one place I've wanted to go for... decades.Grand Cayman was a major factor when we decided on this cruise.
Careful! Don't bend it! It's a tender ticket.we went to the Buena Vista theatre to get our tender tickets.
That sounded great.Our tour for the day was a Stingray City/Starfish Beach/snorkel tour
Noted, thanks.Yes, there is slightly more risk involved but as long as you do your research and make smart choices, there’s no reason to worry.
Love stuff like that.we talked to some nice ladies who actually met on a cruise and became friends. Now they travel regularly together.
Ever seen the movie Open Water? Listen to the safety spiel.we got on the boat our guides went over the safety spiel.
Yikes! Did you even get wet???Our guides told us we had 25 minutes to snorkel but really we had about 15.
uh oh...From there we went to Stingray City, which is the part I was most excited for and coincidentally the part that most disappointed me.
I bet that's where this famous meme photo came from:Stingray City is really neat. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a sandbar near the island where a long time ago the fishermen used to clean their fish. They didn’t want to do it closer to shore because of the bugs. Over time, the local stingray population got comfortable with the humans and eventually became quasi-domesticated. So it’s a completely natural, non-captive group of stingrays that just really like people.
Of course not.we just waited around waiting to get photos with it (which weren’t included in the tour cost).
Well... I guess that's better than everyone waiting while someone makes them take a zillion pictures.Then when it was finally our turn the guide had a very set routine of poses that he walked you through really fast.
Starfish sprinkle? Who knew!We finally found one, grabbed some pictures, and it started to sprinkle
You do not. You look adorbs. And happy.I looked like an absolute swamp rat in all of them.
Not okay.The added stops to and from the boat took up precious time on the water, so every part of the tour seemed really rushed.
Ew... this is sounding less and less enjoyable.the guides were constantly shouting at who’s turn it was next and how we needed to hold the animal and blah blah blah.
Heh. With a name like "Cabana's", it sounds like you should change into beach wear before you go.So we changed out of our beach wear and went up to Cabana’s
Nice![Lunch views]
Why not! Kids get the good stuff.Yes, my favorite foods generally come from the kids menu.
Oh, wow. That sounds so wonderful....We went through several rotations of pool-hot tub-lounge chairs, just enjoying the beautiful weather and peaceful quiet.
Not surprised!I ended up enjoying this part of the day more than the excursion.
Looks like a kid running around his parents.I also noticed a teeny tiny ship in the mix.
oooohhhh… snap.He said something along the lines of, “when you got back on the ship and looked over to the right, weren’t you glad to be getting back on this ship.” Cruise line shade and I am here for it.
That sounds great. And probably sounded great, too.In the time between dinner we went to Keys, the piano bar, to listen to someone do a Music of Alan Menken show. Keys is super classy and posh and really digs into the art deco vibe.
Whoops!as I checked to make sure the shorts under my dress were in place (fully covered but still in an awkward position) and someone walked into the bathroom. She promptly turned around left but still, the damage was done.
So now you've learned an important lesson. Lock the door... and then test the door.I investigated the lock - since I knew for sure that I had locked it – and realized that I didn’t actually lock it. This lock was weird in that to unlock it you turn it once to the right, but in order to lock it you had to turn it twice to the left. I only turned it once and what I thought was the click of a lock sliding into place was just the sound of the lock switch turning.
I bet!!I washed my hands (for 20 seconds) and when I walked out she was no longer in the vicinity and I grabbed Jon and told him we gotsa go.
I'd do that.I started my meal with the Riesling experience, which is basically a flight of 3 different types of Rieslings.
mmmm… love a good pretzel.For food we started off with pretzels, which were really yummy
Oh I read plenty of reviews, and the ones for this were pretty decent. We had to balance that all with the cost and this seemed like the best option. It was still fine, even if it wasn't perfect!One big thing you need to remember: Look at reviews.
I didn't know that- so cool!Did you know that the song that Flynn sings solo was written just for the ship by Alan Menken?
Thanks for reading along!Fabulous TR, joining in!
Careful! Don't bend it! It's a tender ticket.
I have not, but as an overly cautious scaredy cat I am usually all ears during the safety presentations.Ever seen the movie Open Water? Listen to the safety spiel.
Ever so slightly damp is allYikes! Did you even get wet???
Can't be, not enough people crowding around in the backgroundI bet that's where this famous meme photo came from:
Ha so true!Heh. With a name like "Cabana's", it sounds like you should change into beach wear before you go.
What I wouldn't give to be back in this exact scenario...Oh, wow. That sounds so wonderful....
Small, but mature for it's age. It is more comfortable around the adults than ships its own age. It probably already has a taste for champagne and a dorm picked out at Yale.Looks like a kid running around his parents.
She was delightful! I play a little piano and am always so impressed with people who can sightread that well.That sounds great. And probably sounded great, too.
They weren't bad, by any means, just not amazing as they could be. But hey - we still got to play with stingrays and spend time in the ocean! So definitely a good day.Kind of a letdown that your excursions weren't all you had hoped. They do still sound like incredible experiences despite the rush-rush and overcrowded water.
I'm loving the sound of your afternoon relaxing and recharging, and all of the Tangled fun for the evening. AND it's making me desperately want to book a cruise!!
I have not, but as an overly cautious scaredy cat I am usually all ears during the safety presentations.
I KNEW IT!!!!Ever so slightly damp is all
Photoshopped out.Can't be, not enough people crowding around in the background
<sigh> I'm sure.What I wouldn't give to be back in this exact scenario...
