Our cruise trip to the Carribbean started with Peter and Jillian taking us to the cruise terminal.
The ship was boarding passengers when we arrived.
So we took our spot in line…
And an hour and 45 minutes later we were on the ship.
I wasted no time in buying the pre-paid beverage package.
And Kelli wasted no time in finding a relaxing spot to sit.
The girls played around the pool.
A good view of Baltimore City from the ship.
Not everyone was happy while mustering.
Shortly thereafter our room was ready.
It was decent…
But it was at the bow, so we felt a lot of movement from the ship.
Looks like we’re pulling away from port…
And heading towards the sea.
Kelli made herself comfortable…
As we passed under the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Lowest of the low, deck one.
Heading out to dinner that night, and this is our going out picture.
Kelli’s mom swung in for happy hour…
And we passed under the bay bridge.
Necklaces my mother would like.
Dinner that night.
The girls were entertained by magic…
And the adults were entertained with gambling.
Smoking was allowed in the casino.
Well lubricated at this point.
We met up with Hazel, our friend from a previous cruise, and her daughter, Connie.
We went to see a show that night…
And while the girls were having fun…
It was getting late for them.
Kelli and I took Sophia for the night.
But we had to stop by Kristi’s room and pick up a few things…
Before heading back to our room and ordering midnight room service.
The next morning we laid in bed and acted like bums.
There was a call in talk show on the TV, so I called in and talked for a while.
I hit the gym to work out.
While Kelli was resting, I bought her a rose to brighten up the room.
Then I went and grabbed some lunch.
After a few drinks, I found myself in the art auction buying art.
Afterwards I met up with these fools…
And had a few drinks.
I went for a walk with Sophia…
And we bought some treats together.
Kelli and I took her back to her room…
Where Kristi decided to try some of the button candy.
It was formal night, and this was our going out shot.
We posed with the Captain of the ship.
And then had a drink before dinner.
A close up of the painting I bought.
What happens when you let a 10 year old take selfies.
Kelli seemed very interested in the gold/silver by the inch.
And everyone likes to walk through the shopping area.
Kristi had too many drinks before dinner and seems to have passed out.
The rest of us were doing just fine.
We took a selfie…
And then like her sister, she took a few solo shots.
Dinner that night.
We saw a comedy show that night, and this was Kel’s favorite comic, Eric Schwartz.
We were going to go to bed…
But decided to get some sushi instead.
The topless woman outside our room.
I guess something happened at dinner the night before and this was the “I’m sorry” package.
I loved the veggie burgers next to the indoor pool.
Art auction #2, this time with Kelli.
We had finally reached southern waters warm enough to lay out in, and Kelli was happy.
I don’t mind being outside, but the direct sun is not my friend.
High octane drinks, however, are my friend and I started most days with one or two “Iced Teas”.
Looks like they found our hiding spot.
That’s OK, they didn’t stay long…
And we were back to relaxing in no time.
Chillin’ out.
The kids were happy to be in the pool.
Meanwhile, Kelli and her mom were taking a break from the sun.
There was always live music somewhere on the ship.
And you were always running into strange people.
Some cruise ship beerporn.
More strange people.
Back in the room Kel and I watched the sun set…
And then got ready for dinner.
The going out shot for the night.
A few more drinks…
And some goofiness…
Before heading up to the top of the ship…
With a long way to fall…
On the glass steps…
For a nice dinner.
Then it was off to the comedy club to see Eric again.
The next morning we pulled into our first port of call, Grand Turk.
We were set to do a dive trip…
And got to see a few turtles.
The diving was really great in the underwater marine park they have around the island.
With the diving done, we headed back towards the ship.
The dive sites on the island. We went to Austin’s Reef and Finbar’s Reef.
Time for some local beer.
The rest of the group had spent the day at Margaritaville, but were gone when we walked through.
So we walked along the beach…
And came across this exhibit about the Mercury missions.
It seems the space capsules had landed in the water nearby.
These men had the right stuff…
And I was named after this Scott Carpenter.
Grand Turk is the island furthest to the right.
You can see the line to get on the ship in the background, so we decided to relax and have another beer.
