DAY 5: ST LUCIA!!!

This was our first time here and once again, thanks to the many people on here that helped me pick the perfect place to go to. Many highly recommended using Spencer Ambrose Tours and to head to Joulsie Beach between the Pitons for the day. I couldn't have been more happier with this choice and it was definitely another highlight of the cruise. We had the perfect day here!! This is one of those "must do" places and I highly recommend going here! If you love snorkeling, and snorkeling right off the beach, this place is THE place. I would say it's right up there with my Coki, St Thomas experience!

So on with the review.

We were due in port by 8am so that meant my alarm was piercing my ears at 645am! I got everyone up and Sakari was dragging this morning.

We headed out the door and I look at her and get this...Does anyone see a problem here?

No, let me show you a closer look...

That's how tired she was. She was so tired that she actually said "I don't want to go to the beach today" GASP!! Never in my life have I heard this come out of her mouth.

I still can't believe that she didn't notice she had 2 different sandals on. One of them is completely thin and flat and the other is sorta a high-heel on it. Only my child.

Up to the buffet we went for breakfast. 

This was Sakari's plate and after her little comment about not wanting to go to the beach today...I couldn't wait to see her bite into that grapefruit. That would surely wake her up and she would snap back to reality and come to her senses. It worked! The look on her face was priceless as she spit it out. LOL

I had my usual, but they did manage to throw a new item in the mix this morning. Some kind of stuffed breakfast something or other. I did not like it, so the regular food it was. The bacon police did not give me the crispy bacon I like this morning. Boo hiss.

We are here!!!

So far, it looked like a beautiful port. I was so excited to be here. It's a place I have always wanted to visit. When I was in my 20's and poor and busy creating munchkins, I worked with a friend who married into a "rich" family. She would always go here. She always talked about it. Just hearing the words "Lucia" roll off her mouth made mine water from her stories. I was envious of the pictures she showed me. It sounded like such an exotic place. Luuuucccciiiiaaa. Ahhh, the name gave me chill bumps. AND HERE I AM NOW!

"Brrushshhhppppeeekkk" went the loud noise on the pool deck and everyone jumped. That was my signal to head down to grab our things and get off the ship. No need for ice today for our coolers because all the drinks were on Spencer (I think, but I would take money just in case I misunderstood).

We were off the ship at 8am and the paparazzi was waiting like always.

To check out the most amazing day and the best snorkeling ever, click the tab below:

Then before long, we were pulling back up into the port, at 4pm, and our Fascination was waiting on us.

As soon as we got off the ship, Sakari took off running. Um, where are you going? She had to potty and potty bad.

We found the nearest bathroom and then did some shopping and was back on the ship by 4:25pm. For some reason I have been unable to locate my magnet I bought here. I remember that I wanted something with the pitons on it to signify what we had seen and done. I thought I found something, but I can't seem to locate it. I was thinking that I didn't find what I was looking for with the pitons and settled for something else. But...it is missing.

After our shower, we headed up to the pool deck to watch the sail away. No signs of Kendra or B running toward the ship, so I guess that's a good thing.

At 6pm we met the kids club in the buffet area and dropped Sakari off to eat with her friends.

We decided to try the food in the back of the ship this time around.

I was looking out the back windows (this area is an awesome place with an awesome view) and I decided to take a picture of it because the clouds were looking like it might storm. My flash went off and scared the crap out of the lady making my sandwich. She thought lightening had struck her. Oops

It was super hot and you really couldn't stand to be outside for too long while trying to shop. Everyone was trying to walk where there was some shade and I finally gave up and told Kendra I was heading back to the ship. This meant leaving her all alone, with a child that likes to run off, all within 5 minutes of all aboard time. Let's see how responsible she is. At least there wasn't a long pier to run down. We were right there. So, I left and hoped for the best.

Hubby ended up with a grilled cheese, which he said was awesome, and I ended up with a turkey wrap, which Kendra had been telling me was awesome.

What was really nice about this area in the back, you had the pizza place there and also the sandwich place...then right beside it was a bar. There was hardly ANYONE ever there. That meant I could get my pop from here instead of drinking the icky watered down drinks they sometimes have.

We headed out onto the pool deck and this is now what it looked like:

The wind picked up and things started blowing over. The windows they usually have open on the pool deck needed to be shut and people were struggling to get them to shut.

