GAPearl Goes Solo on the Splendor! 11/1/14 SJU-MIA Repo Cruise Review.

[Hogladyrider]

Another Fantastic Review.....looking forward to reading more.

 

Solo cruising is great, I have done 3 solos in my past, loved all three!

 

Love your zest for life!

 

Susan

[S.C.]

I haven't been on CC in a couple of weeks logged on today and so glad to find your review. Love all your reviews. :)

[Steamboat Holly]

Your cornbread struggle with Carnival cracks me up! My DH is from Alabama, and he has very strict rules about his cornbread. Lord help us all if its sweet!! I read him your posts about cornbread, and he was in total agreement with you. That stuff wasn't real cornbread!!

[INCHARGE]

Thursday, November 6

Cruise Day 6- Fun Day At Sea

 

At noon I was up again, hungry and ready to eat. I went to the rotisserie grill, which is upstairs in the aft of the lido buffet. Well well well, what do we have here?

 

 

For those of you reading one of my reviews for the first time, you really have to read the others to appreciate the significance of this. I'm a southern girl that has become quite appalled and slightly offended at what Carnival tries to pass off as cornbread.

 

This. Is. Still. Not. Cornbread.

 

 

 

As soon as I saw that picture, I thought..."OH heck, this is not going to go well with Kim!" :eek: :D. All I could remember was the cornbread you posted that had kernels of corn in it!

What made it even more funny was that we had just finished a meal with the real cornbread, so I could only imagine how you felt about that bread. Lol

 

Like Steamboat Holly, my DH is also from Alabama, so none of this fake stuff for him either. He said he won't even bother looking for cornbread on the ship. :)

 

I love that Teal dress, lady. It is wearing you well. Sharp!

[obx_fintoo]

 

 

 

 

At noon I was up again, hungry and ready to eat. I went to the rotisserie grill, which is upstairs in the aft of the lido buffet. Well well well, what do we have here?

 

 

For those of you reading one of my reviews for the first time, you really have to read the others to appreciate the significance of this. I'm a southern girl that has become quite appalled and slightly offended at what Carnival tries to pass off as cornbread.

 

This. Is. Still. Not. Cornbread.

 

 

My 10 year plan is officially changing because I've decided to go to culinary school. Forget the fact that my student loans will be paid off in the next 9 months. Sallie Mae and I are about to start all over in a new relationship. When I graduate from culinary school, I'll be applying for a job with Carnival Cruise Lines as a cook. I'll be trading my spacious three bedroom 1,700 square foot house that I have all to myself for a tiny shoe box cabin on a ship with a roommate. I'll start in the kitchen peeling the potatoes if I have to and work my way up to head chef from there. When I become head chef, not only will I be changing that dreadful curry chicken recipe from what I had yesterday, but I will be changing the cornbread recipe as well. If this is what I have to do to get Carnival to stop serving fake cornbread then so be it. If you can just be a little patient with me while I set out to accomplish this, you should be able to have some real cornbread on your cruise around 2024. It'll be worth the wait though, I promise.

 

ROFL!!!!:cool::D I can't wait to try your cornbread GaPearl!

 

As always, loving your review!

[SenatorsFan]

I'm Canadian and even I know what real cornbread looks like! (It doesn't hurt that I've been to South Carolina, lol). And I never bake it with kernels of corn, either. Poor Kim having to endure this misery yet again!:D

Heather

Edited November 24, 2014 by SenatorsFan

[wrigley80]

I am not even from the south and I know that this is NOT cornbread :p

[wintercruise1]

Thanks Heather! There were four new ports for me. Carnival is doing a few more unique itineraries and I think some of these ports will be coming up again. I hope this will help some people out. I took about 2,000 pictures!

 

 

 

Thanks tropical drink! Enjoy!

 

 

 

Thank you so much!

 

I am new to cruise critic and have never written a review, but I enjoy reading the reviews and seeing the pictures. Your reviews have me waiting for more. I log on just to see if you've been on a cruise, then wait for your review. Keep it up and keep the pictures coming.

