LIVE! Spirit Panama Canal Journeys Cruise 4/17-5/3 Let’s Cruise!

[TravelBluebird]

Hello everyone!  Welcome to my LIVE blog of my trip on the Carnival Spirit, a repositioning Journeys cruise going from Miami to Seattle, through the Panama Canal 4/17 to 5/3.  My last LIVE was on the Carnival Mardi Gras in February.

 

This LIVE may be a little different than my former ones—so many sea days, plus a much smaller ship than usual.  I don’t know what to expect, and that is part of the fun of a LIVE!  Will I FINALLY not be sad when having do disembark a cruise? Will I get bored with 4 straight sea days from Cabo San Lucas to Seattle? Will I gain 10 pounds? Will I be happy that there are many fewer people than on the Mardi Gras, or will. I miss all the amenities of that ship? Who knows; its a LIVEl we get to find out together!

 

First, a little about me, my cruising perspective, and how I ended up on this cruise!

 

I’m Dee, traveling once again with my dear husband Russ.  We originally were supposed to be on a Regent 28 day cruise to South America, which was cancelled twice due to the pandemic. We decided to get a refund (good move; that cruise was canceled AGAIN this month and is heading up to Canada instead) and take a bunch of different cruises for the $$ we would have spent on that one Regent one.

 

Carnival made us some casino offers we couldn’t refuse, including this trip. We wanted to get to South America (however briefly on this trip) and Panama Canal is definitely bucket list for us!  So here we are.  

This cruise has been a moving target—was supposed to originally been on the Freedom, then in February changed to the Spirit when Carnival had the “Dancing of the Ships.” Then Santa Marta, Columbia was dropped as a cruise port, and Jamaica added instead (ack, bummer—we wanted 2 ports in Columbia). Then..boosters required, and finally this week, embarkation tests required as well. Phew. We are exhausted from how much we’ve had to swivel plans for this one!

 

I won’t bore you with my cruising history again; if you are interested its all in the first post of my Mardi Gras LIVE from this February. In a nutshell; I’ve cruised a bunch of lines, and love many of them, but you can’t beat the fun and the value of a Carnival cruise—I’m a big fan!

 

Also this bears repeating for this LIVE—I may be a bit of a Carnival Fan Girl, but I’ll tell you like it is, the good and the bad. And even with the ups and downs of travel and cruising in particular, especially during COVID times, I’ve never been on a bad cruise.

 

I like to write and I’m a bit wordy (fair warning!) and I take lots of photos to share with y’all. I am not 100% sure how the Internet is going to be on the Spirit...I’ve heard a varying reports, so keep your fingers crossed I can keep this LIVE as, well...LIVE as possible!

 

Finally, I have included a photo of Russ and I, so you, dear readers, can put me together with my “voice,” and if you are on the Spirit with us, please stop by and say hello, we’d love to meet you!

 

Thanks in advance for reading along and coming on this journey with me!  And once again, endless thanks to all the LIVES here on Cruise Critic that have come before which I have so enjoyed and learned from. 

 

OK—back to packing! So much harder to pack for 16 days instead of the usual 7! Tomorrow morning we have our COVID tests; I’ll report on the results and how packing is going!

[Joe817]

I can't wait to start reading your live report of your journey! Thanks for doing one. 

[Luckysll]

Looking forward to your reports.  I’m on the exact same cruise, but in 2023.  

[TravelBluebird]

16 minutes ago, Luckysll said:

Looking forward to your reports.  I’m on the exact same cruise, but in 2023.  

 

Which ship?

[arctickitty]

Sounds like a lot of fun to follow along!

[TravelBluebird]

Yay! 2 Negative Covid Tests achieved! Normally I’d be FULL GUNS AHEAD THIS CRUISE IS HAPPENING...but not quite yet since we still have to get 2 Negative results at embarkation for this cruise.

 

We did the Rapid Anitigen at CVS. Our local CVS had stopped giving tests so we went next town over to get them. Yes, we have some of the proctored tests, but we use them as our back-up, plus I’ll need them for a non-cruise European work-related trip next month.

 

And now for...taxes.  I’m a procrastinator. We are done with our Federal ones but I have business taxes to file for Tennessee. Oh well, gotta go do ‘em!

 

Packing is substantially done...more on that later. We fly into Miami late afternoon//early evening Saturday on Delta via Atlanta, and then we have a pre-cruise points stay at the Miami Marriott Key Biscayne. Evidently we have a water-facing balcony! And also evidently, from the 3 emails I’ve received from the hotel, the balconies are under renovation, covered by scaffolding, and not to be entered on under any circumstance, plus KEEP THOSE BLINDS CLOSED unless you want to say good morning to a construction worker while you are scantily clad from sleeping//showering.  I mean, I’m not going to be there long and the room was free, so it is what it is!

