The Ultimate Cruise Reviews with Pictures

[sonicbuffalo]

Let me say that this is a compilation of Reviews and pictures from our 2 Miracle cruises, and our Eastern Dream, and Eastern Breeze cruises. This first shot is what we saw when we went to the top deck to look around prior to sail away.

 

 

This photo looking forward from Port Everglades.

 

 

Me next to the putt-putt course up top. My wife and I love to play putt-putt.

 

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df26b3127ccef25a5b0a22d400000030O00AbOWzNo2bMmwPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

 

Looking down to the pool and hot tub from up above. taking our first trip around a cruise ship. We were totally newbs at this point.

 

 

My DW who was ready to find out what cruising was all about. She was a happy camper. It was for our anniversary cruise.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

We're sailing away from Port Everglades. We were so excited to be going on our 30th anniversary cruise.

 

 

Yet another view looking north up the beach during sail away.

 

 

Ginny has been a great Wife and Mother for almost 35 years now!

 

 

Our first towel animal, and from that moment on, my wife loved them. I had to buy her the book on how to make them.

 

 

When we first booked, they put us in an obstructed balcony room. When I figured out what that was, I immediately paid the $50 or so and upgraded us to a regular balcony. I was a little po'd that Carnival wanted to put us in a balcony partially obstructed by a lifeboat. But, here's Ginny relaxing in our balcony room.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

The entrance way to the Md Hatter's Ball room and the entrance to the Phantom Theater.

 

 

Inside the Phantom Theater. We loved the decor on this ship and we had never seen anything to compare it to.

 

 

A view from the Atrium lounge area looking up at the elevators. Sorry it's so dark, but it was a dark area.

 

 

The atrium lounge bar. It's where I went lots of times to fill up on soda.

 

 

The lovely talked about grape Bacchus dining room. We loved the decor. We were assigned to a small dining room off the main room, but we were lucky we could see the sea every night while eating.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

A partial view of Nick and Nora's Steakhouse looking out the pink colored funnel glass.

 

 

More of Nick & Nora's.

 

 

Ginny was getting a little tired, but she loves The Gatsby area. It was one of our favorite spots.

 

 

Looking from the aft deck towards the front of the ship and the funnel. We loved the aft deck....

 

 

A little bit of ice cream for the soul....One thing I will say about Ginny is although she doesn't show it, she loves her desserts.

 

[jimbri]

Great start! Looking forward to the rest of your review and photos.

[sonicbuffalo]

We had a great steward, can't remember his name, but he left us a towel animal each night.

 

 

 

Seeing land for the first time in a few days. St. Lucia, here we come.

 

 

pulling into port

 

 

A ship coming in behind us. Not sure which one it is.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

St. Lucia...one of our favorite things to do was to sit on our balcony at night and watch the lights of the islands we were passing. We then went inside to watch the GPS on the TV Channel telling us what islands we were passing.

 

 

You can see the ship getting closer and a pilot going out to meet and guide him into the harbor.

 

 

....and it's a Royal Caribbean....

 

 

we're tied up and ready to explore

 

 

Very happy to go on an adventure of our first island experience. I had researched different tours from the ports section of CC and decided which tours we were going to take. We didn't take any ship sponsored tours.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

Although I don't remember his name, the tour we took was awesome. We toured the island and went to visit some special things a lot cheaper than the ships tours.

 

 

A busy day in port....lots of ships....Freedom of The Seas was there

 

 

St. Lucia was very steep and hilly....great views..

 

 

Nice little dock for some skiffs

 

 

There's my girl...taking it all in....hard to believe it will be 35 years this October on our next cruise....and we started a tradition of sailing for each anniversary

 

[sonicbuffalo]

very rocky coastline....but gorgeous.....we loved it.

 

 

Our guide wanted us to touch sea urchins....they move in your hands and are pretty cool...Ginny touched them and held them, but I didn't want to.

 

 

Ginny & her urchin

 

 

I apologize....we were in St. Martin.....just saw a nude shot of some guys fat butt (lol)....hard to remember where we stopped first and how I have the pictures organized....sorry...whoops. Believe me, you don't want to see his old naked butt.

 

 

Don't look at my big fat belly....look at the fort on top of the hill! lol

 

[sonicbuffalo]

There you go....

 

 

A jet coming in by Maho Beach....pretty cool to stop and watch the jets land.

 

 

All the ships in port on a busy day...in St. Martin

 

 

Freedom of the Seas leaving before us...

 

 

[sonicbuffalo]

departing St. Martin

 

 

Beautiful look back towards the pier...

