Monday, July 9, 2012

Vacation Day 5 - Cozumel

Our first port of call, Cozumel, Mexico.  Here mom has picked a dolphin excursion, where we are to get to play and swim with dolphins!  This is the excursion mom is looking the most forward to.  We weren't scheduled to dock at Cozumel until about 10a.m. which allowed us to watch as we dock.  It is very interesting to watch how the people on the boat work with the people on the dock to get this monster of a ship docked!
Once docked, we headed off the ship in to meet up with our excursion group.  In the process we came across different props to take silly pictures at, which of course we had to!
After meeting up with our group, we headed to the dolphinarium.  This was a very pretty area with lots of dolphins.  We weren't allowed to bring our camera into the dolphin area so all the pictures I have are from them (this is where they make their money)!  I couldn't resist getting the pictures though, you can see the joy and excitement on everyones face!

During this excursion we spent 40 minutes to an hour with the dolphins.  Where they swam buy and we touched (petted).  We held them and posed for pictures, we danced with them and of course we swam with them!  For the swim, we hung out in the water and the dolphin came up beside us (upside down) and we grabbed onto their fin and just held on!
Our dolphins name was Electra and we learned a few things about dolphins from this excursion.  Electra was actually pregnant!  She was about 6 months, but dolphins are pregnant for 12 months.  At 9 months, dolphins are not allowed to jump or interact with guests any longer. The dolphinarium actually just welcomed a new baby 3 days prior to our visit, which we were able to see. 
Our excursion also included lunch and they had a nice little set up where you can eat lunch right above where the dolphins are and so we got to watch the dolphins play while eating fajitas!



After enjoying some dolphin time, we headed back to the ship and the market place.  Of course, when the kids saw this hat display they had to check them out!
There were a lot of people in the market place that took pictures for tips.  Tapanga saw these guys and I told them I didn't have any money to tip them, but they took their picture with her anyway.  They were actually very nice and not pushy, like so many others are!
More crazy props for pictures!
After getting back on board and checking out what was available for activities, I found that Camp Carnival was hosting a digital scavenger hunt for families.  I thought this might be fun to do with the kids, but Tapanga feel asleep and Tanner decided he didn't want to go.  So Tyler and I headed on a scavenger hunt!

When we got there, there was only one other family ready to participate so Tyler and the other little boy decided we should work together.  Some of the things we had to do were fun, others not so much.  First, the boys had to get a conga line with at least 5 people...thanks to these 3 ladies at the pool we did this!
Secondly, the boys had to find 5 staff members from 5 different countries!  Here we found people from Indonesia, India, St. Vincent, and the US.
We had to take a picture with the funnel in the background, if you look all the way up you will see it.
One of the last challenges we did (there were others, but I am just not including them on here) was to make a sign that said "I love camp carnival."  But we didn't have any paper and we were at the buffet, so I got the idea to make it out of ketchup, Tylers green bracelet says Carnival.
After we started the another family also began the hunt and because we didn't read one of the requirements correctly we messed up and finished 2nd!  It was fun though and I think both Tyler and I enjoyed ourselves.

Tonight we had reservations at the steakhouse.  The kids went off to camp carnival and we enjoyed some mouth watering, huge steaks and delicious desserts!
When we went to pick the kids up, we didn't have a daughter anymore!  Instead, we had a butterfly!
Tonight's towel animal...a frog.
What a busy, fun day!  The kids had an experience of a lifetime and I hope they remember it forever!  Tomorrow on to Belize.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Vacation Day 4 - Fun Day at Sea

Today shouldn't be labeled fun day at sea, it should be relaxing day at sea! 

The kids activities don't start till 10 so between breakfast and opening we let the kids enjoy some pool time.  The pools on the boats are always to deep for the kids, but they enjoy hanging on the edges anyways.  Tapanga joined up with some other girls to play games, she is good at finding friends to play with!

The kids really enjoy the activities for their age groups, so while they went to play we had to decide what we wanted to do.  The fun times didn't list many activities that I really wanted to do so we decided to find some lounge chairs and enjoy them!  I know I caught a quick nap on the deck, but I didn't get caught by the camera.  KG and Thomas not so lucky!
 
After lounging all morning we grabbed the kids to play on the water slides.  Tanner really loves it.  While playing I saw the Towel character and of course the kids had to get their picture taken with it!
Along with being a day at sea, it was also the first formal night.  Formal nights are not the same as they use to be when we first started cruising, now its more of a dress nice night.  Tyler didn't want to join us for dinner, he wanted to go back to kids club, but I made him get dressed and take some photos with us anyway.

I like eating dinner at the restaurant, its nice not to have to stand in line at the buffet.  Sometimes the time needed for the restaurant is a little long, but with good company you can't complain.  Tanner decided to join us also.  His reason?  He wanted steak! 
 You can dress them up, but can't take them anywhere!  Actually, they are all trying something new...alligator!
 
 Towel animal of the night...chilling elephant!
Today was a nice and relaxing day, I think we will try to repeat that on Friday our next sea day.  Tomorrow, on to Cozumel, Mexico and swimming with the dolphins.