Two birthday girls - updated Nov 20 About This Page:

[Colexis Mom]

Just catching up Terri! Wow, what an adventure! I'm sorry your bus ride to the boat was delayed! I hope that's the end of the "surprises".

Can't wait for more

[luvnwdwgal]

I'm almost afraid to read about the bus ride to the ship!!
I'm crossing my fingers that it went smoothly!

[DrDolphin]

Sept 27 - Part 3

We started getting our stuff together and repacked around 125, and headed down to the DCL desk at 130 (we'd been sitting in the Tambu Lounge area - the only place I could find with a plug). We were told to "get in the line" and there was in fact a line in the middle of the lobby of the poly, from the front door back toward the DCL desk.. so we got in the line and we stood, and we stood and we stood. Luckily - the poly had a craft area for the kids where they were coloring and making leis - of course, there was no where to sit - and the adults were pretty cranky and crabby... my feet we killing me - as I was in my little while keds instead of running shoes - and keds have NO arch support. We stood for about 45 minutes - at which time, I went to the front of the line and asked the DCL rep what was taking so long -- "we are waiting for the phone call to tell us who to put on the bus" -- which seemed strange to me since they had told us to get in line to board the bus - doesn't that mean you know WHO should be on the bus if YOU told them to get in line???? At about 215pm, we boarded a DCL charter bus and got seated. They squeezed as many people on that bus as they could. We finally left WDW at 230pm (remember this was the original time that DCL had told me over the phone 4 days ago -- wow - it was 4 days ago??).

So - we began our trek down the Florida turnpike listening to kids play "paper, scissors, rock, shoot" -- new version of the game I guess . We also watched a video reel of Disney cartoos and tried to sleep without much luck at all. We made one stop on the road at a turnpike rest stop for food and drinks and bathroom breaks as the toilet on the bus wsa foul smelling - I felt sorry for the folks in the back of the bus.

We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale and got to Port Everglades at about 630pm. We saw the Magic, at the same large dock area as the Wonder. I later learned that this is the first time in 5 years that the ships had been in the same port at the same time..... WOW!!

We got off the bus and got in line to check in. It took about 20 minutes to get to the place where they checked our paperwork. After our cruise documents were reviewed, we got in the line to board the ship. Cheryl left a credit card at check in - but I had almost $500.00 in Disney Dollars to put on account. After boarding the ship and taking what turned out to be a hideous photo - we headed to guest services to drop of my money. The CM took FOREVER to count it (she counted it like 3 times) although I will admit I was MAJOR cranky!!! We were also told that due to the late arrival - we could make spa appointments and reservations for Palo at Guest Services - wrong again!! The Communication left much much much to be desired at this point. We had dinner scheduled for 830pm, and were both very tired. Cheryl headed to make Palo ressies - while I dealt with GS and went to the Spa for our spa appointments.

Ok - I have to jump out to deal with work - more later - I promise!!!

[JoanW]

Oh Terri, I'm so sad that this is not the "Wonder"ful start to your cruise. I feel they owe you more than the $300 credit they gave! I hope this gets better and that you will be hooked on the cruise like I am!

[DrDolphin]

OK - back to the story.



Our abbreviated cruise schedule looked like this:



Sept 27 - Sail away at night (late - around 10pm)

Sept 28 - Nassau (stay over night)

Sept 29 - At sea

Sept 30 - Back to Cape Canaveral at 6am (we hope)



We recived the TAP dining rotation - Triton's; Animator's Palate and Parrot Cay.



Ok - back to our story:



Cheryl left me at GS to go and book the Palo ressie for the night of the 29th, while I went to the spa to book our spa appointments. We wanted to have them on the day at sea - but by the time I got to the spa around 715, there were no day at sea ressies left for our requested treatments - so we ended up with appointment on Nassau morning - me at 930am, Cheryl at 1015am.



I left the spa and went to our stateroom -- 8566 (category 4 - upgrade from 7120, category 6 at 7 cost). Our suit cases were piled in front of the door - so I struggled to get them in the door (since we now learned Castaway Cay was out due to hurricane damage - my large blue suitcase could have been left in the car....oh well). Right about then Cheryl materialized. She said that when she got to the place to make Palo reservations, the only person there told her to call Palo since they had stopped the pre-booking hours before. GS strikes again. We got our suitcases in the room, and attempted to unpack, store the suitcases and get ourselves ready for dinner. Cheryl hopped in the shower - while I unpacked and attempted to get clothes ready for dinner.



A couple of photos == 1) The Magic across the dock, and 2) our stateroom with Cheryl unpacking.











While Cheryl was in the shower - a chimed version of "When you wish upon a star" came into the room and the cruise director (whose name completely elludes me at the moment) came on to inform us there was a mandatory drill at 8pm!! Ok - no shower for me. I stuck my head in the shower and told Cheryl she had like 15 minutes to get out and dressed since we had a lifeboat drill to attend.



