Quail Hollow Couples Retreat

Although we were missing a lot of friends from our neighborhood, we were able to match scheduals with a few and venture out of Utah to board a beautiful cruise ship headed out of Galveston, TX into the beautiful Carribean, thus calling it Quail Hollows couples retreat. Among us were, Barclays (Brent and Jeannie), Gunters (Cam & Jamie), Keisels (Ryan & Jen) and Bells (Shane & Chris) cousins of the Barclays they joined us from Idaho.

Our adventure took off from SLC airport inroute to Internationl Bush airport in Houston, TX.  From their we headed to Galveston where we waited to board the Voyager of the Seas.  When we got to the port we were welcomed by fog, we entered terminal to find out that they would not be boarding until 5:30pm (just a little later than planned, we were suppose to set sail at 5pm). 

To make the most of the situation we walked the streets to find a place to eat.  After filling ourselves up with good food we wandered through a couple stores then headed back to the port to stand in line with 3,000 other people.  The wait was long and a little daunting, but after some time we were finally able to baord ship around 7pm.

Here we are stading outside the terminal waiting in line (we should have faced the other way to get a picture of the big ole' line we were in)

Here is our ship (this isn't in Galveston, this was taken at Honduras)

After we boarded we checked into our rooms, toured the boat and met up for dinner in the dinning room where we enjoyed a nice dinner in the bay of Galeston, TX (because of the fog).  We laughed and joked about being on a dinner cruise cuz we could see lights and shore.  We watched as the fog set in even heavier and we all started to worry we might be spending our week here in the bay.  After dinner we went to the show and walked around a little more checking out the ship just enjoying our freedom.  Dave and I went and soaked in the hot tub enjoying the foggy/errie night, it was fun just being able to sit and relax.  As we were sitting there, the fog lifted and was gone within minutes, it was crazy cuz as we looked up all we could see now was dark clear night with nothing but starts.  It was unreal, we sat a little longer hoping maybe we would take off, but after checking for activity or workers on the dock we gave up and went to our cabin at 1am.

Day Two:  Day at Sea (we hope)

Next moring we went to breakfast to find us out in the ocean and in route to our desitination.  It was nice knowing we wouldn't be sitting in Galeston the entire week.  On to Honduras we go!  We spent they day trying to enjoy the pool and catch some rays, but it was a little chilly and windy.  So we enjoyed the workout room, sitting at poolside (some of us hiding under towels others toughing it out), a few tried the rock wall, and some just wandered to see what they could find.  Dinner that night was formal night so we all got to get dressed up for our hunnies and enjoy good food and friends.

Day Three:  Day at Sea

Beacuase of the chilly weather the day before we weren't in too big of a rush to get up in the morning, so we didn't set an alarm or anything, thought it would be a good day to sleep in and SleEp In wE Did.  We slept like rocks until 11:45, yep almost noon!  We couldn't believe it.  I don't know when the last time I did that, if ever, was, but it was nice.  We headed out grabbed a bite to eat and then out to the pool to check out the weather, and low and behold the sun was shinning and it was warm enough to lay out and enjoy.  So that is what we did.  When we got out by the pool they were doing sexy legs contests and for those of you who have seen Daves calves know that he has some sexy looking legs, so of course we he was talked into aparticipating along with Cam and Ryan in the sexy legs contest.  It was pretty fun.  In the end Dave got his medal for "Most Athletic Legs".  I didn't take pictures cuz I didn't have my camera and Jamie did so I was going to get them from her, but she ended up losing her camera on the trip so we have not proof of the contest, but know it was hot hot hot!

After the contest everyone ended up finding eachother and we all hung out more on the pool decks, the boys decided to try the pool and the girls watched and laughed from afar. 

Along with the contest, swimming, relaxing and sun there was food, food and more food.  It love cute little Jeannie here: 

She was absolutley loving these nachos, I couldn't resist taking her picture!

What a fun, relaxing day. After all the fun we went to dinner, the shows, did some dancing and just had a great time. 

Day Four:  Roatan, Honduras

What a super fun day!  We wanted to try the ziplines we had heard about and also do some snorkeling.  So first task at hand was finding someone to take us to these places.  After doing some negotiating we found a cute little guy that loaded us into a little white van that we loaded down quite nicely.  Gunters, Keisels, and us headed to the first place which was the zipline, Barclays and Bells wanted to do some deep sea diving, so they headed there and we geared up in our nice harnesses and gear and we headed our for our adventure. 

