My Top 15 Favorite Cruise Photos

Recently, while putting together some new blog posts, I was going through a lot of our old vacation photos and I kept coming across photos that I love but had completely forgotten about.  After this happened for about the 50th time, I decided that I needed to somehow put all of these photos together in one place.  I am still tossing around ideas about how to do this in a physical form to display in our home, but in the meantime, I am going to compile them all right here.

I started out trying to narrow it down to 10 photos and quickly decided that would be way too hard.  I managed to get it down to 20 and then decided that a top 15 was just going to have to work.   Somehow I forced myself to eliminate 5 more, and I finally arrived at my top 15.

Before I get started, I want to make sure that everyone is fully aware of the fact that I do not consider myself an expert photographer.  I do not even consider myself a great photographer.  I like point and shoot cameras with lots of automatic settings that are pretty much foolproof (you can read about my favorite camera here).  I didn’t pick these photos because of their focus, exposure, lighting, or any other technical aspect – I chose them either because of the memories that they invoke or because I think they are beautiful to look at.  In addition, I don’t edit my photos very much, if at all.  So, all that being said, here are my top 15 (in no particular order – now THAT would be impossible!):

1.  Storm at Serenity Bay

I just took this photograph last month at Serenity Bay while we were on our kid-free 3 night cruise on the Dream (trip report here).  The morning started off bright & sunny until around noon when storm clouds started rolling in.  I love the contrast between the bright ocean and the dark sky.  What I didn’t love was how the storms lasted for hours and eventually sent us back to the ship, soaking wet.

2.  Windows on the Wonder

This picture looks posed, but actually just happened by chance.  Whenever we walk past these portholes right outside the Cadillac Lounge, my girls have to stop and hang out in them for a few minutes.  We were doing just that when I noticed that it would make a great picture.  Without even asking them to pose, I started snapping away.  I wish that the portholes weren’t chopped off on the sides, but there was something behind me (wall? people?) that wouldn’t let me back up any further.  Regardless, it is one of my favorites!

3.  Wonder vs. Dream

This is a sight that almost never happens and I feel so lucky to have captured it: 2 Disney ships at Castaway Cay.  We were visiting the island on the Wonder (left side, docked at the island) and while we were there, the Dream sailed by twice.  This picture was taken from cabana 6 on October 1, 2013.  I did a little research and discovered that the Dream was on a double dip sailing (meaning 2 stops at Castaway Cay) and had been at the island the day before and would be there again the following day. So apparently, the Dream was just hanging around the area all day and decided to pay us a visit.  There was a horn battle between the two ships, which I tried to catch on video but wasn’t quick enough.

4.  Tea With Alice

See the March Hare in the middle with the brown ears and red shirt?  She belongs to me.  She was SO excited when Alice chose her from the audience to participate in the tea party, and I love how you can see it on her face.  This was on the Magic when they used to do Tea With Alice (you can read my complete post about it here).

5.  A Girl and Her Tube

I love this picture because it captures not only the beauty of Castaway Cay but also the peaceful, relaxing feeling that I have when I am there.  Apparently my kids feel the same way.  It doesn’t get much better than floating around in a tube all day in paradise!

6.  Princesses at Sea

Even though this picture looks posed, it was also candid shot.  We were walking to dinner on formal night and the girls stopped to watch the water rushing by.  I love how they are all dressed as princesses and I am sad that these days are gone.  My oldest now declares that she is “too old” to dress like a princess.  Sniff, sniff.

7.  Our Sign

This was taken on our first visit to Castaway Cay.  When we pulled up to our cabana, the girls were so excited that we had our own sign and wanted me to take a picture.  This picture makes me smile because it reminds me of our first day on the island, which was perfect in every way.  You can read my full reviews of cabanas 5 & 6 here.

8.  Feeding Frenzy

This picture was taken on our excursion in St. Thomas, which you can read about it detail here.  I love so many things about this picture – the colors, the details of the fish, the memories of that fabulous day.  This was a big day for our girls because it was the first time that, while snorkeling, they were actually able to touch a fish.  You know how kids try to reach out and touch fish only to have them swim away?  That was my girls until this day.  One of the crew members (black shirt on the right) gave the girls a bag of leftover pasta from lunch and the fish FREAKED OUT!  They didn’t care who or what touched them as long as they got some of that pasta.  In fact, the fish were literally swimming right into us and the girls loved it.

9.  Formal Night

 

We have 3 pictures of us as a family on formal night and this one is my favorite.  Like I mentioned earlier, my oldest now thinks she is too old to dress like a princess, and this night was her last night to do so.  I love seeing her for a princess one last time, I love Cinderella’s sassy pose, and I love wedding Rapunzel’s dress and Pascal purse.  This picture is all about the memories.

10.  Seclusion in St. Maarten

This picture was taken on our shore excursion in St. Maarten which you can read about in detail here.  We stopped on a secluded beach to let the girls play and we had the best time.  I love how this picture captures the beauty of the beach.  I love the contrast between the ocean and the cliffs.  I love the footprints in the sand.  I love that the girls are exploring without a care in the world.  I love all of our memories from this day.

11.  Our Cinderella

This picture was taken shortly after we boarded the ship.  We always Disneybound on the first day of our cruises (if you are not familiar with it, you can read my post about it here) and as you can see, our youngest chose to dress like Cinderella.  All I did was ask her to stand on the stairs for a picture and this is the pose I got.  I still cannot look at this picture without laughing.  I don’t think I could have posed her better had I tried.  In addition to the pose, I love the beautiful staircase behind her.  This is also one of my favorite Disneybound outfits I have pulled together – satin headband, bun, glass slipper necklace, silver tights and clear crocs for her glass slippers (that I just noticed are on the wrong feet).  This photo just makes me smile.

12.  Snorkeling in Grand Cayman

This is my oldest daughter and my mother-in-law snorkeling on our excursion in Grand Cayman which you can read about in detail here.  Although we didn’t see a lot of fish, we did see a lot of pretty coral.  I love the vivid colors, the shiny water, the one lonely little fish, and the image of a grandmother having fun with her granddaughter.

13.  My Heart

I titled this picture My Heart because it makes my heart stand still.  I know it doesn’t have this effect one anyone else, but I wanted to share it with you anyway.  My girls all have very different personalities and this picture captures that.  In this picture, each of their smiles is different and each smile perfectly captures their unique personalities.  Combine that with the stunning scenery and it takes my breath away.

14.  No Fear

This picture was taken in Grand Cayman, seconds after my middle daughter had jumped off of the boat to snorkel for the first time.  She was 6 years old and had absolutely no fear, which is pretty much her motto in life.  She is our thrill-seeker, our adventurer, the life of every party.  I love how she dives head first into every new experience with such enthusiasm and total abandon, and I love that this picture captured that.

15.  Three Cheers for Castaway Cay

I saved this one for last because this is a Disney Cruise blog after all, and what better place is there on earth for Disney Cruise lovers than Castaway Cay???  If you haven’t yet been to Castaway Cay, I suggest you get there as fast as you can and I promise you will feel just like this.

Well that’s a wrap!  I hope you enjoyed my photos.  I don’t expect anyone to enjoy them as much as I do, but I hope that they at least brought a smile to your face and brightened your day.

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