Where is the Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat Last Seen on Carnival Breeze Last Week

Boys and Girls, Moms and Dads, the Cruise Director and Staff all met at the Liquid Nightclub lounge (deck 5 aft) on Carnival Breeze last Monday at 4 PM in hopes of finding the Cat in the Hat.    

Where was that cat?

They searched from the lounge all the way to the Ovation Theater (deck 3 forward). They went down the hallway on deck 5 to the stairway and followed the winding staircase down two decks below. Still they had not found the Cat in the Hat.

Oh my, what to do now ... They continued their quest onto the stage in the Ovation Theater.

We were there live and captured all the action in three videos.  In the first video, we see the search party descending the staircase.  In the second, they continue onto stage where some volunteers are requested to help the Cruise Director and team.   Finally, the Cat in the Hat appeared and the reading of the Dr. Seuss book "The Cat in the Hat" was hosted by Cruise Director, Matt, with character appearances and audience participation.   Sit back and relax as we bring you live from Carnival Breeze...

SEUSS-A-PALOOZA PARADE & STORY TIME

     

Carnival Seuss at Sea Program

 

Late last year, Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. to bring the beloved children’s brand to the lines fleet of 24 ships. In an industry first, the Carnival Seuss at Sea program will offer a variety of exciting and immersive on board youth, family, dining and entertainment experiences featuring the beloved characters and words of Dr. Seuss.

Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast

On the final sea day, you and your children can join the Cat in the Hat and friends for green eggs & ham breakfast.   Reservations are required and there is a nominal charge added to your sail 'n sign card.  (Read More...)

Carnival & Dr. Seuss Enterprises Comment on Program:

Our youth and family programming continues to be highly rated and extremely popular with the millions of families who sail with Carnival, but we’re constantly challenging ourselves to uncover unique and interesting ways to further enhance our guest experience,” said Mark Tamis, senior vice president of guest operations for Carnival Cruise Lines. “We are thrilled to bring the fun, whimsical and wonderful world of Dr. Seuss to life for our guests of all ages to create even more fun and memorable moments during our cruise vacations"

“Dr. Seuss inspires imaginations across generations and encourages a playfulness and whimsy that is often lost in today’s ‘always on’ society,” said Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. “We’re excited to be working with Carnival Cruise Lines to bring some of the timeless magic of Dr. Seuss to the families that sail each year. Seuss at Sea will let kids and parents alike explore their imaginations through the memorable onboard experiences we’re building together.”

The Seuss at Sea program is available across the full fleet; coming soon to Carnival Panorama and Carnival Sunrise.  Learn more about Seuss At Sea here:  www.carnival.com/seussatsea

Images courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

We applaud the two companies for partnering to expand the youth programs across the Carnival fleet.

 

National Plan A Cruise Month Promotions 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

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Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat 

We will be co-hosting a very special #FoodTravelChat for #ChooseCruise month

National Beef Day - Burgers at Sea

May 28th

National Beef Day

It's embarkation day, you've just gotten on a Carnival cruise ship, you are looking for something quick to eat before exploring the ship ...

What Comes to Mind?

 Guy's Burger Joint

It's all about choices...

How do you like your burger?

On Carnival Cruise Lines, if you are on a ship that has gone through Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, like Carnival Conquest or Carnival Breeze to name a couple, you can grab lunch from Guy's Burger Joint, the cool poolside spot for hot burgers and hand-cut fries.   If you watch cable TV, you know who "Guy" is ...   Guy Fieri entered into an agreement with Carnival Corporation to introduce his burgers at sea.  

You can select from the Plain Jane or several common options.  Why not customize your burger by adding your favorite toppings at the Toppings Bar?   This is a fun place to enjoy National Beef Day or any day.   The best news - it is included in your dining options at no additional cost.

What's Your Favorite Burger at Sea

Many cruise lines have "burger bars" poolside as well as in their buffets.   Do you have a different favorite?  We'd love to hear from you about what you think is the best burger at sea.

