NCL SKY DAY 2: FREEPORT/GRAND BAHAMA

I had my wake up call scheduled for 6:30am...of course my internal time clock is malfunctioning and I was wide awake at 6:15am. This trend has now entered my second week of cruising and I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever return to normal...normal being sleeping in until 11am. Sigh

I get dressed really quick and head upstairs to check out the weather. (This is the part that I'm really missing my balcony to be able to see the weather instead of having to get dressed to see it).

I got up on the deck and did a big gasp...it was wet. Wait, it's nice outside...oh yea, they must have just washed the deck down and it's for the workers. Whew!

Wait, why are we not moving? We are just sitting there. I know we weren't supposed to get to port until 8am (well a little before that since we get off at 8), but we must have really been early to just be sitting there.

I hurried back down to the room to wake up everyone, take a shower and get this day started. I knew it was our first port day, it was early, and Kendra is slow moving. I would have to light a fire under her butt and the crew to make it to breakfast and off the ship in time to catch our scheduled ride to Paradise Cove.

We headed up to the buffet for breakfast. It really didn't seem like they had much. I'm going through withdrawal at the moment. The eggs were runny and the bacon was still raw. I was waiting for it to start squealing when people touched it. Yikes! They had something that looked like grits, but no way to get it and no one there to serve it to you. I waited for awhile, but had no luck.

After "eating", and I use that term loosely, I found the kids and they were ready. WOW! Amazing. Someone has stolen my daughter and I hope they never return her.

I went up a deck to snap some pictures of us in port.

We have never been to Freeport/Grand Bahama before, so this would be our first visit to explore. I'm not really sure why, out of all the cruises we have been on, that we've never been on a ship that goes here. I was kind of glad to switch things up a little.

We went back to the room to get our things and since I couldn't find my huge brown beach bag I use on every cruise, Kendra let me borrow hers. Since our excursion gave you snorkeling equipment to use in the price, she decided not to take theirs and forgo their bag to me. How nice. She does exhibit this quality every once in awhile.

We were off the ship at 8:30am.

The Gem was in port with us. I was kind of excited to see her, since this is not a ship I have sailed on YET.

Now, I did a lot of research on places to go here and it seemed like all the fine people here on cc suggested going to either Paradise Cove or to Grand Lucayan Resort. If I had MY choice about it, I would have like to go to Gold Rock Beach, but I know on a cruise, it doesn't seem like it allows enough time for it.

I was convinced that Paradise Cove...also known as Dead Mans Reef was the place for me since it had awesome snorkeling. I spoke with "Larry" and booked our reservations for the day there prior to leaving. They did not require a deposit and you pay when you get there.

In my email back and forth, I was given specific directions: 

Please be at the Ministry of Tourism booth at 9:00AM or one hour after your ship docks. The booth is near the shopping area as you leave the ship. Look for our sign Paradise Cove Snorkeling next to the booth and the driver will meet you there. 

I was also instructed to ignore the other tour guides. So, this is exactly what I did. However, had we docked right where the Gem was, we would have got off the ship right where this location is at. Instead, we were docked the furthest away and had to find this location.

When we got there, there wasn't anyone there and it was 9am.

From looking at the area, it was a waiting area where the ship sponsored tours meet. You find what excursion you are on (according to the signs they had within this place) and you wait there. I thought it was strange for them to have us waiting in that area, but wait is what we did. We waited, and waited, and waited. Several times I got up to ask various people around the area if we were in the right place and each time I was told this is where they pick us up at and that it was unusual that he was not standing there with the sign way ahead of time.

We're still waiting and waiting and at this point I'm getting nervous! I'm thinking this entire day is going to go downhill from here on out. My family and the kids were getting anxious and irritated. Had I picked the wrong place? Were we being stood up? I just didn't have answers for them. There wasn't even anyone located inside the tourism booth to answer any questions.

At one point, Kendra decided we should just walk back over to the ship and see if anyone might have been waiting there. We took the long hike back there and started asking around. We were told that the guy holding the sign was there a little bit ago, but is gone now. Sigh. This was getting aggravating at this point and I had really wished I had a back up plan because I would have went with it at this point.

