STS Travel Day Time Excursion #1: Booze Cruise
with Cool Runnings
STS Travel Spring Break Ocho Rios, Jamaica Booze Cruise with Cool Runnings
Well, Virginia Tech and Bryant, you sure showed me young, wild and free! (Well, you and the Rum Punch.) What an awesome day out of the Cool Runnings Catamaran sailing in the Caribbean Sea. The booze cruise brought a new meaning to “Sunday Funday” here in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The booze cruise may be the most popular excursion in our 3 event VIP package. In fact, so many students signed up we had to add another day and take 2 boats out!
The morning began with a mad dash to the main lobby. The elevator down stopped several times picking up tired students( gotta love late nights at Margaritaville!) wearing sunglasses, swimsuits, flip flops and smiles. Once reaching the North lobby Spring breakers raced up the spiral stairs to the main lobby. About 100 hundred students from Virginia Tech and Bryant stood waiting in the lobby eager to board the bus and get the party started on the Caribbean Sea.
As always the bus ride was an adventure. The bus driver, Small Marlin, quickly gained our respect with his musical selection. The bus jammed out to Jamaican’s musical legend, Bob Marley for the next 10 minutes. The bass and “One Love” was enough to stop the locals in their tracks and watch as the bus made its way down the hilly highway.
The bus wound its way down a narrow dirt road to a vacant beach adorned with three white Cool Runnings catamaran boats. Tanesha, a rep from Cool Runnings, gave us a short run down of the do’s and don’ts as we walked to the pier.
As soon as we boarded the boat we were greeted with a bar full of rum punch’s and Red Stripe beer. They must have underestimated us, in seconds the drinks were gone and 2 more bartenders were put behind the counter. Next we were introduced to the awesome staff of Cool Runnings and the DJ- J Rock. J Rock had some impressive authentic turntables and some great taste in music. Next thing I knew the beach we arrived on was in the distance, Baby Got Back was the song and gorgeous spring breakers stood atop the seats shaking their ass. Is everyone a model on this boat?
Now never ever ever in my life of being on spring break have I seen a guy bong a beer out of a SNORKEL! Props to you VT and Bryant -your University will be proud of your on the spot innovation! Beers are being bonged, shots are taken, Red Stripe is flowing and inhibition is full on!
We come to a smooth stop in the middle of the sea. J Rock stops the music and announced it’s time to back flip off the boat. Wait… Back flip off the boat in the middle the freakin’ ‘ sea? Oh yes, he was not joking. One by one, back flips, cannon balls and one belly flop. It’s ok snorkel-beer-bong-guy, your skills are better on land. I snapped a few shots of the now water party. Not everyday do you get to see a ton of Spring Breaker’s taking shots and bonging beers in the middle if an empty ocean. Thank you STS Travel!
STS Travel Spring Break Ocho Rios, Jamaica Booze Cruise with Cool Runnings
By now the sun is center in the sky and the catamaran is wrecking the waves as we party on. Now this is where things get fuzzy. Everyone is about 7 rum punches deep (if not more) and things are getting pretty damn wild. The front of the boat becomes a circle and a full on dance off is in progress. Wait? Did that guy in the football jersey just do the Booty Clap? Oh yes, it’s Spring Break 2013 baby! By now the entire 15+ staff of Cool Runnings is taking part in the festivities. We have the crew woman teaching the girls how to booty shake without moving their actual booty and we have the crew being grinded on by the Spring Break beauties! Hell yes, this is the life. I look around and spot a crew member rope climbing 20 feet up the sail. Now he’s holding on with just his arms. Now just one arm. Now a leg. Holy hell, gotta love Jamaica!
What? The DJ calls for the girl in the green dress to come to the center of the circle. I look around for the green dress. Everyone is looking at me- I am the girl with the green dress on. Before I can make an excuse to run,Sunshine, crew member, drags me to stage. The DJ apparently wants to see my best ass shake. I work it as best as I can and hear V Tech and Bryant cheer me on. I knew I loved you guys for a reason! The loudest cheers came from the Virginia Tech football players (shout put to Cody and Derek!)
As we head back to land the boat looks like dance club, only better jams and hotter dancers! As the beach comes in to better vision everyone can’t help but get a little sad that this part of Spring Break, STS Travel excursion #1, is coming to a close. The catamaran rocks to the dock and we hug each and every one of the 15 person Cool Runnings crew goodbye. I doubt any boat trip for the rest of our lives will be able to top this one.
We board the bus laughing and sharing our Booze Cruise experiences with each other. We pull up to the Jamaica Sunset Grande and I am asked the question I love to hear the most as an STS Travel rep– “Hey, can we sign of for the Booze Cruise going out Wednesday?” hell yes you can! Let’s make it a double!