I know the lifeboat drill was an absolute necessity, but it was soooo miserable. We were trying to adjust to the Miami heat and humidity and then standing on this deck with another 4,500 sweaty people, no breeze to speak of whatsoever and these lovely orange floatation devices stuck around our necks. Let's just say after spending a day in airports, numerous hours in lines waiting for buses with luggage, security checks, customs clearances, registering to board, picture taking, etc. we were wondering when the vacation would actually begin. We won't mention how cranky Mom was getting at this point... Oh yeah, did I mention claustrophobia and we're stuck at the back of this crowd because we were some of the first to respond to the drill?!? Not a highlight of the trip but quite a memory. So imagine how thrilled we were to get to an upper deck and just BREATHE.
It was incredible to see how this ship could completely turn around in this small-ish area.
Maybe we'll come back to just stay in one of these resorts.
Goodbye, Miami!
We could watch the action, from down below, up on the big-screen. The kids enjoyed some time on the water slide later in the cruise.
Monday - Day at Sea
Brooklyn & Kayla - Buffet breakfast in the Retro Rosie Restaurant.
Jordan & Brooklyn silhouetted against the ocean.
Brooklyn's 'formal night' hat.
Auntie Jolene thought that it would be fun if the women in our group (approx. 22) brought hats and ribbons, trim, etc to decorate them with. It turned out pretty fun because all the guys wore top hats, tuxes, bow ties, and canes. As mentioned in a previous post, I'm already regretting the times we didn't take pics. Formal night was one of those times. We have a huge group pic taken by the cruise line, but no snapshots. So we'll have to rely on others in our group for those - sorry!
Tuesday - Grand Cayman
Below is a "pirate ship". Niece Molly and her husband Ron took an excursion on one and got to walk the plank.
Looking towards Grand Cayman. We were anchored out a ways and had to be tendered in. (Hope that's the right expression). When I originally read that Grand Cayman was a 'tender port', I thought it meant they accepted our American cash. Tender - cash, get it?? Ha! What a surprise I got when I found out we didn't just walk off the ship into port. Who knew there were a bunch of definitions for 'tender'. Oh, don't be so smug - just 'cause you knew. Good thing I didn't sleep walk off because I'd be the one walking the plank!
Leaving our ship.
Brooklyn looking at the beautiful blue water.
Thirteen of us hired a taxi to take us to the beach so we could start snorkeling. We had to make use of that big bag of snorkel equipment we drug all this way with us. Thanks to Keith's boss who let us borrow it. He and his family snorkel quite a bit in Hawaii.
Love the clear water!
So fun to snorkel and play in. Amazing how coarse the sand was, too.
Uncle Fred rented a kayak and many in our group had a fun go at it!
Jordan & Uncle Fred
Jaeden & Uncle Fred
Jordan & Boo
Jordan & Cousin Jenny
Jordan, Cousin Kayla and Boo
Uncle Jerry & Auntie Sue
We had a great time at the beach and the day sped by all too quickly. All that sun and water made us ready for dinner and bed that night.
Tomorrow: Roatan, Honduras
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1 comment:
Was wondering about the "big group picture" can it be scanned and put on here? xoxo Mom
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