A Christmas Ship Comes Sailing In (A Cam and Luke TR) Completed 2/18 - Page 18 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Sorry your shore excursion was canceled, but at least you got to do another one. I think getting to hold a turtle would have been a highlight for me. My kids would have thought it pretty cool too.
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Bummer that your tour was cancelled but glad you were able to do another - that one is similar to one that we did with NCL - we went to Hell, the turtle farm (which I LOVED and would spend all day there if I could, I got to hold a little itty bitty baby!! ) and then a rum cake place. It was only a couple hours, so it was nice that we spent some time in town also!
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When we went to the turtle farm, our son (who I think was 9 at the time) loved "catching" the turtles to hold. He'd then pass them to his 5 year old sister as she couldn't reach the pool well, but wanted to hold them. Afterward, we saw all these little holes in his shirt, and realized it was from the turtles' flapping fins, as they had a bit of a sharp spot on them!
The disembarking from the tender sounded harrowing!
Even though it was not the excursion you'd planned, it still turned out to be a nice day. The turtle farm was interesting. I think I would enjoy that.
The pictures of getting from tender to ship remind me of an America's Funniest Videos video montage that was on FB recently. I could not stop laughing. If you want a good laugh go to youtube and search for "AFV Somewhere beyond the Sea "
Had we been on the same tour my child would have been one of those fitting the world Hell into every sentence and greeting. Giggling the whole time. Sorry to read the excursion was canceled and the seas were rough but it sounds like you had a good time none the less.
Thanks for the review on the tour as that is one we're considering. I like that you get an overview and get to see the turtles and still back on the boat for lunch and pool time.
We did quite a bit of exploring in our morning on Grand Cayman, and it really was nice to be back on board so early.
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Originally Posted by CountryTink
All caught up. It sounds like you are having a wonderful time so far. My kids and I took our first ever Disney Cruise on the Dream 12/22-26. It was truly amazing. I am enjoying hearing about a different ship.
What a bummer that your excursion in Cayman had to be cancelled, but sounds like you made the best of it. Would love to visit the turtles!
The turtle farm was more interesting than I had thought it would be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Linnynad
I'm sorry that your planned excursion was cancelled, but nice work Disney on getting you booked for something else so quickly. I've been on the fence with this port, we would love to see the turtle farm as I think it would be fun with all the kids in our group ( 6 of them...ages 8-3) but I read the drive is about 30 minutes. Is that correct you think? We also are tossing around the idea of staying on board this day and enjoying the less crowded pool decks with the kids, not sure what to do just yet.
I adore your red dress BTW, you guys looked really amazing!
I'm not a good judge of time, but Luke thinks it was a little less than a half hour from the turtle farm back to the port. It's quite possible you could do the farm and still get some less crowded time on the ship.
Well, you made it to hell and back-- how funny! The water is so beautiful, but it's not fun to nearly land in it from the tender. I can't even consider the tenders, so it limits what itineraries are good for me. Then again, there's nothing wrong with taking an extra sea day and staying on board. I don't like the sound of your teaser.
I much preferred the ports where the ship could dock without us having to tender to shore. But it was interesting to say the least. To help with explaining the teaser in the next update, I wish I now had a picture. But I don't.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, that is not a transfer I'd want to do from the transfer. I love your turtle photos and especially that one with his nose poking out - too cute!
That turtle had us laughing as he nosed along the side of the pool.
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Originally Posted by Thomhazel
Another fan of your red dress here.
The turtles are gorgeous.
Reading your discussions on Key West and the comments on Nassau have helped me decide. We are doing a 3 night on the Dream and I was hesitating about shore on Nassau as we have such a short time on the ship. Decided now we are having a ship day.
Your food sounded gorgeous.
We stayed on board at Nassau back in 2006 and felt we almost had the ship to ourselves. Loved it.
Great pictures from your tour! Sorry the seas were so rough!
I was very thankful I had the sea sickness patch on.
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Originally Posted by sunshinetaradise
Grand Cayman is one place I've always wanted to go! I love all of your turtle farm pictures!! That looks like something I would love to do if I ever get there!
The turtle farm was much more enjoyable than Hell.
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Originally Posted by stardust190
Sorry your shore excursion was canceled, but at least you got to do another one. I think getting to hold a turtle would have been a highlight for me. My kids would have thought it pretty cool too.
Holding the turtle was very cool in spite of my initial fear that he'd feel slimy.
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Bummer that your tour was cancelled but glad you were able to do another - that one is similar to one that we did with NCL - we went to Hell, the turtle farm (which I LOVED and would spend all day there if I could, I got to hold a little itty bitty baby!! ) and then a rum cake place. It was only a couple hours, so it was nice that we spent some time in town also!
Now I'm wishing we had gotten some rum cake, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
When we went to the turtle farm, our son (who I think was 9 at the time) loved "catching" the turtles to hold. He'd then pass them to his 5 year old sister as she couldn't reach the pool well, but wanted to hold them. Afterward, we saw all these little holes in his shirt, and realized it was from the turtles' flapping fins, as they had a bit of a sharp spot on them!
The disembarking from the tender sounded harrowing!
That is too funny. I was still just a little afraid that I'd drop the turtle on the concrete, which we'd been warned not to do, that I kept him out and away. I'd have hated to get a hole in my giraffe tank top.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DMA
Even though it was not the excursion you'd planned, it still turned out to be a nice day. The turtle farm was interesting. I think I would enjoy that.
The pictures of getting from tender to ship remind me of an America's Funniest Videos video montage that was on FB recently. I could not stop laughing. If you want a good laugh go to youtube and search for "AFV Somewhere beyond the Sea "
That video is hilarious, and is exactly what I was worried would happen if someone didn't keep a hold of me.
Your up close encounter seemed awkward for both you & the turtle! Lol
Luke had asked me to turn around, but I couldn't as I needed to keep the turtle over the water. So I was in an awkward position so some of my face could be seen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by roaminggnome
Had we been on the same tour my child would have been one of those fitting the world Hell into every sentence and greeting. Giggling the whole time. Sorry to read the excursion was canceled and the seas were rough but it sounds like you had a good time none the less.
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) and then a rum cake place. It was only a couple hours, so it was nice that we spent some time in town also! 
I love your turtle photos and especially that one with his nose poking out - too cute! 
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