Hurricane Joaquin Impacts Cruise Itineraries

Other images: 5-Day track off – 3-Day track off

HURRICANE JOAQUIN

A turn toward the northeast is expected tonight with an additional increase in forward speed. On the forecast track, the core of the strongest winds of Joaquin will continue moving over portions of the central and northwestern Bahamas today. Joaquin will begin to move away from the Bahamas tonight and Saturday. Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines have all been impacted by the hurricane. Please click on the following links for updated information.


Carnival: Tropical Weather Update (Joaquin)
Norwegian: Weather Alert
Royal Caribbean: Tropical Weather Updates

NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane JOAQUIN

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Full coverage of this, and all tropical storms, can be found on our Hurricane Zone page.   There are RSS feeds from the National Hurricane Center posted there giving you up to the minute information.   For storms that impact cruises, we will bring you information on those details as well.  Please bookmark that page for further reference during the Hurricane Season which runs now through November 30th.

HURRICANE JOAQUIN	200 PM AST SUN OCT 04 2015 ...EYE OF JOAQUIN PASSING JUST TO THE SOUTHWEST OF BERMUDA... ...TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS LASHING THE ISLAND...
WIND:	105 MPH...165 KM/H with higher gusts
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Bermuda
SHIP IMPACT:	Carnival Pride: Pride's September 30 itinerary from Baltimore will replace  its October 1 call at Half Moon Cay with a sea day. Carnival Valor: Valor's September 26 cruise from Port Canaveral will miss  Grand Turk on October 1 and instead spend a day at sea. Carnival Conquest: The ship's September 26 itinerary will replace Grand Turk  on October 2 with a sea day. Carnival Sensation: Carnival Sensation's three-night Bahamas cruise (Oct 1  sailing) will visit Freeport instead of Nassau on October 2. Disney Magic: Disney Magic has been forced to skip its scheduled visits to  Castaway Cay and Nassau. The ship's new itinerary is Key West on October 1,  Cozumel on October 2 and a sea day on October 3. Disney Dream: Disney Dream will replace its October 2 call at Nassau with a  sea day. As of now, it will visit Castaway Cay on October 3 as scheduled.     Disney Fantasy: Disney Fantasy will skip Castaway Cay on October 2 before  returning to Port Canaveral on Saturday.  Norwegian Getaway: On October 2, Norwegian Getaway will skip Nassau for a sea  day before returning to Miami Saturday morning. Royal Princess: Royal Princess will skip the line's private island on  September 30 and October 2. Crystal Symphony: The ship has canceled its Bar Harbor call, scheduled for  October 2. It will arrive in New York October 3 (a day earlier than scheduled),  giving passengers more time in the city. Liberty of the Seas: The Royal Caribbean ship will head to St. John, Canada  on Saturday instead of King Wharf, Bermuda. Enchantment of the Seas: Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas will not be able to call on Nassau, Bahamas as originally scheduled. Instead, the ship will sail to Freeport, Bahamas in an effort to try to find the calmest seas possible.

 

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.

     

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Storm Archive       Graphics Archive

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND:  Tropical storm conditions are first expected to reach Bermuda
later this morning, with hurricane conditions expected by later this
afternoon and early evening.

TORNADOES:  Isolated tornadoes are possible on Bermuda this
afternoon and early evening.

STORM SURGE:  A dangerous and life-threatening storm surge is
expected to produce significant coastal flooding in Bermuda.  Near
the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive
waves.

RAINFALL:  Joaquin is expected to produce total rainfall
accumulations of 3 to 5 inches across Bermuda through tonight.

SURF:  Swells generated by Joaquin will continue to affect portions
of the Bahamas during the next few days. Swells are affecting much
of the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts of the United States and
will spread northward along the east coast of the United States
through Monday.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening
surf and rip current conditions. Even though Joaquin is expected to
pass well east of the coast of the United States, a prolonged period
of elevated water levels and large waves will affect the
mid-Atlantic region, causing significant beach and dune erosion with
moderate coastal flooding likely. Please consult products from your
local weather office.

