Road Trip Diaries – Honeymoon Edition!!
So, I used to write these all the time when I danced at Georgia and got to go on fabulous road trips with the UGA football team. The return of these musings will be short-lived, but I figured you’d want the details of our honeymoon, and this might just be the easiest way for us to get those stories and pictures to you…
We need to start by saying that we so appreciate you. When we left the reception Saturday night, we were a bit overwhelmed. We know how blessed we truly are to have had the love and support of so many family and friends. We do not take for granted your presence both on Saturday and in our lives, as we felt incredible love that helped to make our special day absolutely perfect. We have also been proud to call you family and friends. Over the last week and a half, we have had numerous compliments on the rich hospitality, warm generosity, and all around goodness that all of our guests were welcomed with. People want to be a part of our family. You will never know how much that really does mean to us.
Without further delay, here goes…
Day 1: Sunday, 4/6
In our newly wedded bliss, we totally forgot to fill up the gas tank of our rental car before returning it. Car renters know how big of a mistake that is…yeah, it’s expensive!! We should have known we were in for a great adventure after that…
The airport was really crowded Sunday morning (spring break travelers?), and we barely made it to our terminal before our plane was scheduled to depart. Notice I said “scheduled.” That’s right, a delay. For those of you keeping up with the news, we flew American Airlines. Needless to say, that was the first of a series of delays. At first, our 8:15am flight was delayed until 10am, then 12pm, then 1pm. During this time, Andrew and I became Tetris-champs…every time the two of us have had to fly somewhere, one of our flights is delayed, etc. We know how to kill time in an airport. AA offered only a vague excuse for the delay and insincere apologies. The rumors flew, however, that it had to do with the security compliance issue. As you can imagine, about 80% of the people on this plane were flying to Miami to catch cruise ships in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, so people were not happy…and hungry! We did, however, meet a delightful couple (Brett and Lisa). They were celebrating their 10 year anniversary on our same ship. Celebrity initially said we had to be on the ship by 3:30pm, but extended that to 4 for us (there were 6 of us in all on that flight and ship). Anyway, we finally boarded the plane at 1pm. Then we sat there…for 45 minutes. Apparently, our pilot forgot to file the flight plan, so we weren’t allowed to take off until he fixed that. I’ve never actually been fearful of an angry (and hungry) mob…until then! We assumed the worst and began accepting the reality that we may miss at least some of our honeymoon cruise.
We finally took off around 2pm, landing in Miami at 4pm. As soon as we landed, everyone got on the phone checking to see if they could still get on their ship. Some of the cruise lines were less accommodating than Celebrity…we were told we had until 4:30 to get on the boat. A Celebrity representative met the six of us at the terminal, and she told us to start running. We literally RAN through the Miami airport out to the taxis. The third couple with us was an elderly couple, so while I kept up with the rep, Andrew tried to help make sure the elderly couple was still behind us…I think we were afraid they’d have a heart attack right there with all the heavy breathing. The Celebrity rep had pulled a taxi-van over to cart us all to the pier. She asked our driver if he could make a 45 minute drive in 30 minutes…these were stressful times. Anyway, our driver went fast…and we finally got to Fort Lauderdale a little after 4:30. We saw our ship’s smoke, heard it’s horn blowing…yet still, there was hope. There was a man waiting for us on a walkie-talkie. We fell out of the packed van, and he stopped us. He asked a question to an unknown official, and had enough of an answer. His direction: “Run!” So, you’re supposed to go through customs procedures and security to get on ships. We did none of that; we just kept running (Forest Gump, anyone?) At one point, a security lady stopped me. She was talking to someone on the ship via phone. She said to me, “Don’t wait for those people behind you. If the Captain sees at least two of you running, maybe he’ll hold the ship for all of you.” That was all Andrew and I needed. This is the stuff for movies, people!! As the most agile of the six, Andrew tosses up our two carry-on bags and carries them like footballs. He’s running as fast as he can, my flip-flop feet pattering quickly after him.
