Disney Cruise 2014: Navigator App

Disney Cruise:   Post #3

This handy phone app for iOS or Android is a handy tool.  Disney definitely thinks of everything.  Incredible the way that it only works on the ship's wifi free of charge, yet blocks other access out but its own.  The wifi network is pricey so we did not purchase it.  Plus, you're on vacation, so who wants to answer mail?

When opening your app on the ship though, most times as it refreshes, it would also refresh my Facebook and mail accounts during the 2-4 seconds it takes to open.  So I was generally able to see what was going on at home.     Don't count on this as I'm sure Disney will figure out sooner or later that this happens...

Be sure to download the app  BEFORE you leave home or you will need to purchase one of the internet packages in order to use it.

What's in it?  No need to reinvent the wheel, so take a look at THIS link to see the details.

OK, I'll tell you a few things that it has:

• Deck plans (maps)
• Menus at the restaurants
• Show times for stage and screen

But really, click on the link to see everything that is has to offer.  :)

Disney Cruise 2014: What to Wear

Disney Cruise 2014, Post #2: What to Wear

This is primarily for women since I am one, but I will advise men to take a jacket, dress pants and shoes (and socks) and a tie.

Day Wear:
Cruise Casual--shorts / capris and T-shirts, blouses, flip flops
Around the pools of course, swimwear and  cover-ups
Buffet type food locations:  swimsuits and cover-ups are fine
Table service food locations:  no tanks, swimwear

Evening Wear:
Cruise casual, unless designated

3 out of 7 nights were dressy for us:
(1) Captain's Gala, the most formal--cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, photo shoot with the Captain and crew in their dress uniforms
(2) Dinner at Palo restaurant
(3) Another evening that was designated as semi-formal

I took one long dress with two different shawls and jewelry to change them up.

Disney Cruise 2014: Planning Your Trip

My husband and I just returned a couple of weeks ago from our first cruise on the Disney Fantasy to the Western Caribbean.  It was seven days of a truly lovely vacation. We are already discussing taking another longer one next year to a different location and taking our sons on a short one sometime in between.  We were fortunate to have a friend who had been on several cruises to sit and talk with us and give us some handy tips and ideas.  So, even though we probably have not met, I'll be that friend to you!  :)

Post #1:  Initial Planning

--Renew your passport

--Check your budget

--Look at the weather forecast and for women, plan your wardrobe and do whatever shopping is needed early.   2 suitcases per person are allowed to be checked.  My husband and I each had one suitcase and we shared a third that had tennis shoes,  umbrellas, jackets, snorkel gear.  We carried my laptop on board primarily to upload photos each day.

--Take advantage of the planning center that Disney offers to get an idea of all of the excursions that are available and budget your $$ to do something fun at each port, even if it's as simple as just getting off the ship and walking around the new city, sightseeing and doing a little shopping.   Don't plan to do too much each day.  Our cruise had 2 days at sea, with stops at four ports.  Day 1 debarkation is not until 4 pm, and we boarded at 11:30 a.m. so that was another day as well.    Book your port adventures as early as you can.

--If this is an anniversary or special occasion, adults check out the fine dining (it's ALL good) and the special reservations-only restaurants on board the ship [Palo and Remy]. You pay a little more for one or more of these evenings but they are very elegant to celebrate a special time together.  Make those reservations early.

Happy Sunday!

Have a wonderful, restful day ...  wherever you may be, I hope you begin it with worship.

Heb 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, 

but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Cross Stitch Gift : Bookmark

Here is a cross stitched bookmark that I made for our sweet Chinese scholar when she returned home... I actually made a second one similar for me to keep to remember her by.

One of my sons gave me a laminator as a Christmas gift and this was its inaugural project.  Works GREAT.

The verse on the back in Mandarin Chinese reads:

Philippians 1:3-4

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you...

Coming soon: First Disney Cruise

My husband and I experienced our first cruise last week--on the Disney ship Fantasy. 

I will start posting about it over the weekend and will do a series on this excellent adventure. 

Check back soon!

Seasons of Life ... Time to Cross Stitch

I used to do cross stitch when my children were very young... before our homeschooling days.  Now that our youngest is about to move out of the house for college [bittersweet to me]  I've picked it back up again.

How do you like these two cards I made last week?

Cross Stitch Handmade Card

Cross Stitch Handmade Card

I also tried my hand(s) at quilling... something I'd only done once before marriage, before kids...  It was quite easy to do.  Saving these pieces to add embellishments to cards at a later time.

My P52 photo for Week #34

Quilling Tonya Travelstead P52

Working with your hands can be a pleasurable way to spend some time, especially if doing something mundane like watching television in the evenings... handmade gifts are so cherished.  Give a little of yourself to someone else...

1 Thess 4:11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands...

Buried Treasure ... Treasured Memories

It's been windy and rainy lately here in Florida.  My husband and I were sitting in the front yard over the weekend and a little bit of color peeked through the mulch.  With all the wind, this buried treasured artwork--a mosaic stepping stone-- made by one of our sons had been covered in the mulch.

It's funny how little things can spark memories.  He made this one summer in an art camp.  I think he was about 8 or 9 years old at the time (now 25).  Because the tiles are coated and encased in concrete it will probably last longer than we do.  Whenever I see this, I think back to those special years of having two young boys at home and am so thankful I was able to be home with them...

...years of joyful play
...swimming and shrieks of laughter
...lots of little boy friends over to play
...homeschooling and learning together
...story time at the library
...Barney and Arthur
...afternoon snack time
...cuddles and naptime

SO thankful for these sweet memories...my own personal treasures from long ago.

P52, Week #32

Tonya Travelstead P52

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

Art: Fifty Shades of Grey

If you stopped by to see a review of the popular erotic book or the movie, you'll be disappointed.  Not something I plan to read or see and I would advise you to not do the same.

I took this photo on an outing last week... simply a wall of grey brick with water streaming over it.  If someone told me they had a photo of a basically grey wall, I'd think "how boring"... but if you look at it for a bit as I did when I took the photo, it's actually quite beautiful.  Because of the flowing stream of water, what is plain and simple can become lovely.  I think there is a life lesson here.  :)

Tonya Travelstead Fifty Shades of Grey

This is my P52 2014 photo for Week #31

John 7:37-39  ... “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive...

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

TGCW2014

http://thegospelcoalition.org/2014/

The talks from #tgcw2014 are now available online.