Here we are on the second day of Asa's 40th Birthday Cruise! When we woke up Tuesday morning we were docked at one of my favorite places- Coco Cay! Let's talk Liberty of the Seas for a second. It's very much like Independence (which Asa and I went on in September and December), but there's a few things different. Weird things. Like less seating places- at the Schooner Bar, tables at the Pool Deck- at Karaoke (which is on Deck 3 in this tiny little bar instead of the big Star Lounge). There were also less shuffleboard stations. It was weird, and maybe I only noticed because this go around the ship was full. Still, I missed things like the sinks to wash your hands at the buffet and the little playground we like to climb up at night when nobody else is around. But Independence- Liberty- whichever Royal Carribbean ship you're taking, you'll stop at Royal's private island: Coco Cay. And it's the best.
But before I went getting off the ship, I swung by Windjammer for the buffet. With the drink package, I got a mimosa every morning. Mimosa's and Mega Breakfast! (That is what I deem the buffet breakfast where you can get pancakes, french toast, AND waffles (though, I'd like to note the toppings this go around were weak. Just syrup and whipped cream.) Anyway, I popped up to breakfast while Asa slept and watched everyone trickle in. Then, I gathered my group and headed off the ship.
Some of the Sattler's had already headed off the ship, but we had Garrett tagging along with us and Jake.
Our first stop was Chill Island. Chill Island is all included- and it's where you'll find the snorkeling. Asa and I are seasoned Coco Cay veterans (ok, so we'd been there twice before), but we told everyone if we wanted good snorkeling, we needed to get off the boat early and head there. So when we found Cort lounging by the hammocks instead of out on the beach by the rocks where the snorkeling is good, we were like 'What are you even doing here?"
So we gathered are stuff and headed out to water, we were some of the first people out there which always means good things for snorkeling.
So, the first time we were at Coco Cay, there were lots of Jellyfish, and some regualar fish, and possibly a shark (that we didn't actually lay eyes on, but we did hear about it). The second time, the water was so rough, they wouldn't let us out past the first line of rocks. This time we had a lovely sunny day with calm seas, so we finally got to do an Asa bucketlist item: swim out to the floating platforms they have on Chill Island. Some are less than a swim than others- but we all made it out to the first one. (You can zoom in and see Cort and mom waving to us from back at the rocks).
We took up the whole platform for awhile, and we all jumped in the water, it made for some nice pictures with the boat in the background I love my waterproof fanny pack so much, it's how I got my phone out there for pictures. In fact, I rave about it enough, I'm now loaning it out to friends when they go cruising (apparently a lot of us in the neighborhood go cruising- it must be a Florida thing).
After we had seen a lot of fish, we headed back on the island for some pool time. We wanted to get to the pool bar before it got crowded, since actually had the drink package this time. We all had the Coco Loco, the drink of the island in alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties.
Then, Asa, Hayden, Garrett and Calib were off on an excursion. With a free onboard credit from playing Pop Slots, Calib and Asa had gotten the jet ski tour for free. Adding someone to ride on the back was very inexpensive, so Hayden rode on the back of Asa's, while Calib had Garrett on his. I don't have any pictures of the whole thing, but everyone loved it. They spent an hour driving around, even stopped at a sandbar where their guide pulled a giant starfish out of the water as a show and tell type of thing. Most of them claimed it was their favorite part of the day. Gwen, mom, Jake and I headed over to South Beach.
But, then I lost to mom. Lame.
But because of our timing, we were right there when the Snack Shack opens. And any good Royal Carribbean cruiser knows that the Snack Shack is where you can get yourself some mozzerella sticks and funnel cakes (which you're going to want to get drizzled with caramel, of course). I showed Gwen the ropes, and the Holly, Cort, Uncle Emmett and Aunt Patti (who slept in a bit, since they were dealing with the time change) joined us.
By now it was time for lunch, the buffet had opened, and I gave everyone my pro tip for not waiting in line (the same thing is often on all sides/a couple of different places on the line- but most people congregate toward one side). Oh, and I also made sure everyone knew their was guacamole at the salsa bar. I myself made some fajita fries, which were awesome. And I washed it down with a peice of bbq chicken. It's not Sandy Toes good, but it's decent.
I will say this time the brownies were really disappointing. Gwen and I tried them at the snack shack and the buffet.. and they were just... bad. It tasted floury. And weird. We were not fans.
Right after lunch, we all kind fo split up- so you're going to get a variation of pictures here. Hayden was most excited to get back on the ship to see how empty it was (we told him it really empties out mid-day Coco Cay day). This picture he took when he got back on board of the Royal Promenade is proof.
Asa and Jake took to relaxing in their beach chairs until they decided along with Holly, Calib and Garrett they were going to swim out to the furthest platform. Gwen and I inadvertently stayed behind and snorkled along the rocks more. But, we weren't sad about missing the platform because we saw lots of stingrays- swimming, sitting at the bottom, just hanging out. Some babies, a couple of giant ones. It was pretty crazy, I'd never snorkled with sting rays in the wild before! It was super cool.
Before I headed back to the ship (Asa too likes to be on the ship when there's nobody there), I gave my mom a quick snorkeling lesson. She's going to Australia in the fall with Clint, Jess and Olivia so she wants to learn how to do it. We had a decent first lesson, though I think some pool practice will help her. Calib was ready to head back at this point too, so he came along with me and Asa back onto Liberty.
Of course, as soon as we were back on the ship, some drinks were in order. We swung by some bar and then headed up to the pool.
