Friday, November 23, 2012

Mom and Nate at Cruise Holidays Annual Convention

Michelle's annual convention this year was onboard the amazing Allure of the Seas.  I can tell you that many times I forgot I was even on a ship as there was so much to do and so many places to go.  It was incredible.  I can't wait to go again and take all of my kids on this awesome ship.  This year, Nathan was able to go with me.  He explored the ship and the ports of call with me,  made friends with my fellow agents and he and I were able to spend some much-needed Mommy/Son time.
 
 
Our room was overlooking Central Park, seen above.

 
Dining Room

 
Boarding the ship

 
From above, down the elevator shaft

 
Our room with a view

 
Nate getting his last minute phone call before losing service



 
Kids Clubs - they have their own little theater, playing Kids movies

 
Kids Club Science Lab

 
View of the Boardwalk (carousel and diving show arena)

 
Dinner with Ed, Janice and Lynn

 
Also, Donna, Diane and Lauren

 
Nate, Mom and Ed

 
Little Nate next to huge Allure of the Seas

 
Nate and Mom at a fort in Nassau, Bahamas

 
Same fort in the Bahamas, built like a ship


 
Another fort in Nassau

 
Pirates Museum, Nassau



 
Mom dancing with our pirate, I mean tour guide

 
Hurricane Sandy had hit just before our arrival, changing this island from the Bahamas, to just The Islands of the Baham

 
Disney Dream (left), little German ship (middle), Allure (right)
Teeny, weeny Nate in front

 
Nate leaving Bahamas

 
Nate in front of Nassau 

 
Nate opening the windows in the morning

 
Nate and Mom in St. Thomas

 
We celebrated Nate's birthday onboard and in St. Thomas. 
Our room steward, Eddie, decorated Nate's door and room for him.  It was a fun surprise.
 

 
Dreamworks characters are onboard

 
Mom and Nate leaving St. Thomas

 
We also celebrated Halloween onboard.  Nate and I were so proud of our creativity as the StayPuft Marshmallow Man and Slimer from Ghostbusters.  So, we put on our costumes and wandered around the ship.  Little kids were waving at us, adults were asking to take pictures with us.  We laughed so hard and had a great time.

 
Of course, we had to ride the carousel.  The girl working it just laughed every time we came around.


 
Mom having a Daiquiri at our Company Halloween Bash
(Nate and I had to shed the costumes as they were so hot inside)
FYI:  We won for Best Costume - as hoped for and expected

 
Nate dancing at the Halloween Party

 
Janice, Michelle and Donna

 
Nate and Lauren

 
Nate and Mom in St. Maarten - we had a guided tour of the whole island.  We drove our own beautiful, air-conditioned jeep and our guide led the way, stopping at 2 beaches, shopping areas, scenic stops and a place for lunch.  This was a fun day.

 
Nate at Maho Beach - the airport is just to the right.  The planes come in right over this beach and land right behind it - talk about being sandblasted!

 
Michelle at Maho Beach

 
Having a drink at Maho Beach

 
Stopped for shopping - Nate was already pretty sunburnt after spending 4 hours at the ship's pool with some friends he met onboard, so he was trying to stay in the shade as much as possible.

 
Lunch in St. Maarten - the menu called this Chicken Food.  It was really good:  BBQ chicken, potato salad, salad, broccoli, rice, etc.  It was a great meal.

 
Embouchre Bay - St. Maarten

 
Michelle and Nate with our fabulous tour guide

 
Nate ziplining onboard the Allure

 
Mom's turn - it was way too short

 
Nate rock climbing onboard

 
Michelle and Nate at our Halloween Bash