Halloween Cruise: Carnival Fascination Review & Pics-10/28/13 Sailing to LSC & Nassau

[All4fun&fun4all]

Guess I'd better go read your review, Marshhawk, since Nancy's being so slack! :p

 

You are askin for it!!! :p;)

[All4fun&fun4all]

Ok, so NCTribefan has cracked the whip so let's get back to the review and walking (aka trying to find) Barefoot Beach

Keep walking. Giant slide is on your right. You need to continue past that

A little farther

 

Seriously it's not that far and it's a pretty walk

 

Squeeeee

 

Ohhhhh What does that sign say???

 

I made it!!!! And it's GORGEOUS!

[All4fun&fun4all]

There were a ton of lounger chairs open and available and some that were under little huts made from palm branches. I found a lounger that was under the shade of a tree and dropped all my belongings into the powdery sand.

 

Then I looked up and took in my surroundings

 

So quiet and so serene.

 

I couldnt wait to see how far out I could walk. It was shallow wayyyyyyyy out there

 

I cant wait to go back here

 

[NCTribeFan]

Yep. Looking like I'll have to book 5/6 when I get back!

 

I'm not a swimmer, so having beautiful, shallow water like that is perfect for me!

 

Did I mention I'm trying an experiment? I always have the "next" cruise booked and I never, ever receive any promotional emails or calls. Nothing. So I'm actually going to cruise this weekend and when I get back I WON'T HAVE ANOTHER ONE BOOKED!

 

I'll probably have serious cruise withdrawal, but I want to see if Carnival makes any effort at all to lure me back. I mean, when you always have the next one booked, why should they?

 

I figure my resolve will dissolve in a couple of weeks and I'll book by Christmas! :p

[All4fun&fun4all]

Since I was there so early and I didnt recognize anyone from our group, I just spent some time walking in the water and just looking out at the horizon and was mesmerized by the water and the silence and how far out I could walk and it would still be only about knee deep

 

You wont need water shoes here but there are little dips in the sand where the current runs divits under the water. It's a little awkward to walk through but its soft sand.

After a few moments I recognized some of my group setting up in a lounger and I moved my stuff to mingle with theirs. I made a little cocktail (whipped vodka and monster energy drink...weird, I know) and Tanya, Tony, Nathan, Kelly and I all went back into the water. We sat and chatted and just enjoyed each other's company and our surroundings.

Friends

 

 

You can see how deep the water here is by looking at Tony. We were quite a ways out too

 

I dont normally like pictures of myself at all but this picture sums up "VACATION" for me

[All4fun&fun4all]

The weather started to "turn" a little bit and we could see that there was a storm about to run through. If you know anything about the Bahamas, you know that these storms roll through and in 5 minutes, it's sunshiney again.

 

Is that rain over there?

 

Yep, that's for sure rain

 

We went back to shore briefly to put our things in the boards directly underneath the palm branches on one of those huts. Reminder for next time to bring ziplocs for electronics that cannot get wet. I was able to borrow one for my iphone.

Shortly after that we headed back into the water.

This is how far out we were

 

Now, last year, I purchased a camera that is waterproof, shockproof, freeze proof and dust proof. Pretty much Nancy proof which is a good thing since I have killed 3 cameras in the last few years. I got it for Xmas last year and I still had been hesitant to dunk it into the water. But Tony was taking pics of the little fishies that were swimming by and I wanted to do it. But I was being a huge chicken about it. Finally, with Tony's encouragement to just do it already, I let out a yelp and stuck it into the water. EEEEEEK!!!

I got these pics so now you can see what the sand looks like under the water!

Seaweed here and there but not all over the place

 

Oh a foot!

[All4fun&fun4all]

Fishies

 

Then another storm was about to roll through and I was getting hungry so I walked over to the grille area to see what was on the buffet, taking pictures along the way back. And video.

 

Argh! I cant get the video to publish. Meh, I will work on it later. Here are some pictures of my walk to the food area.

 

 

 

[dulcimergirl]

So, I'm loving your review. I was thinking, I haven't been to Little Stirup Cay, and then saw your photos!! Yes, it was Coco Cay!! I love that place, and have been several times.

Your group looks like so much fun. A truly epic review.

[All4fun&fun4all]

 

 

 

I think we are getting close to the food area now

[All4fun&fun4all]

Yes! The food area!

 

 

They have all these various stations set up for you to pick what you would like to have

 

 

But first, you need to go to the station that has plates, plasticware, napkins etc. I didnt know this so I walked up sans plate and was pointed in the direction of the plate shack.

 

 

After you have your plate, walk over to the burgers and hot dogs and tell them what you want. I got a cheeseburger and self served the jerk chicken. There is also a condiment station and a toppings area

 

 

Burgers and dogs and chicken oh my

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2013 by All4fun&fun4all

[All4fun&fun4all]

Hey! A picture of my food

 

And me enjoying it

 

I ran into Nikki and Glenda and joined them at their table to enjoy my meal. It was really pretty good. I was impressed. The jerk chicken was phenomenal. There was a bar waiter wandering among the tables and I ordered a Bahama Mama. They take your sail and sign card here which is pretty convenient.

I went in search of the straw market to purchase some souveniers for my boys and their girlfriends and a Xmas ornament for the tree. Oh, and a shot glass. I found a deal on tshirts, 3 for $15.00 and they were actually pretty quality t's. I found an ornament for $10.00 and a shot glass really cheap.

