French Quarter to the Fantasy...7 Nights in the Eastern Caribbean, April 2019! Completed June 7, 2020!

[NHPixidust]

Enjoying your report so far!
And as much as I love DCL, your opinion on the MDR matches mine to a "T."
We also cruise Princess which has a great buffet dinner in the evenings and I do wish Disney also had this option. Here's hoping they add it on the new ships.

 

[buzzrelly]

I believe I saw that on Facebook? I don't FB much, but think I saw that as I quickly glanced at it a few days ago.

I did post it on Facebook It's kind of fun to think we did that on the first day EVER!

Enjoying your report so far!
And as much as I love DCL, your opinion on the MDR matches mine to a "T."
We also cruise Princess which has a great buffet dinner in the evenings and I do wish Disney also had this option. Here's hoping they add it on the new ships.

Thanks for reading!


I love Cabanas lunch buffet so I think that would be amazing!

 

[buzzrelly]

Hello! I'm sorry this TR has taken a back burner to so many other things happening in my life at the moment! I've also been having a TERRIBLE time with my Mac for about a month. I made the mistake of updating my iOS and it's just been a nightmare. First, I lost everything on the computer and the only back-up I had was from 2016 so it literally put my computer back to 2016. I finally got all that taken care of but now it is sooooooooo slow. Like, I don't even know if I'll be able to upload pics to this post but I'll give it a whirl. I brought it into the Apple Store and the guy wants me to wipe out the whole computer again and install an older iOS. I just don't have the heart to deal with that all again before Christmas so maybe I'll bring it back in in January…ugh


Anyway, I want to finish up the first day of our cruise, at least.
It shouldn't really be hard because mostly my mom and I walked around
taking pictures of the ship at night so this will be a mostly photo update.

After dinner, we all went to the D-Lounge to do one of my favorite things on DCL…Trivia!
This is also where we first met our favorite club host…Chris!
What's my name?? Chris!
He is so much fun and kept us laughing all week.


This kids also joined us since nothing happens in VIBE until later...


After trivia, the kids left and my mom and I wandered the ship a little...

There was literally no-one around the adult pool...




Just a few at the family pool...







Anyone know what movie was starting??


We didn't stay to watch.
We continued wandering and went inside for more pics...


The gorgeous, art deco Minnie


I'll post just one more photo update and then I'll be done with the first day
Thanks for sticking around!

​

 

[buzzrelly]

We wandered over to the adult areas, which oddly, seemed dead this night.
I think a lot of people went to the show and we skipped it, having seen it before.





I love how these seats are saddles since you're on a Merry-Go-Round...


My favorite spot, O'Gill's. I loved when they had the trivia in there throughout the week.


Now, if you've never been on DCL, this next picture will seem weird...

but, they seriously have the most gorgeous bathrooms I've EVER seen

When we got back to our room, John had it all set up for us…complete with chocolates and a towel swan






Looking at these pictures makes me said that I don't have John in my life every day

And thus ends our first day on the Fantasy!
​

 

[pkondz]

I've also been having a TERRIBLE time with my Mac for about a month. I made the mistake of updating my iOS and it's just been a nightmare.

Sorry to hear that.

First, I lost everything on the computer and the only back-up I had was from 2016 so it literally put my computer back to 2016.

Oh, no!

I brought it into the Apple Store and the guy wants me to wipe out the whole computer again and install an older iOS. I just don't have the heart to deal with that all again before Christmas so maybe I'll bring it back in in January…ugh

Ugh, is right. Sorry you're having such bad luck with it.

After dinner, we all went to the D-Lounge to do one of my favorite things on DCL…Trivia!

How did you do?

There was literally no-one around the adult pool...

Time for a dip?

Anyone know what movie was starting??

I'm thinking... Moana?

Wow, that's pretty.

I love that!

I love how these seats are saddles since you're on a Merry-Go-Round...

Oh... wow!!!!

they seriously have the most gorgeous bathrooms I've EVER seen

Well... yes, it's pretty.

complete with chocolates and a towel swan

Nice!

