Yes, we are back from a week in the Caribbean. It is mindboggling to think that our trip has already come and gone and almost a week has passed since we got home. The trip was fabulous and well-needed and the company was awesome. Linda was a bit hesitant about this trip, especially since she's had enough of water, but all ended up A-OK. Beautiful weather and smooth seas really helped make the trip enjoyable.
Several months ago, before the flooding to our home, Dave's cousin Ted called and told us that he and his wife Susan had free airline tickets that they needed to use. They wondered if they could come and visit us. Well, the visit to us changed to a cruise very quickly. Both Ted and Dave are self-professed cruise-aholics and soon the flight to Jacksonville, Florida would extend to a week long venture on the Carnival Glory cruise ship out of Port Canaveral. It was a fun adventure. Thankfully, Ted and Susan are great family to travel with. And, even better---the trip was fully paid for several months ago!
Ted and Susan flew into Jacksonville (about a two and a half hour drive from our home) on Friday, October 31st and we picked them up the morning of Saturday, November 1st from their hotel. Unfortunately, Carnival called the night before to say that our ship would be arriving late to Port due to a medical emergency that required the ship to stop at another port. Instead of boarding by 1pm and setting sail by 5pm, we were asked to arrive after 5:30pm. So, we took Susan andTed to St. Augustine, Florida (the oldest city in the US--check the blog archives for our previous post on St. Augustine) where we wandered around until we headed for the port. We arrived about 4pm and proceeded to wait until 6:30pm when they allowed us to board. The ship finally set sail about 11pm. Of course, we boarded and immediately reported to the dining room for our first meal--a sumptious dinner.
The next day we had our first day at sea on our way to Cozumel, Mexico. We took advantage of sleeping in and then wandered around ship. It was a beautiful day and the seas were smooth.
Dave and Ted decided to enter the putting contest. Ted advanced to the finals, but it was a woman that ended up winning! Check out their stances.
Preparing for the perfect putt...
Susan trying out one of the chaise loungers---she assured me it was comfy!
We ended up on deck playing a friendly round of miniature golf too!
It was formal night so we gussied-up for the evening. Here Dave and I are both preparing to add a third chin to our existing doubles...
It was formal night so we gussied-up for the evening. Here Dave and I are both preparing to add a third chin to our existing doubles...Ted and Susan looking spiffy and trying to decide from the all the choices!
Monday -- arrival in Cozumel, Mexico 
We ended up on this ferry for a 45 minute ride to the mainland. From there we boarded a bus for another hour drive into the jungle.
Headed for the bus...
Our arrival in Tulum, Mexico where we visited the ancient Mayan ruins! It was fabulous!
Note the iguana on the front wall. They were everywhere! We all had to laugh that here we were taking pictures of iguanas, but it was so cool to see them in their habitat rather than a pet store! It was a really hot day and they were all sunning themselves on the rocks.
Thankfully these creatures are docile and posed for our photos!
On the one side of the ruins was the ocean--it was breathtaking!
More iguanas - enjoying the gorgeous view
Tuesday----Belize.
Monday -- arrival in Cozumel, Mexico 
We ended up on this ferry for a 45 minute ride to the mainland. From there we boarded a bus for another hour drive into the jungle.Headed for the bus...
Our arrival in Tulum, Mexico where we visited the ancient Mayan ruins! It was fabulous!
Note the iguana on the front wall. They were everywhere! We all had to laugh that here we were taking pictures of iguanas, but it was so cool to see them in their habitat rather than a pet store! It was a really hot day and they were all sunning themselves on the rocks.
Thankfully these creatures are docile and posed for our photos!
On the one side of the ruins was the ocean--it was breathtaking!
More iguanas - enjoying the gorgeous view 
Tuesday----Belize. Since the waters are shallow, we had to tender into Belize. Once there, we made our way to another bus and we headed to the jungle where we went cave tubing. Since we had an underwater camera--we don't have any digital pictures. Sadly, those pictures weren't very good either! But, we had a blast on inner tubes floating through two caves with a guide.
Cars were parked everywhere!
Packing us all back up!
