Miracle Eastern Review in Pics- First Time Cruiser! May 2011

[CruisinFamily_3]

May 13th, 2011

Final Sea Day. . .

 

*Sigh*. It's our last full day. We had a lot that we wanted to do on our last day since we finally had the layout of the ship down and were not so overwhelmed with the amount of activities.

 

We woke up around 9 am, ate breakfast on the lido, then walked around the ship a bit to get some pictures. I did not take as many as I wish I had though. I guess I will have to go again!!

 

Frankenstein's Lab (dance club)

 

 

 

[CruisinFamily_3]

The seas weren't as rough today, but it was quite cloudy and a little chilly (well, too chilly for swimming anyway). Despite this, DH and DS wanted to play mini golf. We had the whole deck to ourselves.

 

 

 

Did I mention that it was also really windy? LOL!

 

 

[CruisinFamily_3]

Can you believe we are playing mini golf in the middle of the ocean??!!

 

 

 

 

 

DS being a typical 8 year old. . .

[CruisinFamily_3]

DH's "I'm the king of the world" shot. . .kinda. . .

 

 

And of course Photobucket is now down for maintenance. . .sooo. . .darn it!!

[CruisinFamily_3]

And. . .we're back!

 

 

Look- early afternoon and you could have your pick of chairs on lido! Ahhh. . .cool weather. . .!

 

And a little more ship exploring. . .

 

 

This is a glass staircase at the top deck (at the steakhouse). You can actually look all the way down on it!! Not for those afraid of heights (trust me!)!

[CruisinFamily_3]

At the very left of this pic you can see the edge of the glass staircase. . .that's how high it is!

 

Layout of the ship (if you can read it!). . .

 

Glass staircase from the bottom looking up. . .eek!

 

Our favorite comedian. . .he was good! And we loved the Mad Hatter's Lounge. Be sure to go early for a good seat!

 

[CruisinFamily_3]

 

Looking WAY down the glass staircase!

 

 

Finally it was time for the chocolate buffet! DH saved a table while DS and I went to the buffet. There wasn't a lot of selection, but anything chocolate is okay by me.

 

REALLY bad pic. . .it's the chocolate fountain. . .

 

[CruisinFamily_3]

So as DS and I got back to the table there was a crowd at the windows of Horatio's. We looked down and there were about 20 dolphins swimming alongside the ship and jumping! I tried to snap some pics, but since we were on the lido and looking through a window they only look like little dots in the pic. It was so amazing though. . .I will never forget that!

 

Because of the dolphin show, DH just missed the chocolate buffet! He was so disappointed.

 

After the chocolate buffet we went out to the deck to watch the ocean.

Who could get tired of this view?

 

 

After this DS went to Camp Carnival where they made the volcano they had built erupt. The even let all the kids put little "houses" in the volcano's path to see if their "house" would get hit! He LOVED it. DH and I had a short afternoon nap and began packing (I HATE packing. . .it's always so sad. . .). It was then time for the Farewell Party.

 

The Farewell Party was held in the Phantom Theater at I believe 5 pm. We arrived about 15 minutes early and there was a line of about 15 people ahead of us waiting for the doors to open. As we were there people began walking past and asking what was going on. Most of those people decided to stay when they heard "free drinks". By the time they opened the doors there was probably about 75-100 people.

 

The bar staff began walking around right away giving out drinks. Everytime a glass was emptied a new one would appear. It was great! There was also a show onstage with the band and a few singers. People were invited to come up on stage and dance, though no one did. I don't remember much else (it was my 30th bday the next morning- I was going to enjoy myself!!), but it was a good time. I'm not a big drinker- after 4 or 5 whiskey sours I was DONE! It lasted 1 hour.

 

[Crusin Karen]

DH was in the slot tourney (I think it was....something in the casino) and I was walking to meet him and everyone on deck 3 were craning their necks out the windows and they said there were dolphins. So I got a spot and they were absolutely AMAZING. You could really see them from that low in the ship. I've been on a lot of cruises and can count on one hand how many times I have seen sea creatures! :p I was so excited and GLUED to the window! :rolleyes::o:) It was just kind of like they were playing races with us!

[jetsfan]

Still loving your review. It is one of the best I have ever read. 47 days until we sail...

[CruisinFamily_3]

Feeling "happy" we ate dinner on the lido, then ventured to Gatsby's Garden to watch the sunset on our last day (and the last sunset of my 20's!!). What a peaceful place!

 

 

 

 

 

After sunset DS was off to Camp Carnival for a "Last Blast" party and DH and I were off to finish packing. DH also did a little karaoke (he is the karaoke king back home! lol). It was okay- there were only about 4 other people singing and the girl running karaoke was new at it. They also didn't have much selection. But, it was still a fun way to end the night although we didn't stay long.

 

[CruisinFamily_3]

DH was in the slot tourney (I think it was....something in the casino) and I was walking to meet him and everyone on deck 3 were craning their necks out the windows and they said there were dolphins. So I got a spot and they were absolutely AMAZING. You could really see them from that low in the ship. I've been on a lot of cruises and can count on one hand how many times I have seen sea creatures! :p I was so excited and GLUED to the window! :rolleyes::o:) It was just kind of like they were playing races with us!