[ch27088]

Thursday, November 6

Cruise Day 6- Fun Day At Sea

 

As much as I wanted to get up and go work out today, I decided to let my body rest and slept in a little. I had done something active every day for the last 5 days, especially the day before in Dominica, and figured I had earned this break. I was up at 8:30 am to take a shower and head up to the lido deck for the morning. I made it poolside an hour later and there were still plenty of chairs free, but by 10 am they were all taken by the chair hogs. I saw chairs with towels and no bodies stay empty for much longer than the allowed 40 minutes. None of the pool activities had started yet so I ordered a mocha chocolate getaway and drifted off into La La Land.

 

 

 

 

 

At noon I was up again, hungry and ready to eat. I went to the rotisserie grill, which is upstairs in the aft of the lido buffet. Well well well, what do we have here?

 

 

For those of you reading one of my reviews for the first time, you really have to read the others to appreciate the significance of this. I'm a southern girl that has become quite appalled and slightly offended at what Carnival tries to pass off as cornbread.

 

This. Is. Still. Not. Cornbread.

 

 

My 10 year plan is officially changing because I've decided to go to culinary school. Forget the fact that my student loans will be paid off in the next 9 months. Sallie Mae and I are about to start all over in a new relationship. When I graduate from culinary school, I'll be applying for a job with Carnival Cruise Lines as a cook. I'll be trading my spacious three bedroom 1,700 square foot house that I have all to myself for a tiny shoe box cabin on a ship with a roommate. I'll start in the kitchen peeling the potatoes if I have to and work my way up to head chef from there. When I become head chef, not only will I be changing that dreadful curry chicken recipe from what I had yesterday, but I will be changing the cornbread recipe as well. If this is what I have to do to get Carnival to stop serving fake cornbread then so be it. If you can just be a little patient with me while I set out to accomplish this, you should be able to have some real cornbread on your cruise around 2024. It'll be worth the wait though, I promise.

 

Bwahahahahaha...please go to culinary school, not only was the chicken curry not good, and the corn bread misrepresented, but the powdered eggs in the buffet needs to be destroyed, deleted, taken out, replaced!!!!

[wintercruise1]

Our waiters serenaded us with That's Amore. After dinner I went to the promenade to take some pictures at all the different backgrounds but I only got to one. They were tearing their equipment down earlier than I've seen on any other cruise. Since my photo shoot ended rather quickly I went to the Punchliner Comedy Club and caught the second half of the 10:45 pm show of Donnell Grey. Monicia joined me for the 11:45 pm show of Jim McCue. He was funny and gave a good show but didn't really tell any jokes, just interacted with the audience and picked on everyone. We were in the front row and were first to get picked on but it was all in good fun.

 

Here it is ladies, my dress and those shoes! I bought this dress in Vegas and remember thinking it would have been fun to wear if I happened to be there with a significant other and on the spur of the moment got married by Elvis. However that wasn't meant to be for this dress, as I've been stuck in Singletown for quite a long time now, so I brought it with me on the cruise. :)

 

 

Monicia and I at the comedy show.

 

 

After that we headed to the Red Carpet Club. I expected it to be a bit busier than the first night and was a little disappointed that it wasn't. Around midnight the ship was pretty quiet, which is very unusual for Carnival. It was what I'd imagine a Holland America cruise to Alaska to be like in the evening.

 

My brief appearance in the disco.

 

 

The club was a no. The DJ was playing nothing but Sean Paul and it was EMPTY in there. The casino was a no. The craps and blackjack tables were too crowded and I never have any luck at roulette. The casino bar for a couple drinks was definitely a no because if I had to go to the bathroom, that would require going to my cabin and taking off my dress so I could take my spanx off and that was just too much work. Here I was all dressed up with no place to go! I hung out on the lido with new friends Jenna and Steve for a short bit and headed to bed.

 

The platinum gift at the moment is this toiletry bag.

 

 

Selfie before bed.

 

 

Up next: Comment puis-je aller a la plage?

The dress and shoes are on point. I love dresses and shoes just like you.

