Splendid Things in Life

What a Dream!

Stephanie — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:03:00 GMT

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to share some of our latest photos of the Carnival Dream. This was taken as it floated out to sea for the very first time!

Check out more Carnival photos here

Part Three – Ship Life- By Deb Jennings

Stephanie — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:48:00 GMT

As first time cruisers, my husband and I had no idea what to expect on the Carnival Freedom. Actually, that’s not entirely true – we expected crowds, and lots of ‘em. Also average food and cattle call service. Boy, were we wrong!

The first night at dinner, I couldn’t believe the menu: six appetizers to choose from, two salads and probably a dozen entrees from steaks to BBQ ribs, fish and chicken to vegetarian Indian cuisine. And we could order whatever we wanted – two appetizers, no entrée, just dessert (although that would have wreaked havoc on my plan of not gaining any weight on the cruise!). As we would discover on our 12-day voyage, there was always more than one item on the menu that sounded scrumptious, and, in fact, the food quality and presentation was very good!

As for the service, we were more than pleasantly surprised. Our main waiter, Vilson, and his assistant, Peter, were more than attentive, not to mention highly entertaining. As busy as they were, they never made us feel rushed. We came to rely on Vilson’s recommendations, as well as his sense of humor and his undaunted bubbling personality. During the day, we frequented the buffet (loved the salad bar and the Mongolian barbecue!). The 24-hour pizzeria became a late afternoon favorite. For breakfast, we often took advantage of room service and enjoyed our repast on the verandah, watching the ship pull into port, or the ocean stretch to the horizon. Oh, and about those dreaded crowds? Well, the longest line I waited in (by choice) was about 35 minutes for Mongolian barbecue. This was by far the outlier, though. We never felt like we were on a ship with 4,000 passengers and crew (not even close to it). We had no problems getting a seat on the deck, or working out in the well-equipped fitness center. Even the process of going ashore on days in port was well-organized and painless. Really, it’s an impressive feat how well the ship was run considering the immensity of making each and every passenger feel at home, which the crew certainly did!

I’m also happy to report that I didn’t get seasick. :-) In the end, we realized we should have listened to our friends long ago – cruising is a wonderful way to see the world and feel like royalty at the same time. We loved it so much, in fact, that we took a Caribbean cruise this past April on the Carnival Triumph and had another fabulous vacation. Let it be known, we are converted!

Part Two – Ports of Call by Deb Jennings

Stephanie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:49:00 GMT

The day after we set sail on the Freedom we embarked on our first port of call: Naples, Italy. My husband and I, along with our friends, had signed up for an invigorating hike up Mt. Vesuvius and then a tour of the ancient city of Pompeii. For me it was a dream come true; the stories of a place completely covered in volcanic ash had haunted me since I was a child. As it turns out, Pompeii was as ethereal as I had imagined it would be, and much more beautiful. It was also much larger than I expected, which just added to the mystery that such a place could be lost without a trace for centuries.

Pompeii was a treasure, but certainly not the last we treat we were in for on this cruise. Over the next week and a half, we visited the impressive ruins of Ephesus near Izmir, Turkey; the esteemed Acropolis in Athens, Greece; and Ancient Olympia, the original site of the Olympic games. Of all these, I was most surprised by Olympia, near the charismatic town of Katakolon, Greece. Although there’s not much left of the physical temples, training areas, or even the stadium, the historical presence is palpable. And the flowering springtime trees made a spectacular contribution to the site’s venerable beauty.

Other ports of call included Rhodes, Greece, where we had no trouble indulging our proclivity for wandering the narrow, cobble stoned streets. We also spent an adventurous day in Istanbul, Turkey where we greatly enjoyed a boat ride on the Bosphorus, the straight that divides Istabul between two continents (Europe and Asia). The tour also featured a delicious and hearty lunch of traditional Turkish food, a trip to a private antiquities museum, and a Turkish rug demonstration before wrapping up with shopping in the bazaar.

