Our "Sweet" Suite Cruise--a Photo Review

[EMc&DrS]

Muster drill was shortly after 3 PM. Last year on Dream we sat in the dining room and never actually saw the person giving the instructions/ demonstrating safety measures. This year we still didn’t have to wear a life jacket, but we did have to report to our actual muster station on deck and remain silent while they went over safety instructions.

 

Sailaway was right on time, and we enjoyed it on our GIANT deck along with some champagne we carried onboard legally, and a canape tray and some sweets pre-ordered from Bon Voyage. All were delicious.

 

 

 

 

It was nice to see the Port Authority complex from the other side. We were underway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

(More later)

[crusinpsychRN]

On the TV they were showing the cabin ammenities book. Thought they got rid of those. Champagne in an ice bucket? Was that in your cabin when you got there? Those canapes sure look a lot better than what is shown on Bon Voyage. What were they, crab?

 

Fabulous cabin!

[Ramrac]

Muster drill was shortly after 3 PM. Last year on Dream we sat in the dining room and never actually saw the person giving the instructions/ demonstrating safety measures. This year we still didn’t have to wear a life jacket, but we did have to report to our actual muster station on deck and remain silent while they went over safety instructions.

 

Sailaway was right on time, and we enjoyed it on our GIANT deck along with some champagne we carried onboard legally, and a canape tray and some sweets pre-ordered from Bon Voyage. All were delicious.

 

 

 

 

It was nice to see the Port Authority complex from the other side. We were underway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

(More later)

 

Your canapy tray looks yummy, what all did it come with? Thinking about ordering it for our cruise.

[EMc&DrS]

Ed,

 

Great start. I was just about to email you and ask when your review was coming.:D

 

How'd the parking work out?

 

Love the "Carpe Decennio" sign:)

 

Thanks--it's just been very busy since we got back.

 

As far as parking, we couldn't pass up that deal from the Sheraton: $5/ day for covered/valet parking with a free shuttle. Cheapest deal of the week!

[EMc&DrS]

On the TV they were showing the cabin ammenities book. Thought they got rid of those. Champagne in an ice bucket? Was that in your cabin when you got there? Those canapes sure look a lot better than what is shown on Bon Voyage. What were they, crab?

 

Fabulous cabin!

 

We carried the champagne on in my carry-on. When I went to the room at 12:30, I called the steward and asked him if there would be a way to chill a bottle of champagne. He told me to leave it for him and he'd take care of it. When I came back about 20 minutes later it was already sitting in a bucket of ice on the table---and he did NOT take the tip I left for him. The bucket was one of the "bucket of beer" buckets.

 

As far as the canapé tray--it exceeded expectations! I hesitated to order it because the description on line lead me to believe that my kids would hate it. Not the case--it was delicious. We ate every piece and could have eaten more---even though we didn't know what we were eating!

 

By the way, I received a call from room service about 2:30 asking when I wanted the tray delivered. I said I was hoping to have it for sail away. When we returned from the muster drill, it was waiting on the table next to the champagne.

[EMc&DrS]

Your canapy tray looks yummy, what all did it come with? Thinking about ordering it for our cruise.

 

I honestly can't remember what was in each canapé, but they were good--and it was inexpensive. The description is on the Bon Voyage site. I hadn't told my family about the champagne or the canapés, so it was a nice surprise. It was also nice that they were served on a platter instead of a room service plate--a nice touch.

[helen haywood]

I'm so thrilled you decided to write a review!!! We're sailing Legend in September and you are certainly getting me excited!! Thanks so much! Great pictures!!

[EMc&DrS]

Our first cruise was on the Inspiration out of Tampa, and I didn't appreciate the sail away through Tampa Bay because I was so ready to be out at sea. After multiple cruises out of FLL and Canaveral with their quick departures, it was nice to get to enjoy the lengthy sail away out of Tampa again. We lucked out with beautiful weather.

 

Some random pics from sail away:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EMc&DrS]

Once we had sailed away from Tampa and were out in the bay, we decided to leave the cabin in order to explore the ship.

 

The atrium:

 

 

The infamous glass staircase from the Lido buffet area up to the Steakhouse (you have to walk it at least once!):

 

 

 

The gym:

 

 

 

Looking through the Whale Tail into the Steakhouse:

 

 

 

 

 

[crewsweeper]

Ed,

Carnival B.V. now owns you a free canape tray on your next cruise! You just raised their canape sales 1000%!:D

Still leading the way to great cruising!

[EMc&DrS]

Of course, we had to take the obligatory photos of the ship passing under the Skyway Bridge:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ATL2LAS]

Such a great review so far. Great photos. What was the noise like above you? Were people looking over into your balcony:D? Looks like a great location.