Although I didn't really feel the ship moving or rocking, I did notice these at the elevators

We headed to the casino...of course, and stopped at the bar on our way in. The bar staff there already knew the hubby and immediately went and made a coke & diet coke. LOL We didn't even have to say anything.

I went up and down with my earnings and there was nothing to write home about tonight.

We picked up Sakari from the kids club and she was playing a ball game. She said she had won several games tonight and she walked away with a medal and was very happy.

We headed to look at our pictures and we also checked the kiosk for our balance. Oh my gosh, I still had over $1000 on my account. I needed to get to spending.

We headed back to the room and found our monkey towel animal.

 Sakari was hungry and we decided to give room service a try. For some reason I felt extremely hungry myself and it had only been about 4 hours since we ate a sandwich on the back of the ship. I guess that wasn't really much so we decided to place an order.

The person answers: "yes, room service"

Me "I'd like to place an order"

her "yes"

Me "I want to order 2 of your tuna fish sandwiches"

her "uh huh, anything else?"

me "I want to order 2 of your grilled cheese sandwiches"

her "anything else?"

me "I want potato chips with both of those"

her "anything else?"

me "A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chips"

her "anything else"

me "A slice of cheesecake"

her "anything else"

me "no, that is all"

click

So in about 10 minutes, they are at the door. Wow, that was really quick. I tipped them and took the tray.

This was what we got:

Notice only 1 tuna sandwich and 1 grilled cheese. No chips with the grilled cheese and Sakari was upset no pickle for her. No cheesecake. Now I have to admit, the actual reason why I decided to order room service instead of going upstairs was to get the cheesecake.

I called again and told them I did not get all of the food I ordered. I told them just to send the cheesecake and the hubby wanted cookies for desert.

"Anything else"

Now this "anything else" was not an "ok no problem, can I get you anything else to go with that" type of tone. It was an ANY TING ELSE so I can get off the phone and hurry up with your order please" type of voice. I felt rushed every time. She was unfriendly.

So someone is knocking at our door within 10 minutes. I take the tray and just when I was about to tip him again (and I was ONLY going to do this because we did order some cookies, which was not on the original order...even though they had screwed up the other), I decided to look under the plate covers. There was my cheesecake and then the other had a piece of chocolate cake. NOPE, unacceptable for them to screw up a second time. No tip for you, send it back, I ask for cookies, this is the second time my order was screwed up. Away he went. I don't like chocolate, I wasn't going to eat it. Sakari doesn't like chocolate and wouldn't eat it. The hubby doesn't like cake and wouldn't eat it.

Finally the cookies arrived

By the time they arrived, Sakari was already asleep and she didn't get any of the cookies, but the hubby enjoyed a few.

Our bellies were full and it was time to pack our beach bags for tomorrow and then off to bed we went.

So, just a side note. After Sakari seeing scuba divers at Jalousie beach, all she talked about was learning to be a scuba diver. I wasn't even sure if someone her age could do it but once we returned home....

After work, I picked up Sakari from her bus stop and we immediately went to our local aquatics store to get information about scuba for her. The place is so amazing there. I can spend hours looking at everything...and actually I did. :p

So...I GOT HER SIGNED UP!!! She will do her first 2 classes (both classroom and the pool) starting in October. Then right after that is her "AquaMission" to become a PADI Seal and get her certificate and all that comes with it. Then she will be able to do a different "AquaMission" dive each month:

Creature ID Specialist

Environmental Specialist

Inner Space Specialist

Navigation Specialist

Safety Specialist

Search and Recovery Specialist

Skin Diver Specialist

Snapshot Specialist

Wreck Specialist

Night Specialist

She will continue to do the monthly missions and if she wants to be certified, she will be able to do that when she turns 10 years old. She is super excited and is super upset that she has to wait until next month to start. :rolleyes: They had a class starting this Friday, but they were full.

She has her packet, book and patches and now just needs to get her snorkel and mask. They provide the wet suit and all of the equipment...thank goodness!

I hope she likes it and I hope she sticks with it. That crap is E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E!!!

I was almost excited when they told me after she turns 10 and does the classes, she could actually do her open water certification dives in the Caribbean. :D That almost made me want to do it.

Oh, one other thing. They have you fill out a form and answer some questions (health) and I checked the "yes" to having issues with getting her ears to "pop" when coming down on a plane. So...they are making me take her to her doctor to get an exam and they have to sign off on the paperwork for her to be able to do it. :rolleyes: Now I wish I wouldn't have told them. I mean they teach you how to clear your ears. She just hasn't learn how. 😒