 

I’m a bit stressed that I don’t have a ride to the port on Sunday. UBER won’t let me pre-book at this location, and I called the hotel...not only do they not have a shuttle to the port, they wouldn’t help me arrange a ride (they were like—Take an Uber!  Well, that IS the plan, but it is Easter Sunday and I don’t know how that will effect availability of Ubers).  When I get to Miami I may try to pre-arrange a taxi pick up instead so I can cross that off my anxiety-list. Any suggestions for a good taxi company (or other solution) would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

Edited April 14, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[Moviela]

Car Service Miami.

 

[ChutChut]

Thanks for allowing us to share your journey. Looking forward to your posts!

[natefish95]

Really looking forward to your report! I'm considering taking the Spirit on an 8 day in October, but want to read a few reviews first. I'm also considering doing a similar sailing next year. I love sea days and would gladly do a 16 day cruise with no ports. haha

 

Regarding Uber, you should have no problem finding one, even though it's Easter.

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, Moviela said:

Car Service Miami.

 

Thank you I will give them a call!

[TravelBluebird]

Day before the trip!

 

Was going to post last night but Safari on my iPad was not letting me open Cruise Critic at all (I was getting some weird technical error) but its fine this morning! I downloaded Chrome right before I went to bed and that seemed fine; so I have that as a back-up browser for the cruise.

 

Today is my “complete the pre-travel list” day! I’m a serious list maker, and I have a list of things that MUST be completed before I leave, and a list of things I’d LIKE to complete before I leave, but don’t have to if I run out of time.

 

Packing, for me, is substantially done. I say substantially because my husband will either pack late tonight or tomorrow morning.  Normally this is fine with me (I’m the person who has to pack all the medicines//sunscreen//camera stuff) since all he packs are his clothes BUT this time we are taking a mutual carry-on with a couple days of clothes and shoes in case our luggage is lost or we test positive embarkation and can’t retrieve our luggage. SO...I own’t know if what I gave him will fit in this case till....well, till whenever he packs!  There is a bit of room in my checked case, but re-packing may have to occur.

 

And about packing...gosh, 16 days is hard to pack for! I can’t even imagine what the folk who are going to do a B2B with the first Spirit Alaska cruise are going through! Two weather zones! For 7 days, I have it down to about 40 pounds, one checked case and 1 small carry on.  For this, I’ll be closer to 50 pounds plus the 1/2 of mutual larger carry on.  I will do laundry on the ship, but heck, anything I wear once for a dance class or deck party or exercise class, I don’t want to wear again until laundered, and I don’t want to be doing a TON of laundry on vacation!

 

I have most of the pre-cruise stuff done now...all the stuff in Carnival’s checklist (vaccination status, health assessment, 3 day covid test) and also VERIFLY as well.  Off to tackle a list for my house sitter!

[n6uqqq]

On 4/14/2022 at 12:48 PM, TravelBluebird said:

Yay! 2 Negative Covid Tests achieved! Normally I’d be FULL GUNS AHEAD THIS CRUISE IS HAPPENING...but not quite yet since we still have to get 2 Negative results at embarkation for this cruise.

 

We did the Rapid Anitigen at CVS. Our local CVS had stopped giving tests so we went next town over to get them. Yes, we have some of the proctored tests, but we use them as our back-up, plus I’ll need them for a non-cruise European work-related trip next month.

 

And now for...taxes.  I’m a procrastinator. We are done with our Federal ones but I have business taxes to file for Tennessee. Oh well, gotta go do ‘em!

 

Packing is substantially done...more on that later. We fly into Miami late afternoon//early evening Saturday on Delta via Atlanta, and then we have a pre-cruise points stay at the Miami Marriott Key Biscayne. Evidently we have a water-facing balcony! And also evidently, from the 3 emails I’ve received from the hotel, the balconies are under renovation, covered by scaffolding, and not to be entered on under any circumstance, plus KEEP THOSE BLINDS CLOSED unless you want to say good morning to a construction worker while you are scantily clad from sleeping//showering.  I mean, I’m not going to be there long and the room was free, so it is what it is!

 

I’m a bit stressed that I don’t have a ride to the port on Sunday. UBER won’t let me pre-book at this location, and I called the hotel...not only do they not have a shuttle to the port, they wouldn’t help me arrange a ride (they were like—Take an Uber!  Well, that IS the plan, but it is Easter Sunday and I don’t know how that will effect availability of Ubers).  When I get to Miami I may try to pre-arrange a taxi pick up instead so I can cross that off my anxiety-list. Any suggestions for a good taxi company (or other solution) would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

Are you required to take the test twice?  Seems redundant to take it two days before and then again at the port.

