Lili's post about the tour crashing.

The story of how we ended up crashing a boat tour 

Once we got off the cruise ship, Fei, Jia, and I took a shuttle to the Mazatlan port where we immediately began asking how to get to Stone Island. The staff directed us toward the exit gate of the ship port, and told us that it would be about a 10 minute walk to the Stone Island ferry terminal if we kept left. They said that it’ll be unmissable as there is nothing but houses on the walk there. We followed their directions and eventually made it to a small fork in the road. One road went straight and had a small sign on the fence and the other went left to a large restaurant/boat dock. Many busses and taxis followed the left road, and 

so we decided to follow the majority of the crowd of traffic. As we came upon the restaurant, a group of Carnival passengers were just getting off a bus, and were hurriedly walking past the restaurant toward a waiting ferry at the dock. We joined the crowd of people not really knowing where else to go, thinking that this must be the ferry to get to Stone Island. There was an employee on the dock counting the number of people getting onto the ferry, so I quickly stopped to confirm if this ferry would take us to Stone Island. He said, “yes,” and so Fei, Jia, and I climbed the steps onto the awaiting ferry.  

15 minutes into the journey, the crew of the ship started asking and passing out free drinks. We then noticed that there was a small bar set up at the back, and uniformed people that looked like guides for a tour. At that moment, Fei and I sinkingly realized that this was indeed not a ferry to Stone Island, but instead an open bar boat tour of Mazatlan that (excluding us) these Carnival passengers had paid to be here as part of a sightseeing tour package. 

Once the shock wore off, we were then absolutely thrilled to realize that we were on an open bar boat, and that we had completely unknowingly crashed a tour! We laughed about the situation for the rest of our hour-long tour whilst sipping on our free pop drinks ;) 

We jokingly asked each other if we should just follow the people back onto their tour bus once we got back to the dock. As honestly, the tour guides hadn’t seemed to mind us or had even noticed we had joined their group haha :) 

The ending of the story? We asked our way to the Stone Island ferry terminal. It was a small yellow building on the other side of the restaurant/boat dock we were at now. Now can you guess it? Yup, it was a walk back to the fork in the road where we were originally supposed to go straight. The small sign on the fence? Said “Ferry terminal to Stone Island.” It was pretty easy from there on in our journey. 

New Years Eve Pictures.

On the way home New Years Eve.

We left the port at 8:30 and stopped at the hotel at 8. Long uneventful day. Heavy rains, dark skies, flooding and a few accidents slowing us down. We made it to Redding a couple hours away from the goal. 

Jia said a tearful goodbye to the boyfriend. She got out of the car and said it's been 12 hours since I talked to him! The first thing she did in the hotel is video chat him. Haha. We haven't seen her since. Eric brought her some food.  

It's New Years Eve. Available food was scarce. We ended up with Subway and drinks and chips from an am/pm. We're super fancy tonight ;) 

This morning we ate breakfast in the ships dining room. When Kai's plate was put down he yelled at the waiter that his waffle was too small. Yikes. I thought we were in for another day with him but nope. He ate. Pulled his own suitcase. No tears. He followed directions through disembarkment. Patiently waited while Eric repacked the van. Then once we got going he dug around in his little busy bag and found a Santa KitKat and was delighted. He napped. Played on his ds and phone. We didn't have to put a single movie on. He must be excited to be heading home.

As if there hasn't been enough illness, I now have a minor cough and laryngitis setting in. The family is likely happy about that. Haha.  

I booked a ferry for the way home. I'd like to complain about the ferries again but I'm resisting and practicing being more grateful. I'm grateful there is a boat to get us to the island. Swimming would be cold.

I can't wait to see the critters!  

Happy New Years Everyone.

Last day words.

We're all sad to leave the Panarama. I asked the kids what they would prefer for a next holiday. Road trip, fly somewhere or a cruise. Cruise won out.

After we picked up Kai we went to the atrium to listen to the electric violin trio. Lili and then Fei found us there. We made dinner plans. So sad to leave the dinning room. So much fun in there. Luk tried frog legs and liked them. Gag. 

Being Gold cruisers we were all entitled to a fancy drink on the last night. Liquor for adults, frozen for kids.

