Onkel Hans 25 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 On our last cruise we took advantage of the on-board booking discount and credit by making another reservation while still cruising. My wife wanted to share the experience of cruising with her parents, so we decided to book two cabins. The five-night New York City to the Canadian Maritimes cruises looked good--not too long, not too short, and didn't require a flight.My wife picked up a DCL lanyard on the ship and a WDW lanyard in the parks. I printed up a little description of the cruise and of a typical WDW vacation, and we presented them with the lanyards and brochures for Christmas with a choice, they could choose whether they wanted their gift to be land or sea. They picked sea and the cruise planning began.The CastMIL and FIL are retired seniors. FIL had a stroke years back and has limited use of one side of his body, so he can walk slowly with a cane. Neither are big Disney fans. They took a couple of Florida Vacations when my wife was a kid, but as owners and operators of a restaurant they did not take a lot of time off.My wife Nicole is currently a student trying to start a second career. Our first trip together was to WDW, I proposed to her there, and we honeymooned there. So she is also a Disney fan, but perhaps not as much as me.Travel and NYCToday was Nicole's birthday, so it began with her opening my present to her. Uncharacteristically, I had obtained it much earlier knowing that with the vacation planning and preparing my usual last-minute gift getting would have worse results than usual. I got a Trollbead bracelet and a starter charm knowing she could get a DCL charm later on the ship.We grabbed some breakfast at Dunky's and brought it up to her parents.I rented a wheelchair last trip with the in-laws, but I was surprised and pleased to find that WalMart has wheelchairs for sale, and had one delivered right to our local store for about the same price as renting. It was a lightweight transport rig that MIL can hopefully handle. It was a great investment as it allowed FIL to go a lot further walking when he wanted to but able to roll when he had to.We took a shuttle to the local bus station. Bus travel kind of sucks. No checked baggage and it was kind of crowded.We were soon in Boston's South Station. It became evident when we were moving from the bus part of the station to the train part of the station that we had too much baggage to carry easily. I had really counted on porters/redcaps to help out, but that kind of service does not apparently come with bus travel.Happily, when we go to the train station there was a terrific redcap who piled our luggage on a dolly and guided us through our first train trip. He got us onto the train before the regular passengers and then phoned ahead to make sure there would be someone waiting for us when got to NY Penn Station.Train travel was easy and fun! There was a a ton of space in the seats, big picture windows, a dining car, free WiFi and power plugs. The bathroom was better than a porta-potty--I can't compare it to an airplane restroom because I have arranged my life around never having to use one, but it definitely is bigger. I started thinking that I might use trains exclusively from then on.Then we got to NY Penn. No redcap, no help, no idea where to go. Eventually a redcap showed up but he was a total sourpuss and made it clear how much of an inconvenience we were. I was grateful that he was there, however, as I don't think I would have found the multiple hallways and elevators we had to take to reach the main level. We arrived at the taxi stand, loaded up and headed for the hotel.We ended up taking two cabs everywhere when we were carrying luggage because it would not fit in one. I wish NYC still had the minivan cabs, they would have been perfect. Having the bankcard swiper in the backseat made everything a breeze, though.We had dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner, fun but it was perhaps a little too loud for the in-laws. The y did enjoy the Elvis decor and the atmosphere.We stayed at the Intercontinental Barclay. Very fancy (at least to us).Full Moon badly photographed: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Awesome start!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
3Mouseketeers....Eddie 8 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 yep I'm in Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Man, all these cruise TR's are going to lead to me taking one (in a few years of course). Great start can't wait for more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Count me in. I can't wait for our first cruise next summer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I'm in! I can't wait to see the differences between a northern cruise and a tropical one. Starting off in NYC is definitely different! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Disneyzombie-Brenda 10 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I'm too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 You are off to a great start, Hans.I also will enjoy hearing what a DCL cruise is like sailing from NYC. Did you see the Hidden Mickey in this photo? :Or maybe its a deliberate Mickey.Or an unintentional Mickey.But, it's definitely a Mickey.I think.TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Heidi-meetsTCD@TSM 5 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Hey there fellow New Hampshire resident! Where are you located? We are 20 minutes north of Concord.This is going to be a great trip report. I have never read one that leaves from NY.Heidi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
charitycase20....Charity 10 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Oh fun!! I want a cruise, no matter where! Alex wants to sail out of Baltimore (non DCL) but I would LOVE to go to NYC and sail! Two trips for the price of one! (kinda) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 594 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I am in too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ajcjmom 8 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I'm here! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Oh fun!! I want a cruise, no matter where! Alex wants to sail out of Baltimore (non DCL) but I would LOVE to go to NYC and sail! Two trips for the price of one! (kinda) This is Disney Cruise Line we are talking about. It's more like one cruise for the price of two. :rofl2: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Did you see the Hidden Mickey in this photo? NO :Or maybe its a deliberate Mickey. NOOr an unintentional Mickey. NOBut, it's definitely a Mickey. NO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I think Lou disagrees with you TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I think Lou disagrees with you TCDLOL!That man HATES Hidden Mickeys!TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SCTigerCock 171 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Can't wait for more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 That man HATES Hidden Mickeys!Deciding if it's a HM, DM, IM, AM, or NM, can be dangerous, don't try it at home. Leave it to the professionals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Deciding if it's a HM, DM, IM, AM, or NM, can be dangerous, don't try it at home. Leave it to the professionals.Will do.I don't even know what IM, AM or NM stand for in this case.TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Will do.I don't even know what IM, AM or NM stand for in this case.TCDInstant Message, Ante Meridiem and New Mexico. Nicki aka Rebelstand 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Instant Message, Ante Meridiem and New Mexico.I thought the first one meant Idiot Manager, but I am with you on the second and third.I don't think this is what Lou meant, though.The man is a professional when it comes to Hidden Mickeys, so these abbreviations have something to do with that.Not that I care.TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 I don't even know what IM, AM or NM stand for in this case.Intentional Mickey, Accidental Mickey, and Natural Mickey.Intentional Mickey is the same as a Deliberate Mickey.Acidental Mickey would be like liquid spills, paint splatter, etc. Natural Mickey could be one created by nature such as clouds, leaves in a pattern, and the most famous one, Minnie Moo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fladogfan aka Gretchen 259 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Hey Lou, I saw the hidden Mickey(s) too :rofl2: of course the HM can be seen from all 4 sides or there are 2 too many ears :jumpforjoy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lou... 3,118 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Hey Lou, I saw the hidden Mickey(s) too of course the HM can be seen from all 4 sides or there are 2 too many earsThe proportions are way off, but even if they were correct, it still does not qualify. Follow the link below. http://www.fortfiends.net/forum/topic/1713-hidden-deliberate-mickeys/ Nicki aka Rebelstand 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fladogfan aka Gretchen 259 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 ACK... distracting me with facts Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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