Anyways, we set sail from Miami last Saturday...the weather was poor the day we left...as well as our first whole day at sea...it took the ship two full days of sailing to reach St. Maarten and the second full day was a beautiful sunny day...which we spent on the ships top deck drinking and sun bathing until the sun set...We also enjoyed the various activities onboard and even had a few drinks in their ice bar...
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| getting ready to go in the ice bar |
-St. Maarten-
We debarked the ship in St. Maarten around 8am on Tuesday...we had some time to kill so we headed to a resort around the corner and relaxed at their beach...I just sat there in awe while I stared at the most incredible turquoise waters...
Below are two photos as the sun was rising heading to St. Maarten...
Our excursion in St. Maarten was one of our favorites...we boarded a catamaran and sailed almost an hour to a beautiful beach...where we jumped off the side and snorkeled...all before swimming to shore to enjoy a few adult beverages. We ended up sitting on the shore and just oogling over what we were seeing...we stayed at this beach for an hour and a half before swimming back out to the catamaran...during our cruise back to port...we danced, soaked up the sun and enjoyed the most incredible scenery. By the time we got back to port...it was time to board our ship...and start our way to St. Thomas.
-St. Thomas-
St. Thomas was probably our favorite stop...we debarked around 8am on Wenesday and quickly headed to one of National Geographics top 10 most beautiful beaches...Magen's Bay...
This was by far the most beautiful place I have ever been...so my husband and I took advantage of it and just relaxed in the waters you see behind us...We enjoyed looking down at our feet and being able to see past them...the water was so clear! Our taxi ride there was a memorable one as well...you see, we had to drive over a small mountain where if you look over the edge...its just straight down. I will tell you that we did have some of the most beautiful views of the island as we hit the peak...My eyes were seeing a picture perfect postcard...and I was in it! Definitely very memorable...
So after hanging out in Magen's Bay for several hours...we had to head back to the ship for our excursion...which was parasailing!
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| teeny tiny boat...about to head out to parasail! |
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| Taking off...very strange feeling! |
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| 600 feet in the air...gorgeous! |
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| Going for a dip |
-Nassau-
We debarked the ship around noon on Friday...and waited for our excursion to start...which involved a half hour bus ride to the Atlantis resort. Once there...we had the opportunity to swim with the dolphins and explore their amazing aquariums!
The dolphin excursion was pretty amazing...e were able to pet, kiss, swim with and hug the dolphins...and the whole experience ended with an opportunity to have a dolphin push you across the cay...it was an amazing experience...and of course I dont have any pictures...unless we wanted to pay 80 bucks for 5 small pictures...
The dolphin excursion was pretty amazing...e were able to pet, kiss, swim with and hug the dolphins...and the whole experience ended with an opportunity to have a dolphin push you across the cay...it was an amazing experience...and of course I dont have any pictures...unless we wanted to pay 80 bucks for 5 small pictures...
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| Docking in Bahamas |
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| Coming into port |
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| View of our ship |
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| The cay where we same with dolphins |
We disembarked the ship around 8am this past Saturday morning...we had a full day of waiting before our flight back home...so we took to opportunity to head to the everglades where we rode on air boats and explored a small part of the everglades...we saw lots and lots of alligators in their natural habitat!
All in all we had an amazing time...we are not sure if we will go on another cruise due to the crazy amount of people you are constantly around and the feeling of having no place to go sometimes...If we do ever go on another cruise...it will be a Disney cruise with our kids, for sure! The weather at every port was absolutely perfect...and the sun felt so much hotter than it does way up North...I imagine because we were closer to the equator...
The Caribbean is an absolutely beautiful place...and I cant wrap my mind around the fact that places like that exist...We missed our kids like crazy and wished we had brought them with us...most of the time atleast. We also had a new outlook for our trip right before we left...which helped Scott and me just go with the flow and not get worked up over things that didnt work out...(my husbands sister was and is always on our minds...we are having a hard time wrapping our minds around the fact that her cancer is now in a lymph node)...If you could please keep her and her family in your thoughts...and all families that are dealing with such a difficult thing...
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| Creepy man at Atlantis aquarium |
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| Ice bar on the Epic |
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| Minutes from jumping off our catamaran in St. Maarten...and you can stay at the resort you see behind us for a minimum amount of $1,500 per amount... |
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| View from our open air taxi...while driving to Magen's Bay...breathtaking... |
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| Gearing up! |
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| Right our our balcony... |
Can you book our next vacation and have us do all that you did?? How wonderful for you to get away and enjoy sunshine and brilliant shades of blue. Keep those blue skies and sunshine in your minds as you muddle through the end of February and all of March back here in the reality of Indiana weather.
ReplyDeleteWe have been sending our prayers out for a while now. Continued hugs and strength to you all.