HISTORICAL NOTES

1100 PM AST SUN SEP 27 2015
...NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...

1100 PM EDT MON SEP 28 2015
...DEPRESSION STRENGTHENS TO TROPICAL STORM JOAQUIN...
...THE TENTH NAMED STORM OF THE SEASON... 

1100 PM EDT TUE SEP 29 2015
...JOAQUIN EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT OR
WEDNESDAY...
...HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED FOR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS...

800 AM EDT WED SEP 30 2015
...JOAQUIN BECOMES A HURRICANE.. 

1100 PM EDT WED SEP 30 2015
...JOAQUIN BECOMES A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE AS IT MOVES TOWARD
THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS... 

535 AM EDT THU OCT 1 2015
At 535 AM EDT (0935 UTC) the Government of the Bahamas has issued a
Hurricane Warning for the Acklins, Crooked Island, and Mayaguana in
the southeastern Bahamas.

200 PM EDT THU OCT 01 2015
...JOAQUIN BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE...
...CENTRAL BAHAMAS TO EXPERIENCE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS...STORM
SURGE...AND HEAVY RAIN THROUGH TONIGHT... 

1100 AM EDT FRI OCT 02 2015
...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS JOAQUIN NOW MOVING NORTHWARD AS IT BATTERS
THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS...
...HURRICANE CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE OVER THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS
TODAY... 

Erika Impacts Cruise Schedules

Other images: 5-Day track off – 3-Day track off 

Tropical Storm Erika

On the forecast track, the center of Erika will move over the Dominican Republic this afternoon, move near the Turks and Caicos Islands tonight, and move near the central and northwestern Bahamas Saturday and Saturday night. Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines have all been impacted by the tropical storm. Please click on the following links for updated information.

Carnival: Tropical Weather Update (Erika)
Norwegian: Weather Alert
Royal Caribbean: Tropical Weather Updates

NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on TS ERIKA
NHC issuing advisories for the Eastern Pacific on Hurricane JIMENA
CPHC issuing advisories for the Central Pacific on IGNACIO

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Full coverage of this, and all tropical storms, can be found on our Hurricane Zone page.   There are RSS feeds from the National Hurricane Center posted there giving you up to the minute information.   For storms that impact cruises, we will bring you information on those details as well.  Please bookmark that page for further reference during the Hurricane Season which runs now through November 30th.

TS ERIKA	930 AM EDT SAT AUG 29 2015 ...ERIKA DEGENERATES TO A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE...   This is the last public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center on this system. Additional information on this system will be available in Tropical Weather Outlooks issued by the National Hurricane Center, as well as marine forecasts and local forecast office products issued by the National Weather Service.
WIND:	near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Interests in the Bahamas, eastern and central Cuba, and southern Florida should monitor the progress of the remnants of Erika.
SHIP IMPACT:	Carnival Conquest: The August 23 departure was forced to skip St. Maarten  and St. Kitts. It will instead spend two days in San Juan before calling  at Grand Turk and Nassau.   TROPICAL STORM ERIKA - Saturday 8/29 - 2:00 PM After the latest advisory, Tropical Storm Erika has dissipated in the Caribbean. While we will continue to keep a close eye on the track of the remnants of the storm,  we will be operating our originally scheduled itineraries for the following ships departing today: Carnival Breeze will resume its Eastern Caribbean course and Carnival Valor will call on Nassau. Carnival Fascination departing from Jacksonville will not be able to call on Half Moon Cay since the tenders were sent away from the island to be safeguarded and will not return in time for our call.  The ship will have an extended call in Nassau on Tuesday, September 1 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and then proceed to Freeport on Wednesday, September 2 from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Carnival Glory guests sailing from Miami should keep in mind terminal doors will close at 3:30PM and any guests arriving after this time will not be able to board. The ship will sail shortly thereafter.  Her itinerary remains as scheduled. Adventure of the Seas: Scheduled to have a sea day Thursday, August 28,  and visit St. Thomas on Friday, August 29, the ship will now visit  Curacao Thursday and move its sea day to Friday. Norwegian Getaway: Getaway's August 29 departure will now call at  Cozumel, Ocho Rios and Nassau. Norwegian Gem: Also departing August 29, Norwegian Gem will now dock  at Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard from Monday, August 31 through  Wednesday, September 2. Norwegian Sky: Norwegian Sky's August 28 sailing will call at Nassau  and Key West. Freedom of the Seas: Guests are asked to arrive to the ship between  11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The ship will now depart at 3:30 p.m. Independence of the Seas: Due to the current path of the storm,   will now depart Port Everglades at 3:00 p.m. Check in and boarding  will take place between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

