LAMBIE'S review of Nana's MAGIC Halloween cruise

[LambKnuckles]

We loved watching the pier runners in Cozumel.

 

You're right G!!! I saw the CONQUEST's pier runners... but was dressing while ours were running!!!

 

Give NoG a hug and both of you have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

[LambKnuckles]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

 

Today is the day we take a moment to think about our families and friends and loved ones... and our communities and those who support and protect and defund us... and look upon all our blessings, however large or small... and say THANK YOU!!!

 

And I THANK YOU for reading and being patient with me!!!

I don't put the turkey in until 10am -- central time, so I hope to get this thread completed and bring us back to Galveston.

 

Let's get started with Saturday's Last Sea Day and packing for the end of the cruise and debarkment.

 

And where do I always start??? THE SUNRISE!!! As I said, without an alarm clock, without any wake-up calls, my body woke in time to see sunrises!!! Even when it was a real sunrise of the "ball of fire" cresting the horizon... even when it was the sun peeking from the clouds... it still ws the rising of the sun!!!

 

My process for writing these is to create the post, including as much of the say as I have time, then breaking it up into six images per post and copying and saving the rest of the story for the next post -- and so on.... So let me submit this missive and create Saturday...

[LambKnuckles]

It is sad, the last full day of cruising!!! Knowing that tomorrow, we debark and get in our vehicles and head back to reality and our homes! While on a cruise, with the room stewards and chefs, and Entertainment staff and servers, and sunshine and pampering, and new ports and vacation attitude, and all that a cruise means to us... It's just 'heaven!!"

 

The thing that keeps me going is knowing there will be another cruise and another! My son doesn't love cruising like I do, but the rest of the family does. I have cruised with Nana and my sister and my daughter -- and we all have the desire and joy of cruising in our hearts!!!

 

So, on this last day -- let's go see the sunrise!!

 

It will be a cloudy sunrise... I'm not sure what we'll see. The sky is already bright and preparing with color and shine...

 

 

It's very dramatic and wonderful today. The sunrise setting on my camera makes it brilliant!

 

 

The angle of the rising and the clouds refraction... makes it seem like a fire in the sky!!!

 

 

The sepia setting, catches the sun peeking through the clouds...

 

 

and more shines through

 

 

But I don't think we'll get a true sunrise this morning!! There is just too much rain and too many clouds...

 

[LambKnuckles]

Here's where we are... about 12 hours since we left Cozumel...

 

 

Let me get Nana dressed and let's head up to Camp Carnival for Bear Cuddly... She insists she knows just where we're going!!

 

 

They are ready for guests, not enrolled in the Camp -- and there are a few kiddos and one family up there, already. I have to be careful NOT to get them in my photos. I promised...

 

So here are the animal you can from to stuff and make...

 

 

And their close ups...

 

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

and their extra outfits you can buy...

 

 

I picked out a jogging suit for Little Lambie -- he loves it!!! And a Carnival MAGIC hoodie and name pin!! I have the chef's outfit and the officer's formal attire, and the cheerleading dress (for Lambie's girlfriend) and the Carnival shorts -- that you've already seen...

 

I sign the charge and now LET'S EAT!!! <rolling eyes...> There's always something cooking somewhere on a cruise. And even though, I rarely -- and I truly think I've never -- gained weight on a cruise, I do enjoy eating!!! (I think all the walking saves me. I use the excess calories in my extra steps!!! And I don't go overboard with my helpings!!!)

 

On the way to the MDR, you can see the rain on the decks... They keep up with it and try to protect us from slippery places, but when it keeps raining, there's not much that can be done!!!

 

 

Ahhh... Here's a nice secluded spot by the forward elevators of Deck 12...

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

And now... BREAKFAST!!!

 

 

Being out last day... Let's have a brunch-time beverage! Nana chooses a Margarita

 

 

and I choose a Kiss on the Lips!

 

 

My French toast arrives, with eggs over easy -- and I'm HAPPY HAPPY!!!

 

 

We wander the ship a bit after brunch, and sit and visit with friends. When we head back to the cabin around noon, we find our debark information and Custom's cards. What a great presentation!!!

 

 



 

[LambKnuckles]

The rest of the day is packing and napping and resting and lunch and dinner. I know I'll be driving about 5 hours tomorrow, and at five o'clock, I head downstairs to the Gift Store to pick up the liquor the I bought earlier.

 

It is truly a relaxing and lazy day -- maybe all Saturdays should be like this!!!

 

For dinner:

 



 

and dessert...

 



 



 



 

And back in the cabin... Our towel animal!!!

 



 

I've got the suitcases outside the door, ready for pick up... and now, all that's left is more relaxing and sleep!!!

 

[LambKnuckles]

On Sunday morning -- I wake before the sun has even bgun THINKING about rising... Could it be because we lost an hour last night??? We 'fell back' an hour, leaving daylight savings time...

 

I don't know how much you can see in these photos -- but the sky is crisp and cool and the stars are plentiful!!!

 

You might be able to see Orion towards the bottom, just left of center...