Looking at these pictures makes me said that I don't have John in my life every day

 

[buzzrelly]

Ugh, is right. Sorry you're having such bad luck with it.

It's my own fault. I know better than to try to update but I was trying to do something for my mom…which I cannot even remember now what it was…and I made a quick decision to update. It was really stupid on my part

How did you do?

I don't remember this particular night because I went to a LOT of Trivia, but in general, I do better than average, I guess. But it also depends on what the topic is. I won at TV Tunes Trivia one day, and I do fairly well at Disney Trivia, but some groups had these amazing teams of four to eight and they did really well. I do better when the kids are along but mostly I was with my mom or alone. It's still fun, though

I'm thinking... Moana?

You got it

 

[pkondz]

It's my own fault. I know better than to try to update but I was trying to do something for my mom…which I cannot even remember now what it was…and I made a quick decision to update. It was really stupid on my part

I take it your laptop is older?

I don't remember this particular night because I went to a LOT of Trivia, but in general, I do better than average, I guess. But it also depends on what the topic is. I won at TV Tunes Trivia one day, and I do fairly well at Disney Trivia, but some groups had these amazing teams of four to eight and they did really well. I do better when the kids are along but mostly I was with my mom or alone. It's still fun, though

Do you win anything when you win? Or is it just for fun and bragging rights?

You got it

Woot!

 

[buzzrelly]

I take it your laptop is older?

I bought it in 2012, but was hoping to get another couple years out of it

Do you win anything when you win? Or is it just for fun and bragging rights?

I think I won a keychain, and I think I saw some other people win luggage tags, but mostly it's for fun

 

[pkondz]

I bought it in 2012, but was hoping to get another couple years out of it

Yeah... for the price of those things, they ought to last more than just a few years.

I think I won a keychain, and I think I saw some other people win luggage tags, but mostly it's for fun

Swing that keychain! Proclaim “Its a major award!”

 

[buzzrelly]

Swing that keychain! Proclaim “Its a major award!”

 

[buzzrelly]

April 7, 2019
DO-NOTHING DAY



This was our first full day and we were at sea.
I find these days to be the perfect, "do nothing days"…as you'll see from this next installment…
eat…lay around…eat…do something that I don't remember because there are no pictures…eat…
you get the idea.
These days are nice in small doses.

I was the first one up so I got ready quietly and headed up to the Cove Cafe.
I had heard so much about this place and for some reason had never tried it on any of the other ships.
I was excited to try these great coffees for the first time.
However, I am not a fancy Coffee-person, I usually brew my own coffee at home,
and when I got up there I had no idea what to order.
I kind of looked at the menu and was still perplexed
until a woman came up next to me and I started chatting with her.
She ended up giving me advice about what to order and I took it.
I don't even remember what I ordered, but it was very pretty..


I just didn't like it very much at all.

This ended up being my first and last trip to the Cove Cafe,
as I stuck to the regular coffee up on deck from then on.
I'm glad I tried it though, it just wasn't for me.

I took my coffee and was lucky enough to grab one of my favorite,
round lounge chairs with my book to sit and enjoy it.
The sun had already come up, but it was still so pretty...

Here's what the chairs look like without me in it.
This became one of my favorite places on the Fantasy


A little while later I got a text from Nicholas…a teen that wakes up early…a strange phenomenon, I know. He's been that way since he was a baby.
We texted that we would meet in Cabanas for some breakfast so I headed over there.

On the Wonder last year, I fell in love with the Greek Yogurt bar they had out every morning.
I was really looking forward to that on the Fantasy, but they never put out the yogurt,
which was disappointing. Instead, they had pre-made little yogurt parfaits that didn't interest me,
but because they had those, I knew they had Greek yogurt somewhere. I ended up asking at one of the counters for a scoop of yogurt and they were happy to oblige.
I ended up doing this most every morning of the cruise.
I would then take my bowl of yogurt over to the fixings and make my own concoction...



I didn't get a very good picture of it, but Nicholas' breakfast consisted bacon and pastries...



On the way back to the stateroom, I took a photo of this picture.
There's a hidden surprisein the picture…do you see them?


