Did a workout at the hotel and the pool area was so peaceful. We had breakfast in Orlando and drove to the port and was on the ship fairly quickly. The first drink of the cruise was in the Center Stage area. We then checked out our Havana Cabana room, the Havana area and having lunch at Big Chicken.
Time to explore the ship and spend some time at Fortune Teller. Saw Rock Revolution, saw the sunset, had dinner, spent time at the piano bar and ended with late night pizza.
This was going to be our second time on the Carnival Mardi Gras, we drove to Orlando to stay at Avanti Resort. Nice room, gym, cafe, large pool and spa, and pool bar.
We went to Cafe TuTu Tango, my favorite restaurant in Orlando. It is set up as a Spanish artist loft and they have artists working on painting while you eat and he entire restaurant is covered with art. It is tapas and we had pizza, jalapeño macaroni and cheese, Cajun chicken egg rolls, Nashville chicken, and nutella flan. Later we went to Howl at the Moon dueling piano bar. They have a lot of fun shots and drinks. Loved the strawberry shortcake shot with whipped cream. A good start to our vacation.
Below is a link to our cruise on the Carnival Mardi Gras in October 2022. We stayed in a Havana Cabana.
The last day and a Seaday, I am usually trying to do as much as possible. In retrospect, there was not much I did not do on this cruise. I had a great time and cannot wait to do another solo cruise.
Seaday brunch with a Bellini and Lobster Benedict and beignets. Spa time, the drinks at Blue Iguana and the final Guy’s burger, afternoon comedy, then the none too subtle towel creation that it is time to leave, then spending time on the balcony just looking at the water.
Then time for Alchemy and Karoke at Red Frog, where someone lost ta bet, before dinner at La Cucina. Amazing Garlic Cheese Bread, Fried Calamari, Veal Marsala, Irish Coffee and Dessert.
The piano bar was the highlight of the cruise and the last night was no exception. It was Cinco de Mayo, so there were some fake mustaches. Maxed out the drink package and was able to say goodbye to the other regulars in the piano bar and of course, Henry the bartender and Ben the piano player. What a great cruise!
I had only been to Amber Cove one time before and was not feeling great, so I was looking forward to the port. It was an early morning arrival, and when the alarm went off, I was not feeling it and went back to sleep and thought I might just stay on the ship. When I woke up, I went to breakfast and had coffee on the balcony, afterwards I decided to go ahead and go see the port.
I am glad I did, they had a huge pool and a ton of open chairs. They had a swim up bar, one of my favorites, they served coke, Carnival served Pepsi (Boo!). Plus the lunch of fried food was good.
Back on board there was an afternoon session of Deal or No Deal, a comedy show, drinks at Alchemy and live music. Tonight was the second formal night with prime rib and lobster.
Next it was off to the piano bar and to make up for it being closed the night before. We had fun with props. I reached my 15 drinks, and it was not the only time, during the cruise that I did so.
We had a later arrival in Grand Turk, so I had breakfast in the dining room. Usually at Grand Turk I would get a cabana at Margaritaville, but they were sold out, by the time I started looking at excursions. I had planned to grab a table, but since there was another ship there before we got there, none were available. I was able to get a chair close to the pool.
I enjoy the pool at Margaritaville, as I like pools more than the beach and one of my favorite things are pools with swim up bars. Done and Done. I was on a cruise once and someone told me that she thought the pool at Grand Turk was what she thought a cruise should be, a big pool party.
Back on the ship, was time for a drink or another drink at Blue Iguana and a burrito, then spa time, live music, alchemy, deal or no deal, then dinner and then time for a nightcap at Alchemy since there was no piano bar tonight.
After cruising for a while, particularly in the Caribbean you repeat ports and don’t often have ports you have not been to before. One of the reasons to book this cruise was Half Moon Cay, as I had not been there before.
I started with a workout, then breakfast in the dining room. I had booked the clamshell so I was able to get one of the first tenders. It was about 20 minutes. I was anxious to get there so I could get a choice of clamshells, but I should not have been concerned, I got one in front of the pirate ship and it was a great spot. There were people in front of me. But I thought the location was a good one.
I scheduled a massage for early afternoon, had a sandwich from the deli, as I was planning to eat later since I was going to see the early show, then have dinner and then the piano bar.
Spa rooms get two free fitness classes. So I signed up for the yoga class, as did other people. I was the only one who showed up so we could not have the class, the instructor said if there was only one person, it was considered personal training. I used the treadmill with the great view. I went to the Seaday brunch, with their version of chicken and waffles, the cookies were good. I then spent time in the thermal suite then the Serenity area. I only ended up spending about 30 minutes up on Serenity and used sunscreen but still got some sunburn.
After that I went to Red Frog and then had Guys BBQ for lunch. One thing I enjoyed on the Magic were afternoon comedy shows, as something different to do. After that it was time for afternoon coffee and then time for trivia.
Because I wanted to see the show and be at the piano bar when it opened, I ate dinner early. It was the first formal dinner and normally they had lobster, but on this cruise it was the second formal night. The show was flick and after the show I had time to get a deal closer at Alchemy before the piano bar opened.
Next piano bar and late night snacks after closing.
After my work out and coffee from the hotel cafe, it was time for breakfast and more coffee. I drove to Port Canaveral and parked at the port. I was on the ship in no time, having my first drink of the day, a funship special doing the e-muster, the next drink at Red Frog Pub, exploring the ship and a Guys burger for lunch and the famous celebration cheesecake.
After 1:30, I was able to go see my room, a spa balcony and it was my birthday so I had a birthday cake. After unpacking and getting the room set up, it was time for the sail away party.
I spent some time at Alchemy before my reservation for dinner at the steakhouse.
Then to the piano bar for shenanigans, late night room service and then a slice of birthday cake.
For the first time, I was going on a cruise alone. My husband was staying home with the dogs and he had originally taken the time off work so he was having a staycation.
The dogs, as usual have an attitude when they see the luggage.
In real life I do Keto, but when I am on vacation, I make up for it and eat all of the carbs. I stopped halfway and had lunch at Red Lobster, a manicure and pedicure at the mall and a cookie afterwards.
Stayed at Avanti Resort, they have a huge pool and hot tub, however, as soon as I made it there it rained. I decided to go out for Happy Hour at Joes Crab Shack, then dinner at Cafe TuTu Tango. I then went to Howl at the Moon piano bar. When I got back to the hotel, I got into the jacuzzi in the room. What a great day.
