Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Cartagena, Columbia
Up at 6:30am and had breakfast. I read my book and snapped some pictures of the port. Cartegena looked like a pretty well developed town with lots of high rise buildings. Victoria got up at 8:30am and we headed our for our excursion at 10am. We were scheduled for the deluxe tour of the city. Our group held three busses. When we got off the ship we were greated by women dressed in colorful garb with bowls on their heads. We were offered fruits, candies and wind mills. We were each given a fan as we entered the bus. The saying cracked me up: Columbia, the only risk is wanting to stay. HA!
I really enjoyed our tour. It was hot, long and somewhat boring but I did enjoy getting to see the sites, old and new, and walk around the streets. There were many street vendors who called after you all saying, “Hey lady, one dollar, price is dropping.” It was great to be in a city where we did not see one Walmart or McDonalds. Our tour lasted about five hours. We tipped our driver and checked out the Juan Valdez café at the terminal. They had free samples of coffee. They had no milk or cream so I tried the coffee black with sugar. It was smooth, strong and delicious. I was a chatterbox all the way back to the ship.
I showered for dinner and we dressed in our most colorful outfits for the Tropicalifragalistic party. I had veal cordon blue sort of. I can’t remember what it was called. We heard the stories of the people who went on the Mangrove canoe tour. I was cracking up through dinner at the stories of people almost tipping over, having guides who spoke no English and a buffet where all of the food was gone. They did manage to see termite mounds I hear. The excursion was 110 dollars per person, and there were many people who complained about the excursion not matching the description. Later in the cruise, the folks who complained about the tour received 50% refund. We were never sure if everyone received the refund or only those who complained.
I really enjoyed our tour. It was hot, long and somewhat boring but I did enjoy getting to see the sites, old and new, and walk around the streets. There were many street vendors who called after you all saying, “Hey lady, one dollar, price is dropping.” It was great to be in a city where we did not see one Walmart or McDonalds. Our tour lasted about five hours. We tipped our driver and checked out the Juan Valdez café at the terminal. They had free samples of coffee. They had no milk or cream so I tried the coffee black with sugar. It was smooth, strong and delicious. I was a chatterbox all the way back to the ship.
I showered for dinner and we dressed in our most colorful outfits for the Tropicalifragalistic party. I had veal cordon blue sort of. I can’t remember what it was called. We heard the stories of the people who went on the Mangrove canoe tour. I was cracking up through dinner at the stories of people almost tipping over, having guides who spoke no English and a buffet where all of the food was gone. They did manage to see termite mounds I hear. The excursion was 110 dollars per person, and there were many people who complained about the excursion not matching the description. Later in the cruise, the folks who complained about the tour received 50% refund. We were never sure if everyone received the refund or only those who complained.
Monday, Panama Canal Day
Victoria told me she was not interested in getting up early to watch us go through the first lock of the Panama Canal. I let her sleep and headed up for breakfast at 6:30am. I ate my breakfast outside, aft. I sat outside for a few hours while we went under the Bridge of America and went into the first lock. When we got to the first lock, people were crowded all around the ship.
It was very hot and sunny and I left to bring Victoria breakfast at 9:15am. She was not awake yet!
Victoria put on her bathing suit and slathered up in sun screen. She headed up to deck 9 to go swimming with Sandy. It was so hot out on deck and all of the shaded areas were taken up by the set up for the bbq deck lunch preparation. We tried to find some shade but did not have much luck.
I had a pedicure in the spa at 11:45am. I enjoyed getting in from out of the heat and a different view. It was the best and longest pedicure I’d ever had. Ask for Salley if you ever get one on board. Salley from England has sailed on several lines and she’s been working in the spa for five years. We speculated where the Disney ships will be going in 2010. A woman sat next to me, also getting a pedicure, and believed the Magic will be returning to Europe in 2010. She said she has a friend who works for Disney Cruise Line.
