Our First Cruise Experience

Spring break finally arrived and boy, were we ever ready for a break from school and work and just the busyness of life.  Appointments, meetings, this program, that program...after a while it gets to you and makes you crazy and you start counting the days down until you get that much needed, much wanted break.  For the past several months my family has been counting down the months, weeks, and finally days to spring break so we could experience our first adventure aboard a cruise ship.  I'll be honest...we were a little apprehensive, Travis and me, about taking one because we'd never been on one before and you know how it is with the unknown...we just weren't sure that taking a cruise was the right thing for our family.  At least on this one we'd have friends to help us figure things out and friends for Sophie to hang out with.  As the time got closer for us to head to New Orleans I admit I started getting excited.  Many times I got online and checked out the ship we'd be taking, the ports we'd come to, and just plain ole passenger reviews.  Our ports included Key West, Florida, Freeport, Bahamas, and Nassau, Bahamas.  Nine years ago Travis and I were blessed to have been able to stay a week at Paradise Island, Bahamas, at the Atlantis resort and we were so excited to be able to take the girls there, too.  So, the anticipation started to build especially when we reached our car destination, the port at New Orleans. 

Upon arriving at NO I didn't know what to expect.  RB and I faithfully watch the A&E show Nightwatch every Thursday night which takes place in NO and we were excited to be in the same city where our favorite ambulance drivers strolled and let me just tell you...we saw a hundred ambulances which ran all day AND night there.  Travis, being the early riser he is, was up and about Saturday morning around 4:30 just in time to hear two gunshots, go to the window to see the assailant duck into the getaway car, fire off one more shot, then speed down the street.  Keep mind, people, that this all happened outside and across the street from our hotel, the same exact place where my girls are standing in the above picture.  The night before we ventured down to the French Quarter (or hell on earth) and soon after our departure from that part of town there was a double shooting.  I can say with all assurance that w will never again visit NO unless we are heading out to cruise and if we do, we will in all likelihood stay at our hotel or close by.  We can say we've been there, but that's about it! 

We left in the hotel shuttle Saturday afternoon and headed to the port where we shuffled through the maze to board like a bunch of cattle!  That was an experience.  But, once we got on board our vacation took flight.  We were in awe of the Carnival Dream within the very first minute on board.  It was actually overwhelming, but in a good way.  After locating and exploring our cute little cabin we headed to the, take a guess here...buffet.  I've never seen so much food in my life!  24-hour access to ice cream?  Yes, please!  We toured the ship the next few hours before sitting down to a fabulous dinner with fabulous waiters and servers who came to know us by name and know exactly what we wanted to drink each night.  They were so sweet to Ruthie Belle.  Our head server made her little napkin creatures and stole her heart. 

The week went by much too quickly.  We were spoiled with an amazing brunch in a beautiful restaurant each morning, lunch outside or in the buffet, nightly soft-serve ice cream or anytime of the day ice cream, great entertainment each night...I could go on and on.  Sophie spent her week with her two friends, Whitney and Avery, and they made some great new friends from all over the US at their Circle-C club.  Ruthie Belle made some sweet friends at her Camp Carnival that she begged to attend each night.  One of her friends was actually from here in Searcy!  I could go on and on and post a thousand pictures.  It was one of the best vacations our family has ever experienced.  The ports were great!  Key West was probably my favorite even though I was most looking forward to returning to Atlantis.  RB enjoyed coming to our room each night to see what cute little critter Augus, our cabin steward, would have waiting for her.  He was the best!  Our favorite cabin critter was by far the hanging monkey he left us Thursday night!  We left him hanging until we left. 





There are so many pictures I'd like to post, but I know you really don't want to see all that!  If you were to ask me my favorite thing about the vacation, I don't know that I could just pick one single thing or event or moment.  Just being with my loved ones and our close friends, seeing the beautiful, vast ocean, walking on streets I may never walk on again, eating foods I never dreamed I would even taste (yes, ox tongue is great and tastes like beef stew)...there are so many "favorite" things I could list.  One thing is for sure...it won't be our last cruise because if at all possible, I would LOVE to go again and on the same boat.  It truly was a "dream" vacation.  But, like all good things, it had to come to an end.  As I sit here typing this, waiting for a job to come up for me to type, I have only good memories of the past week.  I am so thankful that God blessed us with the means to experience this opportunity and that He blessed us with beautiful weather every day.  New friendships were made, old friendships were solidified, and my girls had experiences beyond their wildest dreams.  I am truly thankful and blessed.  My cup runneth and floodeth over!