The Pictures are up!

If you want to see the pictures from the trip then scroll down!

Update #8: Last Day at Sea and The City that Does Sleep

We got up early so that we could eat breakfast in the Pairs dining room. Our regular location was the London but this one has a view! Janelle had waffles and I had eggs Benedict. After breakfast we layed out on the deck until the debarkation talk. We then took a ride on the water slide and then to the pool before lunch. After lunch we did some line dancing in the Rome lounge and then headed back out to lay on the deck.

This led us to a nap and then supper. We took one last look at the photo gallery and shops and ended the evening with a show featuring guests of the ship which was cool.

This morning we got up and once again had breakfast in the Paris dining room... that was the best thing that happened all day. We took quite a while to debark the vassal but finally made our way outside. There a taxi guy offered to take us to the airport for ten bucks, fair enough. He pointed us to another man who took us to a big van, loaded our bags and we got in to wait for him to fill it with other passengers. While we were waiting another man came and opened the door and asked one of the other passengers to open the driver's door. Once the door was opened, the guy got in to move the vehicle so a taxi with a trailer could get out. We backed up into the van, pulled ahead and then backed into it again!!!! Anyways, the vehicle we hit twice finally made it out and we waited again. Then another guy from another company comes and opens the back doors of the van and yells come with me as HE GRABS OUR BAGS AND TAKES OFF WITH THEM!!!! We chased after the guy who loaded them in his trailer, not wanting to make a huge incident we got in his vehicle along with the other passengers in a vehicle. He totally stole the other taxis costomers but we had to get to the airport and needed our luggage which HE had!

So we made it to the airport and so did our bags. We got in and bought a coffee. That part was good too! Ok now back to the daily trend. I drank my coffee and Janelle ate a brownie of some kind. We were sure there would be dining in our terminal and asked an employee to confirm, cleared security and made our way to our gate area. Dining had much less options here, but we dealt with it, ate and waited for our flight to board. Things looked good until about twenty minutes before our flight when we felt we should be boarding. They soon came on and said twenty minutes or so... then twenty minutes or so... half and hour... so on so on. Then they said they were fixing our plane. Then they said we were getting a new plane. Then they sent us to a new gate. Then our flight was delayed!!! Finally we boarded our flight hoping to have half an hour to catch our next one which was supposed to be a four hour layover. We sat on the plane for a while... long enough to watch the ENTIRE in flight movie for a weather delay! Finally our plane took off. They announced as we neared New York that we would still make our flight to Bangor!!!! But they were wrong as that flight had long left. The airport, much to my surprise was totally DEAD. Hardly anyone passengers or employees. I guess the city does sleep sometimes.

So here we are in New York in a low scale hotel room with a couple of cheap meal vouchers with one coffee shop open in the airport. Did I mention that they wouldn't give us our bags... yeah no clean clothes or anything like that.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home!

Update #7: Greetings From Jamaica Mon

Well this morning we woke at 7:15 as the ship pulled in to port in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We were actually late arriving because of lost time yesterday on the rescue mission but Jamaicans are not really all that concerned about time, I don’t even think they knew we were late! We met a catamaran along the pier which took us out to some coral reef to snorkel. The reef was beautiful and we saw all kinds of tropical fish – including Dori. I even held a sea cucumber! After that we got back on the catamaran and we headed for Dunn’s River Falls. I am sure most of you know but Dunn’s River Falls is a fresh water waterfall that spills into the Caribbean Sea. We gathered with our group and climbed up the falls and it was unbelievable, so beautiful. We actually climbed the falls with a couple of guys we met at the open dinner the other day, Allan and Zack. They are two young guys in college and we have seen them around the boat some. It is so neat how you make friends around the boat and get to see them and chat with them from time to time. Anyways they were a lot of fun to hang out with as we climbed the falls.

We got back on the boat mid-afternoon and had some lunch on the Lido deck which was of course awesome and then got cleaned up to attend a special party for return cruisers only. Free drinks and we actually tracked down some fruit punch this time as well as hors d’oeuvres. They had some fun and dancing, Janelle and I danced on the stage with other guests while a live orchestra played in behind us. Then they played a little presentation on the history of Carnival Cruise Lines. Very cool. We then got ready for dinner and tonight was the second formal night so we got all dressed up again.

