Monday was get on the boat day. It was really fun to see the kids excitement when we drove up and saw the boat for the first time. They were amazed at how big it was. The name of our boat was Mariner of the Seas. Once we went through security we went and ate lunch in the dining room. Emilee was not thrilled with the choices and I could tell she was a little worried about what she was going to eat all week. Everyone else thought it was fun to have some new choices. Matthew got his fill of shrimp while we were on the boat.
We walked around and explored the ship and saw what there was to do. There was swimming pools, hot tubs, a flow rider, water slides, mini golf, basketball, ice skating, unlimited ice cream and pizza, a virtual reality trampoline, rock climbing wall, an arcade, spas, lounges, kid play areas, shows, dancing, tons! I am sure I am forgetting something. It was about time to report to our muster station and have the required evacuation drill after we checked everything out. Once that was done our room was ready and we went and found out where we were going to live for the week.
We had a suite so all five of us could stay in the same room. It had a double balcony so you could lounge in the sun chairs or sit at the table. We told the kids our bathroom would be tiny but it was actually really big. Double sinks and even a bathtub. Ryan and I had a room area we could close of with a curtain and the kids had a couch that turned into a bed and a roll away bed that they brought in for Matthew. We met our room attendant. He was from the Philippines and his name was Daryl. I don’t think that is his real name but I think they can use a more American name that is easy for people to say. He was very nice and the kids loved him. We brought him a present from Kansas City for Christmas. We gave him a Royals baseball towel. The kids thought it was awesome that he made their beds in the morning and got them ready for them at night. They of course loved the towel animals he left for them to find each night. He called me Ms. Annie which with accent sounded like ‘Ann-knee’ which always made me smile.
Penguin 
Elepahant 
Happy Elephant 
Sad Elephant 
Alligator on the pool deck 
Monkey
We went to dinner that night once we were settled in our room. We decided to go to the Hibachi Grill restaurant. The kids absolutely loved it. I have never heard Allison giggle and laugh with such abandon before. The chef did a great job making the food in front of us while entertaining us. When he threw food at the kids to catch in their mouth he insisted the girls keep trying until they caught it. He was throwing pieces of eggs and it took Allison about seven tries before she caught it. Everyone thought it was hilarious. It was a really fun dinner and ended up being one of the highlights for the kids while we were on the boat. After dinner Ryan went to have a massage and the kids and I went to the Ice Show-which was awesome and very well done. We had front row seats and could have touched the ice if we wanted to. Some of the skaters came and interacted with us during the show. There was fun music and silly acts and some cool tricks. After that we went to the ‘family’ comedy show, that we should have known would not be very family friendly comedy. That is one part of cruises that is lacking…they seem to have a hard time finding an actual funny comedian.
He turned the rice into a happy emoji. 
Day 2 on the boat was our day at sea. It was also Christmas Eve. It was a little windy which made it kind of chilly sometimes but overall it was still a nice day. We took the kids to breakfast at the Windjammer Cafe. We continued the nick name ‘Facejammer’ Kenny came up with on our cruise the year before. Endless pancakes, french toast and waffles do not disappoint.
While we were at the VRBO Matthew found out that he had made the school basketball team. He was pretty excited. Ryan and I must have said something about how people usually put on a few pounds on a cruise because there is so much food so when he woke up after the first night on the ship he had Ryan go work out with him so he didn’t lose his muscles or get soft while we were on vacation. He was caught doing push-ups and lunges at random times throughout the cruise.
After breakfast we tried out some of the activities. Matthew and Emilee did the arcade for a little bit. Ryan took the kids rock climbing while I checked out the Promenade to see what they had for shopping on the boat. Emilee did the water slides. We tried to convince Matthew to try out some of the teen activities but he wasn’t to interested. We settled at the pool deck for a bit. Ryan and I lounged, read books, took naps and visited while the kids switched back and fourth between swimming in the pool and soaking in the hot tub. The ice cream machine is right by the pool so they frequented it for an ice cream fill several times throughout the day too. Emilee found a friend she met at dinner the night before so she was running around with her having a blast. There was a belly flop competition that we watched and laughed at.
Virtual Reality Trampoline 
Allison and I did a napkin folding class together-we had a great time. 
Nap time! 
Emilee waiting in line for the slide. 
Ready for the pool. 
Rockin’ the pool deck. 
She iced for cookies and cream ice cream. They didn’t have that kind so they brought her ice cream and cookies. She was thrilled.
When we were done swimming we went back to the room to get ready for dinner. It was Christmas Eve and their fancy night at dinner. We all dressed up except for Matthew who wore shorts and a t-shirt. We ate in the dining hall. They were serving spaghetti so the girls were in heaven. Emilee was thrilled to have ‘normal’ food. After dinner we changed our clothes and went to the ice skating rink for a while. They had twenty minute skating sessions which we thought would be short but ended up being more than enough time. None of us are that graceful of skaters. Ryan and I can stay up and go forward or stop. That is about it. Matthew looks like a fish trying to walk on land. As athletic as he is, it was no help to him for ice skating. Allison stayed pretty close to the side. Emilee was very excited to go, after about five minutes on the ice and falling several times she said she was done and ice skating was not fun because it hurts to much. After finishing ice skating with luckily only a few bruises and not broken bones or missing fingers we stopped at the private suite lounge and found some hot chocolate. We took it back to our room and watched the water from the balcony for awhile. When we walked in our room we saw that Bubbit had joined us on our trip and was sitting in the little Charlie Brown Christmas Tree we brought with us. The girls were amazed that he had made it all the way there. We got in our matching Christmas pajamas and snuggled up and watched Angry Birds 2 together then went to bed.
Bubbit found us! 
Emilee about one minute before the crying and hating ice skating started. 
We all look so graceful…
