The 2023 NKOTB Cruise - arrival day

Wednesday, after months of planning and stress, Lisa and her friend JJ departed to Miami to embark on the 2023 NKOTB Cruise. This was to be the second such trip for Lisa and the first for JJ. 

As we learned from our own cruises together, it is always best to travel to the port city the day before embarkation, not only to avoid any travel delays that make you miss the ship, but just to de-stress and unwind. 

(Update: the next day a bomb scare in Baltimore delayed/canceled many flights and yes, some fans missed the ship and lost out on their vacation)

I dropped them off at O'Hare for an 11am flight and they were on the way!

Once I got to Miami they went to a merchandise pop up for the cruise where they were excited to see and take a photo with Danny Wood!

And they met Danny's Dad!

They eventually met up with Carina, Lisa's European friend and her roommate last year on the cruise.

Officially the vacation I hadn't even begun yet so there was a lot more to come . . .

The Significance of the Lanyard Colors

Oh, btw - in the photo's from the cruise, the silver color of our lanyards is significant. It means we are are veterans of Disney Cruise Line, and believe it or not there were times folks without one treated us with deference and awe. LOL. From what I understand, you need to cruise 5 times to earn a gold lanyard, and 15 or more to earn a platinum one. So, at our established rate, we'll earn a gold one by, oh, 2038 :)

A Happy Lady :)

5 brothers and a million sisters. I feel the power. Keep spotting my blockhead sisters and having to hold back the urge to go fan girl on them! Just so excited to spend the week with women who have been moved by them like I have for so many years. Decades. I'm a happy mess...but a mess none-the-less! - Lisa

She's so excited!

48 Hours to Go! (Before flying out)

On her cruise's Facebook page:  

2417 door decor is a bit interactive. Add a star sticker  to the shows u were at that one of us was at too :). Also fcfs misc cozies, condoms and candies. Might not be a room to go specifically ...but if you happen to see us, play along!  :) 

- Lisa  

7 Days!!

In one short week I'll be driving to O'Hare! Yay!!! Dan make sure u have off...ur my ride xo - Lisa

NKOTB Cruise

 #booked...My bday is the day we set sail! Meant to be! - Lisa

Grant by Ron Chernow (To Be Read)

I want to read this on my next cruise

Pirate Night!

Pirate Night on day three.

Junie getting her braids done on our cruise

The pictures seem to have loaded in reverse order, so start at the bottom and scroll up!

Moana

On day four Lisa took Smiley and Junie to see this on the ship. Junie loved it, Smiley thought they introduced too many characters and lost focus.

Some Vacation Pics on the Disney Dream

Disney Dream 12/12-12/16

Good Taste

In the last week Junie has had duck confit, leg of lamb, and mussels; Smiley had duck breast, crème brule and sushi; YaYa had one of my escargot; and I had lamb shank (I haven't had lamb in maybe thirty years). I'm glad the kids taste buds don't start and end with chicken nuggets.

Junie and the Disney Selfies

Junie made a habit of taking a selfie with the Disney characters she met on the cruise.

Our Stateroom Door

The door to one of our staterooms. Lisa had the decoration designed for us. 

Now and Then

The first photo (with the white shirt) is from Cruise #2, in 2014, and YaYa asked to recreate it this time around. (click on the pictures to see how close we got). It was *much* harder than it looks, because the bright Bahamian sun was in our face and we couldn't see the camera screen at all LOL.

An Iconic Photo

The picture with the 3 year old Olivia is from our first cruise, back in 2006. In honor of its tenth anniversary, we recreated the picture on Day Four of this trip :)

We're Back!

So, from Monday morning until Friday night the family enjoyed a short cruise aboard the Disney Dream. There's no internet access (well, none I'm willing to pay for) from the middle of the ocean, so for a week there was no news, no Words with Friends, no Facebook. I enjoyed that break, and apparently so did you. Quoting Sandra Si "I didn't even realize you were gone!"

A Great Pic from Our Cruise

 

We're Home!

 made it safely to mke.. there's a ton of snow!! - YaYa