A Royal Adventure! Cruise day 1

We were graciously gifted a family cruise with the Goodman's.

It was our Christmas present from Grammy and Papa.

They had recently discovered the love for cruising and wanted

to experience it with everyone.

Little did we know, it would turn out to be a very bittersweet vacation.

Because of the size of our group, booking earlier than later

would be beneficial.

It was torture waiting 6 months for our fabulous October break vacay!

In August, Papa needed to have kidney stone surgery.

Something he has had to endure before.

That simple out patient surgery ended up being a bigger deal

than any of us could have anticipated.

It was a good month of him being in and out of the hospital.

Not sure if it was kidney or cancer related.

We kept waiting for him to gain back his strength. 

It never happened.

A few weeks before we were to leave, he made the decision

that he was not healthy enough to come with us.

We were all devastated. 

Grammy and Papa were sad they could not be with us, but

 they wanted us to still go and enjoy ourselves.

Easier said than done for them, I'm sure.

They were just as excited as we were for this trip.

How could we bring some joy to this situation?

We thought about making them their own cruise at home.

Of course it could not compare to the real thing!

But our hearts were breaking for them.

We put together this box and dropped it off to them

the night before we left. 

There was a bag each day for them to open that was in correlation to what we

were doing on the boat. 

It was perfect that they live on Bermuda Circle!

Some of the days:

Papa's favorite thing to do on a cruise is sit in a chair,
gaze at the ocean while eating ice cream cones!

We wrote notes to them to read on the very last day.

I must say, this was the HARDEST trip I have ever had to prepare/pack for.

Our airline charged for checked bags.

With 5 people, that could add up fast!

I was trying my hardest to squeeze everything into the carry-ons.

Those things aren't very big.

And for 8 days worth of swim, snorkel,

hot/cold weather, formal night attire.

Plus if you forgot sunscreen, advil… it would be $50 on the ship!

 It was a tight squeeze!

Finally, we could virtually check in!

The cruise was on, like Donkey Kong!!

Poor Della.

We uninvited her to come, lol!

A three year old on an 8 day, international cruise?

She would have WAY more fun with aunt Stephanie, Marcie and Grandma!

We dropped her off then headed to the airport!

Melinda and Stephen were on our flight.

Fun cruising cousins!

I realized that this was Lindi's first time on an airplane!

She was doing great until the bumpy take off.

Poor Lane, stuck in the middle of the freaking out girls grasping each others arms over him.

Lindi looked at me with fear in her eyes as we were ascending then yelled,
 it feels like we are falling!
I think I yelled back, I KNOW!
Her poor face, it read horror.

Ya, I'm not of much  help.
You should have sat next to your father!

 We made it to Orlando!!

It was about 9pm.

We grabbed our 12 passenger van and hit up a Denny's!

Of course we needed some ice cream.

Luckily Melinda knew the city because she served in Orlando on her mission!

She recommended Twistee Treat.

Could this be any cuter?!

Choco taco on roids.

With that in our bellies, we drove to our hotel

to get some shut eye!