Travel – Page 16

Categories: Travel

Carnival Liberty | Bahamas Cruise | Day 1 Recap

I’m back, I’m back! I wish I was still sailing in the beautiful Caribbean Sea but I am back. Ahh, coming home from a cruise feels so strange because I feel so disconnected from reality! I’ve said it a million times, but cruising always feels like I am truly getting away from my life because, for the most part, I don’t have any kind of Internet access (unless, of course, I want to pay an outrageous fee to have it!) so I can really relax, put away my phone, and sink in deep to the vacation feeling. My cruise (my sixth!) was a fabulous one. I am so in love with cruising and it remains my favorite way to travel. I’m already plotting out where I want to go on my next cruise! But now is the time to settle back into real life. It’s back to work, back to healthy eating, back to to-do lists and household chores and exercise regimes. Womp, womp. But! I have a whole week of cruise recaps planned for this dear blog because I know you all are on the edge of your seats, waiting to hear all about my adventures! (Right?!) I’ve decided to do “day in the life” type recaps this time around because it just seemed like fun! Let’s do this!

Sunday, May 4

9:00am: Leave for the port! It was a super easy, breezy drive to the port. Mom drove the first hour, and I took over for the second.

11:15am: Arrive at the port and make it through security and check-in in no time at all. Carnival likes to tell you not to arrive at the port before 12:30, but we like to be on the ship as soon as possible! We arrive so early that we have to sit in the waiting area for our zone number to be called, and this is when I realized I left my floppy sunhat in the car and my beach tote’s strap broke. Sigh. Not a great start to the vacation!

12:30pm: On board! We’re on board and our room is ready for us to see! We have an ocean view room that is a decent size. Plenty big for the two of us! We do a little unpacking and relaxing in the room.

1:00pm: Lunchtime on the Lido deck. We make our way to the Lido deck for lunch! This is our first time on a Carnival ship that has what they call “2.0 upgrades” which means it has the addition of Guy’s Burger Joint, RedFrog Rum Bar, and Blue Iguana Cantina, among other awesome upgrades. Mom and I decided we must try a burger from Guy’s and it lives up to the hype. Super delicious, with tons of topping selections to choose from. We also buy the “drink of the day” from a waiter because why not?

1:45pm: More relaxing! We spend an hour on the Serenity Deck (my favorite part of any Carnival ship!), then go back to the room to unpack our luggage.

3:30pm: Safety briefing Easily the most annoying part of the cruise, but necessary and no grumbling in the world can make it go away.

4:00pm: Even more relaxing! After the safety briefing, Mom and I find a nice lounger to lie on. We order drinks and watch as the ship sets sail. Then, we read, nap, and listen to music for the next few hours which just felt really, really, really nice. The perfect way to start our vacation!

6:30pm: Get ready for dinner. We chose the “late dining” option, which is our standard go-to. On one cruise, we had the early dining time (6:00) which was nice because we could enjoy more of the nightly shows but also made us feel a little more rushed. I like late dining, which is at 8:15pm.

8:15pm: The first dinner! I kept telling my mom that we were bound to have bad tablemates because, on our past cruises, our tablemates had been so, so, so awesome. We always seemed to luck out with the best tablemates that made for hilarious dinner conversations. And I think I jinxed us because we didn’t love our tablemates. They were a nice couple, but we just didn’t have the same rapport with them as we had with our other tablemates on past cruises. Oh, well! You can’t win ’em all, right? For dinner, I have a Caesar salad and my mom orders alligator fritters so I tasted those. Not too bad! For my main course, I have herb-roasted chicken, garlic fries, and roasted broccoli. And for dessert, they have apple pie on the menu which is one of my favorite Carnival desserts. I was so excited!

9:45pm: Nightly entertainment time! We have a busy night planned! First, Mom and I head over to the casino where we spend $20 playing the slots and end up doubling our money! Woo, woo! Typically, I don’t love the casino because it’s super loud and crazy, and filled with cigarette smoke (I’m super sensitive to the stuff!) but playing the slots is fun. (For about 5 minutes, then I get bored.)

