Feeling the Breeze again - a review

[summercruisin']

The guides let us hold them

 

 

Then we headed to Orient Beach for a little while (if I remember correctly, we were there about an hour and a half....not long enough for me!! :cool:).

 

 

 

It was a little crowded.

 

And then back in the Scoot Coupes for a drive through town and back to the ship...

 

 

docked beside the Disney Fantasy

 

Edited October 3, 2015 by summercruisin'

[summercruisin']

Although DS really enjoyed the Scoot Coupes, his anxiety was in overdrive and he was "done" with St. Maarten, so we escorted him back to the ship. We found out teenagers can get back onboard without their parents/guardians, but they cannot leave without them.....good to know.

 

 

After dropping DS off in the room with lots of instructions, DH and I took DD back on shore to catch the water taxi that is near the port to go to the village and the beach.

 

 

If I remember correctly, it cost about $7 for DH and I, and maybe a little less for DD....can't remember for sure. Anyway, since we did not have a ton of time left, it was worth it to catch the water taxi instead of walking.

 

 

 

There were tons of little fish in the water right there on the beach!!

 

[summercruisin']

By the time we got back from the beach area and showered, it was time for DH and I to go meet the chef for Chef's Table. I had booked our spots well in advance by emailing the steakhouse maître d. DH and I have done Chef's Table numerous times and enjoyed it every time, but we were getting tired of the last menu. However, we had heard that there was a new menu (hooray! :D) so we were excited to check it out. Along with the amazing food and the tour, another of the things we love about Chef's Table is the very personal experience that you get for your money. Although we did not get the usual attention (I think the Breeze is just too big for that....if I heard correctly, they have up to 4 Chef's Table meals on the 8 night cruises!), we were still treated to a wonderful meal with great company. And we got an extra special treat! Our DD was very whiny that evening and did not want us to go to Chef's Table, most especially because she did not want to go to Camp Carnival, as she usually does. DS usually goes to dinner alone on the night we go to Chef's Table, and that was his plan for this particular evening as well. After quite a bit of cajoling, and a couple of threats to cancel Chef's Table and other fun events, DS agreed to escort his sister to the dining room for dinner and to watch her for the rest of the evening until we returned. Crisis averted! :cool:

 

For those who don't know, Chef's Table is a wonderful multi-course dinner for a small group (up to 16 at a time). It costs extra ($75 per person, but that includes all the wine you can drink) and has to be reserved pretty early, since the number of participants is limited. In the past, we have developed a great connection with chefs who then went out of their way to send extra treats or give extra attention for the rest of the week. That has not been the case on either of our Breeze experiences. Nonetheless, the experience is worth every penny.

 

We met the chef and our dinner companions at the atrium bar

 

 

and were taken to the galley for hors d'oeuvres and champagne. In the past, we have been told that pictures in the galley are not allowed, but this chef was more than happy to allow us to snap away! First up was mango sphere on rosemary biscuit.

 

 

Okay, to me it looked like an egg yolk on a cracker, but it didn't taste like it, thankfully! The chef insisted that we put the whole thing in our mouths in one bite and experience the "burst"....that was fun. I do not love the flavor of mango, but I can see how this appetizer would be tasty to many people.

[summercruisin']

Next was salmon tartar cornets....these were tasty!!

 

 

Then we were served beef carpaccio on air pillow (what fun!) with chocolate bacon and apple ribbons. This was yummy too and so cool to look at!

 

 

 

After that, we had double cooked lamb on a crisp

 

 

 

and now, I have a very impatient teenager waiting for "his turn" on the computer. I would stand my ground, but since I am tired, I will give up for the evening. See you tomorrow!

Edited October 3, 2015 by summercruisin'

[Jenner9]

We got to the port before 11 and got through security really quickly. We ordered two 12 packs of water for the room in advance' date=' and I really actually enjoyed not having to haul all that water on board this time. It was much easier, especially with the 12 pack of diet mountain dew, a 12 pack of orange soda (all in cans, of course), a 150 ml carton of wine, a bookbag holding all the important papers and last minute stuff I threw in, a small soft-sided cooler with meds, a laptop in a case, two tablets, a baby doll and her gear, a large teddy bear made from one of my dad's t-shirts, a camera bag with multiple cameras and the GoPro, for which I later learned I left the charger at home in NC, rendering it completely useless for the trip duration :(, the Kodak underwater camera (yay!), and more stuff....omg did we forget the kitchen sink????

 

We went to the lounge for platinum cruisers and got our cards and then were directed to wait in another area, as that lounge was already too full. We waited alongside a wedding party (awww.....) for quite a while.

