I'm baaaaack! Our cruise was terrific! We left the day after the turmoil surrounding the liquids on the airlines so we had to put all our toiletries in our checked luggage. The airport was a crowded mess at 5:15 am, but we zipped through check-in and security in an hour. I had a bottle of water in my purse that we had planned on drinking in case we were stuck in line for a few hours. Security caught it and we had to throw it out. My friend had to pay $25 extra because her suitcase was over 50 pounds. However, we went through the sky cap who only asked us if the suitcase was under 50 pounds. Sure it is, we said and we were sent on our way.
In Ft. Lauderdale, I visited my very first pubic, er I mean publix market. We bought beverages to bring onboard the ship. Two interesting pieces of info about the market: 1. They had "Puffy's" puffed cheese snacks, and 2. They had a wine-tasting section where a woman gave us tastes of various wines they carried.
On the ship, the food was amazing and the entertainment was first-class. Our cabin with a balcony was wonderful. Everything was very clean. Hey, Carey, look at this: there were stands with containers of anti-bacterial gel EVERYWHERE. People squirted a glob of gel on their hands before they entered the dining rooms and the buffet lines. All the doors leading into the public bathrooms were open, so nobody had to touch them to leave the bathroom.
There were about 5 pools. One pool featured Movies Under the Stars. There was a huge screen way up high and movies played all the time. The sound was great.
We went on a banana boat ride on the private island. Two people fell off while we were speeding through the water.
We went tubing in an inner tube down a river in Ocho Rios. It was like the rafting rides at an amusement park, except this time it was FOR REAL!
Then we climbed Dunn's River Falls. We went with a family of 5, all holding hands as we ventured up the steep rocks and rushing water. Our shuttle driver stayed on the stairs next to the falls, shouting out directions to us. We climbed all the way from the beach, up the entire falls, taking about 1 1/2 hours! It was an exhilirating experience that I will never forget. Mr. Puffy led the way and I stepped on the rocks and stones as his foot left each place. I don't know how he figured out where to step. The water was rushing so fast, that it almost tore off my rubbery aqua socks several times. I fell three times, bruising my elbows, and my side. That night, we both looked like we had been in a car accident.
In Grand Cayman and in Cozumel, we went snorkeling. Yay for no thunderstorms or hurricanes! Sunrises and sunsets were beautiful. I have lots of pictures.
On the last day of the cruise, in Florida, our flight didn't leave until 5 pm, so we took an excursion to the Everglades and to Flamingo Gardens which is a botanical gardens and wildlife sanctuary. Alligators and panthers, and birds, oh my!
Even though it was mid-afternoon on a Saturday, we had no wait for check-in or security in Ft. Lauderdale. Vacations are great!
One funny little story from my friend's husband. We were talking about no liquids in carry-on luggage. He said a few years ago, on vacation, they had bought some fudge in a jar. To protect it in their luggage, they wrapped it in his underwear. When they arrived at home and unpacked, they discovered that the jar had broken. His underwear was full of melted fudge. Uh-huh. That's his story.
