Carnival Breeze: 3/9/14 Review (w/ pictures)

[PalmettoNative]

Let's face it...most people come for the photos and skip the reading part. So until I can add the next installment. Here are a few random photos that took place before the next part of the story.

 

 

 

 

 

[ILUVCRUIZN]

Love your review!!!! Cannot wait to read more... :)

[jcsuzeta]

Embarking Day

 

 

 

So finally that day we all crave had arrived. Sadly the hotel shuttle didn't leave until 1145am...so somehow we had to kill about five hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait! 11:45am?! We're staying here pre-cruise next month and was wanting to leave at 10am. I'm devastated.... :(

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[PalmettoNative]

Wait! 11:45am?! We're staying here pre-cruise next month and was wanting to leave at 10am. I'm devastated.... :(

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

There is an earlier shuttle...we got an email from Carnival saying we should arrive around 12-1pm so that is why we took that shuttle.

 

No fear...feel free to take the 11am shuttle.

[kenrod]

Thanks for the review Palmetto. Looking forward to reading about your adventure on the Breeze.

 

BTW, I did get the Wall-E joke right away!

[terri-eddie]

You mentioned staying at Hampton Inn & Suites Blue Lagoon, which is where I'm thinking of booking, and said you got upgraded to a suite for being a member. How did that work? Was it done automatically, or did you have to ask? Also, was the free shuttle to the port included as a perk of membership?

[PalmettoNative]

You mentioned staying at Hampton Inn & Suites Blue Lagoon, which is where I'm thinking of booking, and said you got upgraded to a suite for being a member. How did that work? Was it done automatically, or did you have to ask? Also, was the free shuttle to the port included as a perk of membership?

 

Signing up for the Hilton Rewards (owns Hampton Inn) is free. Typically if the rooms are open and you are a member you stand a better chance of getting a free upgrade without having to ask.

 

The parking and shuttle were included in the nightly stay. It is worked into the night stay pricing, but I still found the rate reasonable for the very secure parking and free shuttle to the Port of Miami.

 

A taxi back on your return will run you about $30 or so. Just keep that in mind.

[idjaffe]

 

beautiful shot...tranquil, colors are spot on.....love how the marker is set off just to the left - you know you are "heading out" not coming back.....true essence of leaving port on an adventure.

 

Is 6 dogs production your company?

[terri-eddie]

Signing up for the Hilton Rewards (owns Hampton Inn) is free. Typically if the rooms are open and you are a member you stand a better chance of getting a free upgrade without having to ask.

 

The parking and shuttle were included in the nightly stay. It is worked into the night stay pricing, but I still found the rate reasonable for the very secure parking and free shuttle to the Port of Miami.

 

A taxi back on your return will run you about $30 or so. Just keep that in mind.

 

Excellent! I am a member of the Hilton HHonors program, so I will hope for the upgrade when we get there! Thank you.

[PalmettoNative]

 

beautiful shot...tranquil, colors are spot on.....love how the marker is set off just to the left - you know you are "heading out" not coming back.....true essence of leaving port on an adventure.

 

Is 6 dogs production your company?

 

Thank you for your kind words.

 

6DogProductions is my photo blog. Technically I only have 5 dogs at the moment since we lost our lab 2 years ago...but didn't have the heart to change it.

 

If anyone is interested its: http://6dogproductions.wordpress.com

Edited March 20, 2014 by PalmettoNative

[jcsuzeta]

There is an earlier shuttle...we got an email from Carnival saying we should arrive around 12-1pm so that is why we took that shuttle.

 

 

 

No fear...feel free to take the 11am shuttle.

 

 

Phew! I feel so much better now. Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jcsuzeta]

Thank you for your kind words.

 

6DogProductions is my photo blog. Technically I only have 5 dogs at the moment since we lost our lab 2 years ago...but didn't have the heart to change it.

 

If anyone is interested its: http://6dogproductions.wordpress.com

 

 

Nice blog! Great photos!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[PalmettoNative]

I first want to start off today by thanking you all for your kind words about our loss and my photographs. The last couple of days have been kinda "blah" with his passing and the overcast weather and chilly temps didn't help our moods any. But today the sun is out, the temps are up, and I was able to get back on my bicycle again. So today is looking up.

 

...so where was I...

 

Oh yeah...dinner...and we all know what that means...but cool your jets, as I was notoriously bad about eating my food before taking a picture. And well my wife knows not to interrupt the meal to remind me what an idiot I am...its kind of a standing rule.

 

But we did "Any Time Dining" and we always like to go early between 5:45pm (when the open) and 6:15pm. There is little wait and you get the added benefit of getting the Serenity hot tubs to yourself (or mostly to yourself) while everyone is getting ready or eating dinner between 7-8pm. We were in the Sapphire Room, and we try to always go every night to the main dining, because a) the food is awesome, b) its included in your fare, c) your very likely to get an awesome crew to wait on you, and d) you get a show and dance. If you never go to the dining rooms for dinner and always eat on the Lido deck, I wonder what your thinking is?!