After playing in the casino, we head to the main show lounge to watch the “Welcome Aboard” show. Some of it was cheesy and some of it was hilarious. We got to hear little snippets from the two comics on board. The male comic was super funny and the female comic was lame. (Also, she is the same comic we have had on two or three of our cruises. She’s FOLLOWING US! And all she does is recycle her material because I’ve heard her comedy a few times and it. is. the. exact. same. every. time. Get some new material! Erg.)

And then, after seeing the comics at the show, we decide to try out the male comic in his “adults only” show. I don’t typically enjoy raunchy humor, but I always try these shows to see if the comics can be funny without resorting to sex jokes. (Spoiler alert: they cannot!) There were some funny moments, but a lot of it was vile and gross and just… I may be a prude, okay?!?! But whatever. I like clean comedy!

12:20am: Get ready for bed. We make our way back to our cabin to get ready for bed. We’re both tired by this point, but since tomorrow is an “at sea” day, we know we can sleep in and spend the entire day doing absolutely nothing. The best, the best! I read for a bit before calling it a night.

If you could only choose one way to travel for the rest of your life (road-tripping, by cruise ship, or by plane), which would you choose?

Categories: Travel

It’s Cruise Time!

The weekend I have been waiting for is finally, finally, finally here: it’s cruise time! I am so excited to disconnect from reality for five days, enjoy one-on-one time with my mom, stuff myself silly with good food, and simply sit back and enjoy the experience. I am probably looking forward to Sunday more than any other day because that’s when my anticipation will be the highest: waking up, last-minute packing, driving to the port, boarding the ship, seeing our room, those first few hours on the deck. AH! There is nothing like a cruise.

I’m planning on taking a breather from this blog while I’m away. I’ll be back the following Monday for a full week of cruise recaps. I have a new, fun way to recap my cruise that I’m excited to test out. (Reading my past cruise recaps on this blog makes me cringe.)

Today and tomorrow will be hectic days as my mom and I prepare to leave. Our to-do list is as follows: wash and vacuum our cars, do laundry, clean the apartment, buy cruise toiletries & snacks, get pedicures, and do some last-minute shopping for cruise “essentials” (I need a beach tote, new sandals, and a few new shirts). There’s probably something else I’m forgetting but that’s the bulk of what we need to do! Oh, and, um, PACK. We should pack, right?! Geez.

And, of course, I need to do my final weigh-in for DietBet! I am not yet at my goal (just .4 lbs away, though!), but I’m hoping another day or two of clean eating and hard workouts will push me to where I need to be. In any event, even if I don’t win, I am really proud of myself because I really put a lot of effort into eating healthier, getting more exercise, and making good decisions. I am feeling better, I have more energy, and clothes that used to feel snug feel looser. (I’m also planning to take my measurements, something I did at the beginning of the DietBet, to see those results, too!) So, no matter what happens, I am not going to be upset with myself. I tried my best and that’s all I can ask of myself!

And that’s it for me for today! I just wanted to send a short post before I left for my vacation. Have a beautiful weekend and a fabulous week!

Categories: Travel

Girls Cruise 2013

I have a really, really hard time making friends. I always have. Even when I was younger, while I had friends, I didn’t have that many and I wasn’t especially close to the ones I did have. Most of the friends I had were “school friends.” I would see them at school, hang out with them at school, but rarely did we see each other outside of school. My lack of friendships is one of the reasons I’ve felt like a Big Fat Failure as an adult.

I had a tight band of girlfriends in high school. I was even a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of those friends! But they gradually fizzled out, when people moved away, entered different life stages, and just fell out of touch. I miss those girls.

College was a hard time for me. I moved away to live on campus but was paired with an awful roommate and I hated every second I spent on that campus. I was in junior-level classes, while everyone else was taking general ed requirements. I found friends in my classes, but they were all 3-4 years older than me and those friendships never evolved into anything more. After that first year, I moved back home and commuted to campus. And from there, I had a much different college experience than most people and never really tried to make friends in my classes. I kept to myself and did my own thing. I went to class but never stayed on campus for longer than I had to. Looking back, I regret not trying harder to carve out my place in college, but I was also working 30 hours a week on top of a full college load, so I didn’t have a ton of free time (especially considering I had an M-F daytime job which killed a lot of extracurricular activities).

So when I found a twenty-something women’s book club on Meetup.com, I desperately wanted to join. I knew it would be a fabulous place to meet friends – friends who liked books (my favorite type of people!). It took me around a year and a half to summon up the courage to join. I would check in on the group every now and then, wanting so badly to join and meet new friends but my social anxiety made it impossible. My anxiety talked louder than my desire.

