Day 3 - Labadee, Haiti

We docked at Labadee.... Royal Caribbean's private area in Haiti... No we did not see any signs of the earthquake and from what everyone told me it was on the other side of the big mountain. So the cruise lines kept money coming into the country so that was really good!! We decided to rent jet skis in the morning (no pictures of that) and it was so fun. We had a great guide and we were able to ride out in the open sea.. it got a bit rough for me at times (Craig LOVED it) but I was fine and had a great time! After our excursion we walked around the area and shopped a little... Craig got a couple cigars and I got the cutest hand carved owl. The cruise line provided a lunch of hamburgers and all the fixins... IT was GREAT!!! We took a quick dip in the ocean and then rested under the palms... It was WONDERFUL!!! Labadee ended up being my favorite port of call. We went back on board and did the zip line then worked out, dinner and the Comedy Live show. It was a full but really FUN day!!!














a little more shopping!




Believe it or not, this was the ONLY time we were able to get into the Caribbean on the entire trip!










that was a yummy lunch under the bohio... reminded me of my Panama days!

















Zip Line time on board the ship... Craig was so sweet to let me "try" it out first... uhh.. so sweet...









Craig's turn...





He survived!!!



another great dinner!!! (Craig looked at this picture and we both decided he really looks like his dad!!)



a little Caribbean music. I LOVE IT!




We ended the night with some hilarious comedy!! Craig laughed more in that hour than in the last 10 years, I think!!!

Day 2 - Day at Sea

We spent our day at see checking out the boat, laying out (me), working out (craig and me..some) Eating and taking naps... It was great. We had dinner at Johnny Rockets and watched the aqua show that night.. It was a great relaxing day out on the seas...



they changed the day signs in the elevator... loved it.. kept us on track for sure!













browsing in the COACH store



The Carousel on Boardwalk







Craig was a bit tired from all the vacationing!!! ha ha




















Sunset on the Caribbean!


a beautiful view to the Central park area below



this is a picture on Deck 15 looking over to Dazzles night club... so pretty with the lights.



Below are a few pictures of the aqua show... this show was amazing... tons of high divers and acrobats!!!

Day 1 - Boarding and Exploring...

Once we got to the pier it was super easy... after checking in we walked right on and went to check out the stateroom. It was a alot more roomy than I expected and very nice! Our luggage was not there yet so we walked around a bit and then had to do the mandatory safety brief... that took about 10 minutes and then we were off to deck 15 to watch us sail away. They had music playing and of course fruity drinks!!! OH YEA!! We watched while we pulled off and waved to all the people on the shore... Memories of the "Love Boat" when through my mind... ha ha ha.. I got a little freaked out as we sailed away from land.. we were going to be in the middle of the ocean... kinda crazy!! Below are a few pics from all of that....
Later that evening we ate a yummy meal in the dining room... NOw a days you do not have to do the traditional seating for dinner.. We did "My time dining" so you basically can make reservations OR like we did all week long just walk in and they sat us every time with NO wait... and we did not have to sit with strangers but had a cozy meal just the two of us!!! (Also Craig gave up his no sugar rule this week and got to enjoy all the amazing desserts with me!)
We went to the "HairSpray" show and it was awesome.. the performers were top notch and Craig even liked it!!! We were exhausted after that and went back to our stateroom for some much needed shut-eye after a LOOONG day!


Our Stateroom








BYE BYE FT. LAUDERDALE!!!







the coast guard escort... actually trying to get the other smaller boats out of our way...



Below is a picture of the welcome Parade in the Royal Promenade... They did several parades during the week but since we were without kids this week, we did not see the rest... :)

Oasis of the Seas... Cruise 2010

We have just finished our cruise on the Oasis of the Seas!!!! WOW, WOW, WOW... we had the best time ever and will have a hard time ever cruising on another ship (much to Craig's dismay.. he has a firm grip on his wallet right now!) It was definately worth the money, in my opinion!! The ship is just amazing... TONS to do (we did not do half of what was offered) great food, AMAZING show, performers and the perfect weather. (It rained one day in Costa Maya and for literally 20 minutes)
I will post about our trip by going day by day... this may take me all week to finish cuz as you know we are going home to two precious kids who will consume ALL my time this next week... so I hope to have our cruise blogged by the end of the month!!!! :)
I will start with the day we left....
SATURDAY
4:30 am... we are up, showered and ready to leave... Bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to just HOP on that plane and zip on down to Ft. Lauderdale... easy, right??? welllll.... not so much
Our flight was delayed out of Birmingham... and then we SAT on the TARMAC in Atlanta for 30 minutes BECAUSE a passenger on another plane that was parked at our gate decided they did not want to go on their trip and got off the plane SOOO they had to get their luggage off that plane before they could leave OUR gate... thus the reason for our additional 30 minute delay!!! AHHHH.. and so commenced the first bout of SOBBING from me.... we were going to miss our connecting flight for sure... We get to the gate and literally RUN to the next gate but of course we are on concourse E and our connecting flight...... yep concourse B!!!! And of course I chose cute over comfort in the shoe department!!! (my high wedges were not my friend at that moment)... So we RUN... and get to the gate 10 minutes before take off and the plane is still there... BUT the door is closed and NO agent to help us and so the plane takes off without us because they gave away our seats!!!! So we go to the helpful (not) Delta customer service and they kindly (not) put us on STAND BY for the next flight.... (even though a group behind us, going on the same cruise, go after us and get actual tickets on the next flight... I mean how does that happen?) Well, we do NOT get on the next flight... SOBBING continues and little louder and harder at this point.. because if we do not get on the next flight we will surely miss the boat, because after calling the cruise line, they inform us they will NOT let us on after 4:00...
Craig, being the quite rock, that he is just shakes his head and says there is nothing we can do... WHAT????? he is at this point PLEADING with the agents to help a "poor guy with a sobbing wife" out just this one time... NO LUCK... so we sit and wait as they start boarding the next flight... more sobbing... all zones are boarded.... SOOOOOBBBBBBIIIIINNNNGGGGG.... then like a ray of light cutting through the clouds they call "Mattox... please get in line" I seriously heard angels singing.... thank goodness... and I know I am a bit overdramatic... but seriously we spent a lot of money on this trip and I had spent many hours of planning, researching, and reserving for this getaway... not to mention we definately needed a vacation.
so we made the flight... got to Ft. Lauderdale.. our luggage was there waiting on us and so was Royal Carribbean with the bus to take us to the pier!!!!
so with all of that we made it on the ship and my first stop:



hey I deserved it right???
to be continued.....

Finally... the Beach...

I am sitting at the Ft. Lauderdale and have been sitting here for oh about 3 HOURS!!! So, I decided to update the blog and I am behind!!! SO, here are some pictures from our trip to San Destin for the SEC Spring meeting. We had the best time ever!!!





OUr annual family picture before the SEC reception!





my little beach bums!




love this picture of these two!!




lunch at Barefoots... YUMMY!





not sure what this is... no it is not oil... just a yucky slimy thing from the ocean...












Little Mama with EC




working hard... with a little help from the daddy!






Ben and Olivia with their sandcastle masterpiece




Katie with her new friend...

Sneak Peek from the Beach....

this was one of my favorite pictures from our week at the beach... a totally unposed..really... picture of our family...
We had a GREAT week and will blog hopefully later this week before Craig and I leave on our CRUISE!!!!