Cruise details

I know, I've promised to post pictures of the cruise, so you will get a few installments.. I have a lot of pictures so I am going to break it down into smaller bunches. Here are some fun ones from the on board ship.

Michael and James sitting on the balcony

Annie and David looking over the balcony from the boys' room and Grandparents room

Kathleen and David looking over the balcony

David looking over the balcony

James enjoying the balcony!

The first day was the settling in day. We checked in and had the lifeboat drill. Than we got unpacked and explored the ship. The kids couldn't wait to get into the swimming pool. We were on the Empress Deck - 7th floor. So we had a lovely view from the balcony and enjoyed it alot.

That night at dinner we had our first formal dining experience on the cruise. It was very nice, the waiters even put the napkins on your laps for you! The kids enjoyed eating whatever they wanted and having cheese and hot chocolate for dessert. Our waiters were Cornelius and Alexandre. James and Cornelius formed a bond and exchanged fist bumps whenever they saw each other. Whenever Cornelius saw James on the ship, he would show everyone else how they were buddies! The other staff got a big kick out of it and by the end of the cruise, James was thinking fist bumps were the way to go! He did it with everyone!

Mom and Dad at the dining table

Carina at the table

Kathleen enjoying her dinner

Jared ate nothing but cornflakes for breakfast and pizza with french fries for lunch and dinner the ENTIRE time. We couldn't get him to try anything else.

James exchanging fist bumps with Cornelius

David expressing his opinion of having to stay sitting at the table!
Annie looking pretty at the table!

The staff of the cruise ship was from all over the world. Our housekeeping stewards were from the Philippines, Cornelius our waiter was from Martinique and Alexandre was from Eastern Europe. It was so neat to have all these different cultures combining. They all worked very hard and did a good job. I LOVED housekeeping. Every morning they came in and tidied your room and made the beds, than at night they came in and unfolded your beds, left chocolates for you (James really loved eating those and left evidence on all the freshly turned down sheets... After 2 days, I started racing him into the room to scoop up the chocolates before James found them.) Every night when the beds were unfolded, they made a towel animal for you. It was fun to come in from dinner every night and discover what animal it was that day! ( I did also have to beat James to the animals to get a picture. He thought they were great fun to unfold and love!) On the last full day at sea, Carina, Grandma, and I also took a class on how to make such lovable towel animals. It was fun.)
Towel Elephant
Towel monkey