Cruise #3

[Bracketed comments by G2] 

Here we go again! Less than 6 months after returning from cruises one and two, we were off again - this time a much more low key experience - a week in the Western Caribbean. 

First off let me say that we found out really quickly how much easier cruising with a six month old is than cruising with a one year old. Yes, the flight to Europe was rough, with quite a bit of fussing, but this was much worse. Only about two hours and about forty minutes of flight time, but it felt like an eternity. G3 *screamed* the whole time. Not fussed, screamed. The only reprieve from the screaming came about an hour and a half into the flight - and that was only because he was too busy vomiting all over himself and G2 to scream. [It was terrible.] You thinking dealing with a vomiting child is bad, try doing it at 30,000 feet. Sigh. Poor G2's pants and shirt may never be the same.

Mercifully, we landed on time and collected the car seat and stroller that we had checked, then caught the shuttle to our hotel, a local La Quinta. The shuttle driver was hilarious, telling us about his seven children and how every time his wife wore a certain type of perfume they had another kid, so he finally told her to stop wearing it. Our room at the hotel already had a crib for G3 all set up, and we figured he would be completely exhausted and go right to sleep. Nope. Wanted to play. It was a long night. [Very long.  He was up every couple of hours and would only get back to sleep after having a snack.]

The next day, exhausted, we headed for the ship, the Brilliance of the Seas. She was beautiful. Boarding had not started when we arrived, but the wait was short. Our room was not ready yet, so we headed to the Windjammer for lunch. Got a nice table in the outdoor seating area. Immediately crew members and guests started approaching G3 to talk to him, but unlike his previous cruises, instead of being cute and charming he was very stoic. We could tell this trip would not be as relaxing as the last.

Our stateroom had an extended balcony...it was not our original cabin assignment but T1 saw it available one day and snatched it up. One of the most popular balcony cabins on the whole ship. Excellent location in addition to oversized balcony.

We enjoyed the Diamond Club before dinner. There were so many of us Diamond folks aboard that the entire Viking Crown Lounge was shut down for everyone but us. Drinks and snacks were very good.  [What's not to like about free drinks?]

Our waiter at dinner, Rigo, was one of the only people who could make G3 smile all week. We kind of wanted to take him home with us by the time the cruise ended. Another note about dinner, we had requested and allegedly received a table for just the three of us, however when we arrived we were seated with a young couple from Florida. Fortunately they seemed to like children, so we figured everything would be all right.

We tried to go to the show after dinner...didn't happen. In fact, severe levels of fussiness caused us to not catch a single show all week. Oh well.

Day 2- Key West - We had planned to walk a loop throughout the city, stopping for several tastes of both conch fritters and Key Lime pie, and visiting Southernmost Point, Hemingway House (G2's request - unbeknownst to T1 when she started planning, the house is now a haven for 6 toed cats. 45 currently reside there.), and Fort Zachary Taylor Park. But T1 somehow forgot the map of the route at home. The tourist attractions were easy enough to find, and after some effort, managed to locate four of the potential eight snack spots. The line for the required touristy photo at Southernmost point was very long, so we decided to just walk around to the backside of the monument and take our pictures there. (Technically, we were thus more South than those standing beside the front of it...) At Hemingway House, cats were indeed plentiful. [Loooooots of toes. So many cats. So many cats. It was ridiculous.  Our cats just seem so inadequate with their standard number of toes.] T1 counted over twenty before losing track. After a stop for pie slice number one, which was tasty, but outrageously overpriced. $9.68. For one slice! When paying with a $10, we only received $0.25 change...so we left that and another $1 for a tip...not that the waitress really deserved it, but whatever. We definitely care less about these things when on vacation. But still. $11 for one slice of pie. Good grief. Reminded us of the $8 candy bar incident in Norway. Then on to the beach. Water was a little rough at the shore line and it was a bit difficult to get all three of us in, but we succeeded. G3 really liked the water. One of the few times throughout the trip that he acted genuinely happy. A piece of chocolate dipped key lime pie and two orders of conch fritters later (along with a check of the Bears score at the bar that fritter order number one came from...where we learned the game had been delayed almost two hours due to severe weather in Chicago) we were back on the ship. we relaxed in the stateroom for a bit, watching ESPN for the crawl of the Bears score. They ended up finally winning in overtime. Yay!

It was formal night, and G3 donned his tux again. Much smaller on him this time around. It was still very well received, garnering a myriad of compliments from both crew and guests alike. Rigo decided to give us a few minutes of peace during dinner, and took G3 on a tour of the dining room, introducing him to anyone who would pay attention. Another rare happy moment for him. At the captains reception we realized we had sailed with this captain before, on the Jewel a few years ago.

