Before I tell you about our vacation, I have to give you a little back story about how we ended up on our cruise.
Both of us wanted to go to Europe for our honeymoon, but didn't want to put a lot of energy into planning a European vacation while also planning a wedding. We also only had a week or so, and wanted to see as much as possible. So we decided to take a cruise, which was best for that particular situation. Looking back, it was definitely right for us. We didn't have to make hotel or car reservations and went to five places in seven days. I don't think we got to fully experience Europe, in terms of the food and the adventuring, but it was a good start and gave us enough of a taste to want to go back.
We played BINGO on our nights on the boat, but didn't win anything except a T-shirt. But we played enough that we had some raffle tickets for a free cruise. So we went to the drawing. They pulled out the first ticket, and it wasn't ours. But the person who had the ticket wasn't there, so they drew again. They read off the numbers slowly, and by the time they got to the second to last number, we had nine of the next 10 possible numbers. And so, as it turns out, we won the free cruise!
So, that's how we ended up taking a second cruise for our spring break vacation last week. It was initally for a seven-day Carribean, but we traded it in for a four-day Bahamas cruise and upgraded to a balcony stateroom on the back of the boat. And let me tell you, that's the way to travel!
We loooved the balcony. Our first night, we waved good-bye to Miami and drank champagne on it before dinner, and during the week, we snuck breakfast out of the buffet and ate there instead. We ordered room service and ate outside, waiting for the sunset, and opened the door for some fresh air.
Both of us wanted to go to Europe for our honeymoon, but didn't want to put a lot of energy into planning a European vacation while also planning a wedding. We also only had a week or so, and wanted to see as much as possible. So we decided to take a cruise, which was best for that particular situation. Looking back, it was definitely right for us. We didn't have to make hotel or car reservations and went to five places in seven days. I don't think we got to fully experience Europe, in terms of the food and the adventuring, but it was a good start and gave us enough of a taste to want to go back.
We played BINGO on our nights on the boat, but didn't win anything except a T-shirt. But we played enough that we had some raffle tickets for a free cruise. So we went to the drawing. They pulled out the first ticket, and it wasn't ours. But the person who had the ticket wasn't there, so they drew again. They read off the numbers slowly, and by the time they got to the second to last number, we had nine of the next 10 possible numbers. And so, as it turns out, we won the free cruise!
So, that's how we ended up taking a second cruise for our spring break vacation last week. It was initally for a seven-day Carribean, but we traded it in for a four-day Bahamas cruise and upgraded to a balcony stateroom on the back of the boat. And let me tell you, that's the way to travel!
We loooved the balcony. Our first night, we waved good-bye to Miami and drank champagne on it before dinner, and during the week, we snuck breakfast out of the buffet and ate there instead. We ordered room service and ate outside, waiting for the sunset, and opened the door for some fresh air.
Our room with a view
Our first day, we were in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, and we went snorkeling. I had been snorkeling before, but Nathan hadn't. We headed out to the reef on a boat, and jumped in. The reef wasn't very big, but there were a LOT of fish. We saw my favorite, parrotfish, and Nathan's new favorite, black angel fish with a blue strip, and a fish that blended into the sand. What I was most surprised about was how close the fish got to you. They just swam right up around you, and I think I was more freaked out by them than they were of us!
Our second day, we were in Nassau, and we got off the boat and went through the little shops in the morning, then headed back to the boat to hang out by the pool when it wasn't as busy. I became quite the expert on choosing the best deck/beach chair location, based on proximity to the pool, optimal sun and shade time, and lacking other people. We read and swam, which we repeated the next day at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private beach island. We swam in the ocean, read on the beach, and Nathan went jet skiing.
Our second day, we were in Nassau, and we got off the boat and went through the little shops in the morning, then headed back to the boat to hang out by the pool when it wasn't as busy. I became quite the expert on choosing the best deck/beach chair location, based on proximity to the pool, optimal sun and shade time, and lacking other people. We read and swam, which we repeated the next day at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private beach island. We swam in the ocean, read on the beach, and Nathan went jet skiing.
I love this photo because it shows the 'different colors of water.'
At night, we would watch the sunset, drink martinis, and eat dinners that neither one of us had to cook. One night, Nathan played in the poker tournament (and won, I must add. He's the lucky one of the two of us), and we also learned how to salsa.
Sunsets over the ocean are my favorite kind.
And now we're back to real life, and I have some books to return to the library and reviews to write. But our time in the sun was glorious, indeed.
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