Two birthday girls - updated Nov 20 About This Page:

[buckysmom]

Well it wasn't exactly the Birthday you'd planned, but y'all cleaned up right nice, and after all the excitement!
I love the pics, too btw!
Please, please, get to relax...soon, since you've certainly earned it

[DrDolphin]

September 28 - Tuesday

The original plan had been to run on the sports deck this morning before our spa appointments. Well - I screwed that up when I hung up on the wake up call at 530am!!! Oh well. I need my beauty sleep (and I really do). At 8am on the dot - the phone rang and it was my boss confirming that I was in fact on the ship (duh - I answered the phone)... and that I was safe after the hurricane... well I answered the phone didn't I?

We decided that would serve as our wake up call and got up. We headed to breakfast at Tritons. I had an eggbeaters omlet - Cheryl had eggs benedict (I think - again, forgot the camera in the room). Breakfast was really good. Fortune, our breakfast server found out that yesterday was my birthday and brought me a Mickey Mouse DCL birthday pin and a strawberry mouse cake with a white chocolate WOnder on it. How sweet!!!

After breakfast, we headed back to our room to get ready for the spa treatments. Cheryl and I had also gotten the cruiselength pass to the Rainforest - so since my appointment was before hers, Cheryl decided to go to the rainforest while I started my treatment.

I had opted on the seaweed aromatheraphy treatment and massage. Lauralee from Australia was my therapist and OMG was it good. I SO needed that massage. She lathered me up in seaweed mud, then wrapped me in foil (I felt like a baked potato) and covered me in hot towels and a blanket. I "baked" for about 30 minutes and then got into a HOT shower to rinse the mud from my body. While I was baking - she had given me a facial and facial massage - so I rinsed that off too.

After the shower - it was back on the table for my massage - it was more of a sports massage - at my request - hard to work out all the kinks. There were a few times it hurt SO bad - but felt so good. I was VERY tight and tense (geez - I wonder why???) and after amost 60 minutes of massage - I was done. I felt like I was made of jello. None of my muscles wanted to do anything. I bought a couple of the rubs she used on me - and spent much more than I planned. My treatment was 179 -- I added a 20 dollar tip and with my purchases I spent more than 300.00 at the spa. Oh well - at least we are getting 300.00 back from Disney.

Cheryl had started her treatment while I was still in my room - but she was not done when I was. She had the spa sampler for 105.00. I headed back to the room, got my book and put on my swimsuit. I headed up to the adult pool (which is right outside the doors to the spa) and left a message for Cheryl that I was at the pool. I rested for a bit - and then got into the hot tub. The ship docked at Nassau around 9 or 930 - while I was on the massage table - so this was my first view of Nassau.

Before we'd gone to the spa - Cheryl and I discussed wether we wanted to keep our shore excursion to go snorkeling in the afternoon. Neither one of us felt like doing anything after the stress of yesterday - so we went to the shore excursion desk and cancelled. They normally DO NOT allow you to cancel if you pre-book your excursions (which we had) but given the circumstances (and the CM not really wanting to see Terri go cranky again I am sure) we were allowed to cancel.

Back to the hot tub. I spoke with a woman who also was on her first Disney cruise - and was completely upset with how the trip had been handled. She felt the cruise should have been cancelled and that Disney should have allowed peeople to reschedule (I did not tell her that she could have cancelled and rescheduled) and she said she would NEVER take another Disney cruise.

Cheryl and I had this discussion the night before - and even though we had really had a bad day the day before, it was not (ok most of it was not) Disney's fault that that we WILL do another Disney cruise before making a final call. We want to do castaway cay!! Oh - on that note - we took the staff back to CC and dropped them off that morning - but Cheryl and I slept through the whole thing.

Cheryl came out in her swimsuit after awhile and said she'd enjoyed her spa treatment too. We sat in the hot tub for awhile, and then layed on the lounge chairs reading books and drinking virgin pina coladas for awhile. I think I even fell asleep for a bit I was so relaxed.

Around noon we decided to go back to our stateroom, change clothes and head to lunch - at the Beach Blanket Buffet. After entering and selecting lots and lots of yummy food from the buffet - we found a table near the windows inside. We ran into Adam and Christian again - and were introduced to Rita - our head server. Cheryl and I grilled Adam about the birthday situation the night before - he said he did not remember Cheryl telling him anything . Rita said she would remember!!!

After lunch we walked to Shutters and reviewed the boarding photos and dinner from Tritons the night before - one word - UGH!! We both hated them and put them in the "recycle" bin. On the way out of Shutters we found some great deck chairs on the desk 4 near the life boats and settled down to people watch on the other ships in port and do absolutely NOTHING.

Next - boredom,Hard Rock and the Queens Staircase

[lkmom]

Oh Terri! There's nothing worse than a bad birthday! I hope it gets better! My husband and I were at POFQ for Jeanne too. (We were at Disney from 9/24 -28) We didn't have it so bad though. Wish you were on property with us! I know the magic won't leave you though!

[pparm]

Terri, so glad to read that things are getting better! Isn't the feeling after a massage just wonderful! I feel as though someone could just scoop me up with a shovel.
Paula ºOº

[statelady01]

I hope the trip improves buddy!

[DrDolphin]

[ QUOTE ]
...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?

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad I could provide info on your upcoming stay!!!

[DopeyGirl]

OK, so aside from the annoying "Boss" call first thing in the morning, it sounds like the day started pretty well (how could it NOT with a relaxing spa treatment then sitting by the pool?!)

Look forward to catching up on everything when I get back!!!

