Cast (in case you haven't gotten it yet!): DH (47), me (40), DD (12 1/2), and DS (11 1/2), 3rd DCL cruise
This was to be our 2nd formal night (DCL had told us pre-cruise it was going to be our first formal night). I was up early again, and took some pictures as we docked at a beautiful island. As usual, the family slept in. We had two separate excursions booked this day. The original plan was that DS and I were going on the Kayak Eco Tour. I had thought he would have problems with snorkling, and this excursion looked like he might like it. He decided the day before that he wanted his Dad to go with him. He said "No offense mom, but Dad is stronger than you, and he went rafting with me this year, so I know he knows what he's doing." So I took my bruised ego and agreed to join DD on her stingray city snorkling excursion. Both of these were the afternoon excursions, and had meet times of 12 and 12:15.
After I had breakfast and got the family moving, I headed into town to get my magnet. No one wanted to join me, so I went into commando mode. Just off the ship, there is a section of kind of upscale stores, which included a Body Shop (same chain that there is in the US), some kind of upscale cosmetics and perfume store, etc. The tourist type market is right behind there. Hardly anyone was in the tourist market yet (I think it was probably 9 or 9:30), so people were trying hard to get my attention. I looked seriously at some very nice rain sticks. I think the lady had come down to 12.50 apiece, when I said I'd think about it, and started to leave. She said "How about 11?" I told her (honestly), that it wasn't the price, I just didn't want to have to worry about getting them home in one piece. She understood, but said that their business was way less than they had anticipated that morning, so if I changed my mind to come back. I ended up getting a magnet, then headed back toward the ship. I stopped by the body shop because I had forgotten to bring lipstick (I normally don't wear it), and wanted something for DD and I to wear with our formal stuff. Prices seemed about like the states, but there were lots of people there (including many people who lived there). This area seemed ridiculously crowded, and it was mostly people who were buying last minute Christmas gifts. All the prices were listed in both EC and US currency, but the majority of things were being paid for in EC. This was the day I ran into Andrea from the kids club in the store. She used to post on DIS as Yoda's Da Bomb, and we had a chance to chat. She said the job was great. It was a lot of work (she had 3 hours off that morning, but then was back on duty), and she said it took a few weeks to get adjusted, but it had worked out as she had expected. She said that she used to work retail, and this job was much better!
There was a good steel drum band playing on the dock, so I watched and listened for a while, then headed back aboard. A group of the entertainment CMs were clustered there, getting ready to enjoy the day. I saw a lot of the entertainment staff around in our port visits, and a few of the kids counselors but almost never wait staff or hostess/hosts. I think the workload varys tremendously between those groups!
Anyway, back on board ship, to find DD in the cabin complaining of a really bad headache. She said that she didn't want to go on the excursion, she just wanted to sleep. SHe had been coming down with a cold the last day or so, and I think she was slightly de-hydrated too.
This was to be our 2nd formal night (DCL had told us pre-cruise it was going to be our first formal night). I was up early again, and took some pictures as we docked at a beautiful island. As usual, the family slept in. We had two separate excursions booked this day. The original plan was that DS and I were going on the Kayak Eco Tour. I had thought he would have problems with snorkling, and this excursion looked like he might like it. He decided the day before that he wanted his Dad to go with him. He said "No offense mom, but Dad is stronger than you, and he went rafting with me this year, so I know he knows what he's doing." So I took my bruised ego and agreed to join DD on her stingray city snorkling excursion. Both of these were the afternoon excursions, and had meet times of 12 and 12:15.
After I had breakfast and got the family moving, I headed into town to get my magnet. No one wanted to join me, so I went into commando mode. Just off the ship, there is a section of kind of upscale stores, which included a Body Shop (same chain that there is in the US), some kind of upscale cosmetics and perfume store, etc. The tourist type market is right behind there. Hardly anyone was in the tourist market yet (I think it was probably 9 or 9:30), so people were trying hard to get my attention. I looked seriously at some very nice rain sticks. I think the lady had come down to 12.50 apiece, when I said I'd think about it, and started to leave. She said "How about 11?" I told her (honestly), that it wasn't the price, I just didn't want to have to worry about getting them home in one piece. She understood, but said that their business was way less than they had anticipated that morning, so if I changed my mind to come back. I ended up getting a magnet, then headed back toward the ship. I stopped by the body shop because I had forgotten to bring lipstick (I normally don't wear it), and wanted something for DD and I to wear with our formal stuff. Prices seemed about like the states, but there were lots of people there (including many people who lived there). This area seemed ridiculously crowded, and it was mostly people who were buying last minute Christmas gifts. All the prices were listed in both EC and US currency, but the majority of things were being paid for in EC. This was the day I ran into Andrea from the kids club in the store. She used to post on DIS as Yoda's Da Bomb, and we had a chance to chat. She said the job was great. It was a lot of work (she had 3 hours off that morning, but then was back on duty), and she said it took a few weeks to get adjusted, but it had worked out as she had expected. She said that she used to work retail, and this job was much better!
There was a good steel drum band playing on the dock, so I watched and listened for a while, then headed back aboard. A group of the entertainment CMs were clustered there, getting ready to enjoy the day. I saw a lot of the entertainment staff around in our port visits, and a few of the kids counselors but almost never wait staff or hostess/hosts. I think the workload varys tremendously between those groups!
Anyway, back on board ship, to find DD in the cabin complaining of a really bad headache. She said that she didn't want to go on the excursion, she just wanted to sleep. SHe had been coming down with a cold the last day or so, and I think she was slightly de-hydrated too.
