We set sail from the Port of Miami on December 28th...
on our family cruise.
Could we actually plan a vacation together where everyone could make it?
We couldn't believe that we had found something that would work for all.
It did not go off without a hitch...but we did it!
There were a few hurdles the day before the cruise,
with cancelled flights for the majority of the group.
We had flown out early with Tim and Heidi and the girls without any problems.
Kris and Lina and Jeremy and Broni and their families (13 in all) spent 13 hours in Seattle before catching a red-eye flight to Orlando.
From there they managed to get a 'party bus' to drive them the four hours to Miami.
They were tired and hungry!
And then they got caught in traffic jams and realized they may not make it before the cruise ship left the port.
Their bus driver finally dropped them off about one kilometer from the ship and told them to run...
since that was as close as he could get them.
We were waiting at the end of the gangway when they arrived...
with just minutes to spare.
That is one part of our Wieberama cruise adventure that no one will ever forget!
Emme had T-shirts made up for all of us.
The plan was to wear them as we all embarked.
That didn't happen since they just arrived at the last minute...
so we all wore them to dinner that first night.
And then we went to watch the ice-skating show...
which was fantastic.
We awoke in Nassau, Bahamas the next morning...
...and walked to a nearby beach.
Some swam...
...found conch shells
...and some of us stayed on our beach loungers under an umbrella and read books.
We came...
we saw..
...and before long it was time to head back to the ship.
From the port we could see the Atlantis Resort on nearby Paradise Island.
We were there some twenty-five years ago on a different Wiebe cruise...
with Elmer's sisters and brother-in-laws.
We were on the Independence of the Seas...
a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
A beautiful ship...
with so much to do.
Entertainment on the promenade.
Surf riding.
Skating for all.
Evening shows, karaoke or trivia.
And the grands found pizza or ice-cream anytime of the day.
Wieberama Dodgeball Team!
We laid claim to part of the top deck and camped out there on sea days.
Bliss.
We booked our own transportation at the ports.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico...
Elmer and I opted to get off the bus in Old Town while the rest carried on to the beach.
We walked along the old city wall..
...checked out the fortresses from the Spanish colonial era
...all part of the San Juan National Historic Park.
Cemetery Santa Maria Magalena
It was hot and sunny.
The Christmas decor and music seemed out of place.
While we were sightseeing...
the rest of the gang was enjoying the beach.
Some even came back sporting new tattoos...
thanks to Brynja, our henna artist.
Best of brothers.
We rang in the New Year with the masses onboard...
...and celebrated Ryder's birthday as well.
Happy 20th birthday, Ryder!
Cousins!
January 1, 2026 found us in the US Virgin Islands.
We docked in St. Charlotte Amelie on the Island of St. Thomas and spent the day at Coki Point Beach.
They snorkeled and jet-skied.
It was a lovely beach...
but as you can tell, we weren't there alone!
After a week on the turquoise waters of the Caribbean...
...we were back at Miami where we began.
We spent the day at a Mariott Hotel on Sunny Isles Beach .
Maggie spent her time doing art in the sand...
...and that is how 2026 began for the Wiebe clan.
As the sun set on our time together, we took a photo.
We actually took several!
Kris, Lina and family
Jeremy, Broni and family
Tim, Heidi and girls
This year we will celebrate 55 years of marriage.
What better way to mark the occasion than with our children and grandchildren?
As the sun set...
the grands had one last hurrah to end our time together in the sun and the sand by the sea!
We feel beyond blessed to have been able to do this with our family.