[luvnwdwgal]

I'm so glad you were feeling more relaxed after your spa treatment!!

[emsmomma]

Terri, So glad the trip took a relaxing turn for you. I am drooling over your spa treatments! Hope the rest of the trip was even more relaxing! Thanks for sharing!

[sarah_belle]

Oh man, baking like a potato sounds amazing! Your spa treatments sound great, and well worth the money.

I can't wait to read more

Sarah

[Tink and co.]

Glad to hear you enjoyed your spa treatment! You deserved it

[Colexis Mom]

What a great spa treatment Terri! You definitely needed that! Sounds like things are looking up! Hurry back with more

[DrDolphin]

Sept 28 - part 2



After a bit of relaxing on the lounge chairs - we headed to Wave Bands for BINGO!!! I have not played alot of Bingo in my life - and after reading folks reports - I wanted to play. Cheryl and I bought the 5 pack of cards for 35.00 each, settled in with our virgin pina coladas (I can't drink - my liver can't process the alcohol since my chemotherapy). Bingo was fun - everytime we had the number called - we had to yell out "Yeah Baby" and if we did not have it "Give us another one". Neither Cheryl or I won - we both came close on the blackout game (but then so did everyone else). That was the only round of Bingo we were able to play.



After Bingo - we decided to get off the ship. Not that we were bored - we just needed to move around a bit. So - we gathered our walking shoes, sun screen, hats and sunglasses and I grabbed the video and digital cameras and we check out from the ship. When you leave the ship - they swipe your "Key to the World Card" that is assigned to you as an individual. Each person (even kiddos) will have one - and each person will be scanned in and out of the ship. Big brother and all!! Captain John had decided we would stay in port until the following morning at 830am since we did not get to Nassau till after 9am that morning.



We left the ship, walked around - ran the gauntlet of the hair braiders. We walked past the taxi drivers and surrey drivers and headed for the shopping district. Now neither Cheryl or I are big shoppers (my mother is so ashamed of me here - I obviously inherited my fathers ambivelent to shopping gene). We finally ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe around 2 or 3 pm (I have no clue about times - all I know is it was HOT). Cheryl was craving something in the brownie/cookie family. I had a vanilla shake (cold) and a side of french fries. Here we are at the hard rock and here is Cheryl eatting her brownie thing.





Cheryl at Hard Rock Cafe - Nassau





Terri at Hard Rock





Cheryl's dessert break!!!



After surviving the sugar overdose and reading local guidemaps we'd picked up at the hostess station - Cheryl decided she wanted to see the forts of Nassau (there are 3) and the water tower. According to the maps - it looked like a fair distance of a walk - so we decided to hire a Surrey.





Here we are on the surrey.



This was worse than any cab ride I had taken in NYC!!! We were hanging on for dear life - and when we got to Fort Fincastle - and we started to get off of the surrey - the horse decided he didn't want to stand still -- for a moment - all I could envision was me hanging on to the surrey for dear life flapping along behind life a flag blowing in a stiff breeze!!! The surrey ride cost a total of $20.00 - 10 for each of us. I did video tape the ride - and think I could sell it to Disney as a virtual reality thrill ride!!!



We climbed the Fort - which is shaped like a paddlewheeler (the British governor at the time liked paddlewheelers) and there was a great view of the port below. Here is a website with information on the Fort. http://www.bahamasgo.com/treasures/fortfincastle.htm

The city watertower is also there - they are "rehabbing" it now - so you can't go inside - but usually you can ride the elevator (or climb 216 steps) to the top for a 360 degree view around the island. We walked over to the Queens Staircase - and were provided a detailed history by a local guide that stands at the top of the stairs greeting guests and telling them about the staircase and the fort - there is no fee - but a tip is highly recommended (you will find this to be a common theme in the Bahamas). The guide is not in a uniform and until he starts talking - you aren't quite sure why this man is standing at the top of this staircase.



The Queen's staircase is named in honor of Queen Victoria and her decision to abolish slavery. The staircase was carved by slaves by hand (no dynamite or anything) - it has 65 (I think) stairs, but the bottom one is lost due to city street paving. It is really beautiful and a bit awe inspiring. I found a website with more info and a photo of the Queen's Staircase - http://www.bahamasgo.com/treasures/queensstaircase.htm



We decided to ship a taxi or surrey ride back to the ship (it was like a 4 block walk - which we could see from the fort) and walked down the queen's staircase. A mother and her son were climbing up and down the staircase as a workout -- talk about a stairmaster!!!



We made it back to the ship (here is a photo of her at dock in Nassau) around 430 or 500pm.





Wonder at dock in Nassau

We decided that we needed to go to the gym as an attempted make up for the missed run in the morning - however, right after changing into workout clothes and getting to the gym - we realized we would miss the Golden Mickeys if we worked out -- SO.... we headed down to the Walt Disney Theatre. I am SO glad we missed the roving reporter that was reporting back into the theatre since we were both dressed in WORKOUT CLOTHES (think Joan Rivers and the red carpet interviews)!! I am sure should she would have had some interesting comments to make about our choice of attire .



We both decided we liked the Golden Mickeys - I liked the mix of movies that were included - not always the Disney "biggies" - and Cheryl got another dose of Cruella Deville!!!



Next - Dinner at Animator's Palate, hot tub again and a sore throat.

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update Terri! And great pictures too! Sounds like a great day in Nassau (even with the ride of your life )!

Hurry back

[Jillybean]

That dessert looked wonderful!!! The trip is definitely picking up!!!

Jill