2nd port; Ocho Rios Jamaica

Our second stop, on our third day (2nd day was at sea all day) was Ocho Rios Jamaica. It had beautiful vegetation! Full of rolling hills (reminded us of home!). Our excursions where to ride a chair lift up the mountain, then ride a bobsled down, ride the bobsled on an elevated tram back up the mountain, then ride the chair lift back down, then be transported to Dunn River Falls to climb up the falls. The chair lift was so fun to see all the vegetation of Jamaica, very beautiful! The bobsled was fun, wish it would have been longer, but hey we can say we rode in a Jamaican bobsled! And the falls were really cool! Most of the pictures from the falls are on a disposable water camera that we haven't developed yet, but there's a few on here! After the falls we had to trek through some local vendors in their little huts! Wow are they pushy! Than got suckered in, and bought a cane (which he did want to get one on our trip, since he collects them), along with a few other little trinkets. Oh well! Then went shopping in the town, but mainly got our freebies only from our Port Shopping coupon book (TOTALLY worth the $25!). It was a good experience and minus Than being asked if he wanted a joint/smoke about 10 times buy the locals (told you they are pound of their weed!) it was a great day!

1st port; Princess Cays

There is an island in the Bahamas that several cruise companies own a chunk of the island/beach, so our first stop just such a place called Princess Cays. And believe me it was a place right out of a post card! It was so beautiful! There was no place to dock, so we had to tender in (get on smaller boats, holding 100 people, and ride on it to shore). Than was supposed to go deep sea fishing, but it got canceled due to "mechanical issues" so he ended up renting snorkel equipment like I did. We saw quite a few fish (sorry, haven't got the water cameras developed yet) but it took me a while to get used to it. I'm paranoid in the water anyways, and learning to breathe out of my mouth only, sent me into a near panic attack the first time I tried it in knee deep water! But after a bit I got used to it, but still couldn't stay under very long before needing to come up for "real air." But it was fun just bobbing on the top looking down. The water was soooo clear I could see everything just fine! Being on the beach that Princess owned, the food at lunch was FREE which was nice. A big BBQ buffet! So yummy! This was the only day we got burned! Didn't reapply sunblock as often as we should have! Luckily I got it less! So my fake 'n' bakin' before we left payed off! That day also seemed the hottest, which was really hot! But looking back it was only 86 degrees, but had 99% humidity! We are used to the dry heat. None the less, we still had a blast playing in the water, snorkeling, and relaxing!

Entertainment

There was SO MUCH to do on the ship! Every night there where people performing; the Princess Dancers, comedians, musicians! The singers and dancers were probably my favorite performers to watch! A very talented group of people! We also went to several "Movies Under The Stars" were around one of the pools (all blocked off) on the big screen they'd play an almost or just released movie on DVD twice after dark (some during the day also, but it was too hot then, but the pool was also open then too). We watched Clash of the Titans, Iron Man 2, and Loosers. Even while I wasn't injured, there wasn't enough time in the day to do everything there was to do, so you just had to pick and choose. But there truely was something for everyone!

The Food!

So before we left, I told Aleksia that I would take a picture of every plate of food (because she was curious as to what kinds of foods we would eat). WOW was that a lot of pictures! Here are some of the yummier foods. And by the way, the food was AMAZING! We choose the Anytime dining, which we really liked. We could still eat in the dining rooms with the set time dinners, but had SO MUCH more flexibility! We weren't always hungry at a certain time, so it really worked for us. We tried out 2 of the 3 dining rooms (repeating them both) and ate from the buffet, and various other areas. There was 2 buffets, which at peak times where both open, but one or the other was ALWAYS open! So if we wanted a little something before going to bed at midnight, you'd just go down to the buffet and there ya go! And it was all really good food to! Especially at Sabatini's, the Italian restaurant, that we went to for our "Anniversary" dinner. More courses then we've ever had, and the food is probably thee best we've ever had!!

I'm afraid to get on the scale after returning! Between the yummy food and then not being able to be as active (exercising in the am and taking the stairs instead of the elevator) after I hurt my ankle..... YIKES! Oh well, so incredibly worth it!

The Emerald Princess

The Emerald Princess ship was amazing! There was so much to do and see. There is so much care and attention to the details, and the service is above and beyond! The crew members are so nice and friendly and you truly got the royal treatment. I had a really hard time at first being waited on. "I'm competent, I can get my own silverware that's right there, or throw away my own garbage, or take care of my own plate!" But no, they would (nice) get mad at you! One time I was in line for pizza and a worker was in front of me. He offered for me to get in front of him, and I said that I was fine, and in no hurry. Well he joked saying, "No go ahead, or I'll get in trouble," well I don't think he was joking! I would recommend a cruise, especially Princess, to anyone and everyone! And maybe someday, when the kids are older, we'll go again. We had so much fun!

1st stop; Fort Lauderdale

To celebrate our 10th anniversary (9-9-00) we used some of our tax return from buying our house last year to go on a Western Caribbean cruise through Princess. It was awesome! The food, the boat, the service, the shows, the entertainment, the excursions, the ports, everything was amazing! The only downers were missing the kids like crazy and badly spraining my ankle half way through and then having to be in a huge air cast (but we'll get to that later). Than's sister Sarah volunteered to watch the kids so we traveled up to their house Thursday night and flew out Friday am (thanks for the ride Courtney!) We couldn't leave Sunday and arrive soon enough to get on the boat, and Southwest didn't fly from Spokane to Ft Lauderdale on Saturday, so we had to leave Friday (yeah bummer, I know). So we rented a car, and got a hotel and had a good time. We went to the beach, drove down to Miami (which is nuts by the way) and went to the beach down there. Oh, and went to Walmart twice (no place like home!). Leaving the kids was harder then I thought it was going to be. I cried the night before we left, anticipating the separation in the morning. I cried/got teary that morning before we left, as we left, after we left on the way to the airport, at the airport, and in the air. Then again at bed time as I'd lay there trying to got to sleep for the next three days, thinking about them! I big baby I know, but we have never been away from then that long and SOOOO far away! I know they were in good hands and going to have a blast, but missed their cute faces! At one point as we were sitting in the Spokane airport waiting to board, the thought crossed my mind, "Just kidding, I can't do this, I want to go back home with the kids!" But it passed, I made it, and had a great time! As we'd see kids on the ship, or certain things would remind us of the kids, or something would come up and we'd say "Oh Garrick/Aleksia/Trestin/Cassiah would LOVE this!" we'd miss them like crazy and wish they were there with us, but over all it was best they weren't. Again, we had a great time, but hopefully our next BIG vacation is a family one! Enjoy!