Breeze Southern Caribbean Review

[LynnAnne]

Loving this!

[portlandpete]

Loving your review!!!! Quick question: You said you brought a cooler with you, what kind? Did you bring it on the plane? I have been looking at some collapsible rolling ones for the room and to take to the beaches with us but they still take up soo much room in the luggage.

 

Thanks

 

For a cooler we brought our soft cooler we bought at Walmart and the brand is Thermos. It holds about about 10 cans with ice. We have had this cooler for years and always bring it with us when we travel because after we pack our clothes we just lay it flat on the top of everything in the luggage. I know the way I pack I would not be able to bring a rolling one!! We also bought through Bon Voyage the cooler that comes with either 4 beers or soda. The Carnival cooler held about about 6 of the aluminum bottles with ice. So between the 2 coolers we were all set.

[durdenpb]

so is it really worth the additonal 35 each??? my bf and i have a reservy=tion on our sea day.. next week.. how many choices were there for steak?

 

 

 

 

And then what do you know PIER RUNNERS! DH does not read Cruise Critic so he had NO idea what was going on. He looked down and saw people running and he was yelling “hurry up, hurry up”!! He was so concerned they wouldn’t get on the ship and would be left. I was laughing so much not only because of the pier runners but because my DH keep saying they are going to get left. We did a see a few people on Grand Turk being late but it was nothing like Aruba and they were not running. In Aruba just when you thought the last person made it another one comes practically out of nowhere. It amazes me that some people are really running and some just stroll like the ship will wait. Anyway many people on the Port side of the ship were clapping, hooting and hollering for them to hurry up and it was very entertaining and definitely a party type atmosphere. It was a really nice sail a way.

 

We had reservations at the steakhouse for 7 so we thought we would take a quick nap after sail a way. Well what do you know we woke up at 6:45!! We had to both shower and I had to blow dry my hair and boy did we get ready FAST!! We made it there at 7:10! They hold your reservation until 7:15. We loved the steakhouse and thought it was worth the money.

 

We sat right in the middle where they had 2 tops down a line and we felt like we had plenty of privacy for talking. I didn't take a photo of the menu but this is what we ate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was also a bread basket and the bread was so good. It came with a relish tray and I think with 4 different toppings. Very tasty! The timing of the courses were perfect and the food was excellent. We had so much food we couldn’t even eat dessert. We almost got dessert just to take photos but we couldn't waste food like that. There were many people leaving with boxes with their desserts in it and we could understand that after our meal. The portions of the steak are huge and I only ate half of mine which was the Cowboy steak, DH ate his entire filet which was cooked to perfection.

 

We left the steakhouse and went to the piano bar. The regulars were there and it was fun singing the songs and watching Ron perform. Our waitress, Erika, who we had the first night too was so talkative and fun. I love hearing about other people’s family and she just loved talking about them. Anyway we stayed there late and then ended our night on our balcony before bed. Another beautiful day!

 

Next up is our last 2 sea days before we dock. We loved the idea of 2 sea days with nothing planned and being able to totally relax. This cruise is perfect because you get to see 4 beautiful islands plus have 3 full sea days.

[pbmsmile]

A couple of more photo's of Sapphire Beach

 

 

 

Our driver/tour guide, Ariel and his “bartender” Eddie were great. They were very friendly and made the tour a lot of fun. There also was all the free beer, soda and bottles water you wanted. You just sat in your seat and Eddie woud serve you. We were all laughing and singing and and it was a great time. DH had the beer and I had the water. My only complaint was no diet Pepsi. Just kidding!

 

 

Ariel who made the tour so much fun!

 

 

There was some shopping stalls set right up beside the tour and they were not aggressive at all. The prices were cheap too!

 

Great review!

[BamaCruiser20]

Thanks for a wondeful review! We will be going on the Breeze next spring and I can't wait!!!

 

I am wondering about where you docked in Curacao. Does the Breeze dock in that area near the moving footbridge (where you took the picture of the other ship from the tallest bridge) or does it dock somewhere else b/c of it's size?

[portlandpete]

so is it really worth the additonal 35 each??? my bf and i have a reservy=tion on our sea day.. next week.. how many choices were there for steak?