[luv2tvl]

 

It is my DREAM to make it on The Amazing Race! Unfortunately I have no one to apply with me. I was going to apply with my friend Jackie (from my Navigator review) but she found out she was pregnant a couple of months before we were going to go to the open casting. Maybe if they had a race for solo travelers. :rolleyes:

 

 

You just found yourself a partner!!! It's also been MY DREAM to make it on the Amazing Race!! We could be the Travel Professionals or something since we are in the biz... OMG how fun! :)

[gapearl]

Great pics. Your thread really makes me even more excited and confident about my first solo cruise on the Carnival Victory next week. Just being in the mix all out the ship taking and sharing photos seems like sooo much fun

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Cool! I'm sure you'll have a great time. I love cruising solo. You may discover it'll soon become your favorite way to travel as well. Have fun next week! :)

 

My friend Cheryl and I are in your aft pool picture! Cool! :-)

 

You're famous now. :D

[gapearl]

Another Fantastic Review.....looking forward to reading more.

 

Solo cruising is great, I have done 3 solos in my past, loved all three!

 

Love your zest for life!

 

Susan

 

Thank you so much! I do solo land trips as well. Nothing better than doing what you want, when you want.

 

I haven't been on CC in a couple of weeks logged on today and so glad to find your review. Love all your reviews. :)

 

Glad to see you back here reading again. Hope you enjoy!

[gapearl]

Your cornbread struggle with Carnival cracks me up! My DH is from Alabama, and he has very strict rules about his cornbread. Lord help us all if its sweet!! I read him your posts about cornbread, and he was in total agreement with you. That stuff wasn't real cornbread!!

 

The struggle is REAL, girl. haha :p Like I've always said, just stick to Jiffy.

 

As soon as I saw that picture, I thought..."OH heck, this is not going to go well with Kim!" :eek: :D. All I could remember was the cornbread you posted that had kernels of corn in it!

What made it even more funny was that we had just finished a meal with the real cornbread, so I could only imagine how you felt about that bread. Lol

 

Like Steamboat Holly, my DH is also from Alabama, so none of this fake stuff for him either. He said he won't even bother looking for cornbread on the ship. :)

 

I love that Teal dress, lady. It is wearing you well. Sharp!

 

They did ok with the cornbread from Fat Jimmy's BBQ on the Breeze so they clearly know how to do it. If only they'd put that on all the ships. Next cruise, you and your husband go find it to see for yourself. lol

[gapearl]

ROFL!!!!:cool::D I can't wait to try your cornbread GaPearl!

 

As always, loving your review!

 

2024, that's the magic date my cornbread will be on the ships! :D

 

I'm Canadian and even I know what real cornbread looks like! (It doesn't hurt that I've been to South Carolina, lol). And I never bake it with kernels of corn, either. Poor Kim having to endure this misery yet again!:D

Heather

 

LOL I love making you guys laugh with my cornbread posts.

[gapearl]

I am not even from the south and I know that this is NOT cornbread :p

 

Nope, sure isn't!

 

I am new to cruise critic and have never written a review, but I enjoy reading the reviews and seeing the pictures. Your reviews have me waiting for more. I log on just to see if you've been on a cruise, then wait for your review. Keep it up and keep the pictures coming.

 

Welcome to CC! You should give review writing a try. It's fun to relive all the good vacation memories. I'll have more coming late (really late) tonight.

[gapearl]

Bwahahahahaha...please go to culinary school, not only was the chicken curry not good, and the corn bread misrepresented, but the powdered eggs in the buffet needs to be destroyed, deleted, taken out, replaced!!!!

 

I don't eat eggs but everyone says they're horrible! I'll be sure to take care of that too. lol

 

The dress and shoes are on point. I love dresses and shoes just like you.

