Of all the cool experiences Lizzy has gotten to have, a cruise has yet to be one of them. Since we've just recently returned from Japan, we couldn't justify returning to our favorite Christmas destination of Hawaii so soon after a major trip.
So, I cashed in a complimentary cruise on Princess that I had been hanging on to, so here we go!
December 22, 2019
The 3:00 am wake up call came early, but we were excited to have a relaxing vacation (our Japan trip was anything but relaxing!), so getting up wasn't a challenge. The chauffeur arrived at 3:45, and we were off.
It wouldn't be right to start one of our trips without the airport race car photo.
So, I cashed in a complimentary cruise on Princess that I had been hanging on to, so here we go!
December 22, 2019
The 3:00 am wake up call came early, but we were excited to have a relaxing vacation (our Japan trip was anything but relaxing!), so getting up wasn't a challenge. The chauffeur arrived at 3:45, and we were off.
It wouldn't be right to start one of our trips without the airport race car photo.
Daddy was nice enough to let me sit in his First Class seat with Lizzy down to Atlanta.
We landed in Atlanta, uneventfully, and had a brief layover before flying onward to Fort Lauderdale. Once we arrived, it was grab the bags and play the "attempt to get an Uber" game. We waited probably 15 minutes for our Uber to arrive, but it sure felt longer, as we were all eager to get on the ship.
He finally arrived, and we made our way to Port Everglades. Check-in was a breeze, as we had completed all the necessary information, including passport validation, before leaving home. We were boarding the ship about 15 minutes after arriving at the port. Woo hoo!
He finally arrived, and we made our way to Port Everglades. Check-in was a breeze, as we had completed all the necessary information, including passport validation, before leaving home. We were boarding the ship about 15 minutes after arriving at the port. Woo hoo!
After dropping our carry-ons in the stateroom (our category was a "mini suite), getting changed into appropriate vacation attire, and checking out our wonderful balcony.
We were quite ready for lunch by this point, so we headed to the buffet for our first of many meals there. Lizzy approved!
We were quite ready for lunch by this point, so we headed to the buffet for our first of many meals there. Lizzy approved!
After walking around a bit, we returned to the room where our cabin steward brought us some sparkling wine, so we hung out on the balcony for a bit. We were thrilled with our home for the next week. Cheers to a new adventure.
After the mandatory muster drill was supposed to be the sail-away party up on desk, but there was a bit of spotty rain, so we chose to do sail away from our balcony rather than the party in the atrium. It was a good choice.
In seemingly no time at all, we had left the port and were out on the open ocean. Time to have some fun! A bit of time was spent playing games on the interactive touch screens.
We had our first dinner in the main dining room, then called it a night, as we'd been up since 3:00 am. Cruise ship sleep is SO wonderful, and we all had a wonderful night of rest.
December 23, 2019
Today was to be our first port day, a stop at the Bahamian cruise line private island. This was to be our beach day. After breakfast in the buffet, we return to the room to watch as we approached the island.
December 23, 2019
Today was to be our first port day, a stop at the Bahamian cruise line private island. This was to be our beach day. After breakfast in the buffet, we return to the room to watch as we approached the island.
As we drew nearer and nearer to the island, and the tender boats began to approach to take us ashore, Lizzy observed and remarked "The water looks very choppy. I don't think those tender boats can take us." I dismissed this, with a "nah, we'll be fine!" We were waiting by the elevators, with our beach bags over our shoulders, when the Captain came over the loudspeaker affirming what Lizzy had just said. The port day was going to be cancelled as the water was too choppy for the tenders. She was right, as usual!
We were on the Marina Deck one deck below the pools, so we immediately turned behind us and took the stairs up one level to grab 3 coveted pool chairs for our now impromptu sea day before the other 3000 passengers could think to do the same thing. Success!
The day was spent watching Home Alone on the giant movie screen from the hot tub, swimming with new friends, and having tons of fun.
We were on the Marina Deck one deck below the pools, so we immediately turned behind us and took the stairs up one level to grab 3 coveted pool chairs for our now impromptu sea day before the other 3000 passengers could think to do the same thing. Success!
The day was spent watching Home Alone on the giant movie screen from the hot tub, swimming with new friends, and having tons of fun.
We decided to have sushi for dinner (she called dibs on the poke and the tuna), followed by desserts in the dining room. From this night on, Lizzy had creme brulee (her favorite dessert) EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
December 24, 2019
Our second sea day in a row and we did very much what we did the day before...pool, fun, sun, relaxing. We were so relaxed that we hardly took any photos at all. This was also the day that Lizzy discovered there was a soft serve ice cream window right next to the pool, and I'm pretty sure she had 3 ice cream cones this day.
This evening was our first formal night. She had chosen her dress, and decided she wanted opera gloves. Isn't she beautiful?
Our second sea day in a row and we did very much what we did the day before...pool, fun, sun, relaxing. We were so relaxed that we hardly took any photos at all. This was also the day that Lizzy discovered there was a soft serve ice cream window right next to the pool, and I'm pretty sure she had 3 ice cream cones this day.
This evening was our first formal night. She had chosen her dress, and decided she wanted opera gloves. Isn't she beautiful?
After dinner, it was off to the club for dancing. And my oh my, can she ever dance.
