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Tropical Contact Highs: A Pictorial Review of 8 Breeze-y Nights in the So. Caribbean

Nicole721

By Nicole721,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Nicole721

Nicole721

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Our appetizers came out next. I had the antipasti platter, which was just okay. The prosciutto was the best part but in all honesty, I just wanted more of that fresh ricotta. Mom had the Parmigiana di Melanzane (Eggplant Parmigiania) and really seemed to enjoy it, and Stephanie had the Insalata Caprese (Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil), which she noted as really refreshing.

 

Antipasti

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Parmigiana di Melanzane

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Insalata Caprese

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Nicole721

Nicole721

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We were advised that our main dishes would be served individually and without accompaniments, but that the side dishes would be served family style. Mom really enjoyed her Brasato al Barolo, which were really tender short ribs crusted in almonds and Stephanie raved about her chicken parm. I had the Bistecca alla Griglia, which was a NY strip steak topped with roasted garlic. I spread the garlic over the steak and it was just sublime. Stephanie ordered spaghetti as her side, while Mom and I split a side of rosemary potatoes. The spaghetti was much better than the potatoes, which didn’t have as much rosemary as I would have liked.

 

Brasato al Barolo

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Pollo Parmigiana della Cucina

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Bistecca alla Griglia

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Spaghetti with Captain’s Tomato Sauce

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Rosemary Potatoes

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Nicole721

Nicole721

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We enjoyed the sunset while we perused the dessert menus. While a small selection, there were many strong options.

 

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Mom ordered the Sicilian Cannoli while Stephanie and I both ordered the Magic Tiramisu. I snuck a bite of Mom’s cannoli and I thought it was the stronger option just because it was lighter. The tiramisu was an incredibly large portion, which was a bit intimidating after such a heavy meal.

 

Sicilian Cannoli

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Magic Tiramisu

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We settled our tab and headed out. At a modest $12/pp for the meal (the wine was an additional cost), we thought it was a change for the positive. I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I actually wish Carnival offered more alternative dining venues (for charge, for free, I actually don’t care) because they do them so well. Some of the best dining we've had at sea has been in Carnival's extra charge restaurants.

 

Mom headed back to the room to check on my bag while Stephanie and I headed to the Lido marketplace for some coffee and then took a walk around the Lido deck.

 

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Nicole721

Nicole721

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When we got back to the room, Mom announced that the purser had my bag – the tag had fallen off. I guess those plastic sleeves aren’t as fail proof as we thought.

 

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With our Fun Times for the next day, we were also left an entertainment schedule for the week, which I found really helpful in planning our activities and dining schedule for the week.

 

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We skipped trivia and Movies Under the Stars (two of our favorite night time activities). The boat was really rocking, which made me sleepy and Mom and Stephanie a little queasy, and we were all still tired from all the travel. So I unpacked, Mom watched some TV and Stephanie decorated our door for Halloween.

 

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While I was unpacking, we realized we forgot to buy shampoo and conditioner in Florida. We never pack shampoo and conditioner because they are so heavy and we always tow the baggage weight limit line, and since we were short on pre-cruise Florida time and we stuck strictly to the list Stephanie texted us while we were at Target, we just totally forgot. Wine and Ponds wipes? We were set. But we were faced with a week of using the stuff they put in the shower, which is incredibly drying. I packed some travel sized conditioner so I was willing, but Stephanie insisted we get some from the shops upstairs.

 

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Nicole721

Nicole721

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$28. They charge you $14/bottle for Pantene on board. I sh*t you not. And don’t get me wrong – I don’t have any issue with splurging. I take Treat Yourself 20xx to new levels every year (wait till you see what I did in Aruba!). But PANTENE? There’s something inherently wrong with charging and spending $14 for a bottle of Pantene. Do not forget your every day stuff at home because if you do, they will gauge your wallet and kill a small piece of your soul in the process.

 

Anyways.

 

We stopped in the casino on the way back to get our cards punched for lanyards, where Stephanie decided to try her hand at the slots. She lost. This wasn’t her night.

 

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We got back to the room to drop off what should have been the best bottles of Pantene known to man and headed to the theater for the Welcome Aboard show. And when we got there, a whole lot of disappointment ensued. First, we got there 15 minutes before show time and Bingo still hadn’t started yet, which meant they were a half hour behind schedule. And then when Bingo started, it was run by Brittany (the assistant CD – we like her. We’ve sailed with her on the Dream and she’s fantastic) and instead of the traditional air machine, Bingo was run via…an iPad. iPad Bingo may be the wave of the future, but it’s just not as fun.

