Travels of the Rennhack family
⚓ Cruise 9/15/2023 – 9/28/2023
shipASL interpreters: Jenna (first sailing together), McKenna, Erika (first sailing together)
Ship friends: Susan (cast member), Anthony (cruise director), Chris (entertainment director, first sailing together)
Crew: Captain Michele Intartaglia · Lee Hawkins (cruise director)
Stateroom: 7136 · 4B - Deluxe Family Oceanview with Verandah
Firsts: first time in Bermuda
We packed the car with our Disney luggage and drove to O'Hare for an evening flight.
Lisa, Thomas and I settled into our seats while Kathy caught us all in one photo before takeoff. We flew out of Chicago O'Hare, overnight to Lisbon, on TAP Air Portugal.
Dinner was served on the flight as the cabin screens tracked our route east across the Atlantic.
8-hour flight down. 3-hour flight to go. I can't wait to sleep in a bed.
Luggage, hotel and dinner.
Union Jack burger with bacon and Windsor cheese. So good. European Fanta is my favorite. No high fructose corn syrup. It's more like carbonated orange juice.
We landed in Lisbon around midday, off the overnight flight from Chicago. Lisa and I traded a thumbs up in our seats before we filed off the plane and into the terminal. With a few hours before our connection, we wandered the airport, picked up sodas and water, and stopped for pictures by a display outside one of the shops.
By mid-afternoon we made our way back through the terminal and boarded another flight. From Lisbon we flew on to London Heathrow, watching Lisbon fall away below us and then farmland as we came in over England.
We landed at Heathrow in the evening, collected our bags off the carousel, and found a car waiting to take us to our hotel. We spent the night in London, close to the airport.
We had dinner at Jack's near the hotel. Lisa had the risotto, and the rest of us split burgers piled high with onion rings and fries.
We left the hotel near Heathrow this morning in the matching shirts we had picked out for the crossing, printed with Westbound Transatlantic, September 17-28, 2023, Disney Dream. We drove down to Southampton with the bags.
Today did not start well. Lisa was having a bad day.
We were at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal to begin our 11-Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise, Southampton to New York, celebrating Disney Cruise Line's Silver Anniversary at Sea. Embarkation day is supposed to be the easy part.
Then a Cast Member named Susan noticed Lisa. She did not have to, and nobody asked her to. She chose our family to be the Family of the Day.
That is not a small thing. The Family of the Day is normally selected at random, and it boards the ship first, before even concierge and back-to-back cruisers. They made a special announcement for us in the terminal. We got a private Mickey Mouse meet-and-greet with photos by the Shutters team, and a Magical Moment.
One person paid attention, and a day that was going badly turned into one of the most magical days we have ever had.
Susan, wherever you are, thank you.
It's cruise day!
In 18 Disney cruises, this is our first Family of the Day honor. We got to open the ship and board it first. What an incredibly special way to begin our cruise across the Atlantic.
We are typically inside stateroom cruisers, but an opportunity arose for a verandah for less than an inside. The only caveat was we had to leave our room selection in the hands of Disney. They did not disappoint. Here is our home for the next 11 days. 300 square feet and sleeps 5. We each get our own bed, just like we do at home. I love the split bathrooms on DCL. A toilet and sink in one room and a tub, shower and sink in the other. It makes getting a family ready for the day super easy.
The Vibe teen club is exclusively for 14 to 17-year-olds. Thomas will spend his cruise here
I can't wait to enjoy the next 11 days from my verandah.
ASL interpreters are onboard for Lisa. She will keep them busy with all kinds of activities.
Senior Sunday in her happy place. Disney cruise #18. #seniorsunday.
No better sail away than a Disney sail away.
Tonight's dinner was at Animator's Palate. It is my favorite restaurant on this ship.. Here are the dishes I chose. All were very good.
Today is a sea day as we make our way to the first port of call, Vigo, Spain. Mickey and his cast of fabulous crew members will keep us entertained and fed. Cruise calories don't count, especially when Mickey waffles with strawberries and whipped cream are involved.
