Wild Turkeys & Dancing Nanas Take over Magic 11/25 (Thurs @ Sea)

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Cheri, Your right, you goofed it, but i didnt even notice it???

Maybe I need new glasses.

Good to know we are even now, but I have a feeling others will continue to remind us about it!!

Kathy

 

[LindaBabe]

Loving it! Please, take all the time and words you want . . . it has to last us for a long long time .

 

[DutchsMommy]

Hey Cheri - great so far! Did you notice Stony is in all of your pics? LOL

 

[pgfour]

Day Two – First Full Day at Sea.

We set our clocks forward one hour over night and awoke around 7:30 (I'm guessing!). DH trekked up the 9 flights of stairs to get us some coffee.

I didn't mention it before – our cabin was 1079 – interior category 10. If you check the deck plans, ours is the last cabin before you reach the great gray expanse of “crew-only” areas. We are probably the only people in the history of DCL who have deliberately booked this cabin TWICE!!! Very little foot traffic (except for CM's) and room service comes right out of the door across the hall! (Of course, they probably travel several hundred feet to get to that door. . .)

I was feeling MUCH better this morning. DH whisked DD off to the OC right away at 9:00 so we could get ready for our Character breakfast at 9:45. I went for a quick run on Deck 4 and then quickly showered and changed for breakfast.

I've read several mixed reviews about the character breakfast. So I guess I should weigh in. All in all, it's not a bad experience. I figure we have to eat breakfast sometime, so we may as well have our wait staff serve us and see a few characters without standing in line. Tonya, Trey & Hunter were also there to join us. Fabio & Patricio had a pretty easy morning!!

Since we had second seating, there wasn't a big rush to get us out of there. All characters came around for pictures and they all actually signed DD's autograph book even though we told them they didn't need to – pretty hard to write with those big hands. The food was fine. DD picked at her “kids” breakfast – too many distractions!! I gobbled mine up so F & P wouldn't think I was a picky eater based on my performance the night before.

One food observation: The hash browns were really hit or miss all week long. Some days they were fine and other days they were so “toasted” that they just crumbled when I tried to cut them. I'm rather surprised they didn't offer a few other types of breakfast potatoes.

DD had the opportunity to get a photo with Pocahantas in the lobby atrium, but didn't want to wait in line.

Moving on. . .after breakfast we changed into our suits and headed to decks 9/10 so DD could swim in the Mickey Pool and we could RELAX! (I think that's an oxymoron!!) We had no problem finding deck chairs on Deck 10 so we could see DD while she splashed about in the pool. It was a bit windy, but when you're from northern IL, you can't complain about some warm wind in December!

DD & I grabbed a snack from Goofy's Galley – a shrimp roll-up and a panini – before she changed and headed to the OC for activities all afternoon (learning to draw Mickey, making a picture frame and free time). DH & I finally had a bit of down time. We read, ate burgers from Pluto's and had a couple Bahama Mamas.

Next: another interesting evening. . .

 

[pgfour]

Hey Cheri - great so far! Did you notice Stony is in all of your pics? LOL

I hadn't really thought about it except for the one by the slide. I should've zoomed in to see what he's drinking!!!

Hope you guys are doing well!

Cheri

 

[pgfour]

Loving it! Please, take all the time and words you want . . . it has to last us for a long long time .

Careful Linda, I may take you up on that!!!

When do you leave for the marathon?

 

[pgfour]

A few pictures from the Character Breakfast:

Assistant server Patricio made DD a napkin hat! She was obviously VERY hungry!!!

 

[pgfour]

DD's method to get character photos without the wait!

Time to go get some rest. DD can't even keep her eyes open!

 

[Dixielady908]

Great so far Cheri....your daughter is sooo cute.....hurry waiting for the rest of the report.....(i know you have sooo much free time on your hands)


Denise

 

[disneediva]

Cheri, the report is great it makes me miss you guys even more. I read in your report you had a few cocktails, I never knew you drank?
Keep the report coming..

Wendy

 

[pgfour]

Cheri, the report is great it makes me miss you guys even more. I read in your report you had a few cocktails, I never knew you drank?


Wendy

I was just looking at our shipboard expenses -- I guess we had a couple more cocktails than I remembered on day 1!!!

 

[pgfour]

During the late afternoon, I retrieved DD for some rest time while DH prepared to go to Diversions (pronounced DIE-vuhsions) to watch the Chicago Bears. DD & I went to The Golden Mickeys @ 6:15.

Being the first stage show we had attended, we made sure we arrived early so we could get “good” seats. DD's opinion of good seats differs from mine (she wanted way over on the right side); I finally convinced her to go for something in the center section. All was fine until the show was about to start. First, DD was upset that she didn't get to be interviewed by Rona, and second, my stomach started doing that flip-flop thing again.

