Bahama Mama!

Okay, so I kinda sorta disappeared again....  After we moved into the new house, we settled into a routine with work and tried to get a regular rhythm again.  Then in April, we took another cruise to the Bahamas with Aaron's sister and her family (Elizabeth, Adam, Katelyn, Reagan, and Luke).  Let me tell you, I was unsure of the dynamics of a cruise with kids, but it was a BLAST!  Everyone knows, or I hope they know, I love those three little kiddos more than anything and they are so much fun!   In brief, I'm going to attempt to outline our little cruise to paradise!

Reagan, the beautiful birthday girl!

First of all, the whole cruise for the kids was a surprise, as the kids just thought they were going to travel with us on our vacation to Charleston.  Reagan was also celebrating her birthday on Embarkation day, so that was an added bonus!  So we get to Charleston, SC and take the maze of checkpoints to get into the parking lot, get our luggage tags, and actually park the car.  Then another maze of security, checking in to get our boarding cards, check in our luggage, and actually board the ship!  When we first got on, we saw our rooms and then self toured the ship.  We had to attend a safety class at our Muster station incase of accidental ship sinking or breaking down and sewage back up (Sorry Carnival! Hee Hee). 

So, aside from the yummy island adult beverages, one of my favorite parts of a cruise is the FOOD!!!  They have a fine dining room where you are served a three course meal and you can choose from a list of options on the menus they provide and they have two different menus.  The first is a menu of options they serve every night of the cruise if you like, and the second menu they change to options every single night.  I take this as a challenge to try as many different foods that I normally wouldn't get at home as I can.  Oh and a cool thing they do is on the appetizer part, they have an option of a "didja ever try" and they serve rare, I mean rare, delicacies.  The first night they had crocodile fritters, which Reagan and I tried and it wasn't too bad!  I have to give mad props to my niece Reagan because she tried all the weird options every single night.  I was only brave enough to do two of them.  I did crocodile fitters and frog legs.  Reagan tried Crocodile fritters, shark, and frog legs.

Reagan's Birthday cake and Francis our wonderful waiter!

The first day was a day at sea.  We had a blast on the ship.  The kids played in the pool and I got some time on the wonderful Serenity deck of hot tubbing and laying out. Outside there are tons of competitions and games that the ship "fun crew" have going on.  There was lunch on the outside grill which have burgers and chicken tenders.  That evening, I realized how much of an old person I have become when 10PM rolled around and I could barely keep my eyes open haha.  Most nights consisted of Aaron playing poker in the casino and me catching up on movies on the movie channel falling asleep to a rocking boat.  Perfect!  Disclaimer time. The boat rocking only happened on the way out of port and on the way back in.  It never really bothered me unless I was trying to walk.  At night, it was like someone was rocking me to sleep and it was so amazing! 

Back of the boat looking down on the Serenity deck.

So the first day in port was in Nassau Bahamas.  The kids were scheduled to swim with the dolphins at Atlantis and Aaron and I didn't really have a plan haha.  So we met up at Atlantis and Aaron and I bought an aquarium pass.  The pass lets you see the aquariums and any of the grounds.  We couldn't use any of the pools, but the grounds are cool to watch and you have access to their beach.  So we watched the kids meet dolphins at Dolphin Cay and I was able to enjoy my fav Bahamian beer, Kalik.  Those of you who know me, know that I love beer.  I will try most any beer and usually like it, so last time we were in the Bahamas, I tried it and loved it. 

HUGE Manta Ray at the aquarium

Scary Lobsters.  Traumatized for LIFE.

Atlantis from under water in the aquarium

Shark water slide you see in the commercials

Staying cool

Had to get a shot of Aaron, getting a picture of him on this blog is rare.

So we enjoyed hanging out in the Bahamian sun and drinking a cold one.  Then we walked to the "Cave Grill" where we enjoyed the usual grille style junk food.  Then we headed to the beach.  The water in the Bahamas was so beautiful at Atlantis.  We were able to get out on some rocks in the water and saw some tropical colored fish that you would typically see in an aquarium.  So it was kinda cool seeing them in real life, swimming with them and knowing this is where they live!  Aaron and I rode some jetskis which were super fun.  We rode around this huge rock island type thing and were able to get pretty far out there!  Even in deep water, it was so clear!  Then we spent the rest of the afternoon hunting down some good shells and sea glass.  Adam became a master at finding sea glass!  Then we began the trek back to the boat and as per tradition, Aaron and I headed to the back deck of Serenity to sit in the hot tub with a cold adult beverage watching the boat leave port and sail off into the sunset. 

The next port was Freeport.  Again, there was no real plan, we went to the straw markets where we bartered and negotiated with the ladies at their booths.  We then went to Taino Beach and swam in the water and sun tanned.  It was the most relaxing port ever!  Elizabeth was a genius and brought PB and J Sandwiches from the ship for lunch. Since I do not have kids, I tend to think of bringing lunches and drinks as more of a hassle, but man, after swimming in the water for an hour... those sandwiches were like GOLD.  As always, when going to the beach, I always underestimate how hungry swimming and the salty air can make you.  I also went to the main beachfront bar and tried to purchase some more Kalik, but they ran out and only had Sands, which is another type of Bahama Beer.  No matter, it was something new and I was willing to try it!

Sands; Truly Bahamian Beer.

At Atlantis, I applied sun screen like it was going out of style.  I'm talking every 15-30 minutes.  I didn't get burned at ALL at Atlantis, so I figured I could back off the sunscreen a bit.  I laid out on Taino Beach and only reapplied sunscreen one time while out there.  BIG MISTAKE.  The sun at the Bahamas, I swear, is like super sun.  It takes no time at all to achieve lobster status.  Man, I was beet red when I got back to the boat....

All smiles while not knowing I was achieving lobster status

So we get back on the boat and again, head to Serenity Deck to disembark from the Bahamas.  This night was particularly entertaining because the girls and I decided to take as many pictures with the photo op stands they have on the boat as possible.  At many points during this trip, I was mistaken for their mom.  During the photo ops, this again was a common misunderstanding that was too much of a hassle to explain or correct, so I rolled with it.  It became super funny when Elizabeth and Adam were walking around with us while we were taking pictures.  At one point Adam was dragged into it as "dad" and we now have a hilarious "family" photo with me, Adam, and the girls.  This night was also funny because before the photo taking, Aaron became a wine aficionado and consumed a bottle of wine at dinner. Key information to know....Aaron doesn't really drink....ever....So while these funny photos were being taken, Aaron was being hilarious at the bar.  What a funny night! 

The last day at sea was much like the first, we hung out at the pool most of the day and at night all of us sang Karaoke.  My favorite memory EVER was singing my girl crush Taylor Swift with Reagan and Katelyn.  It was so much fun also watching them sing Hannah Montana and Carly Rae Jepsen.  Luke sang with a stranger and good sport (and was pretty good! haha.)  Aaron sang some John Mayer and James Taylor.  I think everyone but Adam sang haha.  We watched a comedy show, and at dinner Aaron and I shared a bottle of Moscato and promised Francis our server that he would sip it this time :) 

We De-boarded the ship that morning, and said goodbye to vacation, but I know for sure, that would not be our last time!  We had so much fun and so many memories made (along with photographic evidence)!  So now on to some food that I made before we went on our trip!

Prepare yourself, as I am about to post a few more yummy recipes!