Our Cruise

So on November 14 we left for our very first cruise as a family! This was the cruise that we were supposed to take while I was pregnant (you can read about that here: http://lancastermountain.blogspot.ca/2013/11/a-tough-week.html), and we finally got to take it. It wasn’t the same ports of call, but it was still in November and it was still Caribbean.

We left and flew to Tampa where we met my parents, who were joining us on the cruise after spending 2 weeks in Mexico learning Spanish (thank goodness), and our flights were relatively pleasant. Flying is never fun and by the end the Bean was kind of tired of us always touching her, but all of our flights were on time and customs was pretty easy. Then we stayed overnight in Tampa before leaving the next morning for the ship.

In the Edmonton Airport

Travelling with my parents was awesome. They already have cruised several times so they are familiar with the drill. They also adore Ellie so it was nice having extra hands for everything we wanted to do. They had already seen most of the places we were going to so they were really just interested in spending time with us.

Waiting in Line where Ellie's face says what everyone is thinking

Our ship

This was her sleep nest

Wrestling with daddy on our bed

 

 We got settled into the ship and our rooms and made a little bed for the bean. While they had playpens for babies, there isn’t a lot of room so we just turned the couch towards the wall, and that is where she slept. It worked perfectly and was just her size.

The biggest bummer was the weather. We really only had 2 nice days on our trip – Roatan, Honduras and Georgetown, Grand Cayman. The rest of the time it rained. In fact, one of our ports – Cozumel, was cancelled because it was so rainy. So when it was sunny we took lots of pictures!

ROATAN:

Getting sand in her suit and enjoying it

COSTA MAYA was rainy, but fortunately for David when you are underwater it doesn’t matter. It was also warm, but still rainy.

At the end of the road, literally

Enjoying authentic guac and chips

Not loving the photo session

GRAND CAYMAN (probably my favourite place in the world!)

Isn't this gorgeous (view from the tender)

David is hilar

Visiting this beautiful historic area

Feeding the ONLY donkey on the island (the donkey's claim to fame)

At seven mile beach

Everyone is happier in the sun

Most of the activities on the boat were geared to the over 60 set, but one day there was a scavenger hunt and we rocked it (I kid you not, one of the contenders had a walker).

The bean is not loving the scavenging as much as we are

Our smiles look awesome because we are running and trying to take pictures

On the boat it was lovely to have food made for you always (although the quality of food wasn't super A+) and the Bean did really well in the high chairs and dining halls. Near the end she wasn’t totally keen on being up late for dinner (since we were 2 hours ahead) so we’d switch off who would eat their dinner in the room.

Before our flight home, we went to the Aquarium in Tampa which was super fun for everyone because we got to pet rays and the Bean loved looking at all the swimming fishes.

 

Overall it was a great getaway, that was probably more hassle than it was worth, but I was glad to have done it, because as time passes it will be harder and harder (and more expensive) to take this kind of trip. Plus spending time with my parents was an added bonus.

Our only towel animal

Bathtime was more complicated when we only had a shower

Tuckered out at the end of a long holiday