Hapa Lab went on a short break.
Zozie's grandparents are celebrating their 60th & 70th birthdays.
This called for a family cruise aboard the Norwegian DAWN.
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| Zo: "Our Smiling Ship" |
Dawn took us on a 5 day tour in Western Caribbean.
Cruise ships nowadays boast around 300 - 400 kids aboard each trip.
This was our first cruise with Zo.
He's currently two & a half.
Kid & family friendly?
You betcha.
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| Happy to land in Miami |
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| Grandma & grandpa....REALLY happy to land in Miami. |
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| at the terminal with his cousin. |
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| Bon Voyage! |
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| the Original Foursome. |
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| off & RUNNING... |
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| long corridors are great toddler-energy-burners... |
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| or for practicing cat walks? |
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| alas...our home on the sea. |
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| first things first... |
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| found the dining/living area... |
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| and the gifts for the birthday boy & girl... |
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| 2.5... Really? |
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| found the bath tub. |
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| and the shampoo... |
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| don't mind if we DO!!! |
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| me too. |
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the balcony...AAAhhhhhhh.
*Note the glass barrier with narrow seams...perfectly safe for little ones* |
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| then food started... |
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| and kept going.... |
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| and going... |
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| "chocoholic buffet"... their words, not mine. |
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A different "towel creation" greeted us each evening for bedtime.
(kids, what animal we are getting tonight? they loved it.)
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| the kid's nest. |
"Kids Crew", an on-board camp with counselors,
provided plenty of fun family activities.
The youngest group is ages 2 - 5, led by "Ms. Kiwi".
Zo called it his "Boat School".
Check em' in.
Take the pager.
Come back when ready.
DONE.
*Also, the "Dino Pool" was the best*
First Day...."Aliens"
Followed by "Family Legos" in the Lounge...
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| i heart LEGOS. |
Second Day...."Pizzaria"
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| make & eat their own masterpiece. |
Third Day...."Pirates"
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| aarrrrrr............. | |
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| "Papa Nash", our AWESOME server. |
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| "Das", our AWESOME butler. |
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| Room service for 8? Too much??? |
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| Never! The "inner Caterer" kicks in. |
So back to the crazy skyline...
(this was non-stop)
Our final sunrise...
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| with mama. |
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| with daddy. |
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| bye, Dawn. |
It was wonderful to see the ship & ocean through Zo's eyes.
Such vastness and endlessness.
Indescribable.
Far from his usual home school, a 6x10 feet space.
This was simply amazing.
Before booking the Cruise:
1) Will my kid fall over the edge?
2) Are there any kid/family activities?
3) Is there anything the kids can eat?
4) Will they remember it?
After the Cruise:
1) Tall glass everywhere, really no way to grab and flip.
(the look of the waves alone will scare them enough to stay away.)
2) Non-stop action.
3) Are you kidding me?
4) He still talks about it.
Look for "Part 2" of the Dawn post: Ports of Call
Grand Cayman & Cozumel
