2009 Ship's Log

Our Disney cruise to the Virgin Islands was excellent! We got back on Saturday and we're still adjusting to being back on dry land. But don't worry--we took lots of pictures as promised, and I kept a ship's log like last year so I wouldn't forget any of the exciting activities and adventures we had! This year's log was in time-saving bullet-point form, so I'll elaborate here upon our daily events.

EDIT: I've added links to a few photos into this post. If you want to see all of the photos, not just the highlights, you can find them here at my Flickr site.

The Magic itself was amazing, the appropriate definition of "ship shape." Improvements were being made every day of the voyage to keep her at her best. Our stateroom was incredible, every bit as spacious and comfortable as I had imagined an onboard cabin could be. The service was second-to-none, especially our serving staff and stateroom attendant and the ever-cheerful cruise staff. The food was delicious; we were fed three times a day and then some, one of those daily meals being a four-course dinner! There were lots of opportunities just for grown-ups, a night-life area, designated pool and hot tubs, and lots of adult activities. We kept ourselves busy enjoying the sights, tastes, sounds, and even smells of the Magic and its exotic ports of call.

Saturday, October 10 - Day 1 - Port Canaveral

Aunt Robin, Uncle Jerry, and Cousin Melissa gave us a lift to the port (thanks, y'all!) where we checked in, saw Mickey and Pluto, and explored the terminal until it was time to board. Our first view on the ship was the beautiful lobby atrium, complete with a colorful pop art chandelier, glass elevators, and grand staircases. After we were announced ("Please welcome aboard, Mr. and Mrs. Brown!") we ran straight up to the Vista Spa and Salon book a massage first thing. On a tour of the spa, Eric won an additional free treatment! Then we went to take a dip in the adults only pool, Quiet Cove. What a nice amenity! Afterward, I went to the salon for a hair consultation; the stylist recommended I trim a few inches off the bottom and incorporate a few long layers (which I did...after we got home...for $6.99 at Great Clips!).

Next was our couple's massage, which (differently from the usual, and fortunately for us) took place in one of the luxurious private spa villas since it was empty; I guess everyone else was still exploring the ship! Later we relaxed on deck, had a delicious dinner at Lumiére's restaurant, and got to bed early to prepare for the next day at sea.

Sunday, October 11 - Day 2 - At Sea

First thing after breakfast, Eric dragged me to a fitness seminar on Secrets to a Flatter Stomach. I was so bored that I left 15 minutes later to attend Disney's Art of Entertaining seminar on Dazzling Desserts. Hey, I was on vacation. Later we visited the Port and Shopping show to get some tips on what shops to visit in St. Thomas and St. Croix. At Quiet Cove that day, the cruise staff held a pool golf game and Eric won a Drink of the Day by sinking a hole in one!

That evening was our formal night, so we got dolled up and went to meet Mickey in his finery and our captain, Tom Forberg, in his spiffy uniform. We were also treated to the Golden Mickeys show, an amazing Broadway-caliber musical presented in the Walt Disney Theater and honoring the musical and storytelling heritage of Disney films. Later we had our formal night dinner at Animator's Palate, a restaurant known for its ability to change colors throughout the meal, but on this evening it remained black and white to match the tuxedos worn by the wait staff and many of the excited guests.

Monday, October 12 - Day 3 - At Sea

On Monday we enjoyed Mickey's Island Jam for breakfast, a character dining experience at Parrot Cay restaurant with Caribbean-style cuisine and the opportunity to meet and greet with all our favorite Disney friends. Later that evening we got to go back to Parrot Cay for dinner, but for most of the day we spent lots of time relaxing and enjoying events onboard. We won our first trivia contest of this year's vacation, Cruisin' for Trivia 2! Then we also watched Who Wants to Be a Mouseketeer, Disney Innovations in Animation, and Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story at the Walt Disney Theatre. We also found Daisy Duck in her island attire, played a round of jackpot bingo, observed the onboard art auction, and lounged in the jacuzzi at Quiet Cove. We fit a nap in there too.