 

 

Forgot to mention I had spent a few days before the cruise to make DD some special t-shirts to get Matt's atten.....I mean to show Matt some appreciation. :D

 

Unfortunately, this was a VERY chaotic embarkation. We were not given any instructions; it just seemed like suddenly everyone in the lounge started heading for the ship. Even some Carnival employees were confused, because one stopped us and asked if we were told to go onboard yet, but then before anyone even answered said something about "oh, there's *couldn't hear name or position*. If he is with you, you are fine." Meanwhile, it was a free-for-all. No cards were checked. No additional questions were asked. No coming aboard pictures were taken. We all just moved en masse to the ship. I did not feel the platinum love :p But, it didn't take long for me to get over it, as we went straight to our room to drop off our stuff and then quickly headed up to lido to get lunch.

 

We had a cove balcony room, cabin number 2254. It is near the front, port side, under the excursion desk, and close to the elevators. We found it to be a quiet and comfortable cabin. It was clean, except for the persistent old urine smell in the bathroom (yuck).

 

 

 

Was the upper bed always pulled down or did they put it back up during the day? Also, was the couch always made up into a bed or could you use it as a couch during the day?

[KPfromCT]

Awesome review! Beautiful family and your pictures are great!

Cannot wait to read more.:D:D

[summercruisin']

Was the upper bed always pulled down or did they put it back up during the day? Also, was the couch always made up into a bed or could you use it as a couch during the day?

 

Most days it was left down, but that may have had something to do with the fact that DH stayed in the room so much. I think there were two days that it was put up (one of which we had to ask him to put it back down because DS wanted to nap :rolleyes:). The couch stayed made up as a bed, so we never used it as a couch. It worked for us, as DH is the only one who stays in the room a lot, and he was happy using the bed or the chairs on the balcony. :) I could see where some families would prefer the space, though!

[summercruisin']

Awesome review! Beautiful family and your pictures are great!

Cannot wait to read more.:D:D

 

Thank you!!

[summercruisin']

Here we go...back to the Chef's Table!

 

After our reception, we were taken to a table set up in the galley, where there were place tags, personalized menus, and bread at each place. Wine was poured (red or white? Um.....both? :D), and the first course was brought right away.

 

 

 

The first course was beet blanket with spiced grape tea. So, did I mention that you need to be a pretty open-minded and adventurous eater to enjoy Chef's Table? To me, it is worth the cost, but I can imagine there are some who prefer more traditional favorites and may not feel the same as to the value.

 

 

Second course was a crab stack with crisps and caviar made of something cool (can't remember what he said.....sorry!!). I love crabmeat, and this was delicious

 

 

Next was a dish the chef called "duck textures." He said it came from several different parts of the duck (hence the different textures in the meat). It came with parmesan sticks, balsamic snow, and carrot wheels. It was very yummy!

 

[summercruisin']

After the duck, we took a break and toured the galley more. The chef showed us the different prep areas and gave general information about food orders, food prep, and so on. We saw the line where our wait staff go to collect our orders.

 

ovens

 

the line

 

 

We went to the pastry area to see how the warm chocolate melting cakes are made. One of the guests in our party got to "help"

 

 

Then it was back to the table to continue our meal. At some point, our assistant waitress found us to tell us that our kids had arrived in the dining room and seemed happy :). That was sweet of her.

[summercruisin']

The next course was a tomato bisque soup. It started with this cheese log and then the servers poured two types of tomato soup over it and it melted in.

 

 

 

 

I do not really love tomato soup, but this was good. DH does like tomato soup in general, and he liked this as well.

 

After the soup course, our table was visited by the ship magician. Since DH and I were at the end of the table, we were chosen for some of the card illusions. The magician did a couple of tricks, and he was a lot of fun! He had a great sense of humor and was good at fooling the eyes!

 

The magician went to the other end of the table and did more tricks with other "volunteers," including a trick using one wedding ring of a newly-married same-sex couple of frequent cruisers, which was lots of fun. After he was all done, we were served the next course....

 

this one was sea bass with pumpkin (if I remember correctly) cubes, one topped with a piece of popcorn, the other topped with a merengue cookie. It was a tasty dish. However, it was topped with "lobster foam" and just the name of that is not appealing. I don't know if I was getting ridiculously full or if there was something about that name....

 

Edited October 3, 2015 by summercruisin'

[summercruisin']

The last savory dish was Wagyu beef short ribs with bone marrow soufflé (again....kinda gross name) and some sort of tasty square thingy (that is NOT the official name :D) with scallions in it.

 

 

By this time I was certain I was getting too full, and it was difficult to enjoy the course, much less be open minded to trying bone marrow soufflé. But I did. Don't want to insult the chef!

