran? Others say the cabin cruisers are less stable and the DCL double decker looks more stable and less rocky in the ocean.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

The ocean was VERY calm that day and the catamaran we took out to DCL very stable. I'm used to boating on Lake Michigan anyway where any space between waves/swells is much shorter so it doesn't take much to give the boat some rock.

The guides did say that the water was very calm that day which is why I mentioned it. I did hear from some folks who went on the afternoon excursion that the water was rougher and fewer rays.

I don't know about absolutely needing the Sea Safe but since we (guys especially) were going to spend so much time in the water and it is a good sunscreen (stays on in the water) we went ahead and got it. Not sure on expiration though.

DCL requires everyone in the water to have the snorkeling vests. They are sort of a mixed blessing - the more air of course the more bouancy but that also raises you more quickly. I actually think some of the smaller kids who went in knowing they couldn't easily touch bottom were less apprehensive about the swells than those of us who were thinking we'd be able to keep our footing.

The other thing that is a bit unnerving to begin with is that you hear so much about keeping your feet in contact with the sand so you let the rays know you're coming, won't accidentally step on them, etc. Ok, the fact is if you're on one of those morning excursions especially the rays KNOW you're there. None of them are burying in the sand. Additionally, I thought the guides on the DCL excursion did a really good job of explaining how the "stinger" on the tail works. It isn't a stinger but a barb about half way along the tail - not the end. It is designed so that if a predator fish attacks the ray from on top the tail springs up sort of like your knee does when the doctor taps it with a reflex hammer.

The DCL excursion does have both the photographer and videographer on board. They are not Shutters photogs so you can't pick up on board ship. What you do is on the way back to Grand Cayman they will have the photos available for you to see. Also the video will be running. You can place an order and pay for it immediately - the prints, disk, video will be sent to you. Or you can email them afterwards with order information (they'll give you a little slip with the codes for your pics and the video of your trip), mailing and Credit card info. That is what I did. When I was getting everything around that morning I remembered everything and enough cash for tips but not that.

Photos are $10 per for 4 x 6 or the electronic file, $20 for 8 x 10

Videos are $20 I think - that slip isn't here near the computer.

Deb

 

[mmouse37]

Isn't Que a doll??? We have sailed on DCL 8 times and have always enjoyed the cruise staff very much. We met Que on our 5/17 cruise and he was just fantastic!!! The whole cruise staff made our trip that much better!!!

MJ

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Hi, great report!

Can I ask, what type of room at the Hyatt did you reserve? And, they tried to give you 2 doubles instead? We're looking for something other than 2 doubles, so if we can get it, that would be great.

Thanks!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

CaliforniaDreaming -

We booked the "day early" option with DCL including the Hyatt reservation. When I spoke with the CM we discussed that there we DH & myself along with the two kids - including ages and gender and the need for separate sleeping facilities. I was assured that we'd have what we needed, and that it would likely be a room with two doubles and either a rollaway or daybed. Made sense to me since that is a fairly common arrangement.

Not sure if something changed at the Hyatt in between the reservation being made and our arrival or what but the desk clerk's position was that a rollaway in a room with 2 doubles wasn't possible because of fire codes. BTW - I did check with DCL when we returned mainly because I didn't want this to happen to someone else and they assured me that the reservation notes that were forwarded to Hyatt clearly indicated that need. Since the Hyatt desk clerk "solved" the problem rather quickly while reading the reservation details on her computer screen I'm pretty sure the info was there but that someone was in a hurry and a bit sloppy when they assigned a room to us originally.

Deb

 

[rae519]

Thanks for that great trip report! IT was wonderful and your details are very much appreciated!

Can't wait til we go in a month!
Rae

 

[jlawall]

Wow a very thorough report!! I have a question or two......Was the stingray excursion worth it? I get seasick and nervous around rays. If I stay on the boat, how long will I wait?

How did your DH and DS like snorkeling in Cozumel?

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Hi jlawall -

We felt the stingray excursion was definitely worth it. The probability of being able to do something like this again - short of going back to Grand Cayman - is highly unlikely.

Everyone is nervous at first, some get over it more quickly than others. DD didn't really and decided to go back on the boat after 15-20 minutes. The boat is at anchor for about an hour and 15 minutes at Stingray City.

DH & DS enjoyed the snorkeling at Cozumel. They were originally hoping to do the snorkeling excursion that went out to Planacar reef but that was discontinued the end of April. The Chankanaab trip was their second choice. But one they enjoyed. Ok, DS didn't enjoy the "gallon or so" of saltwater he ingested. But once "nature took its course" on that he was fine. And went back in snorkeling at CC.