We went back to the room and met up with my mom and Allie.
The kids headed off somewhere and my mom and I headed up to the adult pool...


All that relaxing must've made us hungry because for lunch we headed back to Cabanas...



I think that little square thing was polenta but it wasn't very good.

I love these little bite sized desserts.
Sometimes I just want a little taste of something but not a whole big dessert...



We went back to the pool for some more relaxing after lunch
and pretty much that was all we did until we had to get ready for dinner!
See what I mean by a , "do-nothing day?!"

Our dinner that night was in my favorite DCL restaurant…Animator's Palate! That's up next!

​

 

[SimplyGoofy]

Do-nothing days can be really nice!

I'm glad you were able to create your own Greek yogurt parfait after all!

 

[pkondz]

I find these days to be the perfect, "do nothing days"…as you'll see from this next installment…

Do nothing days are the best!

eat…lay around…eat…do something that I don't remember because there are no pictures…eat…
you get the idea.

Niiiiice.

However, I am not a fancy Coffee-person, I usually brew my own coffee at home,

I'm not a coffee person at all, so it's all lost on me.

I don't even remember what I ordered, but it was very pretty..

I just didn't like it very much at all.

Thank goodness you chatted with that woman!!!

Looks like a little bit of Heaven.

Here's what the chairs look like without me in it.
This became one of my favorite places on the Fantasy

Wow, that looks comfy and cozy!

a teen that wakes up early…a strange phenomenon, I know.

This is possible???

. I ended up asking at one of the counters for a scoop of yogurt and they were happy to oblige.

Nice!

But then you ruined it by putting coconut on it???? Why?????????

There's a hidden surprisein the picture…do you see them?

Nope. Looked, but... nope.

Yum. One of my favourite things.

Agh! More coconut!

 

[buzzrelly]

I'm not a coffee person at all, so it's all lost on me.

I guess I'm not really either. I started drinking it hen I was working nights and now I need it in the morning or I get a headache. But that's it. I don't love, love, love it.

Thank goodness you chatted with that woman!!!

I know! I guess that didn't help at all

Looks like a little bit of Heaven.

It really is, especially after running around the parks for a few days

But then you ruined it by putting coconut on it???? Why?????????

I forgot about your deep hatred of coconut. You know who else loves coconut??? Ariel! Between that and IASW, whatever will you do!?

Nope. Looked, but... nope.

Ooooohhhh…I stumped the Master!

How about now??

Agh!

I think you spelled, "yum," wrong!

 

[buzzrelly]

Do-nothing days can be really nice!

I'm glad you were able to create your own Greek yogurt parfait after all!

It worked out, I just had to do a little legwork every morning. I even had to bring them an empty bowl
But I was happy to do this to get my yogurt

 

[buzzrelly]

April 7, 2019
GREEN APPLES AND CRUSH


We went back to the room to get ready and Allie decided to order
a little pre-dinner snack from room service...


If you don't know, room service is included on all Disney ships
and you just have to tip the delivery person.
Not a bad deal.
Plus, she had already looked at the menu for our dinner this night
and didn't really want anything on it so this was basically her dinner.

I forced the kids to go down a little early to take a couple pictures, and yet,
I don't know why we didn't get any all together






This was the only one I got of my mom and she's not even looking...



We were worried that our annoying neighbors would be next to us again this evening…
you can see how close we were to the next table.
Lucky for us, they didn't show up and we never did see them again after the first night


I guess I forgot to say where we were eating...






This restaurant is on every ship and I love it. I think the whole animation theme is super adorable.
This night they were also serving one of my favorite things on any DCL ship, Black Truffle Pasta Pursettes.
They are really an appetizer, but I love them so much that that's what I ordered for my dinner...


I don't have pictures of anyone else's dinners except for Nicholas...

Doesn't that look delicious?
He wasn't feeling great so our servers brought him foods to settle his stomach…
green apple, crackers and ginger ale. Very nice touch from our servers

Let's assume Allie ate bread and oil since she still raves
about how much she loved the bread service on this cruise

Again, for those of you unfamiliar with DCL,
Animator's Palate has some special shows happening while you dine.
This night, Crush visited...

