Jamman54

As the Carnival Freedom approaches, security quickly clears the pier of guests….. We are walking on the pier towards the Cruise Center. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost exactly four years since we’ve been here. We’re used to being here two or three times a year! The Whale Exhibit is off to the right….. We are glad to be back! At this point, I will head over to Margaritaville to get our Pool Cabana. Patti knows where to meet me, so she begins her picture tour by strolling across the nearly empty Plaza. With the Freedom currently docking, no one will be getting off the ship for at least a half hour….. To be continued…..

Have a great flight! Looking forward to your review of the Radiance and your time in California!

Here are some beach views all the way down to Jack’s Shack…… The excursion boats are anchored offshore….. There’s a U.S. Coast Guard boat docked in the distance….. They started letting people off the ship at 7am. There is only one gangway open today, and that’s on Deck 3 forward. We are going to skip breakfast today, as we have rented a Pool Cabana, so we want to get off the ship as soon as possible to pick our cabana and get settled in. As we were in the elevator lobby waiting to board an elevator down to Deck 3, our Cruise Director Lee made the announcement that the gangway was going to be closed in about five minutes, because the Carnival Freedom was about to arrive and the pier had to be cleared. We were one of the last few to get off the ship before they closed the gangway. After this picture was taken, security made the photographer and us, clear the area….. Here comes the Carnival Freedom…… To be continued…..

Day # 6 (April 28th) - Grand Turk (7am – 4pm). We were up at 6:30am just as the Mardi Gras was pulling into Grand Turk….. It’s going to be a beautiful day. The sun is rising in the east….. Here are today’s “Fun Times”…… Here are some views of the Cruise Center and Margaritaville taken from our balcony….. To be continued…..

That places qualifies as a Husband Daycare Center!

Thanks for reading and your kind words! We love Lee Mason. He is one of the best cruise directors in the fleet. We had the pleasure of sailing with him on the Splendor, Panorama, and now the Mardi Gras. Very high energy, friendly, and approachable. I'm sure that you'll like him. I believe he will be leaving on vacation some time in July.

Thanks for following along once again! Much more to come!

That's where Serenity used to be until they moved it to the back, which was a good move! 😎

Thanks for reading. I believe that if your cruise was switched from San Juan to Nassau, it will remain that way. Our cruise was never switched. 😎

I started with the pot stickers….. For my main I had the Kung Pao Chicken with green beans….. For my dessert I had the Chibang chocolate….. The chefs are working hard in the kitchen….. Goodbye to whatever the heck this thing is….. We didn’t really like Chibang. The food wasn’t really served that hot, and in all fairness, it doesn’t come close to comparing with JiJi Asian Kitchen. We decided right there and then that this was a one and done for us. After walking the ship a bit we watched a little bit of Vegas Nights, but we were tired and decided to call it a night…… But not before stopping at Cherry on Top for a snack! Back at the cabin we found tonight’s towel creature….. Coming up next: Our long awaited return to Grand Turk!

We decide that tonight we are going to try Chibang for dinner. We request a table for two on the Hub App, and in less than ten minutes our table is ready….. We have made it to Chibang, and here is the menu….. This is our table, and the service team assigned to it….. We are being attacked by some sort of hairy creature….. Patti starts off with the Mandarin crunch salad….. For her main she has the sweet and sour shrimp and Hakka noodles….. For dessert she has the Crema Catalina…….. To be continued……

We are leaving the Freedom behind….. Here are some views of the coast as we sailed away from Amber Cove….. Goodbye Amber Cove until next time! To be continued…..

The Mardi Gras sailed promptly at 6pm. Patti and I went up to the Tides Pool on Deck 16 aft for the sail away…… Here are some views of Amber Cove as we sailed away….. To be continued……

The officers on the pier seem to be keeping an eye on the passenger count….. Everybody’s back on board so the crew breaks down and brings in the remaining gangway….. To be continued……

Around 4:30pm we decided to head back to the ship. We paid our bill which was $92, and gave Nataly a large, well deserved tip. Once we got to the pier we grabbed a pedal cab to take us the rest of the way….. Here are some views of the Mardi Gras and Freedom as we were pedaled back to the ship….. Once on the ship we went back to our cabin and out on the balcony to check out the views. Here’s a view of the Freedom and her funnel, which sadly, doesn’t look quite as good as I write this today….. Our Cruise Director Lee is out on the pier welcoming guests back to the ship….. Here are a couple more views of the Freedom…. These four guys over on the Freedom seem to be having a good time….. To be continued…..

Here is some unusual artwork….. This is the much photographed Amber Cove sign…. Pretty artwork….. There is a small beach that is just off the property….. Patti meets me back at the cabana, and Nataly takes our food and drink orders. Here are the drink and food menus….. I ordered the pork belly sampler, and Patti ordered the chicken tenders. We shared an order of fries. Here is a picture of Nataly and me. She took great care of us all day!….. After this, the camera pretty much got put away. We spent the rest of the afternoon sunning on our deck, cooling off in the pool, having a few drinks, and relaxing. To be continued…….

Patti now heads over to browse some of the shops….. Here is a display of Dominican Republic information and history….. To be continued…..

If I were booked on the Freedom anytime in June, I would be making alternate plans just in case!

Patti heads over to the amber exhibit. Here are some little waterfalls and a stream….. Amber exhibit information….. Here are some examples of how amber trapped insects, frogs, and lizards….. Patti captures some of the flora and fauna….. To be continued…..

Here’s another view of the Mardi Gras and Freedom….. Patti is now back at the pool, and it’s getting a little more crowded….. Some fun at the pool….. There is a fish spa here….. Patti crosses the Plaza and sees the Carnival excursions lining up….. This is the bus departure area…… Here is a helpful sign….. To be continued…..

We agree, much less swim in it!

Patti heads to the Pier Bar. This bar also services the Ocean Cabanas….. This is the Grand Ocean Cabana…… Here are some views of the Ocean Cabanas….. Patti looks up to the four Hilltop Cabanas. We have no interest in ever renting an Ocean or Hilltop Cabana….. Looking over at the pier, it looks like the Freedom passengers are streaming ashore….. To be continued…..

Patti continues with her picture tour. This is the kids play area and splash zone….. This is the crew center where crewmembers can get off the ship and relax….. Looking up to the top of the zip line….. Here’s the bottom of the zip line….. This is the Kissing Booth. Never saw that here before….. The big chair for photo ops….. Pretty view of the Freedom and Mardi Gras together….. This is the Water Equipment Rental Dock and the rental prices….. To be continued…..

Here are a couple of views of the Pool Bar. There are tables and chairs on the second level if you want to eat there….. Patti comes back to the cabana looking for me. Here are a couple of views of the pool from our cabana…… The gray building on the left has the bathrooms and changing rooms….. Patti finds me in my favorite spot. It’s the perfect place to people watch as they stroll by….. That’s me on the left, and across the way is the VIP section where you can rent the comfy loungers and umbrellas. Every once in a while Nataly would come by and ask me if I needed another beer. Of course I would say yes, and she would bring me one in a plastic cup....... Here are the pool rental and cabana rates….. Here are a couple more pool views….. This is the walk in section, with the bathrooms just behind….. If you crave a good hot dog, they have a Nathan’s stand….. To be continued…..

Patti is going to head back down the other set of stairs to take pictures…… I’m going to have another beer here, and then head back to the cabana, and have Nataly our server bring me a bucket of El Presidente’s, and then hit the pool. Here are some more views, including some of the Hilltop Cabanas, as Patti heads down the stairs…. She comes out by the Coco Cana Lounge, which is where all of our drinks and food come from….. To be continued…..