We ran all the way down the pier, across the gangway nearly collapsing on the other side of the door. Apparently, our Captain was generous. All six of us made it onto the boat. Before we’d given the ship security people our passports, the boat was sailing away… How else would it work out for us, right?
Keep in mind; I did not mention that we went to baggage claim at the Miami airport. That’s because we didn’t. The Celebrity rep told us we didn’t have time if we wanted to be on the ship. She gave us the AA’s number and instructed us to call them and have our bags shipped to our first port of call: San Juan, Puerto Rico (on Tuesday). AA was not helpful at all! BUT, once we were able to stop dealing with them and start dealing with Celebrity, we felt like we were truly on our honeymoon. The ship’s concierge, Lindsay (our new best friend) took over from there. She took our bag numbers and used her more influential sway with AA to get our bags to us Tuesday when we stopped at San Juan. In fact, she had them shipped, picked them up, and delivered them to our room. She even arranged for Andrew and Brett to have tux rentals for free so we wouldn’t miss our first formal dinner Monday night. Brett and Lisa (obviously more prepared than we) had one change of clothes. Andrew had a pair of tennis shoes, all our paperwork, and cash. I had an entire suitcase full of shoes and my formal dresses. Really, it was quite random – we’ll pack better next time. We had nothing…But, Lindsay arranged for us to have free laundry service so that we would at least have clean underwear in the mornings before breakfast.
By the time we finally got to our room with what little luggage we had, we were oh so happy to see our champagne (special thanks to the Humphries family for that!). We enjoyed it, for sure…and it couldn’t have come at a more frazzled time for us. :) We spent the rest of the evening orienting ourselves to the ship. Andrew and I had a fabulous dinner on the back deck of the boat – very tasty and an incredible view. We skipped the formal dining that evening considering our state of mind and attire…We did, however, visit the gift shop buying t-shirts and shorts to get us through the next few days…Lindsay promised to have AA comp our purchases. I also had my first of 10 spa treatments – a milk and honey bath. The tub was gigantic, and wonderfully relaxing.
Day 2: Monday, 4/7
After breakfast, we donned our Celebrity cruises paraphernalia (really, they should have paid us b/c we were walking merchandise models) and attended the banquet for all honeymooners and anniversary celebrators. They had cake and champagne and were searching for the most recently wedded couple and the longest wedded couple. Clearly, we are not yet a part of the 65+ years club, but we did however win the prize (another bottle of champagne) for newest newly-wed by 30 minutes. We sort of became celebrities after those two episodes. Everyone kept asking us about our luggage and our champagne. :) Without bathing suits, we sort of wandered around some more enjoying the warm sun and fabulous views. I had my 2 hours in the spa that afternoon: a fabulous aromatherapy massage. We had our first formal dinner that night. I had to help make Drew’s rented tux fit because the waist adjusters were broken and the best tux they had was for a man much fatter than my hubby. All I had to work with? Bobby pins. But I made it work…Lisa was able to wear one of my formal dresses, so it all worked out well (luggage-less and all). We ate in the late seating each night (8:30) with Brett and Lisa. These things are events: FIVE COURSES (appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, and dessert). And fabulous food!! After dinner, we went to the theatre and saw a musical medley: some Phantom of the Opera, some West Side Story, etc. The production itself was mediocre, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Day 3: Tuesday, 4/8
We arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the early afternoon (yes, more morning spa treatments for me!). Wearing freshly laundered clothes (still Celebrity Cruises models), we headed out for our Bacardi Rum Distillery tour. After a bus ride and city tour, we got to visit the museum-like portion of the original Bacardi distillery. It was actually very cool to learn about the original inventors of the rum, the original processes, statistics, and the development of all the variations. Yes, we did get “free” samples at the end of the tour. Andrew LOVED the mojito and I enjoyed my Bacardi Razz and sprite cocktail. After the tour (and a much needed umbrella purchase), we visited an old fort on the coast. You’ll see pictures of those – very cool place!
We also had to visit this place called Senor Frogs. Apparently, it’s a well-known party club. It was a cool place – very “happenin” for 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon. We had a drink in “the yard,” which is their signature class. Andrew’s got a thing for those signature, souvenir glasses. Their tagline? Save water; drink tequila.