        A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Storm Archive       Graphics Archive

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

RAINFALL: The remnants of Erika are expected to produce total
rainfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with maximum amounts of 10
inches possible across portions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and
eastern and central Cuba through Sunday.  These rains could cause
life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. In addition, rainfall
amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected across the Turks and Caicos
Islands as well as the southeastern and central Bahamas through
Sunday.  Rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches, with locally heavier
amounts, are possible across southern and central Florida beginning
on Sunday.

WIND: Gusts to tropical storm force are expected in squalls over
portions of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern
Bahamas for the next several hours.  These conditions are expected
to spread into the central Bahamas this afternoon and tonight.
Gusts to tropical storm force in squalls are also possible over
eastern Cuba today.  Gusty winds could occur over southern Florida
beginning on Sunday.

HISTORICAL NOTES

1100 PM AST MON AUG 24 2015

...TROPICAL STORM FORMS OVER THE CENTRAL TROPICAL ATLANTIC...

500 PM AST WED AUG 26 2015

...ERIKA EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE LEEWARD ISLANDS OVERNIGHT...

1100 AM AST FRI AUG 28 2015

...CENTER OF ERIKA NOW SOUTH OF THE EASTERN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC...
...TROPICAL STORM WATCH ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF CUBA...

200 PM AST FRI AUG 28 2015

...ERIKA SPREADING HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS INTO THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC... 

Blanca is Second Tropical Storm in East Pacific

Other images: 5-Day track off – 3-Day track off – 3-Day track on – Interactive

HURRICANE BLANCA

Tropical Depression Two-E formed Sunday, well south of southwest Mexico.  It has already become the second tropical storm of  the East Pacific 2015 Hurricane Season and it is expected to grow in strength quickly becoming the second hurricane.

Blanca is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

NHC issuing advisories on Hurricane BLANCA

(June 1) 

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on category 4
Hurricane Andres, located several hundred miles southwest of the
southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, and on Tropical
Storm Blanca, located a few hundred miles south-southwest of
Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Full coverage of this, and all tropical storms, can be found on our Hurricane Zone page.   There are RSS feeds from the National Hurricane Center posted there giving you up to the minute information.   For storms that impact cruises, we will bring you information on those details as well.  Please bookmark that page for further reference during the Hurricane Season which runs now through November 30th.

HURRICANE BLANCA	...BLANCA WEAKENS TO A DEPRESSION...
WIND:	near 140 mph (220 km/h) with higher gusts
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	...ALL WATCHES AND WARNINGS DISCONTINUED...   A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Cabo San Lucas to Santa Fe A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Loreto to Puerto San Andresito, including Cabo San Lucas A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * North of Puerto San Andresito to Punta Abreojos * North of Loreto to Mulege
SHIP IMPACT:	Carnival Miracle altered itinerary traded a sea day for a call on Ensenada on Sunday changed Monday's overnight in Cabo San Lucas to Wednesday cancelled call to Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday

      A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Storm Archive       Graphics Archive

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

SURF:  Swells generated by Blanca will begin affecting portions of
the coast of southwestern Mexico during the next couple of days.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions.  Please consult products from your local weather
office.

HISTORICAL STORM NOTES 

530 PM CDT SUN MAY 31 2015

...NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS WELL SOUTH OF SOUTHWESTERN
MEXICO...

1000 AM CDT MON JUN 01 2015

...TROPICAL STORM BLANCA FORMS...
...EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN QUICKLY...

