Photo Credit: my camera, photo taken by random dude on the ship.
Once upon a time, there were 3 ladies who met at college and became roommates. Their friendship outlasted one's broken engagement, several "bad-egg" boyfriends, 1 who moved out of state, jobs, vacations, and eventually there were 3 weddings. Their friendship grew, and thus we come upon the year that all 3 ladies would turn 30. Ah yes, the Dirtay-Thirtay! One of the lady's husbands decided to take her on a Caribbean Cruise, and arranged for the other ladies and their spouses to come along for the fun. And so, that is how we came to board the Carnival Destiny Cruise Ship from the Miami port on Monday October 6th.
Saturday the 4th
My husband and I drove all the way to Orlando, FL to stop over at our friend B&L's house. Much drinking and fun were had by all. I discovered my new FAVE place to party is "
The Wine Room" in Winter Park. You have not HAD such an experience. Wow!
I wish they had one here in my town!
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Sunday the 5th
Me and my "hungover husband." Sheesh. We dragged our sorry *sses out of bed to drive to Ft. Lauderdale (to pick up a second vehicle and drop off our luggage at a friend's house A&L) and then to the FtL Airport to pick up the gals and their hubbies and return to A&L's house. After everybody got cooled off (it's frickin' HOT down there), we split up (Matt needed a nappy-poo), we went to A1A Beach Front Avenue, and then strolled down the boardwalk in search of a mysterious Pizza Place that April had eaten at and was raving about. Supposedly, it was the tastiest NY Pizza you could get at the beach! Well, we walked, and walked and walked, and finally stumbled across
Angelo's Corner Restaurant. She was right. DELICIOUS Pizza! Then we walked all the way back to the car. Can you say Sweat-tay?
We returned to A&L's house, and opted to pass on the Greek Restaurant to stay home and literally "chill"out. Too damn hot down there.
While the guys went out to get burgers and brats, the ladies donned swimsuits to hang out in the pool. It was getting darker out. April went walking around the pool and landscaping for a look, and all of a sudden, as she rounded the back corner of the house, we hear a loud
KERSPLASH! In the darkness, she had accidently walked right into the Fish Pond. Doh! We went over to see if she was okay, and she came out of the water laughing her *ss off. We were all laughing so hard, nobody was able to give her a hand to help her out of the pond.
Later on in the daylight, we were able to see the pond clearly. I will tell you she is LUCKY she didn't get hurt. Whew, that was a small pond with very large rocks in it.
We slept well that night. A&L have a lovely home. Very spacious and nicely decorated.
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Monday the 6th
We woke up early, got ready, and hopped into a huge cab/van with a trailer full of our luggage in it. And on to the Cruise Ship! Boarding went fairly smoothly. We got in line quickly (indoors where it is air conditioned). They took the luggage away for scanning and loading, and we walked thru security with just our purses and smaller carry-on bags. Then we had to wait in line for Check-in. Then they gave us a "zone number" for Embarkation (where you board the boat), and finally we were on board. I ponied up to the bar for my first tropical cocktail (in free collectors glass), and then we went to our rooms to get into swimsuits, and then up to the deck for swimming and tanning. They weren't kidding. Cruise Ships are like a floating Hotel/City. There were 4-5 pubs/bars on board, a casino, 2 decks with swimming pools, hot tubs, and one waterslide, a gym, a running path, putt-putt golf, a spa, 2 dining rooms, the Captain's Lounge, photography shop, duty-free store, and so on. I cannot remember it all. Lunch is done daily on "Lido Deck" in the "Sun and Sea" restaurant buffet style. There is a main buffet, a hamburger/chicken finger buffett, salad bar, International taste buffet (they pick a different country each day), Pizza, chinese, NY Deli, Desserts, etc. It was a huge free for all. I will say my first impression was that this place was sort of a FUN yet Tacky/Cheesy cruise. The food in the buffet was "okay" but not "fabulous" and they definitely overcooked things. I suppose that is better than undercooking them. If you wanted any sort of flavor to your grits in the AM, you had to salt/pepper/butter them yourself. However, it wasn't terrible. The best food I found for lunch (after day 3) was the NY Deli's Tuna Salad. They put red onions in it, and it's delicious! The greek salad (only saw that on one day though) was awesome also!
For dinner, we had a small snafu with our table (the put 4 of us on one table, and 4 on another), but we finally got the Maitre'd to figure it out for us and after Day 2, we were all together at the same dinner table.
I slept like a baby with the boat gently rocking us to sleep.
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Tuesday the 7th
This was our "Day at Sea" - we basically ate breakfast and then went up-deck to tan. I accidently got burned on my back and backside. Found out 2-days-later that my damned Sunscreen was EXPIRED. Who knew sunscreen expired? Seriously?
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Wednesday the 8th
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Thursday the 9th
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Friday the 10th
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Saturday the 11th
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Sunday the 12th
We drove home and then picked up the Doggie. Whew it is GOOD to be sleeping in my own bed finally.
