August 22nd 2009 Western Carribbean Anyone?

[kylelover1]

Hi Heather, I will view photos later have to run to church and go pick up the dogs. Yes, we are already thinking about our next cruise too would like to catch the Dream as well. We wish you and Colin many years of magical happiness!

[kylelover1]

Viewed the photos. You guys look so happy. Heather you were stunning

[trimix]

Great pictures, Heather. It looks like you had a wonderful wedding, and you two looked really happy together when I saw you. I wanted to stop at your table and say hi during our brunch at Palo, but I didn't want to intrude.

For some reason Michelle insisted we get up at 5 AM that last day. So, after watching the space shuttle launch, I got less than five hours of sleep that night. Then we didn't get our luggage at the Seattle airport until about 9:30 PM PDT, and due to road construction we didn't get home until almost midnight. Yesterday was a 22.5 hour day for me!

I am glad I was able to meet most of you, and I apologise for being so poor with your names

This was the best vacation of my life and I booked another one before debarking. When 2011 dates are announced I am hoping the schedule works for the Panama Canal repo. If not, I will either do the Eastern Caribbean or Mexico.

The best part getting home - my wife had been making snide comments about how much I was eating and how much weight I was gaining all week. It's her strange idea of how to encourage me to cut back. When we got home we found she had gained seven pounds! But I LOST THREE POUNDS! Ha!

I hope to meet you all on a future Disney cruise - I am officially hooked!

[Ski-and-Sea]

We, too, came home to overcast and dreary weather. In fact, our flight was delayed because of the weather in NJ.

But we still had some of that DCL pixie dust on us because when we got to our gate we found out we had been upgraded to first class on our flight.

It was only a 2 hour flight and I slept the entire way but hey, it was nice to snooze in a big seat.

This was our 9th cruise in 8 years and this was the best one ever!!!! A great big wonderful thank you to everyone in this group for making this a truly magical cruise. To watch the shuttle launch on the final night was the perfect way to end an amazing experience.

We had so many incredible experiences during our seven days together. We were so lucky that we didn't get affected by the hurricanes and we had great weather throughout the week. The entertainment was amazing (Ron Pearson was fantastic) and the CMs were terrific.

But the real magic was going anywhere on the ship and running into all you fellow red hot chili cruisers. It made the ship feel like home.

Back to reality now......my house looks like a disaster area. The laundry is all washed but piled all over the place. I still have to wash all the snorkeling gear. Suitcases are everywhere. And the kids' fall sports start bright and early on Monday.

And what's this awful nonsense about having to put away dirty dishes???? Huh? We did takeout both Saturday and Sunday night. Monday night I will be forced to start cooking again.

I miss the Magic and I miss all of you Hope you all make it back home safely.

[tamman]

UGH...back to reality!!! I think I can see my floor in the laundry room. Now I just have to put it all away. Trevor has jr high orientation today and I start school on Wednesday (teacher day). We all start on September 8th. This is going to be a busy week with soccer practice and all the school open houses.

I had my kids pass out our fish extender gifts and somehow they came back with a few because they didn't see a FE, so I don't know if some had room changes that I missed or we made a big boo-boo. Anyhow, these are the staterooms we missed....2645, 2060, 8548, 7508. If you PM me your address, I can see them in the mail. Sorry about the miss-up...Tammi

[MrR]

Hi all.

Well, coming home sucks, but we knew it had to happen.

Huge apologies for missing most of you over the past week - we never made it to either the Saturday or Monday meets, due to various scheduling clashes and/or everyone scattering to the four corners of the ship, but your FE gifts were all warmly received. What fun!

Suffice to say, we had an utterly amazing time. The kids all agree that it was the best holiday/vacation they've ever had, and we're now doing the sums to see if we can afford another next summer. Being self-employed we might not know until closer the time... but we're looking at taking one of the Mediterranean cruises. Fingers crossed.

Once again - thanks for all your gifts. They really helped to make the cruise!

[Ski-and-Sea]

Originally Posted by MrR

Hi all.

Once again - thanks for all your gifts. They really helped to make the cruise!

Totally agree!!!! You all are so creative. This is the first cruise where we've done the FE exchange. It was so neat to come back to the stateroom and see something in our bag.

I talked to some of the CMs about it and they said they enjoy seeing all the FE bags and all the door signs.

Funny story with us.....our flight to Orlando was delayed 6 hours and I had packed all the FE gifts in our checked luggage. Our plane was at the gate the entire time and I was getting more and more worried that the FE gifts would be ruined with the plane sitting on the tarmac for 6 hours in the heat.

Fortunately everything turned out alright in the end.

[Mackie Mouse]

Originally Posted by Ski-and-Sea

Funny story with us.....our flight to Orlando was delayed 6 hours and I had packed all the FE gifts in our checked luggage. Our plane was at the gate the entire time and I was getting more and more worried that the FE gifts would be ruined with the plane sitting on the tarmac for 6 hours in the heat.

Fortunately everything turned out alright in the end.