 

We thought that it was worth it and we like the atmosphere in the steakhouse. Here is the menu:

 

S T A R T E R S

ESCARGOTS BOURGUIGNONNE

Baked in Garlic Herb Butter

GRILLED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM

Marinated with Virgin Olive Oil and Aged Balsamic Vinegar

BEEF CARPACCIO

Sliced Raw Beef Tenderloin with Shaved Parmesan Cheese

Marinated Mache Lettuce

AHITUNA TARTARE

Dices of Sashimi Grade Yellow Fin Tuna Belly

JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL

Black Tiger Shrimp with American Cocktail Sauce

NEW ENGLAND CRAB CAKE

On Roasted Pepper Remoulade

LOBSTER BISQUE WITH VINTAGE COGNAC

Fleuron and Fresh Cream

BAKED ONION SOUP

 

S A L A D S

CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD

Hearts of Romaine Lettuce, Traditionally Prepared

BABY LEAF SPINACH AND FRESH MUSHROOMS

With Blue Cheese Dressing and Warm Bacon Bits

HEART OF ICEBERG LETTUCE

With Red and Yellow Grape Tomatoes

SLICED, SUN-RIPENED BEEF STEAK TOMATO

With Gorgonzola Crumbles

 

S I D E D I S H E S

Baked Potatoes with Trimmings

Sautéed Medley of Fresh Mushrooms

Yukon Gold Mash with Wasabe Horseradish

Creamed Spinach with Garlic

Steamed Broccoli

 

*

*E N T R É E S

BROILED PRIME NEW YORK STRIP LOIN STEAK

14 oz. of the Favorite Cut for Steak Connoisseurs

GRILLED PRIME COWBOY STEAK

18 oz. Rib Chop for the Real Beef Gourmet

SPICE-RUBBED PRIME RIBEYE STEAK

BROILED FILET MIGNON

9 oz. for the True Gourmet

SURF & TURF

Maine Lobster Tail and Grilled Filet Mignon

BROILED LOBSTER TAIL

Served With Drawn Butter

BROILED ROSEMARY INFUSED CHICKEN

On Pan Seared Potato and Mushroom Hash

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS

Double - Cut Lamb Chops

MAINELOBSTER RAVIOLI

Garnished with Grilled Scampi

GRILLED FILLET OF FISH FROM THE MARKET

Presented on Young Spinach Salad

 

SAUCES

AVAILABLE

Three

Peppercorn

Wild

Mushroom

Béarnaise

[portlandpete]

Thanks for a wondeful review! We will be going on the Breeze next spring and I can't wait!!!

 

I am wondering about where you docked in Curacao. Does the Breeze dock in that area near the moving footbridge (where you took the picture of the other ship from the tallest bridge) or does it dock somewhere else b/c of it's size?

 

It does not dock near the moving bridge, but it only takes at the most 10 minutes to walk to it. The ship docks right before Rif Fort which is a very nice shopping/restaurant area that you will pass through to get to the moving bridge. Right before the moving bridge are the outdoor stalls. If you look back at post 120 you can see some photos of it. It is so pretty there! Have fun!

[MsMot]

We thought that it was worth it and we like the atmosphere in the steakhouse. Here is the menu:

 

S T A R T E R S

ESCARGOTS BOURGUIGNONNE

Baked in Garlic Herb Butter

GRILLED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM

Marinated with Virgin Olive Oil and Aged Balsamic Vinegar

BEEF CARPACCIO

Sliced Raw Beef Tenderloin with Shaved Parmesan Cheese

Marinated Mache Lettuce

AHITUNA TARTARE

Dices of Sashimi Grade Yellow Fin Tuna Belly

JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL

Black Tiger Shrimp with American Cocktail Sauce

NEW ENGLAND CRAB CAKE

On Roasted Pepper Remoulade

LOBSTER BISQUE WITH VINTAGE COGNAC

Fleuron and Fresh Cream

BAKED ONION SOUP

 

S A L A D S

CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD

Hearts of Romaine Lettuce, Traditionally Prepared

BABY LEAF SPINACH AND FRESH MUSHROOMS

With Blue Cheese Dressing and Warm Bacon Bits

HEART OF ICEBERG LETTUCE

With Red and Yellow Grape Tomatoes

SLICED, SUN-RIPENED BEEF STEAK TOMATO

With Gorgonzola Crumbles

 

S I D E D I S H E S

Baked Potatoes with Trimmings

Sautéed Medley of Fresh Mushrooms

Yukon Gold Mash with Wasabe Horseradish

Creamed Spinach with Garlic

Steamed Broccoli

 

