DAY 8: DEBARKATION AND BACK IN SAN JUAN, BUT ACTUALLY THE 11TH DAY OF VACATION!

I woke up at 6:45am. Our cruise had ended and I was sad, but it felt different this time. I guess since we were still going to be on vacation and exploring OSJ today, I wasn't as sad as I normally am.

Up to eat breakfast (for free) one last time.

We really wasn't in a hurry to get off the ship since we were just basically going to walk across and down the street to the hotel, which check-in wasn't until 3pm.

We hung out until 9:45 and the ship was getting pretty empty at that point. Around 9:30am we decided it was time and started heading toward the gangway. Then I discovered that I didn't have our key cards. I just knew that I probably left them sitting on the table where we were at. Kendra said she would run back upstairs to look for them and I got in line at Customer Service to have new ones made in case she didn't find them. Our new cards were printed off and here she come with our old cards about 2 minutes later. Oh well.

We headed for the gangway and before going out, Kendra discovers that B doesn't have his either. She thinks he left his in the room. She told us to go on without her and she'd meet us outside....oh brother!

The lines were SO LONG! Then guess who happens to be in the line beside us waaaaayyyy ahead of us in the building. I did not even need to know where they were, I just knew they were there...the screaming kid family from our table at Seuss. He was screaming just to scream the.entire.time! Parents just pushing him along in the stroller like it was a normal activity. People were staring, giving "the look", and they acted as if it was no big deal. He would continue to do this the entire time we were in the building. At one point we caught up to them (our line was moving faster) and I thought my eardrums were going to explode.

As we were standing and moving along in line inside, I noticed there was a huge line formed outside now. There were just too many people inside the building so they formed a line outside. I just knew that Kendra had to be in that line by now. She kept sending me pictures and messages about where she was at. She said as they stood outside in the line, the crew was entertaining them and giving them "facts" about the ship. She said they told them how much fuel it took to fill it up, how long, and so on.

We finally made it outside and sat down close to the door along the walkway heading to the street and waited. We waited and waited and waited. At one point I stopped getting text from her and I thought she must be close to customs and coming out. But I didn't see her. I then get a phone call from her wanting to know where we are and to let me know she's at the hotel. :eek: Geesh. She said the check in at the hotel was crazy and the entire place was loaded with people.

We grabbed our luggage and headed that way. Out to the street and turn left for about a block. IT WAS SCORCHING HOT out. That one block felt like it was a mile long.

Once we arrived at the building, I wasn't really sure where the entrance was. I was headed one way down the building and Kendra came around the other way to let me know it's on the other side.

I thought these lights were unusual...they had spikes on the top. Maybe it deters birds from nesting there? I don't know.

We headed inside the madhouse and it was crazy. We checked in and they said the rooms were not ready yet, but they would take my number and call me when it was ready. I gave the lady my number, she repeated it back, "No, that's not it" and I gave it again, once again she transposed the last 2 digits and I repeated again. They said to give our luggage to them and they would store it until the rooms were ready and we could go explore.

Off we went to check out this beautiful place. 

My goal was to walk along the ocean area and on the side of the wall, then cross under it by the gate. Now, my map/directions were packed away in my suitcase. I guess with all the planning I do, I still need some work on it because I did not factor in leaving that stuff out and having to wait for a room. I packed it thinking I would just get it out of the luggage once we were in our room and put our things down.

Oh well, I do study maps and google earth a lot before cruising, so hopefully I would be able to find it.

To read our little tour as we walked around San Juan killing time and waiting on our room to be ready, click the following link:

After walking around and visiting multiple sites and also getting a bite to eat, we headed back over to the hotel to see if our room was ready and it was. I ask why we didn't get a phone call as promised (not that it would have mattered because it took us 2 hours for our meal, but still). They said they tried to call a few times. Well, they repeated the number back to me and IT WAS WRONG! Even after giving it to the lady 3x when we check in.

Oh well...we headed over to collect our luggage and off to our room we went. I'm not sure if this was the room we booked or if we just got lucky because it was on the end and it was HUGE!!!! It was like a studio apartment without the kitchen, but you sure could have added one because there was a lot of open space.

It had it's own bedroom too.

So much room in here. You could have added 2 more beds in the living room area.

There was a desk area at the end for the hubby to work at.