Tuesday, October 13 - Day 4 - Frederiksted, St. Croix

Early Tuesday morning while I was still asleep, Eric enjoyed his spa treatment prize, a seaweed wrap! Then we got ready to spend the day ashore in St. Croix, a small peaceful island rarely visited by cruise ship passengers. We shopped the local vendors' souvenirs and handmade items and strolled on the beach collecting sea glass and enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. That afternoon, we took an exciting ATV tour of the island, enjoying beautiful tropical and historical sights like the remains of Butler's Plantation and an old Dutch sugar mill, Mt. Stewart, and St. Croix's very own rainforest(-ish)!

We elected to walk a mile back from our drop-off point to downtown Frederiksted so we could enjoy the beach a bit more. Back onboard, we won Cruisin' for Trivia 3 and then got ready for the Pirates IN the Caribbean Party! This included a delicious dinner at Lumiére's (complete with limbo!), Disney characters (along with us) dressed in pirate garb, and the famous Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party. The deck party features a fireworks display, the only one on the seven seas! Later that night we brought the house down at Krazy Karaoke singing Summer Nights--even though it was really fall, it felt like summer!

Wednesday, October 14 - Day 5 - Havensight, St. Thomas / Cruz Bay, St. John

Because of their close proximity to one another, we got to enjoy St. Thomas and St. John in one stop. I heard that the best snorkeling in the area was at Trunk Bay at Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, so we quickly took a taxi and ferry and another taxi to VI National Park. It really was beautifully preserved--clear waters, brightly colored plants and sealife, majestic rock formations, and soft sand. One of the highlights of my trip was snorkeling over the coral reef and watching a parrotfish having lunch. It was so peaceful at this locale that I could actually hear him crunching down on the coral with each bite as I observed him underwater. Wild!

We got back to St. Thomas in time to check out its famous shopping opportunities before going back on board. That evening we went on the Trick or Treat trail around the ship and competed in the adult costume contest. We also got to watch Alfred and Seymour, a hip-hop comedy duo, and won Disney Tune Trivia. We also got to dine at Animator's Palate once more, and this time we got to watch the restaurant transform from black and white to color right before our eyes!

Thursday, October 15 - Day 6 - At Sea

Another relaxing day at sea (my birthday!) began with an informative Q&A with members of the entertainment cast and technical team at Walt Disney Theatre. We also won Crusin' for Trivia 5 and had a delicious lunch at Lumiére's. Then we watched Disney Innovations in Theme Parks and saw an ice carving demonstration on deck. Later we took an Art of the Theme ship tour and a walking tour of two of the ship's galleys. (They were sparkly clean!) That night we saw the signature show, Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic. Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Palo, the adult exclusive restaurant, for my birthday! I had a tasty beef tenderloin with rich gorgonzola sauce. It was fabulous. We had a view of the sunset and terrific service.

Later Eric went back to see Alfred and Seymour perform their adult cabaret while I went to the piano bar, Sessions, to enjoy a set of songs from Broadway, television, and movies. Then that night was the moment we had all been waiting for: the Captain's Dessert Gala at Lumiére's, otherwise known as the chocolate buffet! Otherwise known as my birthday party with 2500 of my closest friends.

Friday, October 16 - Day 7 - Castaway Cay

On Friday, we enjoyed a day ashore at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private Bahamian island. Eric is hot and he knows how to make me laugh. while on the island he found a huge hermit crab and carried about 100 yeards to show me. then he put it next to two old ladies to see if they would notice; however the crab flipped when the wave hit it and it was stuck upside down. Have you noticed that Eric has written the last three sentences in my voice? It's Katie, again, and I was getting to that part. Before Eric found his new friend, we did a bit of snorkeling at the family beach. The visibility was not so great, but we were still able to locate the statues of Mickey and Minnie hidden underwater! After popping a few postcards in the mailbox at Castaway Cay's own post office, we took a little tram to Serenity Bay, the adults-only beach at the other side of the island! (I tell you, we pretty much forgot that there were any kids on this voyage.) This is where we explored far out into the open ocean without our feet leaving the bottom, enjoyed a barbecue lunch, and Eric stumbled upon his house-toting buddy. Biggest. Hermit crab. I've ever. Seen. We also watched a hungry pelican divebombing face first into the ocean. He didn't seem to be having much luck, though.

