LIVE from the Glory: Aug 13-20, 2023

[minniegidget]

Sounds like the rest of your trip went well. Glad everyone had a good time.

[atticusthegreat]

such a cute review. I wanna be besties with your wife.

[Haljo1935]

4 minutes ago, atticusthegreat said:

such a cute review. I wanna be besties with your wife.

@PrincessArlena'sDadAnd I wanna apply for adoption as child #4 - dog already ate my glasses, so nothing to leave behind anywhere lol. Of course, also means I can't be a back up driver. 🫣

Thoroughly enjoying the review.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

23 hours ago, Mycykfamilytime said:

Was this a Carnival excursion?   Seems really fun.  We might try it!

Yes it was. We would absolutely do it again, also.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

19 hours ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

I am enjoying your review!  We want to sail from NOLA one day. Been down there for coffee and beignets a few times, but never sailed from there.  It's on  our list of things to do one day......so is the restaurant you mentioned in Staunton.  We live some 1.5 hours from Staunton but always end up at Fishin' Pig ( between Staunton and Waynesboro on I-64 ) or Kathy's.   Thanks again for the review, and enjoy making memories with the fam. Always time well spent!   

Next time we will try to stop for coffee and beignets!  

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

18 hours ago, atticusthegreat said:

such a cute review. I wanna be besties with your wife.

She said, “Sure!” Maybe we’ll be on the same cruise one day.  

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

18 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

@PrincessArlena'sDadAnd I wanna apply for adoption as child #4 - dog already ate my glasses, so nothing to leave behind anywhere lol. Of course, also means I can't be a back up driver. 🫣

Thoroughly enjoying the review.

Sure.  We can make a list.  

 

I think we’ll schedule interviews for after Christmas though.  It’ll save a lot of money during the holidays!

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Back to sea day.

 

Upon our return from the fitness center and freshening up, we went up to Pixels to start going through pictures.  On all our previous cruises (including the one on the Horizon), it was not difficult to pick out the handful of pictures we wanted to buy.  

 

We didn’t know this: when you pre-buy a package, they will hold all your photos in a folder for you, If you do not have a package, they will not hold your photos in a folder for you.  You will have to find them all over again the next time you go.  We had pre-purchased the package of 5 photos, but hadn’t looked at the photos yet. If we knew they would hold them for us, we would have.  It took a very long time to go through all the photos to find ours. At 5 pm we had to take a break to do the Camp Ocean family scavenger hunt (and were glad they could put all the photos in a folder for us).  

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

The family scavenger hunt was a lot of fun.  They give you a list of about 20 things to get a picture of.  Including: 

  -Getting 5 other people to join your family in a conga line

 - eating pizza

 - eating ice cream

- playing mini golf

- with a towel animal

 - working out

 - dancing

 - jumping (video is easier for this than a photo)

 - ocean in the background

 - the whale tail

- various places on the ship

 

Our 14 year old had already done 3 scavenger hunts with Circle C - and had won all of them.  The list for this one was different, but he knew where everything was.

 

We also lucked out while going past Guys.  There was a huge group of his Circle C friends hanging out.  It took just a few seconds to get them in a Conga line with us, and we took a picture with the ice cream one of them was eating.  We then accosted a woman walking by with a pizza to get a photo with her. 

 

They give you a half hour to get back. (If you had to get your own pizza, no one would ever make it). We got back in just under 20 minutes, and won first place!  The prize was a stuffed octopus in a Camp Ocean tote.

 

We had just enough time to freshen up for dinner.  The last dinner in the MDR is always sad.  Baked Alaska, though, is a highlight.

 

They had the “we are the world” show at 7:30, and the kids and teens in the show were supposed to be there at 7:15.  We had to rush through dinner in order to make it.  We told our server about the need for speed, and they accommodated nicely.  We had the Baked Alaska in our tummy’s before the Baked Alaska parade.  After the good bye song, and hugs from the serving team, we ran out of there.

 

The We Are the World show is nice.  The kids are the highlight.  Instead of having the Playlist cast join the kids in someway, the Playlist cast comes on stage after them, and does a concert sitting on stools.  That’s fine for the four lead singers, but gave the four lead dancers with little to do beside backup vocals.  The singing was great, but you can tell the cast was bored, as were we.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

After the show we went back to finish picking out our photos.

