I am a teacher who loves to travel. Come explore with me on your time off! I hope to offer tips and family friendly fun for your vacation.
“People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck
This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. I can’t wait to share all my adventures with you.
This resort was like a dream for the kids! We are so grateful we were able to make it happen. I think we are all wishing we had at least 2 more days there.
Getting there.
Getting to your destination is an adventure in itself sometimes. I am not an early riser except for vacation days. 3am came pretty dang early for me as we set off on our family vacation to the Bahamas. I did not have coffee in the morning so those who know me….well know. This made for a long day (and long 3 hour layover) I slept on the plane thanks to my handy airplane pillow that has a matching blanket. It goes with me on all long flights. I never used to sleep on planes, but I now know that I feel a little more rested when we get there if I do.
This blog entry will read a little like a diary. I wanted to make sure to get all the good stuff in. So if you ever wanted to read someones diary….have at it.
Atlantis Arrival Day Sunday
The kids were pretty excited when we got off the plane. There was a steel drum band playing in the immigration and customs area. It just set the tone. (and so did the stamps in the passports) It was incredibly easy to get our luggage and find our pre- arranged transportation over to Atlantis. We wanted to surprise the kids by getting a limo. They were super pumped until the lady said that the limo was rerouted and would take a very long time to get there. We all piled into a suburban and made our way to Paradise Island.
Atlantis!
Finally! Our hotel choice is The Reef. It is made up of family suites that have small kitchens and living rooms. It is the best choice for a family of 6. I have to say that all the hotels on property look amazing. This is our first vacation here so I can only imagine the others are just as nice. Once we arrived and checked in we found our suite. Two bedrooms each with their own luxurious bathrooms and a nice size living area with a kitchen and large fridge! Perfect. I will say that we asked for one of the bedrooms to have 2 queen beds, but it didn’t. Apparently, this is just a request and happens all the time. We made due with pull out beds and extra blankets. Beds are for sleeping anyway and we were all just ready for the beautiful blue water. Swimsuits on. Out the door.
The Reef has it’s own private beach and pool. This is extra nice on days when there are cruise ships in port. I counted 3 docked in port from my balcony. It was nearly 4:30 when we got out to the beach. The amazing turquoise/green water greeted us and my heart was so happy when I got my first glance of it. The kids put their stuff down on the first chair they could find and ran out. We swam for a long while looking for fish and sea shells. It was a nice evening and not too hot because the sun was going down, a perfect beginning to our family vacation! At last hunger struck and the kids needed dinner. We ventured off to the Murray’s deli and the Marina Pizzeria near the Marina Village. (great pizza and family sized) Thankfully our resort has shuttles. This place is HUGE! Dinner, shuttle back to room, bed! This was a very full day.
Day 1 Monday
We woke up to heavy rain and thunderstorms this morning, so the kids were bummed. But there was good news. I had been warned by some folks I know about how expensive the food is and to pack snacks or buy some at a local grocery. I am so glad I chose breakfast items. My kids grabbed their pop tarts and cereal bags and our favorite family game UNO! This would definitely be my Pro Tip! Bring UNO (or your family favorite game) My kids were provided with fun on a rainy morning and will most likely break it out a few more times on the trip. Togethereness can be fun!
After the rain cleared I think we were given a gift. Swimsuits on, we set out to explore the Aquaventure Waterpark. This is an amazing waterpark filled with a lazy river, rapids river and several pools and slides. One slide in particular goes through a shark tunnel. Here is the gift….once the rain had stopped it was empty! Perfect timing. Hubby and the kids rode endless times. I had a prime spot near the pool and was “home base” (no thank you to the shark slides) It was an amazing day! We grabbed lunch at one of the nearby food stands, (there are so many to choose from) then headed back for more waterpark fun.
The evening brought us some new adventures. My son met a kiddo while standing in line who lives just up the road in Galveston. They hit it off and this kiddo convinced mine to join him at the teen club Rush that night. DONE! He had an amazing time. They have video games and organized games for the kids to play. We picked him up a sweaty mess with a big smile on his face. This allowed us to spend time with the 3 oldest. We explored the Marina Village and ate some bites at Pirate Republic Taproom. This place was fun. We sat in a little nook on the patio and chatted. Hubby and I had some local brews and the kids enjoyed their sodas. We ordered pretzel bites and hot wings. Fun little noshes. The Marina Village did not seem crowded to me. We were able to take a stroll around looking at the shops and planning our next meal at the Burger Shack for the next night.
Another adventure-Gambling. The legal drinking and gambling age in The Bahamas is 18. Guess how old my oldest kid is. Hubby and I took said 18 year old to her first gambling experience. It was fun showing her the casino. Hubby plays blackjack. She watched him play a hand or two then found me at the penny slots. I do not like to gamble big. I know it is entertainment and that’s it. So. $20 for each of us brought plenty of entertainment. Dear Daughter and I had lots of laughs at winning and losing. I had a few high moments and ultimately came home with my $20 plus 9 whole cents extra. This was some fun nighttime entertainment.
