Spirit-ed Away Dec 11

[havanadaydreaming]

depart Miami, 6 nt.  

Bimini - Amber Cover - Grand Turk 

inside cabin (my 2nd ever) 

 

Just a few days before embarkation and we're almost ready to sail.  i usually have most everything set aside for the suitcase the day before the flight.  We are headed to Miami a day early so i can catch the limited run of jai alai at the Dania Casino. The sport pretty much folded up operations about a year ago in Miami and Lauderdale but its back for a two month run!  i hope its a success and it becomes an annual event.  

 

think i'm going to get the social media internet package for this cruise and i want to try to upload pictures of the ship.   i don't know how much longer it has to remain in service, hopefully several years.   i like the smaller ships - quaint.  unique.  But i also see the appeal of the megaships with all their bells and whistles.  

 

we've been to all these ports before so this is more of a chill sail.  im a parrothead so i will certainly hit the Margaritaville pool on Turk, its the best of its ilk on the planet.  although the Hollywood Beach resort is a fairly close second place.  

[mondello]

@havanadaydreaming I’ve booked the best of both. 12/19 Celebration will be our biggest ship ever. We have Spirit booked for Spring Break, 4/2/23; the smallest ship we’ll have been on. Have a great cruise.

[havanadaydreaming]

mondello - we are looking very closely at Celebration for a Q1 2023 cruise.  seems like the best deal currently offered.  

 

for this sailing we are debating going to the steakhouse for the first time on Carnival.  we have done those on NCL (grrrrrrreat) and MSC (no so great). 

 

my other "rule" for a la carte food is to get sushi on the first day after sailaway.  dont wait until midcruise or later. 

 

 

[mondello]

Yeah, I can’t believe Celebration is being offered at lower fares than Mardi Gras. I’m really looking forward to so many new food venues. Agree on the Steakhouse/Spirit. We’ll definitely being booking for the first time, too.

[havanadaydreaming]

Day before flight south and its my son's college graduation.  He selected what i consider to be the best seafood place in town for his celebratory meal.  

 

His gift will be a 2023 cruise for him and his +1 since he left us no debt to payoff. Newer ship. Drink package.  

[havanadaydreaming]

First surprise, a free upgrade to exit row seat.  Thanks Delta! 

[Jamman54]

Looking forward to your review. We are on the Spirit next month. 😎

[wesorbeth]

21 hours ago, havanadaydreaming said:

Day before flight south and its my son's college graduation.  He selected what i consider to be the best seafood place in town for his celebratory meal.  

 

His gift will be a 2023 cruise for him and his +1 since he left us no debt to payoff. Newer ship. Drink package.  

What seafood place?  

[havanadaydreaming]

2nd surprise, won almost 50% of games i wagered on jai alai.  Sometimes i also lost additional wagers when i won but walked up $43. Big winner was a $1 exacta that paid $35.  Sadly i meant to bet $2.  Ha.  

 

3rd surprise, i ledt my cel at Dania Casino and Jai Alai.  Drove to Miami hotel before noticing. Drove back snd it was still in my seats' cupholder!!! 

 

Biggest luck of the day! 

[Jamman54]

5 hours ago, havanadaydreaming said:

2nd surprise, won almost 50% of games i wagered on jai alai.  Sometimes i also lost additional wagers when i won but walked up $43. Big winner was a $1 exacta that paid $35.  Sadly i meant to bet $2.  Ha.  

 

3rd surprise, i ledt my cel at Dania Casino and Jai Alai.  Drove to Miami hotel before noticing. Drove back snd it was still in my seats' cupholder!!! 

 

Biggest luck of the day! 

Last time we were there was 2018. When does the current run end? 😎

[havanadaydreaming]

Beth- Pelicans Reef 

[havanadaydreaming]

Jamman - current dania run ends sometime in january.  

[Jamman54]

19 minutes ago, havanadaydreaming said:

Jamman - current dania run ends sometime in january.  

Great! I'll make sure we catch it when we're down there in 4 weeks. 😎

[havanadaydreaming]

The Spirit theme is stunning, to me.  Not all of it makes sense but that the charm.  

 

Jungle hallway? Check.   Hidden elevator by thetre? Check.  Peculiar stairwells not on other ships? Check.  

 

Godspeed to stoners onboard.  (I mean that lovingly) 

[havanadaydreaming]

Test...uploading images.  

[ninjacat123]

Looking forward to your review!😀

[pe4all]

On Spirit next month also.   Heading to FLL this Saturday for early holiday vacay.  Glad to hear Jai Alai is back for a bit.  Will make sure I go.  Enjoy your cruise.  Looking forward to reading your review.

[havanadaydreaming]

T O double D is a solid cruise director, ive bumped into him daily.  He nailed a Friends trivia Q, on the spot, when walking by this am.  I have watched every episode and missed 13 of first 14.  Ha! 

 

88 Keys was an incredible surprise.  We loved it.  Highly recommeded.  

 

Casino has been pretty busy.  Wife loves the Fat Piggies slot, i dont have a dog (err slot) in the hunt in this casino.  

 

3rd day today and ive only had one Guy burger.  Time to change that.  

[havanadaydreaming]

[havanadaydreaming]

A bit of a small sample size but its been a challenge to get a seat in the lido buffet during rush hour.  Also, the fare has been meh. But warm.  And lines arent long. 

 

Chillin at the art auction now.  Someone just dropped $3700 on a Thomas Kincaide. I find the purchases fascinating.  Ive counted 10 employees working event.  Main dude + 4 assistants. And 5 fellas, the muscle. 

 

Ladies next to me just won the raffle!!! A lanyard.  

[drvmywifecrzy]

Any chance you can confirm they have Fireball at the bars?  Especially in the Casino?

[carohs]

On 12/12/2022 at 8:07 AM, havanadaydreaming said:

Test...uploading images.  

I walked past those stairs at least 3 times before I realized, hey stairs. Of course they never ended up being the most efficient way to get to where I was going, but did use em once just to explore. 

 

Our CD was Erin just in September. Wonder where she went?

[havanadaydreaming]

20 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

Any chance you can confirm they have Fireball at the bars?  Especially in the Casino?

Will check tonight. Im pretty sure they do, there was a Fireball sales event in Fun Shops earlier this trip.  

[havanadaydreaming]

Hit the cruise elegant dinner at the MDR last night.  Seated next to dude in backwards ballcap and ratty tshirt, which might understandably bug some folk.  Im mr tank top and flip flops (outdoors) so c'est la vie...but he was an eyesore.  Sorry brah! 

 

Wife got the filet and i highly recommend that.  Sooooo good. I got the barramundi and 50th anniversary shrimp.  Sadly, meh rating on both.  But i cleared my plates.  

 

80s Pop show was solid.  I still have 88 Keys show rated at the top so far.  

 

Coffee shop might be the busiest in the fleet that ive seen.  One of the baristas has a Playlist quality voice, its fun when she adds to the music trivia across the room.  

[havanadaydreaming]

We have the Celebration in Amber Cove today.  6k passengers! 

 

Our plan to hit the pool might be edited ad hoc if it is mass humanity people soup.