So, I recently went on my first cruise ever. The “Mega-ship” I was on was the Carnival Horizon out of Miami. I was on there with a group of about 22 friends and family and we had a blast! The cruise ship itself was immaculate. The food was to die for and it was all inclusive and all you can eat (with the exception of a few specialty restaurants, alcohol, etc.). Also the ship was absolutely luxurious and the service from the crew was absolutely first class. This ship had pools and hot tubs, a casino, a gym, a spa, a sports and games complex complete with a running track that went around it, a movie theater, and so much more if you can imagine that! I have heard it described as a “floating city” and I have to admit, that is exactly what it’s like. You see them on TV, but believe me that doesn’t do it justice. Being able to experience it in person really puts things into perspective. I remember thinking to myself, “How in the world is this thing floating as massive as it is?”. It really blew my mind and It was easily one of the best experiences of my life. There was never a dull moment because there were events going on around the clock from comedy shows to art gallery exhibitions to musical performances and even nightclubs.
We sailed to Ocho Rios, Jamaica first and took a tour of Blue Hole, a hidden and secluded natural waterfall with platforms and swings to jump off of into the water if you were brave enough. I jumped twice! The hike up there was an adventure in itself, as you had to cross streams of rushing water and make it up steep terrain. By the time we got there we were all more than ready to get in the water and cool off. It was such a beautiful oasis.
Our next excursion was in Grand Cayman. We went to a little sandbar about a mile or so off the shore of the island called Stingray City. There, we actually got to get up close and personal with wild stingrays! We were able to hold them, feed them, kiss them, and even get a back massage from them! At first I was a little sketched out, but after I saw the tour guides handling them and other people touching them I was able to relax and get immersed in the world of the stingrays. After that, we traveled to another stop on the water called “The Coral Gardens” and did some snorkeling. It was such an extraordinary experience because the water there was just super clear and the coral was so beautiful and surrounded by all these different species of tropical fish. We got to feed the fish as well and after a few hours of being out on our excursion, having all the fun we could possible have, it was finally time for us to make the boat ride back to the island. I cannot tell you just how crystal clear this water was, but I can show you. I added pictures of the trip on my Facebook page which you can check out here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.hammonds.501&set=a.984588849588460
The final stop of our cruise before heading back to Miami was Cozumel, Mexico. We booked a beach getaway at a resort there named Mr. Sanchos. What an amazing little spot that I will never forget! Of course all the food and drinks were included in our excursion. I swam out into the crystal blue water and wished I could just stay there in paradise forever. That was a great time. There was a pool with a bar you could swim up to and the bartender there was being extremely generous with the tequila. I had already tried about every other drink on the menu back at our table, but they didn’t pack the punch that these suckers did. A few tequila sunrises later and I was ’bout drunk y’all! The rest of that story stays in Mexico OK, you know how it is 😀
Even with all of that amazing scenery and fun in the sun, there’s more to be told. I have saved the best part for last, my favorite part of the whole cruise. I have to say that, personally, what I enjoyed most was the onboard spa. It was just being able to relax my mind, body, and soul in such a tranquil place. I booked my first ever professional deep-tissue massage there and it was the most relaxing and therapeutic experience I have ever had. My masseuse was a goddess and her hands performed miracles on my aching muscles and joints. If you are a hard worker like I am then I would absolutely recommend that you take the time to book a professional massage some time. Your body will thank you so much for it. I myself plan on finding a spa around my house that I can go to and relax and spend time on myself on a regular basis.
So, that was the short little blog about my first cruise. It was everything I had hoped it would be and then some. We are already planning our next one so get subscribed to my blog and be on the lookout for a future post about that one as well 😉