Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Cruise!!

WARNING: Millions of pictures ahead!!
Since its my goal this year to make a blurb book I didn't want to leave anything out, so sorry if you get bored of all the pictures!

A few weeks ago Al and I went with Keri & Taylor Cannon and Zac & Kylee West on a Southern Caribbean cruise and it was AMAZING!! It really was one of the funnest trips I have ever been on.

The Cannon's and The West's left the day before we did so they could have a day in Puerto Rico but Al and I left on Sunday, March 15th at 12:05am. I HATE flying through the night, it was one of the most uncomfortable nights of sleep I have ever had. The only thing that saved me was the little TV directly in front of me with lots of free movies.

We first flew to NYC, had a 2 hour lay over and then left to Puerto Rico. Once we got to Puerto Rico we went straight to the ship, got into our room and crashed for a hours. By that time our friends got on the ship and the trip began!

Our first night was spent by going to dinner, learning how to use our life jackets, watching a movie on the pool deck and going to bed early.


Day two of the trip was our only day at sea. We woke up, ate breakfast and laid at the pool. It was nice to relax and recoup from the long day of traveling the day before.
It was also our first formal night! It was fun to get dressed up and watch how many people get so into taking the professional, cheesy pictures. If you've been on a cruise you know what I'm talking about! This was also the beginning of all the food eating! Wow did we eat A TON of food on the cruise.
Zac & Kylee, Taylor & Keri, Me & Al


Day three was Barbados! The beach and water was gorgeous! We took a glass bottom boat ride to snorkel with sea turtles and to an old ship wreck. The water was so nice and incredibly clear. Ziggy (the awesome local guy who took us out) kept throwing food over by the girls so that fish would surround us, it was so cool!

We spent the rest of the day hanging out on the beach and experiencing the weirdness of the locals trying to sell us stuff right Keri? Ha ha!

The boys forgot to bring a football or frisbee and we couldn't find them anywhere so the boys had to entertain themselves by burying Taylor in the sand.
That night we just ate dinner and hung out on the ship playing card games.
Day three was St. Lucia! This was one of the prettiest places I have ever seen, it was so green and lush. We hired a crazy local guy to take us to the gorgeous Peton Mountains. We had quite the experience! The driver was nuts, didnt speak English, the van ride was so bumpy and about 2 hours long! It wasn't the funnest activity on the trip but it was one of the prettiest.



Those are the famous Peton Mountains behind us.

After the crazy ride up the mountain, and since we were all car sick, we had the driver take us to a local beach to relax and hang out.
That night Al and I decided to get ready early and go watch the sunset on the top of the boat. It was gorgeous! Nothing beats watching a sunset over the ocean.

The Piazza of the ship

After dinner there was a big dance party and a "tropical buffet" on the pool deck. All 6 of us, even the guys, got up front and danced away! It was hilarious and so much fun!
They had the coolest center pieces on the buffet, all made of fruit and veggies.

The guys weren't hungry but the girls couldn't resist all of the good food!

Day 4 we woke up in Antigua!

This day we decided to just hang out at the beach. We found a beach in front of a cute resort and hung out all day, without any locals trying to sell us stuff for once!

The boys buried Zac this time and Taylor poured water all over his head, rude!
They finally found a frisbee for like $12! and it barely flew, so they just played in the sand.
Cooling off....we got so lucky with such great weather the whole time, but it got SO hot.
Another gorgeous sunset as we were leaving.
The food was my favorite part of the trip! I loved having huge, 5 course meals!
Day five my was favorite...Tortola! I had never heard of it before but it was GORGEOUS! I would go back in a heart beat.
Ky, Ker and Me with our ship behind us, the Caribbean Princess!
We took a ferry ride to a National Park called Virgin Gorda. Once we got there we took a bus to a place called The Baths. It was AMAZING. You walk down to this gorgous beach and then there are caves you have to crawl through that opens to an even more amazing beach.
Throughout the caves there were "baths" of water, it was awesome.
The pictures of this beach don't do it justice. It was beautiful. The sand was amazingly white and the water was the bluest water I had ever seen!
There were huge boulders everywhere, it was incredible. We were in awe all day!
Most people took the climb through the caves, stopped at the beach for a second and went back, but we decided to stay here all day because it was so pretty and secluded.

