On our way to Progresso!!

Hi everyone, sorry I didn't get to update the blog yesterday, it was a semi lazy day with the ship returning to Mobile.  The process for our back to back cruise was fairly easy.  They had us pack our bags, since we had a new stateroom for the second cruise, then we went to the information desk at 10am, and they walked us off the ship, through customs, then right back on, took about half an hour total.  Then, unlike passengers who were just getting onboard, we were allowed to go to our new stateroom, normally you can't go to your room till 1:30pm.  It felt kinda naughty opening the big black doors that they close the passenger quarters off with till they're ready.  Our stateroom stewart meet us in the hall by our cabin, knew who we were and let us in our room, our luggage was already there waiting for us.  We hung out in the room till about 11:30 or so, then decided to go hit the pool before the ship got super loaded up.  We were swimming when the first load of passengers started coming on board.  The pool was really nice, and empty for once since we were the only ones in it.  The water is salt water, but we knew that and it was still nice to get in for a swim.  Once they opened the water slide I took a trip down it, was very fast, Willie also went down it.  Lots of fun.

After swimming we went back to the room and changed, then back up to the lido deck to meet some people that I had been chatting with on the Carnival message boards.  We actually had a gift exchange and I got a really nice handmade pen, and Willie got a set of coasters.  Then it was time for the Muster Drill, this time we were in a lounge at the back of the ship, last time we just had to go to the pool.  This one was a bit longer than last weeks, we have a new cruise director onboard and they had us walk out onto deck to our lifeboat station, didn't have to do that last week.  Still it's nicer than it used to be as you don't have to bring your lifejacket with you.

We went to supper at around 8:30, different dining room this time.  We have 3 other couples at our table this week, 1 from Memphis, 1 from Mobile, and 1 from New Orleans.

After supper Willie went to do laundry, since we did the two back to back cruise and didn't want a ton of extra clothes with us it worked well that way.  Most people don't realize that there are several laundries for the passengers on the ship, and if you become a platinum cruise, which is 10 cruises with Carnival, you get complemetary laundry service.

We both slept in this morning, got up around 10:30, head up to the lido deck for breakfast and are kinda taking another lazy day at sea.  Right now I'm sitting in the lounge along the Elation Way typing this up.  The ocean is calm, but the skys are getting a littly cloudy.  I saw on the weather that one of the storm systems is pushing into Puerto Rico, and then moving into Cuba which isn't real far from us, so we might get some rainshowers.

Not sure what we'll do this evening as we saw the main show last week.  It is formal night though, so we'll get dressed up and go have some lobster for supper.  We're scheduled to arrive in Progresso at 7am in the morning and we'll be getting off the ship around 9, taking a tour from a company called AutoProgresso, and we're going into the capital city of Meridia, then visiting one of the Mayan ruins and swimming in a cenote, so it should be another awesome day.

Attached are some pics from the last few days, and hopefully I'll post some more tommorrow.

Our trip is now half over, and we're missing home, but still having fun.  We'll see everyone in a few days, so till then keep checking back for more updates from us here on the Elation.

Ron and Connie, couple who were at our table on the first cruise

Our main and assistant waiters

Dining room staff singing on the last night on our first cruise

Lighthouse on the way out of Mobile

 

 

Sunset over the Gulf

Splash I made coming out of the water slide!!