Bless Your Heart

Thursday November 6th we woke up and went to breakfast at Animator’s Palate. It was bittersweet since we’d soon be leaving the ship. We said our goodbyes and gave lots of hugs. After breakfast it was time to disembark and again, Disney’s got it DOWN. We zipped off that ship, sailed through customs, found our luggage and were out the door in no time! When you disembark you have to fill out a customs form and read numerous warnings about things you can not take off the ship with you: fruit, vegetables, meat (who’s packing sausage?), plants, animals, etc. Apparently there is a $50,000 fine if you break this rule. CSP is by nature very aware of posted rules and what not. So you can imagine how he about fainted when (more…)

Wednesday November 5th was our day at sea. This was our day to explore the ship, take tours, and just chill out. CSP and I walked around the ship, taking photos of everything we’d forgotten to take photos of so far. Like this gorgeous glass sculpture in the main lobby. It hangs from the ceiling. And the cool elevators with hidden Mickeys worked in. We had a wonderful lunch, just the two of us, in Triton’s. After lunch (more…)

After the reception it was free time. Papa, Gigi, CSP & I went to Parrot Cay and had a nice lunch. Then we hung out at the adult pool for a while. It was so nice, not crowded at all.  And if a child wandered too close a Disney crew member would shoo them away.  Once we had enough sun and pool time CSP & I retired to our cabin for a nap.  Then it was time to get ready for dinner.  We were all excited because that night was the Pirates in the Caribbean party!  We got all dressed up in our pirate gear and headed for the dining room.  This is what we found at each of our places. A bandanna and the menu printed on a treasure map! It was so fun! Everyone was all into the pirate spirit. Well, except CSP. He just spent the whole time laughing at us! During dessert there was a big dance line through the dining room. After dinner we stopped back by our cabins to get cocktails. We found towel monkeys waiting for us! Then we headed up on deck for the big Pirate party! There were tons of people dancing and watching the show. All the sudden pirate Mickey swooped in! And then there were fireworks shot right off the ship! As the party wound down they did the coolest thing. They had covered the pool with decking and as everyone cleared out they pulled all the lounge chairs out to the deck. Then they showed the original Pirates of the Caribbean movie on the huge screen! How cool is that? To watch such a great movie under the stars floating on the ocean?!

We gathered in Palo, the swank restaurant on board for the reception. We toasted the happy couple and watched the first dance, the daughter/father dance, and the mother/son dance. Lisa & Pete gave us all favors- a cd of wedding music from all the attending couples’ weddings, and beach towels embroidered with the wedding date & Lisa and Pete’s magical wedding cruise. So cute! It was all so beautiful and relaxed and fun.  I’m just so happy for them I can’t even tell you.  I cried during the wedding, I cried during the reception, I was a mess!  All because they are both just so full of love for each other and their families and friends.  You can feel it.  And they are such good people.  I better stop before I tear up again! There are just too many photos to share in one blog post, so go here to see them all!

Tuesday, November 4th, CSP & awoke to breakfast being delivered to our room via room service. I tell ya, Disney does great room service.  After breakfast we got ready for the wedding then met up with everyone down in the main lobby.  A few pictures were snapped then we headed down to the gangplank/ gangway thing. We walked off the ship onto Castaway Cay.  We boarded trams that drove the wedding party and guests to the wedding location.  It was so beautiful.  You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.  Blue, blue sky, gorgeous sun, nice breeze, not too hot.  (more…)

Monday (Nov 3) we awoke docked in Nassau in the Bahamas.  CSP & I slept late then got up, had breakfast, napped (I KNOW, but I was on pain killers for the knee, people), then met up with Papa & Gigi for lunch.  P&G were much more productive than us.  They had taken a water taxi over to the Straw Market in Nassau. CSP and I toured the ship and I took photos.  We were amused to see that we were parked right next to the Carnival Fascination- the ship CSP & I cruised on in 1999!  Laura & Brandon and baby Alyssa joined us for lunch up on deck.  Gosh that baby is just the cutest, sweetest thing ever!  After lunch CSP and I explored the ship some more while Papa & Gigi went over to explore Atlantis. (more…)

Saturday night (Nov 1st) we stayed at the Hilton at Cocoa Beach.  The Hilton lets you leave your car there while you’re on the cruise.  Then you take a shuttle from the Hilton to the port.  If you park at the port you have to pay $15 a day.  So we saved some money!  While Mom & I were getting dressed Papa & CSP went to Publix to pick up breakfast for us. CSP looooves him some Publix. Publix people, if you’re reading, please open some stores in Charlotte so CSP can work for you.
The Hilton has a spaceman in the lobby so we got in a quick photo op while we waited for the shuttle. Note Papa is still sporting his lei from the Polynesian.  The shuttle picked us up and we all got so excited as we headed for the port!  (more…)

Let’s start with the rehearsal dinner.  First, CSP had to work Friday night.  And we had to be in Orlando for the rehearsal dinner by 7:45 pm Saturday night.  No pressure, right?  We made good time driving though and made it just in time.  We’d have even been right on the nose on time if it weren’t for people at Disney giving us bad directions.  We drove around Walt Disney World property for over 30 minutes trying to find the Polynesian!  But we finally found it, found the restaurant, found our people, and even had time to have drinks before dinner.  Lisa & Pete chose ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Hotel at WDW for the rehearsal dinner and OMG what a great choice!  We sat at a looong table in the middle of the restaurant under the thatched roof , surrounded by carved Tiki gods.  We ate a delicious dinner served family style that included meats grilled in the fire you could see from our table.  Dessert was a to die for bread pudding with bananas foster sauce and Pete’s groom’s cake.  It was a great way to catch up with everyone before we all boarded the ship the next day. Click here for more pics!