400 PM CDT TUE JUN 02 2015

...BLANCA BECOMES A HURRICANE...
...FURTHER STRENGTHENING EXPECTED...

1000 AM CDT WED JUN 03 2015

...BLANCA REACHES 130 MPH WINDS...
 

300 PM MDT FRI JUN 05 2015

...AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE FINDS BLANCA WITH 90-MPH
WINDS...

The Government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the
southern Baja California peninsula from La Paz to Santa Fe,
including Cabo San Lucas.

300 PM MDT MON JUN 08 2015

...BLANCA WEAKENS TO A DEPRESSION...
...ALL WATCHES AND WARNINGS DISCONTINUED... 

National Beef Day - Burgers at Sea

May 30th

National Beef Day

It's embarkation day, you've just gotten on a Carnival cruise ship, you are looking for something quick to eat before exploring the ship ...

What Comes to Mind?

 Guy's Burger Joint

It's all about choices...

How do you like your burger?

On Carnival Cruise Lines, if you are on a ship that has gone through Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, like Carnival Conquest or Carnival Breeze to name a couple, you can grab lunch from Guy's Burger Joint, the cool poolside spot for hot burgers and hand-cut fries.   If you watch cable TV, you know who "Guy" is ...   Guy Fieri entered into an agreement with Carnival Corporation to introduce his burgers at sea.  

You can select from the Plain Jane or several common options.  Why not customize your burger by adding your favorite toppings at the Toppings Bar?   This is a fun place to enjoy National Beef Day or any day.   The best news - it is included in your dining options at no additional cost.

What's Your Favorite Burger at Sea

Many cruise lines have "burger bars" poolside as well as in their buffets.   Do you have a different favorite?  We'd love to hear from you about what you think is the best burger at sea.

Where is the Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat Last Seen on Carnival Breeze Last Week

Boys and Girls, Moms and Dads, the Cruise Director and Staff all met at the Liquid Nightclub lounge (deck 5 aft) on Carnival Breeze last Monday at 4 PM in hopes of finding the Cat in the Hat.    

Where was that cat?

They searched from the lounge all the way to the Ovation Theater (deck 3 forward).   They went down the hallway on deck 5 to the stairway and followed the winding staircase down two decks below.   Still they had not found the Cat in the Hat.  

Oh my, what to do now ... They continued their quest onto the stage in the Ovation Theater.

We were there live and captured all the action in three videos.  In the first video, we see the search party descending the staircase.  In the second, they continue onto stage where some volunteers are requested to help the Cruise Director and team.   Finally, the Cat in the Hat appeared and the reading of the Dr. Seuss book "The Cat in the Hat" was hosted by Cruise Director, Matt, with character appearances and audience participation.   Sit back and relax as we bring you live from Carnival Breeze...

SEUSS-A-PALOOZA PARADE & STORY TIME

     

Carnival Seuss at Sea Program

 

Late last year, Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. to bring the beloved children’s brand to the lines fleet of 24 ships. In an industry first, the Carnival Seuss at Sea program will offer a variety of exciting and immersive on board youth, family, dining and entertainment experiences featuring the beloved characters and words of Dr. Seuss.

Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast

On the final sea day, you and your children can join the Cat in the Hat and friends for green eggs & ham breakfast.   Reservations are required and there is a nominal charge added to your sail 'n sign card.  (Read More...)

Carnival & Dr. Seuss Enterprises Comment on Program:

Our youth and family programming continues to be highly rated and extremely popular with the millions of families who sail with Carnival, but we’re constantly challenging ourselves to uncover unique and interesting ways to further enhance our guest experience,” said Mark Tamis, senior vice president of guest operations for Carnival Cruise Lines. “We are thrilled to bring the fun, whimsical and wonderful world of Dr. Seuss to life for our guests of all ages to create even more fun and memorable moments during our cruise vacations"

“Dr. Seuss inspires imaginations across generations and encourages a playfulness and whimsy that is often lost in today’s ‘always on’ society,” said Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. “We’re excited to be working with Carnival Cruise Lines to bring some of the timeless magic of Dr. Seuss to the families that sail each year. Seuss at Sea will let kids and parents alike explore their imaginations through the memorable onboard experiences we’re building together.”

