Getaway to the warm and a cruise on the Carnival Breeze

I wanted a vacation to the warm to break up the winter, so we planned this 8 day cruise after seeing a good price ($1,160 for both) and good airfare ($255 after 100 discount for getting another CC, and using air miles for Lynn).

I requested vacation time, we confirmed a house/pet sitter, so we were set to leave without excessive worries. We actually left very early Thursday on Jan. 29th, so we could also spend some time with good friends in Miami and visit the Chuhuly exhibit at Fairchild gardens.

This is our sixth cruise with Carnival, and will get us up to 44 days with them.

Route itinerary


Miami, Friends and Fairchild gardens with chihuly exhibit

Up by 4 a.m. Thursday to drop of our car at Valet Connections and catch our 6:30 a.m. flight. We flew American Airlines Detroit to Miami and rented a car from Alamo when we landed to go to friends in Miami. Alamo also had a shuttle to take you to the cruise port when we returned the car Saturday. We rented from EZ rental when we came back from the cruise to run down to the Keys for the day.

Once we arrived in Miami we drove to Dwight and Jan's and got to spend some time with Jan, going to eat lunch at Black Point Ocean Grill in Cutler Bay. After lunch and seeing Jan's dad for a while, we headed home and Dwight swung by between clients to spend time and then Thursday night we all had dinner at Big Cheese in Miami. Friday Jan made us oatmeal and then the four of us headed to fairchild gardens for the chihuly exhibit. A fun afternoon walking through the gardens and even riding their trolly for a tour.

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Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly


Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Fairchild & Chihuly

Cruising south for two sea days

Sunday was 70 degrees and windy with a bit of overcast skys. A little cold for sitting outside. Monday was 76 degrees, windy and sunny, better for being outside. We did make it to the treadmill both days to at least walk for 20-30 minutes. I was fighting a bit of a cold and did not want to push it.

The Carnival Breeze (christened 2012) capacity is: 3,690 passengers and 1,386 crew. A very big ship but it did not feel crowded except the first lunch as everyone was boarding, eating at the same time and location. The decor was nice and no complaints about the ship, except it seemed like more smoking around the center pool than on other cruises. There were good choices for food and we alternated between eating at the buffets and dining room for dinners.

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Dinner

Dinner

Fairchild & Chihuly

Dining area

Fairchild & Chihuly

Carnival Breeze

Fairchild & Chihuly

Ship views

Fairchild & Chihuly

Dinner

Fairchild & Chihuly

Center Pool towels

Fairchild & Chihuly

Towel art

Saint Thomas, USVI

Temperature was 78 as we were down to about 18 degrees latitude. We caught a old taxi for $20 (worried it would make it after it had a hard time making it up a hill) to take us to Secret Harbor and rented a couple chairs for $10 each. We had brought our mask and snorkel and Lynn was happy to swim with her newly short hair.

We enjoyed the beach, snorkeled a few areas, had a couple Stellas ($5 each) and then joined a couple other couples who had a taxi scheduled back ($22 a little farther to downtown). Before leaving we ordered a Ahi tuna nachos ($15) and ate it during the drive back.

When back in town we shopped around a bit (good deals), checked to see if they sold panasonic lumix cameras (nope), and bought a few other souveniers (hat, Clara gift, shirt, liquor). Don't believe the shops if they say you will be able to get the wine or liquor to your room. You get it at the end of the cruise...


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St Thomas

St Thomas

St Thomas

St Thomas

St Thomas

St Thomas

St Thomas

St Thomas

St Thomas

St Thomas

StThomas

St Thomas


Secret Harbor

Secret Harbor

Secret Harbor

Secret Harbor

Secret Harbor

Cruzan Beach Club at Sunset Grille

Secret Harbor

Secret Harbor

Antigua

Temperature 78 degrees, humidity 75% but you don't feel it. We took the 22 bus (the buses are to the right and up from port, just ask) for $1.50 to Turner beach. We were going to take the bus to Valley Church Beach which we had been to before, but someone else on the bus said they had been there and it was good. Turner beach was smaller with local vendors more condensed in trying to sell their wares. We walked the beach a little and decided to catch the bus back to Valley Church Beach which we had really enjoyed years before. We rented a couple chairs ($5 each, don't give the money until they are giving you the chairs) and met up with a group from Grand Rapids that Lynn had told about this beach in St. Thomas. We sat with them down from the congestion of the main area and restaurant and under the shade of some trees. It was a nice spot and beers were $5 each or discounted for a bucket full and local brand.

