The great thing about having an aft balcony is you get to see both the sunset and the sunrise during the cruise.
Hello Grand Cayman!
We met up with Nick and Kate at 7:00 a.m. so we could get in line for the first tender off the ship at 7:15. We needed to get to our excursion by 8:00 so we wanted to allow plenty of time.
On the tender boat.
Ben and I booked an excursion to swim and snorkel with the stringrays. Nick and Kate decided to join us and after the excursion, we planned to have lunch before going back to the ship. The day in Grand Cayman was a short one so it didn't allow us enough time to go to Seven Mile Beach. I guess that means we will have to come back!
We took a boat ride to Stingray City which is a sandbar where the stingrays come to get fed. They are not afraid or aggressive at all, they just want the squid they know they will get from the tourists.
There were some beautiful homes on the water.
As we got closer to Stingray City, we could see the other boats coming in.
At the sandbar, some boats were already there. We had been delayed a little by late guests so we were a little behind schedule. It didn't really matter though because there were plenty of stingrays to go around.
Ben and I were the first ones to get to hold the resident stingray, whose name was Stephanie!
A kiss for seven years of good luck!
Here is Nick and Kate with the stingray.
After the stingrays, we were taken to a coral garden for snorkeling. I took a few pictures of Ben before going in. It was crowded and I didn't get alot of time to snorkel but I still enjoyed it.
We all had a great time on this excursion!
After we got dropped off back at the port area, we walked to a restaurant for lunch called Guy Harvey's that came recommended on Cruise Critic. It was a nice restaurant and we had a view of the water and our ship.
On the way back we passed a pretty church and a museum. I would have loved to spend more time in Grand Cayman.
We got back to the port around 1:00 to tender back to the ship. As much as we loved Grand Cayman, we didn't want to get left behind!
Then it was time to get ready for my birthday dinner at the steakhouse. It was elegant night so I got dressed up and wore the sash my sister had bought me for my 50th birthday.
Ben took my picture out on the balcony. I loved that I was on a cruise ship on our wonderful balcony in the middle of the ocean for my 50th birthday!
We met up with Nick and Kate and went to dinner. We brought a bottle of champagne and toasted my birthday. Nick had also brought a good bottle of red wine which went perfectly with our meal.
I got a steak and salad and Ben got a shrimp cocktail and surf and turf. Everything was good and my steak was delicious, as good as any restaurant.
For dessert we chose "Art at the Table" which was more of a presentation than an actual dessert but it was different and fun. And it made for a great picture!
The restaurant gave us a free round of champagne at the end of dinner and Kate took my favorite picture of the trip.
Here's to 50 more years!
After dinner, we went to the Atrium bar for a cocktail before going to listen to a band play in Ocean Plaza. I got a chocolate martini.
The ship always takes pictures on elegant night but Ben and I just take our own.
Back at the room, I had a towel flower from our room steward...
...and flowers and a card from Ben!
This was truly the best 50th birthday ever!
