Trip log, day eight. San Juan.
3-Night San Juan to Port Canaveral Cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico
October 18, 2014
Day 8, is actually the beginning of our second cruise rather than the day we disembark. Well, technically we still had to disembark. The back to back process in San Juan was flawless! I am not kidding, credit should go to all those involved aboard the Disney Magic as well as shoreside in San Juan. We were given a window to arrive in the Walt Disney Theatre depending on whether or not we wanted to spend a lot of time ashore in San Juan, a little time, or no time in port. We were in the latter so I ran up to Cabanas just a little before they closed up for the morning to grab some bagels for us to eat before it was time to meet in the Walt Disney Theatre. Since we had some time to kill we grabbed a seat in the atrium to complete our survey and sign a few of the check-in documents left in our stateroom the previous night.
Once in the theatre, we were led off the ship and into the terminal in small groups. Although there were approximately 500 passengers going through the back to back process, it took very little time to disembark, check-in and re-board the ship. I would say from the time we arrived in the theatre to the time we walked back on was less than an hour.
To cap off a seamless back to back process, we were given free drinks in the Cove Cafe. I also heard the same happened in the Promenade Lounge. Not to mention, we were allowed back into our staterooms before 11:30 AM, which was nice as we picked up a few bottles from the duty free store in the terminal. As soon as the pools opened, Isabelle was in the water with a few of her friends she met on the previous cruise.
I camped out at a poolside table to finish the trip logs for days 6 and 7 making use of my “free” internet, tethering with my iPhone with AT&T service in San Juan. We had some lunch poolside and Emily ordered the drink of the day, the Cool Breeze.
With such a port intensive itinerary, I did not spend all that much time on the upper decks last week other than a movie on funnel vision last Sunday. While I was walking around, I noticed that the AquaLab looked a little different than it did during the re-launch last October. Huey, Dewey, and Louie were no longer featured in the pool. Anyone happen to know when they were painted over or why?
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas was also in port enjoying the spectacular weather in Puerto Rico.
We returned to our stateroom to get cleaned up for dinner before heading tour our muster drill station in Animator’s Palate.
Unlike the Southern Caribbean sailings, the Disney Magic departed San Juan at the regular time which provided a lovely evening view of El Morro. I managed to record video from our stateroom as the Magic pulled away from the dock and sailed past El Morro out of the Port of San Juan which I hope to share after we return home.
Following dinner in Carioca’s, we returned to the shops to see if any of the Halloween on the High Seas merchandise had been restocked or if the Southern Caribbean shirts were on marked down. Sure enough, Emily and Isabelle found some of the Southern Caribbean shirts on the clearance rack and I managed to snag one of the pumpkin tree shirts that went like hot cakes last cruise. The Halloween Tervis Tumblers were not restocked for this sailing, so anyone on this cruise never had an opportunity to purchase one. In situations like this I wish DCL would offer some sort of rain check if inventory is still available for further sailings.
We decided to go hang out in Keys for a bit while Isabelle was in the Oceaneer Lab. Emily ordered the Moët & Chandon Imperial Ice which we originally discovered at Remy Brunch on the Fantasy.
We picked Isabelle up from the Oceaneer Lab and returned to the stateroom. I had been going through college football withdraw, not having had time to watch a game in almost three weeks. Thankfully, the Florida State versus Notre Dame game was available on EPSN 2 in our stateroom. After a 7-night, port intensive cruise and a day poolside, I barely made it to halftime before turning off the TV and going to bed.
Complete Trip Log Index
First Leg – 7-night Southern Caribbean Cruise
- Day 1 – San Juan
- Day 2 – At Sea
- Day 3 – Grenada
- Day 4 – Barbados
- Day 5 – St. Lucia
- Day 6 – Antigua
- Day 7 – St. Kitts
Second Leg – 3-Night San Juan to Port Canaveral Cruise
Sounds like you’re having a great time after a little scare with the weather at departure. Hopefully the rest of your trip home goes as well. Just a note it looks like you will have a pretty complete “New” terminal to look at when you sail into Port Canaveral. They had better hustle and get the dock area finished though because there is a new Quantum class scheduled to arrive on November 26th. To bad it won’t be there when you get in or you could have been one of the first to report on it. Counting down the days now, 18 until we are at the Boardwalk and 20 until we do a double dip at CC on the Dream.
I may have missed it, but what precautions is the cruise now taking for Ebola? I read that you have to fill out a questionnaire. I also heard that Cast Members are now serving at buffets, ice cream, and soda counter. I ask this as a person not concerned, but I have heard Disney is doing some things differently now so I just wanted a heads up. We head out on the Dream Oct 31. Thanks for your updates and help. Love reading about your journey.
We did not notice much other than what I mentioned. However, I did hear changes were made on the Magic for Tuesday’s sailing as well as on the other ships. Guessing the new procedures were implemented during the changeover.
As for the pool I believe they painted over Huey, Dewey, and Louie to make it easier to see the bottom of the pool in case of a accident with a child. As you can see when their faces are on the bottom of the pool a child that is submerged would be harder to notice then with the plain bottom, especially with the amount of kids that are always in the pool.
Griffin, thanks for the information. That sounds like a good reason.
I believe the pools were painted to allow better visibility for the lifeguards. It’s hard enough to see to the bottom when the pool is busy let alone if someone is struggling on the bottom.
The Fantasy pools no longer had Mickey and Donald painted on the bottom 2 weeks ago. 🙁