Day Two Tuesday
Today is beach day! When I woke up I noticed 5 ships in port. I have to admit I love looking at those huge ships! We found that our resort is actually an excursion because of the waterpark and therefore thought our private beach was enough for today. The kids had fun using the snorkel gear. We brought our own but they do sell it at the gift shop. The schools of fish were fun to watch and the boys threw a Frisbee in the water. There are no umbrellas on this beach. Instead the chairs have little canopy’s attached to them. They are a hot commodity I tell you! We were lucky enough to find at least two for our fairer skinned family members and parked the rest of the chairs under a shady palm tree. It was a fun half day.
Upon return to our room we found there was no water! I had heard a noise early in the morning. It actually jolted me out of bed. Come to find out there were 2 floors with a water line leak. Sandy kids were not happy. So we did the best we could and changed for some lunch. (hungry people are not happy people) Hubby found a fun spot at the Royal Hotel in the center of the resort. Shark Bites Bar and Grill is surrounded by…you guessed it…a shark lagoon. Our lunch consisted of lots of different things from Fettuccini Alfredo to sandwiches. I had the chicken tacos. They were great. So was my Pina Colada! The best part of lunch was actually after lunch. Under the restaurant is the predator reef. The aquarium takes you through a winding path of different types of fish including some really beautiful sharks. It was the perfect thing to do after our fun lunch. Atlantis is filled with little surprises like this. Stingrays, sea turtles and other marine fish are all around for your viewing pleasure. If you are in the area of the Royal hotel and need to cool off go find The Dig. It is an amazing underground aquarium. We could not believe our eyes at the HUGE Manta Ray in there. You can also take a snorkeling adventure with all of those fish or come at different times of the day to see them be fed. After exploring and relaxing the evening brought us back to the Marina to the Burger Shack. It is exactly like it sounds. This restaurant has a good variety of burgers and shakes. They are big burgers! My oldest daughter and I decided to split one and I am glad we did! It was a fun night as we strolled along the Marina. The boats/yachts docked there were amazing to look at in the evening and there was a live band playing music. It wasn’t as crowded as I always anticipate things to be so it made for a lovely evening.
Day 3 Wednesday Aquapark (yes again)
The best thing about Atlantis is that you can stay the entire time at the resort and still have fun and be entertained. We have not purposely ventured off property because the kids are simply having too much fun here. Our day has been filled by water slides, River Rapids and sno cones! There were plenty of folks from the 4 cruise ships docked at port today! I am glad we got up at a fairly decent time to get a good home base spot by the pool complete with umbrellas!
July 10th is the Bahamas Independence Day! How lucky we were to basically have a front row seat at our lunch table to the very lively parade that came by our pool area. There were musicians and dancers dressed in traditional dress. This made us even more excited for tonight. There will be a big celebration in the Royal Lobby. I can tell that the people here are very proud of their heritage and want to share that love with everyone. The Bahamians are very welcoming people!
I am seasoned enough at traveling with kids to know that you need a break after lunch. It’s hot out! Once we got to our suite to take a little snooze we had quite another adventure…..a fire alarm. It went on what seemed like forever. Hubby and youngest kiddo were stuck down in the lobby (at Starbucks) and the other 3 and myself were waiting out further instructions in our room. It was crazy, but finally stopped. One never knows what to do in these situations so I just followed the instructions on the siren call out and “waited for further instructions” on my patio, looking at the dreamy turquoise water.
Day 4 Thursday Beach Day
As you can see it is easy to split days into two. Half spent on the beach or waterpark and half doing all the fun stuff there is to do at the resort. I must say this helps with keeping the kids out of the sun too much. We did not have one sunburnt kid! Hubby woke up early in the morning and set up our prime beach spot. It was lovely to sit there until the rains came. The lifeguards were very cautious and would not let us in the water. We sat and walked until it was really time to go in. This morning was pretty lazy and probably needed. It was great though because we made plans to go back to The Dig before Hubby and oldest son had an appointment to swim with the sharks! (yes you heard me right) Atlantis is a little like Disney. You have to check out all the hotels because they each have something to offer. We found a great little ice cream place at the Coral Hotel thanks to my friend and travel agent Amy Fields. We went, ate and enjoyed! There were so many flavors to choose from and the kids had fun tasting everything. The setting was super cute as well.
Sharks.
