Cruise to the Bahamas on the Carnival Liberty 2017

We recently did something that we never thought we would do.  We went on a three-day cruise to the Bahamas.  The idea of dining every evening with a group of strangers, the crowds of people and no way to escape was kind of intimidating; but after our trip to Yellowstone last year we decided that we needed to try new things.  And since a trip to Alaska would be easier seeing it from a cruise ship, we decided that a three-day cruise would give us a chance to try ship life.  And we loved it!

We drove to Port Canaveral on Wednesday, May 3, and spent the night at a Hampton Inn that offered parking during the cruise and a shuttle to take us to the cruise terminal.  We had a great room with a view in the distance of the Atlantic Ocean.  After breakfast the next morning, we boarded the shuttle and were dropped off at the terminal where porters took our luggage which was already tagged and disappeared with it.

Taken from our balcony at the Hampton Inn

We checked in with passports and tickets and received our combination room key and debit card.  (No money is exchanged on the ship.)  After going through a security screening we made our way up a winding “tunnel” onto the ship.  Since the ship had just docked that morning from a four-day cruise to the Bahamas, the rooms were not going to be ready until 1:30 PM.  We headed to the Lido Deck where numerous options for food were located.  We had heard a lot about Guy Fieri’s Hamburgers so that is what we ordered for lunch.  They were well-deserving of their good reputation.  Great burgers and delicious fries!

Balcony on ship before leaving port

Already catching on to cruise life

On our way

Yep, that's us trying to use the selfie stick! 😎

Finally got it figured out!!

We got into our room around 1:30 as expected.  It was immaculate and felt so clean.  I was pleasantly surprised having heard about the quick turnaround in getting ready for the next cruise.  We reported for the emergency “muster” drill as the specified time, which turned out to be the most unpleasant part of the trip.  Everyone had to report to their pre-assigned life boat station where we had to line up three deep down the side of the ship.  The point of this was very confusing and it was hot.  The lady behind us fainted and as I helped lower her to the floor I remember thinking, “For once, it wasn’t me!)  Afterwards we had some ice cream which is available at several locations.  We sat on our balcony and watched the ship depart the dock and we were on our way.  I was sitting on the balcony and called Bubba out to see that it looked like we were stirring up mud.  Yep, that big old ship had drifted into water too shallow and was working hard to get off the bottom.  (I checked with my friend who is a cruise expert and found that had never happened to them.)  Soon the problem was rectified and we were on our way again.

Bubba couldn't pick just one dessert.

We went to the formal dining room and ordered from a menu for dinner rather than opting for a buffet.  True to his word our Carnival Cruise Consultant Vince had arranged for us to have a table for two just as he promised.  We had three people who served us each night.  The head waiter was from the Philippines. The waiter who actually placed the food on the table was from Peru and the young lady who ensured that we never ran out of something to drink was from Thailand.  Bubba chose fried calamari, a steak with a baked potato and chocolate lava cake with ice cream for dessert.  I chose a smoked chicken quesadilla, beef brisket with roasted root vegetables and creamed spinach and also ordered the chocolate lava cake with ice cream for dessert.  It was all delicious!  I’ve never experienced service like this in a restaurant.

A picture with the mascot

After dinner we looked around some and then enjoyed watching the sunset from our balcony.  We hung our order for room service the next morning requesting a lot of coffee, hot chocolate and sweet rolls to be delivered at 6:30.  It was and we enjoyed the sunrise from our balcony while we enjoyed our goodies.

Sunset

Sunrise

Later we enjoyed a second breakfast from the buffet.  It, too, was excellent.  Everything was fresh looking and good.  The ship was docked at Nassau on this day but we elected not to get off.  We were really not interested in any of the excursions offered and we had a good view from our balcony.  We explored the ship some more and spent a lot of time outside near the pool.  We really enjoyed people watching.  There were families with children, a few college age looking people, older people with walkers, even one toodling around on a scooter.  Everyone we encountered was friendly and courteous.

Second breakfast of the day

My second breakfast

Nassau behind us

Lunch was pizza which was very good.  (I only got two pieces.  I regret that.)  We had key lime pie for dessert and went back to our room for a nap.  Feeling a little hungry later on we went back and had a Guy Fieri hamburger and fries for a snack.  I also ordered a drink recommended to me by a friend, “A Kiss on the Lips” and it was delicious.

A Kiss on the Lips

Friday night was the “formal” night in the dining room.  This is a concept no longer strictly observed as in the past on cruise ships.  We did see a few men in suits, but that was about as formal as it got.  There was a man in faded jeans and a polo shirt, but for the most part everyone was dressed a little nicer than an ordinary night.  The tables were elegantly set with plenty of silverware and various glasses.  We had the same servers every night and set at the same table every night.  Bubba had broiled sea scallops, prime rib with a baked potato and ice cream.  I had cream of asparagus soup, prime rib with a baked potato and cream Brulee for dessert.

