Dick awoke to my plaintiff cries for help. I'd been on the verandah in my bathrobe, taking photos of
Castaway Cay and, in an ambitious David Bailey moment, had climbed up onto the railing to get a better angle! Somehow the belt had become snagged in the metalwork and I was stuck, clutching my enormous camera to my chest and desperately hoping no one could see me! Eventually, my darling husband retrieved me and I was escorted to the relative safety of the stateroom. He wasn't best pleased and, reading between the frown-lines, I sensed he was becoming irritated by my extreme camera-wielding antics. After a week of being woken by the blinding flash as I took candid shots of him sleeping, he'd had enough and this was the final straw! Ignoring my request for orange juice from the breakfast buffet (he didn't appear share my desire for an early morning Bucks Fizz) he marched off to procure provisions from Topsiders, leaving me feeling like the honeymoon was already over! Seems Dick's not
quite as much fun as the title of this trip report suggests...
I returned to the veranda not to take photos but to gaze on the wonderful vista that had appeared overnight!
Stunning, eh? Anyway, DH returned and what a tease! He'd picked up some orange AND cranberry juice from Deck 9 so we started the day with a cocktail of his own design - a 'Dick's Fizz' if you will! Mmm, OK, so the name needs work but at least the honeymoon was back on! We wolfed down the smoked salmon and scrambled egg, then dressed for the beach before heading down to disembark from the ship. Tandem parasailing was scheduled for 10.15am and TBH I was more than a little nervous. I just wanted to get on with it so without delay we headed for the Marge's Barges. As it turned out, my fears were unfounded - we arrived at the reception to be told there was a mechanical problem with one of the boats so our session had to be cancelled! Oh what a shame!!! Seriously I was a little disappointed but, as DH said, all the more reason to return...
We trekked around the island to Serenity Bay which looked much busier than I'd experienced with Sophie back in May 2005! After hunting down a suitable spot, we dragged a couple of beach chairs down to the shore and relaxed with our feet in the sea. Before long, a waitress approached us so I seized the moment and ordered a couple of Konk Koolers - well, it would've seemed rude not to! Oh my! They were delicious and all too soon it was time for round 2! Sitting there, sipping cocktails, basking in the sun and wiggling our toes in the sea - we felt very close to Paradise! DD and I had raved about Castaway Cay to DH and as the date for our cruise approached, I'd started to wonder (and worry) that we'd oversold the experience. I asked him if that was the case and he said nothing. He couldn't - he was having a little snooze in the sun! I guess I had my answer...
My belly started rumbling way sooner than expected and I suggested a stroll to the Bar-B-Q dining area. Dick needed no persuading! We slowly walked along the shore, hand in hand, to the buffet and selected our lunch. I have to say my Mahi Mahi burger and potato salad were delicious - I don't know what Dick had as he appeared to inhale it! After another leisurely stroll, we continued reading and enjoyed a swim in the wonderful warm water.
Dick enjoying a Man From Atlantis moment...
Before long, it was time to head for the cabana area as there was a final treat in store - the couples massage! We checked in and waited a short time before being escorted into a rustic, airy, cabana with two side by side massage tables. Our two therapists asked us what treatments we wanted and Dick quickly requested the same as we'd experienced earlier in the week in the Spa. Touched by his enthusiasm, I agreed but steeled myself for an hour of mauling massage and repeat ribbing about the state of my skin. The session began with the massage and, to my surprise, I found it really pleasurable this time around! Maybe my left shoulder wasn't quite so knotty as earlier in the week or maybe I knew what to expect second time around? Either way, this therapist definitely didn't feel the need to ensure I nearly passed out from the pain, so I was able to languidly lie there and enjoy the moment! Again the facial felt wonderful and, guess what, the therapist actually complimented me on my lack of wrinkles! What a different a therapist makes! I felt so fantastically relaxed at the end of our 60 minutes or so not even hurrying for the tram to take us back to the Magic could break the mood. We met Bob and Penny as we returned to the ship - they'd enjoyed a couples session in the Cabana too. We were one chilled foursome...
