"So we're in Mexico?" said Max over breakfast. From that point on all he talked about was the big pirate party we were set to have this evening. We were docked in port, we were lining up for our Dolphin experience, still all he talked about was the pirate party. We got in the taxi, Pirates, we pulled up out the front of the Cozumel Dolphinarium - Pirates. Getting the briefing from the guide - Pirates, putting on our vests - Pirates, getting in the water - DOLPHINS!

We all got to pat, kiss, shake hands and the finale, ride on the belly of Olympia our 18 year old Atlantic bottle nosed dolphin. Max was the first one of us to play with the dolphin, I don't think I've ever seen his face so lit up, beaming! Gab had a go and laughed her head off. I went last and while it looked fun, they never could have explained how amazing it was to me, I think I laughed like Emerson all the way across the pool :) Emerson didn't want to ride with Olympia so Max ended up getting a second go, he loved it just as much as the first.

Back to the ship a few hours later, the kids enjoyed Kids club while the adults hung out in the grown up pool and spa for the afternoon. The adult pool was fantastic, it was still clear at 6pm for a start. The wait staff were happy to bring me coffee and beer all afternoon. But best of all they have a glass floor and walled hot tub looking out and down to sea, what a view!

I chatted with some Canadians who'd done a European tour a bit like ours, a couple from Syracuse with kids the same age as ours and a retired exec from Johnson & Johnson who told me all about integrating their disparate European operations while the EU was formed - a welcome change to the who kicked who first :) So welcome in fact that I only just made it back to the room in time to get dressed for dinner.

Gab had been doing the kids up in prep for the pirates party and she outdid herself. They'd both been made up, dressed and ready to scare the pants off the Jolly Roger! The wait staff outdid themselves tonight cutting Max's steak, cutting and feeding Emerson, then shelling and feeding Gab her shrimp! The table nest to us was getting a magic show so Anson had to compete putting on his own little show for us. Up on deck we got in place minutes before the show started. Yet another great stage show, Jack Sparrow came plummeting from the top of the deck before the only at sea fireworks show was set off right over our heads!

The Pirate party kicked into full gear just as the kids all started to crash, with the clocks going forward again tonight it is suddenly midnight. Tomorrow is our last at sea day, the kids are sold on kids club for the day, wahoo!