Roll-out of the Seuss at Sea program will begin aboard Carnival Splendor in March 2014 with implementation across the full fleet by 2015, as well as Carnival Vista when that ship enters service in early 2016.

Learn more about Seuss At Sea here:

www.carnival.com/seussatsea

Schedule: 

Carnival Legend (August 2014), Carnival Liberty (September 2014)

This Experience Is Available On: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Magic, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Sunshine.

Images courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

We applaud the two companies for partnering to expand the youth programs across the Carnival fleet.

Texas Oil Spill Impacts Cruise Ships

An aerial photograph of the staging area for oil spill response operations
occurring at the Texas City Dike, March 23, 2013. The efforts are the
result of a collision between the bulk carrier Summer Wind and the Kirby
Barge 27706, which occurred Saturday, in the Houston Ship Channel.
(U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Manda M. Emery)

Port of Galveston 

While the Port of Galveston is open, the U.S. Coast Guard had closed the shipping lane and restricted traffic in the area.

UPDATE: March 24, 2014   4:00 PM (Source:  John Heald Carnival Sr. Cruise Director) Carnival Magic to undergo hull cleaning due to oil spill Moving to another pier to allow Carnival Triumph to disembark / embark passengers Carnival Triumph embarkation 8 PM UPDATE: March 24, 2014   Noon Carnival Magic, Carnival Triumph and Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas are all being held at the Galveston port. Magic and Navigator of the Seas were scheduled to depart yesterday, while Triumph was supposed to leave today. Princess' Caribbean Princess has now been stuck in Houston's Bayport terminal since Saturday.

Update 5: Texas City “Y” incident response

Update 3: Texas City "Y" incident response

The Bolivar ferry remains closed to traffic, and a safety zone, established on Saturday to ensure the well-being of response workers and prevent the further spread of oil, has been extended from lighted buoy 40 to lighted buoy 3 on the Houston Ship Channel. This safety zone restricts the transit of vessels not involved in the response from entering the area.

Coast Guard officials did allow two cruise ships to travel through the incident area by late afternoon to minimize inconvenience to the thousands of passengers aboard and limit economic impacts from the spill. However, neither vessel will be allowed to leave the port again until deemed safe to do so.

Persons with questions regarding the cruise ships’ transit plans are urged to contact those individual cruise lines for specific information.

There are several response vessels on site attempting to protect the environment from this spill.
Read More

References:

U.S. Coast Guard

Port of Galveston

Perhaps it is ironic, but this incident occurred just 2 days prior to the 25th Anniversary of the Exxon Valdez disaster.

Here is a video published by Greenpeace:
The United States of Oil Spills (25th Anniversary of Exxon Valdez)

Explore Under the Sea in St. Thomas

St. Thomas U.S.V.I.

Exquisite Above 

or Under the Sea

This image captured by us on one of our past trips to St. Thomas was taken from the world famous Mountain Top.   From there you can see all of the surrounding area and really get the true sense of how blue the waters really are.

St. Thomas is truly a Caribbean paradise which is featured on many Eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries.  On our most recent visit, during our Carnival Conquest cruise, we decided to explore under the sea, without even getting wet.

Coral World

Coral World (click for more pictures)

After a short cab ride from the pier, we arrived at Coral World St. Thomas.  It is the second marine park developed by Coral World International and incorporates the following attractions: Marine Museum, Shark, Stingray and Turtle Pools, Touch Pools, and naturally - The Underwater Observatory.   Now you know how we could explore under the sea without getting wet.

The park has been damaged by several hurricanes in the past.  The Underwater Observatory was undergoing some renovation when we were there this February.  

The cruise lines offer this as one of their excursions or you can take a cab there on your own.  The prices are pretty comparable but the difference is with a group you are set to a schedule while when on your own you can set your own pace and possibly include one of the optional activities, such as the SNUBA® adventure pictured here.

