Havana Daydreamin Back 2 Back on Serenade NOLA "LIVE"

[waterbugohio]

Beautiful couple, thanks for the picture.

Enjoy your last couple of nights.

[misha1]

I will pipe in and say that I have followed along for the entire voyage...DH and I are looking forward to seeing all the same sites at end of March. We will be spending 2 days prior and 3 days after in NOLA. First visit to the city. We are both very excited. We love the Radiance class ships and jumped at the chance to take in a new city. We are bringing some newbies with us...I love to see cruises in the eyes in those who have never sailed before. Thanks for taking the time to review as you went. Enjoyed!

[Goodtime Cruizin]

[quote name='cricketts']That Paradise Punch sounds great!


Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app[/QUOTE]

Enjoying the live review, pictures and your attitude! Thank You.

Yes, that punch sounds pretty tasty! I started collecting the Drink of the Day recipes from the many Compasses from our cruises and those that are posted on many threads. The collection is looking pretty good & I've added Paradise Punch!

[Jiminy1955]

[quote name='Goodtime Cruizin']Enjoying the live review, pictures and your attitude! Thank You.

Yes, that punch sounds pretty tasty! I started collecting the Drink of the Day recipes from the many Compasses from our cruises and those that are posted on many threads. The collection is looking pretty good & I've added Paradise Punch![/QUOTE]


I purchased the Ultimate drink package for my cruise Feb 28th on Serenade, this itinerary. Am looking forward to having the drink of the day everyday!

[veep]

We thank-you as well for your wonderful posts and pictures. We are sailing on the Serenade for the repo cruise in April, and your posts have been a great way to look forward to our trip! Think we'll have to try Giovanni's this time! It wasn't there when we were last on the Serenade before the remodel.

BTW, I was listening to Margaritaville radio last night and heard "Havana Daydreamin- thought of you!

Thanks again for taking us along on your cruises!

veep

[bubba83]

I just want to jump right into that Blue water!!!

[Havana Daydreamin]

[SIZE="4"]LOL....as I wrote into the title line, I almost felt like a Star Trek episode....."Havana's Log....Sea Date....February 6, 2015" Our voyage continues to have us at sea today.:D

Enough of that....anyway it was a bit coolish and cloudy this morning so one would not expect a spectacular sunrise. However, it was of interest to enjoy and record. Hope you enjoy it also.[/SIZE]

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[SIZE="4"]And after an espresso or so, this was another sight of the morning.[/SIZE]

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[Havana Daydreamin]

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[Havana Daydreamin]

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[Havana Daydreamin]

The connection today is being horribly finicky and slow.

I expect many people are on the network today as it is a sea day and preparing to depart tomorrow.

I am attempting to load the Parade of Nations and a couple other items before logging off.

[Havana Daydreamin]

[SIZE="4"]This event is held in the Centrum right at the noon lunch time of 12:05. People were gathered all around to enjoy the announcements of the number of crew from the nations and to clap to the music and enjoy the waving flags.

Then it was a mad dash to the dining room. I had not seen the dining room so full at lunch in two weeks. It seemed as if though the thought was "Oh, we have not eaten lunch in the dining room yet this week. Let's do that today before the cruise ends." Oh, how I remember thinking that years ago myself!

Enjoy the sample of sights.....[/SIZE]

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[SIZE="4"]There was also to be a "Towel Animal Parade" or something called like that and these two gentleman were happy to pose with their towel animal to take on parade![/SIZE]

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[Havana Daydreamin]

[SIZE="4"]These have been our cabin friends and companions over the last two weeks![/SIZE]

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[SIZE="4"]A sample of the seascape today before I sign off to enjoy the last day. [/SIZE]

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[SIZE="4"]We packed most of everything yesterday and just have last minute items tonight after dinner. We will be "schlepping our own bags" to hopefully expedite our departure toward Kansas in the morning.[/SIZE]

[Thetrail]

[quote name='Havana Daydreamin'][SIZE=4]These have been our cabin friends and companions over the last two weeks![/SIZE]

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[SIZE=4]A sample of the seascape today before I sign off to enjoy the last day. [/SIZE]

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[SIZE=4]We packed most of everything yesterday and just have last minute items tonight after dinner. We will be "schlepping our own bags" to hopefully expedite our departure toward Kansas in the morning.[/SIZE][/quote]Will be doing our own B2B in two weeks! Again thanks for the review and the photos. Glad you had such a wonderful time on the Serenade.....K.O.:)

[cricketts]

The Parade of Nations looks fabulous... I've never seen that done before!

