Battered, bruised, and a little bit intoxicated - a Transatlantic Crossing updated 02/13/18 - Page 13 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sea Day #1
We didn’t wake up today until around 8:30 am! Yeah!! Went up to Cabannas for breakfast - Eggs Benedict for both of us. Mike also had smoked salmon and corned beef hash. We didn’t want to take long as we had Frozen meet & greet tickets, plus wanted to get to O’Gills for a trivia contest.
The line moved pretty quickly for our meet with Olaf, Anna and Elsa. It was fun to have a chance to meet them all. They have a backdrop that comes down in Animator’s Palate, and the picture frames are all showing an icy background too. DSC02335 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
During this time we also managed to finish delivering our FE gifts AND do a load of laundry! I also managed to fit in a stop at Cove Cafe for some coffee and we chatted a little with a couple from Switzerland.
We did pretty well at the trivia contest, finishing in a 3 way tie for first place. We lost the tiebreaker question, though, not knowing whose backup singers were called “The Cheatin’ Hearts.” (The answer was Hank Williams). So close! This was general trivia today, or I believe they called it “Know it All”.
We sat and relaxed outside Cove Cafe and eventually got some lunch. Mike had a bratwurst and fries and I had part of a panini and a wrap bite. We both had fruit (we love the endless fruit available onboard!).
After lunch we went to the first part of a lecture series being done by Jeff Kurtti - the man who did the Disney Family Museum. We thought it was going to be by a photographer because of the write-up we saw, but it was about a book coming out in April about Walt’s world travels, in photos. It was good even if it wasn’t what we expected. IMG_1466 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
Mike came back to nap while I sat on the verandah catching up on trip notes. At one point we had dolphins following along the ship. Fun to watch - hard to photograph. DSC02344 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
Each of those splashes represents a dolphin!
I also watched some of the people going down the Aquadunk - as we could see it from our room - at least part of it: DSC02347 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
It was formal night and the Captain’s Reception, so time to get dressed up. We had a picture with us and Minnie in her evening gown but the lines were too long for any of the others.
We were in Animator’s Palate tonight and met our other table mates, a couple from Canada, three hours north of Toronto. They’d been at Palo’s last night as well! Also a very nice couple. The three couples really continued to click.
I started my meal with one of my favorite DCL menu items - the black truffle pasta pursettes. DSC02356 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
Mike had a chocolate walnut cake for dessert and I had lemon pie. DSC02362 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
One of our running jokes at the table started tonight. Each time there was some kind of “show” in the restaurant, our table NEVER seemed able to catch a picture of it. Tonight it was Mickey, and I’ll show you what I mean…. DSC02360 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
DSC02361 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
This one is probably the best of most of the nights - and it’s not very good.
After dinner we rushed back to the cabin to change. Mike had rented dress shoes for his tux, and he was fairly sure they were at least half a size too small. So he needed them OFF. Plus we needed to put on warm clothes as we were heading to deck 10 to watch the passage through the Straits of Gibraltar. We found a surprise waiting for us in the room. Mehmet, our Palo server, sent us a tray of goodies! DSC02363 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
Good we changed into warmer clothes, as the wind was insane up there! Around 50 mph we think. But so cool to sail past the Rock of Gibraltar and thru the straits. It looked different from what we each expected, with land continuing longer than we thought it would. There was quite a crowd up there, which made me wonder if anyone was at the show, or at the 2nd dinner seating. (The show was a group called Junkk, who have done other TA crossings and had fairly mixed reviews online)
We stayed on deck nearly an hour and a half. I was a little worried that Mike was pushing himself too much, and that we’d have a repeat of Alaska all over again (if you didn’t see my TR for that - I think I did a TR? - he was on deck too long in Tracy Arm, and ended up passing out as soon as he got back to the room, and then being out of commission for over 36 hours). Eventually we made our way back down to the verandah and watched from there (and were able to sit down, and bring out blankets) as Africa was just off the side of the ship. I’d also gone up to get us hot chocolate from deck 9.
DSC02443 by Colleen McLain, on Flickr
Cool picture of the moon and maybe Saturn (?) I got from our verandah
We thought about going to see Match Your Mate as that is normally one of our favorite things, but we stayed in instead.
