Trip, Part I

We flew down to FL the day before the cruise ship left – seeing as we are in New England and the weather can be iffy (not this year!). Having learned a lesson from last year (that getting up at 4:00 am and a Disney park do not the happiest people make) we decided we would just relax at the hotel (we stayed at the Polynesian).

As I check us in, C wanders off to start doing the hula in the lobby (it was an activity going on at the time). She loved it, and the women running the activity gave her a little card certifying it as a “magical moment” or something (I stuck it in one of the 3 books I brought on the trip – and only read half of one!)

The Polynesian was incredible – we had a first floor room right near the pool. It was warm enough that we changed and went swimming. Of course, once we’re in the pool, we realize how chilly it is (not very, but our blood is still thin from the mild winter we’d been enjoying!). So we change back and wander around a bit until it’s time for dinner. We ate at ‘Ohana, which is the restaurant at the Polynesian. It was good – family style – the servers brought everything to the table. There was some sort of activity (coconut race?) that D and C participated in, and a Hawaiian singer (no Don Ho, but then who is? D and I were actually on stage with Don Ho on our honeymoon).

The next morning we were up and ready to go, except the bus to the ship wasn’t coming until noon-ish. So we had breakfast, rode the monorail and tried to kill some time. Once the bus came we were on our way! We arrived at the ship’s terminal about an hour later, and I got in line to check us in (anyone noticing the pattern?). There was so much we wanted to do! Lunch, swim, check out our stateroom…..And there were a lot of people there already!

We have the emergency drill (put on the life jackets and go to our assigned station) and then get ready for the sail away party. I love when the ship sails away – the horn sounds, and on the Disney ships the horn plays the first few notes of “When you wish upon a star”….and we’re off! Crossing the gulfstream out of Florida you definitely notice the motion of the waves but it’s nothing that makes us seasick. C didn’t even comment on it this year.

Our dinner was at 5:30 (one of the earliest seatings). We’re seated with a family from Cape Cod with a son who is approximately C’s age. So we make small talk and just enjoy our first dinner on the ship. Later C wants to go to her “club”. I didn’t think we could just leave her there the first night, but she wanted to stay, and the counselors said it was ok, so D and I went and had a martini.

Waking up it was a beautiful sunny day! We weren’t scheduled to arrive in Key West until noon (and then the ship needed to be “cleared” before we could get off) so we went to the pool after having some breakfast. D and C spent the morning playing in the hot tub, Mickey pool and Goofy pool, while I tried to read my book. We grabbed some lunch, and asked C if she wanted to get off the ship and explore with us. She had no interest in doing that, so we changed and brought her to her “club”. D and I left to spend a few hours checking out Key West.

I liked Key West. Definitely not for kids, but fun for adults. We had gotten gift certificates to Margaritaville for Christmas, so our first stop was there. For not so big an island, we had a time finding it! D stopped and asked for directions, and we weren’t that far away, so off we went. We got t-shirts for ourselves and a couple other people, and then decided it was 5 o’clock somewhere.

I didn’t want to have a drink at Margaritaville, so we ended up at Sloppy Joe’s. That was an awesome place. I love stopping someplace where it’s cool and dark inside and all open to the outside. We had a couple adult beverages and decided we needed to get back before we became permanent fixtures there. But no one was getting scurvy that week, I can tell you that.

Next up, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Castaway Cay.