Also, I'm curious what you thought of the entertainer, Darryl Joyce? I've seen his name on a number of evenings.

[Havana Daydreamin]

[quote name='cricketts']The Parade of Nations looks fabulous... I've never seen that done before!

Also, I'm curious what you thought of the entertainer, Darryl Joyce? I've seen his name on a number of evenings.[/QUOTE]

Yes, we had not watched this style of the Parade of Nations before and it really was quite well done!!!

As for Darryl Joyce....

Well, as you and others have followed, we kinda march to our own tune and drum, so to speak....so I really cannot say because we turn our to be our own entertainment a lot.

I am sure he was delightful for those who were able to participate, we just did not.:)

[Havana Daydreamin]

We went out to deck 5 around 4 pm with our Riedel glasses and a bottle of 337 Cabernet Sauvignon and, of course, a fine cigar to note the ending of the day on a great second leg of our cruise vacation.

 

I took with me a Fuente Opus X that was especially made for the Toast Across America fundraiser for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation that we are a part of.

 

The views of the sea and sky were marvelous and I did not want to note the sun going down as it made me a bit emotional for the day coming to an end (though we are ready and prepared for our journey home).

 

But, Barbara would not let me miss another great one, so I took one shot and came back into the cabin. She, on the other hand, wanted the camera and this is her shot to the end of the daylight. She did quite well, I think!:D

 

 

We are off to dinner soon and then pack up my "toys" (meaning my camera equipment) and then for a good nights rest before our land journey tomorrow.

 

Once back in 'ol Dodge City on Sunday, we look forward to some good old home cookin on the grill. I will post once we are home for some final thoughts and things we remember on the road trip.

 

Thanks for all the very kind remarks and for following along these last two weeks!

Edited February 7, 2015 by Havana Daydreamin

[stones902]

We went out to deck 5 around 4 pm with our Riedel glasses and a bottle of 337 Cabernet Sauvignon and, of course, a fine cigar to note the ending of the day on a great second leg of our cruise vacation.

 

 

 

I took with me a Fuente Opus X that was especially made for the Toast Across America fundraiser for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation that we are a part of.

 

 

 

The views of the sea and sky were marvelous and I did not want to note the sun going down as it made me a bit emotional for the day coming to an end (though we are ready and prepared for our journey home).

 

 

 

But, Barbara would not let me miss another great one, so I took one shot and came back into the cabin. She, on the other hand, wanted the camera and this is her shot to the end of the daylight. She did quite well, I think!:D

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are off to dinner soon and then pack up my "toys" (meaning my camera equipment) and then for a good nights rest before our land journey tomorrow.

 

 

 

Once back in 'ol Dodge City on Sunday, we look forward to some good old home cookin on the grill. I will post once we are home for some final thoughts and things we remember on the road trip.

 

 

 

Thanks for all the very kind remarks and for following along these last two weeks!

 

 

Opus X - what a treat! I've only had a couple of them (courtesy of my daughter)

 

We did a B2B on the Serenade about 3 years ago. Just fell in love with the ship and crew! It's amazing the difference between the first & second week in your interactions with the staff. You become like an old friend to them.

 

Have to admit that I am sad that RCI & the Serenade are leaving NOLA. I've grown to enjoy the port. Thanks again for your wonderful review and sharing the cruise with us. One more thing....look what arrived in today's mail!

 

Kurt

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[ASeaPrincess1]

Thank you for the wonderful review!

I especially enjoyed the pictures from "our' balcony....;).....I had 1100 last April and witnessed some of the most amazing sunrises and sunsets from that balcony.

Made me a bit nostalgic.

Getting excited to be back on Serenade in April again for the NOLA/Boston repo!

[Havana Daydreamin]

Opus X - what a treat! I've only had a couple of them (courtesy of my daughter)

 

We did a B2B on the Serenade about 3 years ago. Just fell in love with the ship and crew! It's amazing the difference between the first & second week in your interactions with the staff. You become like an old friend to them.

 

Have to admit that I am sad that RCI & the Serenade are leaving NOLA. I've grown to enjoy the port. Thanks again for your wonderful review and sharing the cruise with us. One more thing....look what arrived in today's mail!

 

Kurt

 

[ATTACH]339367[/ATTACH]

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

EXCELLENT!!!!

 

I am sure that you will enjoy its use very much on your Serenade of the Seas!!!

 

Happy to have been of assistance toward finding one.

[Havana Daydreamin]

Thank you for the wonderful review!