How very posh.Small, but mature for it's age. It is more comfortable around the adults than ships its own age. It probably already has a taste for champagne and a dorm picked out at Yale.
I took just enough piano to know that I can't play piano.She was delightful! I play a little piano and am always so impressed with people who can sightread that well.
Exciting!That’s right, it’s Palo Brunch time.
Why would it not be? It's PALO!the hype was real.
My eyes are ready for photo overload.I don’t have many notes from the meal, but we did take a LOT of photos.
Honestly, I don't know why this gets the most hype here, when you can save room for other stuff.We pretty much skipped the seafood table since I don’t eat any at all and Jon doesn’t really care for it (blasphemy, I know). But hey, it means we saved room for all the other amazing food.
These are the two best items at Palo, or so I've heard. Such choices.lasagna (holy pasta Batman this was amazing) and Jon ordered the chicken parm (delightful)
Indeed. Shiny things are good to distract you.So what do you do when you’re stuffed to the brim with delicious food? Step one – change out of fancy clothes and into stretchy clothes. Step two – hit the shops so you can distract yourself with shiny things.
Yes you did. But that is fair!We didn’t necessarily team up but we did share answers (so basically we teamed up).
I was not on this cruise. But can I still be your friend? (not in a stalkerish way at all tho)So on the off-chance you’re reading this and you were on the 2/15 sailing of the Magic and remember tying in Disney trivia with another couple, please be my friend.
Shame on him!Later on in the show, a man comes in (super late) and has to join his family near the front of the theater. The performer noticed and obviously gave him crap for it, then he realized that he was the cute 8-ish year old girl’s dad. So he gave him even MORE crap for missing his daughter’s moment of fame.
I have seriously never heard one single solitary bad thing about Palo brunch. It is the GOAT.Why would it not be? It's PALO!
Honestly, I don't know why this gets the most hype here, when you can save room for other stuff.
I am TamatoaShiny things are good to distract you.
Of course!I was not on this cruise. But can I still be your friend? (not in a stalkerish way at all tho)
Your timing on this post is impeccable!! My husband and I recently decided to do a cruise just the two of us for our 15th Anniversary in June. I was thinking what we might want to try this time that we didn't get to on our family cruise in December, and Palo Brunch is at the top of my list for sure!! I am now drooling at all the amazing options you shared (looking at you chicken parm and cinnamon rolls!!)That’s right, it’s Palo Brunch time.
Yay for winning medals!! Super nice of you to share answers (and medals!) with your dinner friends. Trivia is another thing we haven't tried on either of our cruises. I think I would LOVE doing this. My husband would sit back and watch, LOL.
Yes! Do it!!Your timing on this post is impeccable!! My husband and I recently decided to do a cruise just the two of us for our 15th Anniversary in June. I was thinking what we might want to try this time that we didn't get to on our family cruise in December, and Palo Brunch is at the top of my list for sure!! I am now drooling at all the amazing options you shared (looking at you chicken parm and cinnamon rolls!!)
Jon was very proud because he had one answer he contributed that no one else knew, but otherwise was supportive as we answered the restYay for winning medals!! Super nice of you to share answers (and medals!) with your dinner friends. Trivia is another thing we haven't tried on either of our cruises. I think I would LOVE doing this. My husband would sit back and watch, LOL.
Best song in Moana. Fight me.I am Tamatoa
Oh I will so fight you. The best song is obviously I Am Moana.Best song in Moana. Fight me.
You forgot the word "schmancy"... fancy schmancy.... it just goes together.we had ~fancy~ reservations.
He certainly looks pretty hyped about it!
And you both clean up real nice.
yummm...I got a mimosa
What??? What a great idea? Must remember this!and Jon got iced tea (where the ice cubes were also made of tea so it wouldn’t get watered down).
That buffet looks incredible.After our server (who’s name I think was Leanne?) gave us the buffet tour we let were let loose!
We pretty much skipped the seafood table since I don’t eat any at all and Jon doesn’t really care for it (blasphemy, I know).
"wasn't as horrible"One thing we both tried for the first time was caviar. It wasn’t as horrible as I expected, although my bites were 90% toast so maybe that helped.
Ah... all good things...We reached the point where eating was no longer enjoyable
Of course!So what do you do when you’re stuffed to the brim with delicious food? Step one – change out of fancy clothes and into stretchy clothes.
You bought those, yes??
Easy mistake to make.There were some tough questions and I answered some close but not quite right (they asked where Mt Gushmore was and I said Castaway Cay, then remembered that Gushmore is at Blizzard Beach. Rustmore is at CC.)
Of course!I was also the only one who knew who was the voice of Quasimodo – do any of you know?
Nice of you.We gave one of our medals to our friends since they helped us on some questions we would not have gotten right.
Love this shot.
He deserved to get in trouble for that!Later on in the show, a man comes in (super late) and has to join his family near the front of the theater. The performer noticed and obviously gave him crap for it, then he realized that he was the cute 8-ish year old girl’s dad. So he gave him even MORE crap for missing his daughter’s moment of fame.
Since I don't like fish and it's a fish product I firmly expected it to taste terrible"wasn't as horrible"
People kill for this stuff!
(Admittedly, I've only had it once, and that about 40 years ago.)
Sadly no. They were kid sized and we do not have kid-sized heads.You bought those, yes??
Anyone who knows how to Google, knows that.
I can see that.Since I don't like fish and it's a fish product I firmly expected it to taste terrible
Extra large noggins. Check!Sadly no. They were kid sized and we do not have kid-sized heads.