Gary's 50th Birthday Cruise

On April 17th we headed off to Ft. Lauderdale to get on a Cruise for Gary's 50th birthday. We left on April 18th and headed off to the Caribbean. Our first day on the ship was spend just laying around and getting to know where everything was.

On Monday we stopped at Grand Turks and Caicos.

That day Gary went power snorkeling. I tried to do it, but there was no way. But he had fun. Then we had a tour of the island. It is a very small island. Boy it is in pretty rough shape. Hurricane Ike hit last September 6th and it hit pretty hard. Then we came back to the beach and Gary went snokeling there. After Grand Turks we headed off to San Juan.

(Rain Forest in San Juan)
San Jaun is a pretty big place. We rented a car there and headed up to the rain forest. They have some pretty crazy drivers there. The rain forest was neat to see. It had just rained before we go there and so the waterfalls were really flowing. The roads up there are so winedy that I was not feeling to good. I had all ready been having some sea sickness because the ship was rocking lots. But it was so cool to see it. Then we headed back to Old San Juan where the ship was and visited the fort that was there. After San Juan we headed off to St. Thomas.

We have been there before, but the boat docked at a different port this time. It was away from all the cute little shops and stuff. They had some stores there, but not much. Here we took a catamaran over to an island where there was a sunken ship and Gary got to go snokelling again. The water was pretty rough going over there, so when we got there Gary said the water was not very clear so he couldn't see the ship to good. But he did see some fire coral and lots of fish. After this we headed back to shore and did some shopping. After St. Thomas we had a day at sea. That was Gary's birthday. He got up and went to exercise so I got up and decorated the room and door with balloons and streamers. Also I gave him the cards each of the kids had written for him before we left.

After he got back and opened the cards we went and laid in the sun that morning for a while and then we headed back to our rooms to get ready for the Mariner's lunch with the captain (Who was Canadian). For Gary's birthday lunch he had, Filet mignon and a large shrimp. Then for supper that night (it was the 2nd formal night) we went to dinner in the dining room.

We had meet some great people at our table that week and we really enjoyed spending time with them, so it was nice for Gary to have there there for his birthday. So for supper that night Gary had Lobster Tail and Filet mignon.

He got to have 2 plates of it (I asked the waiter and he was so sweet and did it). Then they brought him a cake and we sang happy birthday to him. It was a pretty crazy night because that night they do a Baked Alaska parade (waiters and chefs). But it was a lot of fun. Then on Friday we stopped at Half Moon Cay (Holland America's Private Island).

This is Heaven to me. I could live here all the time. The softest and whitest sand I have ever seen and the clearest and bluest water I have ever seen. Gary did a snorkelling execursion again. I just laid by the beach. That was the best.

Then it was time to come home. We spend the night in Ft. Lauderdale again and then headed home on Sunday. Gary and I really enjoyed being together. I hope he remembers his 50th birthday. Now where shall we go for my 50th..... Hawaii, Disneyworld...... only have to wait 3 years to see.