Monday, February 27, 2012

OUR CRUISE :)


Oh man.. Sorry it took so long to get things up and rolling. I had to come home and wash all of our clothes because our closet on the ship smelt kinda like mold, and I wasn't going to deal with it longer. Also, Fielding had to back up all our pictures and everything on the hard drive.

So this just may be the longest blog post you have ever had the chance to read.. But, hopefully it will be worth it..

Day 1- Departing New Orleans:

Our amazing friends Tyler and Neihlee Muir, brought us down to New Orleans.
They had to handle all of the crazy Mardi Gra traffic and everything else. :)
They are awesome.
Anyways, We got there really early, but it worked to our advantage because we got a better boarding number, and we had the chance to get on the ship before everyone else.


These were our sea pass cards. We used them to get on and off the boat,
and everything we wanted to buy on the ship.
Also we had the all you can drink coke pass, and so that's why the coca-cola sign is on them. :)



After boarding the ship, our room wasn't ready for another hour, so we thought we would go to the buffet and eat a good good lunch, and enjoy the view of New Orleans from high up.





After eating half of the buffet, we decided to burn it off by touring the boat, and we thought these were the highlights that we wanted to share with you.






I think they called this the Promenade Street. It is where all their shops were located, and where the parties always were. Those windows were actual peoples windows, and I felt sorry for them.




The pool band.


The pool area and jogging track. (Fielding took the picture.) Dont ask.. ;)










This was the floor in the casino.




I was playing titanic :)

(Some of the above pictures are from different days, Because we didn't have time to do all at once) :)

So, After a couple hours, we headed to the highest deck with windows, since it was storming pretty good. And we wanted to take pictures of us taking off, but it was so stormy outside that you could only see the rain on the window. BOOO! So after waiting a couple hours, we decided to finally take off. After that we just hung around, and had a grand 'ol time.

Day 2- At Sea:

We woke up early, so we could see the sunrise. It was so windy outside, so we just decided to go to the highest floor again to watch.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL..
but you see for yourself..



(I love how you can see the moon in both pictures..)

After that, I decided to hit the pillow for a couple more hours because of the wind we were feeling a bit sea sick.
After we woke up, we had buffet breakfast of course, and then
headed to VEGETABLE CARVING...











After, we went to arts and crafts and made mardi gra masks. :)
((Fielding of course made his own))



(Fielding all the sudden thought he was the green lantern or something.)

When we went back to our room, there was this cute little guy..



And then we got all fancied up, and went to formal night in the dining room..

((I know you are probably asking, why didn't you guys go lay out in the sun?))
Well.. Good question, but I was scared to get sunburnt, (Fielding burns easily)
and we would be miserable with the sun at the following countries. So we left that for the last days. :)

DAY 3- Cozumel, Mexico:

We arrived, and it was actually really easy to get off the ship. We were the first ones off.





We had to walk to the end of the Pier, where they had signs for every ones activity. We chose to do the Three Reef Snorkeling.
(I was terrified of the fish touching me, but got over it and will be doing it again in the near future)



Blehk, It was sooo hot.


After waiting about an hour, we were able to get on a boat that was taking us to the 3 reefs.




We got all geared up, and were ready to go.











After, We went back to the ship and took a shower,
and then headed back out for touring the city.











As we were walking by this guy.. He all the sudden pointed his gun at me and was looking through the scope.. NOT GONNA LIE.. I was very frightened.




We found this place that was like the only food place around, So.. We tried it out.












So we are done in Cozumel, and heading back to the ship.
What is Fieldboy carrying in the bag you might be asking??
DONNNN DOOONNNNN DOOOOOOOONNNNNNN..


isn't it awesome? I actually got it so I could tell all of you
pirates came aboard and this is my souvenir.
Its carved out of fish bone. :)

After we got on the boat, we just toured some more of the boat, and then went to the dining room for a tasty meal.

My pasta of course..

and fieldboys.. *Whatyamacallit.*
I have no idea what that is..

Day 4- Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands:

The Cayman Islands, was a nightmare getting off the ship. We couldn't dock,
so we had to be tendered off the ship. For all of you that dont know what tendered is, we had to get on a smaller boat to take us to land.
Our waiter the night before pretty much told us that if we didn't have an excursion that we
just needed to wait until all the people with excursions got off and then we could.
By the time we found out we had to have a number we ended up in section ten.. and had to stay on the boat for an extra 2 hours.

There were also 5 other cruise ships that were there with us.


We got onto a tender boat, and were brought to land..




On the way to land we passed this cool pirate ship. IT WAS AWESOME.!

We didn't want to buy an excursion here, because we just wanted one place to be relaxing and be able to do whatever we wanted.
So, we walked about the pier area, and all the shops..
and I got a cool little map.



Fieldboy wanted to start getting ready for Jamaica. ;)

We then decided to get a taxi and head to the famous 7 mile beach.
Its not really 7 miles, its more like 5 1/2 miles..


These were some of our views on the drive.


