15 Dec

Day 4 – Stingray City!

This day will probably be a little familiar to anyone who keeps up with Tammy’s trip reports! We were going on our own, non-Disney excursion, that we liked so much we did again the next year.

We were chartering a boat to take us to Stingray City, Starfish Point, and to do some snorkeling. We woke up around 8 to a lot of choppy water.

Chase’s feelings toward waking up this early:

After getting ready, we ordered some cookies and Rice Krispie treats to pack in our backpacks.

We took some pictures on the verandahs, and got some lunch from the top deck.

We picked up some towels, and headed down to tendering! Picture on the way:

The tendering line was HUGE! We waited about an hour.

Finally, we made it on the tender! The Fantasy

Once on shore, we met our driver, and loaded up in a bus to head to the boat!

The boat they took us to was not a luxury cruise, but we still loved it! It had a deck on the top, and four crew members. We were worried we might not be able to go to Stingray City because of the weather, and the crew didn’t make us feel better when they wouldn’t give a clear answer on whether we would make it. Here we are headed out!

Our first stop was Starfish Point! There were a few other boats there.

Somehow we got no pictures of starfish, but they were there for sure! We broke out some of the snorkel gear to get a better look. You could only hold the starfish out of the water for a few seconds, but it was so cool to see them moving.

After a while, we hopped back in the boat. The crew told us they would take us to Stingray City and see if it was safe to get out. There was only one other boat in the entire area when we got there, and the waves were really large.

Never the less, the stingrays came! They were huge! Chase was the first in the water with his GoPro.

The water was extremely choppy, and everyone in the water had to try and keep their head up without stepping on any stingrays.

I was not feeling this whole situation. If it had been clear weather it would’ve been different, but I was completely freaked out by all the stingrays combined with waves that would’ve been over my head. So the oldest cousin and I did not get in. And I don’t think either of us regrets that in the slightest! 🙂

From there, the crew took us to a bit calmer water to snorkel! They threw food into the water so we could have fish to swim with. I did get out here :).

On the way back, all the women went up to the top deck of the boat to lay out in the sun (with lots of sunscreen of course!).

We thanked the crew and bus driver after they dropped us off and got back on the tender.

Back in our room, we ordered the All Hands on Deck cheese platter and some fries to tide us over until dinner.

Dinner was at Animator’s! We got to dine in the company of a turtle.

Chase’s adventurous food:

Some dessert!

Tonight was a magic show and a cute towel animal.

We put on our swimsuits to go to the top deck, but it was pouring rain. So instead, we went and watched the “Lone Ranger” before bed.

Mom found starfish pictures!!!

And stingrays!

Ally Takes Over Trip Reporting
Day 1 – Traveling Day 
Day 2 – First is Best! 
Day 3 – Fancy Night 
Day 4 – Stingray City! 
Day 5 – Gingerbread House Building!
Day 6 – Beaching in Cozumel  
Day 7 – Happy Thanksgiving!  
Day 8 – Castaway Day