We are told we are in a super Nino that seems to produce late in the year tropical storms. Despite the flooding on the south east Texas roads we made our way to the Port of Galveston and found the appropriate drop off place for all our luggage filled with our fancy duds.
All smiles
Our stateroom was on the Spa Deck and assured us some quiet and privacy with all the spa privileges. Our room was larger than on previous cruises and this time with a balcony. I was more thrilled than I anticipated. Surprise surprise. lol. It was amazing to sit out and view the beautiful body of ocean.
Once we were settled in and unpacked a bit we met for dinner in the main dining room. The cruise had really begun.
I don't remember what we ate that night but it was probably the only meal I couldn't remember. They were all delicious with a lot of variety. We decided not to have a set dining time or table and though that seems more convenient I think I like having a set time and location. Being creatures of habit we pretty much did that anyway. We discovered Chutima at breakfast in the Southern Lights Dining Room and Michelle in the Northern Lights Dining Room. Whenever possible we dined with them.
Once back in our stateroom Larry and I had to investigate our balcony again... We were moving!
What's out there!
Relaxing to a bit of TV.
Our first towel pet! Sassy you have competition!
The next morning we began our pattern of our coffee and nibbles delivered by room service at 6 am. I needed coffee before I had coffee. haha!
Now this is how you have coffee!
If there was a weak spot of the trip...coffee is it. I admit it...I am a coffee snob and spoiled rotten by our fantastic expresso maker that our children gave us years ago. It is now a permanent fixture to have that appliance in our home... Needless to say...unless your name is Star Bucks or St. Arbucks as our pastor says.... you don't quite make the coffee club. However, the poor excuse for coffee at 6 am was very welcome by me. That included cereal, toast or bagel, butter and cream cheese, orange marmalade, citrus segments, sometimes a danish and occasionally a pot of tea. As I said, nibbles with our coffee. haha!
About 10 or 11 am we met our friends the Shavers for a proper breakfast in the dining room. Huevos Rancheros, or omelets stuffed with great stuff, or BLT in Larry's case and just about anything your heart desired. Tea was usually the order for breakfast. Bigelow's English Breakfast is always good.
The food was really good
The ONLY way to have coffee in the morning
Love this
May the trip be blessed
Good selfies with a 8mm
When we were at sea we spent the day either at the spa, taking walks, naps, playing cards or reading. There was a big variety of activities and I actually considered the rope courses or miniature golf. After a day of thinking about it I decided the rope courses and big water slide was for the young uns. lol The fancy hot tub that had salt water from the dead sea was actually pretty nice. We had access to it as a part of our stateroom status.
Ready for the spa
Spa
We had privileges to work out equipment, hot and steam saunas and some kind of
tile type rock beds, a relaxation room with tea and stuff and other amenities. We could
pay for massages...which we opted not to do at $150 a massage. Nice tho...and we got
very nice products being on the spa deck...and a spa bracelet you usually pay for that got us in and out anytime we wanted. Like the spa deck.
We had privileges to work out equipment, hot and steam saunas and some kind of
tile type rock beds, a relaxation room with tea and stuff and other amenities. We could
pay for massages...which we opted not to do at $150 a massage. Nice tho...and we got
very nice products being on the spa deck...and a spa bracelet you usually pay for that got us in and out anytime we wanted. Like the spa deck.
There were great afternoon movies. Some old and some current, and an ongoing program from the cruise director telling us all the things we could do that day. We usually met for dinner around 6 pm. Our first dress up evening was the first night. It was such fun! That was when we met Michelle.
All dolled up for our big evening.
We met the Shavers at our meeting place... The Elevator. That
large entry area is what separated us. We were on opposite sides of the same deck
Shavers all dressed up and pretty
A little Glam for our first night
We pose at the stairway for another pic
At "our" table with the Shavers
One of the cool things that happens is the performances by the wait people.
Lots of fun
With Michelle
At the variety show
Back at our room afterward we find a new towel animal.
