CARNIVAL VISTA IN PHOTOS

We planned our 10th cruise onboard the new Vista because we wanted to see the newest, biggest member of the Carnival fleet. The itinerary wasn't my favorite: we had already been to each island more than once, but for this one time we would cruise based solely on the ship, not the itinerary. We did have a wonderful time and the ship is beautiful. Here are some photos...

Carnival Vista is a huge ship: it's 1,055 feet long. Over 1,450 hardworking crew members take care of over 3,950 passengers. Here the ship is docked in Grand Turk.

The beautiful atrium on the Carnival Vista: The 3-story center sculpture sits above the bar and reaches to the ceiling above.

The scenes on the vortex are animated, with the fish, stingrays and seas turtles swimming around as if you were in a large aquarium.

Of course like any cruise ship there are numerous places to drink:
Alchemy Bar...

Piano Bar 88...

Skybox Sports Bar...

Havana Bar...(I love the décor in here!)

Red Frog Rum Bar...they brew their own beer.

There are so many places to relax on the ship...

So many fun things to do...

Soak up that Caribbean sunshine...

Swim in the pools, relax in the whirlpools...

For the kids there's the Waterworks fun area...

 

For the adventurous there's the Skyride...

or the Skycourse obstacle climb...

For the less adventurous there's mini golf and shuffleboard...

Overall Carnival Vista is a wonderful cruise ship.  There is so much to do, so much to eat, so many memories to make and so many new friends to meet.

For more information on Carnival cruises, click on its website here.

Thank you for visiting.

A Great Europe Trip Planner

All photos were taken by me during our cruise in November, 2016. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

CRUISING ON THE ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS

We recently completed our 9th cruise (slowly moving up the cruise ship loyalty ladders!). We cruised on Royal Caribbean for the 5th time (we've made it to platinum-level of the Crown & Anchor society), this time on the Voyager-class Adventure of the Seas.

Here is the ship docked in Curaçao...

All Voyager-class ships have the Royal Promenade which is like an indoor shopping mall traversing nearly the length of the ship...it is the heart of the cruise ship. Passengers can shop for jewelry, perfume and clothing, taste a multitude of imported beers in a pub, get pizza, coffee, snacks or pastries at the open-24-hours Café Promenade, check out the latest sports scores at the sports bar or just find a seat, relax and people-watch. 

At least once a cruise the ship's crew puts on a spectacular parade up and down the Promenade with elaborate costumes. 

Of course, you don't go on a cruise to stay indoors. If passengers aren't relaxing on the Royal Promenade, they're hanging out at the pool deck. On the pool deck there are 2 side-by-side pools plus 4 whirlpools for passengers of all ages...

And the adults-only Solarium area with its pool...

and two oversized whirlpools. That's husband frolicking in the frothy waters.

Besides water activities on the ship the other main activity is of course eating. There are a multitude of places to eat on Adventure of the Seas: besides the buffet style Windjammer Café, there is the 3-deck main dining room...we chose the My Time dining option. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served in the dining room. The dinner selections and service were all excellent the times we did eat here.

If you like burgers and milk shakes, there's Johnny Rockets, a 1950s style old-fashioned diner...there Is a small fee to eat here.

For something different, try Giovanni's Table...but make sure you are really hungry when you go. Three filling courses of delicious Italian specialties. There is a charge for eating here, but sometimes it's nice to splurge. We enjoyed it very much.

For those late night cravings, Café Promenade is open 24 hours. Here you can also purchase specialty coffees and Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

Of course if you're not eating, then you're drinking. No shortage of bars/lounges on Adventure of the Seas. There is the Duck and Dog Pub, an English-style pub featuring a multitude of imported beers...

Keep up with the sports scores at Gravity, the ship's sports bar. NOTE: While you're at sea, most sports is ESPN International. Hopefully you like soccer...but did you come on a cruise ship to watch TV?

Prefer a glass of the bubbly? Order a glass in the Champagne Bar...

There is the appropriately-named Schooner Bar...

Another Royal Caribbean signature bar, enjoy views of the surrounding ocean and the pool decks from the Viking Crown Lounge located high up on the 14th deck. A bar during the day, you can dance all those calories off at night when it becomes a dance club.

As beautiful as the ship is now and although just in 2014 she received a Royal Advantage upgrade, later this year Adventure of the Seas will undergo a $61 million renovation. In addition to new waterslides and Flowrider, two new restaurants will be added, another lounge and more than 100 new cabins and Suites Lounge for luxury travelers.

Thank you for visiting.

A Great Europe Trip Planner

All photos were taken by my husband and me in May/June 2016. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

CHRISTMAS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Traveling in early December during our most recent cruise meant it was the first time we had traveled during the Christmas holidays. It gave us the opportunity to glimpse at other countries' Christmas decorations; these decorations would be mixed among palm trees and the warm temperatures of the Caribbean.

Pre-cruise we stayed in Old San Juan for two days. Old San Juan is one of my favorites cities: its cobblestone streets and architecture remind me of Europe except with the Caribbean colors' twist.

Our hotel, El Convento, was beautiful decorated: Pots of poinsettia plants everywhere...

and a beautiful Christmas tree to greet guests...

Red and gold balls and foliage decorated two huge wreaths on the entrance gates of the governor's mansion in Old San Juan...

while golden-color burlap ribboned the trees lining the calle leading to the mansion...

Our cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas, had decorative garland lining all of the decks...

and a beautifully white-light tree standing in the atrium...

Red-ribboned wreaths greeted us on our arrival to the island of St. John...

Red-bowed trees surrounded the fountain in the middle of Independence Square in Basseterre, St. Kitts...

Christmas trees and a snowman greeted us in the Aruba cruise terminal

With one particular ornament we made sure we knew where we were...

Our first visit to Curaçao did not disappoint. From the woven twig reindeer and trees decorating the shopping area next to the Renaissance Hotel and Casino...

to the holiday decorations interspersed in Queen Wilhelmina Park...

Curaçao was beautiful.

Actually, as you can see, these decorations weren't different from anything one would see in a front yard in the U.S. However, isn't to experience different countries, islands and cultures anytime of the year is the reason one travels?

Thank you for visiting.

A Great Europe Trip Planner

All photos were taken by me in December, 2015. Unauthorized use is prohibited.