 

We had a great crew and pretty much had the same table (or next to it) each night. But other than a few nights we didn't get chatty next door table mates...which is fine, my wife and I had a great time with our wait staff and the few people that had conversations with us.

 

But I know you are here for the "food porn" and even though I didn't get a picture of everything I got the one thing that everyone loves...

 

 

...Beef and Barley soup...no that isn't what you all crave...

 

 

...salad???? How did that get in front of me???

 

 

...getting a bit warmer. And if you are looking for a nice dry tasty wine, look no further than the La Vieille Ferma (#249 if I remember correctly on the menu). I have a co-worker from France and he is always saying any French wine is good...so I tested the theory and so far I hate to admit, so far he hasn't been wrong when I try one.

 

 

 

Dinner was great, then a quick trip downstairs to transform into our swimsuits...the night time is the right time for my wife and I...our pasty alabaster skin is not always friendly with the sun, so I don't mind letting the sun folk have the pools and tubs during the day. We joined another couple in the Serenity starboard hot tub, and was later joined by two other college aged couples. We all hit it off pretty well and had nice conversations...though we never got their names...strange, I knew where they were from, their school, but never caught a name...so my wife and I referred to them by either their location or outfit when seeing them later...who needs names anyway right???

 

Funny side note hot tub story

...well at least we think it is...

The youngest of the couples was this nice girl from Ohio, just a mere 22 and she made a comment that left me no choice but to poke fun at her...she must have assumed that I was not as old as I am...and for that I thank for that assumption...but while we were joking about kids swimming in all the hot tubs, she said:

"And we passed by this hot tub earlier where this 40 year old couple were making. God it was sooo gross."

I replied: "So 40 is old? You know I'm 36 right...and I will make out with my wife right now and gross you right out of this hot tub." :D

 

I could tell she felt a little bad about her comment, but we all had some good laughs, and after about an hour and half in the tub, my wife and I decided to head back to our rooms, change and explore some more and possibly grab some ice cream...I mean its free and available 24hrs a day...needless to say this is probably cause for 2 of the 7lbs I gained.

 

After back in street clothes we wondered Deck 5 as we worked our way to the bountiful flowing machines of ice cream...but alas we never arrived. While passing through Piano Bar 88, the friendly piano man Ben (anyone due on the Breeze anytime in the next few months, make sure you spend some time here for a great time). Well we stopped for a minute to check out the scene...we were just passing through afterall, and he got a request to play Boston's "Amanda"...and he asked "Who in here is named Amanda?"

Thinking it is a very common girls name, my wife raised her hand...and no one else did. She can be VERY shy at times, but he brought her on stage and serenaded her, and we were hooked after his "drank" toast and the first "tip basket" OLE, OLE, OLE...then after many Sierra Nevadas and Strawberry Daiquiris between us it was 1am and way past our bedtime.

 

We called it a night, if the first day was any indication of what was to come...it was going to be a great trip.

Edited March 20, 2014 by PalmettoNative

[Pesh]

Great review so far and great pictures!! I was on this sailing and we had the best time!

 

We LOVED Ben and the Piano Bar too!!! He called me up on the piano one night as well! We had a lot of fun there!

Edited March 20, 2014 by Pesh
typos

[iloverags2]

Great update, and fun evening for you guys! And always a good time to have a little fun with someone else when the moment presents itself. I'm sure as horrified as the 22-year-old was, she had a good laugh about it later...and a good story to tell. :D

 

As much as I love the dining rooms, I will admit we ate at the Horizon Court/Café Caribe buffet every night on our Ruby Princess Eastern sailing last spring. We had just lost our 16-year-old puppy (and she was adopted by us when she was just a few months old, so major bond there) and needed to get out of the house desperately as it felt empty and sad (plus four months of her battling illness left us emotionally and physically exhausted). Last minute booking and we did not want to plan a thing...rather we were walking zombies and wanted nothing but relaxation. We never planned to not eat in the dining room...it just worked out that way. Sometimes dinner at 6:00 p.m., other nights at 9:30 p.m. For that particular week it worked for us. :)

[PalmettoNative]

Great update, and fun evening for you guys! And always a good time to have a little fun with someone else when the moment presents itself. I'm sure as horrified as the 22-year-old was, she had a good laugh about it later...and a good story to tell. :D

 

