As I type this I am floating along in the Pacific Ocean, aboard the Norwegian Star, a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, heading back to Los Angeles in the final days of a fabulously relaxing, sun and fun-filled vacation.
Our four-year-old is frolicking in the kids club (her request) while I am supervising my older two (ages six and eight years) finishing up some homework from days missed at school. My husband is catching up on years of leisure reading in the next room. Once homework is complete, I’ll be heading for the spa and the kids will get their choice of activities: pool, kids club, movie or games.
So far this vacation has held three days of DisneyLand, beach time, encounters with monkeys, parrots, dolphins, whales, seals, water slides, high-action sailing on an America’s Cup racing cup sailboat, many hours of hot tubs, sightseeing in Mexico, ice cream cones, vacation drinks (adult and kid-versions), live music and karaoke, massages, a magic show and delicious food, just to name a few things.
Nearly four years ago we enjoyed a cruise from Barcelona with our three children, then three months, almost three years and four years of age. On that cruise we pre-paid a deposit for another trip and neglected to book the next trip until we were called in the final hours before our deposit was to be forfeited.
I am so thankful that we took that reminder phone call and were able to book this trip.
We invited another family to join us and the combination of fantastic activities, luxurious accommodation and great friends has made it an amazing trip. I hate to admit it, but I think my spring break from the internet has also enhanced our family time. We’ve really focused on each other without much distraction and it has been wonderful.
In the coming days I’ll share more about our 10 days in California and the Mexican Riviera, along with a few things I learned on the trip.
Tomorrow I’ll start with my comparison of DisneyLand vs. DisneyWorld (If I can dig up the notes from 2004, maybe I’ll talk about Disney Paris, too, but I doubt it.) and then we’ll go from the magic to the Mexican Riviera. See ya then!
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