Finally, though, I forced myself to join the group and I happened to join it right before the leader was hosting a new members’ dinner. It was the perfect scenario for me. I was able to slowly ease my way into this group. I was extremely nervous about that dinner, but I went and met the leader, book club members, and girls who wanted to join the group. I didn’t actually want to go, but I knew I needed to go. And I am so, so, so glad I went because the dinner was just fabulous. The leader made me feel so comfortable and at ease right off the bat, and I left feeling really excited about this group. And a bit better about my social skills.

Since then, I’ve become a regular at book club. Our meetings average around 3+ hours, where we spend more time chit-chatting than we spend discussing the book. I look forward to our meetings now and it was just about taking a leap and doing something that terrified me that reaped a big reward. I couldn’t have put together a more perfect group of friends – girls who get me, make me feel welcomed, and also make sure I don’t take myself too seriously. These girls are amazing. They are the ones you want in your corner.

It was in August when Amber, our leader, brought up the idea of taking a girls’ cruise. Norwegian Cruise Lines had a two-day mid-November cruise. While it didn’t stop anywhere, it was cheap and would be a fun way to spend a weekend. Plus, it was a great beginner’s cruise for the girls who had never taken a cruise, to see if they would enjoy it.

The cruise was this weekend and it was so much fun. I can’t even express how wonderful it was (but I’m sure going to try!). We were upgraded to balcony rooms and I believe I am now spoiled for all future cruises because goodness, it was a treat. I loved sitting outside with a book or opening the door to allow the cool ocean breeze to float through the room and the sound of the crashing waves to fill my ears. If only I could afford a balcony on every cruise I take! It is so, so worth it.

I’ve always been hesitant of traveling with friends because I am a quiet introvert who needs plenty of time to myself. I felt like traveling with friends would exhaust me, especially on a cruise when I like to spend a lot of time laying around reading. But the great thing about traveling with friends you met through book club is that they generally want to do the same thing. We spent a few hours on Saturday afternoon, sitting back with our books, sipping strawberry daiquiris, and relaxing in the sun. (It was mostly gray and dreary for the entire cruise, but the sun peeked out for a little while!) And then we lazed around in the room, slowly getting ready, chatting, and reading our books. It was a most perfect day.

We never stayed out too late (also a good thing about these girls, anything past 11pm is late for us!), but saw some great shows (the comedian on board was fantastic!). I sang my heart out during a sing-along show while dancing with strangers, had my first Sex On the Beach (I am so picky about alcoholic beverages and this one passed my test!), and ate so much at every meal that I swear I gained five pounds in two days. It was really the perfect vacation, solidifying my need to book my sixth cruise very soon.

Also, people sang “happy birthday” to me four times. First, by my friends during dinner. Then after they sang to me, the table next to us sang to me. Then, the wait staff came by with a cake and sang to me. Later on, we were sitting in the atrium ordering drinks and listening to a pianist and she started playing the happy birthday song, so of course, my friends sang to me again. I loved it! I am a huge fan of birthdays, and mine especially (ha), so I loved every second of the attention. (Even if it wasn’t really my birthday! Shh.)

I’ve cruised with Carnival five times, so this was my first Norwegian cruise. I was interested to see the difference between the two ships, but I didn’t really find that much of a difference, at least enough to cause me to want to book a full Norwegian cruise. I prefer Carnival still because I get better rates (being a past guest and a Florida resident) and I find they offer a better selection of destinations.

All in all, it was a fun two days and I am so glad I was able to go and share the experience with these girls. It feels hokey to say but I really feel like I found my tribe, because I can be myself around them and not feel silly. I can be quiet or loud or obnoxious or weird and they’ll still accept me. I mean, I think they still like me and they had to put up with my snoring this weekend! (Though it was described as “delicate” and one of my friends told me it reminded her of her one-year-old’s snores. So at least I don’t snore like a lumberjack? My future husband is so lucky!)

And now excuse me while I go research cruises for 2014…

Categories: Travel

Orlando

Orlando was the perfect getaway.

It was crazy fun roller coasters, long lines, and people-watching.

