After I walked all the way back to my cabin and left my camera, and anything else I didn't want to leave unattended on the beach, I walked back to the island, stopping at the gift shop to pick up a disposable underwater camera and one of those little plastic waterproof containers. I put my Key to the World card, my watch, and my pedometer in this so that I could keep them on me the whole time I was in the water. Then I re-found the rental place and rented snorkel equipment. The snorkeling course at Castaway Cay is divided into two courses, a short one for beginners and a longer one for those with more experience. I had no experience outside of a swimming pool, but I was up for a challenge, so I decided to take on the big course. It took me a few minutes to adjust to floating with my face underwater while still breathing through a tube, but once I adjusted, I found it comfortable and relaxing. I did have to stop a few times to empty water from my mask and re-adjust the seal; I was wearing contact lenses, because I wouldn't have been able to see much without them, and I was worried that if the mask leaked too much the water would wash them out of my eyes. I flippered my way slowly all around the big course once, looking for the hidden Mickey that's out there, but never caught a glimpse of it. But I only swam around once and didn't cover much real ground; the course is about 30 or 40 feet wide, and I swam a straight course through it, so I only saw a strip about 10 feet wide. I got out when I got tired, returned the snorkel equipment and vegged on a shaded beach chair for a while, till a brief shower moved in.
By this time I was hungry, and it was raining, so I went to the food pavilions and got lunch. The rain stopped while I was in line, so I found a nice table with a view of the beach and chowed down on a cheeseburger, chips, and chocolate chip cookie.
I went back to the ship, changed to dry clothes, and went to the Internet Cafe to post an update in the Clubhouse.
Afterward, I found a spot on Deck 9, in the shade, to read a little more of my paperback. I was starting to feel ill; I thought maybe I had sun poisoning, because the burns on my back, gotten while paddling around Serenity Beach on a float, were the worst I've ever had.
I went to a presentation by the cruise director, Rick, about debarkation, customs, immigration, and luggage handling. Rick was a natural at public speaking, relaxed and personable, even with the Walt Disney Theater filled to capacity and beyond. His presentation was very informative and fun, as he told tales of people who pack every article of clothing they have in their checked bags, then wind up with nothing to wear in the morning for debarkation. Then there is the most-stolen item found in people's luggage by Customs: Mickey salt and pepper shakers! No, not towels, 15-cent salt and pepper shakers from the ship's various restaurants were appropriated more than any other item.
After the presentation, I made a stop in my cabin for an item I had purchased earlier in the cruise. It was a small resin model of the ship, about 8 inches long, with wonderful detailing and color. At 7:30 on the last night of the cruise, the Captain of the ship holds an autograph session in Treasure Ketch, one of the two shops, and I wanted to get my model signed. I arrived at Treasure Ketch second only to an anxious boy of about 12 who was eagerly waiting with his own model. We were joined a few minutes later by a little girl who was his friend, and the little girl's mother. We all stood around talking about the cruise, WDW, and USF, until the Captain arrived. I let the kids go first, since the boy had been there before me, and then got my model signed and a photo taken with the Captain. Tink1 and her son Greg were in line behind us, and got a few things signed, and I snapped a pic of Greg with the Captain. I figured that Greg's would turn out, and mine probably wouldn't, because I forgot to turn on the flash for mine, but my picture with the Captain did turn out pretty well.
Dinner was the best we had had so far, even better than the excellent Animators Palate. I was feeling ill, so I just had an appetizer of minestrone, which I barely touched, but it was fabulous just the same. Everybody else had main courses and desert, and were highly impressed with everything. Partway through the meal a Disney photographer came in and snapped a few pics of the whole group.
After dinner we all sat around gabbing; we had all been seated at nearby tables all week, but this was the first time we had all been together in one room at one table. The conversation drifted from subject to subject and I didn't want it to end, but I had to go get out of my monkey suit and pack it in my suitcase. There was an 11pm deadline for putting out luggage to be collected for shipping to the terminal when we docked in the morning. I was delayed slightly by three of the porters who were in the midst of collecting luggage; they were all impressed by my Mickey Mouse tie. They were all very nice guys, and I stood there talking to them for about five minutes, but I didn't catch their names. I got my suit into the suitcase, put on my shorts and t-shirt, and wrestled the suitcase into the passageway for pickup. As I pushed the suitcase aside so it wasn't blocking the door, I heard the dreaded CLICK of that door closing behind me. Oops. My room key was on the desk inside! I had just changed, and was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, with no belt, no shoes, and nothing in my pockets except my notebook and pencil.
The air-conditioning in the theater was also excellent, I thought, because I shivered through most of the movie. Afterward, I made my way back to my cabin, still feeling queasy, and knocked on the door, explaining to Mike why I didn't have my Key to the World card on me. He was finishing his packing, too, since he had come aboard with only carry-on luggage. Feeling queasy, feverish, and sunburned as I was, I nodded off without even knowing the time.
Walk Miles: 5.6