After my pedicure, I checked on Victoria who was in Ocean Quest and wanted to stay. I headed out to deck 4 for a different view of the canal. One guy was out on that comfy chair sawing logs. Boy was he loud. He did have a ring on his left hand and I immediately felt sorry for his wife. Poor thing. After an hour, I went and checked on Victoria. The note on my door indicated she was with Sandy. I went and collected the girls, allowing Sandy’s mom an hour nap. The girls and I went to Diversions to play some board games.
While looking out the windows, we noticed how black the skies were. Soon it rained and we enjoyed a lightning storm. Sandy taught us how to play straws. After an hour and a half we headed back to the staterooms to prepare for dinner. Dinner included baked lobster, which most of the dining room ordered. Most people seemed a little crabby and tired from being in the sun all day watching the canal crossing. While dining, we went through the final lock and viewed it from the windows.
The show was Wall-E. It was great to have a movie to watch after a long hot day. I was looking forward to the movie, and we had resisted the temptation to see it pre-cruise. I didn’t like it at all. Blech. Enough said.
It was very hot and sunny and I left to bring Victoria breakfast at 9:15am. She was not awake yet!
Victoria put on her bathing suit and slathered up in sun screen. She headed up to deck 9 to go swimming with Sandy. It was so hot out on deck and all of the shaded areas were taken up by the set up for the bbq deck lunch preparation. We tried to find some shade but did not have much luck.
I had a pedicure in the spa at 11:45am. I enjoyed getting in from out of the heat and a different view. It was the best and longest pedicure I’d ever had. Ask for Salley if you ever get one on board. Salley from England has sailed on several lines and she’s been working in the spa for five years. We speculated where the Disney ships will be going in 2010. A woman sat next to me, also getting a pedicure, and believed the Magic will be returning to Europe in 2010. She said she has a friend who works for Disney Cruise Line.
After my pedicure, I checked on Victoria who was in Ocean Quest and wanted to stay. I headed out to deck 4 for a different view of the canal. One guy was out on that comfy chair sawing logs. Boy was he loud. He did have a ring on his left hand and I immediately felt sorry for his wife. Poor thing. After an hour, I went and checked on Victoria. The note on my door indicated she was with Sandy. I went and collected the girls, allowing Sandy’s mom an hour nap. The girls and I went to Diversions to play some board games.
While looking out the windows, we noticed how black the skies were. Soon it rained and we enjoyed a lightning storm. Sandy taught us how to play straws. After an hour and a half we headed back to the staterooms to prepare for dinner. Dinner included baked lobster, which most of the dining room ordered. Most people seemed a little crabby and tired from being in the sun all day watching the canal crossing. While dining, we went through the final lock and viewed it from the windows.
The show was Wall-E. It was great to have a movie to watch after a long hot day. I was looking forward to the movie, and we had resisted the temptation to see it pre-cruise. I didn’t like it at all. Blech. Enough said.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Sunday, day at sea
Victoria was not interested in attending the character breakfast on board. We ate with Darlene and Sandy outside, aft, at 8:30am. The girls went swimming and while Stan watched them me and Darlene went to our travel agent’s suite and had a chat. We wait listed a repositioning cruise for 2010. I booked two cabins, a category 7 and an 11. Very quickly Victoria spoke with my parents on the phone as we were sailing away and they said they didn’t want me to book them another cruise but what the heck, it’s two years away they can decide later. I chose a 7 navigator’s verandah and an 11 inside cabin with the thought of both cabins being able to take advantage of the verandah. I don’t have to name people now, I can do that later.
I like my travel agent. I like the fact most of my cruises, I’ve sailed with him. If anything goes wrong, he’s there to fix it. Usually he checks in a couple of times during the year. This year the shirts he provided were very comfortable, a great color and some great advertising. He has always treated people I refer to him very well, like VIPs.
After chatting, I went back to deck 9 - lunch time! Chicken fingers and german chocolate cake for lunch, mmm good. The girls had their Princess tea this afternoon so Victoria took took a shower at 2pm and put her gold Princess dress on. The girls were announced as Princesses at Lumiere’s and we were shown to our table. On the table were finger sandwiches and petite desserts. Snow White, Dopey, Belle, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Wendy, Alice and White Rabbit, and Suzy and Perla all posed for pictures. The girls are getting a little old for stuff like this, but it’s fun. The girls were indoctrinated to princess status, taught to curtsey and do the royal wave.
