Pirates of the Tennessean - Dave and INC's Dream Cruise!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

For once, I will have to disagree.

Well, it was mentioned to us SEVERAL times by our staff during the course of the cruise how important the comment cards were.

[Onkel Hans 25]

We were told outright by both our server and the head server that the comment cards are CRITICAL, and that they go a long way toward them being retained and offered new contracts with DCL.

This is what have been told also, and that those with the best comment cards get the best shifts, move to better positions, etc.

Maybe this works differently on land than at sea, Lou?

[Total Joker ... TJ 203]

One thing I found curious is that the servers are graded based on the quality of the food. I would think that is out of their control, but that is how DCL does it.

The only thing would be if the presentation looked bad. Servers are the last line of defense of a bad plate going out.

[Lou... 3,118]

and that they go a long way toward them being retained and offered new contracts with DCL.

While sharing a coffee in the CM lounge one morning with our wait staff, that is not the sense I got.

While good comments are sought after and may be a factor, whether or not they get retained rests on what their direct supervisor thinks of their overall work performance.

Good comements are the norm and are expected. They have to get good comments just to stay even.

I should be VP of transportation and be making double based on the my record card, but I'm not.

[mgsmom 9]

Wow - several great updates since I was able to last read!!!

So, I made a list... I'm a list maker...

First.. on the ladies...

1. Great Tinkerbell - we have seen some rather odd looking ones at WDW

2. Does Aurora always look like she has on a bad wig - or is it just me? Poor girl.

3. Really good Belle – I think she usually tends to resemble Sandra Bullock

4. Glad you and SW made up - maybe it will stick since she's gotten to meet those sweet girls of yours!

5. Love the family pic with Minnie!

6. Your pictures are so good – I'm so glad you bought them ALL - I'm going to budget plenty for pics in case ours turn out well too!

7. Pic of INC and wine bottle - hilarious

8. Anna in the Pack n Play - that sweet girl has NO intentions of going to sleep!

9. Technical question: When do you bump tips?

Lastly, I am worried that I have broken the PJ rule by running to Pizza Hut in my PJs at 10pm to pick up pizza. But the special was on take out only...

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Wow - several great updates since I was able to last read!!!

So, I made a list... I'm a list maker...

First.. on the ladies...

1. Great Tinkerbell - we have seen some rather odd looking ones at WDW

2. Does Aurora always look like she has on a bad wig - or is it just me? Poor girl.

3. Really good Belle – I think she usually tends to resemble Sandra Bullock

4. Glad you and SW made up - maybe it will stick since she's gotten to meet those sweet girls of yours!

5. Love the family pic with Minnie!

6. Your pictures are so good – I'm so glad you bought them ALL - I'm going to budget plenty for pics in case ours turn out well too!

7. Pic of INC and wine bottle - hilarious

8. Anna in the Pack n Play - that sweet girl has NO intentions of going to sleep!

9. Technical question: When do you bump tips?

Lastly, I am worried that I have broken the PJ rule by running to Pizza Hut in my PJs at 10pm to pick up pizza. But the special was on take out only...

Thanks for all the comments!

Regarding your question on tips....if you do nothing, DCL will charge your credit card on the last night of the cruise for the suggested tip amounts. If you want to change the amount that you charge to your card, you can visit the Guest Services desk any time before that last night. Guest Services is on Deck 3 near the mid-ship elevators, just off the atrium. Alternatively....your cabin steward will be leaving tip envelopes in your room on the last full day, along with cards which show the standard amount for each person (the steward, the head server, and your server and assistant server). I put the card with the standard amounts in the envelopes and then added what additional tip I wanted to give in cash, and handed the envelopes to them on the last night to thank them for everything.

[Southern Blessings 4]

I was a little behind on reading your TR. I love all the pics you've taken, really makes a DCL cruise look awesome! I look forward to reading more!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

I was a little behind on reading your TR. I love all the pics you've taken, really makes a DCL cruise look awesome! I look forward to reading more!

Thanks Nancy! I'll try to post more tomorrow. In the meantime...I might post some more of the professional pics.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Before I move on to Castaway Cay day...here are some of the Shutters photos from our dress up night at Animator's Palate.

Anna refused to let go of the french fry to take the pic.

I think I've already posted this one before...

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Awesome pics!

[YENSIDCAMPER 66]

Great report Dave, I can't wait to see how the rest of the trip turned out.

[kampfirekim 260]

Since I fell 3 updates behind there's too much for me to comment on. Except.....

The post "one glass of wine at dinner" photos were a hoot!

YOu even worked in a Z snap!!! ;D

[Lou... 3,118]

The post "one glass of wine at dinner" photos were a hoot!

YOu even worked in a Z snap!!!

Now see, that's what I get for not reading TRs, I miss stuff that I can pick on Dave for.

[kampfirekim 260]

Now see, that's what I get for not reading TRs, I miss stuff that I can pick on Dave for.

And it was good ammo too. What a pity. ;D

[mommy rainbo.....Bo 41]

Besutiful pictures.

[Total Joker ... TJ 203]

Anybody need more convincing to take a cruise?

[TnBob 311]

Ok, cought up again 4Z's and a couple of snaps, great so far and I'm not even getting sea sick!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

I am thinking I need to pick up the pace of this report.....it was only a 4 night cruise, and in 8 days of writing I've only covered 2 days! But they were a GREAT 2 days, topped off by our awesome Animator's Palate dinner and Villains Tonight show. But one thing about a Disney Cruise is that, no matter how good a day you have, there's a good chance the next day will be even better (unless it's Debarkation Day). So without further adieu...let's move on to Day 3: Castaway Cay!!

