The "third times a charm" HCL cruise PTR - Page 23 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Wow! You had a great day at sea! Relax, relax, and then relax some more!I like the coffee lounge. They have one like that on the Magic, we'll have to try it out next time. You sound like us: just barely making it to breakfast! The "Baked Alaska Parade" is done on the Magic, too. Though quite a bit different, the theater reminds me of the Walt Disney Theater on the Magic, too. The show sounds amazing! Love the Monkey Towel Animal... I'd have let him live till the end of the trip, too!
I can't believe it's coming to an end... you just got started!!
I know I can't believe that trip is over but all good things come to an end right?? I am so slack with updates though but i've been working on one for you guys this week and then its over
Quote:
Originally Posted by MyRapunzal
GREAT UPDATE! and another twilight plug too!
I wish I was enjoying your relaxing day at sea right now! lol!
And I love the towel animal! So cute! Sounds so fun and relaxing-- when will you guys be in Disney again? Just so I know how long I have to wait for another TR!
We are going to disney in four months!! So, three months before another TR butttttttt you have a TR that you will be doing for us instead
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsteiny23
What a fabulous day with no schedule, a lot of relaxing, great views and a latte in what looks like the most comfortable chair ever! Great Day!!
That chair was super comfy and I really would like to have a nice day like that again soon
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Sounds like a relaxing day at sea... and that chair REALLY looks fabulous!
It was a really nice day! One to remember on days that it rains on end like it has been here for weeks *L*
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great day Crissy!!
It really was!
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredkid
another great update! love the baked alaska parade. love baked alaska!! and chocolate is the best part !!
I had never tried baked alaska on the other cruises but I really was missing out! It was so good!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
Sounds like a nice relaxing day! Glad you were able to get some pool time with nice weather! Loved the pics of the ship.
Thanks!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeatherD
I'm really looking forward to seeing Half Moon Cay! Hurry back with lots of pictures!
I am so sorry its taken me forever but we had plans last two weekends but i'm resizing the pics today and an update should be up soon this week!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMousey
Hahahaha I think you guys are going to love the pics from this update...they are resizing as we speak and will be up in a day or so!
Quote:
Originally Posted by belle0517
Sounds like you had a relaxing day! Great update!
Thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Glad you had a nice laid back day at sea!! Can't wait to hear about Half Moon Cay too!!
Half moon cay exceeded our expectations and I cannot wait to share the pics!
Quote:
Originally Posted by hall0731
Just caught up with your trip report. Lovely pictures. Sounds like you guys had a blast. I wish I could convince my DH to go on a cruise.
ahhhh best idea we ever had really! I mean DBF has a hard time trying new things and now he cannot get enough of it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What great updates. St. John looks absolutely beautiful and it looks like a lovely, relaxing day at sea.
St. John was amazing! I love relaxing at sea...it was really nice to have that day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Great update, Crissy! Days at sea are one of the things I'm nervous about cruising, but it sounds like you had a really fantastic day. Very relaxing! Makes me less nervous about it.
Days at sea are so very open to what ever you want to schedule and with only two it was really nice. if it was like four days at sea that would make me nervous too
Quote:
Originally Posted by janicelovesmickey
nice update! the towel animal is cute.
I really want to try a cruise now.
You completely have to try one out! I know you would love it!!!
Okay guys...i can explain We had company two weekends ago and this past weekend we went to the All Star race in Charlotte then to Carowinds theme park. So, I've had no time for resizing the pics for the update until today. I'm almost done with the resizing and will try for an update today or tomorrow. Its probably going to take two installments to put it up in. Then it will be over with nothing left but final thoughts!!
Day 7: March 6th
Half Moon Cay
Port time: 10am to 3pm
We decided to sleep in a little today but I still managed to order Room Service again. I decided to have the room service delivered
at 9am. It was so awesome because when I stepped out onto the balconly the boat had already docked at Half Moon Cay and
we were overlooking the entire island!!!! We really picked the right side of the ship to be on! We had this beautiful view
and the water was amazing!
I will say that Eric and I did not have a good view of the Bahamas on our last cruise. But, these ships know what they are
doing when they buy these private islands because they are much more gorgeous than what I saw on the main islands. It was a
clear day today with some small clouds and already it was in the high 70's. The high today actually got into the 80's!! Which is nice for the bahamas
at that time of the year.
We ate our breakfast and discussed how pleasantly surprised we were. We quickly threw our clothes on for the beach and packed
a beach bag. They announced at promptly 10am that the tender was ready to take passengers over to the island. We hoped on the
second tender over. Eric's parents said this tender was much bigger than other tenders they have taken. It was a double decker
boat lined with benches.
Here is a shot of it leaving the boat..not a great shot but shows you a little
We did have something happen that was very odd when we were loading the boat. I was in line to get my card scanned to get off the
ship and one of the workers on the ship pushed past me to go to the tender boat which I thought was normal. Apparently,
it was not. He was heavily reprimanded by one of the other attendees letting passengers off the ship. We overheard him say to the
guy that guests ALWAYS come first...it was very awkward for us.
We proceeded to the tender and they had this little bridge to board...i cannot swim so it was a little scary getting on this moving
bridge. But they held my hand as i crossed which was very nice. We had a 5 minute ride over to the island. And some very obvious
trivia to add is the name of the island is Half Moon Cay because from the ship it looks like a half moon! Like you couldnt
have guessed right??? We were taken into this channel that led into the island. It looked manmade. Once you got into the channel it
lead to an unloading and loading dock. We were unloaded here where we saw this sign
Here is the sign entering into the Welcome Area and the sign says Little San Salvador
This Island is solely owned by Holland America but they said that Carnival uses this island as well because they are owned by the same company. However, they never occupy the island at the same time! That's a really cool thing!
