The Royal Treatment ~ R is for Reception

The cast member verified our family name pronunciation and with a grand flourish announced to the gathered cast "Welcome Aboard, the Ketcherside Family!"

They break into applause and this is the first of many moments that I cry on the cruise. I don’t know why I cry every cruise. I guess it is that it feels like coming home again. Knowing that for the next couple days the most stressful thing to do is decide if I sunbathe before or after I head to animation class. Maybe it is that it is the most beautiful stunning ship. Maybe it’s the pixie dust in the air.

Anyway, unlike most trips (where the atrium is filled with people slowly making their way to the portside of the ship to head to either the Guest Services desk or to lunch at the restaurants in the aft) the atrium was empty of everyone but us and the cast.

Awkward photo in front of the atrium tree.

I turned halfway across the atrium and took a quick pic of Kylee by the Christmas tree. We meandered past Guest Services, turned down the hallway passing by Triton’s. Still no other guests came into sight as we greeted several cast members preparing water packages for sale at the Promenade Lounge. It felt like the whole ship waited for us like a giant gift just waiting to be unwrapped.

Child for Scale.

As the Christmas decorations remained up, we got to enjoy a nearly life size gingerbread house that mouth-wateringly scented the air with ginger, clove and cinnamon. Since it was nearing noon, we headed into Parrot Cay for lunch.

They took our room number and seated us with assurance that a server would be out to assist us with any gluten free ordering as needed.

Olives. One of Kylee favorite foods.

Kylee and I dove into the salad bar portion of the buffet (not literally), complete with her favorite of all legumes, the chickpea.

Yummy!

I still felt really full from breakfast and the excitement of boarding so I got a salad. On passing the carving station, Chris wanted to know about the “biggest turkey leg.”

That’d be some turkey, wouldn’t it?

The server came over with two covered dishes for Christopher’s gluten free enjoyment. Grilled chicken and veggies (which Kylee snuck off the edge of his plate when he wasn’t looking) and a second dish with dessert.

Super Excited!

Take note of this chocolate cake with chocolate syrup. It will return.

Ooooooooo! Chocolate time.

Chris started into his dessert as we wandered off to see whether Kylee wanted some fruit. Ben really enjoyed a white chocolate raspberry whip dessert the best, so Diana opted for the same dessert (which she agreed was quite good) and a little sweet muffin.

White Chocolate Raspberry Whip and Muffin.

Kylee, like me, got antsy and wanted to head off and explore the ship, so we agreed to meet up at the concierge reception in the Cadillac lounge around 1:00.

Banners Hanging from Deck 10

Kylee and I bypassed the cast setting up for the “Adventures Away!” sail away party and headed up to deck ten for a traditional funnel picture of Kylee.



Sundress in January?
Why not.
Got to love Texas "winters."

FYI, I was wrong and should have packed the kids swimsuits in the carryon. The afternoon heated up enough that, with the heated pools, swimming was definitely an option.

Reflection of the platforms waiting for repair in the West Bay between Galveston and the mainland.

Passing By Palo.

Chris Photo courtesy of Ben.

After a bit, Chris, Ben and Diana finished lunch and headed back out toward the Promenade Lounge, bumping into Chris and Casey in the restaurant on the way out. Then they hung out in the promenade lounge for a bit.

Dance break to look out across the bay.

Kylee began her usual dance about the ship until we reached ten forward and we both settled in for a quick game of foosball.

I won! But in fairness, Kylee scored on herself. Twice.

Glancing at my iPhone, I realized we need to head down the seven decks to Route 66 and the Cadillac Lounge. On arriving, Glenn (our concierge for the duration) had already introduced himself to Ben and Diana and they enjoyed some soda and snacks. Glenn quickly reviewed the perks of concierge with us and went over the itinerary that shore side concierge services designed for us ahead of time. Oddly enough, our Palo reservation showed as a reservation for “0” guests (at the proper time and with the proper table size). Glenn double-checked the reservation (yes all three for brunch) and let us know that Chef Stephane of France headed up Palo on the Wonder currently. (I’d been hoping to see Chef Silvio from the Magic again, but tried to keep an open mind.) Glenn said he’d be by later on with tickets for the ladies to attend the “Disney Friends Tea Party” later in the cruise. (He offered tickets to Ben and Chris as well, but they declined.)

The servers in Cadillac Lounge brought me a peppermint tea (my favorite) and Diana thought she’d sit for a tea for a while as well. Our rooms were due to open around 1:30, so we sat for a bit. As we visited and the kids enjoyed endless rounds of juice and fruit, Diana commented offhand that she hadn’t made it into the “Beat Street” part of the Disney Magic on her previous sailing because she’d assumed the whole area of the ship to be set aside for teenagers rather than adults.

Yes they're still announcing people who are boarding.

I couldn’t help but walk her over to Diversions and Radar Trap and Wavebands and show off the adult entertainment district. Suddenly one of us realized that the rooms were nearly about to open. The time had come to go check out our suite.

This is Part 4 of an Ongoing Trip Report "The Royal Treatment" additional sections of this report can be found on the Adventures page.