We climbed up 100 stairs to the first zipline, from there we zigzagged through the jungle and zipped down about 12 ziplines enjoying pretty sceanery and some fun runs. 

With each one we each got a little more daring and at the end we all had went upside down, onehanded or crazy in one way or another.  It was lots of fun. 

When we were all done, we unloaded the gear and then walked around.  They had a few cages with monkeys and other animals in them so we were looking at those.  Then we got in with some of the spider monkeys and played with them for a while.  It was a blast!  They were so soo cute - just like little people.  You could see it in their eyes they know what was up and kinda understood us. 

We found out they were little pick pockets, one jumped on Jami's shoulder moved around to one side nabbed her earring out of hear ear and was gone before she knew it.  It was hilarious.  It chewed on it for a minute then spit it out.  Then another guy came in and one jumped on him and stared digging through his shirt pockets.  We had lots of fun watching them and letting them jump around us.  One got on Daves head and gave him a scalp massage it really like his smooth bald head. 

I was suprised at how soft their little hands were.  I was worried about being in there thinking they might jump on me and scratch me, but not at all.  They were very soft just like our hands. 

After the monkeys we moved on and met up with our driver who look us to a beach to do some snorkeling. 

We found a beach and then found a guy to take us out the the reef, to do some snorkeling where Barclays and Bells were.  The water was beautiful and everyone enjoyed snorkeling but myself, I stayed on the boat and watched and was later joined by Jen.  They saw lots of fish including manaray, barracuda and other things I forgot the names of. 

We were out there for about and hour and headed back, then the wind picked up.  The rest of the day was spent on the beach some getting massages, some swimming and all of us eating at a little dive on the beach that took way too long to serve us.  We had a great time!

We had a great spot that had these neat cabbanas on the beach - it was beautiful.  I never enough pictures of the right things.

We arrived back at the port with a little time left over to go look through some stores, then returned to the ship where we all met at the top deck to enjoy drinks and watch us take off.  It is amazing how those big ships work and move!

The night was filled again of dinner lots of dinner, shows, dancing and walking the ship.  Most nights we went outside, but this night the doors were locked cuz the winds were crazy , so we had to enjoy the festivities inside.

Day Five:  Costa Maya, Mexico

(no, this was not our drink, just a prop)

What a tiny little village.  Who knows what they did before the cruise ships started stopping.  There was nothing around except a little village and a strip of shops along the ocean.  Amazing water, I can't even describe how beautiful it was - unreal.  We joked and asked if they put coloring in the water to get it that color.  This day was filled of relaxation for us.  We just took a taxis down to town found a beach and planted there for the day.  Keisels, Gunters and Barclays took the taxi to some ruins then met up with us later.  On the beach we enjoyed some drinks had some lunch and enjoyed the sun. 

We headed back to port a little early cuz we wanted to do some shopping.  They had a great little shopping area right off the port with tons of stores to look through.  We all went on our own and found some little treasures and tinkets to bring home. 

Day Six: Cozumel, Mexico

last port (me frowning)

Here we decided to rent scooters so we could go tour the island on our own.  It was so much fun. 

First we hit a little spot and some of us did some swimming/snorkeling.  Jami, Jen and I took scooters and went on a little drive to check some places out.  When we returned everyone was ready to head out so we took them to a beach we had found, that had lots of chairs and water activites and food!  We hung out for a while there, had lunch, some shopped and shome walked the beach.  It was a beautiful day, I really didn't want to leave the beach - the sun was perfect.  Before heading back to the ship we drove alittle further to the other side where we found another beautiful spot where we stopped for photoshoots then we turned back to return to the ship. 

Day Seven:  At Sea

Down to our last day......  We woke up grabbed some breakfast and hurried out to get our spot by the pool, when we saw doors locked and wind blowing.  Ugh!  I guess there was some storm out at sea and we were able to go around it but were still getting some wind, so we got to spend the last day inside.  We were a little bummed, but we made the most of it by taking naps, playing games, eating and hanging out.  That night was formal night again, so we got all dressed up went to dinner and enoyed our last night as a group.

Next morning back to reality, bright and early we arrive in Galveston depart ship on a beautiful calm day.  Wish we could stay and enjoy but we have kids and families to get back to.

 

We had a fabulous time and can't wait to go again, all throughout the trip we would say, we have to do this every year, and I really hope to do that, if not every year, at least every other!  Let the count down begin.