Father and Son - sunrise or sunset?
DEC 25th
About a month before Christmas - we planned a cruise out of Miami on the Disney Magic. Drew and Family would fly straight to Miami from Richmond. We would drive to Miami from Tallahassee on Christmas Day. The next day we would board the ship and cruise to Disney’s Bahama Island. We planned this before anyone had heard of the Omicron version of Covid.
We made sure everyone had all the latest vaccinations. We wore masks and stayed away from others. But the news kept beating things into a frenzy. The day before the trip we were all tested.
We picked the kids up at the Miami Airport at 9 PM Christmas night. We brought the van that seats 6 and holds all our bags. Drew drove us to our hotel on Collins Avenue - very near where they lived for 5 years while Drew earned his Doctorate. We took a late tour enjoying Miami South Beach.
DEC 26th
The next morning we packed all our stuff into the van and drove to the cruise port. This was a critical time. We parked the car and started boarding. Disney tested us all for Covid. If anyone in our party tested positive - we would all have to leave the island - never to be seen again. Luck would have its way - we all tested negative. When we were back home on Christmas Eve - I had a bit of an upset stomach but nothing that was going to stop this family event.
Once aboard the Disney Magic - it was like old home week. We got to our suites and opened up Christmas presents. Lulu always plans a way to get family together for Christmas and presents.
We had cruised on this ship about 5 years ago - and it was nice to reflect on those old times. The ship was built in 1998. It is about 1000 feet long and 100 feet wide. The ship could cruise at 25 MPH. It cost $450 million to build. It has 11 decks and can handle 2700 guests and 950 crew. On our trip it only had 1300 guests. We had two adjacent cabins with balconies - we had a door connecting to each other.
On the upper decks were three pools - several hot tubs - water slides - games - and walking tracks. On a lower deck there was a running track and shuffle board. Inside - there were giant theaters - restaurants - and lounges. Deep down inside there was a hospital and I am pretty sure a jail. To match the Mickey Mouse colors of red - black - white - yellow - the ship has 20 giant lifeboats. Disney ships are the only ships to be able to paint theirs yellow - normally all lifeboats are orange.
We boarded the ship at 10 AM on Dec 26th - and left the ship at 10 AM on Dec 29th. Although the ship does not leave the port until 4 PM - you immediately can use all the facilities and eat. We had lunch and sorted out our bags. Normally - Lulu and I travel with 1 carry-on bag and a backpack. This time we splurged and took much bigger suitcases. What a waste! We used only half of what we brought - and had to schlep those big bags in and out of 3 hotels on the entire trip.
I told Lulu that I thought my upset belly was caused by the stress of possibly ruining the trip with covid. But even after we were on board - my belly did not subside. It did not stymy our trip at all - but it slowed me down.
DEC 27th
In the morning of the second day - we docked at Castaway Cay - Disney’s Island. This island is equipped to easily handle 3000 people - so our little crowd of 1000 or so would be a glass half full. The weather was perfect - air was 82 - water was 80 - flat clear water - and lots of sun. Not a cloud in sight.
This island has some claim to fame. First off - Disney does not own it. They leased it for 99 years. Even if a hurricane would destroy it - it could be easily rebuild in a couple months. It has its own generators for electricity. The water system can claim water from the sea or wells. The Internet system is run by Disney and is expensive.
After the American Revolution - in 1783 - 300 American tories moved here and set up a village under the crown. People do not realize that half of Americans were not rebels - many stayed and more fled to Canada - Florida - Louisiana. The island was used by real pirates to hide in the Caribbean. Much later - modern smugglers build an airport here that aided in the drug trade. The Bahamas are famous for all sorts of businesses profiting off the coast of the USA. Disney’s island is exclusive. Their guests can enjoy the tropics not worrying about crime - danger - or Covid.
We swam - played basketball - ate - walked - and lounged along the beach.
DEC 28th
We spent the full day on the ship - using the facilities - eating - seeing shows - playing games. I spent a lot of time examining all the ship’s beautiful bathrooms. In the evening we had 2 spectacular fireworks shows. The rockets were launched from the smokestack area out over the side of the ship. They were really close and could be followed from up on the deck or on your cabin balconies. One set was launched at 10 PM after we went to bed - and I woke up thinking we were being attacked.
When you walked around the ship you wore masks. You hardly thought about Covid except when you saw the crew constantly wiping down hand rails. Upon entering the dining rooms - you were constantly warned to wash. All the crew constantly wore masks. Your cabin was made up and cleaned several times during the day. I was on first name status with several bathroom hosts.
DEC 29th
To save a little time - we wheeled our own bags off the ship. After showing our passport - we found our van in the covered parking garage - piled the bags in the back - and started our tour of Miami and Miami Beach. We went downtown to see the place where Lulu and I spent the summer of 1972. We went to see the two apartments where Drew and Robin lived for 5 years as he earned his Doctorate at the University of Miami from 2000 to 2005. We went shopping. We checked in at our hotel on South Beach.
After I got off the ship I visited CVS for 2 meds. My belly was a miracle cure. Must have all been in my head. I may be the only guy to lose 3 pounds on a Disney Cruise.
Dec 30th
We enjoyed a day in the water on South Beach - and had lunch at the Breakwater - an old Art Deco hotel. There - we had our hugs and left the Virginia Everhart 4. We were now on our own again - just Nancy and Harry - and the Honda van. The van looked empty to others with 6 empty seats - but to us it was heading home chock full of great memories.
Lulu and I headed north on the Florida Turnpike. Traffic was busy the first leg - but it thinned out as we went north. When the sun set - we decided to rest at a Hampton Inn in Fort Pierce. We watched some football games as we went to sleep early. At 9 AM we were back on an empty highway north. Our exact route home was simple. We took the Turnpike north to I-75. We took I-75 north to Ocala FL. There we took the back way - heading north and west on Route 27. Route 27 goes right to the Capitol at Tallahassee. It was 470 miles from Miami to home. As we drove home - CNN said that the CDC issued a 4 star warning - STAY CLEAR OF CRUISE SHIPS.
The Honda van was perfect. It rides smoothly - has lots of room - and has cushy seating. It got 30 MPG cruising at 70 MPH. It has 3 stage zone AC. The car is 6 years old - had 30000 miles - and just keeps going. I took it for service and they said the tires have 90% left and the brakes have 95% left. Bulletproof.
Another Everhart Adventure in the books. As you get older - when you are doing something wonderful - you think - is this the last time. We love to travel to see new places - different people - experience different things. Having family there makes all the difference. This summer - Lulu and I visited Miami Beach on our 50th wedding anniversary. We thought then - is this the last time. Now 6 months later - we were there again this time with family. The only way you can avoid this being the last time - is to keep doing exciting things together. She is already planning our next adventure.
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