 

Thank you! I've realized I'm a shopoholic. :cool:

 

You just found yourself a partner!!! It's also been MY DREAM to make it on the Amazing Race!! We could be the Travel Professionals or something since we are in the biz... OMG how fun! :)

 

Sweet! I'm cool with all the adventurous stuff but no way can I eat the weird stuff. That would be all you, girl. ;)

[gapearl]

Thanks for being so patient and continuing to follow along. Clearly I forgot how long these take to put together. Uploading and editing 60-100 photos for each day takes HOURS. It doesn't help that my laptop is operating very slowly and is still getting adjusted to it's new hard drive. It randomly will need to do all these updates, which could be a couple of hours I'd lose and wouldn't be able to upload anything. Thankfully I have all the pictures I need to finish this uploaded to photobucket and I can finish on my ipad, but this little thing called work is now getting in the way. I should be able to get Grand Turk done super late tonight and hopefully get this thing finished soon! :)

[ibcnusoon]

I'm late to the party - just now reading your review! I think over the last few years I've read every one of yours! Looking forward to it, on page 1 now!

[yukongold]

Enjoyed the pics.

[Delta Dear]

Hey Kim,

I'm enjoying our trip as always...yes, thank you for taking me along with you!

Well, it feels like I'm right there. However, that ropes on the falls would have found me living up there in the mountains because there is no way I would be able to come down.

 

(I thought about you yesterday when my husband was watching Anthony Zimmerman as he toured Columbia.) He said the same things you did about the beauty of the people and how graciously he was treated. It was on the Travel Channel so maybe you can catch that episode. I know you will enjoy it. Just don't look for it before you finish this, LOL.

 

Looking forward to the rest. Love the photos, of course.

[heatherkristin]

I typically make it through one page of a review and then get bored with them, but I have LOVED reading your review of the Splendor cruise!

 

I admire your guts to travel alone. I had a two year gap in cruising because I couldn't find anyone to travel with me.

 

Can't wait to read the rest of your review :)

[watermelonqueen99]

LOVE me a gapearl review! You're such a pretty lady, lovin' the pics!

[Mrs.C05]

GAPearl! I looooove you're review! How did you not stay in Dominica with your guide Berani?!?!? ;)

 

We went to Dominica on our RT San Juan cruise in 2009 and really am kicking myself in the bee-hind for not doing anything there (except make our way down to a bar and then call it a day) :rolleyes:

 

On my bucket list is Grenada!

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review.

[alreadypacked]

Thursday, November 6

Cruise Day 6- Fun Day At Sea

 

 

 

 

At noon I was up again, hungry and ready to eat. I went to the rotisserie grill, which is upstairs in the aft of the lido buffet. Well well well, what do we have here?

 

 

For those of you reading one of my reviews for the first time, you really have to read the others to appreciate the significance of this. I'm a southern girl that has become quite appalled and slightly offended at what Carnival tries to pass off as cornbread.

 

This. Is. Still. Not. Cornbread.

 

 

My 10 year plan is officially changing because I've decided to go to culinary school. Forget the fact that my student loans will be paid off in the next 9 months. Sallie Mae and I are about to start all over in a new relationship. When I graduate from culinary school, I'll be applying for a job with Carnival Cruise Lines as a cook. I'll be trading my spacious three bedroom 1,700 square foot house that I have all to myself for a tiny shoe box cabin on a ship with a roommate. I'll start in the kitchen peeling the potatoes if I have to and work my way up to head chef from there. When I become head chef, not only will I be changing that dreadful curry chicken recipe from what I had yesterday, but I will be changing the cornbread recipe as well. If this is what I have to do to get Carnival to stop serving fake cornbread then so be it. If you can just be a little patient with me while I set out to accomplish this, you should be able to have some real cornbread on your cruise around 2024. It'll be worth the wait though, I promise.

 

Yay!! Another GAPearl review!!

 

I'm not a Southern gal, but even I know that what's pictured above couldn't possibly be cornbread!

 

What's that on top? Looks like the onions found on an onion roll.

 

Just got off Carnival Freedom--entertainment was great, finally, after "blah" the last couple cruises, but Carnival really needs to get their food act back together.

 

Carnival food was very good 2002 to 2008-ish. Now I've been sailing other lines more recently, partly due to the declining Carnival food product.

 

Anyway, Love the review!!

 

As always.

 

Your commentary has had me in stitches!!

Edited November 26, 2014 by alreadypacked