How The Western Caribbean Was Won! Completed 8/10/2016 - Page 15 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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can't wait to hear about Key West. I would love to go there one day.
Key West is a fun place, even if a bit touristy with the cruise ships! There is a lot to do there with some very active bars and eateries with good cuisine!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Glad you're loving your veranda room and that did sound a bit like a Mark breakfast...
Can't beat a verandah and even though this is my first cruise, I don't think I will ever book a room without it as I loved it so much! I knew you'd agree regarding the breakfast!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
The views from your veranda are just beautiful! I can't wait to read about your adventures in Key West-I've always wanted to go there.
They will be coming up in my next update! I think you'd enjoy it there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Beautiful, calm seas as you approach Key West. There's nothing like waking up on a cruise and stepping out onto your veranda to soak it all in and take a deep breath of that sea air.
It was so calm on the approach and just amazing with the sea and overall views! You couldn't sum it up any better with regarding the latter Laurie and is just how I felt!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Looks like a beautiful day! I can't wait to hear about your Key West day. We really loved Key West, but it was super hot the day we were there, so didn't get as much out of it as we could have.
The approach to Key West was amazing and I couldn't wait to set foot on land there to begin my time there!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Loving your report (loved my Disney Magic cruise that stopped in Key West )
When you get home, try www.h2oplus.com.
Glad you are liking my TR Don. I actually have been on that site, but haven't ordered any of the products yet. They are pricey but great quality. Probably will eventually, when I get around to it. I am home as I took this cruise just after Easter this year!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I love Key West!! Great photos, Dave!! I hope you got to see some roosters!
Glad you enjoyed them! Perhaps, the roosters may be involved in my TR....very good chance! I really loved the approach of the Magic to docking in Key West. It was such an incredible experience for the first time!
Quote:
Originally Posted by xwewhisper
I love the excitement of all the cruise firsts you got to experience!
It was a totally different vacation experience for me with various trips to Europe and the lot in the past!
From the start I'm really enjoying it. One thing I notice is how much alcohol is thrown out in front of you, no matter where you may walk to on the ship! It was rare on my Disney trips to have a drink before late afternoon (for the most part), but this cruise is different as it's always calling you and in your face and tough to turn down! Especially, a nice tropical drink in the afternoon!
Quote:
Originally Posted by stardust190
Sounds like a nice morning. Beautiful pictures.
Glad you enjoyed them and it was quite special as we approached Key West and I got to experience my first ever port docking!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
After we docked in Key West, I went downstairs to the Promenade Lounge on deck 3 to check in for my first port excursion of the cruise. There were quite a number of people waiting here to have their excursion called. I presented my KTTW card and my I.D. and was given a sticker of a Disney character, which would be for my group. It was of the Beast. So, I took a seat and just waited for my group to be called. It must have been about twenty minutes before my group was called for my Pirates and Presidents walking tour of Key West.
We walked down to deck 1 and scanned our KTTW card before leaving the ship, so they know who has left the ship. We met on the dock beside The Magic and there was quite a large group of us. We were split into two groups. Our guide was Thomas who was very good. I think there were about 12-15 of us in our group.
Shortly, we were on our way to begin our tour of some important sites on this Key West tour. It was a sunny day but very warm and somewhat humid, but better than raining!
Key West Customs House, just off the promenade close to where the Magic is docked
Banyan Trees, which are pretty distinct to Key West
It was about this time, that a couple had their two kids on this tour and they were complaining about the heat. It was hot, but not terrible. The kids were about 8-10 years old. It was at this time that the couple and their kids decided to call it quits on this tour about twenty minutes or so into it. Perhaps, this excursion wasn’t a good idea for some? Thomas our guide told them they could proceed to the Shipwreck Museum and show them the pass, we were given as it’s part of this excursion. I guess, it may have been better to leave the kids on the ship? More of a tour that adults would be more interested in anyway.
Gardens adjacent to Harry Truman’s Key West residency. He spent 175 days here while U.S. President
Harry Truman’s residence also named the Little White House
Front Street, where Truman’s residence is located
Like this house. It’s the Peacon house built in 1885. Quite striking!
One of the Key West locals. These roosters were originally brought here from Cuba
Entrance to gated community in Key West. Mostly townhouses for rental
Before walking to the Shipwreck Museum we went by Kelly’s Caribbean Bar Grill Brewery, which is owned by actress Kelly McGillis. Forgot to take a photo of it!
Back to the Customs House, where we began the tour about an hour ago
We then walked over to Mallory Square, where the Shipwreck Museum is located for the last part of our tour. It was now, Thomas left us and we had another guide for some orientation in the museum.
Key West’s vibrant Mallory Square
Many of these guys in town!
Our guide inside the Shipwreck Museum
Lot of interesting artifacts inside here from so many years ago
He looks real but isn't, as his face is a hologram!
After our guided tour of the museum was over we walked from the second floor to the outside and up a few stories of steps to the observation tower above the museum for some great views of Key West.
My residence!
Holland America cruise ship docked next to Disney Magic
One of the most well known eateries/bars in Key West
Once I finished up in the observation tower, I came back down to Mallory Square and everyone in our group was given a bottle of water and a snack of fried conch fritters, which were quite good. I enjoyed this tour and felt our guides were quite knowledgeable and informative regarding Key West and its’ history. I felt the tour was worthwhile and not overlong at about two hours. Wasn’t too pricey either at about $40.
I still had a few hours until I had to return to the Magic, so I wanted to take in some more of Key West on my own!
NEXT: Exploring More Of Key West And A Sunset!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Awesome update, Dave!! We love Key West and it sounds like you are enjoying yourself!! The roosters kind of freaked me out at first, but I gushed to them quickly. I can't wait to hear about the rest of your time here!!
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Awesome update, Dave!! We love Key West and it sounds like you are enjoying yourself!! The roosters kind of freaked me out at first, but I gushed to them quickly. I can't wait to hear about the rest of your time here!!
Key West was fun, even though a bit touristy as you have to expect that with all the cruise ship traffic here! I knew about the roosters here and was looking forward to seeing some and was glad I encountered a few!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pris
That sounds like a great tour, exactly the type I like, informative and not too terribly long.
It was a good one and I enjoyed it quite so! Enough to keep you informed and interested but not too much to be bored!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
The tour sounds wonderful, even if it didn't work for that family. You certainly saw a lot of the sights in Key West.
Yes, it was good for me but not for them! I think it was part heat and boredom on the kids' part as probably not their thing. Probably, wanted to be entertained in some way. The attention level of kids these days is minimal at best and possibly due to not seeing them interacting on their phones, which I'm sure their parents had them leave back on the Magic for good reason as I didn't see them with them.
Glad I got to experience a lot in Key West and the tour was a great introduction to it! A bit more of Key West to come...
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Sounds like a nice walking tour. I enjoy these walking tours. I took one once of the old Sydney in Australia and the guide was telling us all the history. I found it very interesting.
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There is a lot to do there with some very active bars and eateries with good cuisine! 
that did sound a bit like a Mark breakfast... 
Great photos, Dave!! I hope you got to see some roosters! 
It was rare on my Disney trips to have a drink before late afternoon (for the most part), but this cruise is different as it's always calling you and in your face and tough to turn down! 
It was hot, but not terrible. The kids were about 8-10 years old. It was at this time that the couple and their kids decided to call it quits on this tour about twenty minutes or so into it.
Perhaps, this excursion wasn’t a good idea for some?
Thomas our guide told them they could proceed to the Shipwreck Museum and show them the pass, we were given as it’s part of this excursion. I guess, it may have been better to leave the kids on the ship? 
More of a tour that adults would be more interested in anyway. 
I enjoyed this tour and felt our guides were quite knowledgeable and informative regarding Key West and its’ history. I felt the tour was worthwhile and not overlong at about two hours. Wasn’t too pricey either at about $40. 
PassPorter Guide Author
I think it was part heat and boredom on the kids' part as probably not their thing. 
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