Castaway Cay

The Sea approaching Castaway Cay

It was a beautiful day as we approached Castaway Cay.  The sea was beautiful and calm.    I tried not to let the lack of chop disturb me. We had had some lovely rough seas on the way out, but we had left them far behind. We were really enjoying our veranda this morning.  

All Dressed up for the Holidays

Castaway Cay was decorated for the holidays, which we had not seen before. There was something very cheerful about it. 

Another Shot from Our Balcony

It didn't take long to clear the ship. Our plan for today included trying a couple of new things. But first, we had to get off the ship. 

The Stern of the Ship

I love the little details on Disney ships, but with the Fantasy it is a long walk. 

Action Shot

We usually end up with a few shots taking pictures of each other. It is a bit of a trek to the beach, but we preferred to walk out.

Family Beach

Ever mindful of the Bahamian sun and the amount of sand tourists can kick up, we decided to go snorkelling first. The gear hut guy was really sweet and lent us fins for free. You have to wear a snorkel vest, which they provide at no charge, but you don't have to inflate it. 

Snorkel Bay

We have done the snorkelling here, but this is the first time I haven't been stung. I did see a jellyfish, though. 

Under the Sea

Sea Level View of the Fantasy

I really liked this view of the ship. We were pretty much at the back of the snorkel lagoon.  

A Bit Reedy in Spots

They Put Things Down there for the Sea Life to Grow Around

I Found this Funny

The showers after, so we could wash off the salt, were bracing, to say the least. After this, we rented bicycles, which was a first for us on Castaway Cay. I really liked the bike. It was very comfortable. 

Bicycle Trail

The bicycle trail is scenic, and not particularly taxing. Once we finished our ride, we headed over to Serenity Bay, which was also a first. There is a greater variety of food here than at the regular buffet. The line was long, though.  

Adults' Barbecue

The beach is a little quieter than the family beach, but still quite crowded. 

Serenity Bay

The water seemed colder on this side of the island, so I didn't get in. We relaxed with some BEvERages, and headed back to the ship. 

Waiting for the Tram back to the Ship

One Last Look Before we Board

It was a nice day, but there was a tinge of sadness because we knew we were heading home tomorrow. 

Fantasy - Third Sea Day

View from the Balcony

We didn't take many pictures this day, but it is in my mind as one of our best sea days ever.  We took a few pictures about, had a leisurely breakfast with our awesome tablemates, and then I headed to Quiet Cove.

Looking Down from Quiet Cove

A Pint Sized State Room

 My Beloved joined me after a little while and discovered just how relaxing those round chairs are.  I did some swimming and some reading and conducted an important experiment.  I went to the drink station and got a cup with some milk. Off to soft serve, at which point I added banana and chocolate soft server. I then mixed the result and headed to the bar, where an obliging bartender assisted me in my quest for science by providing me with a shot of banana liqueur. Rapture! However, I don't recommend doing this often as they don't last more than a few minutes.

These Chairs are So Comfortable - Quiet Cove

 Other lovely points about a sea day on the Fantasy:

• Someone comes around frequently to the adult section with cold wet hand towels.
• 2 for 1 drinks! On this day they were "mai tais". Now, to anyone who has enjoyed the bliss that is a Trader Vic's recipe mai tai, this is not the little bit of paradise I am talking about. These are the cliche day-glo, fruit flavoured beverages one expects in most places not actually Hawaiian. However, fruit, rum and half price, not bad.

The Theatre

I don't think I can emphasize enough how much I love the Disney Cruise Line shows. They are always entertaining. I have heard people complain that the music is canned, but I find that doesn't detract from the story lines. On this cruise, we apparently were travelling with some hearing-impaired people. In all honesty, the interpreters were just as entertaining to watch as the actors.

Some Cruiselines still give you chocolates

Love these Portholes

And so, to bed, after a truly glorious day. We were well-fed, well-beveraged and well-entertained. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. The only sad note was that we knew we would only have one more full day before our cruise was over.

