So let me tell you a little bit more about us and our trip… My name is Kim and I am 39 years old. I work at a security company for commercial businesses doing the billing for national accounts. My daughter’s name is Sabrina and she is 15 years old. She is going to be a sophomore this year and is involved in color guard.
This all started when I wanted to do something big for Sabrina’s 16th birthday next year. We have been talking cruise for a while but then I said that would be perfect. We can do it for her 16th and my (ewww) 40th birthdays. Then it came down to choosing the cruise line. As much as we really wanted to do a Disney Cruise because of their live shows…. I really didn’t have the money to do it. We decided that if we are going to do a cruise we want to go and do it and have fun and not worry about anything. The word that should jump out is FUN and which cruise line epitomizes FUN but Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) which is known as the Fun Cruise Line. So we had our Cruise Line… So now came down to when and where…. We decided to go during Spring Break… and leaving from Tampa. So we are going on the Carnival Legend on March 31, 2013 on a 7 day cruise to the Western Caribbean which includes stops at Cozumel, Roatan (off the coast of Honduras), Belize and Grand Cayman. We are actually leaving on March 27 and driving down to Tampa. We should get there on March 28 in the afternoon. On March 29th we are going to Busch Gardens because the last time we went Sabrina was 3 and doesn’t remember any of it. So below is a snippet of what we are doing every day of our vacation.
March 27, 2013 Leaving at 2:00pm and driving towards Tampa, FL
March 28, 2013 Continue driving and arrive in Tampa, FL
March 29, 2013 Busch Gardens
March 30, 2013 Up in the Air–a possible surprise for Sabrina or beach day
March 31, 2013 Board the Carnival Legend
April 1, 2013 Day at Sea
April 2, 2013 Cozumel, Mexico – excursion will be Salsa Salsa
April 3, 2013 Belize - shopping
April 4, 2013 Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan – beach time
April 5, 2013 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – Tour of Grand Cayman
April 6, 2013 Day at Sea
April 7, 2013 Arrive in Tampa, FL and start the drive back to Indiana
April 8, 2013 Continue driving to Indiana and arrive home
April 9, 2013 Back to the real world (work & school)
So there were things that had to be decided… Passport or not! Due to our cruise being a closed loop trip, we actually could go with just our birth certificates but we decided to get our passport which is an ordeal in itself. I printed all the stuff off the passport website and checked the times I could go into the post office to submit the paperwork according to the website no appointment as needed. We showed up to submit the passport paperwork and there was a nice notice that 3 months prior they changed the rules to needing a appointment… I realize this is a government office but come on… update your website. We made our appointment for two weeks later, went in, got our pictures, paid our fortune and applied for passports. We got our passports about a month later and they are tucked away for our cruise.
We have definitely decided on at least two excursions on the cruise. Once in Cozumel and one in Grand Cayman; we are just relaxing for the other two.
In Cozumel, we are doing Salsa Salsa which is a class in which we will learn to make 7 different salsas (Firey Red Salsa, Tangy Green Salsa, Oaxacan Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Mango/Melon Mix Salsa, Tropical Salsa and a Rompope Dessert Salsa) and then learn how to Salsa dance. We will get unlimited tasty cheese quesadillas, chicken taquitos and corn chips and lime and strawberry Margaritas, Jamaica Tea (Hibiscus Herbal Tea) and bottled water. After making the different salsas, we will learning to swing to the soulful sounds of Salsa Music! The tour is located at a 4 star beach front resort, with stunning beach views and direct access to the beach. After class you will have the choice to relax on the beach, enjoy one of the hotel's pools.
In Grand Cayman, we are doing a tour of Grand Cayman which includes an air-conditioned vehicle tour of the capital of Grand Cayman, George Town. We will be seeing Seven Mile beach which has excellent snorkeling, stop at the Governor’s residence and then to West Bay for some historic homes. From there we are going to the Cayman Turtle Farm which is home to 11,000 green sea turtles. Next we will go to the Tortuga Rum Cake Outlet (which we are taking orders from family for), and then And for those who’ve said they’ve been to Hell and back, now it won’t be far from the truth. There you’ll see interesting limestone formations from a viewing platform after that, we will be going shopping.
So I have given you a lot of information for today. Next time, we will talk about the room that we got.
