I’m pleased to report that I escaped our annual spring break cruise unscathed — sunburn and illness free.
My favorite parts of this annual vacay, aside from the nightly family dinners, are the times we get off the boat.
This trip’s highlights were our port visits to Falmouth, Jamaica and Cozumel, Mexico.
Unfortunately, we missed the port at Grand Cayman due to bad weather. That would have been a good one and our first time visiting that island.
As veteran cruisers and island explorers, we no longer book shore excursions through the ship.
Vince’s deep dives on reddit and chatgpt prepare us to create our own experiences on any island we visit. In Jamaica, we promptly left the port via taxi for an hour and 20 min drive to Dunns River Falls.
I would not highly recommend bringing a three-year-old to climb a gigantic, slippery waterfall, even if she is turning four in less than a month.
It was a long hike up literal rushing waters, but thankfully, we had an expert guide who helped us carry Elaine through the toughest spots and our little adventurer actually climbed some areas herself!
Our 17-year-old also joined us and was thrilled by the experience. His favorite thing about cruising is unlimited burgers and ice cream and running around with fellow fluffy haired teens. This was his first year truly embracing an excursion/getting a little adventurous and he loved it.
In Cozumel, Vince found a beach club off the beaten path that wasn’t overrun by tourists.
We booked two oceanfront cabanas for $60 apiece for the whole day, the snorkeling was fab (stingray sightings!), and the food was delicious.
The day would have been perfectly peaceful had I not decided (in a completely random and unhinged way) to launch myself off the edge of the jagged rocks near our cabanas.
I guess I felt like I could just….handle the might of the ocean surf…???? rather than walk further down to a dock with stairs into the ocean like a rational person.
Newsflash, girlie: you are not Moana, you are a real human lady (nearing 40), and the ocean is not your friend.
Needless to say, the ocean kicked my ass, and I deserved it. I survived with some bruises, a few bloody scrapes, and a lotta shame.
Despite my narrow escape from drowning, this cruise was the best one yet. Here are the rest of my vacay lewks!
This is my hobby. 