Fei mentioned the straw was sweet then Kai said yes it's good. We all looked over and he was happily eating the straw. It was cardboard. Eric asked him to spit it out and he refused 

while chewing and swallowing frantically. Arg. We were 

letting him do kids night for the last party but it was decided right then to just get him to bed instead. He also grabbed Eric's dinner bun and crammed it all in his mouth. Yelled out loud that he had poop in his bum again. Declared the peach soup disgusting and tried to push the bowl away. Eric caught it before it hit the glasses. Then he demanded the waiter take it away. We all thought the cold soup was lovely. He was attempting to eat with his hands. Tried to push his dinner plate away, crashed the glasses but they didn't topple. Then Luk tried talking to him and he was yelling "I know Luk" but he didn't and then loudly told everyone that he had poop in his bum. Eric took him to the washroom.  

He didn't. Interesting dinner conversation for the others though. Jia asking why he's like that. They don't notice as much at home. He isn't quite as over the top as he has been on this holiday. He crashed in a few minutes. Luk went to a show with the girls. Eric and I organized and packed in relative peace, aside from Kai's snoring. Kai is definitely 

overstimulated. He'll be so happy to be home.

Jia has made three friends and is particularly sad to leave Kyle. She showed us his picture tonight. He lives near Disneyland. I suggested she stay in touch we could see him again. So sweet. She 

has been extremely independent on the boat while minding all the rules. It's been amazing to watch.

Lili is off with her 18 to 20 group tonight. Not sure where Fei is. They went to a Broadway show and the comedy club tonight. They've really enjoyed all the 

entertainment on board.

There are SOOO many things I wanted to do but ran out of time. Our 

bathing suits didn't get wet. No hot tubbing. We didn't play mini golf, or play pool or fuzeball. I didn't go in the library. Do any of the cooking classes. Gamble in the casino or play bingo for cruises.  

I didn't even talk to a future cruise planner. We didn't eat in most of the restaurants. Missed all of the movies.

The universe owes us a do over. I'm grateful for the all the good parts. We were 

together, fun was had and we survived. 

Lili is convinced we had norovirus. Maybe. 

I did read three chapters of Santa Cruise. The novel I downloaded. It was boring.

 I doubt I'll bother finishing it.

We're off the boat early tomorrow.

Last Day

Suess brunch words.

Oh boy. Quite the morning. We forgot we had booked and paid until the morning. Eric and I were both feeling dizzy and way off but also hungry so we rallied. Luk wasn't thrilled but we were all enjoying seeing Kai so excited.

Kai was thrilled with it all. The first thing they served was a yogurt and jello parfait. The jello was strawberry syrup and the yogurt was warm. I suggested we all don't eat it. Kai wanted it badly, it was colorful. At the same time Thing 1 and Thing 2 are going around the room stealing things. Thing 2 took Kai's patfait. He lost it. Fought her, grabbed it forcefully back, spilling in her hair and pulling some of her hair out at the same time and one swoop had the spoon in his other hand and was cramming heaping mouthfuls in like a starving animal. Now, Kai is a really weird little kid, like almost all of the time, but this was much worse than most of what we see. Poor Thing 2 had no clue what to do. The photographer tried getting a photo but Kai wouldn't stop cramming the sickening parfait in. We're not usually embarrassed by Kai anymore, he's been breaking us in for years, back when he was still a cute little kid. Today was NOT cute. All three of us were really embarrassed. Even worse, we were seated with another family. I made the mistake of looking over. Total shock. Eric and Luk said they couldn't look.

It's hard to come back from that.  

Kai ate with his head down and an arm wrapped around his plate and wouldn't look up at the happenings until he was done. Luk, Eric and I just nibbled. Then got out of there 1st. Luk asked if Kai really believed Thing 2 was for real stealing his food. Obviously. My guess is there is love lost for Thing 2 now.

Eric took Kai to kids club. Then Luk, Eric and I wandered around. We found icecream swans, found some ducks and ended up on the lanai in the big round beds to enjoy the wind and fresh air.

Suess Brunch

Jia's delayed Formal dinner night.

I'm still too sick to venture out. Lili won't come near the germs. She napped in the main lobby today to avoid being in their room today. Sad and funny. Jia wasn't feeling food so took a nibble of each thing. Eric's guts are churning. Kai felt off because the boat is really rocking and rolling. Luk and Fei enjoyed dinner. We're a sad mess.

Jia's 13th Birthday

It was brutal to be so sick and miss her big day. This photo looks like some fun was had after all at Stone Island. Happy 13th Birthday Jia!!

Cabo San Lucas

Mazatlan