Disney Fantasy - San Juan

This is the third time we have been to San Juan, and the second time we toured San Cristobal. We had signed up for the Bacardi and City Tour.  The first stop was to see the statues of presidents who had visited Puerto Rico. San Cristobal was second.

San Cristobal offers many views of the city.

It is a very interesting fort with a lot of history, and much to see. It is also a stair climber's paradise. :)

You can see quite far away

After we finished re-acquainting ourselves with the fort, we got back on the bus and the driver gave us a rather good guided tour of the old city and on into the new city.

On the way, we saw beautiful beaches.

There was a combination of wild beauty and intensive industrialization. One of the sadder things was the abundance of garbage on the side of the highway. But we didn't see this for long, and soon we were approaching the windmills of the Bacardi distillery.

On the tour, they tell you what the bat device means.

They tell you about the bat device, and they lead you through a bit of a museum, but you don't get to see the actual distillery. They also don't allow pictures in the museum.

Bacardi has lovely grounds

They do allow you two drink tickets each, though, which you can spend before or after the tour to sample the various types and flavours of the Bacardi brand. You can also purchase mojitos. And, of course, there is a gift shop where you can buy all the product and merch you can imagine.

More lovely San Juan

On the way back we saw a little more of Old San Juan, and finished up near the port. We went and had lunch at a place with good, if pricey, food (mofongo), but a terrible hostess. After that, the sky began to darken, as is the tradition, so we headed back to the ship.

Disney Fantasy - St. Thomas

It was a beautiful morning, when we arrived in St Thomas.  We had booked the Sea Blaster snorkelling excursion.  The crew was terrific, and the reef was marvellous. 

Sailing into St. Thomas

The Sea Blaster

The Reef

Barracuda

 When they ask if you want extra rum in your rum punch... 

Disney Fantasy Second Sea Day

The second sea day, we hung out, did the midship detective agency, and took pictures.

La Piazza in Europa. 

La Piazza was open whenever we went through. It was also the location of late night snacks.

The Mickey statue is near the theatre. 

The elevator display is quite whimsical. 

The Aquaduck was not open the first half of the cruise because of how rough the seas were. 

There were many animated and interactive artworks on the ship. 

The Fantasy is Minnie's ship. 

The Enchanted Garden starts witha day sky, and over the course of dinner, he sun sets. 

The lighting on deck at night is beautiful. 

Today's towel animal: elephant? Aardvark?

Fantasy First Sea Day

The Sea was a Little Choppy

And that is what we had gone to sleep with the night before, and what we woke up to the next morning. Since we love the "motion of the ocean, " this was fine with us. Today we had scheduled brunch at Palo, and it was going to be formal night in the dining room, so there were two opportunities to dress up.

Table by the Window

Palo is a very nice looking restaurant, next to the Meridien Bar, and Remy. The food is really good, and they seem to want to kill you with the sheer quantity they try to feed you. When you arrive, you are given a Mimosa, and then taken on a tour of the buffet items, and a la carte items.

Eggs You can Order

Mains You Can Order (and Soup)

Napkin Boots Mad by the Waiter

Aside from the food you can order, including pizza which I did not include a picture of, there is also a table of breads, a table of seafood, a table of appetizers including caviar, and a table of desserts. There might be more, I think I was in some kind of food coma after it was all finished. The food was delicious, and I would recommend this experience. We spent the rest of the afternoon recovering, and getting ready for formal night in the Animator's Palate.

Andrew and TableMate, Detail of Animator's Palate

Animator's Palate Bread Plate with "Brush" Butter Knife

After dinner, we went to Meridien, where Andrew could enjoy a cigarette, and we could have cocktails outside. This is a very nice space, although it was a little windy.

If You're Worried About Your Hair, Sailing May Not be Right for You

Me and My Beloved on Formal Night

Towelgami