WON'T YOU LET ME TAKE YOU ON A SEA CRUISE

How many times has someone offered to take you on an all expense paid vacation? What? Never? Me either.

Yet, that is what I offered my family. I don't remember ever going on a family vacation with all my family before. It is something I've always wanted to do.

I know it's hard to get everyone together at the same time for even one meal together, let alone getting everyone together for a vacation together.

So, I figured if I offered to take everyone on a cruise, I may have more luck. That way, we could spend time together as a family and still have plenty of time to go off on our own.

I thought a cruise would be best because there is something for everyone on a cruise.

I did my research and found out that Freedom of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship. She offers so much to do no one would be left behind.

This is the ship we are going to call home for a week.


The pool areas are enough to make most people jump for joy. Not the small little pools that some ships offer. Nope, this ship has water activities galore!

But, if you are not into swimming, playing in the water or even getting wet, you will find tons of lounge chairs where you can sip on a nice cool drink and read a book or just watch the fun going on around you.

They even have an ice skating rink! You can see some wonderful shows here or you can put your skates on and turn into your own skating star!

The dinning areas are way to many to list. This is the main dinning area. I think it's beautiful. I hear the food is top notch and of course you can eat as much as you want.

With all the activity on board, you will surely work off any of those calories you forgot to leave on the plate.

The rooms are larger then most ships. This one shows an outside room with a window.

There are super deals going on so we are going to have a room with a balcony. It will be my first cruise with a balcony. I'm looking forward to sitting out there and watching the world go by.

You won't see me climbing this wall! But, I'll be sure to watch others. Royal Caribbean ships are famous for their rock walls.

You can even learn to surf while being safe on the ship. If you are asking if I'll be partaking in this activity all I can say...LOL.

I'm more likely to be found enjoying the shopping, going to the shows and classes, people watching, playing games and relaxing on board.

But, who knows, maybe I'll hop in the ring for a few rounds of boxing! OK, maybe not. I never could understand why anyone would willing want to get beaten up.

Well, here is the sad part to my family vacation dream. Most people either don't want to go or can't. So, it's going to be Jason (my youngest nephew), Trinity (Jason's daughter), Jason's girlfriend and me.

My brother didn't want to go since he is still recovering from his stroke. I fully understand his not wanting to go even though I told him the ship can easily accommodate a wheelchair.

My two sisters didn't want to go. Neither of them wanted to go on a cruise. WHAT! My other nephew can't take vacation in the summer.

It won't be the family cruise I wanted but, I have no doubt it will still be a blast.

We are going to the Caribbean in the summer time as Trinity will be out of school.

It seems like all I'm doing these days is searching out the excursions on the islands. I'm so excited and want to do everything. Since we only get a day at each port, I'm trying to find out the things we don't want to miss out on yet, still leaving enough time for us to have some time to explore on our own to enjoy the beach, have some of the locals favorite food and of course...shop!

Only 3 months to plan this all out. I better get busy...is it to early to pack?

26 DAYS AND COUNTING

Well now that it's Sept all I can think about it going on my cruise on the 28th!

This is the 2nd year that I've taken a cruise in Sept. I think I'm going to have make this a yearly thing.

Last year I went to Alaska on Holland America, but not this year.

This year I'm going on Royal Caribbean's Vision of The Sea and going to the Mexican Riviera!

I'm going to be going with a very good friend, Judy. She will be flying in the night before and spending the night with me and then in the morning we head off to Los Angeles and get on board for a week of fun, fun, fun!

Look at how pretty this ship is going to be. I can't wait to get to see everything in person.

To eat all the wonderful food in this room...

One place you won't find me is up on the Rock Climbing Wall. I will watch others but that's about it! To scary for me.

I'm not sure about what day trips we are going to take. I do know one will be horseback riding. We will get to ride at the beach and then have a nice lunch before heading back.

We may rent jet skis, swim with the dolphins, take a city tour, shop, take a cooking class or whatever we feel like doing.

No matter if we just sat in our cabin I know we will have a blast! We always do when we get together.

Judy got married and moved out of state so we don't get to see each other very often. But when we do it's as if she never left.

We were set to go on this cruise in May. That's when my brother had his stroke and her sister was in the hospital with cancer. We both felt we couldn't go on a cruise at a time like that. So we postponed it. I can't believe now it's almost time to go.

Hugs,
Joanne