As much as I love the dining rooms, I will admit we ate at the Horizon Court/Café Caribe buffet every night on our Ruby Princess Eastern sailing last spring. We had just lost our 16-year-old puppy (and she was adopted by us when she was just a few months old, so major bond there) and needed to get out of the house desperately as it felt empty and sad (plus four months of her battling illness left us emotionally and physically exhausted). Last minute booking and we did not want to plan a thing...rather we were walking zombies and wanted nothing but relaxation. We never planned to not eat in the dining room...it just worked out that way. Sometimes dinner at 6:00 p.m., other nights at 9:30 p.m. For that particular week it worked for us. :)

 

I know exactly how you felt. Oct 2012 we lost our 6 year old lab, he came to us when my wife worked for the SPCA and someone abandoned him on their doorstep when he was just 2 weeks old in the middle of December. He was small enough to fit with your hands cupped together. We had to bottle feed him and when he opened his eyes for the first time he saw me and licked my nose. He grew into a huge 100lbs lap dog, and when he got sick, it hit him hard and we lost him within two weeks of diagnosis. It was very tough, but he had a great life, the best we could ever give him. Plus we had 5 other dogs in the house...so even though it felt a little emptier without Hudson, it never felt completely empty.

 

It is a shame our pets don't live longer, they integrate into our lives so quickly and are only with us for a short time.

[PalmettoNative]

Also if anyone is just interested in the photos without having to wait for the story you can go to my 6DogProductions Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/6dogproductions

 

But I will post most of those photos and more here that didn't post there. Some didn't make it through the post-production of Lightroom

[Kel040]

Enjoying your review, thanks for taking the time to share - looking forward to the rest :D

[PalmettoNative]

Day 2 - At Sea

 

So what do you do when you stayed up late and consumed alot of frosty adult beverages...get up early and watch the sunrise of course. Thankfully I had no battle this fine morning with the dreaded dehydration affects and I popped up to Deck 9 to find very the wonderful smell of the salty air filled my nose, the cool Caribbean breeze breathed on my cheeks, and my eyes gazed upon complete and utter darkness. I was still a bit early so I roamed a little, at this early hour, it is almost like you have the ship to yourself minus the employees hard at work preparing for the day ahead.

 

 

 

Soon the run started to rise above the horizon and off the port side was the Norwegian Epic. It left port before us, but the captain put the hammer down and we passed her during the sunrise hours.

 

 

 

Once the sun was up I returned to our room and woke the wife up for some breakfast. We hit the omelet station, got some bacon for the pork ****, cereal, and some croissants. After some breakfast, we wondered a bit more and around 11am we went to a Cooking Demonstration at the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse. It was a pretty neat side activity you get samples of all the 4 courses they made. Most on our visit were mushroom based: a mushroom cappuccino, a spinach and mushroom salad with blue cheese vinaigrette, and chicken dish with a side of 5 cheese mac and cheese, and a tiramisu for dessert.

 

 

 

After the demonstration, we grabbed lunch at the Jimmy's BBQ on the outside of the Promenade. The chicken was good as was the sausage. I think this place is only open on at sea days. It gets very busy, so be prepared for a wait.

 

We met with another couple while eating some lunch and mentioned that the Steakhouse was going to be a wine and food pairing, but you need reservations. If you want to do this, make sure you sign up early.

[Kfoot]

Great review. I'm loving the pictures.

I notice there are still tablecloth on the dining tables. I thought they were getting rid of them.

[KPfromCT]

Great review. I'm loving the pictures.

I notice there are still tablecloth on the dining tables. I thought they were getting rid of them.

 

The Breeze doesn't have the new menus yet. Only four ships do.

Thank GOD!!! We cruise in July, and are looking forward to soup and tablecloths:D:D:D lol

[Kfoot]

The Breeze doesn't have the new menus yet. Only four ships do.

Thank GOD!!! We cruise in July, and are looking forward to soup and tablecloths:D:D:D lol

 

Thanks for clarifying. I'll be on the Splendor repositioning in November and hoping I will still have tablecloth. That far away I won't hold my breath.

[dettlja]

We met with another couple while eating some lunch and mentioned that the Steakhouse was going to be a wine and food pairing, but you need reservations. If you want to do this, make sure you sign up early.

 

Don't want to hijack but I've done the wine tasting (which includes food paring) three times and never needed a reservation.

[KPfromCT]

Thanks for clarifying. I'll be on the Splendor repositioning in November and hoping I will still have tablecloth. That far away I won't hold my breath.

 

Don't be so sure:rolleyes:

John Heald posted that they are "tweaking" the new menus.......

Not sure of the current approval rating.......

I am thinking prefer the original menus, and tablecloths:D:D

 

Hoping you have them......:D

[PalmettoNative]

Don't want to hijack but I've done the wine tasting (which includes food paring) three times and never needed a reservation.

 

I wouldn't think so, but we were one of the first ones to show up and when we walked in they had a sheet with peoples names on it since seating was limited. A shame, I was looking forward to many glasses of wine for a cheap fee.