The previous evening when we ordered our cookies and Mickey bars, I had also ordered a carafe of coffee. Why? Well, that way you have coffee waiting for you as soon as you wake up! And it stayed piping hot too! A delicious way to start the day without having to wait for room service or having to walk up to deck 11.

Anna and I were the first ones awake, so I poured a cup of coffee and we sat by the window to watch the water. But it wasn't only water we were watching...we were pulling into Castaway Cay!

The maneuvering of the ship was churning up the water.

Our first views of the lagoon.

Here is the fake palm tree pointed out in TCD's and Leslie's reports.

I guess I appreciate that Disney attempted to make it blend in, but it is kind of ridiculous looking.

Isabel got up and joined us.

We watched until the ship was pretty much stopped, and by then everyone else was up so we got dressed and headed to Cabanas for breakfast.

I had never in my life tried Eggs Benedict, so one of those made it onto my first plate, along with some of that awesome corned beef hash.

I loved the eggs benedict! And along with the hash this was an awesome breakfast. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I then wanted some sweet things. Mickey waffles and a raspberry donut.

And a plate of fruit.

After breakfast we headed back to the rooms to change for the island, and we then headed down to Deck 1 to leave the ship.

When you are standing on the island next to the ship you can comprehend just how massive the Dream is. If you look closely, just to the left of the two ropes mooring the ship, you can see a gangway and the door into the ship. That gives you an idea of how big this thing is.

I'm not sure a picture can do it justice. It is just plain huge.

Some workers were sanding a section of the aft. They look like ants, don't they?

Not sure what they were doing...but by the time we returned to the ship that afternoon there was no sign they had done anything.

Capn Jack Sparrow greeted us as we left the ship.

The professional photographer got a couple of funny shots of this. Jack Sparrow was taking the sunglasses off of Gwen's head here.

Pretty funny! He was into the role.

After that encounter, we walked toward the family beach. It is about a 10 minute walk to get to the closest section of beach, which is where we stayed for much of the morning to swim and snorkle.

Here is another shot of the ship while walking away.

The walkway.

Looking back toward the ship. For the life of me, I don't understand how those things can float and not tip over.

I like this picture, especially for the color of the water.

When we arrived at the family beach, we found some lounge chairs under a shady palm tree and set up shop there. I rented a couple of tubes and a set of snorkle equipment. The tubes of $6/each for the day, and snorkling equipment is $25/day for the snorkle, goggles and flippers.

And then we hit the water...in the next installment.

[Lil Lisa 53]

I am thinking I need to pick up the pace of this report.....

Nope! This pace is great! Stretch it out through the weekend. It will give me something to read on my way down to the Fort.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

After setting up our spot on the beach, we hit the water.

The lagoon at Castaway Cay is gorgeous! The water is so clear you can pretty much see everything. And that includes a TON of fish! So many fish, in fact, that INC discovered she doesn't like swimming with them. :what2: Seriously, the fish were everywhere. Which was pretty cool. But not to INC.

Now Gwen, on the other hand, was in her glory. She has aquariums at home and absolutely loves fish. So she couldn't wait to get her hands on the snorkling equipment and the underwater camera and go off. Which she did. And she took pictures.

Lots, and lots, of pictures. And video. Lots and lots of pictures and video. :rofl2:

I won't bore you with all of the underwater pictures.

There are over 100 of them. So I've selected some of the more interesting ones to bore entertain you with.

First, here are the snorkling people shots.

Stella tried it briefly.

Emma also went out for quite a while and loved it. But she didn't take the camera.

Gwen had the camera...which usually means several hundred pictures of Stella.

Oh, and I guess one of me.

Looks like Gwen has the gear on and is off to explore.

Is that enough underwater pics?

I'd say so.

As you can see, there are a lot of neat things to see underwater in the lagoon at Castaway Cay. Including some really cool, natural coral formations that look exactly like Mickey and Minnie. Amazing stuff.

I went out after Gwen and saw some neat things, but she certainly saw more than I did. I did not take the camera, figuring she had already captures pictures of everything. But there is one thing I saw that Gwen did not.

I got up close with a sting ray. It was directly below me for several minutes, and I followed it as it slowly moved along. That was pretty cool. And I wish I had the camera for it. But you'll have to take my word on that one.

So, since I made you sit through all of those underwater photos, the least I can do before ending this post is to give you pics of something awesome and interesting. So, here you go.

INC and I enjoyed some adult beverages in the shade. And yes, that is Anna standing on the lounger in the background.

And here is Anna and big sister Emma hitting the hammock.

And that pretty much brought us up to lunch time.

Which is coming up in the next update. Plus, we explore Nature's Neti Pot.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Nope! This pace is great! Stretch it out through the weekend. It will give me something to read on my way down to the Fort.

Sorry! I have to finish it up before Friday because we leave for the Defeated Creek GG then....and then I'll have a whole nuther set of photos to post!

[kampfirekim 260]

Another great update! Love the underwater shots!

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

INC is a much better mom than me. I don't think I would have allowed my girls to have a picture with Jack Sparrow.

It is not that I have anything against Jack Sparrow, but if they are posing for pictures with him then it would be taking up my time with him.

[Momoffive aka Loretta 34]

More underwater pictures are OK!! You are right those pictures make the ship look huge! Kind of intimidating. LOL. Hanging in for lots more. Great job Dave!!

Edit to add

I totally agree with INC....I hate swimming with fish! I'll take a cemond pond any day over a swim in the fish infested waters. I've done it and was scared to death the whole time!

[lklasing 16]

Awesome update! Love the underwater pics. So very jealous of you finding Minnie!

We were totally blown away by CC. I don't know why we were surprised, with the level of quality that Disney puts into most everything it touches, but we still were. It was such a beautiful island, so easy to be there, so perfect...

Looking forward to the next update!

Leslie

PS - Yvonne - :rofl2: