🌊 Hula Hoops, Mini Golf & Bunny Bonding: Our Day at Sea
If you’ve been following along, you already know how we started our sea day: the pool. There was no discussion, no pause—just swimsuits and splash mode. Bee could live in the pool if they let her.
But I was determined to mix it up a little. So I suggested mini golf—on top of the ship. Deck 14. Eight holes. Ocean views in every direction. It was breezy and beautiful and one of those surreal “wait, we’re actually doing this” moments. Bee played it twice and I soaked in the calm.
Mini-golf views
We also snuck in a little mischief and hid a few ducks for future cruisers. A small thing, but full of joy.
When we got back to the room, we were greeted by a towel animal. We never figured out what it was supposed to be—maybe a gorilla? Doesn’t matter. Bee destroyed it within seconds anyway. (We’re still working on towel animal appreciation.)
Towel animal- can anyone tell me what this is??
Then came the highlight of the day: the hula hoop contest.
Let me tell you—Bee is a hula hoop master. I don’t know where she learned it, but this girl can go. She joined the 12-and-under group and wiped the floor. Then they brought in the older kids. Then the teens. Then the adults. And Bee still came out on top.
She won the whole thing. Trophy and everything. I cheered so hard I think half the Lido deck turned around. Proud mom moment, unlocked.
This girl is a natural. It’s amazing to watch.
Trophy!
We celebrated with a little spa time—just the two of us. We signed up for a mother-daughter massage, and thanks to a lucky spin, we got an extra 25 minutes. Bee was nervous, but by the end she was out cold. Her masseuse said she even started snoring. It was adorable.
Later that day, we hit up Build-a-Bear at Sea. Bee made a bunny with a Halloween outfit, and I made one too—a teal beach-themed bunny I named BB (Beach Bunny, of course). We took them back to the balcony for a photo shoot and introduced both bunnies to Bee’s growing bunny crew. They were instant friends.
NEW bunnies with the Build-a-Bear blow up bear!
Dinner that night was the “fancy” one. We dressed up (casual cruise cute) and took some pictures before heading to the dining room. Beachy décor, table service, and the most amazing chocolate lava cake with ice cream. I’m still thinking about it.
My view at dinner.
After dinner, we finally found the arcade. Bee went for the duck claw machine and won big. I hit the casino with the strategy I heard once: the first day and the first sea day are your best odds. Apparently, that’s true—I won more than five times what I played. Not bad for penny slots.
Duck collection
It wasn’t a “do nothing” day, but it felt easy. Everything flowed. The breeze, the water, the laughs, the bunnies, the surprise wins. The kind of day that reminds me why we’re doing this in the first place.
