We just returned from a cruise! Here is Mark on the shuttle on the way to the port. We went on Carnival Elation and had a great time. We went to the Eastern Carribean and had 4 Ports we visted. Mom and Dad watched to boys for us and Amy helped. We were so lucky to be able to do this with the help of my family.

Mark got to hold my bag, he really got to start this vacation out in style. We walked all around the ship before our rooms were ready. It was smallish ship, but it was big enough to get lost in. We had a fabulous time, and of course I gained about a million pounds.

Elation way, a long corridor with all the dance clubs and public rooms. Pretty.

Here we are before sailing (but after eating, of course)

Mark in front of the mini-golf course. I thought we might use this, but we didn't. We did find an a/c vent on this deck so we could stand outside without dying of heat.

Miami is there in the background. It was so humid - which I am not used to.

Of course Mark tests out the bed and the finds a sports channel ASAP

Mark really boozed it up this cruise. Ha, ha. He had a soda card (all the soda you can drink) and he had quite a time getting the bar tenders to pay attention to him.

Looking down at the piano bar. Our room is on this level.

The long, long hall.

Waiting in the Cole Porter Lounge - where we went to see the karaoke at night - for our tender to Half Moon Cay, an island owned by the cruise company.

Me in the water in our first port - Half Moon Cay. This should have been our last stop so were could really appreciate how beautiful this beach is.

We went on a glass bottom boat ride for our very first excursion. It was fabulous.

Mark enjoying the view.

The driver threw handfuls of food into the water and the fish really went for it.

Watching the fish.

On glass bottom boat.

It is fairly obvious, but I'll tell you anyway that this is me parasailing.

All done.

Mark and Jen.

Mark getting serious with his eggs and sausage.

Sooo sleepy from all the food.

The slide and pool we never had a desire to try out.

Mark waiting to be entertained.

Waiting to go ashore for our tour.

Looking at St. Thomas from the ship.

Picking out fins.

Getting snorkel gear.

Waiting to go snorkeling. Mark got burned at Half Moon Cay, so he wore this shirt in the water, and let me tell you, sea water and sweat to not make a pretty combination.

On the way to snorkeling in St. Thomas, we were supposed to go Snuba diving (not a typo) but the waves were too rough for the training so we just snorkeled, it was really pretty though. We went to Coki Beach.

"Do we have to go in this shop too?"

One of the cute little alley of shops in St. Thomas.

Mark so enjoyed the shopping.

St. Thomas, our ship is the farthest on the left.

St. Thomas

In the cab where we learned not to pay the cab driver until after he takes you to your destination.

Here we are at night, cute.

Puerto Rico. We just shopped here, so of course this island was not a hit with Mark. In this area, around the information center, there were many tables of sales people selling stuff they had made. I got many necklaces from a lady who was making them as fast as she could.

Mark.

Shopping.

In front of a fountain.

Our ship in the background.

Gala Buffet.

Here we are in Grand Turks. It was very pretty and just getting developed. Here is Mark in front of Margaritaville (of course they had a band playing it often) We did snorkeling and a stingray adventure.

Margaritaville.

Mark in front of the Margaritaville pool, it was really big and nice.

Mark and I on Grand Turks.

One of the guys who ran the Reef and Rays tour. These stingrays were really neat, we got to feed them and hold them. And yes, this was just the week after Steve Irwin died. One girl had on a Steve t-shirt that said "Crikey!" on the back.

Mark was having toe problems from his first pair of flippers. It was an ongoing problem/

Our last towel animal. It is a monkey and it scared me, I didn't see it until I walked into it.