By 4pm we were done and I showered to prepare for semi-formal night. I put on clothes to be worn for three hours maximum. Dinner was in Parrott Cay and was the Prince and Princess menu. I had the fried ravioli, the sausage and potato soup and seafood stew. Mickey bar for dessert!
The kids wanted to see the show, Twice Charmed. I heard the cruise director, Christian, suggested not to bring valuables into Cartagena. I’m not sure what he meant since I was not there but it made a lot of people nervous about the Columbian port. Victoria went with the families and I took the opportunity to post to the blog. I haven’t been keeping up too well but mostly have not had the time to go online. The connection from my stateroom isn’t so good, as usual.
I walked around on deck 9. Most of the chairs and loungers were packed up in preparation for Panama Canal Day. I walked through the Cove Café area and spotted the Amandas! I had never met them before and had looked for them all week without spotting them. They introduced me to their husband and friends. I wandered off to the Spa to inquire about some treatments. I made an appointment for a pedicure for Panama Canal day at 11:45am.
I like Christian, our cruise director. I don’t usually pay much attention to the cruise director but he is a friendly fellow and who cracks a pretty good joke from time to time. I like his daily announcements and he always seems to be able to personalize the announcements, making them feel less announcy and more conversational.
I like my travel agent. I like the fact most of my cruises, I’ve sailed with him. If anything goes wrong, he’s there to fix it. Usually he checks in a couple of times during the year. This year the shirts he provided were very comfortable, a great color and some great advertising. He has always treated people I refer to him very well, like VIPs.
After chatting, I went back to deck 9 - lunch time! Chicken fingers and german chocolate cake for lunch, mmm good. The girls had their Princess tea this afternoon so Victoria took took a shower at 2pm and put her gold Princess dress on. The girls were announced as Princesses at Lumiere’s and we were shown to our table. On the table were finger sandwiches and petite desserts. Snow White, Dopey, Belle, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Wendy, Alice and White Rabbit, and Suzy and Perla all posed for pictures. The girls are getting a little old for stuff like this, but it’s fun. The girls were indoctrinated to princess status, taught to curtsey and do the royal wave.
By 4pm we were done and I showered to prepare for semi-formal night. I put on clothes to be worn for three hours maximum. Dinner was in Parrott Cay and was the Prince and Princess menu. I had the fried ravioli, the sausage and potato soup and seafood stew. Mickey bar for dessert!
The kids wanted to see the show, Twice Charmed. I heard the cruise director, Christian, suggested not to bring valuables into Cartagena. I’m not sure what he meant since I was not there but it made a lot of people nervous about the Columbian port. Victoria went with the families and I took the opportunity to post to the blog. I haven’t been keeping up too well but mostly have not had the time to go online. The connection from my stateroom isn’t so good, as usual.
I walked around on deck 9. Most of the chairs and loungers were packed up in preparation for Panama Canal Day. I walked through the Cove Café area and spotted the Amandas! I had never met them before and had looked for them all week without spotting them. They introduced me to their husband and friends. I wandered off to the Spa to inquire about some treatments. I made an appointment for a pedicure for Panama Canal day at 11:45am.
I like Christian, our cruise director. I don’t usually pay much attention to the cruise director but he is a friendly fellow and who cracks a pretty good joke from time to time. I like his daily announcements and he always seems to be able to personalize the announcements, making them feel less announcy and more conversational.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
I slept until 7:30am. Victoria took some prompting to get up. We had breakfast at Lumiere’s. I like the eggs benedict at Lumiere’s but it was not good. The Hollandaise sauce was cooked onto the eggs. Darlene said hers were the same but the staff suggested if she had eaten them earlier than 12 noon they would have been better. I ate my eggs at 9am and found the same deal. I did not bring my coffee press with me and I missed the good coffee. After breakfast we went to store and contemplated some purchases but nothing is really jumping out at us. We finished our fish extender gifts finally. Victoria walked down to Ocean Quest while I relaxed.