"Don't you get bored with so many sea days?" Rule of Life #1, "Only boring people get bored." Disney Cruise Line offers a plethora of activities for all ages from morning to midnight. Here is today's Navigator. It's the go-to source for all ship activities. One of my very favorite activities on longer, special itineraries like the Transatlantic is the Photo Challenge. Today we are looking for logos around the ship. We will also participate in a reception for Disney's most loyal cruisers as well as drawing classes, napkin folding and origami. Thomas has a pool party in the Vibe teen club and Lisa has trivia with fellow cruisers in the 1820 Society. This is a special group just for 18-20-year-olds. Tonight is Formal Night and our reservation at Palo, one of two specialty restaurants onboard. Since it is adults-only, Thomas will eat in our assigned main dining room, Enchanted Garden, alone. He is a seasoned traveller and doesn't mind at all. Then we will attend The Golden Mickeys stage show in the Walt Disney Theater. Bored? Not a chance!
Someone is in her happy place. She has traded so many pins in the past 24 hours. Where's Thomas? It's been four hours since my last contact with him. He met a few friends at the Vibe yesterday. We'll meet up again for pictures in our formal outfits. This is the beauty of a Disney cruise with older kids. They have a blast doing their own thing.
Tonight we ate dinner at Palo, one of two adults-only restaurants on the ship. Here were my selections. All fantastic. It's rare to find a perfectly cooked salmon. The chef nailed it. Meanwhile, Thomas dined at the Enchanted Garden where he selected Heirloom Tomato Soup, Pork Tenderloin Medallions and Warm Sticky Date Pudding.
Our first full day at sea. Kathy was up early and had the pool deck to herself before the crowds, no line yet at Mickey's Pool. Breakfast in the room was waffles with whipped cream and sausage. Kathy spent the morning in the Navigator app working through the day's schedule, the restaurant menus, and the wine list. Before the shops opened we wandered the Cars-themed deck, Tow Mater's Grill and Radiator Springs, and picked up a Photo Challenge card to hunt medallions around the ship.
Late morning we all dressed in black for formal portraits with the ship photographers against a blue curtain, then Kathy and I ran into Captain Mickey Mouse for a photo. Lunch was chicken panini and barbecue chicken pizza at Flo's Cafe.
In the afternoon Lisa had her hair curled and pinned up in the salon for a second round of portraits, one against a gold backdrop and one with the ship at dusk behind us, plus a photo with Minnie in her own gown.
Dinner that night was at Palo, and we dressed up: burrata, bread, salmon, a pork tenderloin. Dessert came on two plates, one for our 20th anniversary and one for Kathy's birthday. Neither was really that day, Kathy's birthday is in early September and our anniversary is in June, but it was our party and we celebrated both. We finished the night on the dance floor before finding a towel animal waiting on the bed.
Dinner
Today's adventure finds us in the port of Vigo, Spain.. We booked a Port Adventure (Disney speak for shore excursion) to the border country. So, we came to Spain to go to Portugal. This is our first time in northern Spain. In 2013, Michael, Lisa and I spent two days in Barcelona before our Mediterranean cruise. In 2019, all four of us visited Cadiz, Cartagena, Malaga and Barcelona on the Eastbound Transatlantic cruise. Today we are focusing on historical elements. Tomorrow is historical and architectural as well, but with some instruction in the art of the selfie. Our final stop in Bermuda next week is strictly a fun day playing on the pink sand beach at Horseshoe Bay. Balance is key.
Good Morning from Vigo, Spain. A beautiful sunrise and a little fog.
A beautiful first stop in Valenca, Portugal. It reminds me of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. So green.
A stop in Tui to visit the cathedral and have lunch. Thomas facilitated the ordering between our family and the server who only spoke Spanish.
A nice way to end our tour of the border country.
The Disney Dream came into Vigo at sunrise, and I was up on deck with Kathy watching the color come up over the hills as we sailed in. We had a quick breakfast before we went ashore.