Edited April 15, 2022 by n6uqqq

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, n6uqqq said:

Are you required to take the test twice?  Seems redundant to take it two days before and then again at the port.

 Yes, we have to take it 3 days before (we get an extra day because we all have to be boostered for this trip), and then take a test again at embarkation.

 

It is definitely redundant...why do we have to provide proof of the negative 3 days before when Carnival will have the more recent embarkation test? Personally I would. have taken a home test before flying down to Miami (to avoid the expense of the air and hotel and possible quarantine in Miami if positive), but requiring the 3 day before test on Carnival’s part makes little sense.

[TravelBluebird]

Car is packed, son has house sitting instructions, cat is giving me the evil eye (he has been since we brought the suitcases out!) and our flights appear to be on time! Let the journey begin!

[TravelBluebird]

Unfortunately our first flight is no longer on time (Delta; pilot issue)  IF our plane takes off at the newly estimated time we may barely make our flight in Atlanta to Miami.  The next flight out (an hour later) only has 2 seats left so the gate agent nicely put them on hold for us in case we don’t make the first flight. If we don’t make the second one either, there are two more late flights which right now have some seats left.

 

Well, here is our airport selfie where we were SO happy before we found out about the flight delay: 

[TravelBluebird]

OK we have just boarded!  Hoping to leave slightly early OR pick up some minutes in air.  Fingers crossed—we’ll be doing a sprint at Atlanta airport for the connecting flight—good thing I have my running shoes on! 

[peteandpris]

I am looking forward to your review, thank you.

[Banditswife]

Hello, TravelBluebird,  we are on this cruise with you.  Thanks for adding a photo of yourself & hubby, now I will look for you 2.  Yes this cruise has had a bunch of changes- some good, some bad.  We were originally booked on the Freedom deck 7 forward, they put us on deck 5 aft.  But having a good travel agent got us to deck 6 forward.  I see you have taken off for Miami- safe travels & hope to see ya on board.

[TravelBluebird]

We made it!!  Not to Miami yet, but to our connecting flight in Atlanta. We ran through the airport (and plane train) and made it we THOUGHT with only minutes to spare, but our second flight’s plane hasn’t even landed yet (although its still showing as ON TIME...go figure).

 

Well that sprint ought to take care of the calories for my first Chocolate Melting Cake (with vanilla ice cream, of course) on Sunday night!

 

Will update when we arrive in Miami; I’ll have hotel photos (Miami Marriott Key Biscayne) and restaurant report later tonight (Tony Chan’s Water CLub).

[TravelBluebird]

15 minutes ago, Banditswife said:

Hello, TravelBluebird,  we are on this cruise with you.  Thanks for adding a photo of yourself & hubby, now I will look for you 2.  Yes this cruise has had a bunch of changes- some good, some bad.  We were originally booked on the Freedom deck 7 forward, they put us on deck 5 aft.  But having a good travel agent got us to deck 6 forward.  I see you have taken off for Miami- safe travels & hope to see ya on board.

 

Hope to see you on board as well!  We were originally 6 mid ship regular balcony and were moved to 7 forward so we are fine with that.

[lazydayz]

Continued safe travels.  Looking forward to your live report.  We loved our PC cruise from Tampa to Long Beach. The Journeys activities make it a lot more fun.  We did choir and had a blast with it.  But the highlight was the crossing.  We were in the old locks and got quite a bump during lunch that day.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. 

[TravelBluebird]

Landed in Miami!!  Let the vacation begin!  🎉

[TravelBluebird]

58 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

Continued safe travels.  Looking forward to your live report.  We loved our PC cruise from Tampa to Long Beach. The Journeys activities make it a lot more fun.  We did choir and had a blast with it.  But the highlight was the crossing.  We were in the old locks and got quite a bump during lunch that day.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. 

Quite the bump during lunch—did you hit the side of an old lock??

[rwest898]

I'm also on the cruise with you.  I  pre-booked Lyft for tomorrow. 

[TravelBluebird]

6 hours ago, Banditswife said:

Hello, TravelBluebird,  we are on this cruise with you.  Thanks for adding a photo of yourself & hubby, now I will look for you 2.  Yes this cruise has had a bunch of changes- some good, some bad.  We were originally booked on the Freedom deck 7 forward, they put us on deck 5 aft.  But having a good travel agent got us to deck 6 forward.  I see you have taken off for Miami- safe travels & hope to see ya on board.

 

Uber wouldn’t let me pre-book in this location, so I also pre-booked a Lyft!  Just wanted to have something scheduled due to Easter.