Our final shore excursion took us to the scenic and peaceful towns of Livorno and Portovenere in Italy, where we enjoyed a short boat ride on the dark blue waters, and had lunch on top of a castle. (Our friends had opted for a more ambitious tour of Pisa and Florence.) As we sat in a tiny square in Livorno, eating gelato and watching the world go by, we realized that we could have our cake and eat it too – we could immerse ourselves, if only for a day, in the culture of a place, enjoy the local cuisine, explore the side streets, and have a fantastic time – even on a cruise.

Part One – First Time Cruisers- by Deb Jennings

Stephanie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:38:00 GMT

Our best friends, die-hard Carnival Cruise fans, had been trying for years to convince my husband and I to join them on a cruise. Although the idea was enticing, we had our reservations. Our idea of a fun vacation always involved immersing ourselves in the places we visited for several days: getting lost in wandering side streets, sampling the local cuisine and visiting sights on our own. Plus, I have to admit I was a bit afraid of getting seasick, and my husband, Sean, isn’t a big fan of crowds.

Still, the idea of being pampered for a week on an ocean-going vessel (we live in landlocked Colorado) sounded alluring. When our friends approached us with an absolutely unbelievable deal on a 12-day European cruise – courtesy of their previous cruiser status and their wonderful Carnival travel agent, Lorelei – we had to say yes!

Our cruise on the brand new Carnival Freedom was scheduled to depart April 7, 2007 – just in time for Sean’s 39th birthday (lucky guy!). Our itinerary featured three days at sea, and eight days on shore visiting Italy, Greece and Turkey. Before the cruise, I visited Carnival’s web site to read about all the shore excursions; we even booked our tours online, a much-appreciated convenience for one such as myself who prefers to get everything organized up front.

We had booked cabins with verandahs. Just before the cruise, however, we got a call from our friends saying that someone else had needed our adjoining rooms so we had all been upgraded to suites! Of course, such good fortune is probably a rare occurrence, but we took it as a good omen for our first cruise.

We flew into Rome, but spent the night before the cruise in Civitavecchia where the Freedom was docked. We could see the signature smoke stack of the ship from quite a distance. I couldn’t believe how large the ship was, and I was even more amazed when we boarded. Sean and I walked around with our chins on the floor, snapping photos of the glitzy decor, the pools, the deck and, of course, our fancy cabin (our friends warned us that we would get spoiled having a suite, and they were right!).

The stewards had unlocked the divider between our balconies, so we joined our friends outside to begin what was to become an evening ritual – pizza, brews, fresh air and gorgeous views with good friends. What could be better than that?

The Final Meal- By Host Mach

Stephanie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:49:00 GMT

Returning to my cabin, it was time to prepare for dinner. As it was only one of two that I would have in main dining I was more than ready for it. Shower, shave and dress… out the door at 6 PM. The Mardi Gras dining room is a bit forward and above my cabin. It’s a short walk punctuated by ‘Good evening, sir’s and ‘How are you doing’s. I wish Carnival would share these wonderful people with the rest of the world. I think they might be the solution to world peace.

Entering the dining room I saw that most of my table mates had already arrived. Tanned and relaxed, they all were very deep into cruise bliss. We exchanged greetings, talked about our day, who we met, how things went at the Casino and where the heck were the ‘scots. I had to admit that the ‘scots were left to their own devices back in my cabin. Cap’n Crazy had the remote and was feverishly trying to find any movie with Johnny Depp in the starring role.

Dinner was top, top, top. My starter was the near perfect Caesar Salad escorted by the Black Tiger Shrimp cocktail with my Bombay Sapphire martini guarding the port side. The main course was Chateaubriand done to perfection. If it’s on the menu you must have it. Even the smallest bite is a mouthful of flavor. Wonderful stuff. Once again, everyone at the table, save me, had warm chocolate melting cake for desert. It appears as though people become addicted to WCMC with the first bite and the addiction doesn’t end until the cruise is over. Ummmms and ahhhhhhs rang around the table like a desert version of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They were ‘lovin’ it’… nothing wrong with that.