Supper was really good but we wanted to save room because the midnight galla buffet was also tonight, hence why this blog is late! This is where they set up entrees and especially deserts that can take as long as 14 hours to prepare, the whole thing takes 120 man hours to prepare! Lots of chocolate for Janelle! On another note, Janelle has sworn that she saw one of our waiters from last year on the ship on a number of occasions. After a while I had to agree with her. We thought it was Ladislav form Slovakia who was, we felt, one of the best waiters on the ship last year. So last night we saw him again and I asked him if he worked the Carnival Legend last year and sure enough it was him. We told him that we raved about his service and that he truly was one of the best. He seemed really touched and said that he had never had a guest come up to him who had remembered him before. He even told his boss who came over to meet us too. It was really cool and I really hope it helps him in his career.

Update #6: Grand Time in Grand Cayman

Pardon the lame pun but today, like the rest was another great one. We set an alarm for 7:00 this morning and got up for breakfast. Our shore excursion wasn’t set until 9:30 but you have to be ready to go early in Grand Cayman because there is no pier. The ship drops anchor a little more than a quarter mile from land and taxi boats take loads of people ashore. We were plenty early for our excursion of parasailing only to find that it had been cancelled due to bad weather. It was raining some and they say that if water gets on the parachute then it will go down and there is no way to determine how fast. This was kind of disappointing. We debated taking one of the other tours but none really interested us for the money involved so we decided to do some shopping instead while we waited to see what the weather would do.

Shopping, I have to admit wasn’t that bad. There were a lot of cool things to see and the atmosphere was a lot calmer than in Mexico. The weather really improved too so we boarded the ship to eat and then went to Seven Mile Beach. Wow, the beach was unreal. The sand was so soft and the water was warm and crystal blue. As soon a Janelle got in she was swarmed by a school of tropical fish, at least I think that is what I saw as I did my best to maintain balance when she jumped on my back!! We took in the afternoon laying on the beach and cooling off in the water. (Side note on schools of fish: yesterday I forgot to mention that while we were lying on the deck a school of dolphins came along side our ship! There had to of been hundreds of them coming to the surface of the water, major cool!)


We got back on the ship late in the afternoon and got something more to eat and took a nap. When we were getting up and getting ready for supper something really strange happened. I went to the Lido deck to get something to drink because I woke up thirstier than life but noticed some little black dot off in the distance when I looked out the window. I didn’t really think much of it, could be another boat or a rock or who knows. Anyway a short time after this our cruise director called attention over the intercom that our vessel was stopped because the captain had spotted a boat in distress and a rescue mission was in progress. Updates were given throughout and finally all members involved were rescued and taken aboard our ship! They are being given free food and shelter and will be dropped off for arrangements when we reach Ocho Rios tomorrow.

Supper was excellent again. We dined alone tonight, that is the other couple who sit with us, Robert and Tiffany, did not attend the dining room. The water is rough tonight so they may have been a bit under the weather. Either way it was a nice meal. We then attended a three part show with dancing, then a really funny comedian and a juggler who was really good and very funny.

Grand time in Grand Cayman!

Update #5: Another Lazy Day at Sea

Well last night I left off with getting ready for supper which was excellent – fillet minion. We tried the mahi mahi since we had each caught one earlier. It was ok but was done up in the health food menu so didn’t have as much taste! After supper we went to a great show and ended the evening with a Mexican buffet and sail away party.

Today was the definition of a lazy day at sea… we got up, ate breakfast, laid on the deck, ate lunch, laid on the deck, watched the sunset, ate supper, went to a show and are now going to bed… RELAXATION! I love it. Should be a little more intense tomorrow but believe me we rested up for it!!

Good night!


Sorry pictures still won't work :(

Update 4: Something is Fishy in Cozumel, Mexico

Well this morning we woke up almost to our port on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico and it was dark. That’s right, the sun wasn’t up yet at 6:15 when we got up this morning, got ready for the day and headed for breakfast on the Lido deck. We had to get up early so that we made sure we had no problems disembarking so we could meet the local fishermen who were taking us deep sea fishing! There were five guests to a boat and we made a 30 min boat ride out to good fishing water. Good I’ll say, we hardly had the bait out and the first guy on rotation had a fish and it was a beauty! It wasn’t a long time after that and I thought I had one. I pulled and reeled for a LONG time and my arms were ready to fall off by the time we realized it was a weighted net I had caught. I couldn’t believe it, all that for nothing. It was so hot it was unbelievable. Soon after that, the first guy’s son caught one. About 45 minutes past with nothing when two took at once! Another man reeled in one and I took the other. I reeled in a huge mahi mahi fish! Man what a fight they put up, it was so cool! Well the trip was almost over when Janelle, the natural, caught the last fish, another mahi mahi fish (they all were). It was so fun but my arms are killing me!


