Due to the fact I’ve been on vacation for the past 12 days, working as hard as I could to forget about work, coupled with the reality that my monthly chamber president’s column is due today, my first day back on the job, I’m at a loss to come up with anything business-related to write about.  Instead, I’m taking the liberty of sharing the travel log from my family’s first ever cruise.  My wife, Kristin, and I celebrated our 10^th wedding anniversary last week by taking the Carnival Splendor out of Long Beach, Calif., and sailing to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  We also brought along our still-at-home kids, Cassity and Aurora.  It was a wonderful voyage and, if anyone’s asking, I can highly recommend “cruising.”

Thursday, 5:21 p.m. – Left Rexburg.  Had planned to leave at 4, but a last minute change in who would watch the dog nixed that.  Ate dinner at Costco in Pocatello and stayed the night at the in-laws in Kaysville, Utah, which included a complimentary breakfast. Yahoo, the vacation started under budget!

Friday, 3:06 p.m. – Arrived in Las Vegas.  Noticed many new mega resorts had popped up since I was last there in 2007.  Freeway was backed up from so many people trying to get to the Strip to start spending their disposable income.  Is there really is a recession going on? 

Sunday, 2:16 p.m. – Boarded the Splendor.  Superlatives don’t do justice to describing how big this ship is.  We’re talking BYU-Idaho Center big.  It’s over three football fields long and 14 stories high (plus I think there are two or three lower floors for the crew). It has a capacity of roughly 3,600 guests and 1,150 crew.  It’s a gorgeous vessel!

Sunday, 2:18 p.m. – Directed to the “Splendido Restaurant” and immediately served a gourmet hamburger.  This marked the official start of the pig out fest!

Monday, 8:21 a.m.  – Checked in at Splendor’s fitness center.  With all we’d eaten in just the first day, we felt this was a necessity.  Apparently all 3,600 passengers had the same thought.  Could hardly move inside the facility.  However, patronage steadily decreased each day of the cruise.  By the last day we pretty much had the place to ourselves. 

Monday, 11 a.m. – Laid out on a lounge chair by one of the ship’s many pools.  Concluded I was one of the few people on the boat without a tattoo.

Monday, 8:15 p.m. – Seated at the Gold Pearl Restaurant for “Dress to Impress Night.”  I wore a suit and tie, just like I do six days per week back home.  Formal dining on the Splendor was an amazing experience, although the kids were a little shocked when our waiter first put their napkins on their laps for them.  Every meal started with an appetizer, the most memorable of which was escargot, which is really snails.  Entrées included, lobster tail, filet mignon, chateaubriand and even a taste of caviar.  The desserts were as scrumptious as they were unique.  But the real highlights were the waiters and maître d’, who sang and danced for us nearly every night.  Some even danced on tables. 

Tuesday, 11:31 a.m. – Boarded a tender boat for Cabo San Lucas.  Despite growing up in Hawaii and serving a mission in Houston, I had never experienced that kind of humidity.  Was wringing wet standing in the shade.  However, I also had never seen water that blue.  Did some snorkeling and swimming at Lovers’ Beach and visited the Land’s End Arch.  Incidentally, I suggest NOT using Carnival’s shore excursions.  We paid big bucks for three hours of snorkeling and swimming, but barely got half that time.  Go with the local vendors, which are much cheaper and completely safe, if you practice some common sense. 

Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. – Attended “Latin Fiesta” in Splendor’s “Spectacular Theatre.”  This was one of four major Vegas-style shows during the cruise and they were all top-notch.  They had dancers, singers and an orchestra.  The cruise also featured four comedians, two rock bands, a Latin band, a country singer, a pianist, a Jamaican steel drum band (which used a synthesizer instead of real steel drums) and endless karaoke.

Thursday, 11:20 a.m. – Disembarked at Puerto Vallarta.  Couldn’t help but notice a military truck parked near the dock loaded with Mexican Army personnel, with camouflage uniforms and obviously well-armed.  Kristin asked if she could take their picture.  They said no.  Bought some Mexican vanilla at the famous Mexican store, Walmart.

Friday, 11:35 p.m. – Went dancing at Splendor’s Red Carpet Lounge.  Tried to find my groove, but no luck.  After two songs I was out of breath and my knee hurt. 

Saturday, 7:58 a.m. – Amused by a sign in our bathroom that encouraged us to save the planet by reusing our towels.  The ship is a shrine to excess with boasts of being furnished with over 40,000 light fixtures and its 24-hour pizza service and midnight Mexican buffets, yet we’re worried about a towel?

Sunday, 9:38 a.m. – Final disembarkment at Long Beach.  Sadly, the cruise had come to an end.  When we got on the Los Angeles freeways we couldn’t tell if the rocking we were feeling was because we had become temporarily accustomed to the ship’s motion or if it was the “Big One.”

Monday, 4:53 p.m. – Arrived home in Rexburg.  When Cassity saw the temple she shouted, “I love Idaho!”  That’s a sign of a great vacation, when you’re excited to go, but even more glad to be back home.