5 Adults, 2 Staterooms, 1 Amazing Western Caribbean (C) Cruise on the Disney Fantasy!

[LittleMissMagic]

Absolutely loving your incredible trip report! You are so kind to take the time to post it.

We will be on our third Disney Cruise this summer, the second on the Fantasy, and your experiences are so helpful for our planning.

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks for reading along! I hope that you have a great time on your cruise.

[QUOTE="Got Disney";51614109]GREAT TRIP REPORT!

going on this same cruise in 3 weeks and love your photos
look forward to reading the rest [/QUOTE]

Thank you! We loved the Fantasy and the Western itinerary - I hope that you have a fantastic cruise!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Dinner - Pirate Night in Royal Court


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

The napkins were folded like pirate ships!


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

And we had a special pirate menu.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night Menu by vshingl, on Flickr

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Black Beard's Jumbo Crab Cake by vshingl, on Flickr

I had Black Beard's Jumbo Crab Cake as an appetizer. I'm not sure if I would use the word "jumbo" to describe it.


The Buckaneer's Sun-Ripened Pineapple by vshingl, on Flickr

Mom ordered the Buckaneer's Sun-Ripened Pineapple. They really went all out with these names.


Pirates Golden "Pot Stickers" by vshingl, on Flickr

Max and Rachel had the Pirates Golden "Pot Stickers"... that's dumplings in non-pirate lingo.


Jerk Chicken Salad by vshingl, on Flickr

I had the Jerk Chicken Salad. I found the chicken to be a bit dry for my taste.


Dijon Crusted Sirloin of Beef by vshingl, on Flickr

For an entree, I asked Tana if he would recommend the beef sirloin (excuse me... The Dutchman's Dijon Crusted Sirloin of Beef) or the mahi mahi. He suggested that I get both.


Captain Hook's Mahi Mahi by vshingl, on Flickr

He brought Captain Hook's Macademia Nut Dusted Mahi Mahi on a smaller dish.

 

[Empress Room]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";51614145]I like Palos but it is not to die for...we live in SD CA. and have eaten at places in the city that are TO DIE FOR...one thing we can't do is argue taste...Im with you LMM and not with the comments that Express Room made to you ...and I am a Foodie [/QUOTE]

I would be extremely interested in the "to die for" restaurants you've tried in San Diego, as there are no shortage of them. Although it's been a while, have you eaten at Bertrand at Mister A's? One of my favorites. How about Donovan's of La Jolla? I put them on our "to die for" list - Palo compares extremely favorably with both over the years - and you will certainly nary find a medium-well steak at either without a grimace from the chefs. But that is the beauty of food, it's extremely subjective and tastes tend to change with experience. Or as my Chef Partner friend at Fleming's likes to say when a patron orders a steak anything above medium, "Hey, it's your $45. But I thought that's why we had Logan's and Sizzlers!"

Empress Room

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

ARGHHH


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

Remember how my mother had asked Tana about Key Lime Pie? Well, tonight he brought us all Key Lime Pie!!! I was really impressed. I've never had a waiter go out of his way to get us our favorite dessert before.


Key Lime Pie by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

This photo reminds me of the time Mom and Dad scarfed down an ice cream sundae...


Rum Soaked Chocolate Cake by vshingl, on Flickr

Rum Soaked Chocolate Cake.... not as good as our Key Lime Pie.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

Yo ho! Yo ho! A pirate's life for us!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Magical Porthole Stateroom - Pullman Bunk


Pullman Bunk by vshingl, on Flickr

We had been asking Mom and Dad all week to have their cabin steward pull down the bunk bed so that we could see it. I had heard that there were stars over the bed.


Pullman Bunk by vshingl, on Flickr


Pullman Bunk by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

They got such a cute towel animal!

And I forgot to show you earlier -


Door Decorations by vshingl, on Flickr

I had decorated Mom and Dad's door for Mothers' Day.

 

[Empress Room]

Black Beard's Jumbo Crab Cake by vshingl, on Flickr

I had Black Beard's Jumbo Crab Cake as an appetizer. I'm not sure if I would use the word "jumbo" to describe it.

QUOTE]

Although the word "jumbo" is supposed to refer to the grade of the crab (meat taken from larger crabs) and not portion size, I know what you mean. DCL has seemed to scale back all of its portion sizes over the last several years, even in (my beloved!) Palo.

Only a few years ago, when you went to Palo brunch and ordered the hot entree to go with all of the other offerings, it was a full meal. Maybe not a dinner size portion, but certainly a hefty lunch portion. Nowadays, it is more like a "tasting." Great quality. Smaller quantity.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Pirates IN the Caribbean Buccaneer Blast Fireworks


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

We were goofing off in Mom and Dad's room when we should have been reserving a spot on the deck for the fireworks. We were a bit too late to get a good spot on deck 12 overlooking the action, so we found a place in the standing zone on deck 11.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

This show stars Jack Sparrow.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

It was absolutely the worst Jack Sparrow acting I have ever seen. I think Jack Sparrow would have rather walked the plank than participated in that show. His voice and overall demeaner weren't that bad, but his deliver was terrible. His excitement was equivalent to that of a telephone operator. On top of that, the plot and dialogue were really bad and hard to follow. I would have to say that this was absolutely the worst show we had seen all week.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

I had brought my tripod with me, but I didn't bother to set it up because I wasn't sure exactly where the fireworks were going to be, and I was in the center of the crowd, so my line of sight was limited. I slowed down the shutter a bit to capture the light as I hand-held my camera.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Immediately following the fireworks was a deck party.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

Rachel's dance moves earned her a spot on the Funnel Vision several times. The camera loved her... and so did this lady...


