Time to go Exploring!

Well, maybe the title time to go Exploring is a little over the top. A mere 596 days ago I booked our first full family cruise to travel to Madiera and the Canary Islands and then Vigo and La Coruna in Spain on the way back on Royal Caribbeans Explorer of the Seas. Well after what seems like an eternity at times the date is now upon us to travel down to Southampton today ready to board and set sail tomorrow.

It’s been a bit of a tough old year for us all so 12 nights of good quality food and entertainment and most importantly family time is very much in order. I’m really looking forward to this as my twins Will & Matthew who have just turned 8 and my parents who are coming with us have never been on a proper cruise. I can wait to see the look of amazement on the boys’ faces when they see the size of a ship the size of explorer of the seas. I recently took them to there first football match and was trying to explain that the Explorer is 3 1/2 times the size of a football pitch and I could see them trying to imagine that.

I chose this cruise and ship for a few reasons. The fact that it covers the school holiday where we live is one so we only needed to ask permission for a few days off school. The itinerary where we are going so hopefully we will get some much-needed sun in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Like most Royal Caribbean ships the Explorer looks fantastic for families and the facilities that they are offering seem second to none and should help keep them entertained. With Rock Climbing walls, Ice skating, Crazy Golf, The Flowrider, and great kids clubs to name just a few.

There are 8 of us traveling in my party altogether and I know each and every one of us cant wait. I also know a few colleagues are going with there families and I have lots of customers booked on this cruise too so I might get to put a few faces to names.

It will also be special for us all as my daughter Abigail will be turning 18 whilst we are on the ship so as long as she does not read this then we have a few little surprises for her whilst onboard and I can’t wait to buy her a first legal Cocktail or maybe I should get her to buy me one.

I will be taking lots of photos’ and will let everyone know how the cruise went and what we all thought when I return to work after the 6th November. For now, the out of office is on, time to finish that last-minute packing and then Explorer we are coming to get you……………