Extended Family Magic 7/3-10 Part 4--Cayman

[Rock'n Robin]

We had room service delivered at 7:30 so we could eat and go to the theatre for our tender tickets. It all worked out perfectly. We got into Cayman (BOY after the smooth cruise those tenders are rough!) and found our way to Capt. Marvins. The roads there seem small and the drivers seem fast, so we took care crossing the street! We saw Karen B and it turned out a few other DIS lurkers were on the same trip. Hello all! We had the 10-1 half day trip. You take a bus to the location, wait for the other people to show, get fitted for gear, and head out to the first snorkel location. DS was able to "drive" the boat--actually he did quite a bit of steering on the lap of the captain (not Marvin himself). He steers our The first location had quite a few fish. None of the kids had ever snorkeled and DS was having a time of it (he's 6). The waves seemed to smack him around. The girls (9 and 12) did a little better. The next location was a coral area where they got a huge eel to come out and say hello. It was around the front of the boat, and I swam there with DS, but when we got to the front he wanted to go back. I swam him back to the boat and he got on and was kind of the mascot for that part of the trip--he helped them feed the fish and do some other stuff. They were really great with him. The last stop was with the stingrays. DD#1 got off first and shrieked when a stingray bumped into her "it touched me!" but calmed down as the rest of us all got into the water. I absolutely loved this. The stingrays were so soft and it was a really neat experience. I fed at least 4 of them. We got some great pictures and bought the DVD too. In fact he said it would take up to 6 weeks to arrive but I got it yesterday, 1 week later!
After the drive back I noticed DH was getting pink and my back felt hot. We had all used a lot of sunscreen but DH and I obviously hadn't had enough on our backs (of course I let the 12 year old do mine, go figure). We took the bus back to town and bought some small souvenirs, then walked down to the HRC and had the most expensive hamburgers ever. All I really wanted was a pin, but I was really hungry. My mistake! It was good but really pricy. An awesome rum runner, though. I took DD#2 and DS back to the ship and DD#1 and DH shopped a little longer. They made it back in plenty of time. DD#1 had her hair braiding appt. at 5 so I took her up with strict instructions to keep it under $30 (she got a "crown" braid last year and it was $26). We left DS and DD#2 with my parents and went to the Castaway Club reception. Free munchies and drinks! The captain said over 700 of the people on this cruise (out of 2700) were repeat cruisers and the max # was 8 trips! (I kept thinking of Barb and Tony, LOL). This reception, the CC pins and the free towel are great ways to keep repeat cruisers happy, IMHO. After this DH went up to deck 9 and I headed right to Parrot Cay. DD#1 was already there and had brought ice cream for DH and I from scoops--seems Margaret, the hair braider, had completely ignored her instructions and given her 20 braids for $40. She also only let her have 2 colors a braid, as opposed to 3 on the Wonder last year (she did red, white and blue in 03 and this year could only do red and blue). DD#1 was afraid we would be upset. I asked her, are you sure you told her to keep it under $30? She said yes she did but she didn't listen. She did not tip her, though, since it was over $30--which I was OK with, she doesn't have that much hair that she needed 7 extra braids than last year!
After dinner I was very excited because I have never seen the Golden Mickeys. We got there a little early and managed to get our seats in the front row of the second section. DD#1 and 2 wanted to be on the TV interview part but missed out. I even got DH to see this. I really enjoyed it! I bought a Golden Mickey pin afterward and was REALLY tempted to buy a Golden Mickey for myself but they are $25!
After the show we wandered around deck 4, and shutters, and the shops, etc. but there wasn't any night life we felt we had to see. DH and I needed to put aloe on during the evening as well. He had decided that Paradise Beach would not do since we were both sunburned already, so he was looking at the Cozumel navigator for ideas. DS had fallen asleep during dinner and was drowsy during the show so we put him in with his grandparents early. The girls come in on their own, so we were both asleep by 11:15.
Tomorrow: Fury catamarans and Mexicali night
Robin M.

 

[tkd lisa]

Great report so far! We did Captain Marvin's on our Western trip too, and really liked them! We're also taking my in-laws on our next trip, so I'm enjoying reading how your family handles the multiple generations.

Bummer on the hair braiding. I too can see NO reason that anyone would need 20 braids for that style. My DD had 12-14, and they were plenty small enough. Especially if you had told her to keep it under $30. Sounds like she didn't like being told how to do the style.

Looking for the next installment.

 

[Credit Man]

Sounds like another great day, Robin. Thanks for posting.

 

[pdarrah]

Great report, Robin!

Did you do anything before your trip to prepare your DS6 for snorkling? We are planning on taking our DS5.5 snorkling (Capt. Marvins & maybe again in Cozumel) and I am wondering if you have any tricks/tips for getting him ready to snorkle.

Thanks,

Pamela

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well, I have had DS in swimming lessons in our local pool for 2 summer sessions now, but he keeps failing--it is so cold (non heated pool) he only lasts about 20 min. because he has almost no body fat and his lips turn blue and he starts to shiver!
He has had his own life jacket for a couple of years for Disney pools, the ocean, etc. and he liked using that in Cozumel better than the one he had at Capt. Marvins. He had a much easier time in the calmer water (Cozumel). He also had to take his glasses off.
Robin M.

 

[pdarrah]

Hi Robin,

Thanks for the reply! My son is also scrawny and can't always make it through the swim lesson without turning blue. Our pool doesn't actually do real swim lessons until 5yrs and then they aren't having them at all this summer! He has been in pre-swim lessons - floating, putting face in water, holding a barbell float & kicking, jumping in, etc.

I am working with him in the little 2 ft deep pool in the backyard and he is starting to get the hang of breathing through the snorkle and floating in the water (no waves there!)

I like the idea of his own lifevest - even if it isn't any better, there may be a comfort factor in having his own. He does have one since we have a family cabin by a lake, but since he is small he is still using one with the big "collar" at the neck with a handle on it - useful when he falls in, but probably not too good for snorkling!

Again, thanks for sharing your experience!

Pamela

 

[KarenB]

I can't wait until our DVD arrives!! I was hoping to find it in the mailbox today, but nada!!

Karen