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

She actually tried to set Rachel up with her son back home. She even brought her phone over so that she could show Rachel Facebook photos of her son.

Dad's response?


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

 

[LittleMissMagic]

After Rachel had enough of the spotlight, we left the deck party to change into our swimsuits so that we could ride the Aqua Duck which was open until midnight that night (on all other nights, it was scheduled to close at 10 PM).

We had to walk through Cabanas to get to our room, which is when we discovered the buffet! A midnight buffet? I haven't run into one of these in years! We weren't at all hungry, but Max got nachos and Rachel got a turkey leg.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

"These cost like... $16 at the parks! Heck yeah, I'm getting a turkey leg!"

By the time we changed into our swimsuits and had arrived back on the pool deck, the party had abandoned.... because it was raining! They were still running the Aqua Duck, though, and there was no wait, so we took advantage of the opportunity. It was really fun at night, and the water actually felt really warm compared to the cold rain.


Turn Down by vshingl, on Flickr


Towel Animal by vshingl, on Flickr

 

[Alohagirl73]

Awesome update. What a fun trip. Can't wait for our turn this month.

 

[KelleyK75]

Just caught up. The pirate meal looks great! I love the decorations for your Mom for Mothers Day. It looks like everyone is having a lot of fun!

 

[TLovesDisney]

Awesome Trip Report so far. Makes even more excited for our Oct cruise on the Fantasy.

 

[JKSWonder]

That is TOO funny that woman trying to set your sister up with her son! OMG! I bet that poor guys life is miserable, with his mother constantly trying to get him to go out with daughters of friends, daughters of co-workers, and everyone else she runs into that might fit the bill!

 

[Mommyof3inVA]

I am loving your report and photo's! Looks like you had a blast!

 

[Chrispygal]

Dad's response?


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

Haha, this is fantastic!! Loving your report.

 

[Cruella 66]

As I said before, you write an awesome trip report! Are you sure your an architect and not a journalism major? We sail on the Fantasy on June 28 and this really has me getting so excited! I enjoyed your Mothers Day decorations. Any possible way I can get the Mickey martini glass???

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Awesome update. What a fun trip. Can't wait for our turn this month.

Thanks! The cruise will come sooner than you know it... and unfortunately goes by way too fast!

Just caught up. The pirate meal looks great! I love the decorations for your Mom for Mothers Day. It looks like everyone is having a lot of fun!

Thank you! Pirate night was a great time.

Awesome Trip Report so far. Makes even more excited for our Oct cruise on the Fantasy.

Thanks! I hope that you have a wonderful time on the Fantasy!

That is TOO funny that woman trying to set your sister up with her son! OMG! I bet that poor guys life is miserable, with his mother constantly trying to get him to go out with daughters of friends, daughters of co-workers, and everyone else she runs into that might fit the bill!

It was funny because she was actually also from South Carolina, and her son lives in Charleston... we learned this after she tried to set them up.

I am loving your report and photo's! Looks like you had a blast!

Thank you! It was a great cruise.

Haha, this is fantastic!! Loving your report.

My dad makes the best faces. I'm terrible at imitating people, but I've actually become decent at mocking a few of his expressions. I have yet to master this one.

As I said before, you write an awesome trip report! Are you sure your an architect and not a journalism major? We sail on the Fantasy on June 28 and this really has me getting so excited! I enjoyed your Mothers Day decorations. Any possible way I can get the Mickey martini glass???

Thank you! I've gotten a few suggestions in previous trip reports that if architecture doesn't work out, I should try for my own travel show! Samantha Brown is my dream job...

I'll shoot you a PM about the Mickey martini glass!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

May 15, 2014 - At Sea

Just like I start to get a little sad on the last few days of vacation, knowing that it's soon over, I start to get a little sad when writing the last few days of a trip report! Thank you to everyone who has been reading along!

Our blackout curtains allowed us to sleep in late that morning! Rachel and I woke up and were talking, and Max announces from the other side of the room, "No one is trying to sleep over here." "Max, it's 10 o'clock." "10 o'clock!? No way!"

Breakfast - Enchanted Garden

We caught up with my parents to go to Enchanted Garden for a late breakfast. When we arrived, we requested to be seated in one of the circular booths. The hostess told us that the table only seats four, but then another host walked up and said that we could fit five in the booth. So we did. But I should note that while the booth can seat five adults just fine, the table is really only intended to be set for four... there isn't much room for an additional place setting.


Breakfast in Enchanted Garden is buffet-style. A server brings your drinks and takes your omelette order, but there is a buffet for all other food.


Mickey Mouse Waffle by vshingl, on Flickr

It's not a Disney vacation without Mickey Mouse waffles.


Enchanted Garden by vshingl, on Flickr


Enchanted Garden by vshingl, on Flickr