We started walking back toward the rest of the family and we spotted them come around the corner and was getting on a bus parked. It was our bus. Geesh!

To read my full review of how our day went at Paradise Cove, click the tab below:

We made it back to the ship and decided that we wanted to change into dry clothes and warmer clothes because it was getting a little bit chilly with the sun going down and the wind. I took a super quick and hot shower and then met the kids out in the port for a little shopping.

Sakari's shell collection for the day.

So off we go to explore the port area.

If you haven't noticed yet (from the sand pictures), my sons a boob guy and his sister found him the perfect gift

There's plenty of picture opportunities here in port.

There was a guy that hand made these cute little things from soda and beer cans. My daughter bought a few of them as Christmas presents for the family. He had a really neat one that was shaped like a camera and you actually push the knob down and it moves and pops out. I debated buying it since I'm a camera enthusiast, but couldn't make up my mind. Kendra's bf ended up buying it instead.

We purchased a few magnets, something Sakari collects

Sakari managed to talk us into buying her a wooden fish that moved back and forth. It has become one of her favorite toys since then and I consider it a good investment. She carries it everywhere and she's such an animal lover.

There was a small little red carpet welcome back party on the way back to the ship. Of course nothing like you get coming back from Cozumel.

The staff trying to talk Sakari into giving him the fish. She objected!

We were back on the ship at 4:15 and all aboard was 4:30pm. We were all hungry again and headed to the buffet. It was closed!!! Yikes. Ok, now what? We headed outside to the back of the ship and managed to find some food. There are 2 sides back there and I guess I didn't realize they had different food at each of them. After sitting down to eat, the kids came back with food I hadn't seen and food I wanted. I went back out and it was now closed. Just my luck.

We pulled out at exactly 5pm and on schedule. So much for the theory of the drunks on this cruise. No one was missing and no one came back late.

As we sat and ate, we watched the Sky pulled out and go around the Gem.

She looked beautiful and I loved her hull art.

The water along the shore looked amazing and blue and crystal clear. You could see all of the rocks down in the water it was so clear.

My pictures didn't turn out too bad for being taken through the glass window.

We noticed a beautiful stretch of beach along this side and we all agreed that we wished that we had went here today instead.

I wonder what place this is? Does anyone know? 

The family eating under the smurf lights

Sakari wanted to head to the kids club after eating and it had been a full day with her...so we were ready for a break.

Off she went...fish in tow.

When she arrived, they told her she couldn't have her fish there. She immediately had a break down and started crying. They tried to explain to her that they didn't want anything to happen to it or another child to get a hold of it and break it. She didn't care and wasn't going to give up without a fight. She won. They agreed to let her keep the fish, but it had to be put in a "special" place so that no one could get to it. She was satisfied with that explanation and away she went.

We headed up to the sports deck and the kids were playing a little basketball. We joined in and had a blast that night. It was quite comical. There's a lot of things that my hubby doesn't still know about me after all these years of marriage...one is that I can shoot basketball....and actually make it...actually from a lot of different angles to be exact. Needless to say, there's things I still don't know about him...like he can't shoot worth a crap and I would find this out tonight. lol

After wearing me out in b-ball, Kolins gf and I decided to do a little shopping. 

We also decided to stop by the photo gallery to check out our pictures from the port earlier today.

Now isn't this just the greatest picture ever?

We have some construction and a dump truck in the background to remember our day in port. Awesome! What is with NCL's photographers? They are the worse! I think I should become senior manager of photography on the ships. All they had to do was turn us around to take the picture and we would have had the beautiful Sky as the backdrop in the picture. How hard is that? They seriously don't think.

Then we headed to the casino. I can't say I did too great on this cruise. I really didn't find "that" slot machine that I loved like I usually do on other ships. I was constantly changing around hoping to find one that was fun and kept me playing for awhile. I had brought $20 with me and my $37+ coupon from the night before...just in case I needed it. Well, I managed to loose it. It must have been one of the many times I pulled my key card out of my purse to hand to the hubby to go get a soda. Sigh*** Just my luck. But at least I walked away with around a $50 winning from my $20 investment. All was good. Could be better. But good enough.

