How The Western Caribbean Was Won! Completed 8/10/2016 - Page 24 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
I'm off for a week from work, so this gives me some time to do an update and I hope a few of them!
After dinner was over I went up to deck 9 and see the Pirates of the Caribbean Deck Party. I was looking forward to this not really for the deck party aspect of it but the fireworks show, which would proceed it. I figured the deck party would pretty much be like the sail away party with pulsating rock, pop and dance tunes along with a lot of on screen graphics and Disney characters on stage. My guess was right as although it was entertaining, it really wasn’t my thing.
At first I went to deck 9 but it was too crowded as many of the passengers wanted to be close to the action and take part in it. I went up to deck 10 and although crowded, it was easy to find a spot to stand and I got one by one of the railings on the deck which would give me a good view of the fireworks later.
The party begins!
Although, not that clear, Mickey is scaling one of the smokestacks on the Magic.
Most of the photos from the deck party did not come out well as there were so many people around, plus it being at night didn’t help either!
The part of the show I was looking forward to!
Tough to get clear photos at times, but not too bad.
Pretty cool witnessing a fireworks show at sea!
Lots of great displays like this!
In no time the show was over and people began to head back to their rooms or go to the buffet at Cabana’s. There was quite a crowd to get in there and since I finished dinner just about an hour ago, I wasn’t having any part of it! Besides, once I have dinner, that is usually it for me as I don’t often indulge in late night snacks, let alone a full buffet!
I headed downstairs to Keys and although, Nick Messina wasn’t playing tonight he said the woman taking his place tonight (his day off on the cruise) was quite good and from Italy. I didn’t take any photos, but I enjoyed her piano playing. She just played and didn’t sing. She was good, but not quite as upbeat and engaging as Nick is.
There were only a few people here at times and for part of it, I was the only one in here, which is sort of an odd feeling! I stayed for about an hour and then headed back to my room for the evening. I just watched some tv for a while and spent some time on a comfortable evening out on my deck, taking all the sights and sounds in and just enjoying every bit of it! I am so glad I went with a verandah room!. Tomorrow is a day at sea, so I could sleep in and just take the day in at a leisurely pace with only a couple of plans. I went to sleep via tv at around 1 am.
NEXT: I Could Certainly Do This Every Day!
__________________
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!
What a fun night! The deck parties aren't really my thing either but I do love a good fireworks show
That's the way I feel about this!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
I always find it so cool to have fireworks at sea on the cruises.
It was quite surreal to experience one of these like this for the first time!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
I love the fireworks at sea. They seem so much more brilliant maybe because the sky is so dark.
I loved it so much! That's a good point!
__________________
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!
Fun evening at the deck party and enjoying the fireworks!
Yes it was. Especially, the fireworks!
__________________
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!
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!
Yes, they were quite something and quite unbelievable to experience at sea!
__________________
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!
Knowing that it was another day at sea, it would be a relaxing one and I decided to sleep in and catch up on some rest. I got up at about 9:30 and after getting ready for the day, I went out on my deck and could see it was going to be another great weather day on this cruise. The weather has been near perfect so far, with the exception of a couple of showers in Grand Cayman two days ago in the morning.
I went upstairs to Cabana’s for breakfast at around 10:15 and being a day at sea it was quite crowded up here, but was able to get a table. I went with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash brown potatoes, corned beef hash, orange juice and coffee. It was quite good and certainly better quality than you get at the WDW food courts, in my opinion.
After breakfast, I walked the ship for a bit, not really having any destination in mind. I returned to my room around noon and went out on my deck and took some photos of the open blue sea with nothing in sight.
Just amazing how blue the sea looks, although it is actually green as the sun makes it look that way!
For about the next hour, I just hung out on my deck and in my room and caught up on my trip notes as well as today’s Navigator to see if there was anything of interest to do on board today. I also watched some tv for a while and just took it easy.
Soon it was just after 1 pm and I was getting a bit hungry, so I went upstairs back to Cabana’s and have some lunch from their buffet. There was a decent size crowd up here, but not as much as it had been at breakfast. I had a variety of options from the buffet. I went with a coke, water, shrimp gumbo, potato and cod croquettes, duck leg with au jus and bow tie pasta with broiled salmon and tarragon. All was quite good but I really enjoyed the shrimp gumbo most of all.
After lunch, I went back to my room to tidy up a bit and hung out here for a little while and then went back upstairs to deck 9 and to Signals and have a Mai Tai. I think it may have been the drink of the day. I went over to Quiet Cove, which was adjacent to Signals and enjoy my Mai Tai as I saw some familiar cruisers there, whom I’ve chatted with a bit over the last few days throughout the trip. We just talked about the cruise, excursions and the lot for a while.
By now it was about 2:45 and I had an appointment at Senses Spa at 3:15, so I went back to my room and got my reservation information as well as the normal things. Today would be a facial and I was looking forward to the experience as well as the great feeling after this spa treatment.
I went upstairs to Senses Spa at just after 3 pm and checked in for my treatment. I had to read and sign the usual forms, which is standard. No big deal as it doesn’t take long. The official name of my treatment is the Elemis Oxydermy Facial. Today, I didn’t have to get changed into a bathrobe and slippers as I wasn’t getting a massage. Shortly, the facial therapist led me into one of the back rooms. I can’t remember her name, but she is from New Zealand. We were talking for a bit and I told her, I had visited her homeland several years ago and enjoyed it there.
My facial therapist told me just to change a few of my clothes and then get into the bed with the sheets covered up just below my neck. This was going to be a fun experience as I had a mini facial about a year ago in Atlantic City and enjoyed it very much. This would be a 50 minute treatment, so it would be more involved.
A few minutes later she returned and began my facial along with the soothing New Age music playing in the background which is quite relaxing. During the course of this she applied various oils and creams to my face and massaged them in. It even involved a mask for the last part of the treatment. This was an amazing experience, feeling and sensation throughout and I could certainly do this every day! Although, my wallet would take a big hit!
Soon it was over and my skin felt so much better and softer after this. I just felt completely relaxed. I told her how much I enjoyed it and what a good job she did, even though, I’m not an expert. At least she didn’t try to make the big sales pitch as the massage therapist I had the other day did. I liked this therapist much more and glad I had her. After leaving the room she brought me up front to pay at the front desk. I had to wait a few minutes as there were a few people in front of me paying. It was quite busy in here today and no surprise for an at sea day.
After leaving I decided, since I felt so relaxed to go over to Signals, which was right by here and have a strawberry margarita. It was quite good and even better than usual as I just had come from my facial, which I think had something to do with it. After talking with some people in Quiet Cove, I went downstairs to deck 4 and the Promenade Lounge and use one of their computers to check on my emails.
It was about 5:30 now, so I just went back to my room for a while to rest and watch some tv before dinner, which wasn’t until 8:15.
NEXT: This Is Definitely Not My Thing!
__________________
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!
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Absolutely and especially my facial at Senses Spa!
__________________
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!
About This Page: 
I figured the deck party would pretty much be like the sail away party with pulsating rock, pop and dance tunes along with a lot of on screen graphics and Disney characters on stage. My guess was right as although it was entertaining, it really wasn’t my thing. 
Besides, once I have dinner, that is usually it for me as I don’t often indulge in late night snacks, let alone a full buffet! 
I stayed for about an hour and then headed back to my room for the evening. I just watched some tv for a while and spent some time on a comfortable evening out on my deck, taking all the sights and sounds in and just enjoying every bit of it! 
Tomorrow is a day at sea, so I could sleep in and just take the day in at a leisurely pace with only a couple of plans. 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
It was quite good and even better than usual as I just had come from my facial, which I think had something to do with it. 
After talking with some people in Quiet Cove, I went downstairs to deck 4 and the Promenade Lounge and use one of their computers to check on my emails. 
Linear Mode