 

Next up was a dessert, but I was so full, I couldn't even enjoy taking a picture of it, apparently :p. It had a collection of mini desserts, everything from cake to chocolate to gel and lots more!

 

After all that, we practically crawled back to our rooms like overstuffed slugs, found the kids tucked in watching a movie alongside a cool bunny....

 

Edited October 3, 2015 by summercruisin'

[summercruisin']

I forgot to mention a pretty important detail earlier in my review! DS and I had both downloaded the new Carnival Hub app that is available on the Breeze. For $5 each, we were able to keep in touch wherever we were on the ship through texts. So, he was able to text me a few times during Chef's Table to let me know he and his sister were safe. That was a relief! In the past, we have always used lots of coordinating schedules, leaving notes, and using phones all over the ship to call our cabin and check in. It was really nice to have the ability to text him at any time (and vice versa), not only to reassure this worrying mom, but also to tell each other things that were going on that the other may be interested in. It also made it easier to find each other in large public places (such as when he went to the theatre one night and I was a few minutes behind him). The Hub app also gives you a map of the ship, a listing of the day's events, and other good information. DH, who always insists on putting his phone in the safe and NOT. TOUCHING. IT. even considered getting the Hub. He changed his mind though....maybe next time! :D

 

Another new and improved thing, IMHO, on the Breeze (and maybe fleetwide?) is that I could get unlimited Internet on one device for $60 for the entire cruise. I can remember the not-too-distant past where we had to pay something like $4 just to log in and then a ridiculous by-the-minute plan or a slightly less ridiculous by chunks of minutes plan BUT the service was so slow, I ended up often feeling cheated of a good number of my package minutes. This new plan was a much better alternative!

Edited October 3, 2015 by summercruisin'

[BenjiRodney]

Thanks for haring, we leave on the Breeze in 21 days.

[sarabeth1710]

Thank You for your review so far! I am trying to decide between the Breeze and the Magic, for August 2016, and right now leaning toward the Breeze!

She looks like a Beautiful ship!

You give a fun review!

 

--Lori

[brinvic]

Your review is so entertaining! Breeze is one I am looking at for 2016

[maxydu]

Enjoying your review! We have lots in common.....Such as Purple- Gold! First Down Pirates! Getting Rowdy in Dowdy,lol! Both my wife and I are ECU grads as well as our daughter. We were there a tad before y'all (me 75-79; DW 78-82). We're dealing with the rain as well.....We have a house on Bogue Sound, Atlantic Beach. We are booked on the Breeze for Jan. 16, 2016 in a cove (2264) which is also under the excursion desk area.

Glad to hear it is quiet!!! Our passion is Pirates and Cruising, AARRGGGHHH! Think we could get a B's Barbecue on the Lido deck?

[summercruisin']

Thanks for haring, we leave on the Breeze in 21 days.

 

Thank you! I am some kind of envious of you right now!

Thank You for your review so far! I am trying to decide between the Breeze and the Magic, for August 2016, and right now leaning toward the Breeze!

She looks like a Beautiful ship!

You give a fun review!

 

--Lori

 

Thank you, Lori! I am sure you will love either one (but the Breeze is better! :D)

[summercruisin']

Your review is so entertaining! Breeze is one I am looking at for 2016

 

Thank you! You will love the Breeze in '16. I'd go again, even without Matt :D

[summercruisin']

Enjoying your review! We have lots in common.....Such as Purple- Gold! First Down Pirates! Getting Rowdy in Dowdy,lol! Both my wife and I are ECU grads as well as our daughter. We were there a tad before y'all (me 75-79; DW 78-82). We're dealing with the rain as well.....We have a house on Bogue Sound, Atlantic Beach. We are booked on the Breeze for Jan. 16, 2016 in a cove (2264) which is also under the excursion desk area.

Glad to hear it is quiet!!! Our passion is Pirates and Cruising, AARRGGGHHH! Think we could get a B's Barbecue on the Lido deck?

 

YES!!! I just knew somebody would recognize the Pirate on the t-shirt (representing across the Caribbean!!) :D. Aaaarrrrgghhhhh!! And how lucky are you with a house on Bogue Sound! Not too many places as beautiful as that area. Since I teach, I spend most of my summers in Florida, and I STILL come back every year for 4th of July at Emerald Isle....family tradition! We do indeed share the same passions! Something about Pirates and our ships :D

 

Wouldn't a B's be amazing?? Lawd! People would be mad when they sell out and pack up by 11:18 or some crazy time! :p

 

I am so jealous you will be very close to my happy spot in just a few short months! Hope you have a great time!

