Return to CocoCay

Chris and Beck
CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

 Chris and I enjoyed a great gift last evening. Patrick and Jen allowed us to spend an evening alone with our youngest grandson, Beck. Yes, we spent the evening in a stateroom babysitting whilst they celebrated their anniversary with an "alone" dinner. Those of us who have been blessed to have children understand how precious "alone" time can be. Babies are demanding. Chris and I both had fun playing with Beck, he enjoyed it a bit too much and didn't want to go to. bed, but that also is how it is sometimes. 

Beck in the Sand
CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

Earlier we had fun at Perfect Day at CocoCay. We all enjoyed returning to the scene of the wedding, three years later almost to the day. And then it was off to the beach to introduce Beck to the wide open ocean. OK, it a was smallish lagoon. The waves were very tame. He loved the water, but was not too amused by the soft sand.

I guess, in retrospect, it was Beck day at CocoCay! We had a lot of fun interacting with him, and his parents, from morning until bedtime. 

Chris reminded me that during our evening time with Beck we reconnected with The Wiggles! It has been about 15 years since we viewed an episode of The Wiggles!. If you have been around babies and small children, you probably have been exposed to The Wiggles, and I don't just mean the worm-like body movements they do when protesting getting into clothes or diapers. 

Utopia and Liberty of the Seas
CocoCay, Bahamas
January 7, 2026

CocoCay was busy! Two big ships were there, not three as I thought yesterday. I should have known better as the quay will only support two ships. But that still meant a lot of people on the island. Even so, we found beach chairs available at both of the places we settled. I am still not all that impressed with CocoCay, this being my third visit there, but it is a lot better than Labadee, Haiti, that is for sure.

Today is a sea day as we begin to return to Port Canaveral, although at this moment we are heading south just churning circles in the water. Tomorrow we return to life and will miss the fun of a cruise. 

I have been keeping tabs on the news and decided not to ruin my cruise by dwelling on the first six days of 2026 and the events which have so far transpired. 

Both Chris and I are thankful for the images we have been receiving from our friends caring for Finn! 

-- Bob Doan, North Atlantic near 2559N 07936W