Carnival Ecstasy

Can you believe it we are on a cruise to the Bahamas? !! Check in was crazy crazy organized kayos. I could not believe what people were carrying on.  May people has cases of bottled water, coolers of food and cases of pop. (Iittle did I know at that time that ALL drinks would cost extra money, even water)  I guess that is what happens when you put 2,000 people on one ship in 2 hours.  After passing through customs we went to check out our room.  It was small and only room for one queen sized bed that went from wall to wall.  Tiffany and Alyssa’s bed folded down from the ceiling.  Once the beds were opened there was no room to walk around.  We are going to be very cozy for the next 5 days.

Freeport

After a night at sea we arrived at Freeport.  We had originally signed up for a kayak trip in the ocean followed by snorkeling, but due to rough seas and an incoming storm the adventure was canceled.   We changed plans for a jungle kayak trip.  It was an adventure for sure.  Things run a little differently outside of the US. The guide handed us our paddles and got in his boat and headed out.  We were left to fend for ourselves.  Not knowing much about kayaking we started out.  The kayaks had no steering rutters and the person in the back was left to steer the kayak.  The person in the front was smashed in to the tree limbs that were on the side of the river.  Tiffany and Alyssa showed great patience as we traveled down the river.  About half was through the journey dark clouds and lightning started rolling in, and with one loud crack of lighting the heavens opened up and a torrential rain begin.  We were not sure if we should laugh or cry.  And again our guide was no ware in sight.    Freezing cold but safe we reached the end of the river.  The guide drove us to a little sack and offered us cold cut sandwiches (no condiments) and lemonade make with local water.  Not wanting to risk getting sick I opted to wait until getting back on the boat for food.  After getting back on the ship we went straight for the hot tub and the grilled hamburgers!!

Nassau

I never thought I would see the day when I would bring my family to Paradise Island.  But today is that day.  13 years ago on our 13^th anniversary Mark and I spent a week at Atlantis.  It was a trip that measured up to the name of the island.  We were up at dawn to get to Atlantis as soon as possible.  We walked the grounds trying to show the girls as many things as possible before the water slide opened.  Our first ride was through the water tube through the shark tank.  It was as fun as I remembered it.  We then went to the lazy river which was new since our first visit.  It was truly the funniest lazy river ride I have ever been on.  It was already lunch time by then so after a burger by the pool we went out to the ocean.  The day was quickly passing so we ran through the aquarium and then back out to the ship.  It was a super fun day. 

Half Moon Cay

Half Moon Cay is a private island owned by Carnival.  We got on ferry boats from the main ship and were ferried over to the island.  The water was so pristine and warm.  The sand was a soft as silk. Totally amazing.

The beach got crowded very quickly as what seemed as the whole boat unloaded, making the deserted island in to a crowded island of over 2,000 people.  There was no shade and it was an extremely HOT, so we spent most of the day in the water.  After lunch Tiffany and I went for a walk up the beach away from the crowds of people and we saw a shark!  It was a baby shark but a shark none the less.  We watch the shark swimming right for the crowds of people.  I calmly yelled out baby shark and pointed to the water.  And you guessed it..it was a scene from Jaws.  In the afternoon we went to board the ferry ship and there was a line of all 2,000 people who also need to board the ship.  The day was extremely hot and standing in a 1 ½ hour line was unbearable.  People around us were  passing out from the heat.  It was nice to be back on the ship in the air-conditioning.  Ice water never tasted so good!!