Wanting to escape south for spring break to a place where we could have trusted babysitting while we tried something new led us to our first Disney cruise. We have never been on a cruise in our lives and guess what? We get sea sick! Our first night aboard I was wondering if we should have just gone to Walt Disney World again but oh, I was looking forward to the Bahamas! My children set foot on international soil for the first time in Nassau. I was so happy for them. The first time I left the United States I was 21 years old and heading to Taiwan to be a missionary. I felt like my maternal grandmother, taking my children to far away places. She would have loved to hear about this during her Sunday phone calls.
In Nassau we looked around in the late morning. We took a horse and buggy ride through the city to catch a glimpse of the culture. Our driver was humorously educating and the children were very pleased to pet the horse afterward. Of course we had to buy souvenirs at the straw market. Why buy an $8 Disney Bahamas magnet on the ship when you can get one for $1 on the actual island? I was a sucker for the conch shell jewelry and all the girls in the family got to pick out a bracelet or ear rings or a necklace. Our son was quite pleased when his Christmas ornament made of a shell was mistaken for a dagger at ship's security check in. He was glad he picked that one.
After going back to the ship to eat lunch and change into our swim suits, we dropped N off at the nursery. She loved it there! She was aware that we were taking her there while we went snorkeling and was more than happy "to play" instead. We loved the opportunity to snorkel! So many fish right there. And when K had had enough, she could simply sun bathe on the boat while the rest of us finished in the water. She is a true beach beauty. I was super proud that my 6 year olds stayed out in the water so long. 6 is the minimum age for snorkeling and they held their own. I cannot think of a better way to spend an afternoon in Nassau. And I was surprised at how excited I was to hear our boat was going past so many famous people's vacation homes on the way back in. Lol.
Castaway Cay was our absolute favorite part of the trip. Disney created a true island paradise there. We did not want to leave! We were actually one of the last families to head back to the boat after playing on the beach. When our sand toys disappeared, our boy found an unripened coconut on the ground to play with in the water and people who had rented tubes left them behind for us to enjoy. Hubby proclaimed that if I could find a cruise that spent two days on Castaway Cay he would sign up immediately. The rest of us would too! My children proclaimed that between the Bahamas, the Auquduck, the restaurants (complete with waiters who entertain your children with magic tricks), and turn down service, this was the best vacation ever! There was always something to do, like watch a show, swim, eat, meet a character, go to the kids club, be a junior detective, or even watch Zootopia in the theater together. (D proclaimed that's his new favorite movie. We all loved those sloth scenes.) They can't wait to go on another Disney Cruise. I told them we will try to swing a 7 day cruise a couple years from now and D is counting down from 24 months until our next cruise already. Disney certainly earned our respect. I can't imagine a ship being better taken care of or better activities and general atmosphere for families. And I'm sure if we had gone straight home from the boat, the dad of the family wouldn't have felt the desire to take a vacation to recover from his vacation. "It was easy." There's a quote from my husband for you. That could help explain why the parents of four children are ready to start planning another, longer cruise without adding Disney World to the front or back of it. Now of that isn't a stamp of approval, I don't know what is.
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