Dinner over I returned to my cabin to stuff some things in my bags as the morning would see us back in Tampa, back to reality.

Shortly, the ‘scots and I made our way to Rhapsody in Blue, the piano bar, sat and talked with the patrons, laughed and sang (or tried…) with the piano player and generally enjoyed my last evening at sea.

Near midnight I returned to my cabin, finished packing, sat on my balcony and watched the deep, black sea slip by.

As tends to happen to me on the last night of a cruise, I slept poorly. Meandering about my cabin, glancing out the window, staring blankly at the television I didn’t want it to end. Prior to sailing, I was sure that the odd depression that washes over me at the end of a week long cruise wouldn’t occur at the end of a four day. I was wrong, very wrong. It’s the same.

Around 4 AM I wrapped myself in a robe sat quietly in the darkness and eventually fell asleep. No dreams, no memories, just sleep.

Eventually, less darkness woke me. We were dockside in Tampa, motionless. I dressed and considered breakfast but decided against it. My camera was producing a slide show on the TV of the six hundred or so pictures that I had taken. It brought a smile to my face and an occasional laugh. Reliving my cruise before I left the ship made the end a bit better. Not good but less bad.

Jacuzzi, Diner and the Sunset- By Host Mach

Stephanie — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:55:00 GMT

Back in my cabin I retrieved my meds and gingerly made my way into the Jacuzzi this time facing the proper direction. This weary body really appreciated the warm, rushing water that coursed and pounded about me. Somewhere in the vicinity of forty five minutes later I was once again comfortable. Wrapping up in a Carnival robe I watched a slide show of pictures that I had taken to that point on the new ViewSonic flat screen TV. Excellent picture quality, and the photos weren’t bad, either! Many folks have asked recently about the ability to use a PlayStation or X Box on board with the new TVs. I’m happy to report that you can! On the back of the TV, left side, you’ll find a tab protruding. A gentle push will pop that panel loose. Inside you’ll find inputs for S Video, component video for high def, and analog video – the yellow jack that pretty much everyone is familiar with. Audio inputs are on the bottom, the customary red and white RCA jack.

The remote has an input selector allowing you to toggle back and forth among the input choices. I connected the wiring for my camera the first day and left it in place for the entire cruise. No one seemed to mind.

For the first time this cruise I was going to be able to dine in main dining and meet my table mates. I dressed quickly and headed for the Mardi Gras dining room destined to miss sail away as my seating was 6:15 and we sailed at 7 PM which, I believe, is about 2:26 PM Cozumel time.

As it turned out my table mates were a delightful group from various parts of the country with widely divergent occupations and interests. We were half first time cruisers, equipped with that familiar litany of superlatives, and half ‘old sea dogs’ with many cruises made.

The ‘Cruisin’ with the Crazies’ mascots had accompanied me to dinner and immediately captured everyone’s hearts. These little guys are rife with personality and are totally irresistible. Everyone wanted their picture taken with the ‘scots and so I obliged.

Dinner was excellent. I selected the NY Strip from the alternate menu with a side of haricot verte and velvety garlic mashed potatoes. The typically wonderful Caesar salad preceded the main course. My steak came smothered in Three Peppercorn sauce, my favorite, and was properly rare and tender.

Dessert arrived for the others at the table. Universally, the little ramekins that mark Warm Chocolate Melting Cake rested in front of everyone. In the midst of ‘ooooh’s, ‘ahhhh’s and remarks about the relative sinfulness of the dish grins and looks of near orgasmic delight betrayed how well loved this little delight really is. Several of the ladies mentioned that they had purchased the cook books and were hoping to be able to make WCMC as soon as they returned home. I hope it turned out well for them.

