2014 Group Sea Cruise

2014-CFCO-cruise-logo

Cruise Line: Carnival
Ship: Carnival Paradise
Port: Tampa
Duration: 5 Days 4 nights
Departs: July 12th
Returns: July 16th
Route: Cozumel, Mexico and Cayman Islands

Owners participating:
Jim, Lisa and family (total 5) Booked
Pat and Terry Jacques and family – Booked
David and Nilsa Dorbat – Booked
Ronnie and Terryann – Booked

group-shot-boarding-boatDay 1 (links to downloads, all photos and instructions on how to download at the end of each day)

Pre meeting at David’s house.

Day1-1We got an early start so we could get something to eat along the way

Day1-5Our cruise mascot

Day1-4Pat and I self parked a block away (note to self, valet park next time)

Day1-6I’m not on the boat for more then 10 minutes and I get yelled at for taking pictures while the on-board “photo team” is taking pictures……. grrrrrrr

Day1-7Waiting around for the safety meeting (You don’t have to wear life vests anymore during these meetings)

Day1-12On our way out of the port of Tampa

Day1-22Day1-32Under the bridge and into the gulf of Mexico

Day1-41Towel animals and our cruise mascot.

Day1-46Our first dinner

Day1-42– You can view the complete set of images of Day1 via my flickr account, click here
– Instructions on how to download individual images via my flickr account, click here
– Download the complete set of images here

Day 2 (full day at sea)

Hanging out on the back of the ship

Day1-47Ronnie spent most of this day trying to figure out how to get into the engine room…

Day2-4Day2-8This was also our formal dinner night.  My wife bought us car matching ties.  Ronnie customized his with war stripes

Day2-9The kids table

Day2-10Food was very good and our kids showed us how to order more then one appetizer and main courses.

Day2-11It was a few days early….. Happy Birthday  Terry Jean!!

Day2-12Day2-14Day2-16We spent a few night in what we called the library.  It’s more or less a card/board game room.  We played Apples to Apples

Day2-20Day2-21

Day2-19We also spent some time in a club called REX

Day2-33Where we learned that some of the significant others as well as the owners could dance rather well.

Day2-34Day2-31Day2-32Day2-35Time for bed, we had to get up early on day 3 for our excursions in Grand Cayman.

– You can view the complete set of images of Day 2 via my flickr account, click here
– Instructions on how to download individual images via my flickr account, click here
– Download the complete set of images for day 2 here

Day 3 (Grand Cayman)

Starting the day early as we pull into Grand Cayman

Day3-1Because we can’t dock at the island, we had to take the water taxi over.  Seas where very calm and the water was just amazing.  The group split up with David and family, Brook, Pat’s daughter and my family heading to see the sea turtles and stingrays. While Pat, Terry, Ronnie and Terry Jean hitting the beach and shopping

Day3-2Day3-5Nicole excited to see the turtles but not as excited as my wife (security had to escort her out of the turtle pool…

Day3-6Day3-7I was amazed at how many large turtles they had.  They had them separated by age. Below was only a small section of the larger grown up pool, breading area.

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Day3-11Day3-23Lisa about to get into trouble… DO NOT TOUCH….

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We then moved on to the baby tanks, where you could actually get into the tank and hold the baby sea turtles.

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After finally getting Lisa out of the turtle tank, we set off for a quick pit stop at the local liquor store…. I mean gift shop then onto HELL

Day3-48Day3-49Day3-50There is a small town on the island called HELL, where you can buy post cards and then mail them home or to people you wish where in HELL with the post mark from “HELL”.  Behind the post office and three small gift shops was a HELL like rock formation.

Day3-52After this stop, we where on our way to our final destination.  A boat ride out to a sand barge to swim and interact with the sting rays.

Day3-53Because we where in chest deep water, I did not take my camera with me.  However I did have my gopro mounted to a chest harness.  After I get the other days up, I’ll edit and add the video below.

After the boat trip back from the stingrays, we really didn’t have much time other to stand in line and head back to the ship

Day3-54I also have video of another night at the REX night club I’ll post after getting the rest of the days posted.

– You can view the complete set of images of Day 3 via my flickr account, click here
– Instructions on how to download individual images via my flickr account, click here
– Download the complete set of images for day 3 here

Day 4 Cozumel Mexico

The group again split up, Pat and his family along with me and my oldest daughter, Nicole took the 2 hour each way boat/bus ride to see the ruins at Tulum. While Ronnie, Terry Jean, David and family along with Lisa, Kristen and Chris hit the local mall and shops for local deals

This board ride to main land Mexico was in a much larger, better equipped boat then the day before.

No they where not locked in the hull of the boat.  I ventured up on the top deck to see if there where any photo ops.  The boat ride was about 30-45 minutes across the canal/bay/harbor

Day4-1Arriving in main land Mexico

Day4-3Day4-2After one police check point and a 45+ minute bus ride we stopped at the large tourist gift shop on the way to Tulum.  We had a great tour guide with tons of knowledge of the  Aztec’s their language and the actual ruins.

Day4-4All said and done, it took us a good 2 hours plus to get to Tulum.  with a 5 – 10 minute walk from where the bus dropped us off (at the parking lot with more gift shops and restaurants) we where actual on the site of the ruins

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Click images for full size. The above image is a pano of the Tulum ruinsDay4-19Day4-33Day4-22Click images for full size. The above image is another pano of the Tulum ruins

We saw more wild Iguana then we could count

Day4-12Day4-31These ruins are built right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean and most people visit the site for the beach alone.

Day4-36Day4-44Day4-41After Brook and Nicole took a quick swim, we head up the most dangerous stair case I’ve ever seen.  We dried off and headed back to the parking lot. I paid $10 for that hat and it was well worth it.

Day4-49Oh look more iguanas

Day4-51Day4-46And finally down the last few stairs that are not built to US code…..

Day4-53– You can view the complete set of images of Day 4 via my flickr account, click here
– Instructions on how to download individual images via my flickr account, click here
– Download the complete set of images for day 4 here

Day 5 – Returning home, all day at sea

What an amazing time and we wish the others could have made the vacation with us.  We truly had and amazing adventure and enjoyed each other;s company more then we could imagine.  The wife’s are already planning next years cruise as well as other events much closer to home. We can’t wait to see very one back home at the local cruises to tell our stories and encourage the new owners to join us in the future.

David and his son up on the top deck

Day5-2Day5-3taking some pictures around the ship

Day5-4Day5-8Day5-10This is where the kids and adults spent most of their time

Day5-17Look who I found trying to hide from me taking their pictures

Day5-6Normally on these cruises you would expect the lemonade, orange juice and ice tea to be watered down. Hell no you had to at least mix it with 50% water

Day5-18Oh and all the ice cream you can eat

Day5-19Well that was it, a wonderful and short 5 day cruise.  I’ll have the video of the stingrays up soon as well as the scanned pictures we all purchased on board the ship

– You can view the complete set of images of Day 5 via my flickr account, click here
– Instructions on how to download individual images via my flickr account, click here
– Download the complete set of images for day 5 here

10 thoughts on “2014 Group Sea Cruise”

  1. Would love to join but usually cruise ships don’t cater to singles. 1100.00 far too much to pay.

  2. OK everyone 2 days before the cruise, can’t wait. Have not been on a real vacation in about 4-5 years!!! I’ll also update this page with video/photographs of the vacation.

  3. Enjoyed the company this past week,on our Sea Cruise.miss the Ship already and its only 4:00 The day we get Home ;(

  4. I could not agree more Pat. What an amazing time we had. I had a grin from ear to ear, all the way home from the port of Tampa.

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