When the line had finally subsided, we headed for the ship.
View of the little dive shack from the ship.
The flag in the middle is for Grand Turk.
Kelli, happy to have her silver by the inch.
We played some movie trivia…
Before getting ready and heading out for the night.
The rest of the group was dancing in the main area when we arrived.
Kristi loves wearing flowers in her hair.
Teaching the kids bad habits.
Dinner that evening.
There was a bar called Alchemy where they only made fancy drinks. This was absinthe.
After dinner we hung out with Connie and Hazel.
Then we headed to the arcade…
And played some games with the girls.
Teaching your children to gamble 101.
Afterwards we went to a show to end the evening.
The next day our port of call was Halfmoon Cay, which for the uninitiated, is pronounced “key”.
A short tender over…
And we were on the private island, which is actually part of the Bahamas (The middle flag).
The island was just a day for relaxing.
Ashley and I did a little snorkling.
And then hung out on the beach together.
Lunch was buffet style.
And we all ate well.
Kelli laid on the beach most of the day, but got in the water to…um…cool off.
I did some solo snorkling.
And saw lots of small fish.
Fun times.
The beach crew.
Playing in the sand is always a fun thing on the beach.
So is floating on inner tubes.
I think I was trying to get the ship in the background.
Not a chance I was going to enjoy the tube alone.
When all the chairs are taken, you make your own.
A map of the island.
There was a small little village area, but it sold the same stuff from the ship.
With the day at an end…
We packed into the tender…
And headed back to the ship.
We said goodbye to Halfmoon Cay.
We joined in some more trivia back on the ship.
Then took a selfie in the main area.
We decided to get away from all the kids…
And I had a beer with the island fading into the distance.
Our going out picture.
Some friends they made on the trip. Their father (a passenger, natch) is playing the piano in the background.
Dinner that night was just the six of us.
We had lots of food.
And then afterwards, I bought some chocolate covered strawberries.
Leaving prank voicemails for Kelli’s sister.
Our final port of call was Freeport on Grand Bahama Island.
Another dive trip for us.
Kelli got to sit up front for the ride to the dive shop.
It was only about a 20 minute drive to the shop.
Then it was on to the boat for the dive.
We saw lots of good fish…
And several caribbean reef sharks. This one was about 6-7 feet.
This one was about 5-6 feet. I was about 20-30 feet away.
Back on the boat and ready to go home.
Back on the ship and headed for Baltimore.
We said goodbye to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island.
And hello to drinking without having to worry about diving in the morning.
We headed back to Serenity…
And did some relaxing in the shade…
And it seems we weren’t the only ones with that idea.
Ha ha.
Second formal night, and this is our going out shot.
Formal night calls for a more formal drink…
At the special drink bar.
Everyone together in one photo.
We waited to see if Kelli had won a raffle…
And it turns out she did.
Afterwards, another show.
This one had a 3D element.
Then it was over to the comedy club.
After that, we stole Sophia and had some sushi.
Her favorite Aunt.
Yummm!!!
I wasn’t the only one in a tux.
At this point we were all well lubricated.
And Kelli was trying to help Kristi eat.
Kelli wanted a picture with the wind blowing in her hair, so I took this selfie against the moon lit sky.
We wandered around the ship finding a few last places we had yet to visit…
Including the chapel.
Kelli said no pictures in the chapel.
We have a rule that we never take the elevators on a ship. We always take the stairs.
The next morning we did “THE” picture. I had been waiting 2 years to take this picture. I had worked out with one of the photographers on the ship to be behind the camera for me.
Here are some of the shots that didn’t work out so well.
Ashley made a fun shirt to remember the trip by.
This is right after Kelli’s mom almost got in a fight. Carnival cruise line is like the Walmart of cruising.
We took this picture as part of a scavanger hunt.
Our last night in the room.
I went and grabbed a beer.
And then another.
Before we packed our things and headed out for the night.
We enjoyed a drink…
And then had dinner.
The kids were off somewhere doing a kids thing, so it was adults only tonight.
The next morning it was a waiting game to get off the ship…
And then we finally were able to get off and Kelli got to see Riley again!!!