Dinner over I excused myself from the table and, once more, made my way about the ship, mascots in hand. We visited lounges, we visited the Internet Café, we visited the Disco, the Brasserie and then relaxed at the aft end of the ship where I was able to enjoy a warm cognac and catch the final glimpses of a phenomenal Caribbean sunset. There is little in life that compares to sunsets at sea. The sun slowly descends toward the water trading its burning yellow make up for a mantle of varying shades of orange. Growing larger as she approaches the sea, the few clouds near the horizon match her color out of respect. Finally, an identical streak of color extends outward toward you, directing you to the impending spectacle. Many times in the past I’ve been privileged to witness the fabled Green Flash. Not so today but it made little difference. Sunset was magnificent.

I lounged for a time in the Chopin, enjoying a fine cigar and another cognac. I chatted for a while with a number of fellow cruisers including one gentleman who was from Spain and spoke no English. As I speak no Spanish the conversation was brief. The décor in the Chopin is proper for a cigar bar. Brighter than most cigar bars as it fronts the Candlelight Lounge, it distinguished itself with many outsized signed photographs of Muhammad Ali in many of his memorable fights. The young lady behind the bar had an intriguing story. This was her last contract with Carnival. She was returning home to Slovakia to marry her childhood sweetheart. They hoped to open a bar together and decorate it with Carnival memorabilia. How cool would it be to wander down the streets of a small Slovak town and be greeted by images of Funship Freddie, the Farcus Funnel and all things Carnival? I wish them all the best in the world.

I bypassed the evening’s entertainment in favor of my balcony. This time I and my bare feet sat quietly, listened and watched as the sea and the sky danced and merged.

It had been a wonderful day of adventure, laughter and exploration. In other words, a typical day on a cruise. My bed had sent a text message to my back inviting it to relax for eight hours and so we did.

Cozumel, Maragritaville and a Pile of Nachos- By Host Mach

Stephanie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:11:00 GMT

Day Three… Cozumel!!!

We arrived exactly on time in Cozumel. A trip up to the Lido Deck for breakfast used up an hours or so and I was ready to go ashore. According to my watch it was a bit after nine. Making my way down to Three Deck via the forward elevator I soon found myself on the Punta Langosta pier gazing and the island. You’d be amazed at how long that pier is when you’re stuck doing your best Quasimodo impression. I had a job to do. I had a mission. I needed to acquire a rare and oft sought after spirit… Aha Toro Tequila which, when translated, means ‘Run, it’s a Bull!!!’ I think.

The dock at Cozumel has these three wheel bicycles that more than anything else resemble a rickshaw. This was my new mode of transport. Feeling like a tourist in Hong Kong we glided slowly along the pier, zipping by 85 year old ladies with walkers… everyone else breezed by us. No matter as in less then twenty five minutes I had secured a second bottle of Aha Toro, this time with a stopper that fit properly. I rickshawed my way back to the Inspiration in time to view the arrival of her sister ship, the Imagination. She docked directly across from us. This was quite the sight as the Imagination is the only other ship in the fleet that has the Evolutions of Fun upgrades complete. Side by side these two gleaming white beauties looked like a traveling version of Schillterbahn. Folks exchanged greetings across the way and it seemed much like a family reunion.

Somewhat later in the day (morning in Cozumel) I elected to return to town, once again, to shop a bit and finally to visit Margaritaville. I stopped at Carlos and Charlie’s and Senior Frog’s, easy to do as they pretty much share the same building. I had a wonderful time chatting with many other time confused travelers all of whom were expecting lunch and were being offered breakfast.

It was time to pay homage to Jimmy Buffett and head to Maragritaville where ‘there’s booze in the blender and soon it will render that frozen concoction that helps me hang on…’

I’ve visited quite a few of Jimmy’s stores and this is one of my favorites. Even quite early in the afternoon (early for them, mid day for me…) the place was kickin’!! Most folks were out on the patio with drinks in there hands, colors mimicking the entire spectrum of light.

The water just beyond the patio was that gorgeous pale blue that so typifies the beach areas of these islands. It was about as inviting as any water anywhere could be. I wanted to run headlong into the sea but the new camera that was draped around my neck made me think better of it. So, I elected to sit, have a few (wink, wink…) drinks, look for some t-shirts.