We enjoyed wine tasting of Italy and sat with Irv, Larry, Doris, Janet, Darlene, Lenny, Renee, Stan, Lynn and Peter. Magicale was revealed along with Tommy Lasorda wines. The Magicale is a sparkling red wine very sweet and tasty.
This might be a time to sing the praises of my Birkenstock shoes! I bought them about a month before the cruise and I have not wanted to take them off since. They were great in the Disneyland Parks, the San Diego zoo and waiting in lines. These are the shoes I’ve been looking for, and believe me, I have a lot of shoes.
Cassie, Jess, Victoria, Mary and Sandy all did Tea with Wendy at 3pm in Studio Sea. It’s not really a big deal but the girls bring their dolls/plush animals and have apple juice in tea cups. Who knows how long they’ll agree to do it. It makes for fun pictures.
Dinner was in Animator’s Palate and it featured the show. We were near a screen this time, and I go to watch the cartoons from a better vantage point. The evening show was a hypnotist. The entire cruise, all of the new shoes have been standing room only. Repeat cruisers definitely show up for the new stuff. The hypnotist went over well, but not many people truly believed the people were hypnotized. But hey, who doesn’t like to watch people make asses of themselves right?
We were all awake after the show and didn’t want to go to bed so we headed to Studio Sea and played TV Tunes Trivia. I had a mojito which only enhanced my TV Tunes knowledge. If it wasn’t for the geek next to us who knew the original name of the Jetson’s dog, we’d have won those really cool medals. After the game show ended, the girls danced around to a decades dance party. I don’t know how the cruise staff does it, Melita is constantly dancing with the kids, or arranging an excursion or up on stage dancing at a deck party. In bed by 11pm.
We enjoyed wine tasting of Italy and sat with Irv, Larry, Doris, Janet, Darlene, Lenny, Renee, Stan, Lynn and Peter. Magicale was revealed along with Tommy Lasorda wines. The Magicale is a sparkling red wine very sweet and tasty.
This might be a time to sing the praises of my Birkenstock shoes! I bought them about a month before the cruise and I have not wanted to take them off since. They were great in the Disneyland Parks, the San Diego zoo and waiting in lines. These are the shoes I’ve been looking for, and believe me, I have a lot of shoes.
Cassie, Jess, Victoria, Mary and Sandy all did Tea with Wendy at 3pm in Studio Sea. It’s not really a big deal but the girls bring their dolls/plush animals and have apple juice in tea cups. Who knows how long they’ll agree to do it. It makes for fun pictures.
Dinner was in Animator’s Palate and it featured the show. We were near a screen this time, and I go to watch the cartoons from a better vantage point. The evening show was a hypnotist. The entire cruise, all of the new shoes have been standing room only. Repeat cruisers definitely show up for the new stuff. The hypnotist went over well, but not many people truly believed the people were hypnotized. But hey, who doesn’t like to watch people make asses of themselves right?
We were all awake after the show and didn’t want to go to bed so we headed to Studio Sea and played TV Tunes Trivia. I had a mojito which only enhanced my TV Tunes knowledge. If it wasn’t for the geek next to us who knew the original name of the Jetson’s dog, we’d have won those really cool medals. After the game show ended, the girls danced around to a decades dance party. I don’t know how the cruise staff does it, Melita is constantly dancing with the kids, or arranging an excursion or up on stage dancing at a deck party. In bed by 11pm.
Friday, Acapulco
Woke up to a rainy day. The ship was cleared to go ashore at 6:30am. We had breakfast at Topsiders and waited for the rain to stop. Victoria went to Ocean Quest and loved it because it was empty. When it stopped raining at 9:30am, I went and picked her up and we went ashore. Walking outside and through a terminal full of merchants, we were approached by dozens of people offering taxi services. We walked across the street and went to San Diego Fort. While we did not tour the city, it pretty much looked like what I remembered from 2005.
San Diego Fort was directly across from the cruise terminal. We climbed the rock steps to the museum located in the fort. The cost was 4.00 per adult and children were free. Each exhibit was described in English and Spanish. We spent about an hour looking around, enjoying the view from the structure. We went back towards the terminal and saw lots of folks in the terminal area. Darlene and Sandy were shopping there and Irv and Larry said they had went to the market but the prices were very high. I didn't check the camera batteries and I couldn't take a picture from within the fort because the batteries were dead.