SNUBA® gives you complete freedom of movement and ease of breathing under water as the air tanks are located at the surface being carried on a raft.

After a short orientation a certified SNUBA guide will lead you and a group of no more than 4 people on your adventure to the shores of Coki Point where a beautiful coral reef thrives with a wide variety of sea life.

Planning on Visiting USVI?

If you are flying directly to St. Thomas you won't need a passport if you are a U.S. Citizen. Of course, if you plan to also visit other islands that aren't U.S. Territories, or if you are on a cruise, you will still need your passport.

There are plenty of things to do from dining, shopping, relaxing on a beach, to exploring the wonderful world under the sea as we have discussed here. Visit the U.S. Virgin Islands tourism page to learn more about the islands and what they have to offer.

Click for Mini-Series Articles / Images

Tip: There are several attractions near the ship's pier in St. Thomas.  You can venture off on your own if you prefer.

We'll continue with San Juan  and more about the ship in our next installments.   If you are just joining us, we have several articles in this mini-series already.   You can either page backwards or check our main article (click image).

Relaxing on Carnival Conquest

Looking for a Place to Relax

On Carnival Conquest?

One of the best things about cruising in the Caribbean is the time to enjoy the sun and warm temperatures on one of the open decks.  Carnival Conquest has two pools - the main pool has a water slide and is open for all ages.

The aft pool on Lido Deck is only open to adults.   There are four hot tubs in addition to the pool which were quite popular throughout the cruise.   There's a bar right there as well, so need to go far to get your favorite beverage (or you can order from the wait staff that comes around to check on guests).

If the weather doesn't cooperate, there is a sliding roof which can shield guests from the weather.   We had some light showers a couple times during the cruise and the top was closed. 

There are lounge chairs along both sides of the pool as well as tables for those that want to sit poolside and have some pizza or other refreshments.  You can relax in a lounge chair by the main pool as well, but expect a lot more activity with families enjoying the pool area.  We were blessed with beautiful weather during our cruise so the pools were always busy.

Carnival has a policy of not saving lounge chairs.  You can leave your belongings if you like, but they can remove them if no one occupies the chair for 45 minutes.   We didn't see that being enforced during our cruise and there were unfortunately some people not following the rules.

Click for Mini-Series Articles / Images

Tip: For prime lounge chair spot, eat your breakfast early and then go camp out at your favorite location.

We'll continue with St. Thomas and more about the ship in our next installment.   If you are just joining us, we have several articles in this mini-series already.   You can either page backwards or check our main article (click image).

Good-bye Nassau Hello Evening

Early Dining

Monet - Carnival Conquest

As we continued sailing away from Nassau, Bahamas, it was time for our first dress up night.  The dress code for the evening was "Cruise Elegant".   You didn't have to dress up if you didn't want to but there are some guidelines:

Not Allowed: Shorts, T-Shirts, jeans, flip flops, bathing suit attire, sleeveless shirts for men, sportswear and baseball hats.

Table With a View

Our assigned table was on deck 4 of Monet Dining Room with a very nice view.  We requested a large table when we made our reservation, so we did get one set for 8 people however there were only 4 of us on most nights.  Two nights one couple went to "The Point" Steakhouse.

Menu

We had a lovely dinner with our new friends.  For starters we had the Strawberry Bisque chilled soup topped with fresh mint leave, spring rolls, and shrimp cocktail.  The last two items you can have every day.  Each day there's a chilled soup and hot soup amongst the starters.

Our two selections for the main entree were Broiled Maine Lobster Tail with Jumbo Black Tiger Shrimp and Tender Roasted Prime Rib of American Beef Au Jus.  The lobster dish came with yukon gold mashed potatoes and broccoli florets and the prime rib came with baked potato with all the trimmings.  For dessert we had Cherries Jubilee.

The food was cooked the way we liked it and the wait staff were very attentive checking to see if we wanted anything more.