 

There were well over 20 that we liked.  We picked out the five 8x10s for our package and also got 5 of the smaller photos, as well.  Included in this was a Circle C group picture with a towel animal elephant in a life vest and snorkel. We then, sadly, sent the rest into recycling.  This was the first time we were really sad they didn’t have an “all your photos” package.  On all previous cruises, narrowing it down to a few that we really wanted wasn’t too difficult.  

 

Either the Glory photo team is that much better than the other ships we had been on, or the fact that there were no lines for photos allowed the photographers to take a lot more time setting up the pictures.

 

While picking out photos we were able to watch our two older kids dancing at the 80s rock and glow party in the lobby (why it was in the lobby, and not on the Lido deck, I have no idea).

 

It was then time to start packing.  We did take a break to have our free gold drink in the lobby.  My last Mocha Chocolate Getaway. 

 

I’d really appreciate it if one of you could bring me back one of those the next time you go on a cruise.  

 

Or at least instructions how to make it!

 

We finished packing just before 11 (the deadline to get our bags into the hallway), and relaxed until the kids came back from their camp/Circle C parties. 

 

Then that was it.  When we woke up it would be time to get off the ship.

[ninjacat123]

47 minutes ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

After the show we went back to finish picking out our photos.

 

There were well over 20 that we liked.  We picked out the five 8x10s for our package and also got 5 of the smaller photos, as well.  Included in this was a Circle C group picture with a towel animal elephant in a life vest and snorkel. We then, sadly, sent the rest into recycling.  This was the first time we were really sad they didn’t have an “all your photos” package.  On all previous cruises, narrowing it down to a few that we really wanted wasn’t too difficult.  

 

Either the Glory photo team is that much better than the other ships we had been on, or the fact that there were no lines for photos allowed the photographers to take a lot more time setting up the pictures.

 

While picking out photos we were able to watch our two older kids dancing at the 80s rock and glow party in the lobby (why it was in the lobby, and not on the Lido deck, I have no idea).

 

It was then time to start packing.  We did take a break to have our free gold drink in the lobby.  My last Mocha Chocolate Getaway. 

 

I’d really appreciate it if one of you could bring me back one of those the next time you go on a cruise.  

 

Or at least instructions how to make it!

 

We finished packing just before 11 (the deadline to get our bags into the hallway), and relaxed until the kids came back from their camp/Circle C parties. 

 

Then that was it.  When we woke up it would be time to get off the ship.

Here you go! Yum yum!

 

Ingredients

• AD
  ¾ Ounce Irish Cream
• ¾ Ounce Dark Rum
• ¼ Ounce Butterscotch Schnapps
• ¼ Ounce Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
• 2 ½ Ounce Ice Cream
• Chocolate Syrup

Instructions

 

• Line the glass with a chocolate drizzle
• Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend with ice until smooth
• Top with whipped cream and a cherry

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I should have mentioned previously that we entered the Mississippi around 8pm. Ironically, this made the ship rock more than it had the entire cruise, from the constant steering they needed to do to sail up the river.  We had the calmest waters of any cruise we had been on - by far (we had done Bahamas, S. Car, E. Car, and W. Car previously).

 

We got ourselves up, finished packing what we needed for the last night, and did the final room check.  Well, three room checks.  That was chaotic. You would think that we'd systematically go through each room, back to front. We thought we would, also.  

 

It didn't turn out that way.  Instead, we would check in this drawer, go to a different room to look in the same drawer, back to the first room to look in a closet, find a belt hidden behind the life vests in the 2nd room, go back to the first room to check behind the life vests there but get distracted by a random sock on the floor, back to the 2nd room to because I forgot what I was doing, then back to the first room to really check behind the life vests, and then to the 2nd room to look behind the curtain (no wizard there!)

 

Despite all of that, we checked in for our last meal in the MDR at 7:30 (8am is the latest). A nice perk of the MDR breakfast is that you can leave your bags in the front of the restaurant, so it isn't crowded around your table.  The MDR was mostly empty; I really don't get why more people don't choose this option.

