Cruising to the Bahamas—CocoCay at last!!

Whenever I am really happy about something you can hear me say as I throw my arms high into the air, “Joy and rapture”.

Well today I did just that as I looked out of the porthole and saw sunny skies and calm seas.  We dressed quickly, ate a small breakfast then down to the tenders waiting to take us to CocoCay for a day in the sun, listening to great reggae music and a delicious barbeque lunch.

This beautiful private island offers many different activities.  There is snorkeling, riding the waves on a jet ski, kayaking, floating on a beach mat, an aqua park, the largest inflatable water slide in The Bahamas and parasailing.  For those who want to learn more about the environment of the island there is an eco-tour and nature walk.  You can do as much or as little as you desire.

For us it was continuing our commitment to relax and enjoy.  So, as soon as we got off the boat we walked across the white sands of the beach to our favorite spot and found two inviting lounge chairs under a coconut palm.  There was just enough light filtering through the palm leaves to let in a little sunlight but keep you shaded too.

It is a beautiful day with a temperature of 82° and before too long the reggae band started to playing wonderful rhythmic island music.  The water is a little chilly but so clear you see down to the sand cluttered with small reef rocks and shells.  It wasn’t long before the water was filled with swimmers, snorkelers, floating mats all having fun.

Randy would not get in the water but I could not resist.  Yes, it was a little chilly but once you got in and dropped to shoulder level and stay a while it actually became warm.  I loved it.  As I turned to come back ashore I was fascinated watching the many, many seagulls squawking loudly and soaring overhead, dipping, turning and then landing atop the many grass covered structures around the beach.

At one point we noticed that a flock of these birds were constantly creating havoc near the beach.  I rose up to see what was going on.  There was some fool lying on the beach with a blanket over him while his friend placed tiny bits of food on top of the blanket to see what the birds would do.  Well what they did was make a great deal of noise swooping down close to the blanket and chasing many sunbathers looking for other places to sit.  Personally I thought this was done in bad taste.

I don’t remember there being so many seagulls the first time we came to CocoCay.  But no matter I loved watching these beautiful creatures.  We also saw little Sandpipers scurrying between the lounge chairs pecking away at the sand looking for little pieces of food here and there.

I am always amazed when we come here realizing that the ship actually transports food and staff from the ship to prepared a wonderful lunch for everyone.  If they have it on the ship it is on the island.  There was barbeque chicken and spareribs, hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings, salads, breads, desserts and a variety of drinks.  Conveniently there are covered areas to enjoy your lunch.  I heard mixed review of the lunch.

Looking at beautiful multi-shaded coral rock on our way back to the ship.

After many hours of sunbathing, reading and cooling off in the water we decided to head back to the ship.  As we were leaving we watched for a few moments one of the funny games being played by the bandstand.  It was a battle of the sexes to see who would pick up a water balloon, run to a hula hoop, drop the balloon and then drop themselves to break the balloon.  This was very funny to watch.  I don’t know who won but I must have been the girls.  Very funny!

Once back on the ship we headed to the pool deck for our drink of the day.  Today’s drink was called the Miami Melon.  It was made with Bacardi, Smirnoff Vodka, Midori Melon, Grenadine, Sweet and Sour and Sprite.  This drink was yummy!  I finally got into the pool and boy was that refreshing!

Some people find their last dinner on board sad.  Not me.  Sadness to me would mean that I did not have a good time and I always do on a cruise even when unexpected things happen like the year I fell on a nighttime tour and twisted my ankle in Puerto Rico and wound up in a wheel chair for two days.  But we always manage and have a great time.

Dinnertime rolled around and we were anxious to see our friends Miles and Cathy and hear about their day.  Tonight I picked only the main course and dessert from the Vitality menu.  I chose the pumpkin soup, roasted turkey and sugar-free key lime pie.  I really enjoyed the turkey and pumpkin soup but the dessert was a miss.  The dessert was a sugar-free Key lime pie.  For the life of me I could not taste any lime all I tasted was fluff with a little crust.

We ended our evening attending another production show called, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and it was very, very good.  Once again the cast of singers and dancers wonderfully doing a tribute to Ray Charles, songs from Sly and the Family Stone, Pointer Sisters and many others.  At the end of the performance many members of the crew joined the entertainers on stage and sang one last song.  Wonderful, just wonderful.

Back to the cabin to pack settle in for a good night’s sleep.  I suddenly think to myself: Oh, my, what am I going to do with all those souvenir glasses?

Tomorrow I will tell you what I am planning for all those souvenir glasses.

Enjoy,

Mary