 

#noquarter

[summercruisin']

YES!!! I just knew somebody would recognize the Pirate on the t-shirt (representing across the Caribbean!!) :D. Aaaarrrrgghhhhh!! And how lucky are you with a house on Bogue Sound! Not too many places as beautiful as that area. Since I teach' date=' I spend most of my summers in Florida, and I STILL come back every year for 4th of July at Emerald Isle....family tradition! We do indeed share the same passions! Something about Pirates and our ships :D

 

Wouldn't a B's be amazing?? Lawd! People would be mad when they sell out and pack up by 11:18 or some crazy time! :p

 

I am so jealous you will be very close to my happy spot in just a few short months! Hope you have a great time!

 

#noquarter[/quote']

 

Forgot to mention....one of the reasons (beyond the obvious) that I wear an ECU shirt at some point on almost every cruise is because it never fails.....I always find at least one (usually more) other fan of the purple and gold! Makes my heart happy :p

[summercruisin']

Coming up soon......our day in St. Kitts (also known as the day I behaved like I've never lived with, much less traveled with, an individual with autism and anxiety before!)...

[summercruisin']

So, I've never been to St. Kitts before, but I was looking forward to it. But, then I got in this funk, mostly because my brother passed away unexpectedly 2 months before our trip (prime planning time). I've already lost both parents, and so it was really difficult losing him. And in my funk, I got irritated that the mom of the family (that's me!) always has to do all the planning for trips. :cool: So....I got the not-so-brilliant idea to just....not.

 

Well, it was all good and fine until we got on the ship, and that's when it hit me that we were going to a new island without a plan. Oops. :o

 

When we were arriving, we had a great view of this beautiful island....

 

 

with that very tall hill still in the fog and clouds....

 

 

and DS took a closer look. Wait....is that a volcano???

 

 

and off he goes to research it really quickly, because that's what he does. He found out it is indeed a volcano. So, I'm busy trying to put on an optimistic smile and convince him that the possibility of seeing black sand is just soooo cool, no matter that I have no idea how we are going to get to the black sand....it's all good, right? :o Um. No.

[summercruisin']

To his credit, despite is incredible discomfort with the whole situation, DS didn't balk too terribly when I told him to trust me (as I wing it) and get off the ship. There was a time in the not-so-distant past that he would have completely refused and done whatever it took to get out of going, but this time he went along and just voiced his concerns. Over and over.

 

We got off the ship and walked to the gate, dodging photographers (with my multiple apologies for his seemingly rude "no!" to their not-so-gentle attempts to get us to stop at the no fewer than 5 photo setups....whew!)

 

 

DS was walking ahead of us far enough to make me worry he would take off running, if it weren't for my knowing how anxious he was feeling. I thought it prudent to hear out the first tour salesperson we came to, who happened to be standing right before that gateway (the guy in an orange vest). It happened, though, that in the stress of leaving the cabin, I forgot to pack any cash at all. So, back to the ship I went. Did you know that if you get right back on the ship pretty much as everyone is getting off, Carnival employees get a little confused and aren't really prepared for your return? :p

 

After some quick explaining, a sprint up 2 flights of stairs to the room, apologies to the room steward for busting up his cleaning attempts, frantic digging through the room safe to grab a handful of cash, dashing back down 2 flights of stairs, apologizing AGAIN to the photographers for once again refusing to pose.....the first tour guy was busy. But that turned out okay, because in that time, I had this feeling I could get a better deal if I went a little further down the street.

 

We walked through the gate and about a half a block past it where we found a guy trying to get passengers for his yellow banana tour. He offered a much better deal for basically the same trip (about half as much for the three "adults" and the littlest went for free, plus free sodas and water). He promised the truck would be ready to go in about 20 minutes and that we could meet him at the stop at that time (this was important, because I knew waiting around at the stop would increase DS's anxiety). He told us we could pay later, gave us bracelets, and told us where to meet him in 20 minutes.

 

We walked around some of the shops in that little bit of time and then headed to the stop after about 15 minutes to find that the open-air van was already filled. :mad: Ugh.

[summercruisin']

We decided to wait the 10 minutes the guy promised us it would take for the next van to come along (um....more like 25), and during that time, I was bitten by some sort of ant (I'm allergic to all bug bites), so that really threw DS into quite the tailspin. Meanwhile, he is near tears trying to convince me to take him back to the ship and also telling me how crazy I am to go to some volcanic island and agree to ride in some random bus thing that I know nothing about with no allergy meds, no phone service, and no plan. I have to admit, he even had me second guessing my parenting skills!

 

Finally, the other van came and we got onboard...

 

 

DS was not feeling any better....but we said "goodbye" to the Breeze and headed out for a tour of the island!