Looking about this place one is assaulted by all things Jimmy. There’s surf boards on the walls, parrothead signage everywhere, bikini clad lovelies wearing paper pirate hats, waitresses in grass skirts.

Curvaceous hips clad in a grass skirt swaying in my direction suggested that I needed to figure out what was going to be my concoction du jour. On rare occasions I like something a bit different and today was an occasion. It boiled down to one word: Mojito. What a wonderful word, conjuring up images of Hemingway leaning heavily against the bar at La Floridita in Havana. Yep… it’s gonna be a Mojito day.

In short order those swaying hips returned sporting a tray which sported my Mojito. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! Yellowish green with muddled mint leaves the size of my thumb swirling about, this drink was a work of art. Tropical moisture condensed on the cold glass and ran gracefully down the side. My mouth is watering as I write. This thing was cold, refreshing, full of flavor and history. There isn’t a thing about this drink that’s not to love. I drank it gratefully and fairly quickly. The second was as pleasing as the first and was a perfect compliment to my order of nachos… as was the third… and fourth. Ya’ see, this was no common order of nachos. It arrived by fork lift and nearly crushed my table. As I recall, Sir Edmund Hillary was planting the New Zealand flag on the top when the plate arrived. Pale green gobs of fresh guacamole, hundreds of slices of jalapeno, cascades of melted cheese, creamy refried beans, deep brown ground beef and bacon (!!!!) graced an Everest of chips. This was the mother load! Tasting as good as it looked this delight could have fed several families in some third world nations. I spent a good forty five minutes savoring Mt. Nacho before I finally waved the white flag and begged to have it taken away.

Mojito in hand I spent some time taking stock of the gift shop and selected a couple of the less brilliant t-shirts, got my treasures bagged up and made one final pass through the store.

Arriving at the pier I once again rickshawed my way back to the Inspiration. I suspect that every time I see Carnival twins side by side I’ll get the same silly grin on my face that I did then. It was good to be home… home on the Inspiration.

Day Two, first Sea Day- by Host Mach

Stephanie — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Despite my late evening I got up quite early to shower and dress. I was on a mission. I dug my camera tripod out of my case and sallied forth. Breakfast was obtained in the Brasserie and I went aft to the open deck area spreading smiles and ‘good morning’s as often as possible. It was my intention to enjoy my breakfast, attach my camera to the tripod and take some panoramic shots of both the Serenity Area and the amazing Water Works.

Few folks were out and about yet as the bars weren’t yet open and I had the entire aft end of the ship to myself. Taking these shots is a bit time consuming but I got them done. As it turned out, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the first go so I redid them the next morning when we were docked in Cozumel.

It was time to get to know the ship in more detail and depth.

The Inspiration is a soft ship. I don’t mean physically soft but visually soft. It’s difficult to find a straight line or a hard angle anywhere other than the Atrium which is awash with neon and sunlight. As I wandered, the curves of the wooden sconces, the graceful arc of an archway or the way a bar meanders through an area reinforced my opinion about her appearance. Everything rolls and dances, nothing looks static. I began to feel the talent of Joe Farcus draw me on, forcing me to peer into every space I happened across. Like the other ships that Farcus has designed, the continuity of the vessel only slowly dawns on you. One might wonder what Violins, Shakespeare, Rhapsody in Blue and Chopin have in common but they work together. When one recalls that the theme of this ship is Creative Spirits of the Arts it all starts to make sense… the curvaceous lines; the dramatic colors of the lighting; the sight and sounds of violins; the heavy, wooden, classic feel of the library all melt into the harmonious picture that becomes the Inspiration. As she’s a smaller vessel than the Conquest class ships there’s a bit less to explore but she’s no less dramatic.

The Brasserie is probably the most whimsical space on the ship. Purple tubes erupt from the deck and dart across the ceiling without regard for the patrons who often bump into objects as they pay a bit more attention to the décor than they do the direction they’re headed. At the aft end of the Brasserie, on both port and starboard sides, you’ll find my favorite haunt, the area where I had previously enjoyed cocktails and breakfast. Open areas situated above the Serenity area and below the water park beg a quiet moment and a cool drink. Watching the world slowly recede into the distance became my favorite pastime.

