The Disney Cruise Continues (Day 3 & 4)

     Day three on our Disney adventure at sea brought us to Disney's private island in the Bahamas.  Yes, Disney has their own island that they use specifically for entertaining the guests aboard their cruises.  Nice.  And it is.  We disembarked at Castaway Cay and walked along the coastline, taking in the views of the emerald waters.  The island is as you would expect from Disney - filled with magical sights and more activities than you could enjoy in a week.  We kept it simple with our little ones - a stroll along the boardwalk to the far end of the island, beach chairs, and some time in the sand and water.  We splashed, dug in the sand, watched a hermit crab make its way to the sea, snacked on fresh fruit and ice cream, and enjoyed some beach drinks (for the grown ups).  Claire took a nap on mom and dad, too.  At the end of the day, we stopped at a splash park for Claire and Audrey before making our way back to the ship.
     That evening, Matt and I took advantage of Audrey's kids' club and Claire's nursery time to have a date night.  We explored the many areas of the ship just for grown ups and enjoyed some time at the piano bar before picking up the kids.  We took Audrey and Claire up to the top deck to watch the end of Disney's Pirates Party - the finale was a pretty impressive fireworks show (apparently, Disney is the only cruise line with permission to shoot off fireworks over the open ocean).  Needless to say, all of us slept really well after our day of adventures.
     Our last full day on the ship was a "day at sea".  Matt and I took advantage of one more morning of adult time, opting to spend a few hours in the spa's "Rainforest Room".  Relaxation, relaxation, relaxation!!  In the afternoon, we had a blast playing at the pool and splash pad with the girls.  Our final dinner on the cruise ended with a birthday cake for Audrey!  By then, though, she was so full from her three course meal that she simply licked some of the icing.
     The final evening included another spectacular live show (oh, I wish you could have seen Audrey's eyes as the princesses sang and danced their way across the stage) and a farewell from all of the cast and characters.  We put our luggage outside our stateroom, and after breakfast the next morning, we found it waiting for us in the terminal!
     I can honestly say that this cruise was AMAZING for our family.  I didn't know what to expect, cruising with an almost four year old and an almost one year old, but Disney makes it fun AND easy.  It was a great way to enjoy some quality time together after our separation!  Now, when's our next vacation?!