Carnival Breeze: 3/9/14 Review (w/ pictures)

[iloverags2]

I know exactly how you felt. Oct 2012 we lost our 6 year old lab, he came to us when my wife worked for the SPCA and someone abandoned him on their doorstep when he was just 2 weeks old in the middle of December. He was small enough to fit with your hands cupped together. We had to bottle feed him and when he opened his eyes for the first time he saw me and licked my nose. He grew into a huge 100lbs lap dog, and when he got sick, it hit him hard and we lost him within two weeks of diagnosis. It was very tough, but he had a great life, the best we could ever give him. Plus we had 5 other dogs in the house...so even though it felt a little emptier without Hudson, it never felt completely empty.

 

It is a shame our pets don't live longer, they integrate into our lives so quickly and are only with us for a short time.

 

I'm so sorry. Absolutely agree with you on our fur kids not being with us here longer. But we are so fortunate for the time we do have them. :)

 

Your sunrise photo is GORGEOUS!

[cruisingautiger]

Can't wait to hear more! Your drive does not sound too bad. We are looking at a similar drive time. We will be spending Christmas on the Breeze this year and would like to avoid the holiday craziness at the Airports!

[tiffygirl]

Thank you for your kind words.

 

6DogProductions is my photo blog. Technically I only have 5 dogs at the moment since we lost our lab 2 years ago...but didn't have the heart to change it.

 

If anyone is interested its: http://6dogproductions.wordpress.com

 

you have some AMAZING photos....the best I've seen on here and I have looked at many hundreds :) :)

 

your blog is fabulous! the photos AMAZING just AMAZING!!!

 

thank you for sharing!

Edited March 21, 2014 by tiffygirl

[PalmettoNative]

you have some AMAZING photos....the best I've seen on here and I have looked at many hundreds :) :)

 

your blog is fabulous! the photos AMAZING just AMAZING!!!

 

thank you for sharing!

 

I'm very flattered by your comment. I have seen some reviews from much better photographers then myself. Ones who get paid for their skills and who are armed with much more expensive full frame equipment.

 

But I'm glad you like them, it makes me feel good that my photos are appreciated by others outside my friends and family who have to humor me. :D

[PalmettoNative]

Can't wait to hear more! Your drive does not sound too bad. We are looking at a similar drive time. We will be spending Christmas on the Breeze this year and would like to avoid the holiday craziness at the Airports!

 

The drive isn't that bad, I've made longer (like the 23hr drive straight from Charlotte to Summit County, CO for a ski trip), but I could think of better ways to pass the time ;)

 

I completely agree with the avoiding holiday airport nightmare...plus the long road trip is an adventure in its own right.

[jolyroger]

love everything about your review ! I was laughing at your kids and serenity comment. spoken from someone who has 2 girls, 13 and 10, yeah I get it! and who is cruising without them next month,woohoo! now on to see those great pics I"ve heard about on fb!

[jolyroger]

love everything about your review ! I was laughing at your kids and serenity comment. spoken from someone who has 2 girls, 13 and 10, yeah I get it! and who is cruising without them next month,woohoo! now on to see those great pics I"ve heard about on fb!

 

 

ok now realizing not on fb , its a blog!! Dear lord I need my coffee!!

[Cruzface]

Waiting for more....

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[missdebi]

I hope everything is okay with palmetto native. It has been a few days with no update.

[jolyroger]

I agree

 

Sent from my SCH-I415 using Tapatalk

[PalmettoNative]

I'm ok, sorry for the delay I have been traveling for business this week. Had to go to Puerto Rico (got to see the Carnival Valor in port Sunday afternoon) and now in Tampa. I haven't had much time to update the review, but I will try to get back on track soon.

 

My travel dance card is getting full, next week its off to the Boston area...which I highly doubt I'll see the nice weather I've had this week.

[jolyroger]

I'm ok, sorry for the delay I have been traveling for business this week. Had to go to Puerto Rico (got to see the Carnival Valor in port Sunday afternoon) and now in Tampa. I haven't had much time to update the review, but I will try to get back on track soon.

 

My travel dance card is getting full, next week its off to the Boston area...which I highly doubt I'll see the nice weather I've had this week.

 

 

Hope everything is going ok with your family and yourself..Isn't it great when you come back from vacation, going back to work you kinda play "catch up" for the time taken off, and its like your never left to go away! and I will agree living in RI , boston"s weather probably is just as crappy, no where nearly as nice as tampa or Puerto Rico!

