Carnival Panorama

We went straight from the Science Center to the cruise harbor! There were some delays getting on the boat because of wind making the gangplanks sway. Luckily, Grumpa had packed his pockets with wooden tops he made. They were a huge hit in the waiting area! The kids took them home and still bring them out every now and then. 

 

Everyone wanted a turn on Breezy's sweet wheels

The boat was great! The kids loved the giant toys and putt putt course on the top deck, even if it was always super windy. All of the kids enjoyed going to the kids camp most days. There was a schedule of events and we let them pick what they wanted to go to. 

The only downside was that sometimes Isaac had to take turns with the soccer pool balls. It was a challenge keeping him from inserting himself in everyone else's games. 

Elliot and Aaron braved the sky ride! It was a dangling bike track that went all the way around the boat. Elliot got stuck partway through, and one of the workers had to ride out and push him the rest of the way. He was weirdly embarrassed about it and denied it ever happened. There was also a ropes course that Max and I joined them on. 

Mimi and Grumpa's room had a balcony

Just look at how happy these two windswept Kimberlys are! These two are such kindred spirits. 

This moment was fantasized about for months in advance.

The food is always a major highlight of the cruise, and this year it did not disappoint!

The desert options at dinner caused the kids' heads to explode a little bit. Elliot ordered a shrimp cocktail pretty much every night and even tried frog legs!

I'm not sure what Blake is holding, but it looks fancy! I love sitting around the dinner table talking to the fam and trying all sorts of cool foods. The kids brought drawstring backpacks full of Christmas present activity books from Mimi to help them make it through the long dinners. 

Isaac was in it for the fruit platters

A great shot of Max fulfilling the tradition of seeing if he is now cultured enough to like blue cheese

Annie was a big fan of Morgan's polaroid camera

Tea party time!

Cheers!

We were on the boat for New Years! 

Modeling our complimentary New Years accessories. 

We had a good time teasing dad for being so dedicated to his New Year's hat. 

Side note- the on board entertainment was super good! Previous cruises always had music in the shows that seemed to be more from my parent's generation, but this show was throwing out song after song that I love- Coldplay, Evanescence, so many more. I fully acknowledge that this means that I am now the old one. 

Look at these fancy folks! 

On New Years Eve, we retired to our rooms to play games after the fancy dinner and show. There wasn't really much for kids at midnight, so we put them to bed a bit early. Aaron and I ventured up to the party on the deck with my parents for the countdown to midnight. 

Max and Morgan taught Isaac this "relaxing" pose and it melts my heart every time

One day Isaac woke up really early, so the two of us got to go on a sunrise walk around the deck. He's such a happy little buddy.

One very memorable event on the boat was that some of us went on the "Behind the Scenes" on-board excursion. It was FASCINATING. It was a tour that lasted several hours and took us to the kitchens, crew quarters and dining area, navigation deck, engine room, and show deck. My highlights were the discussion on the onboard desalinator and a demo from the ship's watermelon artist. He whipped out an elaborate bird carved into a watermelon in a crazy short amount of time!