Back in our stateroom, it was time to tackle the packing while sipping champagne and munching wedding cake - very civilised! It quickly became clear we didn't have a hope in Helga of fitting all our acquired goodies into the existing luggage and would have to make a Florida Mall pitstop after disembarking the following morning! And that was before the Art Auction at Sea folk turned up with tubes of lithographs, the framed metal heart and, of course, Dick's Pic! They had securely wrapped everything so it was just (just!?!) a case of making them fit... We pressed on, and by the time we had to get ready for dinner, progress had been made. All cases were lined up and ready to put outside our stateroom door for collection and our extensive, if somewhat eclectic, array of hand luggage hogged one of the easy chairs. Tips were pre-paid via the concierge, room service breakfast ordered and just nightwear and assorted toiletries were left to pack the following morning! Feeling rather satisfied, I strolled out onto the veranda for one last look around. Wow! I was so glad I did as the horizon was ablaze with this spectacular sunset! I stepped back inside to get DH and we shared yet another Magical moment...
We were about to leave the room for dinner one last time, when there was a knock at the door and there stood the concierge team. Earlier in the week I had asked them if they could have a cushion cover signed by the characters for me. I'd enclosed suitable pens, a box of Cadbury chocolates and TBH I'd forgotten all about it. Jonathan and Pascal handed over my now signed cushion cover and I was, like so many times this week, completely blown away!
I never expected a memento so perfect and I nearly snogged the two unsuspecting officers there and then! Fortunately I remembered my stiff upper lip in time and so politely shook hands whilst saying in clipped tones (think Helen Mirren in The Queen) "Thanks awfully, chaps!" They also had a couple of extra special pins for our burgeoning collection which were very much appreciated. We thanked them for their great service and told them that we couldn't wait to be on the Magic and staying in 8602 again next summer. But no time to stand and chat - they had a job to do and we had dinner to get to so we said goodbye and hurried off...
Tonight the gang were back in Lumiere's, enjoying the "Till We Meet Again Menu". Throwing caution to the wind, DH and I spent a short time examining our options and made our food and wine choices very quickly...
Kaz's Choices: Seafood Medley, Crawfish and Lobster Bisque, Roasted Mint Pesto Crusted Sirloin of Lamb, Banana Creme Brulee Napoleon...
Dick's Choices: Chilled Tuna Sushi roll garnished with American Black Caviar, Crawfish and Lobster Bisque, Chicken and Mushroom Wellington, Baked Alaska...
What another totally fantastic evening with our fabulous table-mates! Tonight's theme seemed to be Steve's love and fascination, nay obsession, with the Scottish accent! Seems his heroes range from Sean Connery to Groundskeeper Willie! Who knew!?? I'm juvenile enough to admit that his strangled attempts to get his tongue around the complexities of the Highland lilt had me in hysterics (sorry, Steve!) and I just hope no Scots at neighbouring tables took offence - I can promise it was definitely a case of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. Well, something like that, anyway! I don't think we stopped laughing throughout the evening and the only downside was the fact that we had to say goodbye at the end of it! After dinner, the servers strutted their stuff around the room, waving flags to illustrate how they came from all corners of the globe. Clapping loudly, waving napkins and even standing on our chairs, we cheered raucously for our 'team' as they went by! The diners were dispersing now but still our table remained seated. Suddenly, I heard a voice say, "Now is this the elusive CustardTart?!" and I turned around to see Mike (aka Papa) who had first welcomed me on the cruise thread so very many months ago! I can't tell you how happy this made me. I'd missed Mike and his wife Kathy at the original Meet and we'd been so busy throughout the week, there just hadn't been a moment to catch up. I was on my feet in a moment and almost knocked the poor guy over with my enthusiastic hug! I want to say 'thank you' to this wonderful man for taking the time and trouble to hunt me down - Mike, you made my night!
Anyway, all too soon, it was time to leave Lumiere's and we embraced our new friends, thanking them for a memorable week and expressing our very best wishes... I really hope we are able meet up again in the future, guys!
Before heading off for our last nightcap in the Promenade Lounge, we returned to the suite to put the bulk of our luggage, appropriately labelled with Tinkerbell tags, outside the door ready for collection. It felt very final and our glum expressions said it all, really. Even the expert turndown and delightful kneeling towel angel left by our sensational stateroom host didn't cheer us up. OK, maybe a little...
Only one thing to do then - head back to the bar! Once seated comfortably at our favourite table, we decided to try a couple of flavoured martinis as the free ones on offer at the art auction had been surprisingly delicious! I had a rasberry one - actually I had two, they were that good! With our moods improved, we said goodbye to our favourite bar staff and made our way to bed for one last sleep...