It's CRUISIN' Time! (1st part of Day 1)

WARNING: - I took 1200 pics in 7 days - this doesn't include Ks camera or pics that other people in our group took...so get ready for pic overload!

SUNDAY - October 13, 2013...let's go! After a semi restful night, everyone was bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to get the show on the road. They waited nearly 3 1/2 years for this experience and it was finally here - FINALLY! 

 L was so excited...he could taste it!

 We had 16 in our group! My dad and his wife, Ronda, Tim's mom and Niels, my brother and his family and then us...it was AWESOME!! Here we are...loading up the first shuttle of the morning from the hotel to the cruise terminal...my dad is super excited...can't you tell?! Tim is just wondering when he'll get to eat next!

 K...showing off her best "I'm sexy and I know it" pose as we ride to the terminal!

 We crossed the Mississippi River bridge and look what we see....the WHALE TALE of our ship - super awesome! The kids were instantly excited - more than they had been all week - let vacation mode begin!

 Mississippi River bridge(s) - it was a beautiful day!

 Our shuttle driver was awesome...he loaded 14 of us - bags included - plus himself - into a 12 passenger van. Pretty sure there was a law or two being broken there - but hey...we didn't care, we were on vacation! We arrived safely at the terminal and it was going to be just a matter of moments (ok - a few more hours) until we were on board!

Here is Dad and Ronda...they are all checked in and waiting to board. They crack me up - they wore matching shirts almost every day - so cute!

 M and cousin Lita are so happy to see each other again...even if they have been waiting in the RED chairs (that was our holding area) for an hour!

 This is L doing his version of the "Thriller" dance. They played music while we waited and of course - with everyone being in a great mood and excited - we sang along and danced! Some poor couple sat in 2 chairs right in the middle of our large group. I don't know if they were entertained or if they regretted their decision - but L had them laughing from time to time!!

 ooo...it's finally our turn to walk the plank! Here, we are crossing the bridge from the terminal to the ship....yipee!!

 N has his FIRST "sail & sign" card - it's blue, to show that this is his first cruise!

 M has her card too - she's ready to see what cruisin' is all about!

 L is happy to show me his card as well! I will be happy when I get a hole punched in it and put on a lanyard so he doesn't loose it! Can't get on/off the ship or in your cabin without this little piece of plastic!

K is special - her card is RED! This shows that she has some experience and that this is cruise #2 for her - welcome back to the CONQUEST miss K!

 Like many people - once we are on the ship - we seek out LUNCH!! Tim ALWAYS gets a Ruben sandwich - ALWAYS...and that's just what he did this time!

 L is ready to eat!

 MMMMM...good lunch - on a ship...on the Mississippi River...in New Orleans...this is the life!

 Upon arrival in our cabins, Tim and I had these pins and a certificate for a free drink as a "welcome back". K had one too - not the pin, just the coupon! We also had 2 certificates that said "happy birthday" from Tim's Dad - Rod and Norma. They gave us each a ship credit to enjoy on our trip as birthday gifts. What an awesome surprise...we were very grateful for it too!!

 One of the first things that the kids wanted to do was jump in! You can imagine their surprise when they discovered that the pools are filled with SALT WATER! They didn't care!

 L is soaking up the sun and we haven't even left port yet! He knows how this cruisin' thing works!

We are so happy to be on the Conquest with our family. After saving their money for 3 years - the kids were able to pay their own passage and I think that helped them enjoy this journey a little more!