It has been nearly two decades since we set sail on our very first cruise.  We were newlyweds – giddy and in love – and beyond excited to travel together!  Fresh out of college, we were living on a pretty tight budget, and we wondered if we would ever get to visit Florida again.  We had no idea what the future would hold, and today, we have the privilege of living and working seasonally in the sunshine state!  This year we decided to fully embrace our season in the south and embark on another cruise, now with kids!

We booked with Royal Caribbean, and they did not disappoint!  The staff were amazing, the amenities just what we hoped for, and the ports of call were perfect for our family.  We road-tripped over to Fort Lauderdale where we boarded our ship completely in awe of its size.  We wasted no time in exploring and played a round of mini golf, rock climbed under the stars, watched the impressive Ice Spectacular show, and even got to skate ourselves!

The following morning we arrived in Nassau, Bahamas – the very same port we visited all those years ago.  We took a taxi to see the breathtaking Atlantis Hotel again, walked to Cabbage Beach, and spent some time shopping before returning to the ship.  The evening came to a close with the Saturday Night Fever Broadway show and an epic Silent Disco dance party. 

Our Day at Sea began with breakfast followed by waterslides, the Tidal Wave, and the FlowRider where Shane tried his hand at surfing.  We fully enjoyed the comedy show as well as Production Time in Concert.

Our second port of call was the incredible Perfect Day at CocoCay, which ended up being the highlight of our trip!  From shopping and live music at Captain Jacks, to beach-side games on Chill Island, to snorkeling at South Beach, to experiencing Thrill Waterpark including North America’s tallest waterslide, the entire day was non-stop fun.  All in-all, it was the trip of a lifetime for our family, and we couldn’t have been more grateful to experience it together!