 

Those without allergies placed their orders (those with allergies ordered during dinner the night before), and as we were waiting for our food to arrive I realized we left something in the cabin. It was just before 8 at this point, and we had until 8:30 to be out of the cabins, so it wasn't a problem to go back and get it.  While there I did a last search through everything, but it was just the one item.

 

The food came, fresh and hot.  The cheese on my omelet was still melted from being fresh off the grill.  Unfortunately, banana cream pie is not on the port day breakfast menu (which is what the disembarkation breakfast menu is).

 

You cannot hear the disembarkation announcements from inside the MDR, so we had no idea what was going on. However, we had purposely took the very last number (28); we were in no rush to start driving home, so this wasn't a concern for us.

 

We finished up around 8:30. We went into the lobby of the Platinum restaurant (which is the aft restaurant) to use the restrooms there. Another MDR breakfast benefit is that these restrooms were completely empty.  

 

Just as we finished up using the restrooms, they called the final set of numbers (21-28 were all called together). We collected our carry-ons from the front of the restaurant and started the sad walk towards the lobby.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

6 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Here you go! Yum yum!

 

Ingredients

• AD
  ¾ Ounce Irish Cream
• ¾ Ounce Dark Rum
• ¼ Ounce Butterscotch Schnapps
• ¼ Ounce Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
• 2 ½ Ounce Ice Cream
• Chocolate Syrup

Instructions

 

• Line the glass with a chocolate drizzle
• Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend with ice until smooth
• Top with whipped cream and a cherry

My hero!

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We had to get from Deck 3 aft to the lobby, which is also on Deck 3.  Our choices were down to deck 2 and across, or up to deck 6 and across (we didn't want to chance the casino still smelling of smoke).  We choose Deck 6 to make the trip longer.  Well, the elevator ride at least.

 

Once in the lobby, we made one last stop at guest services - we couldn't find our 11 year old's hat, but it wasn't in the lost and found.

 

Then, with no more ways we could think of procrastinating, we left the ship.

[luvcruzing]

Thank you for the Live trip report.  It was fun following along.  

[Journey11]

Very informative and detailed review. So glad you and your family had a fun enjoyable cruise.

Thank for taking the time and effort to write it.

[minniegidget]

So sad it is over. When is your next cruise. I will be looking forward to the live report.

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

50 minutes ago, minniegidget said:

So sad it is over. When is your next cruise. I will be looking forward to the live report.

Funny you should ask!  It won't be until next summer, but we were just tossing around some ideas today.  

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Postscript

 

The walk down the ramp into the terminal had a longer line than I would have liked.  It was hot and humid in there, with little air flow.  My father-in-law was having a little difficulty with the ramp, and two pixels crew members came up behind him and yelled, "Move over, we need to get through now!" 

 

Before we could react or say anything, another Carnival crew member ran over to them, and said, right into their faces, "You can't talk to a guest like that!  You wait for the guests! They go first. Apologize!"  

 

They listened to her.  

 

When you get to the end of the ramp, you have the option of going straight to go to the escalator or turn right to go down the elevator.  I took all of the carry-on bags and went to the elevator, so everyone else could go down the escalator.  The line for the elevator was quite long, it was small, and very slow moving.  Not as slow moving as the elevator going from Deck 11 to Deck 12, though!  In hindsight, we would have divided up the bags to all go down the escalator.  We're only talking about five minutes, so not a big deal.

 

We met up in the baggage claim area.  My father-in-law was collapsed on the floor, catching his breath.  That ramp was harder on him than walking around Altan Ha for an hour. (Having a Dr. in the family can be very helpful - my wife was able to evaluate him and knew he was just winded).

 

We asked someone to get a wheelchair for him, which they were happy to do. We needed a porter to help with the luggage.  Instead of trying to chase one down, they have a porter stand with a line. By this point, there was only one person in line, and we got a porter in just a few moments. I can imagine when there are tons of people in there that the porter taxi stand works really well.

 

The wheelchair arrived just as the porter was finishing stacking our bags on the truck.  We followed him through customs (passport facial recognition made this quick and easy) and to the elevator up to the garage. We took that up to the third floor and walked around the corner where our car was waiting for us.