I especially enjoyed the pictures from "our' balcony....;).....I had 1100 last April and witnessed some of the most amazing sunrises and sunsets from that balcony.

Made me a bit nostalgic.

Getting excited to be back on Serenade in April again for the NOLA/Boston repo!

 

YES indeed. In a few short hours another happy guest will take temporary possession of "our" balcony.

 

Happy to bring back fond memories!

[Janet524]

After following your live reports for the past two weeks I almost feel melancholy like it's my cruise coming to an end! Then I remember...I sail in just 5 weeks! Thank you for all the great posts and information that you shared during your trip, especially at the outset with the issues encountered.

 

Safe journey home!

[Havana Daydreamin]

After following your live reports for the past two weeks I almost feel melancholy like it's my cruise coming to an end! Then I remember...I sail in just 5 weeks! Thank you for all the great posts and information that you shared during your trip, especially at the outset with the issues encountered.

 

Safe journey home!

 

You are quite welcome and thank you for the empathy!!!:D

[LadyBeBop]

You are quite welcome and thank you for the empathy!!!:D

 

So are you home yet?

 

If so, when do you head out of Dodge again? :D

 

Seriously, loved your report.

[Havana Daydreamin]

This is the day that everyone dreads!!!

 

It is part of the reason that we have taken to trying to do the consecutive cruise or longer cruises. For us, seven days is just not long enough. Though by the end of the two weeks, we are sufficiently decompressed and relaxed that we know it is time to go toward home and that we look forward to it also.

 

Our sleep was not as peaceful as other times, probably because we were concerned with getting up and about.

 

We did get up and about arriving at Cafe Latte-tudes shortly after 6 AM. Marvin treated us well with a double espresso as we watched the last bit of the cruise wind down with myself calling my Father to let him know what we were up to.

 

BOY HOWDY, did the people begin packing in like sardines!!! We sat at the chairs in the cafe closest to the passage way and exit to the gangway on Deck 5. People packed all around. We finally realized that the line would just continue so we decided to get up.

 

WOWIE!!! You would have thought we were creating an uprising by trying to get in the line where we had been sitting since arriving as people kept traveling through the shops to try and beat the line out of the theater.

 

When we asked if we could get in the line "Mr. & Mrs. Not So Nice" asked if we were in a hurry to get off the ship! REALLY!!!:roll eyes:

 

I replied, "Yes, we were in a hurry to get on the ship and we are in a hurry to get off the ship." :p I am sure they had no clue how long we waited to board the Serenade.

 

(SIDE NOTE: It seems to just be a part of what happens with vacation that it all becomes self focused and many manners go out the window. Me first in the elevator...me first out of the elevator.....why would you get in the back of the elevator when you knew your were going to be getting off before me - not remembering that we moved back to make room for you! - well the list can go on.... We just take it in stride and try to be as accommodating as possible without getting run over.)

 

The exit off of the ship was very smooth. We chose to do the express as we had an approximate 14 hour drive in front of us so we schlepped our own bags off. Barbara did well, especially as she does have an issue in one knee. It is not limiting, it just slows us down a bit more than what some people may have liked. We know the waiting will resume at the Immigration and Customs officers anyway.

 

We found the shortest line at the farthest away from the crowd and were warmly welcomed by the Officer and exchanged our own pleasantries. Withing 15 seconds were were through and on our way out.

 

We chose to roll our bags past all of the shuttles (remember we parked in the whale lot) and past all of the taxis to the elevators that go up to the RiverWalk Mall. We were the only ones in the elevator....got out by the food court....walked across the food court....took escalators down to the Whale Lot (I carried our bags down about 5 very shallow steps into the parking lot) and walked to the car.

 

We packed and left...being on the highway at 8 AM.

 

TIP....don't overlook the elevators at the Riverwalk Mall....it gets you over those sets of rail tracks easily!

 

 

UP NEXT: Journey toward home IT WAS GREAT!!!!

[Havana Daydreamin]

So are you home yet?

 

If so, when do you head out of Dodge again? :D

 

Seriously, loved your report.

 

Yes we are back in 'ol Dodge City and it feels good!

 

Thank you for following along!

 

When do we "get out of Dodge". Well there will be several non cruise escapades, but we are planning our next cruise vacation for a back to back Alaska.

 

But, that will have to be on hold for 2016 at the earliest...maybe will be 2017 as those itineraries are always pricey. But we have a booking that we will move as soon as something comes up for us.

 

AND, yes, there will be a "Live" because I do enjoy doing them!:D