Day 1: DOVER!!!!

We’re on our way to Dover!  (Did you catch the Disney reference?  We’re merrily, merrily, merrily…)

Cindy and I are on a bus, traveling through the English countryside.  I’ve never been to the British Isles, and neither has my bonnie bride.  And we’re going on a cruise!  Not just a cruise—a Disney cruise!  For us, this is the vacation of a lifetime.

We had to get up at 4:00 AM this morning. No, make that yesterday morning.  Our flight was at 10:00 AM, but we were told to be at the airport by 6:00 since it was an international flight.  This, of course, turned out to be EXCESSIVELY early.  But better safe than…. you know.

I have to say, Delta is the absolute best.  Even though we were NOT traveling with the Choir, Delta treated us like royalty (or at least as much as is possible in economy class), even if we did have to sit on the very BACK row on both segments of our flight.

When we boarded our bus at London Heathrow Airport, we were informed that there wasn’t much to see on the way to Dover—except grass.  Maybe so, but it’s BRITISH grass.  There were cows too.  BRITISH cows.  (Which means they will probably end up overcooked at some point.)  But we just saw a CASTLE!!!

And we just saw the white cliffs of Dover.  So freakin’ cool.

We are now at the port of Dover, waiting to board the Disney Magic (our ship).  And Minnie Mouse just arrived!!!  That means WE have arrived!!!  (…even if we are still waiting to board the ship.)

Can you tell I’m geeking out?

Is it just that it’s Disney, or is it the accents?  Everybody is so polite.  I think it’s got something to do with the accent, because even at the airport, the border control personnel were very friendly.  Then there was the rest stop on the way to Dover—even the clerk in the convenience store made us feel welcome.  Definitely the accent.  Maybe when I get home, I’ll pull a Gwyneth Paltrow and affect an accent to make everybody think I’m really nice (or snotty or just plain weird).

We’re now aboard and it is our first morning.

So many nationalities among the cast and crew!  We have so far been served by folks from Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Serbia, and of course, Great Britain.  So, we’re being treated to accents from around the world, and we’re loving it.

We dined at Palo’s last night.  Now, MOST of the food here is free, but there is a $30/person extra charge to dine at Palo’s.  We weren’t all that excited about paying extra for an Italian restaurant.  (I mean, my wife’s lasagna is to die for.)  But it was incredible.  Lots of extras.  Well worth the premium charge.  But our server!  He was from the Philippines and he was so attentive.  When he found out we were celebrating our 36th wedding anniversary, he decorated a plate will chocolate and red and yellow jellies, spelling out, “Happy Anniversary,” of course.  He also added red hearts, framed in chocolate, and a chocolate chain of red and yellow “jewels.”  Then he brought us a third desert!  Because he was from Manilla and I had spent five years of my childhood at Clark AFB, including a couple of weeks in Manilla with a dear native family while my parents travelled about the orient, we had an immediate connection.  When he learned we were from Utah, he associated us with the Church and missionaries.  After dinner, he said, “I know you won’t be wanting coffee.”

The stateroom is really quite luxurious.  The bathrooms are tiny, but well-designed.  The bed was VERY comfortable.

Needless to say, I am impressed.

We had our mandatory lifeboat training.  Our gathering location was in a restaurant called “The Animator’s Palate”.  All the tables were covered up, but the place looks really cool.  I can’t wait to try it out!  We met a family from Canada.  This was their SIXTH Disney cruise.  With kids.  (Must be really well off…)  They were quite nice.  They said they had also cruised with another popular cruise line (which will remain nameless), but it doesn’t compare to Disney—at least according to them.  We also met a man travelling alone.  I was astonished.  Imagine travelling alone on a Disney cruise!  As it turns out, though, he is aboard on business to help with the architectural lighting.

As we sat out on the aft deck of Deck 10, waiting to leave port, some massive seagulls flew so close and so low that their wingtips nearly brushed the head of a lady at the railing (less than a dozen feet from us).  I managed to get one (actually, SEVERAL) shots of the lady (in an attempt to capture the seagull and give the viewer perspective of its proximity and size).  Only one shot came close.  It was a maybe-you-had-to-have-been-there moment.

So far, the only disappointment is that you must pay for the internet aboard ship, and it IS expensive.  So, I won’t be posting any pictures as we go.  (I’ll post them when we get back.)

Next up, Le Havre, France!