Heading back for another cruise

[Sir William]

Gee Sir William, a travel agent eh? ...
We are planning a Disney cruise with the entire family (three sons, one or two significant others, a daughter-in-law and our grandson) for 2015, which will be the year before our grandson starts school. Between now and then we're saving our pennies for the cruise.

Frank

Yeah, it's my post-DOD retirement job. Wife won't let me sit home and watch soaps.

Disney is our favorite cruise line, and we've always sailed without kids. Can't beat the customer service.

I have an agreement with her that when we cruise to any "Commonwealth" destination (Canada, Bermuda, UK, etc) that I can wear my kilt for the formal nights. Otherwise, I have to wear a tux. On our cruise to Bermuda last year I was the only kiltie on board - but the two Scottish officers both enjoyed it, as did a number of ladies!

[frank_a]

Too bad about the wife and soaps thing Sir William, but what's a lad to do?

That's a very good recommendation for Disney. How many Disney cruises have you and the wee lass taken?

I am at a point now that I have sufficient kilt stuff to feel comfortable getting kilted up on a cruise. I may get kilted up tomorrow with all this new stuff I got and get some pics before heading out to a meeting of the St. Andrews Society. We'll see how it goes. I'm still a workin stiff and been very busy, so it's one day at a time...

Take care, and best of luck with the travel business!

Frank

[Sir William]

Too bad about the wife and soaps thing Sir William, but what's a lad to do?

That's a very good recommendation for Disney. How many Disney cruises have you and the wee lass taken?

Frank

Two Disney cruises to date. One by ourselves, and one with our grown-up children. We're taking two more in 2014. We'd have done at least two more by now but I had to move them. We've also done Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, American Queen (and the former Delta Queen Line before that). We're taking our first European river cruise in September.

[Drac]

Got back Saturday and getting thing back in order. Always seems you have more catching up to do from a vacation than the length of the vacation.

I brought mostly kilts for this since there was going to be a formal night, a semi-formal and a fancy brunch. Figured why pack twice the stuff since I needed to bring all the stuff for the kilts anyways. There were a couple times I did go conventional. Part of one was my limits of hose. Doing laundry on vacation is a vacation so there was a limit to how many changes I could do. One of those times was at Animal Kingdom in Disney World. Got a back stage tour which required us to wear harnesses. Kilts and harnesses are the best combination. They chafe.

Here is the first installment. Thought I'd hit the kilts first and than get to the rest a bit later. It will be a mix of Disney's and my pics.

My kilt pin for most of the cruise -



Hanging with Goofy after "running" a 5K in a Navy Sport Kilt -



And with Stitch (a fav) after a shower and change into a Navy NWU kilt -



Formal Night with Amy (yes I am in the photo) I decided to do the full Monty since I doubt most people would notice or see the fly plaid let alone care. This is a my Kathy Lare Tank in Lamont modern -



The photographer kicked Amy out (how rude) for a couple of just me so I had to do it -



Used a clan badge with my Navy rank on it for the plaid pin from Alexis Malcolm. The sporran is a custom "rat" sporran that I had done out of nutria hide from Howard -



Hanging with the main Mouse -



With Miss Mouse on Semi-formal night in one of Rocky's 5 yard Dress Gordon -



Back with the Goof -

[Drac]

The rig worn to the fancy brunch. One of the restaurants on board (Palo) does have an extra charge if you want to eat there for brunch or dinner but they have a higher dress code so went with more of a business casual look. This being my R'lyeh Ancient box pleat done by Barb -



And of course the way better half -



In the Animal Kingdom (before being required to change) in a Gordon Modern PV -



Out and about Key West in a Highland Granite (I think) acrylic -



Couple from around -









This was our third and the best so far. Great weather, smooth ride, plenty to do and plenty of time to put the feet up. Only real issue was Key West as we only got 4 hours there. Barely enough time for a Trolley Tour, hits the stores, the Southern Most point, and lunch at Hog's Breath (great burgers) before heading back. There is a hell of a lot more to see but unfortunately means large hotel bills (might be able to swing military lodge) and a trip across a VERY LONG bridge and I hate bridges.

Jim

[rlh2]

What great photos! You two looked like you had a good time. Great combos by the way.

[chewse]

Very special photos!

[cessna152towser]

Great photos.
Being captive on a cruise ship is not how I would wish to spend precious time away from work, a couple of bad experiences of four day mini cruises put me off the idea, rude staff, storms and seasickness, however we are all different and it is obvious from these happy photos that your cruise was an event which gave both you and your good lady much pleasure.
Thanks for sharing your joy through these pics.

[Drac]

Great photos.
Being captive on a cruise ship is not how I would wish to spend precious time away from work, a couple of bad experiences of four day mini cruises put me off the idea, rude staff, storms and seasickness, however we are all different and it is obvious from these happy photos that your cruise was an event which gave both you and your good lady much pleasure.
Thanks for sharing your joy through these pics.

After 18+ year in the Active and Reserve Navy I'm pretty good at sea no matter the weather. Amy on the other hand did get a bit sick on the first two but she has her sea legs now. Bad weather can ruin any vacation. Had more than a couple rain checks over the years and more snow days than I care to ever deal with again

The staff on the Disney ships, so far for us, has been beyond great. I have heard of rude servers and hosts but for us it has been nothing but the royal treatment. The head waiter on this last cruise kind of adopted us and he was the head waiter on our first cruise on the same ship. Was always stopping by to make sure everything was going well. On our first cruise Amy was a bit green around the gills. He helped us move tables once since the table we were at was directly over some machinery and was making things worse. He kept her supplied with ginger ale and cracker no matter what the meal. This one he kept our table supplied with coarse salt (a personal favorite for us) and crusty French rolls as he knew Amy didn't care for the fancy stuff.

Jim