Day 3-At Sea Discovered the only way to keep G3 from fussing was to never stop moving. Not quite a picnic for T1, who had developed quite a few blisters from all the walking the day before. It seemed the time in the salt water the day before had made G3's skin a little better, so since the pools were salt water but he was not allowed in due to not being potty trained, T1 retrieved a bucket of pool water and brought it back to cabin to fill his duck tub with. That was good for about ten minutes of entertainment before the fussing resumed. Sigh. Oh the fussing.  We arrived at dinner later that evening to find our tablemates seated at a different table in our section - and they explained as we passed them that apparently they had just been informed that they were sitting at the wrong table for the past two nights, and apologized for intruding on our dinner. We truly hope they don't think we complained, because we certainly had not.

Day 4-Grand Cayman Had prepurchased tickets for the turtle farm, and had planned a long day of visiting it, then going to Hell and the Tortuga Rum cake factory, before finishing up the day at Seven Mile Beach. Two problems with this plan, neither of which the Fussbucket can be blamed for. Number one, ship was only due to stay in Grand Cayman until 4:30, and it is a tender port...and the last tender was at 3:15...not a lot of time when you don't tender in until almost 9:00. Problem number two was that T1 was not thinking due to sleep deprivation, and thus only grabbed $8 before leaving the ship. The ticket for the turtle farm was supposed to have a shuttle, but we couldn't find it, so we opted to take the local bus instead. That in itself was not a problem - it was a backup plan from the get go. However, it was $2.50 per adult. That left only $3 for the rest of the day. Oh dear. Plans to do anything other than the turtle farm were scrapped. We made sure to ask about the shuttle back...we would have been in big trouble if we had missed it. (Spoiler alert: we didn't.) The turtle farm was a ghost town when we arrived, we were literally the first guests to arrive. After holding a small turtle and viewing some other large ones, plus a sleepy crocodile, we headed over to the swimming pool which featured the turtle twister waterslide. It was closed when we got there, so we asked a lifeguard when it would open...and he opened it right then for us. Private waterslide! G3 was too small to ride, but he got a kick out of watching us take turns going down it. After about four slides each, we headed over to the aviary as there was supposed to be a feeding taking place. We stopped at the Predator Tank on the way to look at some sharks, etc. At the aviary, we were still the only guests. For $1 we could do the feeding. We tried to feed the Ibis, but apparently it is mating season for them so they had no interest in coming down from the trees to eat. So we decided to feed the nectar birds instead. That was pretty amazing. Just had to stand there with the cup of nectar and they would land on it and feed, inches from our faces. Next we went to the agouti exhibit, but they were hiding. Walked around the nature trail for a bit, then headed for the advertised highlight of the farm, the salt water sea turtle snorkel. It ended up that we only saw two turtles, both very small, and we actually saw them before ever getting into the water. (This makes us 0 for 4 in sea turtle snorkels we have attempted over the years...we're beginning to think we will never get to swim with them.)  Still, the swim in the lagoon was refreshing, and there was one spot where all the fish were hanging out. Their massive numbers (and the fact that she thought they were in an aquarium you could view underwater) startled T1. One second they were in front of us, the next they had us surrounded. Pretty crazy. There was limited shade and we didn't want G3 to get burned, so we finished up in the saltwater lagoon and did another lap around the park. The other tourists had finally started arriving while we were snorkeling. We held some more turtles (T1 swears one bit her while she was holding another) and then had some lunch - more conch fritters and a pina colada. With about an hour to kill until the shuttle we had to take was due to depart, we returned to the freshwater pool, parked G3 in the shade and swam around near him. He liked it when we would pop up out of the water. Then two more trips down the waterslide each (no longer private) and we headed for the shuttle. Made it with time to spare and soon were on our way back to the tender pier. It just so happened that there was a rum cake store next to it, so we stopped in for some samples before boarding the tender back to our ship.  [The turtle farm was a lot of fun and fairly relaxing, especially since G3 was pretty well-behaved.]

Day 5-Roatan Had arranged to take a short ferry ride to a private island. It was indeed very short -one probably could have swam to it if they were so inclined. The island had a rehab center for injured animals, replica Mayan ruins, a few small museums, a beach, pool, and sea lion exhibit. (Lunch was included as well, so no worries about going back to the ship to eat, though we certainly could have with it being so close.) We gave ourselves a tour of the island. The cats on exhibit, a jaguar, ocelot, (and something else...memory fails) were fascinated by G3, and him with them. (Though we think they wanted to eat him and he wanted to pull their tails...) There were also some birds, monkeys, and a crocodile. We then visited a replica of the Mayan site of Copan. It was very hot, so we ducked into a couple of small air conditioned exhibits that featured Mayan culture. Then it was time for lunch, and a lot of water. It was set up as a buffet, but servers scooped out the food like in a cafeteria. Our table was right next to the food station, so we both got in line and waved to G3 as we moved through the line. He really did seem amused by watching us do things...I thought he would be restless, but some of his best behavior this trip was when he was sitting in the stroller about 20 feet away from us, watching whatever we were doing. (On the ship back on Day 2 we decided to shoot some hoops on the sports court, another activity he obviously couldn't participate in, and he had a blast watching us.) After lunch we headed to the beach, and spent the whole afternoon in and out of the water. It was very calm and very warm, so G3 didn't even cry when we first put him in like he does from the shock of chillier water. Had a great day floating around with him. There was an opportunity to snorkel at the end of the pier, but we decided to skip it as we had only brought G3's float and not his life vest. As it neared time to catch the final ferry back to the ship, T1 convinced G2 to leave the water and go to the sea lion feeding. We were the only three that showed up, so we got to sit right next to the trainer as he fed the three sea lions through the chain link fence. The noises they made were hilarious. [Kind of like the pneumatic tubes at the bank.]  A quite enjoyable day overall.