An Inspired Review- Part 1: By Host Mach

Stephanie — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:05:00 GMT

At almost exactly 4 PM the familiar vibration and rumble of the thrusters told me it was gonna get good now. With that amazing ghostly quiet we inched away from the dock and began the waltz that would point us to sea. Twisting as if on a giant, hidden pivot we filled the channel at Tampa and eventually pressed west. Heading to sea at three knots may not sound thrilling but it was for me. This vessel was off to do what she does best… run in deep blue open water.

As the Inspiration is just recently a recipient of the Evolutions of Fun modifications I made my way aft to see them for myself. Yep… this ship has it and has it well done. Seeing the waterpark requires a double take. The size of the slide makes one wonder if you’re really on a ship or have been transported to California. I suspect that one could build wedgie inducing speed as you rip down this amazing Tube O’ Fun. I’d like to meet the demonic individual that managed to pack all those twists and excitement into such a compact area. Smiles break out as dads and kids race each other on the parallel water slides. The deck is soaked with water tossed about from the silly fun that young ones of all ages are thrilling themselves with. I’d take a water park over a rock wall any day and it appears that a great many folks agree with me.

Carnival… The Fun Ships… That certainly is in evidence here.

Moving forward and down to the Lido Deck it was necessary to secure some variety of food before the string of drinks overtook me. Those amazing cheeseburgers and shoestring fries were calling. Just right with the perfect amount of juicy goodness that burger took almost fifteen minutes to finish. The requirement for a fair size stack of napkins provided evidence of amazing moistness of the thing. Glorious… if a burger can be glorious this one was.

Down off the Lido deck and to the cabin. I took a few minutes to explore the space as it has changed markedly since my last visit. Being a Category 12 it was large, invitingly large and open. Gone was the wall that had separated the sleeping area from the sitting area. It was now one large, bright space. I had left the door open as I had only intended to be there for a minute or two. One of my fellow travelers poked his head in and remarked ‘You could hold a dance in here!!’ That’s really a pretty accurate statement!

The bathroom is sparkling with a new, brilliant white Jacuzzi tub, equally brilliant pedestal sink and tan ceramic tile floor. Storage was more than abundant below the sink countertop with three levels available for all those things that normally inhabit bathroom shelves.

The walk in closet that is located directly across from the bathroom has all new cabinetry rife with space for anything that three or four people might want to bring along with them. Plenty of hanging space for suits, dresses and such and cavernous drawers for the remainder.

Written by: Host Mach

Paradise & Girlfriends Getaway- by Colleen

Stephanie — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:25:00 GMT

My first cruise was on the Elation in October and I came back hooked! Though I had booked a 7 day shortly after my return, I was looking to squeeze in another cruise before that. I mentioned the Paradise 3 Day sailing to one of my friends and she could not say “YES” fast enough!

The Paradise was wonderful for our Girlfriends Getaway! We arrived early, into Long Beach, to take advantage of early check in on the Queen Mary. We were on Paradise by noon and took full advantage of everything she has to offer. I cannot say enough positive things about our trip. The crew were very friendly and our room steward and wait staff were excellent! For dinner, we were seated at a table of 10 and we could not have asked for a better group. Our Assistant Waiter even commented on how pleased he was to see everyone enjoying each other’s company and on the amount of fun we were having! On the last night, we ended up staying up quite late with two of our fellow diners. They were great company and VERY entertaining!

The ship visits Ensenada. At the Orientation Talk, I won an excursion discount. Though we had booked this in advance, I was able to apply the discount. We chose the Papas and Beer Beach Getaway at Rosarito because we wanted to enjoy the beach. The bus ride to Rosarito took less than an hour and we were given a guided tour along the way. Our guide and driver were very professional and since our guide stayed with us, we were able to spend a little more time with her at our destination. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and I definitely recommend this excursion.