That night was our second formal night.

After dinner we went to the very back of the boat to the "teen" section to play ping pong and hang out.
Day six was our last day at port and it was St. Thomas. For the first few hours of the day the girls went to town for some shopping and the boys went straight to the beach. We met them there awhile later and just hung out for the rest of the day. This was probably my least favorite of the five islands that we went to but it was still pretty and fun.




Everyday we would go back to the boat around 4pm and eat lunch at the buffet or at the burger/pizza place on the pool deck. We would then usually watch one of the movies that they would play all day on the pool deck while laying out, take a nap, or in mine and Al's case we would watch Prisonbreak on our laptop!
After dinner on our last night we went to "Movies Under the Stars." Every night they would play a movie on the screen above one of the pools and hand out unlimited popcorn. All of the movies they played were good, new ones that weren't out to buy/rent yet so it was fun.

After seven amazing days our trip had to come to an end. Here we are getting off the ship and heading to the airport. Depressing I know.
We really had SO much fun and would recommend a cruise to anyone. We went on Princess Cruise Lines and loved it! The best part of the trip was escaping from life for a week and having no cell phone, internet, work, etc. It was such a nice break! We had so much fun with you guys Ky and Keri!! Can we go again please??
Now its back to work, peeling, cold weather and life! I already want to plan our next cruise!

18 comments:

Burns Family said...

I love pictures...I could have even looked at more haha I'm jealous it looks like you had a blast!!! :)

Kristin Morgan said...

SO fun!

Becky said...

I have been waiting for these. I can't wait for it to be my turn. I am so excited!! I will be emailing you again for more info. I can't wait! I'm counting down the days!!!!!

jessica said...

we have been looking into cruises! they are SO cheap right now! good to see that you loved the princess cruise line! did you use a travel agent or anything?

Luke and Ali Stewart said...

That looks so fun! I want to talk Luke into a cruise.

Jeff and Mallory said...

Yay! Love the pics! I am so sad that we didn't go but we are for sure in next time! Miss you, we need to hang out!

Ashlee said...

Hey Sar, looks like you guys had a blast. We are actually doing this exact same cruise in June, same stops and everything. I'll have to call you and get the details to the National Park thingy... looks awesome!

mama jo said...

looks like a fantastic time...

Lauren Rawlings said...

loved all the fun pics....i'm jealous of you. And i'm just wondering, where in the world do you get all your cute shoes? I'm serious...I need to know!

Polly said...

It looks like you had a great time! Loved the pictures!

Chris & Breanne Coccimiglio said...

Looks like so much fun! I am so jealous! You look so cute!

Katie Torriente: said...

Sar- I'm so glad you finally posted pictures of your cruise, it looks AMAZING. Plus, you are so gorgeous. You look so pretty in all your pictures! I'm so jealous, but hopefully everyone can do another "daybreak" cruise in the future :)

jen said...

Ok, I am SO jealous!! I need a va-cay so bad & one w/ friends is even a better idea! I love those fruit pieces!!
Well it was fun to talk to you last night... the blogging world is going to be a whole new thing now! ha ha! Love ya!

Keri Cannon said...

LOVE IT!!!Can we go back???? btw...honestly I just look chubby. not prego, just chubby. Good times! :)

melissa said...

Ok I am sooo jealous right now!!!! Your trip looks beautiful and so relaxing and fun! One day when I'm not nursing and don't have such little kids running around I'll have to get all the details and plan to go on the same cruise!

I am good to get together whenever. You have a busy work schedule so you tell me when is best for you!

Brando and Annie said...

That looks like such a fun trip! I'm jealous my white body needs to see the sun bad!!! So Megan was telling me Alan's birthday is in May. I think we should do a big BBQ for all our birthdays at my parents house. I will talk to Megan and see if we can plan something. We need to do something soon. I haven't seen you since Tessa's blessing!!!

cheeks said...

wow! THis makes me even more hungry for warm weather! I'm jealous of your vacay....the sun...the beaches...the suntans....and cruise food! Nothing beats having yummy food at your fingertips 24/7!

Hope you guys are doing well! love, jami, brett & baby emri :)

PS... i just read your engagement story! Very cute! Way to go Al!

Megan Loves Life said...

Looks SO fun! What a relaxing getaway, I'm thoroughly jealous! :)