We both got dressed, put on those obnoxius orange life vests and headed out to muster point O. Cheryl commented that this is how the folks on the Titanic must have felt - all dressed for dinner with life jackets on. I commented that they froze while we sweat!!! Here we are in our sweaty, humid hair flattend, orange lifejacketed glory!!! Note the Magic behind us.











After our drill, we headed back to the stateroom, dropped off the lifevests and headed to Triton's for dinner - for my birthday dinner.



Our head server was Rita, our server Christian from Chile and our asst server Adam from Australia (who I think looks alot like Orlando Bloom). We were at a table for 6 and were seated with an older couple that had been squeezed in for the evening and were not dining with the rest of their party (whose names I completely do not remember) and a young couple from Orlando, Veronica and Peter.



I did not take notes or photos of what we had for dinner that night - it was a mess... not the service or anything - everyone was just really confused since many had missed the dinner by being on busses they were attempting to squeeze them in.



I had the beef tenderloin and Cheryl had the duck. She said it was very good. Christian was wonderful at describing the menu items and dessert items and making recommendations. He often changed my mind with his descriptions. Adam learned what we liked to drink and my glass was never empty.



Here are photos from dinner. Note the mural behind me - that is the mural of Ariel and Triton - I want a house that I can have this in my bathroom!!! I also LOVE the lighting in this restaurant.







Cheryl pulled Adam aside to remind him that tonight was my birthday.... Nothing happened. Nothing at all oh well - it was the day as a whole.



After dinner, we headed to the very late special showing of Hercules the Museical. We really enjoyed it. Sometime during the show - we set sail. We could feel the up and down motion of the ship. Both Cheryl and I had taken Bonine and had no adverse effects of seasickness - which is a GREAT thing for me since I am famous for getting sick.



When we got back to the room at about 11pm, I noted the light on the phone was blinking and I logged in to listen to the messages, believe it or not - it was my BOSS!!! Calling to make sure I was actually on the ship and ok after the hurricane. We are required to do a check in after hurricanes - and even though my PARENTS and the cruise told him I was on the ship - that was not good enough - he needed to hear my voice and told me to be in my room at 8am tomorrow morning when he would call again?????



I grabbed my cell phone and attempted to call him back but we were too far offshore. I told Cheryl that I apologized in advance for the phone call tomorrow morning at 8am.... I couldl not believe it - GRR - the US Army is a pain sometimes!!!



So - there you have it - my 34th birthday, not the best one I have ever had - thats for sure. I later told my mom that I don't know what kind of day she had 34 years ago giving birth to me, but I had a bad day today that may have rivaled it. I just hope things improved.

[katspjs]

Terri, I'm so sorry you're Birthday on the cruise didn't turn out quite as nice as planned. I REALLY hope your cruise experience improves.



I'm enjoying reading your TR, but truly feel your pain!

[DopeyGirl]

Terri . . . things can only get better, right? Are you ready for another vacation yet?

Look forward to the next installment (after tomorrow, I will have to play catch up though . . . )

[luvnwdwgal]

Cheryl, I am so sorry Triton's didn't do anything special for your birthday! I sincerely hope that the remainder of your cruise is wonderful. I would certainly expect more than $300 back from DCL for all the "you know what" you had to go through!

[magic mickey]

Terri, sorry to hear that your trip is starting off hectic, I hope it gets better. A quick question. Were you and Cheryl at WDW about this time last year? Were you at MNSSHP on Oct.10th? The outfits you are wearing make me think that I saw you both there.

[whoSEZ]

Terri, I can't believe what a rocky start you've had! And I'm sorry about the lack of birthday celebrations at Triton's. Love the pictures of the Magic behind you -- that must have been a cool sight!

By the way, Cristian was my server last December -- wasn't he great??

Looking forward to more.

[Tink and co.]

Even though things are not turning out so well on your trip, it does make for a great trip report. It would be boring if everything went just the way you had planned, right? Just kidding...and I am so excited we are in that exact same stateroom on our November cruise. I nearly fainted when I saw the number! And I called DH on his cell during DDs softball game and all he could say was who is this person? I think I confused him! I think we are stateroom twins or something! Hope the trip gets better for you. Can't wait for the rest of the report!

[Jillybean]

[ QUOTE ]
So - there you have it - my 34th birthday, not the best one I have ever had - thats for sure. I later told my mom that I don't know what kind of day she had 34 years ago giving birth to me, but I had a bad day today that may have rivaled it. I just hope things improved.

[/ QUOTE ]

Terri, if it makes you feel any better - - my mom actually forgot my 39th birthday a little over a month ago.

I am so sorry that your big day turned out that way, but maybe it's an omen that the rest of your 34th year is going to be fantastic.

I am hoping beyond all hope that I'm going to read some good news soon!

(just a little late)

Jill

[Big Baloo]

Terri, I have to say that I'm enjoying your trip report, but I AM sorry for all that you went through. Can't wait to hear some more! BB

[Cheriemek]

I am enjoying your TR. Your trip can only get better from here.....right?

[DrDolphin]

Yes - we were at WDW and at MNNSHP - it was columbus day weekend.