Our excursion left the ship at 10:30 for Valença, the old walled town across the river in Portugal. We walked the fortress walls above the town, past sheep grazing in the grass and old stone sentry towers, with the countryside open below us in every direction. In the old town we passed tiled shopfronts and a cobblestone shopping street, and Lisa and I posed in a cardboard cutout of a pilgrim near the town gate.
From there we crossed the river into Tui, on the Spanish side, to see the cathedral, a fortress of a building with carved stone saints over its doors. We had lunch at a cafe nearby, and a photographer caught Lisa and me in front of the cathedral before we walked back through the old streets to the bus.
On the way back into Vigo the bus stopped at O Castro Park, on the hill above the harbor. Old cannons and an anchor monument sit in the grass there, and the whole bay opened up below us with the ship docked at the pier. Kathy and Lisa got a picture together with the harbor spread out behind them.
Back aboard for dinner, we ran into one character after another in the atrium before we sat down: Minnie, Donald, Chip and Dale, and Pluto.
Dinner
Dinner at Royal Palace last night. The deep fried brie and steak are always my favorite dishes. The strawberry shortcake sundae was also delicious. Tonight we are back in Animator's Palate for the Turtle Talk With Crush show.
A beautiful start to the day. Cruise ship sunrises are my favorite.
Today's Port Adventure was "The Selfie and Social Media Experience." Over the past 18 Disney cruises, we have done 100+ Port Adventures. Rarely have I been disappointed in a ship-sponsored tour. Today was one of those rare moments. The tour itself was OK, but it was not at all what the description billed it to be. I was expecting to be whisked away to some of the most iconic sites in Lisbon and given pointers on how to take amazing selfies. We boarded the bus and drove around for 90 minutes, passing all of the places I would have considered Lisbon's best. Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, the cathedral. We didn't stop at any of them. The kids were able to get some action shots out the bus window. When we finally did stop, we stood at the base of the funicular for about 20 minutes, while the guides helped people with their selfie sticks and held cheesy cardboard frames for us to use. No instruction and no tips about selfies. We moved on to a few statues and then through an area known for its pink street. Not pink as in some pretty stone. Pink as in someone grabbed a garish shade of latex paint and a roller. The area is home to the city's bars and strip clubs. It was like Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I think this was a case of the tour guide not knowing the audience. Our group wasn't the target demographic for this area. We ended the tour with a short stop at the Time Out Market. Thomas and I had been to the location in Chicago on a foodie tour last month. The concept is the same. Bring the best restaurants in the city and put them all under one roof so people can taste and savor multiple vendors. It was interesting to see all of the different concepts. We boarded the bus and made our way back to the port. I left very honest feedback on the form we were provided. Was it an awful tour? No. The weather was great and we took some pictures. It just wasn't what was promised. As a travel agent, would I recommend this to my clients? No. I think the Highlights of Lisbon tour that we took in 2019 was so much better. Next time I am in Lisbon, I will hire a tuk tuk. Those looked like a lot of fun!
Lisbon as the storm clouds rolled in. Our last view of land until next Tuesday in Bermuda.
The Disney Dream called at Lisbon before sunrise, and we were up on deck to watch the city come into view as we sailed in. We were ashore by 8:30 for The Selfie & Social Media Experience, and Lisa's ASL interpreters, Jenna and McKenna, came along with us. The tour started at Praça da Figueira under the bronze statue of King João I on his horse. From there we went to Praça dos Restauradores, where the yellow cars of the Elevador da Glória climb the hill toward Bairro Alto, and on to Rossio and its column and fountains.
Then we walked down to Praça do Comércio, under the great arch on Rua Augusta, with the rest of our tour group. After that we were on our own. We found the Elevador da Bica, one of the city's old yellow funiculars, walked Pink Street under its strung umbrellas, and ended back in Rossio, where Lisa posed with Jenna and McKenna in the tour's Lisbon frame. We had lunch at the Time Out Market, then walked the riverfront, with the bridge and the Cristo Rei statue across the water.