 

Wow- I would have LOVED to have been on deck 3 to see them! They were great from the lido, but not good for pictures. DH said "Put the camera down or you will miss seeing it in real life!". . .lol. It really was amazing. And I can't believe how many of them there were!! :D

 

 

Still loving your review. It is one of the best I have ever read. 47 days until we sail...

 

Thank you. . .I am just glad I still have people following along :o!! Those 47 days will go by quick and you will be boarding before you know it!

[CruisinFamily_3]

As I say goodnight I will leave you with sunrise over NY (and my 30's!!). . .

 

 

Hope to finish up tomorrow! Thanks to everyone who has followed along, and especially those who have left comments! It really makes all this hard work worth it! :D

[jetsfan]

The 40's are great, and so is that view, but I am biased!!!

[CruisinFamily_3]

The 40's are great, and so is that view, but I am biased!!!

 

Don't rush the 40's. . .have to enjoy my 30's first!! :p:D And I have to agree about the view (and I'm not biased!!). . .

[Kiera99]

Fantastic review! The ship almost seems empty. I'm sure, by August, it will be too crowded.

Thank you!!

[CruisinFamily_3]

Fantastic review! The ship almost seems empty. I'm sure, by August, it will be too crowded.

Thank you!!

 

Thanks and thank you for reading! The lido was crowded on the warm days, but we never had a problem finding a lounger. It was nice being by the pool, but I preferred the sun deck. I forgot to mention that we did trivia the last day and that was crowded! We ended up sitting on the floor in Jeeve's Lounge!

 

Hope you have a great cruise! I can't wait until my next one (when I finally decide on one!).

[jetsfan]

sorry, thought you were leaving your 30's, my bad!

[CruisinFamily_3]

sorry, thought you were leaving your 30's, my bad!

 

Haha- no problem! My parents are only 49- that would be a little awkward if they were only 9 when I was born. :eek:

 

hope to finish the review tomorrow (we'll see how Friday at the office goes first. . .).

[Celandine]

I know you're not 'quite' done.... but totally loved the review!!!

 

I am in the process of convincing my mother to book this cruise with me for next summer.... of course we won't talk about it in detail until I'm home from China...

 

thank you for sharing your review, lovely family and plentiful pics!!

[NCteacherlovescruising]

Thanks for sharing all your pictures and the great review! We are going on our first cruise next month, same ports but a different ship. Seeing all your pictures has me even more excited than I already was...if that's even possible! :D

[capndinghy]

Thank you for taking the time to write such a thorough review. Your photos are great. I especially enjoyed seeing the cruise through the eyes of a 'first timer'. I back you are back for you next one soonn.

 

If you are interested I have the links to several of my reviews located on the bottom of my signature.

[CruisinFamily_3]

I know you're not 'quite' done.... but totally loved the review!!!

 

I am in the process of convincing my mother to book this cruise with me for next summer.... of course we won't talk about it in detail until I'm home from China...

 

thank you for sharing your review, lovely family and plentiful pics!!

 

Thank you! I really do hope you and your mother will take this cruise- it was a really great time. The islands were beautiful!

 

Thanks for sharing all your pictures and the great review! We are going on our first cruise next month, same ports but a different ship. Seeing all your pictures has me even more excited than I already was...if that's even possible! :D

 

LOL- I know what you mean about the excitement! I couldn't get enough reviews when I was a month away- it's all I could think about. Prepare to start looking at your next one soon after this one is done. Have a great time (I know you will) and go with an open mind. Just live in the moment. I spent too much time looking ahead into the next hours or days. . .next time I want to just focus on "this moment" and take it all in. It's overwhelming, but relaxing at the same time. And the islands are amazing!

 

Thank you for taking the time to write such a thorough review. Your photos are great. I especially enjoyed seeing the cruise through the eyes of a 'first timer'. I back you are back for you next one soonn.

 

If you are interested I have the links to several of my reviews located on the bottom of my signature.

 

Thank you and I am looking at our cruise for next year! I asked DS8 is he wanted to go back to Disney World next year and he shouted, "Cruise!". I would say it was the vacation of a lifetime, but I hope to have many more.

 

I actually read your Hawaii review before I left for my cruise and really enjoyed it. I will definitly read the other reviews. . .it will help give me an idea of where to go next year (too many choices!).

 

Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.

[CruisinFamily_3]

The End is Here. . .

May 14th, 2011

 

It was my 30th birthday! I was happy to be out of my 20's, but so sad that our cruise was ending. What a crappy birthday- lol!

 

The last day we woke up around 6 am to shower and get our last minute things packed. We had received zone 23 disembarkation tags, but we were doing self embarkation so it didn't matter.

 

Once we were ready we gathered our bags. I had saved all of my chocolates from everyday and gave them to DS on the last day. BTW- this picture also shows what the couch looks like when folded into a bed for a third person. . .

 

It was then time to close our cabin door one last time and roll our suitcases with us to the lido for one last delicious breakfast. DH decided to go all out with his last meal. . .

 

We began to approach NYC. . .our time was almost up.

 

 

[CruisinFamily_3]

It was at this point the DS8 put his head on the table and began sobbing saying, "I don't want it to be over! I had so much fun and I will miss my friends!"

 

To make him feel better I gave him a piece of paper and a pen and told him we would walk the lido deck to see if he saw any of his friends so he could get phone numbers. He found a few people, but not everyone. He still talks about those friends even a month later now and how much he misses them.

 

Still cruising down the Hudson. . .