DizBot
July 22nd, 2005, 17:34
I just got back from my 4 day cruise, and LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought I was going to be trapped, and forced out on deck, every night, to do the hokey-pokey, or something lame like that. But, it was great.
I will say that it took me about a day to figure out HOW to enjoy it. There are a lot of stereotypical "cruise" type things that go on. I hate that stuff. But, once I left the room, and wandered around, I figured things out.
I loved the two TV stations that showed nothing but Disney animated classics, all day long. The actual movie theater seemed nice. Though, I could never squeeze in the time to go and see a movie. Plus, honestly, the selection wasn't all that great. But, I was too busy, anyway. I spent a lot of time on our veranda, staring out at the big ocean. I liked that.......By the way, I have read some different opinions on what type of veranda is better, if you get one. We had the Navigator's one. That would be my choice. It was completely private. We could not see the people on the other sides of us. My in-laws had what I would guess would be the typical veranda, and it was not private. So, if you get a choice, go with the Navigator's.
We were on the Dinsey Wonder, and my favorite place was the Cove. It's an adult's only, coffee bar, on Deck 9. I don't like coffee. But, even though I am an American, I love tea. They had all different types of tea, that I had never heard of. So, I would spend an hour, or so, each day sitting in the Cove, trying different teas, reading magazines, and watching the big screen TV. It was VERY nice. You can also get on the internet, there.
I saw three shows, while I was there. The first night was the Hercules show. I didn't enjoy it. Too much talking, and bad jokes. Not enough singing. My wife liked it, though. So, take it for what it's worth. I really enjoyed the Golden Mickey's show. It was fun. I didn't see ventriloquist act. But, I would put the Dreams show in the "don't miss" column. It was great.
The food was outstanding, everywhere, with one exception. I did not enjoy the animator's Palate. The food was just okay. I also did not enjoy the experience, there. They are more focused on drawing out the show, which is just okay, than they are about getting you your food. So, don't go there hungry. It takes a long, LONG time to get fed. I would probably skip that place, when we go back.
Also, Palo's was excellent, and worth the extra charge. But, I've done it, and don't know if I would go back, again. I would have to see.
I didn't like Nassau. It was very hot, very dirty, and seemed trashy. Plus, the whole time we were there, any time I went outside I could hear police sirens. So, we didn't spend long, there.
Castaway Cay was the best. 100%. The only suggestion I would make to anyone going there would be to wear water shoes, even for the adults. There are a lot of shells, many of which are sharp and broken. It was murder on my feet, and toes. Next time, I'm going to buy water shoes for everyone, and it won't be an issue. But, since we didn't have them, it was. Other than that, though, it was great.
Oceaneer's Club was great, for my little girl. When we weren't at Castaway Cay, or one of the shows, that's all she wanted to do. Plus, it's run VERY well. We had a pager, and anytime she needed us, we were reachable, and could be there in a matter of moments. It's also not just a bunch of kids in a room. There were tons of employees, everywhere you looked. They had their eye on everything. I felt very comfortable letting my little girl go there.
I would avoid the pools, honestly. They were madhouses, every time I walked by one.
They had plenty of charecter chances, there, and even took some great pictures.
Speaking of the pictures, I also liked the set up, they have, for picking up your pictures. They just put them all out, and you pick the ones you want, if you even want them. The only downside is that they take pictures of everyone in their bathing suit, on Castaway Cay. So, if you don't want want everyone seeing pictures of you in yours, I would not pose for the photographer's. They will be out there, for the world to see. The funny part of that is that, at one point, I was up there looking for pictures of my family, there was a small group of teenage boys going down the rows, looking at the pictures of the teenage girls, and making comments about them. I thought this was funny. BUT, I did make a mental note......When my daughter is a teenager, I'm going to spend my cruise standing there, poking the eyes out of every teenage punk who dares to look in the general direction of my daughter, or her picture.......But, for now, since my daughter is 5, I just thought that it was funny........For you other father's, though, just be ready. Teenaged boys have not changed from when WE were teenage boys.
That's all I can think of, for now.....
