Hi guys,
I'm back from my cruise, and it was great!
I learned a trick or two about air travel, which I wanted to share with you first of all. The crew on my Dallas/Fort Lauderdale flight (who were very nice, by the way) showed me how to raise the armrest between me and the aisle. This made me much more comfortable. All the people I rode next to were really nice and voluntarily raised the armrests between themselves and me, but I never ask anyone to do that. I was so comfy I even slept a little which is unheard of.
Then I got to Fort Lauderdale and picked up my rental car. I would not do this again - people in Miami drive crazy and I was nervous. I went to my Priceline hotel and tried to go out to find something to eat and a drugstore to get some last minute cruise supplies. I gave up on the drugstore and just got McDonald's - I was tired.
Up at 7 and got free breakfast at the hotel. Returned the rental car and got a free shuttle to the cruise terminal. Was on board eating lunch by 11:30. I was so excited that I got a porthole in my room! I have never had that before. It was nice to be able to look out at the water.
Dinner time and I met up with my friends. I could not decide what entree I wanted so I got 2 - no problem. My dining room team was Alexandra and Ivan. They were wonderful. My bar waiter was Made - I miss him already. He always brought me a new diet coke when the old was about 3/4 gone so that I didn't have to drink watered down diet coke. He got a big tip at the end. Met up with my friends in the library and played games.
Next day was a sea day, which I spent being lazy. I got books from the library, then met up with a friend and went to the gym. Got in the jacuzzi, then the wet and finally the dry sauna.
First stop - Cozumel. We had selected an excursion to Xcaret. This is the only thing I would not do again. I love Xcaret and want to be married there, but we only got 5 hours there and it was $89. There was a 45 minute tender over. We had to leave the park at 1:30 and then sat on the tender for over an hour - didn't get back to the ship until 3:30. We did have a good guide. His name was Casper (the friendly ghost).
Next day was a sea day. It rained, which was ok with me. This was a relaxation trip for me, so I just holed up with my book. I also saw a hypnotist show that night.
Grand Cayman - I did the Rays, Reef and Rum Point Beach through Nativeway Watersports. We went to the Stingray sand bar and I got to hold, kiss, and feed a stingray. I also got a back massage from the stingray and learned a little about it like how to tell male from female (the males are much smaller). I am supposed to have 7 years good luck now since I kissed one! Then we went snorkeling and went to a beautiful beach for lunch. Only $60 for the whole tour.
I also saw a GREAT magic show. It was so good that I bought the CD.
http://www.kevinandcaruso.com/
Jamaica - I loved this. All the men called me princess and the women were envious of my hips. When can I move?
The 4 of us got our own private tour of Jamaica for $35 each. We went to climb the waterfall (I found this to be a challenge, but finished with the aid of several handsome men all calling me princess). Then we went tubing, to a Jamaican schoolhouse, through Fern Gully, and shopping. I got some t-shirts, some coffee, some rum, and a carved cat.
Unfortunately this day pretty much wore me out and I was in pain the next day and the day after.
Last sea day - picked up a few gifts for friends at home. Lounged around. Said a tearful goodbye to my dining room team and ate chateaubriand (YUM). Packed and started looking forward to the next cruise!
I'm back from my cruise, and it was great!
I learned a trick or two about air travel, which I wanted to share with you first of all. The crew on my Dallas/Fort Lauderdale flight (who were very nice, by the way) showed me how to raise the armrest between me and the aisle. This made me much more comfortable. All the people I rode next to were really nice and voluntarily raised the armrests between themselves and me, but I never ask anyone to do that. I was so comfy I even slept a little which is unheard of.
Then I got to Fort Lauderdale and picked up my rental car. I would not do this again - people in Miami drive crazy and I was nervous. I went to my Priceline hotel and tried to go out to find something to eat and a drugstore to get some last minute cruise supplies. I gave up on the drugstore and just got McDonald's - I was tired.
Up at 7 and got free breakfast at the hotel. Returned the rental car and got a free shuttle to the cruise terminal. Was on board eating lunch by 11:30. I was so excited that I got a porthole in my room! I have never had that before. It was nice to be able to look out at the water.
Dinner time and I met up with my friends. I could not decide what entree I wanted so I got 2 - no problem. My dining room team was Alexandra and Ivan. They were wonderful. My bar waiter was Made - I miss him already. He always brought me a new diet coke when the old was about 3/4 gone so that I didn't have to drink watered down diet coke. He got a big tip at the end. Met up with my friends in the library and played games.
Next day was a sea day, which I spent being lazy. I got books from the library, then met up with a friend and went to the gym. Got in the jacuzzi, then the wet and finally the dry sauna.
First stop - Cozumel. We had selected an excursion to Xcaret. This is the only thing I would not do again. I love Xcaret and want to be married there, but we only got 5 hours there and it was $89. There was a 45 minute tender over. We had to leave the park at 1:30 and then sat on the tender for over an hour - didn't get back to the ship until 3:30. We did have a good guide. His name was Casper (the friendly ghost).
Next day was a sea day. It rained, which was ok with me. This was a relaxation trip for me, so I just holed up with my book. I also saw a hypnotist show that night.
Grand Cayman - I did the Rays, Reef and Rum Point Beach through Nativeway Watersports. We went to the Stingray sand bar and I got to hold, kiss, and feed a stingray. I also got a back massage from the stingray and learned a little about it like how to tell male from female (the males are much smaller). I am supposed to have 7 years good luck now since I kissed one! Then we went snorkeling and went to a beautiful beach for lunch. Only $60 for the whole tour.
I also saw a GREAT magic show. It was so good that I bought the CD.
http://www.kevinandcaruso.com/
Jamaica - I loved this. All the men called me princess and the women were envious of my hips. When can I move?
The 4 of us got our own private tour of Jamaica for $35 each. We went to climb the waterfall (I found this to be a challenge, but finished with the aid of several handsome men all calling me princess). Then we went tubing, to a Jamaican schoolhouse, through Fern Gully, and shopping. I got some t-shirts, some coffee, some rum, and a carved cat.
Unfortunately this day pretty much wore me out and I was in pain the next day and the day after.
Last sea day - picked up a few gifts for friends at home. Lounged around. Said a tearful goodbye to my dining room team and ate chateaubriand (YUM). Packed and started looking forward to the next cruise!
