Travels of the Rennhack family
Carnival DestinyshipStateroom: 7215 · OS SUITE (Oceanview with Verandah)
Firsts: first time in the Cayman Islands
We boarded the Carnival Destiny in Miami, Kathy, Darrell, Lisa and I, back on board for the second leg of the cruise. Up in the cabin a welcome-aboard gift was waiting: a bottle of champagne on ice next to a wrapped basket of fruit and chocolates.
A day at sea aboard the Carnival Destiny, no port on the schedule, just time on the ship. In the evening I was out watching the sun go down over open water, the sky fading through gold as it dropped to the horizon.
The Carnival Destiny came into Ocho Rios this morning, Jamaica's coast and mountains rising out of the sea as we sailed in, and we were tied up at the pier by mid-morning.
Ashore, Kathy, Darrell and Lisa and I went to Dunn's River Falls. We joined the long human chain of guests holding hands up through the falls, with guides in blue shirts stationed on the rocks to help everyone through the fastest water. Partway up we stopped on a wooden platform for a picture with the falls behind us, and again near the top to wave for another.
Where the climb finishes there is a sign congratulating everyone who makes it up the World Famous Dunn's River Falls, and we had our picture taken there too, still wet from the climb.
Back aboard the Destiny that afternoon we stood at the rail and looked out over Ocho Rios.
The Carnival Destiny called at Grand Cayman today. We tendered in to George Town and spent the afternoon on the pier at The Shops, in and out of a Harley-Davidson store, past jewelers and t-shirt stalls, stopping for guava ice cream at one of the stands. We had our picture taken at a yellow "Welcome to the Cayman Islands" sign and studied a big painted road map of the island posted near the shops.
By late afternoon we were back aboard, watching George Town slide past from the rail as we sailed away, along with a harbor tug working alongside us and one of the island's pirate-style tour ships anchored in the bay. Back in the cabin, a note on the laundry bag read, "We'll do the laundry, you do the lounging."
That evening we stopped by the ship's photo shop, where they had a costumed pirate character on hand for photos. We had a few portraits taken, Kathy and I together, one of them with the pirate posing alongside us.
A day at sea aboard the Carnival Destiny. After Grand Cayman, this one had nothing on the itinerary but open water, the ship working its way back toward Miami. We slowed down, stayed on board, and let the last full day of the cruise pass quietly before it was time to think about getting home.
Back to the real world after 10 fabulous days in the Caribbean. Time to fly back to the snow.
The Carnival Destiny returned to Miami this morning. We were up early enough to watch the skyline come into view before sunrise, the last look at the coast before it was time to pack up and go.
Ashore, Kathy, Darrell and Lisa and I flew from Fort Lauderdale to Detroit, then drove home from Detroit. Ten nights and two cruises after we set out, we were back in Coloma.
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