TIP: For The Golden Mickeys, you may want to show up right before show time in the hopes that your child(ren) can be interviewed. (The theater wasn't crowded at all so we didn't need to arrive early.)

The show itself was great! Knowing all the songs and movie references helped. Ol' Tarzan was quite impressive!! Once DD got over “being left out,” she enjoyed herself as well. I willed my stomach not to dance along with the music.

After the show, it was time to dress for Formal Night. I personally enjoy dressing up, so this was not a conundrum for me. I had found a nice floor-length dress in a shimmery sea-foam green on sale at Marshall's. Gotta love a bargain!!! The color (which I wouldn't normally wear) matched my physical state at the time. How appropriate.

TIP: On the Eastern itinerary, Formal Night is the second night. Be sure to send out any formal attire needing to be pressed on the FIRST night (just as you're trying to get settled in!!). Cost was $4.00 for my dress. Sure beat doing it myself.

Off to Parrot Cay – (when we linked ressies, we tried for the PLA rotation. At least we got the 8:00 seating instead of the 8:30 seating.) We saw Tonya, Trey & Hunter and Wendy, Mike & fam in line to get formal portraits before dinner. The PG “three” didn't get any formal portraits since we were missing our 4th cog. Maybe next time (then we can just Photo-shop Cal in there!!!).

After going through the sanitizing station, we arrived at our table; Bill & Shell were there already looking quite dapper. I really liked Shell's red dress (she says she “loves orange,” well I LOVE red!!), but do to my own inner turmoil, I don't think I told her. Anyway, Fabio arrived with the menus, but Patricio never arrived to get our drink orders. (I didn't think we were THAT rough on him last night!) Once drink orders were taken, it took FORVER for them to come! I think they had to go to Columbia to get fresh beans for Shell's coffee martini! I stuck with Sprite – nice & safe!

During this time, I knew I couldn't just SIT there the whole time. So DD & I made several trips out of the dining room. We had worn a nice groove in the floor by the time it was all said and done.

TIP: If you're feeling ill during a meal, bring your kid with you as a decoy – people may think it's the kid who can't sit still, or isn't feeling well. Helps save face among the strangers you pass 20 times during one seating! (Of course, your dining partners will know the truth and will be sure to tell many jokes at your expense while you're away!!!)

The appetizers arrived (for some totally unknown reason, I ordered the wings); I took one smell of the spices on the wings and knew I had to get out of there FAST!!! Poor Fabio thought there was something wrong with the food and kept offering to bring me something else. (Yeah, bring some more food that I won't be able to eat.) Somehow, on this final trip out, we ended up in our stateroom. Without going into details, I emerged feeling MUCH better! Apparently I ate or drank something that just didn't agree with me. Relax! This wasn't food poisoning or Norovirus – I felt GREAT after my trip to the porcelain god (though I don't think it was actually porcelain). In fact, we returned in time for dessert, which I ordered AND ate!!!! Setting one heckuv an example for my child, I know.

After dinner, DD went to the OC for some free time (her favorite, along with Captain's Closet dress-up time) and DH & I went for a stroll on Deck 10. We ended up watching Honey I Shrunk the Kids on the outdoor big screen for quite a while. Sometime around 11:00 we headed for “home.”

Next:

Day Three – another full day at sea. . . can Cheri EVER eat her dinner???

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Ok Cheri, I have been waiting for quite sometime for you to finish this report!!

Since I was kind enough to remember you this time, the least you could do is add another day to your report.

We banana heads are all reliving our cruise through these reports, so come on lets keep it coming. or it will be THE WHIP!!!!

Kathy

 

[pgfour]

Monday, November 27; Day at Sea

I woke up feeling great and I trekked up the nine floors to the coffee station (“Why did we choose deck one???” “Think of all the calories I'm burning.”).

We must have fed DD before scuttling her off to the Lab for Monstropolis Most Wanted. I ran a few laps on Deck 4 and DH and I then went to Topsiders for breakfast where we ran into Tonya, Trey & Hunter.

After eating, we saw Wendy (1/3 of our 3-headed monster) for one of the very few times all week. We then went to the Castaway Club thing where we picked up some Mickey-shaped Rice Krispie treats and cookies. Kathy & Greg won a special clock so we DISers cheered loudly.

DD was already lunching with the kids' group in AP (DH & I did check on her and she was having a good time – yippee!), so we went up to deck 10 for some “sun.” It didn't take long for the clouds to roll in and soon the wind whipped up. We went up to the front of the ship by the sports deck to watch as the rain approached (as if we'd never seen rain before!). Sarah & Stony were up there, too, and after a few minutes, I decided we better make a run for it or we'd become drowned rats.

After DD was finished making Flubber, she was ready to come back and relax in the room. We watched some TV, ordered room service, and killed some time before dinner.