 

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More disappointing than this new-wave Bingo was the Welcome Aboard show. I used to complain that the Welcome Aboard show was getting old and needed a good update, but I take it all back. Because there IS no Welcome Aboard show anymore. There’s no more dance troupe. There’s just a group of singer/dancers that don’t particularly excel at both. There’s no more elaborate sets. There’s cheap, animatronic background graphics and lasers. And that band they used to boast about while tearing down other cruise lines for cutting their live music? That’s gone, too. Replaced with a background track. The good old days of top of the line revues are gone and in it’s place are really something that I’m still not convinced is worth my evening vacation time. I haven’t been this disappointed by a change made by Carnival since they took Vegetables Princess off the menu. Because the Welcome Aboard show now? It’s not even it’s own show. It’s a preview of the other shows they’re going to perform during the week. They couldn’t even give us material original to this show. So if you’re contemplating the Welcome Aboard show against other activities, choose the other activities – you’ll see nothing here that you won’t see again later in the week.

 

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After a few covers of Celine, Katy and Gaga set to animated fireworks, the Cruise Director, Pete, came out to introduce himself. Instead of the comic act that used to come after the Welcome Aboard show, Pete did the comedy himself – with a set of jokes they must hand Cruise Directors at orientation. The story about the woman on Lido who saves her hat because it’s new while her dress flies up? I’ve heard that joke on at least four other Carnival cruises. So we left.

 

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Nicole721

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I know this sounds incredibly harsh, but I pride my reviews on being honest. We’ve been pretty loyal to Carnival (aside for two non-Carnival cruises) for almost a decade and systematically watched while parts of the experience we enjoy most have been taken away. And we’ve just kind of shrugged it off. You get what you pay for and Carnival still offers a good product at a low price. But it’s gotten to a point that too much of what we enjoy has been changed into something so generic and so against everything Carnival has conditioned us to enjoy. Cruise Directors on too many of our Carnival cruises have outright bashed the other lines that have eliminated live bands in their shows, and now Carnival has become what they used to berate. I realize corners have to be cut, but I’m not sure they’ve been cutting the right ones.

 

We went back to the room and changed into our sweats. We watched some Nancy Grace (something about being on cruises – we always end our nights with Nancy, though we almost never watch at home) and then headed upstairs to the Lido deck for “Late Night Bites,” which were also heavily cut back. What used to be an array of tapas on some ships, or a reopening of the grill on most, has been dumbed down to a few warming trays of a couple of sandwiches and some hot dogs. None of it was all that good. We stuck to pizza for late night snacking the rest of the week.

 

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We sat out on deck for a bit. It was nice and balmy and peaceful. No matter what gets cut back or changed on these cruises, the actual experience of being on a ship and taking in the quiet moments where it’s just you breathing in the sea air with the gentle rocking of the water…that can’t be changed. It’s the best part of everything good.

 

After a such a long day following what was a really late night and a ridiculously early morning the day before, I was exhausted. We went back to the room, watched The Help in the room, and went to bed.

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lele100

lele100

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Loving your review we sailed the breeze in June and are sailing her in less then 3 weeks, how was the CD?. When we were there in June we had Butch and loved him but as I understand he will not be there when we go

 

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Nicole721

Nicole721

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Great post. I enjoyed reading it. I am looking forward to your port reviews too. We sail the 8 day in March and are looking for some port ideas.:)

 

Thanks! :)

 

Absolutely LOVING your review!! Can't wait to read more! We cruised on the Breeze in April, and absolutely fell in love with it. Looking to do the Aruba itinerary in April....Thank you for doing this:D

 

Thank you for reading! :)

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Nicole721

Nicole721

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Loving your review we sailed the breeze in June and are sailing her in less then 3 weeks, how was the CD?. When we were there in June we had Butch and loved him but as I understand he will not be there when we go

 

Sent from my HTCONE using Forums mobile app

 

He was alright. Definitely wasn't the best we've sailed with, but he wasn't one of the worst, either. We wished there were more late afternoon/evening activities, but he was visible throughout the cruise and pretty pleasant.

 

Subscribed! Loving your review. Well written and great photography!

 

Thank you so much :)

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Windy56

Windy56

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Well, Nicole, that degree in journalism is making itself very apparent. You write really well. I am also impressed with your photos. What a great eye you have. I am absolutely loving your review! I appreciate your frank analysis of the direction Carnival has taken, while at the same time pointing out its strengths in the cruise market.

 

The last cruise we were on was the Oasis a few years ago and so I am hoping you will make some comparisons during your review, given that you have sailed on the Allure. One of the things we most enjoyed on the Oasis was the huge variety of musical venues and the level at which the musicians performed. I don't expect that on the Breeze, which my husband and I have booked for a B2B during the last two weeks of February. Having done one other Carnival cruise, I do prefer the more laid back vibe, however.

 

I can't wait to read the rest of your review. I know it will be fantastic!

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