Okay okay, here is the post about the cruise finally - sheesh - don't update right away and the masses get unruly! HaHa.
We went on our first cruise from 11/13-20 courtesy of my parents. We sailed on the Norwegian Epic out of Miami. That's right - we had to fly. Not only did we fly we were up at 400am to do it! Up at 400 and out the door at 430am with two sleepy headed girls. Got to Pacifico valet parking (the only way to do the whole airport parking thing in my opinion) by 515, filled out paperwork, got to the aiport by 545, I already had checked our bags online and printed our boarding passes so we literally just walked through all we needed to with no fuss whatsoever. The girls cooperated through security and we were at our gate by 600 for a 740 flight. Flight was as smooth as I could have hoped for and we landed in Miami in an hour and 45 minutes! A very fast flight which led to a wait at the Miami airport for our transportation to the Port of Miami but we made it and mom and dad were there waiting for us.
Unbeknownst to us we had "special treatment" because of the stateroom we were in. It was literally like the Titanic where people are separated by class - great if you are on the receiving end, not so great if you are not and know what you are missing - if you don't know what you are missing may I seriously suggest that if you are going on a cruise - do the upgrade!
We breezed through embarkation and were on the ship by noon and seated in our villas private dining room beginning the first of many delicious and totally free meals.
A little walk around what proved to be a massive, massive ship and soon we were up top watching as we set sail from Miami.
After we had set sail we went to check out the Kids Club and register the girls for the week. A great idea in theory but they did not use it as much as we could have/should have and because Lily is still in diapers I got called everytime she was in there for diaper changes. But it did give us a few hours here and there when we needed them so for that it was still great to have in our back pocket.
Sunday morning we were up early for Breakfast with Nickolodeon with the girls. It was a great time, Dora, Diego, Jimmy Neutron, Patrick and Spongebob were all there. We got to eat and watch a little show and then have our picture taken with each character. It was a little nervewracking for the girls but they settled down and enjoyed themselves.
After that the day was free so Parker and I checked out the gym while the girls went to the Kids Club. After that we went and hung around the pool area and tried out the Epic Plunge - a great water slide with a large bowl that you go around and around in before plunging to the end.
That night was formal night - we dined with the masses in the Manhattan Ballroom and then at moms insistence got a family picture taken of the four of us. We checked the kids back into Kids Club and the four adults went to the Ice Bar. Parker and I could not wait to go and check this place out. A bar made of ice - $20 per person to get in but that got you two drinks and a very fashionable parka to keep you warm. It was really fun - would have done it again had it been free. I wanted to take Rowan in just to have a look but they wanted to charge me just for that so she got to look at pictures instead.
Monday we arrived in Costa Maya, Mexico. The ship was docked and ready for disembarkation by 8am. We were not ready that early but eventually did disembark with Mom and went to explore. All there was to explore really was a shopping area. Unless you were doing a shore excursion there was not alot going on there but shopping with barker like store employees trying to get you to come in to their stores. A half an hour of my kids freaking out and acting up led to a meltdown by me and my mom taking Lily in the stroller seperately and Parker and I taking Rowan. A Dos Equis, pina colada and yard long drink later I had calmed down and found out Lily had slept in the stroller with mom the whole time. Things were much better then :)
That night just before we set sail Parker and I had tickets to the Blue Man Group show. We used the services of our concierge and were escorted into the theater before everyone else to have our pick of seats (Titanic class system again). The show was great, very entertaining, very colourful, very loud. Loved it.
Tuesday we arrived in Roatan, Honduras. My parents had a shore excursion planned through Dads work so the four of us were on our own. Parker was undecided about going ashore so I took the girls and the three of us went ashore. Again immediately there were only shops and the shopping area was very small. For some reason I got brave and we left the compound. It was good to see a little of real life in what seemed to be a very poor area. We were immediately approached by a woman and her daughter asking if we wanted our hair braided. Rowan desperately wanted it done in Costa Maya but I said no so today I said yes. She got her hair done and we walked a bit more picking up more and more kids following as as we went. It became tougher and tougher to walk because Rowan started asking questions about what was going on. I tried to explain as best I could but thought it best if we headed back to the ship at that point.
That night Parker and I had tickets to see Cirque Dreams and Dinner. It was fabulous, fabulous! Again we used the services of the concierge and got priority seating. So good in fact we had the only table for two right at the front of the show. Dinner was pretty good with it but we were so enthralled watching the performances the whole time we didn't finish anything. I would have loved to seen it again. In fact my parents had tickets a couple of nights later and we managed to get Rowan into see it with them and she loved it as well.
Wednesday was an all day at sea day again so we wandered the ship, went to the pools, just hung out. We went up to the bridge viewing room so see what the Captain sees and later Parker and I went to a meet and greet with the men who performed the Blue Man show. It was really interesting to learn how they got there and how normal they were when they were not in character.
Thursday was our big day in Cozumel, Mexico. We disembarked early so we could check out the area. A much bigger area than the previous two ports and loads more shopping but this time Rowan and I had a shore excursion planned. After exploring in the morning we went back to the ship for some lunch and then Rowan and I headed back out for our excursion - Premium Dolphin Interaction. Oh my gosh, I cannot recommend this opportunity enough. It was hugely entertaining and educational. The biggest downside was that you could not take your camera in the pool areas with you and so you were beholden to buying their pictures - which were great - however I forgot my credit card. I have never seen a more disappointed 5 year old in my life. I felt so bad, I have since tried to email them for copies but have gotten no response. I took alot of pictures ahead of time but they were not as great as having a picture of Rowan hugging a dolphin.
Friday was our final day at sea and it felt like we needed to make a big push to get everything done we wanted to but had not all week. We went to the pools again and because the weather was a little chillier there was lots of room. We went down the water slides again and just had a good time all day. Some late night packing and when we woke up we were already in Miami again. Booo. A final breakfast in the private dining room and then priority disembarkation and the cruise was over. We got our bags and through customs very smoothly and then our ride to the airport arrived and the next thing I knew we were landing back in Philly with heavy suitcases and great memories.
Thank you to mom and dad without whom we would never have been able to go on a trip like this but have now gotten a taste for cruising and would love to go again!
The entire photo album if pictures can be seen here - to post them all would have taken forever.