Since we were in Lumiere's that night, DD wore her Belle gown. She went to the Lab before dinner to enjoy some free time (where she made a necklace) and Stitch's great adventure (whatever that was). Dinner time had arrived and I was feeling FANTASTIC! I had sworn off all alcoholic drinks during day light hours and had instead downed several cups of chamomile tea!! It was a happy night as I finished my meal without so much as single stomach flip, and Patricio took care of our drinks in a very efficient manner!

After dinner, DD got a picture with Belle and then went to the Club. DH & I went with Shell & Bill, Tonya & Trey, Kelly & Don, and some other DISers to Match Your Mate (the first time we actually made it out after dinner!!). Unfortunately, no one from our group was chosen. DH & I then strolled around on Deck 10, shared another beer or two, and watched some of the Packers / Seahawks game feeling quite smug that it was snowing in Seattle!

On our way to steerage, we collected DD (who was worried about being up past her bedtime!), and decided to call it a night.

Next up – we get LUCKY!!!!

 

[pgfour]

Apparently these people don't get out much!

Photos taken after rain shower #1 (or 2) and before "the big one."

 

[pgfour]

DD & Belle after dinner in Lumiere's.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Great report Cheri,
lets keep it coming!! We are all anxious to read about your trip, it helps us relive our cruise!!
Arnt you proud of me for knowing who you are!! and it's only 6:15 a.m.

Kathy

 

[Dixielady908]

Great report....enjoying.....even the rain....

DBW and I were sitting at quite cove, watching the water pour down the steps by the pool.....it was really weird....I mean it was gushing down. But it was still fun sitting there watching it.....I know cheap entertainment.


Keep the rest o the report coming

Denise

 

[pgfour]

Day Four – Land Ahoy!!

Tuesday dawned bright & sunny as I made my daily trek up to Deck 9 for coffee. It was pretty cool to see land and the ship parked next to us – I didn't have any ship envy!

We deliberately didn't book any excursions so we could have the day at our leisure. We went to Topsiders for breakfast where we saw Fabio handing out the sanitizing wipes. Jessalyn really loved Fabio & Patricio and they were so good to her!

Since we were planning to leave DD in the OC much of the day, we decided to take her to the Mickey Pool while it was practically empty. One of her “friends” from the Club was also at the pool so the girls splashed around for a while as we drank coffee and soaked up some sun.

DD (in blue tie-dye suit with dry hair!) splashing in Mickey Pool



Finally, around 10:30 or so, we dropped DD of at the OC and headed off the ship. We boarded a waiting water taxi and sped across the bay to Phillipsburg.

I must take a moment to comment on the water taxis; if you've ever gone to Nassau and taken the water taxis to Paradise Island (Atlantis), you'll understand why I enjoyed the St. Maartin experience! In Nassau, you board a rickety old boat (after being hounded by several vendors to board the taxi) and wait until another person cannot possibly fit (sometimes this takes 30+ minutes). You then head across the water listening to the worker shout bits of trivia about the island and who lives in which house, etc. Once you arrive, you're hot, annoyed, and relieved that you didn't have to use the questionable floatation devices.

St. Maartin has their water taxi system down to a science. You buy a full-day pass so you can ride back and forth all day long. The taxis were built within the last 30 years and were cleaned within the last day or so! They also don't wait for the taxi to be completely full before heading across the water. Overall, it's a pleasant, convenient experience.

We had two objectives in Phillipsburg. #1 – go shopping – DH forgot to pack enough casual clothes (t-shirts, shorts, etc.)!! #2 – try our luck in the casinos. Both objectives were met. Won't talk about the shopping so I can get to the gambling.

We first went to the Beach-something-or-other casino (real close to the water taxi pier). It certainly wasn't Vegas, but it was o.k. We found some video poker machines that had decent odds for Bonus Poker. We sat down and went to work. DH was having pretty decent luck at his machine (meaning winning enough hands to sustain his bank roll). I hit a major dry spell and switched machines. I hit one or two 4-of-a-kinds (I believe DH may have one as well) so we left with more than we came with.

Me holding some of our winnings (didn't want someone to mug me as I was posing for the picture!! )


A couple observations – #1. Although we had a waitress bringing drinks (and we tipped her generously), friendliness wasn't their strength in this casino! When we cashed out (and had to have an attendant come over to re-fill the machine with quarters), DH couldn't even get her to crack a smile!
#2 . When I went to the restroom, I was faced with a slight dilemma – I noticed a large trash container in the stall almost completely full of toilet paper. Hmmmmmm. I know in some countries they don't flush toilet paper because their septic/sewer systems can't really handle it. Was St. Maartin one of those countries?

I made my decision, and we got out of there and headed to the ship for lunch.

 

[Dixielady908]

enjoying.....great so far.....keep the rest coming.

Denise