Western Carribean Cruise - Ports of Call

One word: Unforgettable

A shot of our actual ship as we were tendering away

Our ports of call were Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize City and Mahogany Bay (Roatan Island, Honduras)

Grand Cayman

Excursion: Pirate Ship Adventure. We also went to a public beach.

Our "bus" driver crammed as many as he could into the huge van he was driving. Aah!

Overall Grade: B

Cozumel

Excursion: Dolphin Swim and Pull with Lunch. Also shopping near the port.

So much fun! I recommend everyone do this once. Lunch was fabulous too. And for all your animal advocates - all the dolphins are born and raised in captivity. They are not caught in the wild.

Overall grade: A

Belize City

Excursion: Cave tubing and zipline through the jungle.

This was so awesome. It was different than anything that we had done before! Belize is very new to tourism but we had a blast.

Overall grade: A

Mahogany Bay, Roatan Island, Honduras

Excursion: Shipwreck snorkel with lunch at beautiful resort.

This was my favorite port. This area is gorgeous! On the tour, it was us three girls and our two guides - so it was like it was a private tour! We snorkeled three different sites and had a great lunch at a beautiful resort. This is a place I want to visit again!

Overall grade: A++

Truly Humbled

This Christmas season my family was able to participate in a Sub4Santa. It was a wonderful experience. My brother found a family with six kids (including a handicapped adult) and a single mother struggling after leaving an abusive relationship. This mother was trying to better the life for her and her kids by going to college and did not have a job. She was having a hard time keeping her family afloat, financially and emotionally. This family rung true with my own in the way that we have six kids in my family. It was so humbling to know that what my family provided this family, we would be their Christmas. During and after this experience, I often think about how truly blessed I am. I never had to worry about my parents finances, their relationship, and how we were going to make it to the next day as a family. I always had a Christmas. I have always had the things I have needed in my life. I am so glad my brother found this family to serve. Christmas, to me, is about Christ and the celebration of his life. He went about doing good and serving others. I feel the best way to spread the Christmas feeling is to do something good for someone else. What can do you to help spread Christmas cheer?

In another experience, I was once again reminded how blessed my life is. How I take for granted so many things in my life such as a stable job, paved roads, electricity, clean water. During my cruise port stops in Belize and Honduras, I saw some real poverty. Individuals struggling to get the basic necessities. And once again, the feeling I have is to give. Give of my time. Give of my extra funds. Give of my love. What can you give in your life?