A dream come true! Tales (tails?) from the Doodle Cruise.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

We started planning in July of 2011 and the Doodle Cruise was but a dream.  All the days of planning and waiting and finally it was here.  The chance to meet in person some of my DK IDOLS!  From the 1st moment it was truely like we were all old friends - because we really were old friends.  This past week was one I will never forget.  There were tons of laughs, some tears, dancing, way too much eating and drinking.  Doodle talk of course!!!  I am way to tired (and want to spend time with Rooney, Stuart and DH) to go into details - those will all come as people get home but I'll share a few photos with you all.  Oh and of course WE CAN'T TELL EVERYTHING - some things will have to stay on the ship.

Here is Dori and I at Sail Away - the weather is Miami was getting cloudy - great time to leave. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

The balcony was wonderful. That is the only way I would go in the future.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

yeah and you had that nice big cabin too with a nice updated tv

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Sharon, I always book a balcony room so I at least have a small area of space that is mine and mine alone so that I can get away from it all if I want.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Aw, give it a try!  I have been on many cruises and love the fact that you only have to pack once and no carrying around luggage.  Most of these cruise boats are so large that you have no feeling that you are on the inside of a boat.  And sleeping is pretty cool.  Disadvantage, you can't take the dogs with you.  We never go anywhere without our dogs now.  If we can't drive, we leave someone home, but it is enjoyable to travel with my DH.  Suggestion:  Don't say no when your husband wants you to try something new!  It may just be your thing and you would never know if you didn't try it.

[GBK]

I don't have the best sea legs, I get motion sickness.  I've been on two cruises, and it can be hard on me being below deck when the ship starts a little more movement than usual, and food doesn't look as appetizing (not always a bad thing).  It's much better out on deck in the ocean air.  And I love to sight see at all the stops, not to mention I had great company on both with lot's of girl fun :)  I could do another, this one sounded fabulous!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Both John and I got the doctor to give us a patch for motion sickness and we kept it on the entire cruise. At times, I could feel the rocking, but it never made either of us sick. My next cruise will be smoke free on the entire boat. That bothered me more than the motion. Also, we had a room with a balcony and large window and that helped, too.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

The smoke free is a big thing if you are like me and stale smoke makes you feel sick. You pretty much have to avoid all the areas around the casinos. That leaves out a lot of entertainment places.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Exactly! I walked by the casino, but never played because of the smoke. That really was my only complaint and even that did not bother me too much.

[Adina P]

What is the actual medication in the patch? Both the oral Dramamine and the 'less drowsy' Meclazine make me feel like super drowsy and drugged up. Is the patch thing not at all that way?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

 Transderm Scop - Scopolamine 1.5 mg

It does say may cause drowsiness, blurred vision. Did John act tired? LOL  I did not feel super drugged or anything.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sharon, I feel the same way, and I have been on a cruise. But in this case, I'm very sorry I missed it, because the company would have made up for everything else.

[F, Calla & Luca]

There are many different kinds of cruise ships. I have never been on one of the really big ships though. The ones I've been on are nothing like Vegas. They are small, about 100 people or less, generally with naturalists pointing out things of interest or historians telling you about the area. The food is good, you can have a balcony. No shows except perhaps some small, local thing. I've done this in Alaska, one of my best vacations and in the south. I am about to do the Hudson River. Sadly small ships and river boats do cost more than the mega ships. I love that you unpack once and have a home base. But sometimes you might like a little more time than you get someplace.