I have a lot more pictures, but they aren't in the best quality as we were
fearing for our lives with their horrible driving.
(They also drive on the left side of the road)

When we arrived there was a food/ bar place..
We got chicken tenders :)
They really didn't have a special food they eat there.




And there was a nasty tree with everyones rusted shoes on there..
BLEHK. I didn't get that close to it.


and there were mini shops.

Where I found this sweet back pack :) So my shoulder wouldn't hurt.











and for the rest of the day, we kinda just hung out, and went swimming.. :)
On our way back to the ship, while we were waiting for a taxi, we saw random wild chickens and roosters running all over.



Once again, we had to get on the tendering boat.






When we got on the boat, of course I went and took a shower,
and then we went up, waited, and watched the sunset.







I know you cant see our faces in the picture above, but it was the only one that the sunset showed up in..







When we got back to our room, there was this waiting for us..

A BAT!!!

Afterwards, it was our dinner time in the dining room, so we went down, and there were funny people in costumes for the mardi gras parade that night.
I had to take a picture for you guys :)


But we were at dinner when it occured. So..

Day 5- Falmouth, Jamaica:

We did so much in Jamaica, that I just put it in a video for you guys..
:)
With intense Jamaican music that was playing EVERYWHERE.
We actually had the best time in Jamaica. It was a lot different than I'd imagine.
It had mountains, and goats.
They were pretty poor, and only made $55 a week.
They would trick you into paying them.
In the video you will see a guy on stilts taking a picture with us.
He came up to me and said "here let your husband take a picture of us.."
I was like alright "why not.." and then after he got down to my level and said "Now give me a donation." Fielding only had twenties and so Fielding was like do you have change. He was like yeah. and gave him crumbled up $5 bills. and ended up only giving us back $10. S0 we pretty much paid him $10 for taking 3 pictures with us. OH BROTHER.. Anyways. They would ask us to look at their shops. So we would go over there and say no thanks, and then they would try to give stuff to us for free.. NOTHING IS FREE IN JAMAICA.
They do that so they can turn people in for 'stealing'.
But other than the creepy people, the land was very beautiful. and I couldn't get enough. I will be going back there some day.




Later that night after returning to the ship, We headed to dinner in the dining room.
I got a delicious steak.


and after,
We had a big pool party buffet, and an ice carving.



Fieldboy got a little sun in Jamaica :)





Day 6- At Sea:

We woke up, went and had breakfast, and headed down to the napkin folding..

of course mine is on the right in all the pictures :) .





Shortly after, we went to the towel folding demonstration. :)




There is a few of our favorites..

After, we went to the ice skating show. IT WAS AMAZING.







And of course we laid out today in the sun by the pool. :)
Got a nice little suntan.

After we got back.. We found this cute little thing in on our bed..


A PENGUIN.


Later on, we went to the dining room to have dinner.
Fieldboy put his napkin skills to the test.


and this was the rockstar table.. :)


We got very lucky to have these people at our table with us. The two at the bottom, Ann and Terry were the nicest folks ever. Fielding came back from dinner the first night and said.. "It feels like they have been family friends forever." and it did.. They were an awesome couple, and had awesome stories and jokes to share. We are going to miss them at our dinner table everynight, but you dont worry you guys, I got her email address and am planning on keeping in touch. :)

Also, this night as you could see in the picture above was a formal night :)
Fielding had lobster. TWO PLATES TO BE EXACT.

and I had delicious PRIME RIB.. !!!!

This was our Waiter and Assistant Waiter.
From India and China :)


IT WAS AN AWESOME DAY.!

Day 7- At Sea:

Today, we just sat around by the pool.
We enjoyed our last day.
Before dinner we made our way to a juggler entertainment.
It was awesome, and he was hilarious.


and then, we also packed up our things..
Look how sad Fieldboy looks.. :/ haha


After dinner, we went to watch a game show
60 seconds or less (pretty much 1 minute or less)
and then we watched karaoke.
We were going to go up and sing, but decided not too, because a guy from American Idol
got up and sang, and I would of felt foolish going after him.. :/
We had an awesome time.

Day 8-ARRIVING IN NEW ORLEANS..

Everyone had a number that they used to get off the boat. We all had to meet in a room.
So, our group met in the Cleopatras lounge.
I thought I would take pictures since we haven't yet. ;)







After we got off the ship, customs and everything else was a breeze. :) They had a drug dog smelling everyone and all their luggage. I was a little alarmed by that just because I have a fear of those dogs.. I watched them bite people on tv.. Not a cop dog person.. but dont worry.. I still have all my limbs. :)
After we got all through that stuff, Codi and Berkley and their family were there to pick us up and bring us home :)
We are so lucky to have awesome friends who are willing to drive awhile to do us favors. :)
They sure are awesome people and we are lucky to have them in our lives.
So thank you Muirs and Garretts. :)

I hope you enjoyed, and got to see what you wanted too.
It was hard to choose pictures because we took over a thousand.