We attended the show in the Theater each night and also made it to the Adult Comedy Show on the last night. On our Sea Day, we spent time by the pool and also attended Afternoon Tea. With the variety of activities available, you can do as little or as much as you want. We often came across our cruise director, Karl with a K, singing in the Atrium. We enjoyed his concerts!

Both of my cruises have been on Fantasy Class ships and I really enjoy them. The Paradise crowd was a nice mix of all ages and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Though it is only a 3 day trip, it is perfect for a long weekend. I am hoping to squeeze in one more sailing, on the Paradise, before the year is over!

Thanks!
Colleen

A Sailaway for Mother’s Day- by Eva

Stephanie — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:00:00 GMT

My Mom is one special lady. You won’t find a (seventy-something) with more strength, spirit, and love of life. Cruising has long been Mom’s vacation of choice, and we are exclusively Carnival cruisers!! So when choosing something special for Mother’s Day, it was just a question of which Carnival cruise it would be.

We chose Ecstasy out of Galveston….first time on Ecstasy and first time out of Galveston. A winner in all ways!! Fantasy class is our favorite, and Galveston is within driving distance of our new home in OKC. Coming to OKC from FL was difficult for our cruising lives!!

We did the five day that leaves on Mondays, visiting Progreso and Cozumel. While Cozumel is a long time favorite port, it was our first visit to Progreso. Loved it too, and it goes on the favorite port list! Progreso is a small beach town….waking up to its new stature in Carnival’s itinerary. I hope it stays there. The people are warm and welcoming; you can feel the excitement the visitors to this sweet town are generating! We had a blast!

Ultimately, as always, the ports were icing on the Carnival cake, as it was our onboard experience that made this trip one my Mom will always cherish. The crew on Ecstasy goes the extra mile…no TEN miles!!!....and my Mom was royally pampered all week by every crew member we encountered, especially our waiters Freddy and Rommy, the Society Bar staff Jelko and Dragan, Lido staff Izabella, Assistant Maitre’d Eva,….and literally dozens more. You can feel the dedication of this crew to giving its guests the ultimate experience.

As if this wasn’t enough, my Mom had a special treat thanks to the extra effort of John Heald. This special man took the time to have Ecstasy Cruise Director (Extraordinaire!!!) Tina Noble seek us out at the Captain’s Party for introductions to the Captain and Senior Officers. Tina’s attention to my Mom will never be forgotten, there are no words that could do justice to the emotions of my heart.

We had a Mother’s Day to remember, and Ecstasy is a gem in Carnival’s crown thanks to its people…it’s always the people that make the most difference. Bravo Carnival!!

Floatie (AKA Eva)

Proud member of CruiseCritics.com, and JohnHealdsBlog.com!

Some pics of our experience:

Mom with Cruise Director Tina

Mom and I in the beautiful WindStar Dining Room…

Mom wanted to take Fabulous Freddy home….look at that smile!!

Honeymoon Cruise Review- by Cindy Billet

Stephanie — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:59:00 GMT

My husband Kevin and I took our FIRST cruise on May 9th of 2004. We sailed out of Baltimore MD on the Carnival Miracle (we were the 2nd sailing I believe). What could be better than being on a brand new ship? Well..... our first port was Key West, FL (5/12/04) where Kevin and I got off the ship and went to the courthouse. From there we headed to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach where we were married at 10:00 AM. The whole setting was beautiful, we were married in beachy clothing and my gown was coral. We got back on the ship and had a wonderful rest of the cruse, as we were pampered from morning until night. The dining team (Olimpu & Anka) were great and treated us to a special honeymoon cake. The couple traveling with us had our room decorated the day we got married. Our room steward even treated us extra special by hanging a monkey in the corner of our room for the entire cruise. We got to take a Dolphin Excursion which is something I dreamed of all my life, it was fabulous.

I couldn't think of a better way to get married and celebrate that very special day. After that cruise we decided that each year we would take a cruise on our anniversary. We have done that each year until this year when we decided to take the Bloggers Cruise in January instead. We still treated it as our "Anniversary" cruise. We are now booked on the 2nd Bloggers Cruise in 2009 and again, it will be a very special time for us.