Only formal night picture

After dinner we went to a huge auditorium area where a show of singing and dancing from the movies, “Flick”, was to take place.  We sat through about two numbers which were from recent movies (James Bond) and the music was too loud and there were lights flashing so we got up and left – just not our cup of tea.  I was hoping for performances from old movies, but I guess Carnival Cruises have the younger audience in mind.  I must mention that there was a class on back pain and posture and getting a flatter stomach that might have been more for our generation but we passed on them this time around.

The next day was our day at sea.  We enjoyed the views from the balcony for hours at a time.  Room service brought our early breakfast and then later we visited the breakfast buffet.  There were a lot of people around the pool although the weather was actually windy and a little cold.  We got beach towels and used them as blankets.  It was fun just watching people.  (They probably were watching us as well.)  There was a group of girls who were apparently having the bride’s bachelorette party as a cruise.  They were all wearing ship captain hats and the bride’s had a veil hanging from the back of hers.  They started drinking before the ship left port and stayed inebriated throughout the cruise.  They were silly and giggly, but not really bothering anyone with it.  We passed through our hallway at one point and the bride had shut the door somehow on her big toe and had peeled back her toenail producing a large amount of blood.  She won’t be dancing at her wedding!  (I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t have much sympathy for her.  At least she was numbed up enough to not feel much pain.)

There was a lot of drinking on the ship.  A group of women about my age were ordering one drink after another, but not getting obnoxious or loud.  I only saw one man who appeared to be in a haze but he finally stumbled to a chair and sat down not bothering anyone.

I have also realized that I have more body image issues that other women do. I saw all types of women dressed in all manner of clothing and just having a good time.  Good for them!

We went to look at our pictures from the night before taken by the professional photographer only to discover that there was not a single picture where we both had our eyes open.  (Shoot! We were looking good otherwise.) 

That afternoon was a Chocolate Extravaganza with any kind of dessert you could name made of chocolate.  We both had a plate of assorted desserts.  Yummy!

That night was the last night in the formal dining room.  We both had spring rolls and a Greek salad.  Bubba chose grilled salmon with broccoli, carrots and potatoes with ice cream for dessert.  I selected the veal Parmesan with broccoli and a passion fruit flan for dessert.   Bubba tipped our servers although there is a tip already added to the final bill, but we had visited with them each evening and wanted to do something extra for them.  The waiter from the Philippines is the father of three children.  He, like all the other staff, signs up for seven months at a time.  He misses his family very much but as he said, “You do what you need to do to provide for your family.”  The young woman from Thailand was so appreciative of her tip that you would have thought it was a million dollars.  She kept bowing and thanking us.

Formal Dining Room

The young man who kept our cabin immaculate was from Taiwan.  He, too, was appreciative of the extra tip.  Everyone that served us called us by name and were eager to supply anything we needed.

Our final morning, we had our room service breakfast and enjoyed the last views from the balcony.  We dressed and enjoyed our second breakfast in the dining room rather than the buffet.  Then we awaited instructions on when we were to disembark.  They called groups according to the letters that were on our luggage tags.  The luggage was left outside the room that night.  What we actually needed we kept in a small bag that we carried.

Cruising into Port Canaveral

When we disembarked, we were greeted by a porter who got our luggage for us and guided us through customs and to the location where our shuttle would pick us up.  As we were waiting, and black woman wanted us to board ahead of her because as she said, “I know how you old people are treated nowadays and it’s just not right!”

The drive home was long and boring.  I unpacked immediately upon arrival.  I’ve learned that if I do that, I don’t have to dread it as long.

We both enjoyed the cruise experience.  We had pills for seasickness, but I don’t think we would have been bothered with it anyway.  There were a couple of times you could feel a slight rolling of the ship and we did take a pill as a precaution, but it wasn’t bad.  The food was perfect.  Fruit was perfectly ripe and fresh.  Hand sanitizer was available all over the ship and even more so in areas where food was served.  The public restrooms were immaculate.  They even provided a tissue dispenser at the door so that you could open it with the tissue and drop it in the trash.  There were not paper plates, plastic utensils or paper napkins.  There were a lot of things we could have done that we didn’t.  I wanted to do a tour of the ship, but Bubba didn’t think I should push it with my knee giving me trouble.  They also offered demonstrations of ice carvings, lots of games, comedy shows, etc.  Next time I would like to do more of that, but this time we really wanted to experience the ship itself.  Our favorite thing about the cruise was the balcony.  (Now we won’t cruise without a balcony room.) and the food which was always delicious.

Mark 4:39 (KJV)And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.It is still beautiful from our balcony but it is windy and the sea is much rougher. This verse came to my mind. If He can calm the winds and the seas just imagine the peace he can bring to the turmoil in our lives. 

So what’s next?  I’ve already started looking at Alaskan cruises.  I’ve got some research to do.  I don’t know whether it’s better to go in May or September.  I do know that we’re going and that we will fly to Seattle and leave from there.  I can’t wait until those reservations are made.

In the meantime, a trip to visit Glacier National Park in Montana is in the making.  Reservations are made and now there are just a few details to tweak.  Loving this life!!  😊😊