The PINK But Still FUN Ugly Duckling
 

Our annual “Spring Break” cruise on Carnival starts pretty much like all the others we have taken with one major exception. After dropping everyone and our luggage at the ship then driving back into nearby downtown Miami for affordable parking, I discover that my passport has been checked in a bag I would normally have carried on to the ship.

Back at the check in terminal I am escorted to a waiting area where a search for my bag begins. This turns into almost two hours of waiting. As it turns out my bag is delivered to my state room where with some helpful coordination my passport is recovered and delivered to me. Although this seemed to be a chaotic process, the Carnival personnel handled it well.

With my passport in hand I am ready for another cruise vacation to begin until I step onboard the Splendor and become ill as I am drenched with “Pepto Bismol”. There is pink everywhere!

My nausea begins to wane as what I think is a familiar voice from about four years ago echos over the PA system. As we say “Adios Miami, Hello Fun” my suspicions are confirmed as from Deck 10 we are drawn to “Y.M.C.A” and the “Sail Away Party”. That familiar voice is back and belongs to the Cruise Director Malcolm who we think is one of Carnival's best.

It will be almost two days of sailing before our first port of call, Cozumel, which gives us plenty of opportunity to explore Splendor and settle in for the next seven days. Tandoor, lounging around the pool, then the casino, the buffet, all the soft serve ice cream you can eat, the karaoke lounge and hamburgers at 1am are all part of “Day One” and just some of the things we enjoy about cruising.

A full day at sea and it is time for some hoops on the high seas. Another whooping on the miniature golf course and I am in despite need of an ice cream machine to help me lick my wounds on a hot afternoon.

At 8pm I am as dressed up as I am going to get on this or any other cruise as we head downstairs for what will be our one and only formal dining room meal. At The Black Pearl it is a double serving of lobster with a side serving of vegetables that are tasty.

Even as the room turns festive with towels swirling and talk of “pizza pie”, I feel no love only another disappointment. I thought for sure there would be “Baked Alaskan” for desert but instead I have to settle for lime sherbert.

They say laughter is sometimes the best medicine but before we try that remedy we discover a stop at the piano bar to be soothing. The performer, Natalie, has an amazing voice that almost seems out of place in a piano bar. She is enjoyable to listen to.

We never miss trips to The Punchliner where we often get a good dosing of medicine. Tonight is no exception as the comedian has most of us bursting at the seams. From The Punchliner it is an almost natural flow to the disco and although it is not Friday night, this is still how we do it.


Video:https://youtu.be/RAnmT-ISia4

Lobster and then no love because there was no Bake Alaskan :D:D:D. You know I love it.

Love it! We are 65 days and counting until our Breeze cruise. I love Punchliners too and prefer the comedy to the main show.

Thanks again for your video TR, pretty cool.

What is Tandoor on this ship?

tch912,

Glad to know I am not alone and that someone else shares my "Desert Pain" :)

trvlgirlmq,

When are you going on CCL Breeze? We are doing our second "Breeze Cruise" on May 17th :)

If you have not done the Breeze before I suggest you go on a diet before you leave as for sure you will need to do so when you get back!

HAVE FUN.......

Forget Cheeseburgers, It's Tequila In Paradise

We have been to Cozumel so many times that for the most part we avoid the shore excursions and simply walk along the waterfront towards the downtown area. Our journey is often filled with small detours for $1 cervezas, margaritas or on this occasion a chance to do some roadside snorkeling at Sunset Restaurant and Bar.

With a strong current drifting out to sea we limit our snorkeling time and continue our walk towards downtown. As is the case most of the time, the weather is beautiful in Cozumel although a bit on the warm side. From Sunset Restaurant it is a lazy 45 minute walk to our next detour, Margaritaville.

As luck would have it, the MC for Margaritaville “Spring Break” activities happens to be our waiter and a bond develops between him and my liver. We have never found the food at this location to be a bargain or as good as it should be. However, the activities like free snorkeling and the entertainment always makes for a fun time for us.

Sometime after our food is served, our waiter/MC returns to our area on the patio with a tray full of margaritas and tequila shots. He is about to have a “Quiz” competition among the customers with the winners being rewarded from his tray. Unfortunately, for my liver I know the answers for too many of the questions and end up having to share my liquid prizes.

We watch an amazing show by a group of young men on stage then it is our time to be in the spotlight for YMCA then “Cheeseburger In Paradise”. Our participation comes with more liquid encouragement and rewards.