We were back aboard by early afternoon and put on matching shirts for a Silver Anniversary photo with Lisbon still behind us. It was Pirate Night on the ship, Mickey's Pirates IN the Caribbean. Through the afternoon we kept running into costumed characters, Mickey, Goofy, Chip and Dale among them, and in the evening we all dressed the part ourselves for a full portrait sitting with Captain Hook and Stitch. Dinner was in the Royal Palace, and the night ended at the pirate deck party, with an ASL interpreter at the front of the stage signing the show for Lisa.
Dinner in Animator's Palate did not disappoint. This is one of my favorite menus across the entire fleet. They have kicked up the garlic dip a bit as it had some bite to it. The Black Truffle Pasta Pursettes are next-level fabulous. Lisa and I had the Baked Potato and cheddar Cheese Soup. I loved it. Lisa declared it was too spicy. Keep in mind, we are from Michigan where ketchup is as spicy as we get. Now for the star of the show, the Ginger-Dusted Angus Beef Tenderloin. It was extra incredible. I'm a huge fan of the Wasabi mashed potatoes and the meat was cooked to a perfect medium. Rounding out this meal was the Cookies and Cream Sundae. Yum! Insider tip: you can order Shirley Temples in the main dining room at no extra charge. Sprite, a splash of grenadine and maraschino cherries. We have been enjoying them every evening. Thomas had four last night. I'm pretty sure he floated right out of the dining room.
The first of five days at sea crossing the Atlantic. I spent the morning finishing the ship's photo challenge, working through the list: the Walt Disney Theatre, the Royal Palace, Animator's Palate, the D Lounge, the Oceaneer Club, finishing at Carriage Jewels. Kathy caught a guest lecture on building Epcot by a former Imagineer, and we passed the backstage call board for the Muppets show on the way by.
A Castaway Club welcome gift was waiting in the room, and we toasted with blue drinks at the railing that afternoon. It was the second transatlantic crossing for us; the first was the eastbound one on the Magic in 2019.
The ship put up a big 25 arch for its Silver Anniversary and we posed there as a family, then had portraits made with Captain Mickey and more in the studio after dinner. The atrium was decorated for the anniversary, characters waving down from the balconies. Thomas caught the moon walking back from the theater near midnight.
My view this morning. 7 loads of laundry done! Now to carry the 50 lbs. of clean clothes back to the room and quietly set them inside without waking the family.. And no, there is nothing magical about doing laundry on Mickey's ship, other than the fact that I did all 7 loads at once.
Another fantastic dinner. Last night's menu had a Greek flair with some traditional dishes as well. The Spanikopita was superb. Thomas even enjoyed it. The oatmeal cookie sundae might be my new favorite dessert.
Today's coffee foam etching. Belle and Goofy.
Laundry day. Kathy got an early notice on her phone that a dryer was free, so we spent part of the morning in the laundry room working through everyone's clothes. Kathy got Goofy and Belle drawn into her coffee foam at breakfast, and Lisa spent the morning with new friends she had made on the ship, taking pictures in front of the big mosaic mural.
We met Belle and then Pluto for pictures near the grand staircase, and in the middle of the day the ship photographers dressed us up as pirates for a portrait, gold coins and all. Lisa came back with her own pencil sketch of a character from a drawing session.
At dinner a cake with a candle came to the table. Late that night Lisa had her picture taken on the ship's sunset backdrop before we called it a day.
Last night's dinner at Royal Palace was splendid. We really hit the jackpot with our dining room team. One area where Disney excels is the concept of rotational dining. You choose early dining (5:45) or late dining (8:30) and are assigned a dining room rotation.. We always pick early dining as the ASL interpreters work the late show in the Walt Disney Theater and have early dinner. They are there to facilitate communication between Lisa and the servers. The serving team rotates with you through each of the three main dining rooms, so there are always familiar faces to greet you at dinner. They learn your likes and dislikes. It's a brilliant system. Admittedly, I had low expectations for this cruise. Historically, we have had lackluster dining room experiences on the Dream. I was simply hoping for a team that got us in and out of dinner in under two hours and served palatable food. Both the service and food have been spectacular. It's likely because this is an 11-night cruise and the team has a chance to get to know us. It's hard to do that on a 3-5 night voyage.