Pretty soon we decided to make our way back to the ship to prepare for our last night onboard. We packed quickly then got back out there to meet Mickey and Minnie in their cruising attire, win a round of The Wheel, enjoy one final dinner at Lumie's, and...experience Pub Night, a special treat for the adult passengers presented by the fabulous cruise staff. To future passengers I highly recommend it (if you aren't easily offended). Then we stuck around dancing into the night before our eyes wouldn't stay open and our feet wouldn't hold us up anymore.

Saturday, October 17 - Day 8 - Port Canaveral

We collected our trivia prizes--four Winner caps, three I'm a Winner medals, and two Champion buttons--and displayed our regalia at one final breakfast with our tablemates, also Disney cast members, from Dallas, LA, and Orlando. Our servers and head server came by and said we all have to come back, bringing bambinos with us next time! After saying our final goodbyes, we left the Disney Magic, hopefully to return someday soon.

We're Going Cruising!

We've decided to continue this year with the tradition we began last year by taking a cruise during my birthday. This time around, we're taking advantage of our connections to the world's most powerful rodent and vacationing with Disney Cruise Line aboard the Disney Magic!

We leave from Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 10, for our 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise to St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, and Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private Bahamian island. So on the day of my birth, Thursday the 15th, we'll be spending a peaceful (or hectic, who knows?) day at sea preparing for the next day's adventure on Castaway Cay. We couldn't be more excited: Eric about the endless dining options and I about the exotic locales and remote, relaxing atmosphere. Here's hoping the many activities live up to our expectations--and that those vicious and strangely-named hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical depressions, and the like remain far, far away!

#1 Billboard Tunes

#1 Song on October 15, 1983 - Katie's Birthday
Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

#1 Song on December 18, 1982 - Eric's Birthday
Maneater by Hall & Oates

What about you? Click here to find out.

Lately

Well, our lives have been pretty busy lately! We've been singing in the Candlelight Processional at Epcot fairly often, which is a tradition that we really enjoy. As a part of the Concert Choir, I participated in a similarly-structured concert each year, and very early on I began to regard it as the herald of the holiday season for me. Thankfully, the Candlelight Processional Service of Traditional Songs and Scriptures (I think that's what it's called...something like that) has stepped into that role!

Also, Eric's birthday was last week. I got pretty excited and was going to bake a cake, but we didn't have any eggs. So I made a cookie cake! (This photo was taken after we had already gotten hungry and torn into it.) He also finally got the GPS he's been longing for!

In other news, President and First Lady Bush have caught up with the times and sent us a note congratulating us on our wedding. Way to get with the program, Bushes! :)


Let's see, what else is new? We're leaving for Waycross today to celebrate Christmas with the Pine-ders so Eric and I had our Christmas last night. Who has an awesome husband and got--not one but--two Coach purses? That would be yours truly! Tomorrow night we'll be caroling around the neighborhood (all six of us in harmony!) and performing at the Christmas eve service at FBC Wayx. If you're in town, swing by and have a listen!

Right now, I'm watching VH1 (instead of wrapping presents and packing), and I started to notice a pattern--I apparently love the '80s more than I thought I did because these are seriously all of my favorite karaoke songs! Namely #1 and #11, but where's "Open Arms" on this list?!

