Christmas 2013

After going all over the USA this summer and fall, we thought we would spend a quiet holiday at home!  Wrong again!  We just got back from a wonderful 5 day cruise ... Royal Caribbean was wonderful.  My friends from Reston and Cinci relocated to FL and Bob is a cruise specialist.. so he did a really great job of booking this.. a balcony stateroom on Brilliance of the Seas.  The ship is just able to fit under the SkyBridge in St Petersburg Fl after a departure form Tampa.  2 days at sea and 1 each in Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  Played with stingrays, shopped in Cozumel.. got the required tree ornament, and Lafitte Rothschild wine tasting.  Met so many really nice couples.. many from FL.  And lots of children on board.  Santa visited - landed on pool deck.  The cruise line did a great job of keeping kids occupied.  And there was not time to take in all the fun activities but did get a massage and facial.  Art auction - won a print in raffle.  Thinking of next year already.. maybe New Years one.   So here are the pictures:

 Going under the Sky Bridge into the Gulf

 Ready to leave!!!

Tree in Dining Room of Ship

 Captain on the Bridge steering us backwards into Cozumel

Al on Sunday- hopes dashed again :-(

Some of many gingerbread houses

Amit surprized us us!

  Christmas Eve bunny

 Grand Cayman

On way to Stingray  Sandbar

 Playing with the sting rays.. really fascinating.. Al held a 50 yr old female - males are smaller

 Backing into dock in Cozumel

Al & I on dock in Cozumel.. our is the smaller ship - Brilliance of the Seas

 

Cruise Director Flo and Captain  singing carols on Christmas Eve & balloon "snowballs" in the Centrum

Brunch on the balcony - mimosas!

 

"Unexpected Boys" entertainers - did a 4 Seasons show but also made for some cheer on Christmas Eve

Back home!

Merry Christmas to All!

And here we are on formal night... Happy New Year to all!