[EMc&DrS]

After 2.5 hours of sailing, it's amazing how quickly the ship passes under the bridge:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EMc&DrS]

I love this shot of the bridge looking back towards Tampa:

 

 

 

 

Check out that storm in the distance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Don CeSar Beach Resort on St. Pete Beach (one of our favorites!) as seen from sea:

 

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Very nice Pics.

[EMc&DrS]

Such a great review so far. Great photos. What was the noise like above you? Were people looking over into your balcony:D? Looks like a great location.

 

Interesting you should ask. The only noise we ever heard was a slight muffled sound from the dining room below us during early seating (when they would use the microphone to speak to the guests). The first time we thought it was the cruise director making an announcement out in the public areas. The balcony on deck 4 has a great roof line that makes it impossible for those above to see you. I even leaned out over the rail and looked up and could only see a hand or two on the railings way up on Lido. Since the aft-extended next to us belonged to our kids, we had total privacy on our deck.

[EMc&DrS]

MONDAY, JUNE 11—“Fun Day at Sea”: This was a day for relaxation both on our deck and out in the public areas.

 

 

 

This was the public deck right below our deck that wraps around the back of the ship. It usually looked like this--empty:

 

 

A view we never get tired of--wish I could include sound!:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although we were up too late to get a prime spot in Serenity or on the Lido deck, there were plenty of chairs to choose from along the sides of the ship on the Sun deck—and the ship sailed at full capacity. (We actually prefer the Sun deck to the crowded and noisy Lido deck). I don't have any pictures to share because I exchanged my camera for my sunscreen. We really enjoyed our lunch from the Deli!

[EMc&DrS]

Elegant Night was that evening, and my wife and daughter checked out the martini tasting before dinner while my son and I did some people watching in the lobby:

 

 

 

 

Dinner was excellent that evening, and our waiter, Joey, took great care of us all week.

 

(This pic was actually taken a different night):

 

[EMc&DrS]

TUESDAY, JUNE 12—Cozumel: When we awoke the next morning, we could see the port of Cozumel in the distance. It wasn’t long before we were pulling up alongside the Carnival Triumph, which had docked just before us:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in December we had booked a day at Nachi Cocom for our visit to Cozumel, so we were off the ship soon after the announcement was made. The cab cost was $15, and the ride to Nachi took about 15 minutes.

 

It was a somewhat overcast day, but this was fine because we still had some sun, and the breeze was great. So was the food and beverages!

 

 

 

 

[EMc&DrS]

Some more pictures from Nachi Cocom:

 

 

Our seats:

 

 

There were a lot of empty seats that day:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skies threatened, but it never rained:

 

 

 

[EMc&DrS]

And the pool area:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food was really good:

 

 

 

[EMc&DrS]

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13—Belize: Last year we really enjoyed our Carnival excursion to Goff’s Caye, but that excursion is no longer available. The closest thing we could find this year was Carnival’s excursion to Rendezvous Caye. If you’ve never been to Belize, this is a good port to book excursions through the cruise line because of the tenders involved. Being “beach people,” we especially like the excursions that pick you up right at the ship and take you directly to one of the beaches (which in Belize are islands off the coast), rather than having to catch a tender into port and then take another boat back out to the beach.

 

My only apprehension with this excursion was that I was only able to find one review in advance of our trip. In the end, this was a great excursion. It was also one of the least crowded cruise excursions we have ever taken.

 

The boat ride to the caye took about 30 minutes, but the guide told us all kinds of facts about the area and the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once at the caye, we were given a beach mat and our snorkeling equipment. The group was divided into two groups: beginners and experienced swimmers/snorkelers.

 

 

We spent about 45 minutes in the water following the guide who was great about pointing out interesting sites. The weather was very overcast, so the colors were not as vibrant. We still had a good time and saw plenty of fish.

 

 

 

 

Back on the beach we were able to swim and use their kayaks. Here are some photos I took from the cayak. You can see just how tiny a place this is:

 

 

 

 

[djwood24]

AHHHHH...Cabin 4228.....few times on the Miracle... the aft wrap spoiled club...

 

My next cruise is an extended balcony....I think I will be ok...maybe after Therapy

[gred1994]

Loving the review! We go on the Legend July 15! We have a " premium balcony" which is a slightly larger room but normal size balcony! I think?!

[EMc&DrS]

The rain held off until the moment we were stepping back onto the tender for the ride back to the Legend.

 

Approaching the Legend:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went back to the room and noticed a waterspout had formed right behind the ship. It was VERY close, but it disappeared quickly: