In the last 10 years I've taken almost 40 cruise vacations and then we brought home the RV. I haven't been on a cruise since. This cruise was special, a nice opportunity to spend 5 days with my 18 year old grandson, Jacob. This was his first cruise, my gift to him for his high school graduation. I couldn't wait to experience it through his eyes. Boy did I see things differently this time!
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| One of the pools aboard the ship |
Yes, I went on 40 cruises, I enjoyed these vacations, sometimes I went on these trips alone, it worked for me, all inclusive, free drinks, gourmet food and I didn't have to lift a finger, no beds to make, no laundry to do, you get the picture. After our 285 day trip in the coach I was ready to enjoy the crystal blue water, the umbrella drinks and the exotic ports of Jamaica and Haiti.
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| The Big Ship |
Jay drove us down to the port in Ft Lauderdale and dropped us off for our big adventure!
We were so excited, I brought a gallon of sun block for this kid, he lives in Maine. I couldn't send him home with a sun burn although he could show off to his pale friends, blisters and all.
Once we were on the ship Jacob thoroughly enjoyed access to all the fancy buffet food and our gigantic suite with a balcony. We did the grand tour, look at all these pools! A lot to take in on the first day!
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| More Pools! |
We had lunch and Jacob ate not 1 but 2 burgers! I was all about showing this kid a good time and that's exactly what happened!
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| Yes, I can eat 2 burgers! |
The weather was pristine and we went on a great private tour of Ocho Rios Jamaica that ended with the tour guide preparing Jerk Chicken on the grill on the beach for us! Since Jacob was 18 he was able to have a Red Stripe beer, just one!
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| The Grill |
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| The Beach in Jamaica |
The next day we enjoyed an amazing beach day floating on a raft in Labadee Haiti. We also had a sumptuous barbecue, ribs, chicken and more burgers!
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| Labadee Haiti |
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| A Beautiful beach and a great pedicure! |
Overall it was a wonderful experience with my grandson, that's what I enjoyed the most.
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| My dinner date |
The cruise experience for me, not so fun anymore... It's me, I know it is, I've changed. The ocean is beautiful, but it was more beautiful seeing it thru the windshield on the Gulf coast last summer. The food, I've enjoyed some of the best meals on a picnic table in Santa Fe New Mexico. The people...all those thousands of people standing in line, shoving and pushing, saving beach chairs around the pool at 6am. None of that used to annoy me, guess what, I'm officially "over it". The wonderful kind folks I've met on the road are not the same people in the buffet line, I just know that.
I think that Ship has sailed...
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| That ship has sailed... |