We were back on board by 12 noon and we headed to Parrot Cay for lunch. There was a taco bar which received lots of interest resulting in lines. The spicy tomato soup tasted like spice but not tomato. After lunch Sandy and Victoria watched the Canopy DVD on the laptop and did their nails in DEL SOL nail polish color. The DVD was pretty cute. I can't say I enjoyed seeing my fat ass in a sling, but it was fun to watch nevertheless.
Victoria and Sandy went with Stan and Darlene to finish the fish extender gifting, and I went out on deck 4 to read. The deck was crowded with people lined up to watch us pull away from Acapulco. We left more than an hour late because a Disney excursion did not get back on time. The water in Acapulco was visibly dirty. Still, it was nice watching the ship pull away. Typically we sail in the evening hours to visibility isn’t very good.
Darlene and I, along with the girls, went to Studio Sea to watch WHO WANTS TO BE A MOUSEKETEER. After the game show the girls participated in Disney Karaoke. After the karaoke, we went to our rooms to get ready for dinner. Victoria dressed in her most Mexican outfit and posed with Sandy with Mexican Donald and Mickey. We took pictures with Goofy and some other photos.
Dinner was in Lumiere’s and was the Mexican Rivera menu. It tasted better than it sounded though I was one of the few at the table who enjoyed it. We hurried along because the girls wanted to watch the premEAR of Cheetah Girls 3: One World (or at least I think that’s what it is called.) They put on their bathing suits and swam in the pool while the movie played on the Dumbotron. The ship has been rocking pretty good since we left port and the kids were enjoying the effects via a wave pool experience. After the movie the crew closed the pool and prepared the deck for the Minnie Fiesta Grande deck party. These deck parties crack me up. They put out a spread of food and people line up as if to say, “Look! Free food!”
Sandra’s sister, Gina, helped arrange for the kids to be in the deck party show. The kids all had Mexican hats on along with blanket-ponchos and were part of Goofy’s mariachi band. It was fun, a new activity for the kids. The kids danced and played games until 11pm.
San Diego Fort was directly across from the cruise terminal. We climbed the rock steps to the museum located in the fort. The cost was 4.00 per adult and children were free. Each exhibit was described in English and Spanish. We spent about an hour looking around, enjoying the view from the structure. We went back towards the terminal and saw lots of folks in the terminal area. Darlene and Sandy were shopping there and Irv and Larry said they had went to the market but the prices were very high. I didn't check the camera batteries and I couldn't take a picture from within the fort because the batteries were dead.
We were back on board by 12 noon and we headed to Parrot Cay for lunch. There was a taco bar which received lots of interest resulting in lines. The spicy tomato soup tasted like spice but not tomato. After lunch Sandy and Victoria watched the Canopy DVD on the laptop and did their nails in DEL SOL nail polish color. The DVD was pretty cute. I can't say I enjoyed seeing my fat ass in a sling, but it was fun to watch nevertheless.
Victoria and Sandy went with Stan and Darlene to finish the fish extender gifting, and I went out on deck 4 to read. The deck was crowded with people lined up to watch us pull away from Acapulco. We left more than an hour late because a Disney excursion did not get back on time. The water in Acapulco was visibly dirty. Still, it was nice watching the ship pull away. Typically we sail in the evening hours to visibility isn’t very good.
Darlene and I, along with the girls, went to Studio Sea to watch WHO WANTS TO BE A MOUSEKETEER. After the game show the girls participated in Disney Karaoke. After the karaoke, we went to our rooms to get ready for dinner. Victoria dressed in her most Mexican outfit and posed with Sandy with Mexican Donald and Mickey. We took pictures with Goofy and some other photos.
