If the Caribbean to you evokes hours of sunbathing on the beach and pink frozen drinks the size of a small baby then let me pop your daydream bubble. We may have enjoyed a daily nap, but when I wasn’t working {yup I was teaching social media classes at a conference, learn why} we were once again scouting out unique adventures.
I know that Iceland got 7 posts because the words were flowing with reckless abandon and I had more to tell you than a blog post could ever capture. Our 7 day Caribbean cruise is probably not quite so noteworthy, minus our brush with Hurricane Joaquin.Here you can see our little boat next to that BIG storm.
We were supposed to be headed to Nassau which is the exact center of that big pink scary blob. Our captain decided during our stay in Tortola the day before that we would be taking a slightly longer path home and skipping that port stop. While the waters started out like glass, you can imagine they became a little rocky for the last two days as we pass through the outskirts.
Honestly, compared to the last cruise at sea conference this still wasn’t as rocky!
Now let’s get down to the fun stuff!! What did we do aboard the Norwegian Getaway and what active tours did we take.Like last time, my travels are now going to include a key post here and then links to more on AmandaCBrooks.com. Let’s start with some of the active traveling we did, our Caribbean Cruise Tours
JET BOATING IN TORTOLA
Since this was one of the more unique tours I came across during trip planning, let’s start here! Landing in Tortola you can first see that they are building like crazy to put up new shops for landing tourists, but beyond that it’s just mountains and little islands in the distance.
Snowmobiling in Iceland may have slightly traumatized me, I’ll never look at snow the same, but I wouldn’t let it defeat me! Knowing that David loves these adrenaline adventures, I set up this tour without a second thought. If he can hang around for hours while I run marathons, then I can hang on for dear life once in awhile.
Luckily we headed out on this tour prior to the Hurricane hitting full force and that meant calm waters in the bays and only slightly choppy water when we were island hoping.
Much like when we did zip lining in Costa Rica, there wasn’t a great deal of instruction or safety procedures going on here. Our guide who preferred to be called “Daddy”, shouted some instructions over the roar of the motor as the 12 of us onboard shrugged at each other and proceeded to stare at our beautiful surroundings.
Once we reached the island where our boats were docked, we signed our lives away on yet another waiver, then climbed aboard. This for me was much closer to riding a four wheeler than a snowmobile and pretty quickly I settled in to enjoying the ride over fearing an accident.To my chagrin the GoPro was DEAD, so being the blogger that I am, I whipped out my iPhone in the LifeProof case and attempted to snap photos with one hand while holding on for dear life with the other!
Over the course of two hours we zipped across the waters, stopping to snorkel above a shipwreck, swinging by multiple little islands with private villas and finally docking on the beaches again to soak in the water. While everyone had pretty free reign to zoom or put put or catch air on the waves, it didn’t matter the speed everyone was universally smiling from ear to ear. I would totally recommend this to everyone!
Think a #Caribbean cruise is just food and sun?! Checkout this active adventure! Click To TweetDavid rocked it out as our driver and managed to get in his speed on without me freaking out. The best way to describe the boats if you can’t get a feel for the size is a jet ski with a raft around it. Ha!
Checkout the short video I posted to really get a feel for what it was like to zip along these beautiful waters! Wanna see more of the insanity… like snorkeling?
Kayaking? Ropes courses?
Reviewing the Norwegian Getaway
Comparing cruise lines? (coming soon)
How I managed not to gain any weight when David did?!
Click on through to read more!! (DO it. Thanks!!)
Have you ever been on a cruise?
Favorite activity on the water?
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Carla
I always thought that a cruise would be boring. I'm not an adrenaline junkie like Dave – – but I really think seated eating seated eating seated eating and then home
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RunToTheFinish
OH my gosh you and the Tornado would tear it up!!! Checkout my post about the ship between the slides, the ropes course, the shows, the massive kids area it would be non-stop for her for sure! Plus the port stops. I admit to being surprised myself after the first one of how much goes on! http://amandacbrooks.com/norwegian-getaway-review…
My recent post Adventures of the Caribbean: Snorkeling, Jet Boats, Rope Courses
Talk Less, Say More
Oh man! This sounds like a blast! I have to admit, I'm a bit water shy (I'm not the most confident swimmer so I get freaked out by water activities if I think I may not be able to hold my own in a worst case scenario..) BUT I would love to try kayaking or stand up paddle boarding!
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Christine
That sounds like a fantastic day on vacation! I definitely tend to be the type of person who is more interested in activities on a cruise. I'm a former swimmer so the water usually doesn't intimidate me much…unless there are scary creatures swimming. My mom and I did a catamaran day-trip when we were on a cruise a few years ago. We stopped to snorkel and docked to have lunch at a gorgeous resort. It was a really great day!
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RunToTheFinish
See water doesn't scare me, I was a swimmer too, just the motion of the ocean ha!!
My recent post Adventures of the Caribbean: Hurricanes, Snorkeling, Jet Boats, Rope Courses
MCM Mama Runs
Cruising isn't my thing (and Icelend and Alaska are more my preferred environments), but it looks like you guys had a fabulous time.
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Laura
You've been having exciting adventure after exciting adventure! The storm would have freaked me out… glad it wasn't too rocky.
whostardis
Those cruise pictures look so beautiful! I have only been on one and it was to Alaska. Best experience of my life so far. I dont regret one penny we spent for that trip and I have only said that one other time (umm italy you complete me).
RunToTheFinish
Alaska was way more amazing than I anticipated! It was expensive, but I agree totally worth it.
My recent post Adventures of the Caribbean: Hurricanes, Snorkeling, Jet Boats, Rope Courses
Allie
So glad the waters were not too rough!!! I also follow my husband and just hang on for dear life. Most water sports scare me as well as snorkeling and scuba diving. Basically, cruise are a nightmare for me! :-) I'll live though your posts and videos…
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RunToTheFinish
Yup I could see how this would not be your cup of tea. Let's plan a racecation instead, yes?!
My recent post Adventures of the Caribbean: Hurricanes, Snorkeling, Jet Boats, Rope Courses
Tami @ Have My Cake
That looks so beautiful!!! I've only ever been snorkeling one time (on my honeymoon) and I'm dying to go again!!!
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Kathy McElhaney
We've done 2 cruises with #3 booked for next May. I wasn't sure if I would like it, but ended up loving it!
Favorite water activity is definitely kayaking, but I've gone snorkeling and jet skiing.
Shannon
Soooo pretty! I love how beautiful the water is. I haven't been on a cruise since I was like 16 with my parents. As I get older, I'm definitely more interested in doing one again at some point soon. I'd love to try snorkeling too.
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giannanicole22
So excited I am going on my first cruise in December out of Port Canaveral!!! I am looking forward to an awesome week!
RunToTheFinish
wohooo!! where are you going?? we did a little Bahama cruise out of there and enjoyed the weekend.
My recent post Adventures of the Caribbean: Hurricanes, Snorkeling, Jet Boats, Rope Courses
giannanicole22
I am going on Norwegian – and doing a 7 day western caribbean cruise! 4 ports and should be a great trip that I am definitely looking forward to.
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wendy
i've never been on a cruise! I've heard it can be fun, but I'm more of a destination person–I like to explore. Your pictures are amazing!
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Erin
Fun :) I love cruising. So many opportunities to go new places and try new things.
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angienewton
I have never been on a cruise but would love to go. I don't Kev could do it although ever since I bought him Psi bands for a whale watching tour, he's done great. Works for car sickness too.
Looking forward to keeping up with your adventures. We love snorkeling. That's pretty much all we do in Roatan. Going back for the 3rd time in 2016, it's amazing.