*

*E N T R É E S

BROILED PRIME NEW YORK STRIP LOIN STEAK

14 oz. of the Favorite Cut for Steak Connoisseurs

GRILLED PRIME COWBOY STEAK

18 oz. Rib Chop for the Real Beef Gourmet

SPICE-RUBBED PRIME RIBEYE STEAK

BROILED FILET MIGNON

9 oz. for the True Gourmet

SURF & TURF

Maine Lobster Tail and Grilled Filet Mignon

BROILED LOBSTER TAIL

Served With Drawn Butter

BROILED ROSEMARY INFUSED CHICKEN

On Pan Seared Potato and Mushroom Hash

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS

Double - Cut Lamb Chops

MAINELOBSTER RAVIOLI

Garnished with Grilled Scampi

GRILLED FILLET OF FISH FROM THE MARKET

Presented on Young Spinach Salad

 

SAUCES

AVAILABLE

Three

Peppercorn

Wild

Mushroom

Béarnaise

 

Wow, kudos to you for typing the entire menu:cool:. There are links to the menu on CC.

[portlandpete]

Wow, kudos to you for typing the entire menu:cool:. There are links to the menu on CC.

 

Tried to do the link but wasn't working for me so I just copied and pasted. Took just a couple of seconds.

[MsMot]

Tried to do the link but wasn't working for me so I just copied and pasted. Took just a couple of seconds.

 

Ohhhh, gotta love that copy and paste:).

[CruisinSinceIwasBorn]

Thanks for taking the time to put together such a great review. Wife and I are going on the Breeze in September and are getting very excited reading your posts.

[bandtaxi]

You talked about pier runners at a couple of ports. How many ports were you pier side? We are booked on the starboard side and I'm wondering if we should try to switch.

[portlandpete]

You talked about pier runners at a couple of ports. How many ports were you pier side? We are booked on the starboard side and I'm wondering if we should try to switch.

 

We were portside and all 4 islands we faced the port! We were very lucky because it can go either way. Hope you have as much fun as we did!

[acadran]

Are there 2 formal nights on the 8-day Southern cruise?

 

Loving your review. 231 days until we get on the Breeze.

-Ann

[portlandpete]

Are there 2 formal nights on the 8-day Southern cruise?

 

Loving your review. 231 days until we get on the Breeze.

-Ann

 

The 2 formal nights were Sunday and Thursday nights. We were in the steakhouse for Thursday night and at the dining room for Sunday night. We saw everything from formal gowns to nice pants for the ladies and tuxes and golf type shirts for the men. I thought everyone looked really nice.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[portlandpete]

Day 7 and 8 Sea Days

 

The next 2 days were pretty much the same and were very relaxing for us.

 

Even though we were up until 1am every night I still was awake and out on the balcony around 5:30 am every day while DH slept in. This is why we took a nap everyday! I love getting up early but also I really wanted good sunrise photos. I did not get any that were good because most of the time it was cloudy. But that was ok because I read or just watched the ocean go by and what a wonderful way to start the day. On both days we went to the Punchliners Comedy Brunch and the food was excellent! We got seated right away and had fantastic waiters which was so different than the first formal night. Also the people sitting by us on both mornings were very friendly and it was great chatting with them. Here is the different food we ordered for both days.

 

DH got this 1 morning with chicken and I got it both morning with bacon. Loved this salad!

 

 

DH loved this tomato soup and said it tasted nothing like at home

 

 

Both my main meal were very good but portions were so large I couldn't finish them.

 

 

 

DH got mac and cheese both days because that is how good he thought it was

 

 

The comedian did come out both days for about 5 minutes. He was funny but I don’t think it is needed at all. It wasn’t awkward like I thought it would but just not necessary. After brunch both days DH went to the casino and played video poker and roulette and had a great time. While he was there it was the spa for me and I loved it! I also loved using those big showers. The spa was really a highlight for me on this cruise.

 

The first sea day after the spa I went to the sports deck and brought back hotdogs to our balcony for lunch. The hotdogs were just ok and we only got them because we wanted to try eating as much of the food as we could that I have read about. But also sitting on the balcony on a cruise ship enjoying a hotdog is not something we get to do very often!

 

[rhcpchika1]

The food looks DELISH! :) Doesn't help I am stuck at work with NO food around ;)

[portlandpete]

The first day we got back from the spa/casino on our bed was this box. It was from the steakhouse with little candies in it. I thought it was a nice touch.