We checked out the MDR to get a bite to eat again, but it was a no-go. So, we headed up to the non-24/7 bar for some wings. SCORE! They were open!

Yea, my family lives on being goofy...

The hubby follows suit of course

You never know what you'll get out of them. 

I finally got my wings I was craving and some yummy fries to top it off with.

We looked like we were feeding an army at our table.

Now there's one thing that I didn't mention about the kids club on the Sky. They will give you beepers...that they can call you on and you can actually talk to them through this device, which hangs around your neck. A pretty cool item and I think all of the ships should have it. It would save a lot of trouble of calling every time you changed your location and free up a lot of time for the parents and the staff of answering calls.

At 9pm, the staff rang me on my new shiny necklace. They said that Sakari had gotten quiet all of a sudden and went and sat in the corner and wants to leave. They did not know what was wrong with her, but I can tell you when she gets quiet, someone has done something to her. Courtney decided she would head downstairs to pick her up and we could continue to eat. When she arrived, my grandson and his cousin had already left the place and went back to the room. I assumed maybe that was her problem. They left and she didn't. When she arrive at the restaurant, she was tearful and didn't want to talk about it. Then she busted out in tears and let us know that a boy there took a ?bowl? from her and she was upset about it. She didn't want to tell on him and just decided she would leave instead of getting him in trouble. SHE'S 6 YEARS OLD...what 6 year old doesn't tell on another child to get them in trouble? Unheard of. LOL She spared someone else and just shut down. Weird I know.

We bribed her with food and she was all better. We convinced her that it's ok to tell the "teacher" if something happens and we will still pick her up if she wants to leave. She was all better after that.

I was even nice enough to share my cheesecake with her.

When we were done eating, I noticed that the tee shirt and cap that I had just bought...one that I have to have on every cruise with the ships name on it, was missing. YIKES! I haven't seen it for awhile.

Me and Kolins gf went over with each other where all we had been after shopping before meeting up with the guys. THE BATHROOM!!! I left it hanging on the door in the bathroom down by the MDR that wasn't open at the time. We ran back to the bathroom and it was gone!! Sigh. I'm just not having much luck this cruise. At least it was an item that was replaceable.

I told her I was going in the MDR that maybe, just by chance, someone found it and turned it in. I GOT LUCKY. Someone had done just that. My faith is restored in this day and all is good in the world.

We headed back to the room where I knew I would remain safe for the rest of the night. I couldn't risk any more screw ups and I was staying put.

We had a rabbit for a towel animal tonight and the room steward had used some of Sakari's animals in her creation that night too.

I noticed tonight that the water temperature went back and forth between hot and cold. It was very aggravating and I have only experience this on 1 other cruise and that was on the Epic back in 2010 when she was brand new. It would make for an interesting few days of hoping back and forth when it got cold and then back to hot.

All the glasses in the room were still dirty and they were the same glasses from the day before. I had only 2 towels tonight and 2 wash cloths. Earlier my daughter had left her beach towels and didn't realize it and I had picked them up for her and brought them back to the room. So, we basically had 5 beach towels. They were GONE and we only had a total of 2 beach towels. So now not only were we down a towel but my daughter was down 2 towels as well...and we were headed to the beach tomorrow.

I decided to get things ready for tomorrows adventures and Sakari decided to do some drawings.

It looks like a my little pony, but I'm not sure if that's what she was going for or if it's just something she created in her head.

Kendras bf was "stuck" at the casino (he plays cards) and she found out he had entered himself in the tournament....which meant he would be out all night and either win big or lose a lot of money. The following day...we would learn that he lost about 2 grand that night. (He's a big gambler and wins a lot and loses a lot...he's always at the casino here in town, so yea, I'd venture to say he has a gambling problem). Just saying...

Off to bed we went with a wake up call scheduled for 7am tomorrow. We had decided we were going to Melia in Nassau and since it's not an actual excursion, but a place you just show up to, we weren't on any time restraints for getting there, but yet didn't want to waste the day and money do so. Yea, we'll sleep in until...7am. :D