Loved the TR! Sad it's over though
Awwww, thanks Joanna! Honestly, when I walked off the ship in Port Canaveral I had zero sadness. None. Every trip has to end for the next one to begin, right? I was ready to see my 'babies', tho. Or, maybe I wasn't sad because I knew I'd be on the seas again soon. (next month but not DCL...sshhh...don't tell Mickey!)
So glad you had a great anniversary. We watched the sail away from Epcot before my phone died. I can't wait to get back on board. It's exactly how you said. It creeps up on you and then you realize how much in love you are with cruising with Mickey. After over a month being off the ship, I got DCL mail this weekend. All of the navigators and then my silver card. I was dancing in my living room. I couldn't believe the mailed the navigators to me. I casually asked for them on our last day and they didn't have one day. No biggy. Then surprise. Wow. Talk about customer service.
How cool that you watched us sail away! Thank you for joining us in spirit! Yep, the shorter cruises go so fast. It's hard to totally process everything on the first cruise when you're in the whirlwind. For me, it was afterwards that it really sunk in. I'm so glad you loved it. I was so worried we'd talked all these ladies into going and they'd not like it because it's so different from the parks vacations. I think I love it for all the differences!
Yep, it's the DCL details that get ya!
Kelly, a great trip report, as always. Its always sad to read the end of someones report. Loved, loved, loved the CC pictures. Happy Belated Anniversary! I've been married for 28years, i still have the cake topper but never saved a napkin. We had gotten married by the JP and the people that stood up for us, gave us a very small party at their home. We did have our marriage bless a year later. I would do that all over again, than have a big wedding. That was a cool idea that you brought it along with you, so sweet! Looking forward to your next trip report!
Thanks for the anniversary wishes! 28 years! Wow! You're where we're headed...just up the road a little ways... LOL! Small weddings can be just as special as big ones, I think. It's all in what you take from it. Our families really came together to make our day special. That's the part that I look back on and adore.
Next TR won't be a Disney one! Shocking! I'm trying to figure out where to post it. I guess now would be a good time to start a blog or something.... LOL!
Happy Belated anniversary to you and Tracey! No better place to celebrate 20 years than on a ship you love right?
When you were talking about setting the wedding day memorabilia on the table, I got a little teary eyed. I think it is so great that you two are still going strong after 20 years
The excursion you did on CC looks like a lot of fun. It was one I had been checking out but seeing how you guys liked it sealed the deal for me! And I think we found our excursion for Cozumel, too! I love manatees and swimming with them would rank right up there with swimming with dolphins. How long was the whole swimming part? I told Mom and Ashley about it and Ashley checked out the webpage and saw they also have a Sea Lion ecounter. She loves Sea Lions so she wants to do that one so I'm wondering if we might have time for both of them?
Thanks, Darolyn! Awwwww...I'll let you in on a secret: when I put our little wedding memorabilia out Tracey was absolutely shocked and he, too, got a little misty. Then I gave him my selection of anniversary cards...including the Up! one I ordered off Etsy. Yep, I made his eyes leak.
((Love Etsy for greeting cards! Cheap and most people haven't seen those cards before.))
The swimming part with the manatees was 30 minutes. What are your port times? We had like 8-5. We were some of the first off the ship and made it more than an hour early for our 10:30 manatee interaction. 10:30 was the earliest on their website. I think you'd have plenty of time to do both if you schedule them close together. Like if you could get the Sea Lions at like noon you'd be fabulous for time. I wouldn't schedule anything after about 1:30-ish just so you don't end up rushed or stressed returning to the ship. That also gives you some time to shop on the way back, too.
Few tips for you: When you book, don't tell them you are coming in on the Disney ship. Disney does some excursions there. It *can* be a situation where they won't book you because it undercuts Disney's contract with them. They could get in trouble. I've heard of this before with other cruise lines. Just look up the name of any hotel in Cozumel and list that. They'll never know. They don't ask. Be prepared to pay for the interaction pics. They won't let you bring a camera with you for the interaction. They make a lot of money on that part. I wouldn't have bought the whole disk but Tracey didn't feel like sorting thru all the pics to choose a few. Before I could say anything he blurted out "Print the CD." Ugh. It was like $130 or $150 or something like that. It was a lot. We did use a credit card to pay. Definitely a panic moment when I looked at the receipt and saw the totals in pesos. Yikes! Also, since you aren't on a DCL excursion, be sure to bring towels from the pool deck. Seriously. We forgot and paid like $40 for 2 beach towels from the gift shop.
Also, when you get a taxi going over and coming back be sure to settle on a price before you get in. That's just smart practice for ANY port traversing!
OH! And when you go across to the mall area at the Cozumel port looking to get down to the ground level! The escalator right by the walk-across has been broken (conveniently) and blocked off in the morning both times we were there. This forces you to walk by a lot of shops and stuff looking for steps to the lower level. They don't make them easy to find. Go straight all the way to the back right corner. That's where there's stairs. When you come back later in the day someone will (again conveniently) have gotten smart and unblocked the escalator so you can walk up it like stairs.
If you have any specific questions about anything lemme know. Our first time to Cozumel I was nervous about going it outside the cruise line. We definitely feel alot better about it now that we've done it twice.
LOVED your TR!!!
DH & I leave for our "25th Anniversary" in 30 days aboard the Disney Dream !!!!
I too am bringing along Memorabilia from our wedding day ... although I have pretty much done this for the past 24 years ...lol ... I do try to mix it up. I am afraid to bring anything fragile since we are flying (your cherub is adorable) ... I would be devastated if anything was damaged/lost or broken.
Wishing you & your hubby a Happy Anniversary and many, many more
I'm glad you enjoyed the TR. I took ZERO notes so it was literally off the top of my head. Happy 25th Anniversary!!! Fabulous! Congrats! You're gonna have such an amazing time on the Dream!
I hear ya! I was so afraid bringing our little cherub with me. I had visions of opening the padded pouch I packed it in and finding a bag full of ceramic crumbs. I packed it in a padded pouch then in the middle of all my clothes. Still, I would've just died....especially if my suitcase had been lost! I have a few more invitations and 2/3 of a box of napkins packed away but that cherub is the only one I have of that. EEEK!!!
Thanks again! Hope your anniversary is every bit as magical as ours was. And, to you as well, many many more!