 

 

 

The second day we went to the Mongolian bar at the buffet and it was really good. There was so much to choose from and everything looked really fresh. There was quite a line and we waited 20 minutes but it was worth it to us. This was the longest line we waited in the whole cruise.

 

 

 

 

Photo of the salad bar. I love salad bars!

 

 

On the last day there was the chocolate buffet. We couldn’t believe how much there was!

 

 

[Eng23]

Nice review and thanks for posting it. I just did my first Carnival cruise last month on the Glory out of Norfolk, Va. It was a great time with friends so we decided to go on the Breeze next year on a 6 nighter to the Western Caribbean. It looks like a great ship! I had an aft wrap on the Glory and that's what I'm sticking with on the Breeze. Thanks again for the review! I'm going to link your review to my Roll Call! :)

[portlandpete]

More of the chocolate buffet

 

 

Look how happy this crew member is! Must be the chocolate

 

 

 

 

These are our last 2 vistors we got each night we came back to the cabin. We didn't get them every night and I wish we had. I know some people don't care for them but I loved seeing them at the end of night.

 

 

 

My husband bought me a scrapbooking package while I was at the spa and set it on the towel animal I saved because it was a heart and I liked it. He knows I am a sap and would photograph it!

 

[portlandpete]

The last 2 days went really fast and we spent them just relaxing and enjoying having no schedule. We went to some of the things around the ship and 1 night to Souljazz and the other to the Pub to listen to the music.

 

I thought the food we had on the cruise was very good. Our favorites were the steakhouse and the comedy brunch. For fast food it was Bluelguana, the pizza and Guys. I thought the buffet was ok but to me it was no better or worse than any other cruise or buffet we have gone to. For the buffet our favorites were the salad bar and the Mongolian bar. We wished we had tried the deli but the lines there were too long. Fat Jimmy's (available on sea days) was good but not good enough to stand in a long line.

 

Entertainment to us was fabulous! We loved Soulzazz and anyone who was playing at the pub. Also, Ron Pass was very entertaining. We wish there had been more time because we wanted to go to the comedy club but didn’t want to wait in line. Also, we had no time for the main show so we never saw that either.

 

The main pool is loud and pretty crowded. That being said you can always find loungers by going past lido and heading towards Tide Pool or other decks. We saw plenty of places where there was seating. I love the who set up of the ship.

 

I also want to mention we saw very little of chair hogging or elevator waiting except the first day when some of the elevators were shut down.

 

Disembarking was very easy. We did leave our luggage out the night before and had group 4 which was after the people who carried their own luggage. We met in Ovation Theatre and when we got called we were in a line but not for very long. Our luggage came very quickly and we were off the ship around 7:45. My sister picked us up and we were at FLL and sitting at our gate around 8:45. Our flight out was at 11:45 so no problems making that at all.

 

This cruise exceeded what we thought it would be. Everyone we came in contact for crew was very friendly to us (except first night in dining room), everything was clean, and the atmosphere around the ship was just FUN.

 

Everyone experiences things differently so this is just the view of the cruise from us. I can say we are both happy we tried Carnival and would cruise Carnival again!

 

Thanks for reading!

[Leo's Rule]

When I was doing research I wanted Sonny Binns but we decided on a beach. It think it was 20 or 25 a person and the reviews were good.

 

The people on this bus were really having a great time! They got dropped off at the ship. It reminded of the Irie Tour. Sorry I don't have more information but maybe someone will seeing the photo below and can help you.

 

 

 

I can see your photos again! I'm going to google the number on the bus and see if it leads me anywhere. Thanks again for your help!

[Leo's Rule]

I loved your review!

 

I'm on countdown for this one now; and I haven't even sailed my July one yet! Well, technically, I have because I did the same itinerary in October, but you catch my drift. :D

 

And I googled the number on the bus and found the company. They make no mention of tours for cruise ship passengers, but their FAQ says that they do. I emailed them; I'm waiting on a response.

 

Thanks again for sharing your cruise and memories with us.

[Douglase]

Ok, great. That's what I was planning to do.

 

Thanks.

 

Been on several cruises, the first to hear about a spa pass. Could you explain more what this is about please?

[Captain Carnival]

Thanks!! Putting this together is so much fun and make us realize how much fun we had.

 

Me too, I am basically re-living my cruise now as I am writing my own recent Italian cruise.