Cruise Portraits

Towel Art

Family Cruise, Day Four

While on board, you are surrounded by beautiful artistry. Gabe asked for a scoop of ice cream. This is what they gave him.




Poolside ice sculpture demonstration:




On our last cruise, we got hooked on going to the art classes and auctions. The auction itself is fun, but the learning is, too. I like it so much, I'm now wanting to take an art appreciation class here at home. Who knows? Maybe some day we'll be "real" art collectors. And, yes, we did buy something to add to Gabe's boxing memorabilia! Norton, not Ali, this time around.




From Italy, Captain Vito Garuccio:

A sampling of the crew and, of course, our cruise director, Jeff Brrronson!

Eating and talking -- what we all did best:

We were given a free cocktail party that evening before dinner. Our family is such a party family. Ha! Only a few drink, so everyone was bored from the get-go. But all posed nicely for the camera.

So, after leaving the party in one big fell swoop, we wandered into a lobby.

I think we are all into taking pictures. What do you think?

All the paparazzi out to get their pictures of Mama and Uncle Ernest!

The Elias Sandoval siblings in attendance.

The Ofelio Sandoval siblings in attendance.

The Jones girls

Miss Lillie's 71st birthday!

With our waitstaff.

Our nightlight.

Good night.

We leave in the morning.

Family Cruise, Day Three

Due to the Swine Flu scare, we were not allowed to get off the boat in Mexico, so we had an extra day at sea. Poor Cruise Director had to work fast to give us all more activities at the spur of the moment. Honestly, I don't think most people cared that we had to stay on the boat. Just gave us one more day to relax and play.

So, we spent more time on Wednesday doing more of this,


and this.



Dinner that night was fun. Our wait staff entertained us and our waitress even got Gabe to get up and dance!

After dinner, we laughed once more with Jerome. He was called on to do an extra show that night. From the ground floor, I spotted Mama and Janice up in the balcony. Look closely through the dark and you can see them.

After the big show, we made our way to a smaller (though still large) lounge for Karaoke once more. We had three in our party who just loved to sing!

Norma

Uncle Glen

and, of course, Miss Lillie.

Uncle Glen and Miss Lillie were chosen to sing in the Karaoke Talent Showcase that evening. I heard it was to be the top five, but there were just a few more.

Uncle Glen sang, "Green, Green, Grass of Home." He has a very good voice and I always enjoy hearing him sing.

Miss Lillie sang "Oh, Happy Day" of the Edwin Hawkins Singers fame -- of which she was a member. You know, that song was written in 1755, recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers in 1969, but still brought the house down that night. You could look around the room and know that everyone KNEW that it was the truth. She won, of course. And got her own 100% plastic gold ship on a stick trophy!

Well, by that time, it really should have been bedtime, but you can eat 24 hours a day on the ship, so we just had to go check out what was available. I mean, just to see. Weren't really hungry. But, look at these desserts! Sitting there looking so tempting at midnight! So, yes, we had a few bites.