And most excitingly, our bags were waiting for us when we got back to the ship!
Andrew went to the Casino to try out his luck on the slot machines and won $50 off $10, but I lost $40 of it later on, so we called it quits with the blasted place.
Day 4 – Wednesday, 4/9
When we woke up Wednesday morning, we were already in the lovely St. Thomas. After more morning treatments, we set out for our St. Thomas adventure. We had scheduled a submarine dive, and headed there first. We rode in a boat out to a smaller island where the sub actually dove. I had to pee, and was told that the boat potty was my only option for the next 2 hours. Amidst the choppy waters, ridiculous speed of the boat, and a military flushing system (it involves suction and a pump), I braved the miniature bathroom. No, I did NOT pee on myself or my clothing. I was one of the lucky ones. We enjoyed the submarine dive. It was a bit crowded, but we got to see a shark, colorful fish, and the coral reefs on the bottom of the Caribbean. I believe that our final depth was somewhere around 95 feet…I sort of lost my stomach on the way up though (the only time I got seasick at all), and did not enjoy the boat ride back to land. I was also hungry and put Andrew on the “Feed Katy Project.” He’s gotten good at it…knows how to spot a restaurant even in faraway place. We ate lunch at a local place…the food was good, but Andrew had the BEST nachos of his life. I’m serious. Ask him about them. After visiting some shops, we had to head back to our ship. Our stay in St. Thomas was much too short, but the island certainly lived up to the expectations we had from those who’ve gone before us. We’re already making plans to go back there one day so we can visit the beaches and enjoy it more.
After dinner (remember, this is an event, so we’re talking 10:30), we went to the line dancing party. Mostly, I danced, though Brett tried a few with me. My darling husband can hear rhythm really well, but can’t connect his brain to his feet quickly enough. We’ll work on it. It was great fun while it lasted.
Day 5 – Thursday, 4/10
We woke up in Casa de Campo (Dominican Republic) Thursday morning. In San Juan and St. Thomas, we were given a lot of freedom as to what we did and where we went. That was NOT the case here. We were escorted to a tour bus in a gated area. With locked doors, our driver and tour guide took us through he slums. This was seriously a third world country experience, poverty I haven’t seen since I went to Mexico. Meat, vegetables, and fruit are sold in open markets. No one wears gloves. Andrew said it sort of reminded him of Bagdad, though not quite as bad. That truly made us thankful for what we do have…In DR, we toured an ancient cave. It’s been renovated for tourists, but was still a very cool site. We only have postcards of this place because pictures are not allowed. The structures were beautiful though, and our guide had lots of info about the Taino Indians who first inhabited it (and the rest of the islands). After the caves, we were taken to a shopping center well separated from the rest of the natives (noticing a trend?). They had lots of touristy type souvenirs you could buy, which we did.
Thursday night was our second formal dinner. Since Drew had his dress blues back, we were able to really impress everyone with our good looks. Really, Andrew shook a lot of hands and we talked politics with lots of people. Andrew and Brett had two full lobster dinners…that’s right, TWO! I don’t know how they can eat that much…
Again, we went to show. This one was really not that good. I think I may be a bit critical because lots of people raved about a signer or dancer. I was unimpressed, though entertained. On the second formal night of each cruise, the chef staff goes nuts and creates a visual spectacle with all the food they serve. It’s really quite something. There was something odd about standing in line to take pictures of a buffet. You could only eat from the buffet after 30 minutes of picture taking time. I didn’t make that up, I promise.
We tried to party at the “nightclub” after that, but the crowd of dancers consisted of those who were too inebriated to care that they looked like idiots or their preference in companions was questionable (was that PC enough?). We did a lot of people watching (and making fun)…
Day 6 – Friday, 4/11
Andrew got to spend the morning with me in the spa – we both had massages, and we were both told that our stress levels were strangely high for our youth. I’m sorry…we work with criminals and teenagers all day long – would you expect less?