Sassy...we are missing you.
Good Morning we are ready for Cozumel!
Outside the ship
Ready to shop till we drop
pretty Cozumel
We are here!
Looks like a story book picture
Larry does a little business on his iPhone
Finally Pancho's
Larry loves to go back to this restaurant...and I must
say it had the best atmosphere
Larry loves to go back to this restaurant...and I must
say it had the best atmosphere
love the water
Let the party begin!
Shopperita
So pretty
Margaritas
More Shopping
Tropical rain
I'll have one too and celebrate my new diamond earrings
Let's have Panchos
More tropical rain
Dos
Mayans
Doing some kind of fire dance
Hello...
Is that the face of happiness
Well that sure is! :)
yum!
Hola!
Love the Xylophone
Taxi!
Look at all those ships lined up ..
Back on board
on the balcony
Ready for dinner...
You said what?
Dinner buddies
Our newest towel pet
Crash and Burn
Georgetown, Cayman Island
Let's do this!
Gotta do it!
Loud and fun!
Pretty island
Perfect tropical picture
So pretty
Boardwalk
I got a pretty dress from one of the little shops
where the "tender" boats are docked
that take us to the ship
Our ship
A rooster on the main street!
At Jimmy Buffet's Magaritaville
Taking it all in
Some kind of Diablo shrimp
Getting our plans together
Larry gives some moves
not sure which move that is
Oh my...a dance move
yes
posin'
Waiters dance for us again
Our newest towel animal
I like what his boat says
Beautiful Jamaica
Pulling into port
Feeling silly this morning especially if I say
I want to take a picture
I'm ready
Larry is ready too
Good Morning Towel People
Towel People Love
A little Breakfast at the Lido
Buffet.... What we got?
For casual dining or card playing
Hey Mon....
Montego Bay!
The port shopping closed down so with
Larry's encouragement we found a registered taxi
driver who was very nice and took us shopping for souvenirs and
sight seeing
Our Taxi Driver..so nice
God Bless you and we are praying you
get baptized.
St James Anglican Church
Built in the 1700's
Had to put our toes in the water. Our driver brought
water and a towel and cleaned off our feet!
John just looked. :)
St. James Anglican Church
The pews were shipped from England in the 1700's
chapel
Back at the boat having a Cruiser
Enjoying Jamaica from the comfort of my balcony.
See the little umbrella on my drink!
Just like the movies! lol
I LOVE this!!
Good Bye Jamaica
Such a beautiful island
A little work from the balcony
A little afternoon snack
Food just about any time you want
Forget the Occasion.... This is a watermelon!
Ship?
Made from Ham!
watermelon flower
Ice Carving
Nighty Night
Friend Walrus
Last Dress up night
Happy 45th Anniversary to Us
Comedy Club
Just June?
towel buddy...a frog I think
Chandon to toast our big day
Last Day....sad
Moving kinda slow
So let's be with our friends and be happy
Hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos....alright!
and a Cruiser
Spades Baby!
And who is winning.....
Let it rain ....cause we are gonna have fun anyway.
A tropical storm approaches
Last Night
Frog Legs
Mussels
French Onion Soup
not happy...almost over
A tropical storm has moved in and the ship
has begun to....lean. ;)
A tropical storm has moved in and the ship
has begun to....lean. ;)
Larry's monkey
He really wanted this monkey
For the first time in three cruises I experienced some rocking and rollin overnight....and needed my Meclizine... It worked ....and that was good...
I guess I didn't take pics of the trip home. We stretched that 5 hour drive to about 10...ha... We stopped by the Outlet Mall for some Sketchers...then Cracker-barrel for lunch...then we finally made it to Garland to drop off the Shavers and off to Plano to pick up Sassy....and finally home to crash and burn.
* some of the food pics I found online under images of Carnival Magic meals... but they looked just like that.
Here are our portraits from the trip
A composite I did for Facebook for our anniversary
Well there it is.... a truly grand cruise...and I hope we
can do it again soon!