At Atlantis you can book all kinds of excursions. From swimming with the dolphins to playing with sea lions. My oldest son really wanted to swim with sharks! His mom was not so thrilled with is. After some convincing on how safe it was and that this type of shark was pretty harmless I gave the go ahead. The best part about this was that the rest of us could watch their adventure. The guys got a bit of training, donned wet suits and helmets to breathe under water and got in. It was fun to watch the people going down the slide in the shark tank while the guys were having an amazing experience!
Day 5 Friday ….the last day
We decided to do something we have never done before! We chartered a boat for half the day to do some water exploring. It was very easy to rent and the concierge was helpful in finding a good company. We went with Born Free Charters. It was fabulous and easy to find right across from the Marina (next to Margaritaville) Captain Bobo and his First Mate Freddy were absolutely amazing. They asked what we wanted to do and made it happen! Swimming with sea turtles, fishing and snorkeling were on the agenda. Everyone caught during this excursion. My oldest son caught a shark and youngest a Barracuda. We were all in shock and it made the day even more memorable. Swimming with sea turtles was amazing. They are faster than you think. The whole day was what memories are made of and we know we will hear about that shark for the next 30 years!
Atlantis Pro Tips
Things to bring: Snacks, sunscreen (it’s expensive there) snorkel gear, underwater camera, plastic bags for wet clothes on the way home
Things to do before you leave : make dinner reservations if you want a nicer dinner out, excursion reservations
Places to explore: The Dig, The Predator Reef, Aquaventure, Marina Village, the beach
Helpful info:
Walk to places you know you can get to easily (it’s hot) otherwise take the shuttle between hotels. It doesn’t take long and it’s fun to see the beautiful landscapes around the property.
Use the map! Atlantis is a huge place. We used the map to find places to eat and things to do. It helped us plan our day and what to bring with us.
Get up early and go. Atlantis is popular with cruise ships. Get up fairly early and start your day.
Wanna Book or wanna look? https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/
Need a great travel agent? Amy is my go to gal for suggestions on where to go and how to get there. https://www.facebook.com/AmysTotalTravel/
Need some water adventure? https://bornfreefishing.com/
Cruising is by far my favorite way to travel. I am pretty loyal to Royal Caribbean, but have gone on Carnival ships too. Basically, whatever ship wants to pamper me I will be on! Our last family cruise was on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. It was amazing. A city on the seas is what my kids called it. There were so many things to do that our kids never got bored. We saw shows, played games and played in the pool on sea days. We visited the ports of Labadee, Haiti, San Juan, Puerto Rico and St Maarten. This was the kids first cruise so we made sure to get all the fun in that they could handle.
What I learned from cruising with kids. Food!
Ice cream is the key to life. So are the soda packages. My kids thought they were the Kings and Queens of the ocean with both of these perks. I found the “Sprinkles” ice cream machine right away once we boarded. Also…. kids will try new foods if they can order something else. I made a deal with the kids that if they tried new things and they didn’t like it they could order another entree. This is a definite bonus of cruising. My children, who are pizza and chicken finger lovers, tried octopus and lobster. My daughter fell in love with Strawberry bisque and one kid found a new love of honey dew melon. Not super strange things, but new to them! By the way…the waiters in the main dining rooms are amazing. They knew all the kids names and what they liked. Each night my son was given his favorite ice cream dessert without even having to ask. The delight in his eyes was priceless.
At sea days are more than just laying on the lido deck!
We had so many adventures. While my kids did not take part in Adventure Ocean kids clubs ( I Have heard they are fabulous)we did have a packed schedule each day. Playing basketball, mini golf and a rousing game of table tennis were staples each day. The Oasis is lucky to have a Flowrider. A Flowrider is like a surfing adventure on a boat! Now, if you have never been surfing here is your chance. Both of the boys tested their luck and skills….around 20 times. Wipe outs were plenty, but it was one of the highlights of the trip!
Do you like rock climbing? Zip Lining? You guessed it….it’s available onboard the ship. High Adventure at it’s finest and it is included in the price of your cruise.
Sea Nights are fun too.
While the days are spent in the sun, the nights are just as fun. While on board we saw an amazing ice show and the Broadway hit Cats! Matter of fact the kids saw Cats twice. Hubby and I were able to sneak away to adult shows and sip cocktails at the Rising Tide elevator bar linking the Royal Promenade on deck 5 with the shady, plant-filled Central Park on deck 8. One of the best performances was the water show at the Aqua Theatre . I could not believe that those talented performers were diving from such heights in a small space. It was amazing.
Shore Excursions/Ports of Call
Labadee, Haiti our First Port
This is Royal Caribbean’s own private island. I had been there before years ago when my husband and I were on the Navigator of the Seas. I remembered it to be relaxing and fun. Royal Caribbean has done some major renovations to the island that make it a hit with families. The addition of a water park, dragon coaster and other activities break up the time sitting on the beach, but are fun for the kids. I will say we did have to pay for some of these extra items, but it was ok with us since it added to our overall fun day. There was no lack of chairs to sit in and shade if you needed it. Food is included in this stop since it is part of the cruise company. A good selection of bbq, hamburgers, sides and fresh fruit. Hubby and I enjoyed our Labadoozie drink (think frozen tropical deliciousness)and the kids could choose from sodas and fruit punches.
