2024…it’s a wrap!

It’s hard to believe that this is the last day of 2024 already. This year was a whirlwind of fun and adventures, but also loss and heartache.

The beginning of this year started off with an amazing New Year’s cruise aboard the Carnival Liberty. This has been something we have been wanting to do for a long time. It was an amazing experience (that we will definitely do again!)

But then things took a turn for the worst not even a week after we got back from that cruise.

My mother got ill and was dealing with severe pain, swelling in her arm & not being able to eat. A few weeks and a few doctor appointments later, she was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

So the next few weeks were full of appointments, hospital and nursing home facility visits. But her cancer was so advanced and severe, that she lost her battle on February 27th.

My mother was one of those people that would not go to the doctor for anything…unless it was to the point that she had to. She did have symptoms for a while, but she would never say or share anything. Looking back, there were signs, but it’s always easy to look back, right?

Miss you everyday mom 🩷

A couple of months went by and after getting things situated at home, it was time to take a mental health break and go on a cruise.

On April 20th, we embarked on the Carnival Vista for an eight day cruise going to Aruba, Bonaire and Grand Turk. But we weren’t alone! We had Rob & Favor from Life with Favor, Anthony & Nancy from Nautical Nurse Nancy, Bob & Sara from Cuse Cruisers, Carla McClendon & her friend Brenda and Guy & Kelly Reynolds.

In Aruba we rented UTV’s and got to climb the California Lighthouse!

In Bonaire we got to rent a UTV and buzzed around the island to see the beautiful coast and flamingos! Then we ended the day at Eden Beach Resort for some snorkeling and fun!

And in Grand Turk we rented a golf cart (see a trend here??) and went to the Grand Turk Lighthouse and stopped at the Sandbar…OMG…this place was gorgeous!!

This was an amazing cruise with cruise family that I personally needed. It was a great distraction and laughed so hard that cruise…it was the perfect therapy. 💓

Two more months pass by and we head on down to Galveston Texas to head to the Carnival Jubilee for the July 6th-13th, 2024 sailing! Michelle and Gerry were our cruise buddies for the week! We had the pleasure of hanging out with Rob & Favor for 2 days and showed us around the area. We had some great quality time in Galveston and opened their home to us for a relaxing pool day (and of course meet the fur babies!). We had the best pizza that we had in a long time…and those kolaches from the Kolache Factory… 🤤

Rob & Favor were supposed to be on the cruise with us, but Hurricane Beryl was coming up the Gulf of Mexico. So Rob & Favor made the hard, but best decision for them to stay home.

It was sad that they were not coming along, but totally understood.

We headed to Roatan, Costa Maya & Cozumel on that sailing.

But we got to check out a new resort in Roatan through Real Deal Roatan Tours called Fantasy Island and even huged some sloths! Oh, the funny thing with the sloths… The sloth we all held was named Patricia…and that was my mother’s name! So I got a hug from her 💗

In Costa Maya, we hung out in the port and had some refreshing drinks on super hot day!

In Cozumel we went over to Isla Pasion for the day to hang out at the beautiful beach!

Then we ended the cruise with a Mixology class but none other than the famous Jason Prismall. If anyone has sailed with Jason…they know.. lol

This was our first time doing the Mixology class and it was a blast!

We ended our summer with guess what…another cruise! This time we headed up north to Canada on the Carnival Venezia 🤌

We sailed with Holly & Bryan, Cristin & Brian & Mary Ellen Dillon.

This was a 7 day cruise that went to Halifax NS, Sydney NS & St. John NB from September 7th – 14th, 2024.

We had Lee your Cruise Director on this voyage and in that week we were on board, and if anyone that knows Lee, it was a fun week!

In Halifax we took an easy day, we strolled the boardwalk area, had some Timmy’s (Tim Horton’s) and went to Garrison Brewing Company. I was having fun until I got stung twice by a yellow jacket. Once on my middle finger and in a sensitive female area.. (the yellow jacket went down my shirt 😫). Thankfully Cristin had some Benadryl with her to help with my swelling!

We got to experience another new port of call, Sydney, NS. This port was absolutely beautiful and scenic. Plus Dave got a new hat, not just any hat, a kangaroo hat! So he can say he did get it from Sydney…but in Canada..not Australia! 🤣

Mid week, actually it was when we were in Sydney, Lee was promoted to Fleet Cruise Director! This was awesome to actually congratulate him in person on the new role!

Then our last port of call was St. John NB. Here we did a ship excursion to Yip Cidery and it was sooooo good!

And this cruise, I chose fun! I participated in the Gelato eating contest for Festa Italiana and played Guess that Groove with the help of Cristin..and we won!

And for the last cruise of the year…. drumroll please….🥁

We tried a new cruise line, Margaritaville at Sea!

We sailed the Islander December 13th-17th, 2024.

We have heard a lot of negative reviews of this line, but we wanted to give it a shot!

This ship was gorgeous! The Islander was refurbished this year (it was originally the Costa Atlantica) and the best part is…this is a Spirit class ship! You know us and our Spirit class! This was the original Spirit class ship that was built in 2000 and it was followed by the Costa Mediterranea, then Carnival Spirit, Pride, Miracle & Legend. So it was safe to say we were at home 💓

This was a 4 day going to Cozumel and back. We were joined by Michelle & Jay Bowen, Mark & Stephanie McClure from The Cruise World, Lorelei Fisher & Pam (Flamingo Pam).

This cruise was such an amazing time between the sea days, Paradise Beach club, doing the elf on a shelf with Chip and Bree and we got to celebrate Michelle’s Birthday also!

Oh…and we met a celebrity on the ship! Paul Teutul Sr. from Orange County Choppers was on board! He was a cool guy…at least he wasn’t mad and throwing chairs around! 🤣

I guess you never know who you will meet on a cruise!