Friday - Freeport, Bahamas
We had had a big day of ziplining planned, but unfortunately our visit to Honduras only consisted of sitting in port. Apparently, the government had imposed a new excise tax on its citizens and the people of Roatan were protesting. The government responded to that protest by blocking off all of the roadways to the port. When we arrived in port, the port authorities informed the cruise line of the civil unrest and the captain decided to keep all of us passengers on board. We were only in port for an hour or two and then we left and had another day at sea. We were a little disappointed, but the ship made sure we had plenty of activities to keep us busy. It ended up being good that we left early, we ended up being just ahead of a category 4 hurricane!
Honduras sure is beautiful!
Cars were parked everywhere! Packing us all back up!
Thursday - another "day at sea"
Dave and Ted found the hot tub! Rough life guys! Friday - Freeport, BahamasThe port in Freeport is nothing more than a commercial ship yard. This was what greeted us! When we got off the ship, we had to take a 25-minute taxi ride into town. Sadly, there wasn't much there except a few shops and a few resorts. We did take the time to explore...
This lighthouse was in town by one of the resorts. We wandered around and explored, but never found anything of major interest!
We thought this resort looked like a cruise ship!
The beach was nice. Sadly, we were all kind of party poopers and headed back to the ship!
Ted and Dave laid out on deck in between their trips down the slide. Actually, we all took the opportunity to use the ship's water slide!
Ted making it all look so easy!
Friday night was the "last" dinner. We thought we needed to take pictures with favorites. This is Ted with his dessert---we really needed to get a picture of him and his Tiger Shrimp cocktail that he enjoyed every night at dinner!
Dave and his warm chocolate melting cake...
Susan also enjoyed the warm chocolate melting cake--she had it almost every night. Our waiter also brought her two ice creams to enjoy with it!
Linda always followed dinner with the cheese plate. Yum!
Saturday morning- Port Canaveral---the view from our balcony was the Disney ship!
The last meal...the cruise is over..... Check out the sad faces :-(
Good-bye Carnival Glory
Packing up the car...how sad!
Before we took Susan and Ted back to the airport in Jacksonville, we stopped at the beach in Jacksonville. The weather was beautiful!
I'm sure they were planning the next cruise....
We had a wonderful time and we particularly loved being with Ted and Susan. It was so nice to spend time with family. After a few difficult months, we were blessed with some truly quality time together.
Thanks Ted and Susan! Let's do it again...soon! We love you guys!!!
This lighthouse was in town by one of the resorts. We wandered around and explored, but never found anything of major interest!
We thought this resort looked like a cruise ship!
The beach was nice. Sadly, we were all kind of party poopers and headed back to the ship!
Ted and Dave laid out on deck in between their trips down the slide. Actually, we all took the opportunity to use the ship's water slide!
Ted making it all look so easy!
Friday night was the "last" dinner. We thought we needed to take pictures with favorites. This is Ted with his dessert---we really needed to get a picture of him and his Tiger Shrimp cocktail that he enjoyed every night at dinner! Dave and his warm chocolate melting cake... Susan also enjoyed the warm chocolate melting cake--she had it almost every night. Our waiter also brought her two ice creams to enjoy with it! Linda always followed dinner with the cheese plate. Yum!Saturday morning- Port Canaveral---the view from our balcony was the Disney ship! The last meal...the cruise is over..... Check out the sad faces :-(
Good-bye Carnival GloryPacking up the car...how sad! Before we took Susan and Ted back to the airport in Jacksonville, we stopped at the beach in Jacksonville. The weather was beautiful!
I'm sure they were planning the next cruise.... We had a wonderful time and we particularly loved being with Ted and Susan. It was so nice to spend time with family. After a few difficult months, we were blessed with some truly quality time together. Thanks Ted and Susan! Let's do it again...soon! We love you guys!!!We truly are blessed!
4 comments:
It looks like you had a wonderful time! All that sun and blue water looks SOOOO nice. I'm glad that you got to get away for a little treat. Great pictures!
That sounds like a great trip. I'm glad you had a good time. And that water slide looks like a lot of fun. I missed you and glad you are back, but I sure know how nice it is to get away when all seems down.
Hugs, Amy ;)
Wow, Linda! That looks like an awesome time!!! But with all that you did and saw, did you actually find time to relax??? I hope so! I'd love to do the cruise thing--I think the girls are at pretty good ages for it now! Glad you had a great time and that you are back safely!
Great photos! I felt like I was there sitting in the sun, lying on the deck, and eating all the great food with you. I vote for the chocolate melting cake with Dave and Susan. Glad you enjoyed your getaway. You and Dave certainly deserved it after the last few months!
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