Thanksgiving Cruise (2001)

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

Nov. 21, 2001 Pensacola – Jax
We had a safe, uneventful 7 hour trip, making stops for food and gas at Sam’s in Jax at 98.9¢ gal.
I made a chicken casserole which we ate, then packed for the trip tomorrow.

Nov. 22, 2001 Port Canaveral
Thanksgiving Day
We had a self-serve type breakfast, then loaded the van at 9:00 for the trip to Port Canaveral.
What usually takes two hours to arrive here was a three hr trip due to an accident on I-95 + we had to converge to one lane.
We had a quick McDonald’s lunch, and after a thorough check we checked into the lobby + were assigned our rooms on the 2nd deck of the Disney Wonder along with 2,000 other passengers.
Our accommodations are very nice + the kids are next door.  We signed up for a glass-bottomed boat ride for tomorrow.  Kent + Brynne will be going snorkeling.
Dinner this evening was a lovely traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the Triton Restaurant.  Tami, Bert + I checked out the gift store after we all enjoyed “Survivor” show on TV.

Nov. 23, 2001 Port Canaveral – Bahamas (Nassau)
We had a hearty breakfast at the Beach Blanket Buffet.  Tami, Bert + I joined the tour to the Glass Bottom Boat + said adieu to Brynne + Kent who left for snorkeling.
We checked the shops after our tour which lasted several hours.
It was very crowded, but we were able to see some of the beautiful homes along the way including the late Mary Kay’s, Elvis’s, and the impressive Atlantis Hotel which Kent’s company had a part in its building.
Kent + Brynne joined the three of us at Scoops for a light lunch.  They took off for more touring while dad + I opted for the pool + hot tub for a refreshing + relaxing exercise at the adults’ only pool on the 9th deck.
Dinner tonight was a special treat at the Animators Pilate.  The Black + White motif became very colorful with all the Disney characters coming out in vivid colors.
The evening show “Hercules” was very entertaining for children as well as adults.

Nov. 24, 2001 Castaway Cay
After breakfast we disembarked and dad + I took a 1-1/2 mile walk out to the Senior Beach, enjoying the flora + fauna along the way.  The kids went snorkeling at their beach.  Dad + I took the tram back to the boat stopping at the P.O. to mail a card to Bob + Gen.
Dad + I ate at Parrots Cave + after lunch watched the first half of the Ohio State-Mich. Game, then went to the pool for a swim + relaxed in the whirlpool.  Nice!
Dinner was also at Parrot Cay + it was fun being entertained by the servers doing a calypso routine.
We went to the Walt Disney Theatre for a delightful 1-1/2 hour show called Disney Dreams.
Took a few minutes to do some shopping – a visor for me, a T-shirt + tapes for Brynne and then back to the room for final disembark packing for the trip home, first to Jax, then on to visit Peg T tomorrow, and back to Pensacola Tues.
This is our (my) fifth tour [cruise] + I must say, the best accommodations of any including: Yokohama - Hong Kong, Rhine River, Alaska + Greece, Turkey + Israel.