Meanwhile, mom, Aunt Patti and Uncle Emmett enjoyed lounging around the island..
...and Cort and Holly found a swim up bar in the ocean I had no idea existed. Turns out three visits to Coco Cay and I don't know everything about the place. I was bummed I missed this one- especially since we had the drink package.
Back on the ship though, we were getting more drinks at the pool bar..
...and then drinking them IN the pool. It was hard to use the adults only pool, because it was often crowded, and when it wasn't Garrett couldn't get in it (I think 16 and up). But let me tell you, some Sangria in a cruise ship pool, specifically made for drinking (It has bar stools and everything!), that's where it's at.
We got out of the pool and changed, and then headed for our afternoon coffee. That's where we discovered Garrett had gotten back on the ship, and was now double fisting caffinated beverages. That kid had to have had caffiene withdrawl headaches after we got off the ship. He had SO MANY frappacinos.
Meanwhile, upstairs, the older crowd had gotten back on the boat and was getting some milkshakes from Johnny Rockets.
While we were sitting with Garrett, we ran into mom who was heading back to her room. Asa and Garrett (and pretty much everyone else) were off to take naps, so I did a little walking about the ship with mom- we spied Cort and Holly at the adult pool, and went to get a birdseye view of Coco Cay.
Although at some point, everyone must have made their way to the back of the boat, because there's a whole lot of Coco Cay pictures from the same place in the shared google photos album.
After everyone got up from their naps, we all headed to trivia at the Schooner Bar. I'm not sure anyone liked it as much as me and Asa (we love a good trivia night), but most evenings we got people on board. Jake was there to help with any alcohol related questions, and to serve as our bartender. He just kept going up and bringing us back drinks.
But drinks and trivia isn't a bad way to pre-game for dinner.
At dinner on Tuesday I ended up at the boys table. Garrett lost his napkin, and instead was using the table cloth, basically tucked into his pants. So classy.
Menawhile, we made fun of Gwen for sitting with all the grown ups- though, to be fair had we done a kids table and grown up table, I would have had to flip flop places with Gwen and eaten my french onion soup with much less obscenties and inapropriate jokes flying around.
Garrett is always fun to sit next to. In my "trying new things" I ordered carrot cake. Though, it was a bit disappointing. I always think I'll like carrot cake, and I never do.
Our dinner routine was usually the same: trivia, main dining room, cafe promenade for after dinner coffees for those coffee drinkers.. second dessert for those of us who aren't.
And then after all that... shenannigans. Because what's a vacation with the Waterstrauts without shenanigans.
Tonights shenanigans included an old man cane for Asa (my dad was given it for his 60th birthday, and now it's been passed down). The honing horn was a nice touch.
Most nights we tried to catch the sunset- at the request of Jake, usually at the helipad. Every night we hoped to get one without clouds- but it never quite worked out for us.
Cue everyone's very similar sunset pictures. Whose is whose? The world may never know.
And then we went to the show., Saturday Night Fever. And people, it was TERRIBLE. Jake ducked out. Gwen and Hayden left early for the teen silent disco, and the rest of us were sitting there like 'how is this a thing?' Just awful. Not the singers or dancers, they were crazy good- but the plot, the dilogue-- all of it was just terrible. At this point, with the underwhelming comic the night before and the terrible show on Tuesday I was ready to bail on shows all together. (Spoiler alert: Cort kept us powering through).
I wake of the terrible show that sucked up like two hours, we needed something to brighten our spirits. Even though we never had dinner at Windjammer, we always made the trip up to Deck 11 to see if they had any good desserts. Usually I'm on my own on the dessert quest, but not when Cort's family is around. Still, I was hoping for crepes or a chocolate fountain. We made sure to check every night. And, when there wasn't any, we made do with cakes and trifles and jello.
A couple of evenings we caught the piano player in the Schooner Bar. But at this point I needed some fresh air, so Asa and I went to the window outside. Note us back there on deck 4. You couldn't really hear the piano, but you could tell what he was playing based on everyone singing along. It was a fun little game.
After the older crowd headed to bed. Jake wanted to get in some gambling, so we had to ditch Garrett for some casino time. Jake made friends with the ladies at the table, ended up up 20 bucks, while Cort lost his $20. Asa and I said they were all crazy and just watched and told them what to do. Who knew roulette was such a fun spectator sport?
After the casino we swung up to Sorrentos to grab some pizza. I had told everyone how great it is to take some drinks and snacks out on the helipad and look up at the night sky. I also gave them the pro tip that if you ask for a whole pizza, they're likely to give it to you. Gwen's mind was blown. Look at fun Aunt Corinne with her plate of pizza.
Unfortunately, when we got out to the helipad, someone was closing the gates and told us it was closed. He said it always closes, though we'd never seen such a thing on Independence- or even so much as gates to close-, though we later spotted a sign that said it would be closed if it got too windy. There we were with drinks and pizza, so we had to think fast. I brought up Deck 14 overlooking the pool. It's basically like one grand platau up there, so we headed up, plopped down with our pizza and drinks and hung out. It was super fun. Our late night pizza parties are among my fondest memories on this trip. We all talked about our favorite part of the day too- per Waterstraut dinner tradition.
Obviously, there's a slew of moon pictures from up there that night as well.
Now, one of the things I wanted to do on the ship was see them change the floor plates in the elevator for the different days of the week. We hadn't realized we missed midnight while we were up on the top deck, and by the time we got back in the elevators, it was past midnight and they had all been changed. Bummer.
That was it for Day 2 on Liberty of the Seas.
Next up: A day at sea!
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