The room had an opening for a window, which turned out to be a "small" balcony. I wasn't sure if it opened, but we finally figured it out (you have to unlock it and then there's other locks at the top and bottom as well).

This would be the perfect place to wake up the morning of your cruise and see the ship in port. How cool. Excellent view.

The bathroom was over by the bedroom and entrance door.

Whoops, see my pictures aren't always perfect

I headed back over to the balcony to get some more pictures of the Fascination sitting in port. It was such a beautiful view.

"S" for super Sheraton.

This is a better look at the "balconies" hehe

Down below is a restaurant.

Kendra decided we needed a picture of us girls "just chillin on our balcony in San Juan" to post back home. LOL

Us girls were having just too much fun with this. 

Kendra's silhouette picture

It was a little later in the day and we decided to go out exploring again. You've probably already read what we did tonight (from the link above of roaming around Old San Juan. We had a blast at the President statues. It was dark now and the ship was still sitting there.

It was time to go back to the hotel and make other plans.

Kendra had mentioned that the pool was on the roof. I didn't even realize they had a pool, so we went back to the room to change and do a little bit of swimming. We might as well really wear these kids out today right?

Fabulous view from up here

It was a pretty neat area with the roof open and no windows.

I can see the ship from here too

It's a long way down...this is the entrance to the hotel

Let the picture taking fun begin...a pool at night with the colors in the pool constantly changing made for some really super sucky photos. lol Kendra is a girl of many poses

Then the kids decided they were going to try to sit Indian style on the pool floor and hold it. It was hilarious to watch everyone start to float up. Let's just say it was a challenge to see who could stay down the longest at that point.

WOW! I somehow managed to capture and under/over picture and didn't even know it.

Kendra, you face says it all

Ok, let's lay on the floor. Sakari looked like she was trying to do sit ups

Then Kendra decided that she was going to try to fit Sakari's mono tail and swim. Now THAT was some entertainment for sure. She tried and tried and could not get the hang of it.

They couldn't stop laughing and making fun of Kendra trying to swim. It was so awkward.

So I just knew I had to try it too. Sakari showed me how put the fins on and away I went. It was very awkward but I got the hang of it. It's all about the body flow. It was one of those "here hold my beer and watch this" moments. But, I have to say I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Of course that upset Kendra and she had to keep practicing. She let down her hair and said "I want to look like a mermaid swimming with my hair flowing".

So after awhile, she was getting better and I did a few videos. Then the kids started the "twirling in circles" to see how many they could do.

Then it was splash city after that...almost everyone had left the pool except for a guy and his kid that was jumping, so it was on.

Ok, that should do it. The kids should be pretty worn out for the day and sleep good tonight.

We headed back to the room to get some dry clothes on and we were hungry again.

We decided that we were pretty worn out as well and it was unanimous that we would just head downstairs to the restaurant and grab a bite to eat out on the patio and watch the ship sail away. The kids said they were so tired they just couldn't go on and started dragging their feet like they had weights on them. This is what it was going to look like if we had to walk anywhere and they were pretty serious about it.

It was a cool little area, especially at night with everything all lit up.

Kendra sat at another table and for some reason she had a different waiter. He came out and took their drink orders and we were still waiting. What gives?

Then he took her meal order and we finally got to order our drinks.

Her waiter was constantly checking on her, but ours...ehh, we were lucky to see him.

About that time, we heard the Fascination blow her horn. I jumped up for a video and caught there very end of it. Then recorded her pulling out and turning around.

Goodbye to everyone starting the first day of their wonderful voyage. I hope you all have a great time like we did.

I swear I think I lived on cheeseburgers in each port on this cruise. I have never ate so many, but it was the only "safe" thing I found on the menu's at most places.

Sakari ask me a question and I turned and pointed at something and completely knocked over my drink. Eek! I'm scrambling to find something to wipe it up with and went inside to get my waiter. He brought out some napkins and I cleaned the mess up off of the table.

I was eating and do you think the waiter brought me another drink? NOPE! I had to go back inside and tell him "Hey, you know I knocked over my drink right? Well is it possible to get another since I have nothing to drink?" hiccup. This place and the service with drinks is just too much!

We finished our meals, Kendra boxed up B's meal and swore that's what he's eating for breakfast in the morning. Yea right Kendra...we'll see.

We headed back to the room and got ready for bed. I think the kids were sleep walking before they ever made it back to the room.

Then off to bed we went.