We left around 1 p.m. to catch the bus to town but a couple vacationing asked us if we wanted a ride and we took them up on the offer. Back in town we found a couple stores for some rum raising ice cream and wifi to check in with the world. Then back on the ship for food and to relax.


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Antigua

Antigua

Antigua

Antigua

Antigua

Valley Church Beach

Valley Church Beach

Valley Church Beach

Valley Church Beach

Valley Church Beach


Valley Church Beach

Valley Church Beach

Valley Church Beach

Valley Church Beach

Grand Rapids group

Grand Rapids group

Antigua

Antigua

San Juan, Puerto Rico

We had walked San Juan in previous trips and were hoping to go inland for other sites. Lynn got a message from Norma who was a good friend of a friend and Lynn had been in contact with to get information about renting a car and going to Rio Camuy Cave Park and the Arecibo observatory. In discussions Norma had said it might be hard due to construction and our time frame, but volunteered to pick us up and take us. We took her up on her offer and she was at our dock when we arrived. 78.6 degrees, 74% humidity and we got the royal tour by Norma. We made it to the cave and did their tour. It was a bit of a challenge for Norma as she was having physical issues, but she took her walker and even with issues, like the wheel falling off and the walker running away, made it through the whole walking tour in the cave. Lynn and I enjoyed the tour which was about $12 per person.

We discussed a lunch stop, but with our time constraints and hoping to see Arecibo observatory, Norma stopped for a quick snack at a roadside stand for me and her to try (meat in them) and we headed off the the observatory. The road back to the observatory was long and winding, but we made it and Lynn and I signed up for the VIP tour while Norma did the basic tour so she could rest and watch a informative movie. The VIP tour took us down to the dish and by the facilities the scientist and workers stayed in. After the tour we headed out quickly as we were starting to worry about traffic and the time it would take to get back. When back in San Juan we stopped to fill Normas vehicle up and all was well as we were back with an hour to spare. Bye and thanks to Norma then back on the ship and off to eat as Lynn and I had not eaten much through the tours.


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San Juan

San Juan

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave


Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Cave Spider

Cave Spider

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave

Rio Camuy Cave


Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo Observatory

Nassau, Bahamas

67 degrees, 49% humidity and back up to about 25 degrees latitude. We did laundry in the a.m. as we did not arrive until noon. We walked around town checking out the shops and stopped for drinks and a snack at a bar with wifi. After checking out more shops and Lynn trying on a few clothing items, we headed back without any purchases.


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Nassau

Nassau

Nassau2

Nassau Bar stop

Nassau2

Leaving Nassau

My Carnival Breeze synopsis (notes to come)

-nice decor
-nice photos in hall by doors
-fairly quiet
-nice room, OK sized bath
-buffet had good layout, and we headed to the aft where it was less crowded
-we found some areas to relax in the quiet and shade when needed
-relaxed dress to formal choices
-non pay food was adequate to good to me, with a lot of choices, sea days also had hamburgers, pizza, tandoori, mexican burritos.
-good to OK entertainment

Off early and to the Keys

EZ rental Toyota Camry to the Keys. Stopped by Kmart for a couple items like a hat for me and dress for Lynn. Then off to see our friend Linda, who we originally met when she sold our Moon Bay unit back in 2000.

After catching up some, we headed to Lazy Days for the usual great lunch (sesame tuna sandwich for me and hog fish for Lynn) and a mojito and rum runner. Then we headed back to the Sanctuary to catch up with our friend Linda Hinkin and meet Linda Perloffs friend Mitch.

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Lazy Days

Lazy Days

Lazy Days

Lazy Days

Lazy Days

Lazy Days

Sanctuary

Sanctuary

We had good timing as we missed 13 inches of snow Sunday night Feb. 2nd with U of M even closing Monday, but winter was here when we returned as the week of Feb. 15th-22nd the temperatures dropped to 13 below one night, and 20 below another.


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