Lisa enjoyed her drawing class, scavenger hunt with her fellow members of the 1820 Society, Foosball tournament, character photos, pin trading, origami and open house in the Vibe. Yesterday we had her go to Guest Services and pick up the ASL Interpreter Request Form for today's activities. Michael sat with her and went through the Navigator app to pick activities that she wanted interpreted and a movie for which she requested open captioning. Lisa's road to independence requires a few more pit stops than most, but it has been such a joy watching her get there. She criss-crosses the ship like a pro. Oh, and Lisa said on Sunday she wants fewer scheduled activities so she can enjoy the pool. This is our 6th day onboard and Michael is the only member of Team Rennhack who has done any swimming. There are just so many other fun activities to enjoy.
World of Flavor this evening in Animator's Palate. It's one of my favorite menus and it is only available on the longer specialty itineraries. Lisa has had a Mickey ice cream bar with sprinkles every night of this cruise. She knows what she likes.
Today's etched coffee foam.
The day started with Goofy, Donald, Pluto and Mickey right after breakfast. We all wore matching shirts for the sailing, and Lisa put in a request for an ASL interpreter for the week's activities. Lisa is deaf, and the ship's interpreters are a big part of every cruise for us. On this sailing they were Jenna, McKenna and Erika. We have had Jenna many times, and she is awesome.
At midday the character parade came down the grand staircase in the atrium, everyone dressed in sailor stripes for the ship's Silver Anniversary. Kathy found a latte with Grogu drawn in the foam. Lisa got her nails done and rested by the pool before we got dressed for dinner.
Dinner was at Animator's Palate, where the artwork on the walls changes through the meal, and we had a Mickey-shaped dessert with sprinkles. That evening we saw Beauty and the Beast, then posed at the enchanted rose photo op after. Back at the stateroom a gift was waiting on the door, and Thomas caught the moon before we turned in.
Dinner
#SeniorSunday. Lisa's first trip to Europe in 2013. She made her 6th visit to the continent earlier this week. Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City, Croatia, Malta, England, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Portugal and Greece over the past 10 years. I hope she returns again and again to make more memories. Europe looks good on her.
A little rainy this morning but the sky cleared and it's now beautiful here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. We have today and tomorrow at sea before we reach Bermuda on Tuesday. What an absolutely incredible cruise it has been so far. This is Day #8 (4th straight day at sea) and I still haven't made it to the pool or the AquaDuck. There is just so much to do. You can't possibly conquer it all. This is an equal parts business and pleasure trip for me, so I've been working, taking pictures and developing assets for my clients. I can't think of a better office than this one
Another winner dinner
Sunday was another day at sea, cool and cloudy. Kathy walked the top deck early, before the pool filled up or the AquaDuck opened. Thomas caught a rainbow over the water later that morning.
The atrium filled up at midday for the ship's 25th anniversary, with officers speaking from the grand staircase under the Silver Anniversary sign. The big news of the day was Officer's Hide and Seek. Team Lisa spent the afternoon tracking down officers hidden around the ship. We all put on matching red shirts for a family portrait that afternoon.
Dinner was at Enchanted Garden, and Kathy had the baked lobster tail. After dinner the deck party outside brought out Mickey and the gang for Mickey's Color Spin Dance Party. Before bed a note from the Entertainment Team was waiting: Team Lisa had won Officer's Hide and Seek. The prize was a Disney Cruise Line cap, a denim tote bag and two pins. That night Lisa had her picture taken with all three of her interpreters, Jenna, McKenna and Erika.
The Disney Dream at 4:45 a.m. Simply stunning.
Jamie made Thomas' cruise so magical. Thomas stood in the meet and greet line after last night's show and decided to show Jamie one of his card tricks. Jamie gave him some pointers on how to make the trick even better. This morning we were standing in line to meet characters. Jamie came up to Thomas and told him that he looks forward to seeing him around the ship.and talking about magic techniques. What a class-act.