 



 



 

Galveston is close!!! The ships motion and the night light doesn't give me a crisp photo of Galveston... But we're almost home!!!

 



 

And one final time, back in, in my bathrobe... from standing on the bow and feeling that wind and knowing I'm sailing...

 



 



 

And looking back out the "secret door" to the bow...

 

Edited November 28, 2013 by LambKnuckles

[LambKnuckles]

We head to breakfast and then see a bit more Galveston as we come down the channel...

 



 



 



 



 

 

at 8:00 we head off the ship and across to the Park and Cruise lot, and back home...

 

Well, one stop, a traditional stop, but this is a new Buc-ee's... It will become our new traditional stop on the way home!!!

 



 

And THAT, my dear friends, is the end of this cruise... and my photos, from Nana's MAGICal Halloween Cruise!!!!

 

I will peek back in, in case you have any questions or comments...

[arush5268d]

Thank you for review and personal story touch.

 

 

Thanks!

[Fizzgigd]

Lambie,

Thank you so much for your review! We are going on the Breeze in January, and it was so fun to see her sister ship. You and your Mom are so cute together, and I hope to run into Lambie on a future cruise!:)

[waiting4acruise]

Nice review, Lambie.

[Nightlockkk]

Thank you for the amazing amazing review!!! It was great to see you had such a fantastic vacation! Thank you for sharing your moments with us! :)

[MicksMom]

Noooooo..... I can't be over. Thank you so much for the awesome review. We will be on The Magic for the 3rd time in April.

[Crazymasons]

What's in that brunch drink you had? It sure looks good.

[gwinel]

Love the review! Thanks for posting. I forgot to take the food pics. You are reminding me of those and more.

 

Elizabeth

[Lovharvey]

Lambie, what a wonderful review. It was a great cruise. So nice to relive it through your review. It was ashame it rained our last sea day. Pictures were great! Sure wish you could join us on BC7 or our next cruise on the Dream next September.

 

Wishing you & Nana a wonderful holiday season. See ya on the other site. :)

[Blueboss]

Wow! Loved it! First of all, Thank you for remembering our troops on Thanksgiving Day. I had to wipe a few tears. This is the second holiday season my son has been overseas and I'm not dealing with it too well. I just want to scream, "Army tough my ass! I want my son home!". I know he is doing his duty and I will be fine in a few days. Hate that the waterworks are so easily triggered right now.

 

Loved seeing the Magic again, brought back so many memories of our cruise on her in January. Found myself looking for familiar crew faces although they are likely on other ships now. The pictures from the ship in Cozumel look so much like mine, Conquest was docked next to us as well.

 

Thank you for the Build a Bear pictures. Thought I was going to get to do that if I booked Triumph in April. DH nixed that cruise yesterday. Said I was flying to Germany for Christmas and was taking my daughter and future daughter in law with me. Said he refused to put up with me crying through the holidays next year. :o Guess I'll just build one on my Liberty cruise instead.

[LambKnuckles]

Thank you for review and personal story touch.

 

 

Thanks!

 

Thank you for reading!!! I enjoyed writing it -- altho' it seemed to be forever!!! I relive the cruise each time I tell a story!!

[LambKnuckles]

Lambie,

Thank you so much for your review! We are going on the Breeze in January, and it was so fun to see her sister ship. You and your Mom are so cute together, and I hope to run into Lambie on a future cruise!:)

 

Have a WONDERFUL cruise on the BREEZE!!! We'll be on the Triumph in January.

 

Please, please, if you do run into me on a cruise, remind me who you are and I know we'll love talking about all our cruises together!!!

[LambKnuckles]

Nice review, Lambie.

 

 

Thank you G!!!!

[LambKnuckles]

Thank you for the amazing amazing review!!! It was great to see you had such a fantastic vacation! Thank you for sharing your moments with us! :)

 

It was truly an amazing and wonderful cruise!!! I'm glad you suffered through the length of writing it. Thank you for reading it!!!

[LambKnuckles]

Noooooo..... I can't be over. Thank you so much for the awesome review. We will be on The Magic for the 3rd time in April.

 

I AGREE!!! It would be great to cruise forever!!

 

I'll be on the MAGIC again in September -- for my second time aboard -- and on the Triumph in January, my first timeon her!!!

 

Let's enjoy all our upcoming cruises and promise to write a review for all of us to share!!! :)

[LambKnuckles]

What's in that brunch drink you had? It sure looks good.

 

My drink was a Kiss on the Lips!!! Mmmmm...

 

Mango is the main ingredient -- so that's fruit and it's a great brunch item!!! ;)

 

Peach Schnapps, Mango Juice, Grenadine are the things I know...

[LambKnuckles]

Love the review! Thanks for posting. I forgot to take the food pics. You are reminding me of those and more.

 

Elizabeth

 

I only wish I remembered to take more... But I was to anxious to eat... :rolleyes:

 

It was a great cruise and letting Nana pick what we did, and not leaving her alone in the cabin, too much, was my goal for this cruise! She had a BLAST and that's what counts. She still remembers some of our 'adventures' and talks about them!!!