Dinner was in Lumiere’s and was the Mexican Rivera menu. It tasted better than it sounded though I was one of the few at the table who enjoyed it. We hurried along because the girls wanted to watch the premEAR of Cheetah Girls 3: One World (or at least I think that’s what it is called.) They put on their bathing suits and swam in the pool while the movie played on the Dumbotron. The ship has been rocking pretty good since we left port and the kids were enjoying the effects via a wave pool experience. After the movie the crew closed the pool and prepared the deck for the Minnie Fiesta Grande deck party. These deck parties crack me up. They put out a spread of food and people line up as if to say, “Look! Free food!”
Sandra’s sister, Gina, helped arrange for the kids to be in the deck party show. The kids all had Mexican hats on along with blanket-ponchos and were part of Goofy’s mariachi band. It was fun, a new activity for the kids. The kids danced and played games until 11pm.
Thursday a sea day
We woke up at 8:30am and was at Topsiders at 9am for breakfast. I need to look at my personal navigator these days to know what day of the week it is. It's a nice feeling, knowing we aren't even one week into the cruise. We met up with Stan. After breakfast Victoria went into the pool and watched Peter Pan on the Dumbotron while swimming. After a time, other folks joined us.
Me and the posse hung around at our spots for most of the morning. We had no where to go, no appointments to keep and we just hung around, eating. And eating and eating. My goodness you can have dessert with every meal here. Cinnabuns for breakfast, cake at lunch and Mickey bars after dinner. We went to the Italian buffet at Topsiders for lunch.
The girls wanted to do Disney karaoke at Studio Sea at 2pm. There were a good group of kids there and they all supported each other’s singing. Victoria and Sandy helped me deliver fish extender gifts. While our group was not as big as it has been in the past, we were pretty well spread out through the ship. We had magnets with a Walt Disney quote for all the fools and bracelets for the kids.
We went to the Castaway Club party on deck 9 midship. They announced there were 2036 repeat passengers this cruise, the most ever. Pretty impressive eh? Absolutely nothing of importance was announced. We believe Captain Tom, from Norway, may have been hinting to a 2010 cruise near his homeland but we can’t be sure. There were know-it-alls around the deck insisting the Magic would be retuning to Europe in 2010. Later, Tom from Canada insisted Disney is contracted to remain in Port Canaveral for several years and neither the Magic nor the Wonder would be doing anything other than the Carribean. In any case, the new plans will not be announced until October. I wish they had leaked a little information, it would have made the members feel special if they had.
Dinner was at Parrot Cay. I enjoyed my favorite tropical fruit cup, lots of mango and pineapple. Crème Brule cheesecake for dessert and who cares what I ate between. I can’t remember. We saw a new show - a ventriloquist. Everyone seemed to like him. He was pretty good.
Me and the posse hung around at our spots for most of the morning. We had no where to go, no appointments to keep and we just hung around, eating. And eating and eating. My goodness you can have dessert with every meal here. Cinnabuns for breakfast, cake at lunch and Mickey bars after dinner. We went to the Italian buffet at Topsiders for lunch.
The girls wanted to do Disney karaoke at Studio Sea at 2pm. There were a good group of kids there and they all supported each other’s singing. Victoria and Sandy helped me deliver fish extender gifts. While our group was not as big as it has been in the past, we were pretty well spread out through the ship. We had magnets with a Walt Disney quote for all the fools and bracelets for the kids.
We went to the Castaway Club party on deck 9 midship. They announced there were 2036 repeat passengers this cruise, the most ever. Pretty impressive eh? Absolutely nothing of importance was announced. We believe Captain Tom, from Norway, may have been hinting to a 2010 cruise near his homeland but we can’t be sure. There were know-it-alls around the deck insisting the Magic would be retuning to Europe in 2010. Later, Tom from Canada insisted Disney is contracted to remain in Port Canaveral for several years and neither the Magic nor the Wonder would be doing anything other than the Carribean. In any case, the new plans will not be announced until October. I wish they had leaked a little information, it would have made the members feel special if they had.
Dinner was at Parrot Cay. I enjoyed my favorite tropical fruit cup, lots of mango and pineapple. Crème Brule cheesecake for dessert and who cares what I ate between. I can’t remember. We saw a new show - a ventriloquist. Everyone seemed to like him. He was pretty good.
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