We are already thinking about our cruise, next year!!!
I thought I was going to be trapped, and forced out on deck, every night, to do the hokey-pokey, or something lame like that. But, it was great.
I will say that it took me about a day to figure out HOW to enjoy it. There are a lot of stereotypical "cruise" type things that go on. I hate that stuff. But, once I left the room, and wandered around, I figured things out.
I loved the two TV stations that showed nothing but Disney animated classics, all day long. The actual movie theater seemed nice. Though, I could never squeeze in the time to go and see a movie. Plus, honestly, the selection wasn't all that great. But, I was too busy, anyway. I spent a lot of time on our veranda, staring out at the big ocean. I liked that.......By the way, I have read some different opinions on what type of veranda is better, if you get one. We had the Navigator's one. That would be my choice. It was completely private. We could not see the people on the other sides of us. My in-laws had what I would guess would be the typical veranda, and it was not private. So, if you get a choice, go with the Navigator's.
We were on the Dinsey Wonder, and my favorite place was the Cove. It's an adult's only, coffee bar, on Deck 9. I don't like coffee. But, even though I am an American, I love tea. They had all different types of tea, that I had never heard of. So, I would spend an hour, or so, each day sitting in the Cove, trying different teas, reading magazines, and watching the big screen TV. It was VERY nice. You can also get on the internet, there.
I saw three shows, while I was there. The first night was the Hercules show. I didn't enjoy it. Too much talking, and bad jokes. Not enough singing. My wife liked it, though. So, take it for what it's worth. I really enjoyed the Golden Mickey's show. It was fun. I didn't see ventriloquist act. But, I would put the Dreams show in the "don't miss" column. It was great.
The food was outstanding, everywhere, with one exception. I did not enjoy the animator's Palate. The food was just okay. I also did not enjoy the experience, there. They are more focused on drawing out the show, which is just okay, than they are about getting you your food. So, don't go there hungry. It takes a long, LONG time to get fed. I would probably skip that place, when we go back.
Also, Palo's was excellent, and worth the extra charge. But, I've done it, and don't know if I would go back, again. I would have to see.
I didn't like Nassau. It was very hot, very dirty, and seemed trashy. Plus, the whole time we were there, any time I went outside I could hear police sirens. So, we didn't spend long, there.
Castaway Cay was the best. 100%. The only suggestion I would make to anyone going there would be to wear water shoes, even for the adults. There are a lot of shells, many of which are sharp and broken. It was murder on my feet, and toes. Next time, I'm going to buy water shoes for everyone, and it won't be an issue. But, since we didn't have them, it was. Other than that, though, it was great.
Oceaneer's Club was great, for my little girl. When we weren't at Castaway Cay, or one of the shows, that's all she wanted to do. Plus, it's run VERY well. We had a pager, and anytime she needed us, we were reachable, and could be there in a matter of moments. It's also not just a bunch of kids in a room. There were tons of employees, everywhere you looked. They had their eye on everything. I felt very comfortable letting my little girl go there.
I would avoid the pools, honestly. They were madhouses, every time I walked by one.
They had plenty of charecter chances, there, and even took some great pictures.
Speaking of the pictures, I also liked the set up, they have, for picking up your pictures. They just put them all out, and you pick the ones you want, if you even want them. The only downside is that they take pictures of everyone in their bathing suit, on Castaway Cay. So, if you don't want want everyone seeing pictures of you in yours, I would not pose for the photographer's. They will be out there, for the world to see. The funny part of that is that, at one point, I was up there looking for pictures of my family, there was a small group of teenage boys going down the rows, looking at the pictures of the teenage girls, and making comments about them. I thought this was funny. BUT, I did make a mental note......When my daughter is a teenager, I'm going to spend my cruise standing there, poking the eyes out of every teenage punk who dares to look in the general direction of my daughter, or her picture.......But, for now, since my daughter is 5, I just thought that it was funny........For you other father's, though, just be ready. Teenaged boys have not changed from when WE were teenage boys.
That's all I can think of, for now.....
We are already thinking about our cruise, next year!!!