Our back onboard ship time is 4:30pm and it seems as if we might miss getting back in time. However, we know it is always “5 O'clock Somewhere” and we are still having fun in Margaritaville.


Video:https://youtu.be/7lp5Gosehhs

jacketwatch,

Tandoor is located at the back of Lido deck and it is where they serve a tasty selection of Indian food from about 12-3pm. It is one of my favorite food venues on Carnival...

Some of the chicken pieces they served there are so flavorful and tender it is pretty amazing..

Ok. A hostess on the Legend told us some CCL ships had a tandoor as we were talking about Indian bread and we thought she meant an Indian oven. So now I see its a grill. Cool. :).
Thank you.

DMB - We are on the May 23 8 day sailing. Yes, we have done Breeze already and wanted to go again since it's the most bang for the buck with all the things to do. The kids love Sports Square (OK, I do too!), slides, pools, Guy's and Blue Iguana breakfast burritos.

Which break dancer were you? No vacation for me until October (:.I will be on Carnival Fascination this time, I can't wait so keep putting the videos so I can dream until time to go :D.

Zipping And Mud In Belize

I am never fond of the lengthy and what always seems to be cumbersome tending process in Belize and as such it is not high on my port of call list. However, our stop in Belize gives us another opportunity to get dirty in this tropical paradise.

About an hour bus ride with mostly boring fellow cruise passengers and soon we are moving at sometimes high speeds suspended over a rainforest by just two steel cables. This a blast!

A short van ride for just the four of us to another location and it is time for some mud slinging.

On a closed course we maneuver ATVs along trails that in some places requires us to drive through pools of muddy water. Getting stuck occasionally has wheels spinning and mud flying.

Before it is all over we all have our share wet dirt from head to toe but it is a part of our FUN in Belize.


Video:https://youtu.be/f8Y-TvoSJ84

trvlgirlmq,

We will be returning on the "Breeze" May 23rd... I will try to leave some food on the buffet and at Blue Iguana for you and the family :)

tch912,

I am the one doing the head spins :)

I think you posted before that your October cruise is out of Jacksonville... is that correct? We have never been on the Fascination but are sort of on a quest to cruise all of Carnival's ship.

For the right price we might just have to take a drive up North..

I have a few more videos to post from this trip.. so keep dreaming, October will soon be here :)

Yes, the ship is out of Jacksonville. I needed a short cruise and also the port is close enough for my daughters to drive less than six hours. I was supposed to zipline in Belize but was sick. If I go back to Belize I will do the zipline. I wouldn't like all that mud with the ATVs. Keep the videos coming :D.

Enjoying Mahogany Bay

After another night of having FUN on the “Pink Ugly Duckling”, we wake up to a bit of disappointing news over the public address system. It seems the early morning winds are so strong at Mahogany Bay that it is going to take a third attempt to get docked.

Although from our dark inside cabin we have no idea what time it is (the way we like it while cruising on vacation), we know it is well past our planned 7am arrival. However, our delay is fine by us as today it is time to relax and enjoy one of our favorite Carnival “Private Islands”.

Interestingly, we learned from a fellow passenger that the Captain from Carnival Pride which docked earlier was ferried over to assist with the docking of the Splendor.


Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4TtVCAvDTk

Once again you had a great trip. Thank you for the details. Every time I read your reports I can't stop laughing. For you traveling is a joy :D. I love it):D.

tch912,

Thanks.. I think that is part of what we have in common... we enjoy traveling and have FUN doing so :)

BTW... Have you ever been of CCL Dream. We just booked it out of New Orleans.

Pink And Bubbly

This is about my 15th cruise on Carnival and I have been so disturbed by being drenched in Pepto Bismol that I am really looking forward to attending my first Q&A session.

The mystery of Splendor décor and the “Pink” is embarrassingly told and solved. Besides sailing on the Vista in 2016, we have another thing to be thankful for, Splendor is going to be dry docked.

Video:https://youtu.be/g5CEJW8Gq8U

DMBT, I have only sailed on Carnival Inspiration. I have never been to New Orleans, but it is on my list to visit. In October when I sail on the Fascination it will be my fourth cruise. For the past 15 years I have been traveling mainly to various Caribbean islands, including Hawaii, along with a trip to Italy and the Philippines. Yes you and I both enjoy traveling and make the best of any situation :D.