Deb

 

[midnitemist]

Great report! I can't wait for our trip 8/2. We have the same excurisions planned. On the horseback riding, do they take you to any of the Mayan ruins to see? Is it a follow a guide trail or can you ride a little by yourself? My boyfriend does not want to follow a guide for 3 hrs. Anything I need to be prepared for on the ride? I know we have to wear jeans, but I heard it nice to have your bathing suit on underneath, that you get to swim some. What is Sea Safe??

Glad you had a wonderful trip.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Hi midnitemist,

If you're taking the DCL riding excursion don't bother with your bathing suit. The closest you get to the water is on the bus ride.

You do have a guide who makes sure everything is reasonably under control and that every one is taking the right path. There are a variety of forks. It isn't a follow the guide like you'd find in the US. There were many times when the horses were 2 & even 3 abreast. So not the nose to tail.

As for Mayan ruins - there was one statue that is authentic and a couple of ceremonial caves. And lots of recreated stuff. Our guide told us that Mexican law forbids restoration once something has fallen down in most circumstances. I found out through some web research after returning that there are some exceptions on the mainland.

Our guide was quite informative about the Mayan culture, etc. There are very few ruins on Cozumel proper. Most are on the mainland. The Mayans didn't actually live on Cozumel according to the guide (and again I did find sources verifying this) but came over from the mainland for ceremonies.

The terrain is quite rocky. So it makes sense to let your horse have a little discretion particularly when on the inclines.

You are not riding for 3 hours. We were actually on horseback for about an hour and a half as I recall. Part of the time is the meet up in the designated spot on ship, getting to the bus with the ranch guides, traveling to and from the ranch. And don't plan on just 3 hours. I actually think DCL says this is a 3.5 hour excursion - plan on 4 minimum. I know we met at 11:15 and it was just after 4 when we got off the bus back near the port.

Jeans aren't required - but I'd definitely wear long pants. I had a lighter weight drawstring style on. DD wore jeans but she always does when she rides.

Sea Safe is a sunscreen that has a component to help ward off some of the nasties of the ocean. We ordered it.

Deb

 

[whalewatcher]

Wow! What a great trip report. Thanks for the effort.

Curious about what cabin you got on ship that would fit all of you. What category and location? Enough room for everyone?

Thanks.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Hi whalewatcher -

We were in 6536. Cat. 6 with a verandah. No problem for 4 people. DS slept on the sofa that coverted into a bed without difficulty. It is definitely wider than a twin although I don't think quite as wide as a double. DD slept in the berth that drops from the ceiling and was quite comfy.

Deb

 

[CVW]

Would a 4 year-old (presumably on a lap) enjoy the horseback ride? How about a 7 year-old on the stingray excursion?

 

[hopelea]

Hey Deb.....great report! I am really interested in the horseback riding trip also. I have two DD's 7 & 9. The price only quotes for adults 12 & up. Did you see any younger children on the tour?

By the way, I grew up in lower Michigan! Great place! Love going back for visits!!

Hope

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

CVW & Hope -

The horsebacking riding excursion is definitely NOT for younger kids. There are only prices for 12 & up because it is not set up for younger kids.

These are not your typical American stable horse with little life in them. Although they do put you on a horse by riding ability - novice, intermediate, and experienced - the last thing you want riding through the jungle over trails that are often half limestone is a little one that can't control a horse.

I do recognize that there are kids out there under the age of 12 that are avid riders - my daughter rides in competition and I see them. But they are the exception rather than the rule. Better (SAFER) to exclude all of the younger kids than get some on who really do not know what they are doing and create an unsafe situation.

As for the 7 year old on the stingray excursion I would say you know your child. I'm sure some would. Keep in mind that the water is shallow but still substantial. I'm 5'7" and it came about mid torso on me. Also there is enough current action even on a calm day that I was using my 6'3" linebacker son as an anchor until I really became sure of myself and the waves - it could knock you off your feet. And the sensation of the rays takes a little getting used to. There were younger kids there who were loving every minute and there were some adults who never got in the water but watched from the boat!

Deb

 

[OurDogCisco]

Deb, thanks for the awesome trip report. I even took notes for our May trip next year. Just wondering, did you buy any scrapbooking material while on board? I am thinking of buying a coloring book and I am not sure if I want the album. I can't wait to see those scrapped pictures. Thanks for taking the time to write this.

Tina