After a fun but exhausting fishing trip, we headed back to the ship for a nap. When we got up we took in some lunch and then headed back out into the city to do some shopping/ browsing… Janelle’s idea. After a walk around we headed back to the ship to cool off in the pool. We just got cleaned up and are preparing for supper. We are bloging early because there is a special rate on the internet right now. We will fill you in on the rest of the day later!

Update 3: Happy Anniversary on a Day at Sea!

Well today Janelle and I celebrated one year of Marriage, more on that later! We woke up this morning around 8:30ish and took our time getting ready for a lazy day at sea. We had breakfast on the Lido deck where a chef prepared special order omelets for us. We ate this ocean-side and it was beautiful. We then took in the shore excursion talk in the Rome Lounge. This is where all the important talks, shows, acts and such take place. This was very informative. Once it was done we purchased our tickets for our excursions. We will be… did you actually think I was going to tell you? Check tomorrow!

After this was done we took some time to explore some parts of the ship we hadn’t been to yet, like various lounges, shops and galleries. It really is quite remarkable the variety of things that are on the ship. This led us to lunchtime on the Lido deck which was once again exquisite! One highlight for me was a smoked salmon sandwich made on a bagel bun. The afternoon was whisked away laying in the sun and hanging out in the pool.


Before supper tonight we attended the Captain’s cocktail party with free hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Unlike last year we couldn’t track down a non-alcoholic drink this time but that’s ok, the music was really nice and there were some people who could really dance. We were required to dress up to attend, as supper tonight was formal as well. There are always lots of people around to take your picture but especially on formal night. Wow, my face hurts.

Supper of course was unbelievable. Janelle had roasted garlic pumpkin soup followed by a spinach salad with bacon and Portobello mushrooms with blue cheese walnut dressing. For a main course she had spaghetti carbonara and the chocolate melting cake for desert. I had water… Actually I had everything she had minus the melting cake, add stuffed mushroom caps and a tropical fruit plate!

We ended the evening with the first half of the show but got tired and turned in. Best anniversary so far!!

Good night!

Update #2: All Aboard! Sunny and Hot in Miami

Today we got up in sunny beautiful Miami and it was HOT! The continental breakfast at the hotel was really good… Belgian waffles, yum. Good times. We left for the cruise terminals around 11:30 and arrived to begin our wait in lines around 12:00. It takes a good half hour to actually get on the boat. By the way this is the first thing you see when you step on board.



Even before heading to our room we went straight to the Lido deck for a bite to eat. I had pizza and a hot dog and Janelle had pizza and salad. Then we had cakes and so on and so on, yeah food! Most of our afternoon was consumed with lying out on the deck and lounging in the pool. The only activity we had to participate in was a safety drill, which Janelle didn’t mind because she gets to wear her handy dandy PFD. Looking sharp!

Supper was amazing, I started out with hickory smoked Atlantic salmon and salad followed by Ziti with Italian sausage, green and red peppers and mushrooms. Janelle started with fried chicken tenders on marinated cucumber lettuce followed by supreme of chicken a la greque… please don’t make me explain what that is, it was good that is all you really need to know. For dessert we had chocolate melting cake and vanilla creme brulee and no Dave we did not share it! Actually, I found the chocolate cake too rich so Janelle ate mine too!

The evening ended with a cool show with lots of singing and dancing and really funny jokes followed by a comedian who was pretty good too. Tomorrow is our first full day at sea and we are very much looking forward to it!

Good night!

Well pictures arent' working because blogger goes nuts when I leave the country it seems we will try later!

Update #1: Hot and Sunny in Orlando, Hot and Rainy in Miami

Well we were up at the crack of 4:00am this morning to get ready to travel to Bangor Maine to fly to Miami. Good travel with nice weather and zero problems at the boarder, we boarded our flight and left on time. The Boston Airport is a little busier than Bangor but we had no problems with our layover or finding our gate. This flight also left right according to schedule. We were very tired and slept for two hours or so during our flight from Boston to Miami… or should I say Orlando. We got to Miami and circled a few times as a thunder storm kept us from landing. We were getting low on fuel so we had to motor to Orlando to fuel up and wait for clearance to head to Miami. Orlando was sunny when we arrived, it rained a bit and then became sunny again. Miami is smoking hot but rainy.


Not very eventful yet but we are certain the best is yet to come when we set sail tomorrow! More to come!