Kasey Lynn Photography

Today’s our last day at sea/on board.  While I’m ready to be home, see Harley again and get back to a routine, I’m also a little sad to see it end.  I have enjoyed doing nothing but what I wanted to do for the entire week.  I’ve been a little slack with the blogging the past few days, so I’m going to do a quick catch-up…

6/22/10 Day 5- St. Thomas

When Laura and I were planning this vacation, she asked me what I wanted to do on our shore excursions.  I had only one request, and that was to swim with the dolphins.  We ended up booking an option that was to take place at St Thomas.

This morning we got off the ship and went in search for our meeting place for the dolphin encounter only to find out that it was canceled!  Supposedly due to weather.  By that time it was too late to book anything else.  Yes I was disappointed.  Really disappointed, but what can you do?  Better to move on and get over it than be annoyed all day.  I think I stayed annoyed for an hour or so, and then I got over it.  I’ll just use it as an excuse to book my next cruise!

This was our view as our ship docked this morning.

This was my sad face once we discovered that our dolphin excursion was canceled.

We ended up just relaxing on the ship all day.  It was actually quite nice because everyone was on land doing excursions so we basically had it all to ourselves.

We went to the aqua show before dinner.  They had divers, gymnasts, synchronized swimming, tons of talent in the show!

After dinner, we also saw the Texas Tenors from America’s Got Talent.  I haven’t ever watched the show so this was the first I had ever heard of them.

6/23/10 Day 6- St. Maarten

We did the extreme zip line today which was a ton of fun!  Hot and humid here, but I’m used to that weather. When we first got off the ship to meet our excursion group, it started to rain, but only for about five minutes.  This was right before the rain started.

And then it stopped and the weather looked like this.

We literally zip-lined above treetops, tight rope walked and crossed horizontal ladders for two hours through this forest to complete the course!  It was  so much fun.  I didn’t bring my camera for fear of accidentally dropping it, but I did take this after.  Those hills covered in trees and vegetation?  That’s what we were zip-lining through.

We went to a comedy show after dinner.  I have never been to a comedy show before.  Oh. Em. Gee!  SO funny, I laughed the entire time.  I’m now on the search for a good comedy club in Houston…know of one or want to go with?  Give me a shout!

6/24/10 Day 7- At Sea

Didn’t do much today except hang out by the pool and read.  Again.  That’s becoming a habit with me, but I love it so.  I have officially finished two books on this trip.

We went to a show after dinner that included acrobats, gymnasts, singers…basically super-talented performers.  I loved it!  I wanted to video some of it to post on here, but understandably due to copyright that wasn’t allowed.

I’ll leave you with some final photos while I go plan my next cruise!

This is overlooking another area of the ship called Central Park.  There was some neat restaurants located here.

Every night there was almost some form of live music somewhere on the ship.

Lots of amusing shows during the day to keep us entertained.  This was a personal favorite…the belly flop competition.  I don’t know why I get such entertainment out of watching other people inflict pain on themselves, but I do! 

There was a crew vs. guests pool volleyball competition that took place and was fun to watch.

Our dinner waiters for the week with Laura and me.

These two just got married and were on their honeymoon.  It was such a pleasure to dine with them every night!  We felt like we were saying goodbye to friends by the end of the trip!

I’m so not used to being waited on all the time.  Silly little things that I always do for myself, that I don’t mind doing for myself are now being done for me.  It’s kind of weird.  I know it’s their job, but really?  I don’t mind rolling my suitcase down the hall to my room myself, especially since I’m headed that direction anyway.

Oh, we saw Hairspray last night.  Neither Laura nor I had ever seen it before, not even the movie they made a few years ago.  It reminded me how much I love musicals and live entertainment.  I’m now even more determined to go see Wicked in July when it’s in Houston.

Last night and today have been the first time that we can tell we’re on a ship, aside from looking at the passing water.  It’s not much, but we can feel some sway here and there.  I’m actually a little surprised.  I thought on a ship this size we wouldn’t feel a thing.

Today’s activities?  Lay out by the pool reading a book, catching some sun rays and listening to the ocean.

Nothing else.

Just a quality day of rest and relaxation.  I imagine this is what Harley feels like when she lounges on the couch,  laying on her back with all four furry paws in the air, and not a worry in the world.

A few pictures from Captain’s night.

Where the captain is standing is actually a rising bar that goes up and down in the evenings.  I bought a picture with Laura and me with the captain but it’s not on my computer yet.

After dinner we went to the Love and Marriage Game show.  Hands down, one of the funniest shows I have seen.

I told myself I wasn’t going to let it happen, but I got sunburned today.  I’m going to blame it on the generic brand of sunblock.   It wasn’t too bad though, so hopefully it will go away in a few days or so.

Woke up this morning in Nassau.  We did a clear sea kayak excursion and snorkeling.  The kayaks were clear so you could see through the bottom of them and look at the fish, etc.  The snorkeling portion was more enjoyable than I expected.  I’ve been snorkeling once before, but this time was much better!  It was the first time I wished I had an underwater camera with me.

After we got back to land, I went on a hunt for a wooden turtle.  I don’t know why, but I’m obsessed with these and I was determined to not come back empty handed.  I ended up coming back $40 poorer, but one wooden turtle richer!  Yay!  I’ve been meaning to take a picture of it, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.

After returning to our ship, the rest of the day was spent lounging at the pool reading my book.  Very relaxing if I do say so myself!

The bottom left picture is the view from our room balcony.

I can officially say that our cruise has begun.  We departed our port at 5:00pm today and we are now en route to Nassau.  It’s still a little surreal that we are finally here and on our cruise, but we are.  And I fully intend on making the most of it and enjoying every minute.

This ship is huge!  Seventeen decks tall- our room is located on deck 11.  Laura and I vowed to take the stairs this entire trip.  No elevators and mega calves here we come!  Anyway, back to the ship.  It’s hard for me to describe because there is SO much!  The rooms are nice, but small.  Not sure what I expected or if I was expecting anything, but the pictures online made the rooms look much larger.  Being a photographer and all, I should have known better! 

Laura and I have basically spent our short time onboard today getting the lay of the land and exploring the ship.  We have dinner in a few hours and a show after.

The Oasis of the Seas

A few shots of the pool areas

Our view as our ship departed

I took my slr with me but didn’t take it out once!  Every picture I took was with my point and shoot.  So very unlike me, but oh well!

I hate to say it, but after today’s activities, I’m tired.  We’ve been walking around, back and forth so much, not to mention how hot and humid it was today.  I’m pretty sure I will sleep like a baby tonight.

On a completely different, but somewhat related topic…I am so glad I decided to take this trip.  Ever since I was lucky enough to go to Europe when I was in high school, I told myself that I was going to travel regularly once I finished college.  Doesn’t everyone say that though?  Growing up, my family mostly only traveled to California to visit family, so I never got to see anything new.  Although I know everyone has intentions to travel many never get to do it.  I’m so glad that I’m making good on that promise to myself.  Life is so much more enjoyable if you allow yourself the luxury of doing what you enjoy every once in awhile.