Kathy was up before six, before the rest of us, and walked the ship while it was empty, the atrium with nobody in it, the staircase under the chandelier, the 25th anniversary signs everywhere for Disney Cruise Line's Silver Anniversary at Sea. Breakfast was Mickey waffles.
By mid-morning we were all in matching black shirts and red shorts for photos with the ship's photographers, first with Goofy and Donald outside the theater, later with Minnie and Daisy dressed to match at the grand staircase. Lisa had a drawing of her own and posed for a photo with it. Around noon we changed into red shirts and saluted for a photo on the top deck, then found Vanellope's Sweets and Treats, its cupcakes decorated for the anniversary.
The afternoon was quiet, watching the water and the clouds build as the sun got lower. By early evening we were dressed up, tuxedos and gowns, mouse ears on, and took a selfie in the hallway before heading out.
At the grand staircase, Mickey was dressed as a captain and Minnie in a long white gown, and we had photos with them, then again with Pluto. The photographers had backdrops set up around the ship, a starry sky, the ship lit at sunset, a green forest, and we went through most of them. Dinner was at Royal Palace: bread and soup, lobster tail, fettuccine with parmesan-crusted chicken, chocolate lava cake. Lisa folded her napkin into a pair of ears and wore them.
Late that night Lisa was still out with her camera, one more shot with Tinker Bell in her hand, then one of our stateroom door on the way in, still decorated with our name from the day we boarded.
Dinner
Lisa has joined me in foodie photography. I did not consume all of this food myself. My pants are snug enough. Lobster for the second night in a row was a nice surprise. I will eat it here or there. I will eat it everywhere. No extra charge for it or any other main dining room dish on Disney Cruise Line. Our server even offered to bring me a second one. The whole tight pants thing won out and I politely declined. I had to save room for dessert, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Someone thoroughly enjoyed himself at Vanellope's Sweets and Treats. We'll take the whole family for a farewell treat tomorrow. This cruise has flown right by. It's hard to believe that this is Day 10 already! Bermuda today, a day at sea tomorrow, sailing into New York City bright and early on Thursday and flying straight home early Thursday afternoon.
Our first glimpse of land in six days! Good morning from beautiful Bermuda. Today's adventure takes us to the pink sand beaches of Horseshoe Bay. Fun, sun and family time.
Pink sand, gorgeous water and beautiful blue skies. Heavenly. Bermuda did not disappoint.
A few more pictures of this island paradise before we bid her farewell.
The Disney Dream tied up at King's Wharf early, and by mid-morning we were on the Horseshoe Bay Beach Transfer, a bus out to Horseshoe Bay. We had about three hours there, pink sand and calm water that filled in with a real crowd by early afternoon. Thomas built a mound of sand around himself, and Kathy and I found chitons clinging inside the rock ledges at the far end of the beach.
The bus back didn't go straight to the ship. It climbed up past Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, where we got out and looked over the whole western end of the island, boats scattered across the Great Sound below. From there the road wound through Somerset, past St. Anne's Church and its white headstones, before dropping us back at the Royal Naval Dockyard.
We had pizza at the dockyard cafe, then went down to the beach by Island Outfitters, where Lisa climbed through the rocks and little sea caves. At one point she went exploring on her own around the rocks and was out of sight for a few moments. It was one of the first times Lisa had wandered off by herself. Because of the language barrier she usually stays where we can see her, so it was a brave moment of growth for her. We also walked Heritage Wharf and posed at the Moongate with the Dream behind us.
Back aboard, we had our portraits taken for the evening and sat down to dinner at Animator's Palate. Sunset came up orange over the water as we pulled away from Bermuda, and the night ended with Goofy on the Grand Staircase before we turned in.