We walked into this area where it was a general area and the main shops of the island. There was a bar, an overlook you could
walk up to and see across the island. There were little shops and a mock of an outdoor market area. There were also bathrooms
with changing rooms and showers. We took some pics here
We thought these signs were funny. It showed how many miles it was to certain destinations from the island! We just had to stand
and look at these signs!
We then tried to figure out how to get to the beach so we could snag a chair in a good spot. There was a trail that was paved and
it showed the way to the beach. So, we followed the trail and found our way to a perfect spot on the beach.
We decided to start with some pictures
In most of the pics you can see our cruise shipped docked at sea
I was so impressed with how amazing this beach was that I took a picture just to show you guys how clear the water really was
This place was utterly amazing! The water was calm as bathwater and crystal clear and you could go out for about 1/2 a mile and it was about waist deep to shoulder deep!!!!
And to think we had this little slice of paradise all day to ourselves!!!!!
Eric decided he wanted to walk to the end of the island which was about 3/4's of a mile. So, I decided that sounded fine with me
and we started to make our way down the beach. We took a lot of pictures along the way. Before I post the pictures I will note
that along the way the chairs stop on the beach about nearly half way down. Then, there is this other stop along the way
which is where they have the horse on the beach excursion. They have restrooms there which we used Then as you walk the rest of the
way there are signs posted at the end stating that you are not allowed any further. I think that's because it becomes very jagged
with rocks because its the end of the beach.
So here are some pictures
This was the end of the beach and as far as we could go
We decided to turn back because we were hot and thirsty and walked back to our chairs.....
We got back to our chairs and by that time my feet were killing me from walking slightly slanted on the sand! We decided to grab
a cold drink and catch some rays of sun! I was pretty burnt so I loaded up with a high SPF and put a towl around my shoulders to keep
me from getting a terrible burn. We people watched and dozed off and on listening to the people around us.
Here are some lounging pictures
Eric playing with the color option
It was getting close to noon at this point and we were getting hungry. Eric said he was going to find out where there was food so he
walked with his dad and in about 10 minutes they returned. He said right behind us was a huge picnic area with covered seating
and they were serving us a Barbeque!!! wooo hooooo...all included in the cruise price!
So, we put our flops on and our cover ups and headed to get some grub!
We were some of the first in line and we loaded up on hotdogs and hamburgers,etc. I got a lot of fruit because it looked oh so fresh!
We went to find a table and I cannot wait to tell you one of the funniest moments of the trip!
There were wild roosters and birds everywhere! Very used to people and they would come right up to you. We sat down to eat and I'm setting
there enjoying the food when all of a sudden "COCKA DOODLE DOO" Oh yes...there was a rooster right next to me on the bench ad decided I
wasn't paying him enough attention. I nearly choked when he crowed because I didnt even know he was there!!!
Then out of now where this bird comes out of the blue and takes eric hamburger bun top *LOL* I was laughing so hard I thought i'd cry
because Eric hates to eat outside!! He was jumping out of his skin because he was terrified *L*
The grub was good and my only complaint wouldve been the wild roosters and birds everywhere!
We ate and decided to walk around and look at the scenery. Me, Eric's dad and Eric walked around the entire complex and decided to take
a bunch of pics
Like I was saying, Eric, me and his Dad decided to walk around the entire complex. It was so nice! There were these watering stations with Misting areas and you walked in and it was a mist and it was in the shade and it was HEAVEN
There were little bars in nooks and cranies hidden here and there. One bar was named the "I wish I could stay here forver" bar
As you kept walking there was a little church and then you went back into the market area/welcome area. We decided to take some pictures from the overlook here.
We took so many pictues that I was getting tired of that fast. We decided to go back to the beach and lounge for a bit longer before we had to leave.
We walked back and we laid on the beach until about 2:00 pm. We were about sun drained and decided it was time to start to head back to the ship. I REALLY didnt want to leave
We gathered our things and decided that we wanted to walk down the road about 1/2 a mile to look at the stingray excursion and the inlet.....so we walked half a mile and found all of this
We looked around for about 15 minutes and then caught the tram back to the welcome center to catch our boat back
We didnt wait long maybe 5 minutes for a boat. They were running them really reguarly. We quickly boarded and was heading back out to our boat at sea
We boarded the ship and headed back to the room to change clothes. We quickly changed and headed to the top deck to take pictures as the boat was leaving
The boat headed out to sea and it was nearing 4pm. We decided to head to the room and change and shower and rest some before dinner that night since it was our last dinner.
We went to the room and packed up and Eric's mom went to the dembarkation talk to find out when we would leave the ship and what to do with our luggage,etc. We packed all our stuff except for an overnight bag.
When we headed out to dinner around 7pm. Here is the only pic we took of us that night
This is on the stairs next to the guest services counter
We headed to dinner and here was our signature dessert of the night
It was extra yummy and easily the best dessert we had all week!!
We then headed back to the room and found our tags and his mother briefed us on dembarkation.
We put the luggage tags on and set the bags outside of the room. By this time it was nearly 10pm. We went out on the balcolny and lounged for a bit and had some wine. We had to get up early because we were to be ready to leave our room by 9am!
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The "Baked Alaska Parade" is done on the Magic, too. Though quite a bit different, the theater reminds me of the Walt Disney Theater on the Magic, too. The show sounds amazing! Love the Monkey Towel Animal... I'd have let him live till the end of the trip, too! 
St. John looks absolutely beautiful and it looks like a lovely, relaxing day at sea. 
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