Day 0: Heading to Miami:  
 

The Peterson gang loaded up the family truckster and left Rockport at 7:30am for a drive to Houston.  Our flight from Houston to Miami was right on time, and we checked into our room at the Miami Intercontinental – just a stones throw from the pier.  We scored dinner at the Hard Rock, as well as three pair of sunglasses from a sidewalk vendor.

 
   
  Nine pieces of baggage - that should be enough Are we there yet? Dinner at the Hard Rock Chillin' in Miami    
 

Day 1: We Set Sail:

  
 

We piled in a cab at the hotel for the short ride to the pier, zoomed through check-in, and were comfortably ensconced in cabin 1388 in about 10 minutes.  We didn’t have much exploring to do – the Navigator is carbon copy of the ships we have been on the last two summers – so relaxation commenced immediately.  We dressed for dinner, only to find us at a table by ourselves.  Will committed to trying at least one non-hamburgerpizzafrenchfry item per meal during the cruise.  Tonight, it was spinach salad, which – amazingly - he enjoyed.  We enjoyed our own company, and rushed off to the Bon Voyage show in the theater.  Afterwards, Will went to the 12-14 year old club and fit right in.  Elizabeth and Bill spent the evening roaming the Navigator.

  
     
  A view of the Navigator from our hotel room Welcome aboard! Let the eating begin After 5 previous cruises, Will doesn't find much use in another lifeboat drill    
  Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas:  
 

The 6:50am wakeup call came early.  We garfed down a quick room service breakfast, and headed out into Nassau.  A bumpy bus ride to the Nassau Scuba Center and a 30 minute boat ride delivered us at a very nice reef somewhere in the Caribbean.  As we were in the water learning a few scuba skills, we were greeted by a lemon shark as big as Will and almost as hungry (we didn’t have the camera with us, unfortunately).  After mastering a few skills, we re-entered the water for our dive. Is there any thing these kids can’t do?  Beth and Will took to scuba diving like a fish takes to…well…you know.  The three of us agreed this was the best excursion we had ever taken, and we promised each other to finish our scuba certification.

Lunch at the Windjammer Buffet wasn’t enough, so the kids also ordered lunch from room service.  Bill tested the nap-ability of the chaise lounge on the balcony (it was quite high, he reports), Elizabeth caught up with her friends on Email, and Will visited his club to play Mission Impossible.  This was the first formal night, and the Peterson trio spiffed up for a very nice dinner in the dining room.  It was a breakthrough night for Will: Caesar salad, beef tenderloin, and a soufflé – he enjoyed them all.  Elizabeth made a friend at dinner – Katie from Tampa – and the two hung out together the rest of the evening.  Will ice skated with his buddies from the club, and Bill picked up a few bucks in the casino.

 
   
  Ready for fun in the Bahamas! Are you sure these tanks are full? Beth and Will head for the depths Will gets chased Beth discovers a wrecked plane  
             
   
  Will and Beth A few of our finned friends Yes Will, you still have some air left Beth skims over the reef Hey Liz - where did all of those bubbles come from?  
             
   
  Back to the topside Will takes a leap off of the top of the boat Careful Will - you wouldn't want to get wet Enjoying the first formal dinner of the week Hurry up and take the picture so we can change back into our shorts  
  Day 3: At Sea:  
  It was a quiet day at sea.  Elizabeth and Will awoke bright and early (at 11am).  Will spent the day skating (both ice and roller), Elizabeth hung out with her buddy Katie all day, and Bill caught up on some reading as well as hitting a lucky number (27 - thanks, Elizabeth) on roulette.  After dinner, we attended the ice show and had another nice evening aboard the Navigator.  
   
  Will brushes up on his ice skating technique.      
  Day 4: St. Thomas, USVI:  
 

Exhausted from fighting all morning in the room, the kids took a nap between breakfast and lunch.  In the afternoon, we hopped off of the boat for our excursion: a rough boat ride out to Buck Island, and then a ride on BOB (Breathable Observation Bubble) - a sort of underwater scooter.  BOB seemed a little lame after our scuba adventure, but we enjoyed the trip just fine.  We also had a chance to do some snorkeling while at Buck Island.

  
   
  Welcome to St. Thomas! On the BOB boat, heading out to Buck Island The sea was angry this day, my friend Elizabeth and Will in their BOBs And there they go...  
             
   
  Giddyup Beth, Will, Bill and a few fishes Bill chases a sea turtle Elizabeth - this is not scuba diving.  You are not supposed to go that deep. Elizabeth introduces herself to a male admirer.  Will doesn't approve.  
             
         
  The Navigator of the Seas (our cabin is shown by the red arrow) Heading back to the Navigator after a great afternoon in St. Thomas        
  Day 5: San Juan, Puerto Rico:  
  We landed in San Juan at 7am and, since we only had 7 hours in port, we had to get a early start.  Bill's expert negotiation technique secured a taxi for the morning for the bargain price of $150 + tip, and driver Edwin sped us off the El Yunque Rainforest.  The rainforest was a bit disappointing, but we had fun, and we each had the opportunity to feel what carsickness was like as Edwin raced through the dark, curvy streets in the rainforest.  This was the second formal night, and we spiffed up once again for a nice dinner.  Will's splurge for the evening was prime rib (didn't like) and crème brulee (did like).  After dinner, Elizabeth did her normal roam-the-ship-until-all-hours-of-the-night thing, and Will watched a movie with his buds in "The Living Room" club.  
   
  Here we are at the El Yunque Rainforest One of the many waterfalls in the rainforest Hey - that looks like Elizabeth on top of that tower Oh, it IS Elizabeth I think we're lost  
             
       
  All tuckered out after a morning in the rainforest (and a nauseating cab ride) A view of El Morro castle as we sail out of San Juan Will and Bill get spiffed up one last time      
  Day 6: Labadee, Haiti:  
  The combination of a late night the night before, and the fact that Labadee isn't terribly exciting, motivated the kids to sleep in until noon.  We took the tender to over to Labadee for lunch & to play on the beach.  Mercifully, the "Last call for Coco Loco" cry signaled it was time to head back to the Navigator after a couple of hours. 

Will's adventure at dinner tonight was chilled apple soup (thumbs down) and baked Alaska (thumbs up).  		 
   
  Welcome to Labadee! Will takes a leap off of the trampoline... ...and does a commando crawl under the watchful eye of the Navigator... ...while Elizabeth chooses to spend her time on Labadee in decidedly more relaxed way  
  Day 7: At Sea:  
  It was a lazy sea day, so Elizabeth and Will slept until about noon (again).  We just goofed off all day, had a nice dinner, did the dreaded packing, and took in one last show.  It's amazing how quick those seven days went...  
   
  Elizabeth and her gang in the arcade The three amigos in front of the Navigator sign The last supper, with our servers Ramiro and Salmen Beth and Katie hang out for one last night  
  Day 8: Back to the Real World:  
     
  G.I. Joe and Will are ready for the trip home One last look at the Navigator as we take off from Miami