Cruising through the Caribbean

First and foremost I would like to apologize for the major delay of this post. To say I have been busy is an understatement. But better late than never right?! In the days following my return from my spring break trip, several people asked me if I thought cruises were worth the money. If you can't already tell by my pictures and posts, the answer is YES. Going on a cruise is an amazing way to see and experience other countries on a budget. If you don't like being on the water, it may not be your cup of tea. However, if you don't mind it, then cruising may be the way to go.

I don’t know about you all, but I have never been so sad about a spring break trip coming to an end. If I could go back and relive that trip 10 times, I would. My cousin Haley and I went on a 7 day cruise through the Caribbean and it stopped at 4 different ports. I’m going to take you guys through what we did daily, so you can decide whether or not you think a cruise is worth it! I have been on three cruises. Two with Carnival, and one with Royal Caribbean. This past time Haley and I sailed with Carnival, and our senior year of high school we sailed with Royal Caribbean. All in all, both cruise lines are great. However, there are some minor differences. Personally, we think the food and entertainment was much more enjoyable on Royal Caribbean. But, with Carnival our room was much bigger, and the ports of call were breathtaking. On this cruise we went to Grand Cayman, Roatan, Honduras, Belize City, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico. Each country was special in its own way, and will hold amazing memories in our hearts forever.

Day 1

We got on the ship Saturday around 2 pm, which meant we had all evening on the ship to get settled in and explore. Of course the first thing we did was head to the dining hall! We grabbed pizza and then made our way around the ship to get acclimated.

Dress: www.missguidedus.com/strappy-ruffle-sleeve-bardot-gingham-1
Shoes: www.stevemadden.com/product/MESA/248110.uts?selectedColor=BLACK-SUEDE

The rest of the night was dedicated to going to check out the entertainment. We went to the "Welcome Aboard" show and later on attended the adult comedy show. The comedy show was fantastic. Haley and I were crying we were laughing so hard! The entertainment is one of my favorite aspects of cruising; there's always something to enjoy!

Day 2

The first day was a day at sea, which means you can’t get off the ship at all because you are heading to the first port of call. Haley and I decided to let ourselves sleep in, and have a relaxing day at the pool.

Swimsuit: www.zaful.com/high-cut-bandeau-bathing-suit-p_470242.html

Day 3

Our first port of call was the Grand Cayman. We woke up early so we could get on one of the first boats to get to the port; we wanted as much time as possible on this beautiful island. We took a taxi to one of the most well known beaches, got a couple drinks at a local bar, and enjoyed the water and sunshine.

Top:www.missguidedus.com/yellow-paisley-print-satin-extreme-sleeve-bodysuit-10097964
Swimsuit: www.zaful.com/scooped-high-cut-bikini-set-p_504498.html
Sunnies:www.quayaustralia.com/collections/bestseller-sunglasses/products/high-key?variant=181010595854

If this picture in itself doesn't make you want to visit the Grand Cayman, I don't know what will!

Day 4

The third day was one of my favorites. (If it's even possible to have a favorite). We stopped in Roatan, Honduras and it was breathtaking. We had booked an excursion before we left for the trip to go on a catamaran for the afternoon and we were so excited! We found our tour group, got in a van with our guide, and took a 45 minute drive through Roatan to get to our catamaran. Getting to see all the villages and beautiful views throughout that car ride was an adventure within itself. We finally arrived to our destination, met our captain, and set sail for the afternoon!

This was my first time snorkeling and saying it was an experience in an understatement! We jumped in, and all was fine the first ten minutes. As we were swimming around scoping out the marine life, I scraped the side of my leg on some coral. It didn't feel too good, but I didn't think anything of it! Haley and I stayed in the water for about 30 minutes until we decided to head back to the catamaran. I got out, and the captain looked at me with disbelief.  I looked down and my whole right calf was covered in blood. Ewh! He bandaged me up and urged me to take it easy for a while. I hung out on the boat for about ten minutes before I ripped the bandages off and jumped right back in! (Oops!) I still have a scar till this day! I mean, can you really say you snorkeled off the coast of Honduras if you don't have a scar?

Our captain took us to a private island that is being turned into a bed and breakfast. We are definitely considering heading back to Roatan to experience it once the project is completed.. I mean look at this private beach!

The afternoon on the catamaran came to an end, but we still had about two hours until the ship set sail so we headed to the beach! We had to take a sky-lift to get there, and the view was unbelievable.

Cheers!

Swimsuit: www.zaful.com/knotted-high-waisted-ruched-bikini-set-p_287227.html

The day sadly came to an end. However, Haley and I definitely can say we took full advantage of the day, considering we were one of the last passengers back on the ship.

Day 5

Day four was quite the adventure to say the least! This port of call was Belize City, Belize. Haley and I were super excited about this day because we booked an ATV excursion which would take us through the jungles of Belize. It was something neither one of us every imagined doing, but we are so happy we did it.

It took us an hour bus ride to get from Belize City to the our excursion destination. On our way our tour guide educated us on Beilizean history, culture, and people. When we arrived, we honestly couldn't believe our eyes.

We had the honor of having a true Belizeian meal for lunch, prepared by locals. It was delicious!

Day 6

Our last port of call was Cozumel, Mexico! I had never been to Mexico so I was eager to get there. We had gotten a package to go to an all inclusive resort, so we were planning to soak up the sun, relax, and enjoy a few pina colada's.

Swimsuit: www.pacsun.com

Day 7

Our last day was another day at sea to get us back to our port in Tampa, Florida. We had another relaxing day at the pool, and we got all dressed up for dinner!

Dress: www.missguidedus.com/yellow-faux-leather-snake-print-bodycon-dress-10101345

Dinner was delicious as always. I'm still thinking about that dessert!

And I have to show off my beautiful bestie. I'm so thankful I have such an amazing friend/cousin to travel the world with. Thank you for all of the memories, and for the memories that we are going to make in the future. I love you!

If you have stuck with me through this whole post, first of all, you are a trooper! I know this was lengthy, but I wanted to take you all throughout every single day so you could form your own opinion on if you think cruises are worth it. Keep in mind, I didn't go into every detail. That would have taken you much, much longer to read! We took advantage of every show and activity we could, and we made memories that will last a lifetime. Haley and I booked through www.cruisesonly.com and got a decent deal. If you are thinking about booking a cruise for the summer and have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!