5/6/14

I heard the baby making some noise around 6:10 A.M.  I grabbed some clothes and my iPhone and scurried out of the stateroom with her.

Although this photo truly could have been taken any number of places in the world, it is a favorite of mine b/c it was so spontaneously taken and ended up just so beautiful. 

I did love those early A.M. moments on the ship.  I love that time of day as it is, but with the sea all around us I was just in awe.
Jeremiah 31:35 — Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord of hosts is his name:

I grabbed her a whole milk at the drink station and found myself a cup of hot chocolate.

The cup wasn’t her style so we poked our heads back in our stateroom without waking anyone and went back to hang out on deck 10 for a bit while we waited for the others to rise.

By breakfast I was a little spent, to be honest.  I remember sitting down and saying to John, “I could never do this for two-weeks,” referring to a Panama Canal cruise we’d considered.  At that moment I was just plain flustered at getting shoes and hats found, sunscreening peoples, and watching the clock to not miss anything.  The kids LOVED eating in Cabanas.  We ended up doing it almost every morning.  It is a buffet with stations, which basically means a buffet that repeats itself over and over so you can enter/exit at any point.  Then it also had a few other special areas with fruit, beverages, featured items, etc.  To be sure, it confused some guests who gave you a look like you were a bad person for cutting in line, until they got down the way a bit and realized it was the same pattern of food over again.  It’s okay cruise-pal.  I forgive you for that nasty look you gave my 11-year-old.  Not everyone reads the Dis-Boards (but they should).

I had the girls down in the Atrium by 8:40 A.M. so that we would be in a great place for the Princess Gathering.  Sailing with us on the Magic that week were Rapunzel, Cinderella, Tiana, and Belle. 

I’m so glad we went through the hassle of going to the Princess Gathering got to meet the sweet Princesses so early in our trip.

They really do stop and chat, and do not rush you through at all. 

There was a second Princess Gathering later in the week, that was a mob scene.  I think a lot of travelers hadn’t quite gotten the groove of planning their days as the first Gathering was so smooth.

Rapunzel is like totally MY favorite.  She just is.  Maybe because when we met her in 2011 she dazzled us. 

Maybe it is because she wears purple.  Marie thinks it is because she is so energetic.

After some frantic searching miscommunication in which our party got separated, we finally got off the ship in Nassau.

Our plan was to walk to the Pirate Museum of the Bahamas.  After politely refusing the help of the locals 30 or 50 times, we headed out through the town.  The weather was exceptional.  It was very warm and continued to get warmer as we missed our turn and ended up at Junkanoo Beach.  I’d read about it and knew it was a free beach that was very friendly to visitors.  There WERE people there hawking things, but it wasn’t over-the-top.  The kids were roasting and the beach looked so inviting.  It didn’t take long before one of them suggested getting their feet wet.  And someone else suggesting some knee deep wading.  And someone then suggesting an impromptu swim.

These might be my favorite photos of the trip.

Check out my editing… not the best – but watch her disappear….

We finally made it to the Pirate Museum.  Much to my pleasure it was NOT a museum glorifying pirates.  It was very factual and pointed out the wickedness of their ways.  A Real Live Pirate came out to talk with us and he was very well-scripted and did a great job from an educational standpoint.  I don’t know what else to say; it was just good. 

We headed back to the ship and grabbed lunch and then dispersed.  John took Katriel back to the staterooms to nap while he read and relaxed.  The big four hit the pools, hot tubs, and slides.  I found Johanna an ice cream cone she seriously enjoyed. 

At 3:45 P.M. the girls and I did some open house programming in the Oceaneer Club.  We made chocolate chip cookies.  Frankly, it was a lot bit contrived.  But we got to do it together, so it was fun. 

Afterward the girls stayed in their space for a while and I found the boys playing dodgeball on Deck 10 with their group. 

John and Katriel hung out of Deck 9.

When I went to pick up the girls for live theater, we met Tiana in the hallway.  She was coming back from a single princess meet and greet session.  She stopped and talked to the girls for some time.  We’ve not, nor will we, see “her” movie.  But she was so friendly to talk to and she really wowwed the girls. 

We watched the musical, Twice Charmed.  A new-fangled version of Cinderella.  It was good. 

We dressed for dinner, snapped some shots and headed to Animator’s Palate.  This was my favorite restaurant. 

Our dinners didn’t START until 8:15 P.M.  The little girls did GREAT, though.
In Animator’s Palate they just started doing this amazing show.  Each person is given a matte that they are to draw a character on.  Then, while we ate, they brought it all to life.  Stewart video recorded the end result.  And somehow, I deleted it.  I’m trying not to be angry with myself.  And they are trying not to be angry with me.  ‘Nuff said.

We went to bed “early” a/k/a around 10 P.M. because we had a big day planned for the next day. 
While I am mentioning bed, I must share that the beds were unbelievably comfortable.