December 25, 2019
Merry Christmas! Much like the prior two Christmases in Hawaii, Santa managed to find Lizzy in the middle of the ocean. She received an inflatable t-rex costume, some books, and some Arya Stark merchandise. Also were 20 Dancing Freddy branded bracelets, so she was over the moon.
Santa also made an appearance in the atrium, with a gift for each child. She received a lovely stuffed polar bear she named Snowstorm.
Merry Christmas! Much like the prior two Christmases in Hawaii, Santa managed to find Lizzy in the middle of the ocean. She received an inflatable t-rex costume, some books, and some Arya Stark merchandise. Also were 20 Dancing Freddy branded bracelets, so she was over the moon.
Santa also made an appearance in the atrium, with a gift for each child. She received a lovely stuffed polar bear she named Snowstorm.
He also functions as a hat.
Approaching St. Thomas.
We grabbed a taxi into Charlotte Amalie and walked around for a bit, finding a wonderful little restaurant for lunch. We hung out here for about 2 hours, chatting with the owner and enjoying the 86 degree weather.
After lunch, we headed back to the ship to get into our swimsuits for our BIG experience...swimming with a sea lion at Coral World!
We got the excursion bus and headed to Coral World, having a bit of time before our sea lion experience to enjoy the animals there, which we did!
We got the excursion bus and headed to Coral World, having a bit of time before our sea lion experience to enjoy the animals there, which we did!
Finally, it was time to have our time in the water. Our sea lion was Omar, and he was so funny. He jumped straight in the water and swam right for me, and gave me a big wet unexpected kiss. We had TONS of interaction time with him, including kisses, belly rubs, and even time outside of the water. What a magical Christmas day memory.
We headed back to the ship for a relaxing evening, as usual!
December 26, 2019
St. Maarten - the Dutch side - means 10 countries. US, Italy, England, Austria, Germany, Jamaica, Australia, Bahamas, Japan, and St. Maarten is technically part of The Netherlands. A big milestone for a big life!
December 26, 2019
St. Maarten - the Dutch side - means 10 countries. US, Italy, England, Austria, Germany, Jamaica, Australia, Bahamas, Japan, and St. Maarten is technically part of The Netherlands. A big milestone for a big life!
While Daddy went diving (his first drift dive!), we did horseback riding on the beach. No photos were permitted (and we didn't buy the photos they took as they weren't very good), Lizzy was stuck with a horse named Princess (which she hated the name), but she was a lovely horse - very kind and easy to ride. I, on the other hand, was stuck with a temperamental horse named Regalade. Here was the beach we rode on, which was a lot of fun.
Back to our ship!
We spent the remainder of the day in the pool and hot tubs, and as usual, had a lovely and relaxing evening.
December 27, 2019
Here's our wonderful stateroom.
December 27, 2019
Here's our wonderful stateroom.
This was a day at sea (St. Maarten was our last port of call, so we had 2 sea days to get back to Ft. Lauderdale.), so obviously it was spent at the pool. Lizzy formed a collection of friends, as she does, and was spotted talking to them about who knows what, while they all sat rapt.
It was our second formal night, and there was much fun had.
December 28, 2019
Our last sea day was brilliantly sunny and beautiful, and the pool crew was treated to a pool-side ice carving demonstration. Notice Lizzy had a front row seat!
Our last sea day was brilliantly sunny and beautiful, and the pool crew was treated to a pool-side ice carving demonstration. Notice Lizzy had a front row seat!
After our full pool day, and dinner and normal evening entertainment, Liz decided she wasn't ready to leave, and ran around the ship trying to cram in all the things we never got around to doing (because we were too busy relaxing.)
She cuddled up under a movies under the stars blanket.
She cuddled up under a movies under the stars blanket.
Then we had to go walk around the walking track, and played miniature golf at night, because why not?
We retired to our balcony, and spotted other cruise ships also heading back to port.
We retired to our balcony, and spotted other cruise ships also heading back to port.
December 29, 2019
Alas, debarkation had come too quickly. It didn't feel like 7 wonderful days, but it was. We sadly got off the cruise ship, but we weren't yet ready to come home. We headed to Fort Lauderdale beach to our hotel for the night. Goodbye, wonderful Regal Princess!
Alas, debarkation had come too quickly. It didn't feel like 7 wonderful days, but it was. We sadly got off the cruise ship, but we weren't yet ready to come home. We headed to Fort Lauderdale beach to our hotel for the night. Goodbye, wonderful Regal Princess!
At our hotel, we waited awhile for our room to be ready, as we arrived in the morning, knowing rooms weren't available until afternoon. We walked around a bit, relaxed by the pool deck, had lunch, and walked to the beach to discover PORTUGUESE MAN-O'-WARS!!!!!!!!! That put an end to any sand castle building plans we had!
Once we had our room, we swam for about 2 hours, then we got cleaned up and went to a lovely sushi restaurant for dinner.
December 30, 2019
Time to prepare to come home.
December 30, 2019
Time to prepare to come home.
We headed to FLL, and spent a couple of hours at SkyClub waiting for our flights home.
The flight to Atlanta was uneventful as usual. Once we boarded our flight home to Indy, we noticed that we were on the EXACT SAME AIRCRAFT, IN THE EXACT SAME SEATS as our first fight down (IND - ATL) 8 days prior!
All in all, it was a fun, relaxing, but all too short vacation. Aren't they all?