[silverlining300]

We were on the Breeze in January 2013, I am enjoying your review. We had a wonderful time

[dzgirl]

Your pictures are gorgeous!! I am an armature photog myself (very very armature) I was wondering what software do you use for editing. Great review the pics and story are both very entertaining.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[wrigley80]

Nice review.....I love your sunrise pictures. I keep saying that I am gonna wake up early enough to see a sunrise but that is yet to happen.....may be on my cruise next week ;)

[PalmettoNative]

Your pictures are gorgeous!! I am an armature photog myself (very very armature) I was wondering what software do you use for editing. Great review the pics and story are both very entertaining.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Thanks I use Adobe Lightroom 4. (Lightroom 5 is the latest version out)

It's a pretty nice software, but can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you get the hang of it.

[rene194215]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture of the Sapphire dining room. I have to ask how did you get that shot? It is amazing... well all your pictures are but that really caught my eye!!!

[cruisinpips]

I live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. currently it's - 15 c... (5F). I'll be on the Brezze April 26...

 

Saphir, we are sailing the Breeze on 4/26 also, our second trip on her....ready for more warm weather. Hope for lots of smooth sailing and hot weather.:D:D

[PalmettoNative]

Ok I'm finally home (at least a few days)...so I'll pick up where I left off.

 

So sadly there wasn't much left of the day at sea. It was Elegant Night, so we dressed up headed upstairs and knocked out some Prime Rib and Lobster.

 

Then it was up to the bubbly hot tub, and tonight it was actually fairly warm. We were joined by a nice couple after an hour to ourselves, then we called it an early night...the following day was Jamaica.

 

Day 3 - Jamaica, Mon.

 

There isn't much better to wake up to than the sunrise over a tropical island. Of all the places on this trip Jamaica was new to us, and I've heard of how in some places this island be a bit sketchy. So we opted to take a Carnival excursion...our first, we typically book our own private excursions.

 

 

Today was looking like a great start, and we were taking the Croydon Plantation. It got good reviews and it took you away from the standard tourist attractions...and my philosophy was there would be less hassles from the locals.

 

 

 

The ride up was...a few choice words that come to mind and included are and not limited too:

- Air Conditioned

- Bumpy

- Terrifying Oncoming Traffic

- Funny Patois Phrases

- Great Views

 

Our tour guide Winston was awesome and you get some amazing samples of juices, fruit, and lunch is included...and they offer $3 Red Stripes. If you are looking for something a little different, a little out of the way, and love sampling different fruits...I would highly recommend this excursion. There was only one vendor at the end of the tour, and she was very polite and prices were reasonable.

 

 

[PalmettoNative]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture of the Sapphire dining room. I have to ask how did you get that shot? It is amazing... well all your pictures are but that really caught my eye!!!

 

 

I'm assuming you mean this one...I went right after we got on board while the daylight offered some light to help, and used my widest setting. A little touch up in Lightroom and you get what you see.

 

I used my Sony RX100 for this.

[KPfromCT]

Yay!!!! You're BACK!!!!:D:D:D

[PalmettoNative]

Croydon Plantation - Jamaica

 

Did you know that there are over 1000 different varieties of bananas??? And here I though Chiquita was the only type. We were given some bananas fresh off the vine, and they were smaller and sweeter than the typical ones you find at the grocery store.

 

Also there are over 20 something types of pineapples...who knew? When I think types of pineapples I think: Dole sliced, Dole crushed, Dole whole, Dole chunks...you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

Almost near the end of the tour, you get another big sample of fruit: sugar cane, coconut, Otaheite apple, and Jack Fruit. Jack fruit is like the Caribbean Durian fruit. After you get past the stinky flesh to the center fruit, its actually not bad. Similar to a waxy over ripe mango. Some people liked it, others not so much, and others refused to try it after hearing the story of how it smells.

 

 

 

[Kfoot]

MMMM love me some jackfruit. Growing up in the Island we use to boil the seed and eat it. Those Otahetie apples look so good.

Edited March 29, 2014 by Kfoot

[PalmettoNative]

You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream For Jerk Chicken...and Red Stripe

 

 

This is a great view (and smell) to walk up too after the tour. They offered a complimentary taste of some delicious Blue Mountain coffee. The smell of grilled chicken, fried plantains, rice and peas (red beans and rice to the rest of us), calaloo (similar to collards or turnip greens) was quite a tease until the released the ravenous horde to eat.

 

 

(Yes I know the flag is backwards...I blame the Red Stripes)

This flag goes everywhere with me, and it has been to some awesome places and has loads of miles on it.

 

 

 

So as you can see, the day was pretty great. Again if you are looking to avoid some of the usual places, give this excursion a go.

[PalmettoNative]

Over the Mountains and Through the Woods to the Carnival Breeze We Go

 

On the way back down the mountain I put my trusty little Sony RX100 on burst mode in hopes of catching some candid photos of island life, while plummeting down the road at a decent pace. I filled up half a 16GB card with useless photos, but...to my surprise I landed a few really good ones...here are the top 6

 

The Jamaican Ghostbuster...equipped with Proton Pack