St Maarten Second Port
Our stateroom had balcony. I love sitting on the balcony as we are pulling away from or into ports. I also love just sitting out there when I know we are already there in the wee early mornings and it is quiet before the loads of cruise passengers are getting off the boat ready for their fun day. For this stop we had all agreed on taking a swim with the dolphins. This is something my oldest son had requested and we were all glad he did. Once we had our breakfast and gathered the thousand things we needed for the day were were off the ship and waiting in line with the others for our excursion. We booked this excursion through Royal Caribbean. They make it fast and easy to get where you need to be once you are in port. This is a fairly small port if I remember correctly and we didn’t have any trouble getting to where we needed to be. This excursion was taking us to another location on the island by boat. It was longer that I had expected and the water was rough that day. This caused for lots of people feeling sea sick including one of my kiddos. Needless to say we were all glad to get to the aquatic center where the dolphins were. We had great instructors and we all took turns holding on the the dolphin fins and they swam through the water. The kids were all smiles the entire time. Warning: if you do any kind of dolphin swim (probably anywhere) prepare to pay for pictures. We knew this would happen ahead of time as the companies do not allow you to take your own. I will say our family picture is on my entryway table as we speak and I smile at it each time I walk by, so worth it. After our dolphin encounter we loaded up on the boat and were taken to a small island for some beach fun. Our kids had never been in such blue water. It was fun watching them look for things under the water and snorkel a bit. Overall it was a successful day for us all. We ALL did something new and have some really great memories to think back on.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
I was excited that this was a stop on our cruise. I love Puerto Rico. Being married to an airline pilot does have it’s privileges and I have been lucky enough to have been there before. We did not do an excursion per say on this stop. We didn’t play on the beach or in the water. We did explore the old town with its shops and beautiful architecture. The port is in a great location. The only issue we encountered was the time. Some of the shops and places to eat were not open when we got there. Fine by us. We walked into the pretty town square and looked around. I knew (thank goodness) that we could hop on the Trolly that takes you all over town for free. This was fun for the kids and gave us a chance to really see the town. I wanted to show the kids some history so the San Juan National Historic sites were on our agenda. We stopped at Castillo San Cristoball a beautiful fort overlooking the sea built between 1634-1790. There were artifacts and other interesting things for the kids to explore. After we saw all we could there (and it was soooo hot that day) we hopped on the Trolly again for Castillo San Felipe del Morro, another fortification and unit of the San Juan National Historic Sites. In both places you can take a guided tour or explore yourself with the provided maps. If you go to San Juan….these are the must sees in my opinion. Hungry for lunch we stopped off to treat the kids to a Pina Colada. (no rum of course) In our last trip we discovered one of the 2 places that are claimed to be the birthplace of the Pina Colada. I am not an expert so I don’t know which one was the first, I just know my drink was amazing. Barrachina in Old San Juan is where we go. They have a good menu that has something for everyone and a Pina Colada that is refreshing. If you visit the restrooms, say hi to the sweet birds on the patio. The kids enjoyed looking and talking to them. If you want to learn how to make a Pina Colada like the on at Barrachina go to https://www.thekitchn.com/barrachina-pina-colada-puerto-rico-recipe-262410?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=tracking&utm_campaign=inline-img-share I had found this web site when trying to recreate them at home when I was missing my cruising life. San Juan did not disappoint.
Cruising through Life….one Port at a time!
I can’t wait for the next cruise. There are so many extras and pampering that make a teacher/mom feels like they are really on vacation!
Pro Tips: Bring some comforts and conveniences from home
Does all of this sound good to you? Check out http://royalcaribbean.com/ to book a cruise you won’t forget.
I have always admired Samantha Brown. She is like my spirit animal. My husband and I have been following her travels for the whole 22 years of our marriage. I am starting this blog to kind of reign all my travel knowledge in. To share it like Samantha Brown does. ( but on a much smaller scale)
I am a 4th grade teacher. I have 4 kids and a husband who is a pilot. When people hear I am a pilot’s wife they think I am traveling all the time. I wish! My teacher schedule doesn’t permit year round travel, but when I am off…..that’s when the magic happens.
My goal for this blog is basically to share knowledge. I hope to provide tips and fun things to do. I have a big family. It is hard to travel with a big family!! (and expensive) I have learned a few things along the way that help save money and help make the overall experience fun.
Thanks for checking my blog out….this is definitely an adventure in itself!
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A Teacher's Time Off