Final visit to Animator's Palate. This was my least favorite menu of the cruise. The Porcini Sacchetti was undercooked and gummy. The Lobster Bisque tasted off. I couldn't pinpoint the flavor, but it was definitely not what I have ordered in the past. The pastry on the Beef Wellington was soggy. The Celebration Cake saved the meal. It was perfection!
Final day on the ship. Today I will kick the family out of the room and begin the packing process. Here are some random thoughts as I reflect on our journey. 1) I loved the extra space that the Deluxe Family Oceanview with Verandah offered, but it confirmed the fact that we don't use the verandah enough to warrant paying thousands of dollars more than an inside room. In the words of the husband, "We just aren't verandah people." My favorite room across the fleet has been the Deluxe Family Oceanview on the Dream and Wish. I am a huge fan of the big porthole window and it still sleeps 5 so we all have our own beds. 2) Sailing during hurricane season is a great way to save money. Other than a bumpy day in the Bay of Biscay and another one as we left mainland Europe, the journey has been smooth with exceptional weather. 3) The shipboard internet was very expensive ($400+ for one device), but it allowed Thomas to keep up with his homework and Michael and I to post daily about our trip. We did purchase the top-tier package and didn't experience issues. It is satellite internet, so we set our expectations accordingly. 4) Taking a cruise as a travel planner is much different than taking a cruise as an everyday customer. I look at things differently now. I found myself matching clients with different venues and features. "Client A's kids would love the AquaDuck." "I need to remember to tell Client B about the Midship Detective Agency." "Our stateroom would be the perfect fit for Client C."
It's a little bumpy on Mickey's ship today.
Spoke a bit too soon. The Atlantic is super angry today.
Our last full day at sea before New York. The morning was grey, with a squall building out over the water, and by afternoon the pool deck was closed because of lightning in the area.
I spent a good part of the day working my way down the character line in my anniversary shirt, Chip and Dale, Mickey, Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Daisy, while Kathy walked through the empty kids clubs and Thomas performed a magic trick for one of the onboard magicians. Lisa spent the afternoon at the Edge with a friend, drawing.
Thomas and I had our picture taken together on the grand staircase before dinner. At our last formal dinner our server wrote us a note on the dessert plate: I am going to miss you. We ended the evening in the atrium under the ship's 25th anniversary sign.
My lone shot of the Verrazzano Bridge as we sailed into NYC at 4:00 this morning The pandemonium on Deck 13 was not my scene. Pushing, shoving and generally un-Disney like behavior. It reminded me of Canal Crossing Day on the Panama Canal cruise. No shot or footage is worth that level of crazy. I watched it from the comfort of a warm, padded chair in Cabanas and it was magical. The family opted to sleep instead.
Final dinner of the cruise. We dined in Enchanted Garden and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The Creme Brulee Cheesecake is out of this world spectacular. One big perk of cruising with Disney is you will never see the same main dining room menu repeated during the cruise. Each evening's selection is unique.
11 days and 4,461 nautical miles sailed. What an incredible adventure with this family I am fortunate to call mine.
Made it to the airport. A two-hour flight and two-hour drive are all that stand between us and home. Tomorrow I will drive 350 miles to pick up the dog in Iowa and 350 miles home on Saturday. Then I might sleep for a week
This view never gets old. I love a good window seat just behind the wing.
We were up before dawn to watch the Disney Dream come into New York Harbor. Lisa and Thomas stood at the rail with us in the dark, watching the lights of Manhattan get closer, the piers and cranes lit up along the Hudson, and the Statue of Liberty small and lit in the distance. Kathy and I got a selfie together with the skyline behind us before the sun came up.
Breakfast was in the cabin while we finished packing. Then we came down through the terminal and said goodbye to the Dream from the windows.
We took a car across Manhattan to LaGuardia for our flight home to Chicago O'Hare. The kids found the I Love NY sign in the terminal and posed for pictures before we boarded. The flight was mostly clouds until we came down low over the fields outside the city and landed at O'Hare in the middle of the afternoon.
From there it was the drive home to Michigan. The crossing was our 18th Disney cruise, and it brought us to 122 nights at sea with Disney Cruise Line.
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