Disney Cruise Line SEPTEMBER 17-21 2018
Embarkment Day DREAM OF THE CARIBBEAN Day 1 The first day is always exciting and stressful, the moment we woke up at our studio at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We were in a rush to make it to the scheduled time. We had a 12:30 embarkation and we were trying to stick to that, of course plans never go the way they should. Over an hour to get to Port. Drop off the car rental and take a shuttle to the ship. That was the goal we intended. Not to count the car accidents and slow people along the way from Orlando out to Port Canaveral. We made a few stops along the way, we had planned this trip out for the past month, but when it comes to the day of, we can t decide on what we re doing. Stopped off the get alcohol for this trip. You re only allowed one 6 pack on board, either glass or can and nothing over 12 oz. Than when it came to food, most people waited to get on the ship before eating. We stopped off for a quick snack. Good thing we did, and I will explain later. When we booked this trip we decided to rent a car from MCO to Port Canaveral. The reason being was not only convenience but, price. It would have been more costly to have taken a Disney cruise line bus from the resort round trip than to rent a car one way and on the way back. Once we dropped off the car rental at Port Canaveral. We took a free shuttle to the terminal. We were in line for roughly 15 minutes. Got through the screening and headed upstairs, where captain mickey was waiting for a photo opportunity.
Once inside the terminal building, you can venture off to the outside for a better look at the Disney ship. Or you can stand in line and have your picture taken with the head cheese in front of a model of the Disney Magic. Check in comes in 3 levels, Concierge. A high end experience with no waits and immediately taken to a lounge to enjoy drinks and snacks, once everything is set you would be escorted to your concierge suite, where you re provided host/steward who tends to your needs. The next level is Castaway Club Member, someone who has already sailed before with Disney, this process is usually a bit quicker as far as registration and handling. Regular registration for first timers. Once you re done with registration, it is time to board. Provide the key to the world card to at least three check points and take a photo for the beginning of your voyage. Enter onto the 3rd deck midship where you ll encounter a grand staircase and very nice lobby. To the right is guest services. To the left is Royal Palace. This is where you gain you're barring and figure out which way is forward and aft. A few hours to go before the ship is set to sail. Kids are already using the aqueduck. People are having lunch at Cabanas, the buffet onboard. There are a few things going on the first day, there was plenty of raffles and some entertainment prior to the sailing away party. Showtime and Dinner provided roughly an hour after the sailing away party, it felt like there was always something to do onboard. We re off to the Golden Mickey s and a dinner at Enchanted Garden.
NASSAU Once we landed at the port in the Bahamas. No stamping of passports. But you do need to bring them as a form of Identification. Once in the tourist square of Nassau there are many places to go and things to do. Luckily transportation is cheap and you can get to plenty of places nearby for $4 a person one way. We were able to get a water taxi from the port to the outskirts of Nassau, We were able to take a small walk from the port to Atlantis the local resort. The amenities were endless. You can swim with dolphins and hang out with sea lions. Play at the casino or watch the aquarium. If you brought your swim gear you can also pay for one day at their water park. We came back to the ship mid day after shopping and walking. We had scheduled a mixology class for tequila and margaritas. We received the in's and outs of tequila and how it is produced. Silver, Reposado, Anejo, XO Cafe. One shot of each and as many glasses of Margaritas you can enjoy. Proud and not so proud to have drank people under the table. Tonights entertainment was Believe, a nice musical about a father with a lack of belief in magic and desperate to believe in it for his daughters sake. Dinner was at Royal Palace.
CASTAWAY CAY 5K Away Bright and early, we headed to the evolution lounge to get the run through about the 5k we wanted to attend. At 8am we re the first ones off the ship and walked the half mile trek to the starting line. We learned later when we walked out with all our stuff for the day that they had a bin available to have our stuffed stored in while we ran. It was very humid out, the sun was not really out yet and it was pleasant; for the most part. After 2 1/2 miles I could tell this 5k was a little bit more of an endurance for me. Planning this out for the past few weeks running up to the day, did not get me ready for how I was going to feel during and after. Luckily water was provided along the route. In less than an hour we had passed the finish line and made our was around the island. We were able to take pictures with Donald and Mickey along the waterfront with the ship as a background. By 11:30am the Lunch areas were open. We made sure we headed over to Serenity Bay, the 18 and older part of the island, where the sound of children screaming was muffled by the ocean. A good distance away from the ship. The travel time from the beach to the ship was about 20 minutes, including the tram rides. 4pm comes quick and soon it is time to set sail.
DAY AT SEA Cabin Fever The day at sea is the most jam packed agenda day. Usually when you re provided the Navigator. The agendas for the day they usually are spread out to accommodate shore excursions. Not this day. Some things you want to do are overlapping and puts you in a bind for entertainment, at least until the afternoon. This was our opportunity to enjoy the ship and what it had to offer. Being able to ride the Aquaduck and plan a few rounds of bingo. Taking a moment to visit Cabanas, the buffet area of the ship for lunch and for quick snacks. This day is the funnest day I would have on the ship and the most saddest, because that night you would need to have your bags packed to get off the ship in the morning. Which means as much as we re enjoying ourselves. we would need to devote time to making sure things are packed and ready to go. That is what we did the first part of the afternoon. Once we re done with this chore we headed over to the atrium and grand staircases for photo ops. This night is the grand finally of the cruise and its entertainment. Beauty and the Beast a broadway/remade rendition. Dinner at Animators Palet.