I wanted to also check out the area that most people flock to when they get off the tenders but mainly I wanted to swim again. I am such a rebel, swimming right after a meal like that.

Here are some pics of the area leading from the food over to the most popular area

 

 

 

I told you there were an obscene amount of pictures here right?

[All4fun&fun4all]

Lot's 'o' loungers

 

 

 

Sky looks ominous again

Looking from the water to shore. This water got progressively deeper

 

[All4fun&fun4all]

In this area there were people snorkeling and floating on mats. It seemed really claustrophobic in this little cove ish area. Almost like if I went underwater to swim, I would probably run into someone.

Oh hello there Mister Snorkeler

 

I think you can see the people on mats and farther out you can see the lifeguard tower in the middle of the water. Out there is where you snorkel. It looked a bit rough for my swimming skill level

 

Still very pretty but I much preferred Barefoot Beach

 

Windy. Oh, and there's the ship!

 

The ship!

[All4fun&fun4all]

Trying to get artsy I think

 

Retaining wall

 

Loungers

 

 

The ship on zoom

The ship on regular

[All4fun&fun4all]

 

Prententious artsy shot

 

Obligatory feet overlooking the blue water from a lounger shot

 

Ok, now my pics are just getting weird. Looking up

 

It was now getting late in the day and the last tender was scheduled for 3pm. I think it was around 2:30 or so.

I passed the snorkel shack

 

[All4fun&fun4all]

And I found the cabana where Valarie, John, Jennifer and Kyle were hanging out

 

They offered me some of their champagne and of course I couldnt say no. Poured it right in my carnival cup. Thanks guys

 

I am not sure if it's the same for this port everytime but when you are ready to head back to the tender you go through a little tent area to run your bags through instead of doing it when you board the ship. I sent my bag through and walked the short distance to board the tender.

I have a video of this too. I guess I will save videos til the end. We actually almost hit another tender as we were backing out.

 

 

Tendering back....not quite as fun. At this point, camera battery was dead, Iphone was out of space and so no more pics of the ride back. Bummer

[All4fun&fun4all]

I climbed the stairs up to my cabin to get a shower and recharge my camera. It was Halloween and I knew I would want plenty of camera power for the festivities ahead. Another reminder to self....purchase an extra battery and keep one charged fully at all times.

Oh, and real quick, here is a picture of Valarie and John on the tender back. I love the absolute joy in Valarie's face here and I wish I knew what I said that was so funny

 

So, what was I for Halloween you ask? Well, I was a Carnival Cheerleader! It's sort of a play on words from here on CC because I am sure that some may consider me to be a Carnival fanatic, drinking the kool aid and what not.

The costume was Carnival colors and I was actually going to replace the word VARSITY with CARNIVAL but I realized I am not real crafty.

 

I walked around the promenade area to take some pics of the decorations. The actual Halloween festivities for adults was not to happen until later.

Decorations

 

 

 

[All4fun&fun4all]

They were also setting up really cool Halloween themed backdrops. I took a picture at almost every one of them and they turned out awesome. I just couldnt afford them

 

 

More decorations

 

 

 

[All4fun&fun4all]

I went up to lido briefly to have a look at the Cornhole competition. It's listed as a beanbag toss game in the Fun Times but in my town we call it cornhole. It's really not all that interesting to watch while onboard in my opinion.

 

I stopped at the lido bar for a moment

 

And had Witch's Brew. It tasted like cough syrup. Blegh

 

And Cholada (?) said "Hey pom pom girl!" so I asked if she wanted to take a pic with my pom poms....Yes of course

 

Oh and here is a picture of the weird lighting at Beverly Hills Bar where the martini tasting was

 

And I rounded a corner and found the conference room that I had always seen on deck maps but never found.

[All4fun&fun4all]

Okie dokie, you guys want to see the variety of costumes? The next few posts will be dedicated solely to costumes.

Here are Valarie and John (Hippies)

 

Jester and King

 

This group was an entire Hobo Wedding Party

 

 

Staff members handing out candy by the elevators

 

Witch and Handyman

[All4fun&fun4all]

Various

 

Gilligan and the Skipper

 

Ann was a Drink of the Day

 

 

Bubba and Caz (Tooth Fairy and Nerd)

 

Sheryl was Drunk 2 (and also)

[All4fun&fun4all]

I want to say the guy in the spiderman costume is actually a staff member. This child was simply in awe! Spiderman came up and talked to him for a moment. It was magical

 

This is Venice. She is also a staff member

 

Various

 

 

It's the Bacon Police! LMAO

 

Sunflower

 

Fortune Teller

[All4fun&fun4all]

Nikki and her mom as The Judd's

 

Santa and a Nun walk into a bar....

 

Doctor

 

Nathan and Kelly dressed up country

 

Paul Stanley was creeping me out

 

Oddly enough, there were TWO tooth fairies

[boaterette]

Awesome pictures. Love the costumes.

[All4fun&fun4all]

Venice and another staff member

 

Along with balloons one of my biggest fears are clowns. I cant believe I took this picture. He and his whole family were "Fast Food" each one representing a different fast food chain

 

Adam and Eve....Adam is in the bathrobe

 

Flo and Mayhem

 

This fairy came by and sprinkled our tooth fairy with something and said something slurry. It was funny

 

Tanya and Tony (Bumblebee and Blue Screen of Death)

 

That's all I got as far as individual shots but there will be more costumes you can see in the group shots from the party and costume contest