Because I'm kinda cheap- we booked the least expensive room on the ship. Therefore, I really didn't have too many expectations. After getting all checked in, I was ready to collapse out of exhaustion! We opened our door and I was again surprised. Our room was much larger and spacious than I was picturing! It even had a couch- Just in case you wanted company I guess! :)
The two nights before our "at sea" days we did not set a wake up call. We were sure that we would wake up around 9 or so. However, our bodies had a different agenda. Because we didn't have a window- which meant no sun coming in to sing us good morning, we slept in until 10:30 or 11! The first morning I looked at the clock and was sure it was wrong! I think that I have now figured out how to have my children sleep late!
Since the ship is a little on the massive side, they had this map to help remind you where things are.
However sometimes we still got turned around. But all we had to do was look for
Campbells and we knew we were just a few doors away! It really does do a body good!
The first time we walked through the Casino I almost lost my balance because the floor was one big pinball machine thing. It played tricks on your eyes so I can only imagine what that would be like if you were drunk! (Since most of the people in there were unfortunately!)
Royal Caribbean went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make us comfortable since we lost our luggage. They gave us toiletries, as many laundry vouchers as we needed, and T-shirts. Here we were on the first day with our newly acquired things!
So what do you do on a ship for so many hours? How about I take you on a little tour...
Maybe you could try a little mini golf.
Those of you who have played miniature golf with me may know that at at least one point in the game my ball ends up in some water. Whether it be the stream or pond etc. Therefore I was a little worried that the ball would end up in the water on this occasion as well- however, that water would equal the Mediterranean Sea. Which would have made it a little harder to retrieve! So I toned in down and really focused on not using my muscles too much!
After that you could head down a few floors and perhaps go ice skating.
It was the most international skating rink that I have ever been on! Not one other person spoke English while we were there! Therefore, getting someone to take these pictures was quite entertaining!
They even had an ice show later on that night. It was kinda like a "so you think you can dance" but on ice!
Then to a place for the kiddos! (Or for me!)
Video Games!
Now in all honesty, we did not actually play these. Unlike everything else that was free- they were expensive!!! About 1.25 per game. (Remember I'm cheap!) I WAS going to come back and play at least one time, but I was too occupied with other things that I actually forgot about it! I know! Shocking stuff.
So if you're really ready for an adventure you could try rock climbing or just skip on over to the basketball court.
Of course a cruise wouldn't be a cruise without some chairs to lay out and enjoy yourself! (I do not have a picture of myself doing this. Again, you are welcome!)
I didn't take a picture during the day either because there were lots of speedos and barely covered woman! I figured it was better to remember it this way!
Plus, I think that the clouds looked awesome!
On our first day at sea I decided to try out one of those chairs. I was so comfortable and so exhausted from the previous days stress in Rome that fell sound asleep for over an hour. I didn't move an inch. Which is weird since there were so many people around me- normally I am a little more self conscience than that!
When I woke up, I knew I was in trouble! I had major burn lines. But they weren't the normal burn lines. One of my legs was crossed over the other one- so only half of it got burned. Plus, my head was down over one side of my neck so there was a line on my neck where my shadow was. Half my neck was white and half was red! There was also some random white line that ran down my arm. I think there was some shadow from a part of the ship.
Lets just say that I stayed out of the sun for the rest of the time! You can see the funny burn lines in all the previous posts (Dad even mentioned it! You are super observant daddy-o!)
We made sure to watch the sunset on the ship! (Since we were never up in time to watch the sun rise!)
Tiffany and I went exploring one day and found something very different. Shuffleboard! We had never played it and decided that we would become pros. We found Nate and Larisa and gave it a try. Have you played this deceiving game before? One that looks so easy but turns out to not be so?
I may look like I know what I am doing, but turns out that I do not! You need a certain type of muscle that I apparently do not have! I would push with all my might and maybe get it 3/4th of the way! I tried to blame it on the forceful wind that decided to blow that day. However, it isn't a very good excuse when other people who are playing have no problem! Oh well! I guess I'll have to take up shuffleboard and practice getting those muscles.
Then the captain came on a said something that none of us understood expect for one word- Sicily. We looked up and there she was! We were floating by our beloved Sicily! It was fun to see her again!
I had to add this picture simply because it was so unbelievable windy that day - Tiffany's hair looks awesome!
So there you have it! A lot to do in the day- but then comes the evenings! That's when things get rocking! The main deck was always having something going on. From Mardi Gras, to fashion shows etc...
Since we don't drink, we didn't do the whole "bar thing" that I think everyone else on the boat did. Therefore, we made our own fun!
One night we went outside to take some pictures. It was SO windy that it took everything in us to stand! Unfortunately that is something that you cant capture in pictures. We were almost knocked into those chairs behind us. We were running with the wind pushing behind us and I thought for sure that I wasn't going to be able to stop and that I would go directly overboard!
Then there are the shows!
And lucky me to get the thrill of my life when it turns out that the FAB 4 were going to perform for us! I know!!! "How?" You ask since John and Goerge have long since left us? Well maybe they weren't the reals ones, but from where I was sitting you would have never been able to tell.
If you know me -even a little- you know that I love love love the Beatles. I figured that it was my one and only chance to feel like I actually got to see them perform. I was jumping around and singing every word to every song. It was a dream come true! I loved it! (Dont worry! I wasn't dancing alone! I'm not
that weird!)
Feeling as though my life was complete after going to a Beatles concert- we were walking down a hallway that we had never gone down and look what we saw... My cute beatles (the real ones!) It was a perfect night!
I think that one of the best thing about Cruise ships were the surprises at night. Each night our beds were turned down and our room attended had made something out of our towells. Now that is a talent! I loved each one!
Elephant
This wouldnt be a complete blog post had I not mentioned the dining room!
3 floors of beauty. I kinda felt like I was on the Titanic!
Two of the nights all the waiters sang to us on the stairs!
The best thing about the dining room was our table friends. Maureen and Brownwen from Wales. Oh how we loved these ladies. Really, I love anyone from the UK, but these ladies grabbed a special place in our hearts. They had us rolling on the table with laughter! Wether it was about how "dishy" our waiter was or how "sickly" the dessert was. They kept us laughing!
They made us promise to come visit them in Wales. It really didnt take much encouraging for us!I guess thats where the next vacation will be! UK here we come!
The first formal night occured before we got our luggage back. So the nicest ship ever- Royal Caribbean- loaned us formal dresses and a Tux for Nate. So nice. They were sleeveless so we had to do some fixing up. We had a shawl for Larissa and I had a black shirt to put under mine. We pulled it off, but I was kinda dreading having to do it again!
However, we didnt have to because our luggage came in time for the second one! I could wear my own clothes and do my hair normal! It was a glorious evening together!
I was always pretty skeptical about Cruises, but after this one, I am a fan! I never once got sea sick, I enjoyed having food around every corner, and the people were over the top with customer service! I can't wait to go back! :) (But maybe with all my luggage next time!)