After visiting the glorious St. Thomas, we didn’t think we’d find a more beautiful place on this planet. We were wrong. Labadee, Haiti was a slice of Heaven. I know what you’re thinking…Haiti?? Yes, Haiti. Though the main part of the island may be experiencing some political unrest, there is a small coved section that Celebrity Cruises owns. They have made it a paradise. It’s nothing but soft white sandy beaches, blue/green water, and gorgeous landscapes. They even had pavilions made for serving and eating food.
In Haiti, Andrew signed us up for the Dragon Flight Line…it’s the highest flight line in the Caribbean. You even have to go through a safety course and sign your life away before riding this thing. Supposedly, you reach speeds of 40 miles per hour. Drew and I were ready to go, so we weaseled our way to the front. The line (of the five) you actually go down is based on your weight/size. So, I’m on line one and Drew’s on four. I must have been on the kids’ line because even though I left the platform first and Andrew probably left a good 15 or 20 seconds after me, he beat me to the bottom. Lesson learned? Gain more weight to achieve a higher speed…
After the flight line, we had lunch and did what you’re supposed to do on an island paradise in Haiti – we slept under the hot sun, visited all the different beaches in search of the best one, and played in the water. It was glorious…exactly what we needed here towards the end of an exciting week!
We skipped the formal dining that night (we were all five-course meal-ed out). Instead we opted for the sushi/stir fry alternative dining. I was also beginning to feel an allergy attack coming on, so we called it a night early…
Day 7: Saturday, 4/12
I was definitely sick Saturday morning…I think it was all the aromatherapy from the spa (seriously!). Just to say we’d been everywhere on the ship, we trek down to the medical ward onboard to over-pay for allergy medicine. I didn’t feel a ton better, but the lady at the spa (who called me by name, of course) offered to give both of us free passes to the Persian Gardens for the day. This place was ridiculous…lots of saunas, heated benches, and steam rooms. I felt a little better after that, and we spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool. Then, we had to pack – boo! As soon as dinner was over, we had to set our packed bags (minus carry-ons) outside our rooms for dis-embarkation the next morning. That was a sad moment. To commemorate our fabulous week, Brett and Lisa came to our room and we finished our champagne (yes, it took us all week to drink 2 bottles)…
Day 8 – Sunday, 4/13
Sunday was a long day because after a long process of getting off the ship, we spent the entire day in the Miami airport, me doped up on medicine. Apparently, I was fairly useless because Andrew had to carry all of our bags through customs and the airport…I don’t remember much of that day, though I do know I slept on the floor for quite some time. And I remember thinking how I could liver forever without stepping foot inside the Miami airport again. We finally arrived in Atlanta before 9pm.
Life Lessons We Learned on our Honeymoon…
1. Don’t go on a cruise unless you can handle some serious eating. Everywhere you turn, you will find tasty appetizers, meals, and desserts ready for you to stuff your face. The proportions are huge too…It’s actually overwhelming!
2. You can have too many spa treatments in one week – 10 is too many. I told Andrew that if they exfoliated my skin one more time, it was going to fall off. I’m not joking.
3. Some people really are miserable human beings! Andrew and I are simple people. It took a lot of hard work for us to enjoy so luxurious a honeymoon…and we were grateful to all those people who worked for us on the ship. However, there were quite a few people who were rude, argumentative, disrespectful, unappreciative, and hateful whenever they could be. It’s ridiculous, really. It also explains why both of us have jobs…
4. There is a difference between a trip and a vacation. We truly had a vacation – relaxation, visiting new places, exploring, sight-seeing, and enjoying down time. A lot of people we came into contact with were on a trip – there was more of an agenda, they worked harder (like the ones who brought kids), and they seemed to enjoy themselves and each other very little. We’re going to hold that lesson close because we enjoyed our vacation!
We had a perfect wedding day and a glorious honeymoon, but we were ready to come home by the end to start our real lives together. Don’t get me wrong – work was hard to go back to, and we’re already planning our next vacation…We’re just excited to be living as a married couple, and we look forward to the journey that awaits us.
Andrew and Katy
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