We didn't have the closest view, which was just fine with us.
It's really fun for the younger kids, kind of like Turtle Talk With Crush in EPCOT,
but it's a cute little show and we had fun watching.

Our night continues in the next post...



​

 

[pkondz]

I guess I'm not really either. I started drinking it hen I was working nights and now I need it in the morning or I get a headache. But that's it. I don't love, love, love it.

I've had quite a bit of coffee in my day.
I've had... 4 cups, in my life, I believe.
I know I had one in 1982 and another in '92... Pretty sure I had one in '04. And I know I've had another, but forget when.
I need to pace myself, ya know.

It really is, especially after running around the parks for a few days

Sure! I get that.

I forgot about your deep hatred of coconut. You know who else loves coconut??? Ariel! Between that and IASW, whatever will you do!?

This is just not going to end well, is it?

But... you've given me an idea.

Ooooohhhh…I stumped the Master!

How about now??

Oh!
I love that!!!

I think you spelled, "yum," wrong!

Allie decided to order
a little pre-dinner snack from room service...

Looks tasty.

If you don't know, room service is included on all Disney ships
and you just have to tip the delivery person.
Not a bad deal.

Didn't know about the tip. Now I do!

Very pretty ladies.

This was the only one I got of my mom and she's not even looking...

Well, poop!

We were worried that our annoying neighbors would be next to us again this evening…
you can see how close we were to the next table.
Lucky for us, they didn't show up and we never did see them again after the first night

Yay! Elbow room... so no need to elbow the annoying guests!

This restaurant is on every ship and I love it. I think the whole animation theme is super adorable.

I've seen photos (including yours now) and I really like the theming.

 

[buzzrelly]

I've had quite a bit of coffee in my day.
I've had... 4 cups, in my life, I believe.
I know I had one in 1982 and another in '92... Pretty sure I had one in '04. And I know I've had another, but forget when.
I need to pace myself, ya know.

Whoa…slow dow there with your coffee intake!

But... you've given me an idea.

Uh oh! Can't wait to see what you'll come up with next

Oh!
I love that!!!

 

[buzzrelly]

APRIL 7, 2019
STILL SLIGHTLY SALTY



After dinner we went back to our stateroom and caught a bit of the sunset from our veranda...


and then headed off to The Tube for some family game show fun.
This night was The Wheel...


As you might imagine,
this was very much like Wheel of Fortune and was a lot of fun to play.

Afterwards, the kids ditched us and my mom and I went to watch a magic variety act.

Not really my thing, but it was somewhat entertaining.
I will say that I was feeling a little salty about the entertainment on this cruise
because a month or two before we sailed,
they announced that the headlining show on the Fantasy, Aladdin,
was going dark for a bit of a rehaul.
I was extremely annoyed about this because I had really been looking forward to seeing it,
and when they replaced it with this kind of stuff…well, it was slightly disappointing
to say the least.
Of course, while there we just went with the flow and tried to make the best of it.
And there was one show that we REALLY enjoyed…more about that later...

After the show my mom and I went and played more trivia, etc.,
and we even stuck around or the start of a "Silent Disco."
If you haven't heard of this, it's a new thing where instead of a DJ playing really loud music,
everyone gets their own set of headphones and listens to their own music
and dances to whatever they're hearing.
I was curious to see this and we even tried on our own headphones...



It was cute but we only stayed a couple minutes.
It was around 11:30 and we were getting tired anyway so we headed back to the room.
Look who we bumped into on our way...

As per usual, they were going back to the VIBE and I was asleep before they came in.

I stopped up on deck to make some tea to bring back to our stateroom
and took advantage of an empty ship to take more pictures...









And found this guy waiting for us back in our room...




Tomorrow is another at-sea day, but we had PALO brunch booked!
That's up next!​

 

[pkondz]

Whoa…slow dow there with your coffee intake!

I still feel the caffeine buzz from that last one.

Uh oh! Can't wait to see what you'll come up with next

I'll read the update later. Need some sleep.