 

 

sailing away...but not to Key Largo

 

 

a fuzzy picture of the Pitons....I believe heading into St. Lucia

 

 

[sonicbuffalo]

Now, what island is this? It's either St. Kitts, or St. Lucia....the only other two we went to on this cruise....duh!

 

 

Some beautiful houses and condos

 

 

 

One of the guys who was on the tour with us said he spotted some pot growing in the wild here....I don't see it, do you?

 

 

This was a banana plantation and they put the blue bags over the fruit so that the bugs don't get to them. We got to try a few right off the vine...delicious!

 

[sonicbuffalo]

Me and my better (much better ) half....

 

 

Just beautiful scenery...

 

 

a small fishing village on the way across the island

 

 

 

As part of this tour, our guide had some neighbor women bake and cook lunch for us, and we stopped to try out native cuisine. We really loved this stop to try out things we normally wouldn't have had the chance to try.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

more local food porn....good stuff....I tried a bunch of things which I can't pronounce. lol

 

 

 

Our friend, who spotted the pot...he and his wife were so much fun...we had a blast.

 

 

St. Luica's most recognizable feature...The Pitons.

 

 

A better view of the Pitons jutting out into the water....

 

[sonicbuffalo]

The other feature on St. Lucia....the volcano...and it's still active..look at the steam rising up...

 

 

 

Our friends....we made on the tour....

 

 

 

Another beautiful picture of the Pitons...well, at least one Piton.

 

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the review!

[sonicbuffalo]

We took a small motorboat over to the beach at the foot of The Pitons. The rocks on the ocean where we boarded were like medium sized pebbles, and I slipped getting on the boat and had to try again...those darn pebbles hurt my feet.

 

 

The Tiki Huts along the beach....no charge for getting under them.

 

 

We also stopped at a beautiful cool waterfall. It along with the Pitons, and the Volcano were real highlights of this cruise. I'm so glad we booked this on our own.

 

 

coming back into town to board the ship again...

 

 

Beautiful view from the top of the ship

 

[sonicbuffalo]

I think I'd love to live in St. Lucia...

 

 

Leaving the port

 

 

by St. Lucia...hopefully we'll be back one day...

 

 

Our waiter....and he was awesome....from Croatia...

 

 

I told you she loves her towel animals...

 

[sonicbuffalo]

arriving in St Kitts

 

 

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df26b3127ccef25b2e9442a400000030O00AbOWzNo2bMmwPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

 

 

we took another non-ship sponsored tour....couldn't be beat on this cruise...

 

 

The downtown area with the clock...

 

[sonicbuffalo]

An old church on the island...it mazed me that everyone on this island was very religious and faithful. I was impressed by their profession of their faith.

 

 

a look across the bay at The Miracle.

 

 

the tour driver pointed out these white birds who try to hide down in the branches. They were real cool to look at.

 

 

some of the poorer sections of the island...

 

 

Our tour guide, who was very knowledgeable. I think his name was Thenford Grey, but not sure if I have that right. The guide in St. Martin was Bernard from Bernard's Tours. I would use both again. We have used Bernard twice when we've been to St. Martin. His prices and excursions are second to none.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

We stopped at a garden on the hill, and saw some fantastically awesome plants....we loved the color of this one!

 

 

 

 

 

[sonicbuffalo]

another old church on the hill....we were heading to Brimstone Fortress...

 

 

Brimstone

 

 

 

 

[sonicbuffalo]

Ginny and her husband tamer....

 

 

I believe the guide said that large volcanic island in the background was Nevis. Don't quote me on it though....it's been a while!

 

 

inside the fort

 

 

I didn't mind the walk down but darn there were a lot os stairs going up. I think there were more stairs going up than coming down...lol

 

 

I had to shut my eyes and just push the shutter to get this shot. If you look closely, you will see the truck driver is half the was on our side of the road, and yes, they do drive on the opposite side of the road here. I was a little worried.

 

[sonicbuffalo]

sorry for the reflection in the window but some of these houses were amazing.

 

 

my idea of a beautiful beach....no one on it....

 

 

one side is the Caribbean....the other the Atlantic....perfect..

 

 

the calmer side is the Caribbean....less waves

 

 

[sonicbuffalo]

the white compound below is a Marriott Resort from what we were told...

 

 

I spotted one of my hobbies....a golf course on the hillside....

 

 

very nice houses....but during a hurricane?

 

 

downtown for a little shopping...

 

 

What we're missing on the Carnival Ships nowadays...