Forgot to mention earlier - we saw a couple get engaged during the Captain’s Reception. They were in Beauty & the Beast costumes and getting pictures done (they were with a big group of family members) when all of a sudden, Beast went down on one knee and proposed. She was clearly surprised. So sweet!!!
Quite a nice day at sea and especially your dinner which looked so good! Those truffle pasta pursettes bring back some fond memories for me as I know how much I enjoyed them on my Magic West Caribbean cruise in 2015. What an amazing surprise you got back in your room with those delectable sweets awaiting for you!
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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!
What a fun day at sea! You both look beautiful for formal night.
You'll see eventually from my trip report (when I get there) that we were yet again on a table that was nowhere near Sorceror Mickey... always seems to happen. Mark has a theory that they put the adult only tables in that area and I wouldn't be surprised.
Well, at least you've seen the rock of Gibraltar - more than I have. It's on my must-do list... one day, we will make it there!
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Quite a nice day at sea and especially your dinner which looked so good! Those truffle pasta pursettes bring back some fond memories for me as I know how much I enjoyed them on my Magic West Caribbean cruise in 2015. What an amazing surprise you got back in your room with those delectable sweets awaiting for you!
We were so surprised by the sweet tray! Of course we were also stuffed from dinner. We took probably 3 days to finish them off.
What a fun day at sea! You both look beautiful for formal night.
You'll see eventually from my trip report (when I get there) that we were yet again on a table that was nowhere near Sorceror Mickey... always seems to happen. Mark has a theory that they put the adult only tables in that area and I wouldn't be surprised.
Well, at least you've seen the rock of Gibraltar - more than I have. It's on my must-do list... one day, we will make it there!
I had really debated on what dress to pack for formal night. We were trying so hard to keep the luggage to a manageable amount - especially since we also had the wheelchair. So I’m not sure I look as dressed up as Mike in his tux, but it is a dress that I really like.
You’re probably right about the adult only tables. We had several other adult only tables around us (and then 2 tables away one with a less than ideally behaved preschooler). We were a little worried with the early dining time that it would have been louder, but they do seem to keep a section without kids. Which is nice when you’re not traveling with kids (or even if we were, with kids who are so much older, and most of the time able to get through a dinner without a full-on tantrum ).
It was so cool to see the Rock. Although I expected it to be much bigger, I think.... which I’m sure it would have seemed had we been in a smaller boat. From deck 10 of an ocean liner, though, it didn’t seem as big. Not small, mind you, but just not as big as I’d imagined.
You accomplished a lot today and your dinner looked delicious.
Sea days always sound like they’ll be so relaxing, but with so many fun activities planned, we find it hard to just sit doing nothing. Trivia ended up being an almost daily activity for us on this cruise.
It was so cool to see the Rock. Although I expected it to be much bigger, I think.... which I’m sure it would have seemed had we been in a smaller boat. From deck 10 of an ocean liner, though, it didn’t seem as big. Not small, mind you, but just not as big as I’d imagined.
Yes, I must admit I thought it was small at first when I saw your photos, then I thought that was probably because a lot of things are small, as you say, from the top deck of a cruise ship. I'm sure it's a lot bigger from land. One day I'll find out!
That was a great at sea day. I agree about never being able to see the characters, etc. in the dining rooms. We, too, are traveling without kids and it does seem that our tables are always kind of off to the side and sort of in the corners.
That was a great at sea day. I agree about never being able to see the characters, etc. in the dining rooms. We, too, are traveling without kids and it does seem that our tables are always kind of off to the side and sort of in the corners.
Your sea day sounds terrific!! :wayotogo: Dinner looks wonderful and I love your photo of the moon!! We sailed past the Rock of Gibralter on our honeymoon on a hydrofoil and I agree- it is something to behold!!
Your sea day sounds terrific!! :wayotogo: Dinner looks wonderful and I love your photo of the moon!! We sailed past the Rock of Gibralter on our honeymoon on a hydrofoil and I agree- it is something to behold!!
That sounds awesome. Where did you stay on your honeymoon?
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Those truffle pasta pursettes bring back some fond memories for me as I know how much I enjoyed them on my Magic West Caribbean cruise in 2015. 
What an amazing surprise you got back in your room with those delectable sweets awaiting for you! 
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You both look beautiful for formal night. 
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I'm sure it's a lot bigger from land. One day I'll find out!
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