1. Bon Jovi / "Livin' on a Prayer" (1986)
2. Def Leppard / "Pour Some Sugar On Me" (1987)
3. Duran Duran / "Hungry Like the Wolf" (1982)
4. Michael Jackson / "Billie Jean" (1982)
7. Guns N' Roses / Sweet Child O' Mine (1987)
8. Madonna / "Like a Virgin" (1984)
10. AC/DC / "You Shook Me All Night Long" (1980)
11. Journey / "Don't Stop Believing" (1981)
13. U2 / "With Or Without You" (1987)
14. The Bangles / "Walk Like an Egyptian" (1986)
15. Van Halen / "Jump" (1984)
17. Whitesnake / "Here I Go Again" (1982)
20. Rick Springfield / "Jessie's Girl" (1981)
23. Cyndi Lauper / "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (1984)
24. A-Ha / "Take On Me" (1985)
28. Wham! / "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (1984)
30. Pat Benatar / "Love is a Battlefield" (1983)
33. Soft Cell / "Tainted Love" (1981)
34. Poison / "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" (1988)
38. U2 / "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (1984)
39. Modern English / "I Melt With You" (1982)
40. The B-52's / "Love Shack" (1989)
46. The Police / "Every Breath You Take" (1983)
50. Eurythmics / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1983)
52. Dead or Alive / "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (1985)
56. Bonnie Tyler / "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (1983)
57. Toni Basil / "Mickey" (just kidding, I would never sing this song)
59. John Mellencamp / "Jack & Diane" (1982)
62. Berlin / "Take My Breath Away" (1986)
70. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts / "I Love Rock N' Roll" (1981)
78. Blondie / "Call Me" (1980)
83. Prince / "Kiss" (1986)
89. The Pretenders / "Brass in Pocket" (1980)
91. Katrina and The Waves / "Walking On Sunshine" (1983)

My birthday is in 6 days!

This is the entertainment I want for my birthday party...just before I go on my first cruise. Does this offend anyone else?

The Cruise Fund has been DEPLETED

At first glance, my adorable denim sequined bag looks very unassuming. However, upon further exploration, after peeking inside you'll realize it is quite assuming indeed. It's full of cash and coins!

Some time ago, Eric began saving coins that he picked up off of the ground. When we started dating, I joined the quest not only by picking up coins but adding my tips from Kimonos to the stash. Eric uses cash to pay sometimes, so he adds to the fund with change from time to time, but for the most part, all of the coinage is from the ground. We started referring to this as our Cruise Fund, and since we're leaving for our Royal Caribbean cruise one week from today (!!) I decided to deposit the contents of the Cruise Fund into our bank account to pay back the credit card payment we used to cover the $525.30 cruise charges including taxes, fees, and gratuities.

I carefully counted and rolled all of our savings and here's what we put in today:

• $256 in cash (thank you, Kimonos patrons!)
• $160 in quarters (640 quarters, 16 rolls)
• $60 in dimes (600 dimes, 12 rolls)
• $20 in nickels (400 nickels, 10 rolls)
• $17 in pennies (578 pennies, 34 rolls)

I wish I had had my camera at the bank because they had these fun little metallic color-coded trays to put the color-coded rolls in (you know, quarters=orange, dimes=green, nickels=blue, pennies=red, pictured separately here), and it looked so festive and colorful!

The final tally included, coincidentally, nearly equal amounts of cash and coin. Along with the $256 in dollar bills, we collected $257 in coins! Weird! And in the end we put in...

...$513!! If you'll remember, our cruise total was $525.30. So if Eric hadn't stolen $13 in cash this morning to take to work, we would have had exactly the amount to cover the cruise with 70¢ to spare to toss into various fountains as we wander through Nassau. Crazy! And exciting!

We had a one penny remainder, and I got a $10 tip the other night from a generous sushi-eater, so we have $10.01 in our brand new Fund. Who knows? Maybe this next one will be a Car Fund!

In other news:

• I baked some organic Jack Skellington cookies for Eric's "secret goblin" at work (don't tell!)
• I returned my Bahamas for Dummies and Cruise Vacations for Dummies and found out that my library doesn't charge late fees (!!)
• the piano is being delivered tomorrow (!! again)
• last night we saw En Vogue in concert at Epcot for the International Food and Wine Festival. At the end of the month, we're going to Boys II Men's free concert! Anyone wanna join us?!

Happy Birthday to Me

Look what we got!