Crusing with Carnival was a whole new beginning to both of our lives. New experience on a new ship as newlyweeds. How much better can it be?

Sincerely
Cindy Billet
York, PA

Anniversary Celebration Onboard - Welcome Guest Blogger Heidi Beth

Stephanie — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:02:00 GMT

Our first cruise was for our 15th anniversary, on the Fantasy going out of Port Canaveral (at the time). My husband was just looking for something special to do and was just looking. and before I knew it we were getting ready for a cruise. I could not believe it, a real cruise. Growing up in New England I did not even consider such a thing possible, and did not really give it any thought after we moved to Florida I did not consider it as it seemed out of reach, but my husband is good at reaching and finding a way, especially if it is for me and his family.

Once on the ship it was unreal and from the first day we were hooked, everything was perfect, the friendly faces ready to help in any way to the awesome food, with the most wonderful servers on all ships had to be ours! I could not pick just one thing anywhere I am with my husband was perfect, from looking out to sea on deck at the beauty of the open ocean to promenading in our finest at dinner, it was as as a dream come true.

Since then we have been on a cruise every year, and if we can we will continue this with Carnival. Oh and since then we have also fond John's blog and that has only added to our cruising fun.

Heidi-Beth

Carnival Splendor Update: Sea Trials

Stephanie — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:32:00 GMT

Check out the latest update on the Carnival Splendor. Photos of the ship's latest sea trial are included.

New Carnival Splendor Uundergoes Final Sea Trials in Preparation for European Debut July 2, 2008

MIAMI (April 10, 2008) – Carnival Cruise Lines’ new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor is shown here in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Sicily undergoing final sea trials.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri, Italy, the 3,006-passenger vessel – the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed – is slated to debut July 2, 2008, with an eight-day voyage from Genoa to London (Dover) after which it will begin a series of 12-day Northern Europe cruises July 13.

Representing a new class of vessel, Carnival Splendor will offer a host of innovations, including a luxurious 21,000-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa. Adjacent to the facility will be 68 spa staterooms and suites – a first for Carnival. Its numerous family-friendly features will include an expansive two-level, 5,500-square-foot children’s play area and a water spray park.

Following its Northern Europe cruises, Carnival Splendor will operate a schedule of 12-day cruises to the Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for seven-day Caribbean departures. Carnival Splendor will sail a series of 14- to 18-day South America voyages, then be deployed to Long Beach, Calif., for year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages beginning in March 2009.

Carnival Splendor Countdown Underway

Stephanie — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:27:00 GMT

Spring is in the air and that means that the launch of our brand new ship, the Carnival Splendor is only a few months away. With preparations well underway for the finishing touches on the ship’s onboard amenities we’re hard at work planning the splendid naming ceremony and inaugural sailing.

Much more than just a ship, the Carnival Splendor truly offers something for everyone. Our Cloud 9 Spa facilities are the perfect relaxation area and the expansive 5,500 square foot play area and water spray park are just the things that will keep the kids talking for months!

As you can see, we’re overflowing with anticipation, so we want to make sure our guests stay up-to-date with the latest information. With that said, check out the latest renderings of the ship. And, for more information on the ultimate family vacation check this out:

"From a 5,500-square-foot play area – the largest in the “Fun Ship” fleet – to a fun-filled water spray park and facilities and activities aimed at youngsters, ’tweens and teens, kids of all ages are sure to have a blast aboard Carnival Cruise Lines’ new 113,000-ton Carnival Splendor, set to debut this summer….Designed as the ultimate vacation for families, Carnival Splendor will offer different programs catering to specific age groups, including “Camp Carnival” (ages 2-11), “Circle C” (ages 12-14) and “Club O2” (ages 15-17), along with children’s menus, a corkscrew water slide, a stroller rental program and numerous other family-friendly features.” Click here to read the rest.

Promenade

Aft Lounge

Restuarant

Theatre

Atrium