I booked the cruise!!!!

[kellyt]

June 19th - 23rd!!!!  We depart from Galveston, TX and go to Cozumel, Mexico!  Four nights, five days.  I can't wait!  I'm hoping to swim with the dolphins.  I told my husband if that is the only thing I get to do in Cozumel then it will be worth all the money spent!        June 19th is our 10 year wedding anniversary and this is perfect!

[Romona]

 

Enjoy!

[flip]

Is this one of the dialysis cruises?

[bolta72]

Happy sailing and Bon Voyage

[Sluff]

Have a great time. Can you take me with you? I don't eat much... well actually second thought I do eat my share but could I still come along please...pretty please?

[paris]

Kelly, I am soooooo glad you decided to go!  Live it up and enjoy those carefree days on the ship.  For 5 days, don't think about kidney disease, transplant----think fruity drinks, beaches, and buffets!    I had a chance to swim with green sea turtles---my daughter took me to a small reef and we just swam with them surrounding us.  I use that memory whenever I need to be calm or de-stress.    Swimming with the dolphins will be a wonderful experience.  Can't wait to hear all about it!  Again, I am thrilled you are going. 

[monrein]

Happy Anniversary and have fun on the cruise.  Post pics when you get back.

[kellyt]

Thanks everyone.  I've gone back and forth on this trying to decide whether to go or not.  I finally just decided, on Paris' advice of course , to just do it!  I'm feeling good, I'm on no strict dietary or fluid restrictions, and God knows my husband and I could use the time away from everything!  I'm currently looking for my birth certificate.  I think I have to go get a certified copy tomorrow.  I can't find mine anywhere.   

The cruise also gives me another reason to hit that treadmil hard!

Has anyone been to Cozumel, Mexico?  Can you tell me about your trip?   

[willieandwinnie]

Have a wonderful trip. I'm jealous. One of these days. 

[Sunny]

I'm jealous. Have a wonderful trip with your very loving husband.
My 20th wedding anniversary is this summer and my husband is taking me to Mochu Pichu and the jungle in Peru.
He bought trip insurance just in case my health becomes an issue. It provides for a helicopter to evacuate me under
any circumstances.Travelling is a wonderful way to forget your troubles.

[Ohio Buckeye]

You will have a wonderful time.
My boys and I ent on a Christmas cruise to the Bahamas once
and one Christmas we went on a carnival cruise out of Galveston to Cozymel - maybe same one.
I love the country-western atmosphere on it.  the c-w karoke, etc. was fun.
There is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much food on board.
Take your camera to the midnight buffett.

[MIbarra]

You are in for a great time!

I've been to Cozumel and did the dolphin excursion. We went to Chankanab (sp?) Park for the dolphins. There's also snorkeling there and if you just want to take it easy, it's a good place. Fizzy drinks, sun, water... Oh now I want to go!

We also walked around the town a bit and did the touristy shopping thing and tequila samples. Yum!

[kellyt]

You are in for a great time!

I've been to Cozumel and did the dolphin excursion. We went to Chankanab (sp?) Park for the dolphins. There's also snorkeling there and if you just want to take it easy, it's a good place. Fizzy drinks, sun, water... Oh now I want to go!

We also walked around the town a bit and did the touristy shopping thing and tequila samples. Yum!

That's exactly where we want to go!  Did you make a reservation to swim with the dolphins ahead of time?  How busy was the park when you went (month)?  I am sooooo excited

Oh, and no this isn't a dialysis cruise.  Sorry, I forgot to answer your questions Chris.  We were going to do a dialysis cruise with a couple we met at my transplant evaluation, but they won't be joining us on this cruise.  Maybe we'll do another one later.  Hopefully, it won't be a dialysis cruise for me.  Once I transplant I'd like to eventually go on a 10 day Alaskan cruise!  Dream, dream, dream.....  You gotta have something to look forward to, right?

[flip]

I've actually booked a 10 day dialysis cruise for this summer. I'm trying to talk a couple of the nurses at my center into going. They can actually get a free cruise in exchange for 4 hours a day in the dialysis center on board.

[paris]

Great attitude, Kelly!  I have been telling my family today how excited I am that you are going on the cruise.   My next goal is to visit AlohaBeth in Yosemite in June.  Just had my labs and they are holding steady, so I am making plans.  We always need something to look forward to---even if it is something little--it is good to look ahead.  Book you dolphin experience--I can't wait to see pictures.   (I am really excited for you!)

[MIbarra]

The park was not too crowded, but we went around Spring Break time... March/April

We made our reservations for the dolphin thing the second day on the cruise, but it seemed like quite a popular excursion so I would make yours early. We didn't do the actual swim with the dolphins (which they had available.) My husband and I just got in the water with them, but it was still quite an experience. They'll even make a video for you. We had one made and it came out pretty nice.

[kellyt]

What exactly is the difference between "swimming" with them and "getting in the water" with them?  Besides the obvious, I mean.  ha ha   When you "swim" with them is it just you and the dolphins and the trainer/employee?   I want to touch them, hold onto them and move with them (which now I'm guessing is "swimming" with them) and have one kiss me on the cheek!      I'll bet that water is cold, cold, cold!!!!!!!!!          How much is the video roughly?

Everytime I go to Sea World here in San Antonio the dolphin tank is so crowded that I can't get near the water.  Then when I finally do, the dolphins are all on the opposite side of the tank!  I finally give up.

Chris, that is interesting about the nurses traveling free for dialysis time.  By the way, is the dialysis on your cruise covered under your insurance just the same as going to the clinic?  Did your transplant staff assist you with your travel arrangemens?  Thanks.

[Sluff]

Great attitude, Kelly!  I have been telling my family today how excited I am that you are going on the cruise.   My next goal is to visit AlohaBeth in Yosemite in June.  Just had my labs and they are holding steady, so I am making plans.  We always need something to look forward to---even if it is something little--it is good to look ahead.  Book you dolphin experience--I can't wait to see pictures.   (I am really excited for you!)

Wish I was going with you but have a good trip Paris.

[MIbarra]

When we went we just got in the water and stood on a platform. Then the trainers brought them around and we got to touch them and watch them do tricks and do a few commands on our own and watch them do tricks.

The people that actually got to swim with them went completely into the water with them and were pushed forward by them. According to the website it doesn't look like they push you anymore, but it looks like you hang on and swim with them.

I don't remember how much the video was, but I don't remember it being an outrageous price. It was a VHS tape at the time -- we went about 6 years ago. We also bought the pictures they took. We were sucker tourists!