 

Everyone and everything got packed into the car, we drove down the ramp, and out we went.  We pulled out of the garage at 10:02.  I was surprised how long it took to go from the MDR to the streets of New Orleans.

 

Now, here is the weird part.  A week earlier, we arrived at 9:46 to a huge line of cars, and didn't get into the garage until we switched into the left lane around 10:15.  But, as we drove off, there was no one waiting to get in.  Cars were coming, and they drove down past Mardi Gras World to the garage, without even having to slow down. I have no explanation for this. Anyone have any ideas?

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

The drive home.

 

There really isn't much to write about. Thankfully nothing like the trip home last month! I spent most of it trying to catch up here or taking a shift driving. Or dozing when the battery died.

 

My wife did a great job avoiding an accident, though.  This was at a time when my IPad battery was dead, so I didn't write about it at the time it happened. We were in the left lane and in the right lane was a pickup truck pulling a trailer.  The truck had a tire blowout and veered all the way into our lane.  My wife went into the left shoulder to avoid him and floored it to get away.  The truck then veered into the right shoulder. Going into the shoulder caused him to completely lose control, and he did a 270 (clockwise), and then went straight across both lanes of traffic and into the extremely wide median between north and southbound.  Luckily for him there was no one coming up behind us, and there was no barrier after the shoulder.  If there was, he would have hit it, and gotten stuck sideways on the road, blocking both lanes!

 

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Movies driving home (just because I listed the ones we watched/listened to on the way down):

Joseph

Cats

Beauty and the Beast

Singin in the Rain

Guardians of the Galaxy I

Guardians of the Galaxy II

 

On Sunday, we stopped for lunch at Huddle House in Brookwood, AL.  The food was freshly and quickly prepared. We were in and out in no time, and very happy. We had never been to a Huddle House before and would definitely stop at one again for a road trip.

 

I originally had us stopping for the night a half hour before Knoxville, but I was afraid of hitting Monday morning traffic through Knoxville.  We stopped for dinner at Aubrey's in Strawberry Plains, just past Knoxville. This was wonderful!  Great service, great food, and also very prompt service.  This made up for the 45 minutes we lost due to having to take a detour through the hills of southern TN because of a bad accident.

 

We spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express across the street from Aubrey's.  This, too, was a very pleasant stay with a satisfying breakfast.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

The last mile.

 

More than a mile.  More than 450 miles.

 

We left the hotel at 9am. We really wanted to stop at Edelweiss for lunch, but they're closed on Mondays.  Instead, we chose Three Little Pigs BBQ, in Daleville, VA. I have never even been tempted to buy a restaurant's t-shirt, until then.  For all you pig lovers out there, this is the place for you (whether it be eating the BBQ or looking at the cute pig t-shirts - or both!) 

 

We had dinner at our local pizza place before dropping my father-in-law off and arrived home to a very loud cat.  We open the door and he comes running down the stairs, into the hallway, screaming at us at the top of his little kitty cat lungs.  We all got lots of cuddles and licks.

 

Also in the doorway greeting us was our new garment bag. 

 

 

[Haljo1935]

22 minutes ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

..

 

Also in the doorway greeting us was our new garment bag. 

Hooray!! Now the patient good kitty gets a new 📦 and your hanging clothes get a new home next trip.

And we get a final chapter in Tales of a Garment Bag. 🥳

And you get to finalize the insurance claims...I hope.

Glad you made it home safely and your son doesn't have permanent wrinkles from the squinting  - now go get the boy some glasses!!

[ninjacat123]

Yay!!  Glad you are all home safe!  I gasped when you wrote that your father in law collapsed and shuddered at the possible nightmare of the "truck incident" on the highway.  Not only is your wife a doctor but she's a racecar driver!  Like Buckaroo Bonzai!

Great review and looking forward to my cruise with DH out of Rome this October.  Maybe I'll write a little something about it😊

[Haljo1935]

29 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

...looking forward to my cruise with DH out of Rome this October.  Maybe I'll write a little something about it

Hey @ninjacat123 I'll wave at you in baggage claim at FCO in Oct when DH and I also leave for a cruise 😎

I will follow along if you do a Live - safe travels!