Eastern Caribbean Cruise

On June 26, 2006, I joined Polly and Susanne, my two sisters in the photo to the left, and their families, on an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the cruise ship known as "Carnival Elation". The cruise lasted a full week and this photo was taken on one of our last nights on the ship.

We all had staterooms on the same deck and I was lucky enough to have my own stateroom. It was a lot larger than I had expected and very well appointed. While I was initially sad that I did not have a roomie, that feeling quickly faded when I realized that I would be having my own room for the first time in probably 30 years!

I found it somewhat difficult to pack for this cruise so, of course, I packed too much. The cruise ship itself was like a floating resort and I "needed" many different outfits, shoes and accessories so I could seriously enjoy the spa, the casino, the food, the shows, the pool and so forth, as well as be prepared for the 4 ports and the variety of excursions that would be offered.

My most favorite thing about the cruise, of course, was that I was able to spend time with my sisters and their families. Polly and her husband, Mike, and their children, Alex and John Paul, and Susanne and her husband, Matt, along with their children Clayton and Skylar, made the trip so much fun. I absolutely loved being with them!!

The next best thing about the cruise was that it offered something for everyone. There was a plush and quiet library where I could sit and people watch. The outside pool was always busy with some contest or event. I watched the ice carving performance by one of the chefs and listened to several of the live bands. I also got to see some fun volleyball and basketball contests. They had shopping onboard as well as during the excursions. I helped the women's team win a "Battle of the Sexes" trivia contest by correctly naming Nancy Drew's companions. Susanne and I played in the casino a bit but we were not big winners. The three Moms had luxurious trips to the spa where I had a wonderful manicure and facial. Port excursions to Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk each offered their own pleasures, including beach time, souvenir shopping, food, outdoor and water sports of all sorts, sight-seeing, and so forth. The food during the cruise was abundant and the service was attentive.

So, after all that fun, I was happy to have some wonderful memories to bring home to Indiana!