Adventures Away and Castaway Cay

It's hard for me to believe that it was three weeks ago tomorrow that we first boarded the Disney Magic and our wonderful transatlantic adventure began. For Maisie, the very first thing on her agenda was to go swimming but the first thing on my agenda was to take the advice of Johnny and get Maisie registered and tagged at the Oceaneer club & lab. So we dropped our travel bag in our cabin and Maisie got changed into her swim suit then after a quick detour to get her set-up for the kids program she was in the Mickey pool having a blast. Maisie could have stayed in the pool for hours and hours but luckily for me, the pool was only open for a short time because before we knew it, it was time for the mandatory boat drill and then it was the Adventures Away party followed by dinner.

By dinner time Maisie was exhausted and fell asleep on my arm for about 45 minutes right at the dinner table but then she was up again, eating and getting to know the other people at our table. I have to say, Disney did a good job at putting together our table. Our table consisted of four single/traveling alone parents with their 4/5 year olds. Our table of eight was Maisie and I, Michael and his son Colin (4 y/o) from California, Pedro & Pedro Jr (5 y/o) from Puerto Rico and Chris and his daughter Marta (4 y/o) from Holland. Throughout the cruise all of us adults enjoyed each other and we had a good time together. Maisie and Marta really hit it off, they enjoyed coloring, playing, being silly and even chatting away with one another...even though Marta didn't speak English. Funny how Maisie seems to attach herself to little Dutch children and doesn't care one lick that they don't speak the same language. Maisie and Marta not only enjoyed each other at dinner but they also enjoyed being together at the kids club, sitting together at the theater and playing together in the pool, on deck and seeing movies together. Pedro Jr. was a nice little boy but we only saw him I think two evenings as he truly loved the kids club and chose to remain there during dinner. Colin we only got know towards the end of the cruise as he spent most evenings watching movies or playing games on an iPhone. Funny thing though with Colin, once he and Maisie started communicating and playing together, they were best buddies and had lots of fun together.

Minutes after boarding the ship Maisie was in the pool having a great time and meeting new friends.

Maisie at the boat drill.

Maisie partying it up at the Adventures away party. I can't tell you how much I love this outfit that Maisie is wearing and I have her wear it all the time especially when we travel as it always looks and wears well and Maisie is so comfortable wearing it. This is one outfit that I'll really miss when she outgrows it. What I love about the outfit is that the top could be worn as a dress and then with long pants and as it is now, with the pants being capris, check out how she's grown into the outfit over the past two years. 6/6/2008, 6/28/2008, 6/30/2009, 7/11/2009 and 10/12/2009.

Maisie sound asleep at our first on-board dinner.

After our first night at sea we arrived bright and early at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. The day started off a bit overcast but turned into a gorgeous, sunny day.

Maisie asked me to take a picture of Goofy painting the back of the ship...in fact she pointed it out to me in each port that he was still there painting and wondered when he would finish.

Me and my best girl.

The Flying Dutchman was right next to where the Magic docked.

I just adore my Maisie!

Maisie and Stitch. The first afternoon and evening Maisie was hesitant to go near any of the characters but by the next morning she was asking to queue up to have her picture taken.

Pluto playing with Maisie.

Minnie became one of Maisie's favorite characters and every time she saw her, asked to have a picture taken.

I found the water quite frigid but Maisie had a blast and was in and out for hours.

Maisie has always loved being buried in the sand.

I just love this picture of her caked with sand.

We had a great first two days and we were ready for our next 6 days at sea.