Day 6-Cozumel This was the day T1 was most nervous about, and it ended up being the best. A full day tour that required a 45 minute ferry ride and a much longer bus ride to the Mayan site Coba. (Tulum would have been a bit closer, but you can't climb there, but you can at Coba.) The ferry ride from Cozumel to the mainland has been described by some as the Vomit Comet...and T1 understands why. Not exactly a smooth ride. Never used to be bothered by motion, but ever since being pregnant with G3 she's much more sensitive. Was not feeling too great when the ferry ride ended. (G2 and 3 were unaffected.) We had a bit of walk to the staging area where we picked up the bus, and T1 was greatful for it. The bus ride was long, so we sat in the very back to minimize disruption if G3 decided to fuss, but he did well, even drifting off to sleep on occasion. The visit to Coba was short, and some might not feel it worth the time, but we were satisfied. We only saw a few sites before heading off to the highlight of the trip, Nohoch Mul, the tallest pyramid in the complex. The walk was between a 1/2 mile and mile, for those not wanting to walk you could pay to take a 'Mayan Taxi,' a tricycle with a bench. We decided we needed the exercise and opted to walk. When we arrived at the pyramid we were invited to climb. T1 looked at G2 (who had G3 strapped to him in the carrier) and asked if he wanted to go first or if she should, figuring one of us would stay with G3 while the other climbed, and then we would switch. That's when he announced he planned to climb WITH G3. It's 120 steps, but not steps you can walk up like a staircase. They are very steep, not to mention between 1100 and 1900 years old and thus not in great condition, so it's a hands and knees type climbing situation. And he did it! T1 was so impressed! [I'm glad I didn't puke at the top.  That would have been embarrassing!] When it was time to descend, T1 took over the carrying duties and scooted down with G3 strapped to me. We then had to hustle back to the bus, and were some of the last to board. G3 was very hungry, so he had some food, and then all of us participated in a wonderful tradition - siesta! We were very impressed G3 fell asleep so easily, because he did not sleep well at all on the ship. But sleep he did, in T1's arms, which hasn't happened in a long time. After siesta, we were treated to another served buffet, but this one was especially cool because it was in a Mayan cave!  Then it was back to the ferry (much smoother ride in T1's opinion), and back on the ship. We were nearing all aboard, so we went out on balcony for one of my favorite cruising traditions - the running of the drunks. There were about five this port. Always good for a laugh.

Day 7-At Sea Nice relaxing day of lots of eating. The tomato seafood risotto in the main dining room for lunch was INCREDIBLE! There was also an ice cream sundae bar, and the kitchen apparently had excess shrimp, because the waiters brought out trays of shrimp cocktail and distributed them to all the diners, 'compliments of the chef.' An amusing way to put it, since all the food in the main dining room is included with the cruise fare. That night, we had our final cocktails in the diamond lounge, and then played mini golf on the top deck, a bit tipsy and with 40+ mile an hour winds, while G3 supervised. So much fun!  [Tiff kicked my ass.  I admit it.]

Day 8-Headed home We had a late flight, so we stored our luggage at the pier and took a walk up and down Tampa's Riverwalk. We also had Cuban sandwiches for lunch at Columbia Cafe before heading to the airport. Turns out our flight only had 60 people on it, and the plane holds to 137, so we plenty of room to spread out. We sat at the back of the plane with a family that had a 14 month old (who, ironically, had also been sick on the plane on the flight to Tampa). Both babies did pretty well, much better than on the flight up, that's for sure. They weren't incredibly interested in each other, but would exchange looks every once and a while. A few hours later, we were home, and welcomed by two very fat cats! [Seriously, we came back to two fatties.]

A note about the car seat, as we had read conflicting information prior to the trip. If we had been taken to the airport by a friend or relative who could have kept the seat, we would not have needed to bring it with us on the trip. The shuttle ride to the hotel was less than five minutes, and the driver told us just to hold him. The shuttle the next day to the pier was a bit longer, but it was a shuttle without seat belts and there was no room for the seat even if we had wanted to put him in it, as the shuttle was packed. And then on the ride from the pier to the airport though we did use it, the woman who set up the ride for us said they had one for us to use if we hadn't brought our own.