It was a 2-hour+ wait to ride Space Mountain, our first Fast-Pass experience that turned a 45-minute wait into a 5-minute one, and an out-of-this-world stunt show.

It was a toll booth snafu that had one of us throwing an epic tantrum (me) and a calm solution (mom). It was realizing that we would get so much airtime if we were ever on The Amazing Race with how I deal with stressful situations.

It was crowds and crowds and more crowds.

It was seeing a 3-year-old’s excitement and awe at seeing Mickey and Minnie and Woody and Goofy in front of her eyes. It made my day.

It was overpriced park snacks and drinks that tasted oh-so-good in the heat of the day.

It was less time on my phone and more time talking to my mom and opening my eyes to my surroundings.

It was driving the slowest race car on the Speedway, with cars passing me from both sides, while I had the gas pedal floored.

It was a cookie upon arrival at our hotel, hot bubble baths after long days, and the best sleep I’ve had in a while.

It was cinnamon rolls as big as our faces, cake pops, and melting ice cream.

It was 85 degrees, sunshine, and a slight breeze.

It was Cinderella’s castle and a Beauty & the Beast performance that brought my childhood to life.

It was dying iPhones, Candy Crush levels beat, and a barrage of Instagram photos.

It was happiness and tiredness, annoyances and thrills, fighting and laughing.

It was just imperfect enough to feel right.

Orlando, you are magical. I will be back. Again and again and again and again.

Categories: Travel

Carnival Paradise | Western Caribbean Cruise | Day 5 Recap

I woke up at 7:30am on the last day of my cruise. Sleeping in is a thing of the past for me now, even on vacation!

My mom and I decided to eat breakfast in the dining room since it’s usually better food and it surely was! I ordered an English muffin, omelet, and sausage and it was so delicious. The service is usually slower but the food more than makes up for it! We also ordered mimosas, which was just the icing on the cake. Yum, yum!

After breakfast, we headed down to the Serenity Deck where we found two chairs together. It was overcast on this day, with the sun peeking out from behind the clouds every once in a while but never enough to get the full effect. I didn’t mind, though! It still felt really good to be out on the deck. I did my usual: reading and people watching and trying to sleep. It was a wonderful, wonderful morning!

For lunch, we decided to dine in the dining room for the first time on this cruise. I’m usually not a big fan of eating in the dining room for breakfast or lunch because they seat you at a table with strangers and it just feels very awkward for me. Luckily, on Paradise, they had all the tables sectioned off so we were able to eat by ourselves. I was very happy about this!

The lunch was okay, but nothing spectacular. And at the table next to us sat an older couple who complained for the entire meal. It was very annoying!

Anyway, after lunch, I decided I wanted to nap in the cabin so that’s what I did! I took a beautiful three-hour nap and it was all sorts of lovely. I really miss those mid-afternoon naps, for sure!

I woke up leisurely and then slowly got ready for dinner. There was a family-friendly comedy show at 7:30 so we got ready early so we could see that before going to dinner. We weren’t too impressed with the adults-only comedy so we were hoping this would be better. We ordered our last drinks of the cruise to watch the comedy and then settled in for some laughs!

…or not.

It just wasn’t very good and the comic recycled a lot of his jokes from the night we saw him last – just tamer and without the curse words. What a bummer! I’m hoping the comedy on my next cruise is much better than this one.

The last dinner is always sad, as everyone talks about preparing to leave the next day. I was feeling very thankful for my 15-minute drive back to my house from the port since two other couples (who live in North Carolina) have a 10-hour drive. No, thank you!

This was the first cruise I’ve been on where everyone seated with us comes to every meal. We had a really fantastic group – which is funny considering I thought it was going to be the worst group I’ve had! There were funny stories told, inside jokes made, and memories that will stay with me forever. We all sat around the table long after dinner was complete and gave hugs to everyone when saying goodbye. I was so sad to leave these fabulous people!

The rest of the night was fairly low-key. None of the performances interested us, so we poked around in the gift shop and then went back to our cabin to pack and prepare for debarkation the following day.

And there you have it! The recap of my wonderful, fabulous, oh-so-fun 2013 cruise. We booked this trip a bit spur-of-the-moment and I didn’t see any new islands in the Caribbean, but it was still amazing, amazing, amazing. I can’t wait for my next one!