Western Caribbean Cruise
3/31/2012-4/07/2012
Aboard the Disney Fantasy
Disney Fantasy Maiden Voyage
We have done this itinerary before... so this will be a more laid back trip. We know we'll be going on the Disney Fantasy again soon... so we're basically getting a feel for the vessel, as well as testing the waters with LM to see if he likes to travel.
So, here we go... LM is now 9 months old and we've opted to fly out a day ahead of time, in order to give ourselves plenty of time to get to the port terminal on embarkation day. We were both a bit on the nervous side... this is the first time we've traveled with our newest family member, and we aren't quite sure how he will handle the trip. We were pleasantly surprised to find he is a wonderful travel companion! He snoozes on the plane... and knows exactly how to react to such close quarters. Being that he is not a pacifier user, we have come equipped with some juice that he can drink just during take-off and landing to keep his ears from getting too pressurized.
3/31/2012
Embarkation Day...
We are full of excitement on this day. We ride to port terminal with a group who is embarking on a Princess cruise. They are entertaining... and we all experienced a jaw dropping silence when we came over the bridge to the terminals, and laid eyes on the Disney Fantasy for the very first time. Holy cow... it's HUGE!
We boarded and got lunch, then got settled a bit and went to the sail away party. We got a pretty decent vantage point - right next to the stage. I was overcome with excitement and emotion. At one point, I turned toward my hubby in tears, after looking down at LM. I was almost overwhelmed with happiness... I'd never imagined being on board the ship.... with our own child... it was elating.
4/01/2012
At sea...
We used this day to explore the Disney Fantasy. Bonus... we found the Nemo's Reef area for children that are not quite ready to swim in the Mickey Pool... we decided to see how LM would react to the water fun. He was tentative at first, but really enjoyed it.
4/02/2012
Cozumel, Mexico...
We opted to sleep in a bit and them disembark to explore a bit of the island. We didn't stay on land too terribly long, and went right back to Nemo's Reef to enjoy it in the tranquility of few others being on the ship. We did make a point to take LM around the bit of the island by port...and get his passport stamped.
The special fun tonight was formal night. While hubby and I don't really dress outrageously fancy... we did purchase a tuxedo for LM. He looked dashing in his little tux... and garnered loads of attention. (People commented on his cuteness... and he was known as Tuxedo Baby for the remainder of the cruise.)
4/03/2012
Costa Maya, Mexico...
Again, we slept in a little late. We went onto Costa Maya to find nothing more than vendors selling wares. I did find a little spot of beach front to allow LM to play in the sand for the first time. He enjoyed throwing it around and feeling it run through his tiny fingers and toes. After getting passports stamped again, we went back on board the ship and enjoyed some relaxing quiet time.
Overall, I was disappointed with Costa Maya. Granted, we didn't explore much... but it seemed like a tourist trap and nothing more. I would rather hit Key West, Florida than Costa Maya any day.
4/04/2012
Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands...
There is always plenty to see in Georgetown. It was a bit on the hot side, though. We disembarked for a while, shopped around in some of the shops, and enjoyed some of the sites. Then, it was time to take a tender back aboard the ship, as LM fell asleep.
We ate a bit of lunch and did some laundry while LM slept... then enjoyed another bit of time in Nemo's Reef before preparing for dinner.
4/05/2012
At sea....
Another sea day. We decided to explore some of the ship together by doing the onboard scavenger hunt. We had a blast! LM even enjoyed seeing the moving paintings. It was a LOT of fun.
4/06/2012
Castaway Cay, Bahamas....
We've been to Castaway Cay almost every trip. This time, it was different. We had LM with us. We took him on a tour of the island... showing him things I'm sure a 9-month old is going to remember forever... LOL. Then, we ate some lunch, and it was time to play in the water.
LM wasn't too sure of the water at first, but he warmed up pretty quickly. After a while, he really started to enjoy that and the sand. He really had a great time. We got some amazing photos of him enjoying one of our favorite slices of paradise.
Back on board, we napped and prepared for one of our favorite nights of the cruise. Even though it's the last night, we enjoy the Pirates in the Caribbean deck party and fireworks. It's such a bittersweet ordeal - you're racked with excitement and amazed by the fireworks... yet you know that coming in the morning is Disembarkation...and a return to facing reality.
But to heck with that thought... push it aside... because you HAVE to allow yourself to enjoy the festivities first! We wore our Eskimo Joes Pirates shirts... and LM dressed as one of the cutest pirates I've ever seen. We got his picture with Captain Jack Sparrow before dinner... and then off we went to enjoy ourselves.
We were pleasantly surprised that LM seemed to enjoy it just as much as we did!
All in all, this cruise was the same itinerary as our last Caribbean adventure... however, it was made so much more special by the presence of LM. He made everything seem so much more fun! His antics, wandering around the room on foot, grabbing anything he could find to steady himself... crawling when he couldn't walk... and even going up the stairs for the very first time in the main atrium... it made the entire trip priceless. We can't wait to embark on future adventures with our adorable angel.
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