Heading Home!

Monday: We had to be off the ship by 8:00am so we got up, dressed and yep....headed for the breakfast buffet (along with all 2,000 other people on the ship). The ship had to be cleared by customs, so about 7:30 they started hearding us off......I mean these people don't fool around....thanks for visiting, have a safe trip, now get off this boat. We were out of there and back in our truck by 8:15 am.

We really had a great time but I am glad to be home.

Day 4-Parasailing!!

Day 4--Well, we were up early this morning (no room service or b'fast buffet). We were already at the private island and our PARASAILING excursion was booked for 8:00am. So we hurried and get with our group and they loaded us up on this speed boat. You know how "adventurous" I am and David has inherited these genes so how can I say--we were not thrilled. But we had paid like $300 for this "excursion" and we were doing it. So we get our instructions. Of course, my adventurous two (Steve and Landon) were first to go and they had a ball. David and I went last (there were 12 of us on the boat) and it really wasn't as bad as I imagined. I even opened my eyes a couple of times.....So after that, they dropped us off at the island. Since it was early, there weren't many people there. We claimed a hammock and three lounge chairs in the shade and parked it there. Steve and Landon went snorkling (David and I did not). This was the best day!! You know I AM a beach person so I was in my element. The cruise line set up a huge bar-b-q for lunch. We ate ( I know, we gained like 10 pounds) and drank Coco Locos (non-alcoholic) and relaxed. Steve and I walked the island a little and everything was so beautiful. We stayed here until about 2:00 and headed for the ferry. They had a little market and we bought a few souvenirs and loaded the ferry. Now let's talk about the ferry......it was two levels, one on the bottom, covered, and one on the top, NOT covered. Of course, we were on the top. Metal benches....luckily we had brought towels from the ship to sit on, but there was these girls getting on in little bikinis trying to sit on the hot benches. It would have been really funny had I not been on the verge of a heat stroke. They left us sitting there waiting for the ferry to fill up, roasting like wienees on a grill, for an eternity. Honestly, it was hotter than Disney in July!!!

Finally, they take us back to the ship. We cram inside our closet, everyone gets a shower and we head out for, yep that's right--another buffet!! Ate too much, found our spot on Deck 7 and relaxed the rest of the afternoon.

After eating, yet again, Steve and I head out for a little shopping in the stores on the ship (they had everything half-off--can't resist a bargain) and headed for the room to pack up. The kids were already there watching....you guessed it! Fun with Dick and Jane!!

We had decided to check all three luggages so we wouldn't have to lug them off the ship, so I started packing up. We set them outside the door to be picked up, watched....The Pink Panther and went to sleep.....really tired, very sunburned and ready for home!!

Day 3-Nassau

Day 3- Well before we went to bed, we had decided to order room service for breakfast (I know we are obsessed with food). We ordered pretty much everything on the menu and hung our little card on the door. About 8:00, they called and said our food was on the way, the guy knocks on the door holding this huge tray of food and he's like "Your breakfast, sir. May I come in". Now get this picture: We are all four crammed in this little room (you know I have big boys). There is no place to put the luggage, which we had lined up in front of the door, we're all laying there about half-dead, clothes scattered everywhere and this guy wants to come in? Why? Was he going to feed us too? Steve is like "dude, you can't get in just give me the stuff. He hands the plates through the door, we're stacking them up on the luggage and the beds. I'm sure he thought we were crazy!

After breakfast, Steve and I head up to the top deck to lay out. We are still at sea and should arrive in Nassau about noon. The kids head to the arcade and to find the buffets. We lay out, drink Mango Tangos, and watch the ship as we dock in Nassau. Really, really pretty. I've got some good pics!

They let us off the ship about 1:00 (we have to clear customs every time we dock before anyone can get off). We had booked an excursion to tour the Atlantis resort. We wait around on the pier for our group. Now let me just add that I guess we are really close to the equator because honestly, it was so hot. No breeze blowing, no shade, you almost couldn't catch your breath. Finally, our guide shows up and off we go. We have to ride a ferry to Paradise Island, which was nice. At least there was a breeze. We get there and begin the long, and I do mean long, hike to Atlantis. I thought I had wore a good pair of shoes, but by the time we get there, I have this huge blister going on and my feet are killing me!

We toured the hotel and the aquariums. Now if you had money, this would be the way to go. Beautiful is not the word. Private beach, tons of shade, million dollar art work, casinos.....loved it!

Day 2-We Board the Ship

Day 2-Friday: Today is the day we board the ship. We wake up early in the "executive suite". Steve and the kids are really excited about the FREE breakfast. (Nothing excites my family like food). So they go in search of the four course spread, while I get ready and pack up. Well, the boys return and the look on their faces is priceless....the "free" breakfast consisted of stale crescent rolls and bagels. I laughed my butt off. So we pack up, check out and head into town. Stop for sunglasses and sunscreen. Head to the boat. Get to boat, lug 3 huge pieces of luggage, the laptop, camera bag, my purse (OK, so I overpacked), go through security, show birth certificates, drivers license, fill out immigration forms, get paperwork and head on to the boat (which was really beautiful). Find our room, open the door and oh my!!--where's the rest of it? I know people said the rooms were small, but man--this room is literally the size of my closet. There are two small sofas that slide together to make a bed, two bunk beds that pull out from the wall above the tiny sofas. We all could not stand up at one time because there was no room. The bathroom...oh lordy. There was barely enough room to go in, shut the door and turn around to use the toilet. We go from "executive suite" to closet. Definitely not livin' large anymore!!!

So we go to explore the ship. Steve and I find ourselves on the deck with the spa and this little Chinese girl keeps wanting us to "tour spa". What the hey--so we "tour spa". Really nice, let us sample each room, (they almost got me with the aromatherapy massage). So they build you up....I'm thinking, hey I could go for this. We get all the way through and at the end they give you this paper. The little Chinese girl is like "you call for appointment" "we take good care you". On the paper is the spa prices (nope, not included in the cruise). $189 for couples massage, $125 aromatherapy......we got the heck out of there and did not go back.

About 5:00, the ship leaves port. We find a quiet little spot on Deck 7 away from the crowds and enjoy the ride. It was so nice. Breeze blowing, sound of the ocean, heaven....

We stayed out as long as we could and then headed for the closet....the kids were watching movies. I have now seen Fun with Dick and Jane and The Pink Panther about 27 times each. They were pretty good the first couple of times, though, if you want to see them. Oh, and, Walk the Line is good too. We saw it about 12 times, I think......

Off to bed, which we had slid the two sofas together and everytime one of us moved they slid apart and you almost fell through the crack......

Day 1-Cape Canaveral

Thursday, Day 1: Well, we left out about 6:00 am and drove and drove and drove and drove........Landon slept most of the way, David listened to his MP3 player. I did order them their reading assignments for the summer on books on tape so they could listen to them on the way. They were sooooo thrilled with that idea, although Landon did finish The Old Man and the Sea. Finally, and I do mean finally, we arrived in Cape Canaveral. We found the Doubletree hotel which was located directly on the beach, so Steve went inside to see if they had a room with an ocean view. Did they? Of course they did! The executive suite! Oh lordy, my kids went wild! They also gave warm chocolate chip cookies on check-in and I swear I had never tasted anything so good. So we checked in, went up to the executive suite to check things out. Living room, bedroom, kitchen, 3 balconies.....$300 bucks a night....what they hey! We were livin' large. So after settling in, we went out on the balcony and looked at the ocean. It really was beautiful. The sound of the ocean, sea gulls, cranes flying overhead....so relaxing....