We had even worse luck, as I'm sure some of your can tell. Colin and I were both excited about our FE idea - we're the ones who gave out Tastykakes! - but Colin accidentally let the DCL people take our carry-on bags (which contained said Tastykakes) along with our checked luggage. Needless to say, things got a little squishy! I had been SO careful with them all through our trip down to Orlando and was majorly disappointed that our cream-filled yummies became so difficult to eat. Hopefully you all still enjoyed your little taste of Philadelphia anyway

[kylelover1]

Am wondering if anybody by chance ran into this problem. I had gotten a photo package and the last night I bought the binders with extra pics on the side. We opened them and they are STUCK together!!!! Then I call Shutters and they say they can send me some more but we have to pay for them because inadvertantly I exposed them to humidity . Why didn't they put a sheet or something in that. Damn I am so pissed!!!! Yes, back to reality I have to go do some laundry. I miss you all and yes wish we were all back there. We will not be able to go on another cruise for 2 years but will book it as soon as possible (and after I get a job) Hope all are doing well, although I am feeling like this

[Aurora's Mommy]

Originally Posted by Ski-and-Sea

To watch the shuttle launch on the final night was the perfect way to end an amazing experience.

You know, I was wondering how Disney managed to pull that one off!

The kids are back at school, we're back at work (so that we can pay for our next vacation ), and the weather here is strangely fallish (but lovely).

It was our pleasure to meet everyone that we did, and sorry that we didn't get to meet everybody!

After our first Disney cruise, we felt we would do it again. After this one, we are definitely doing it again! Just have to figure out when. Next year is a no go, and my sister just claimed 2011 for a family trip to WDW (Grammy's and PopPops will unfortunely not go on of cruise), so it is looking like 2012 at the soonest . Well, at least we'll have four ships to choose from!

Take care everybody!

[Ski-and-Sea]

Originally Posted by Mackie Mouse

was majorly disappointed that our cream-filled yummies became so difficult to eat. Hopefully you all still enjoyed your little taste of Philadelphia anyway

Tastykakes were yummy - we saved our until we got home so no worries that it was a tad thinner.

I had a similar experience coming home when I let our car driver put my carryon luggage in the back - he just picked up the case and tossed it on top of the other luggage Good thing I didn't have anything breakable in that case.

Originally Posted by Aurora's Mommy

so it is looking like 2012 at the soonest . Well, at least we'll have four ships to choose from!

We've got a 4-night Wonder cruise booked for next summer but not sure about 2011. DCL seems intent on taking the Magic elsewhere for the summers and we've done Nassau enough times that we don't need to go back. So we might take a break from DCL in 2011.

Yes, having 4 ships to choose from in 2012 will be very interesting.

Man, its been downright chilly yesterday and today. Feels more like the end of September rather than the beginning.

I've been told the weather while we were away was just dreary (ha!). I can tell because I'm still waiting for the tomatoes on my tomato plants to turn red.

[trimix]

Two days after returning from our cruise, Kirstin burst her appendix! First her knee three weeks before our cruise, then her appendix immediately afterward - I am sure glad she didn't hurt herself ON the cruise!

There's a good reason to have insurance next time - who knows what she might do

On an unrelated subject - who was it that was cruising for four consecutive weeks? I hope you finally hit the Eastern Caribbean after three trips on the Western itinerary!

[Ski-and-Sea]

Originally Posted by trimix

Two days after returning from our cruise, Kirstin burst her appendix! First her knee three weeks before our cruise, then her appendix immediately afterward - I am sure glad she didn't hurt herself ON the cruise!

There's a good reason to have insurance next time - who knows what she might do

On an unrelated subject - who was it that was cruising for four consecutive weeks? I hope you finally hit the Eastern Caribbean after three trips on the Western itinerary!

Brian........that is truly DCL "magic" that it didn't happen on the cruise.

It is Dawn who is doing the 4 week sailing....I was just thinking about her and saying "hey, she finally got her Eastern sailing". Can you imagine the post cruise depression she is going to feel after a month on the Magic.

How about the Wonder rescuing that passenger who fell off the Carnival ship.

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by Ski-and-Sea

How about the Wonder rescuing that passenger who fell off the Carnival ship.

Amazing story.

We got home Tuesday morning, struggling with jet lag still.
I posted our group shot on my UK trip planning thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread....249674&page=19 if anyone wants a look, I am still adding pics to the thread every day.
Had a great time onboard, great to meet you all, sorry anyone I missed, it was so busy.
Thank you for the FE gifts, so good to come back and find a little something waiting. Especially liked the empty bottle idea, I think Matts fave gift was the Hairy Horace toy, although the squishy cake went down well even with all that food onboard.
KC & Roger thank you for our invite, it was great to see the suite, hope you got the chocolate squares home without melting.
Brian, hope Kirstin is well soon.
No more plans for us cruising with Magic in Europe next year. Will probably wait for new ships and new itineries now. I think next August will be 25 nights at WDW unless we do a split stay, another consideration is flying into NYC and driving down, calling to see friends in NC.

[Pixiedustdawn]

Originally Posted by Ski-and-Sea

Brian........that is truly DCL "magic" that it didn't happen on the cruise.

It is Dawn who is doing the 4 week sailing....I was just thinking about her and saying "hey, she finally got her Eastern sailing". Can you imagine the post cruise depression she is going to feel after a month on the Magic.

How about the Wonder rescuing that passenger who fell off the Carnival ship.

Hi everyone,

I just got in last night and this morning when I woke up I realized I am now the stateroom attendant, dining room server and assistant! It was a rude awakening.

We did get to do the Eastern Caribbean finally and we got to Maho beach in Saint Maarten. If anyone goes there make sure to check it out, you will be blown away! (literally)

I booked 4 more next August on the Wonder. Yes, I am also sick of Nassau, but love the Disney experience too much to pass it up. Hope to see some of you next August. I had a great time and it was a pleasure meeting all of you.

Dawn