Lemoncello

We capped our dinner off with an after dinner drink of Lemoncello. If you have ever been to Italy, you'll instantly know about Limoncello. Lemons seem to be one of the important staples in the food of Sorrento. The most famous product is Limoncello. Every store or restaurant has it’s unique or favorite brand of Limoncello for sale or to taste. It is wonderful as a palate cleanser or as an after dinner drink. Limoncello is the generic name for an Italian citrus-based lemon liqueur that is served well chilled in the summer months. Limoncello is now considered the national drink of Italy and can be found in stores and restaurants all over Italy.  On Carnival Conquest, the price of the drink includes the souvenir glass which is yours to keep.

Entertainment

Playlist Productions show Divas featured songs from the great pop Divas like Gaga, Beyonce, Christina, Madonna, Whitney, and Celine. There were two shows in the Toulouse Lautrec Theater. Prior to dinner you could meet the Captain and Senior Officers, have your picture taken with them, dance to music and enjoy a cocktail. In days gone by, Carnival would provide the drinks free of charge, but now they simply offer a $1 discount. We now skip the Captain's party the majority of the time since it just means hurrying up getting changed. We had our drink at dinner instead.

Our after dinner entertainment of choice throughout the cruise was the comedy club.  Carnival brought 2 comedians onboard for the beginning part of the cruise:  Kim Harrison and Smiley Joe Wiley.  Each night, there would be two family oriented shows and two adult only shows in the lounge.  They were very enjoyable.

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Tip: Be sure to check your Fun Times before dinner to plan your evening.

Tuesday was a sea day so we opted to sleep in and have a late breakfast.  We'll tell you more about our Sea Day in our next installment.   If you have any questions that you'll like us to address, be sure to post here, on our Facebook page, or email us.

Greetings from Nassau ET Phone Home

Staying Connected

During Your Cruise

 

You've waited for this trip to get away from your daily routine.   You aren't quite ready to be cut off from the outside world completely however.  There are several possible "solutions" to this situation.

In this day and age, most people are walking around with one or more smart devices (phones, tablets, PCs, or some combination of these).  Prior to sailing, you are usually still connected to the outside world via your normal telephone / internet provider.  Once you sail, you can still be on their network in many cases, but the price of communication can go up dramatically since you are roaming.  

Tip:  The price for data and phone calls increase substantially, so you'll want to check with your provider before you travel to understand your options and costs.

Carnival Conquest Network

Carnival Cruise Lines, as well as the majority of the other lines, have enhanced their onboard internet capabilities to meet the demand of the always connected public.  Of course, this comes at a price and reduced speed compared to your back home experiences.

There are several plans available that provide internet access during your cruise.   You can use the ship's PCs or your wireless device throughout the ship to connect to their internet.   Prices range from 75 cents per minute for pay as you go to around 30 cents or less if you purchase a package.

For those that need to be in contact with home or office, this keeps you in contact at any time, provided there is adequate satellite coverage.  As mentioned already, expect communication to be much slower than your normal experience, which translates into increased cost per activity.

In Port Alternatives

If you don't need to be in contact constantly, finding connectivity on shore is perhaps a more attractive solution.   Options range from free WiFi to purchased plans that are usually much cheaper than those onboard the ship.

As you might expect, when you own your own business, you need to be in contact with your office and clients even when on "vacation".   We find ourselves in that situation.

For this particular cruise, we had one of our associates covering for us, but we did promise to keep in periodic contact.  In order to do so, we went with the in port approach.

A short walk from the pier in Nassau puts you outside the Festival Marketplace where you'll find many of the ship's crew and passengers camped out on their cell phones and other devices.  WiFi is free in this area, but the signal isn't always the best.   It did suffice for our needs in checking emails and posting a few pictures for our followers.   You might want to wait until the crowd thins out to increase the odds of getting your emails sent.

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Often coffee shops and restaurants provide internet passwords to their patrons.   We suggest checking out sites in every port prior to your cruise so that you have an idea where to look during your trip.

More about Day 2 of our cruise in our next post.  Be sure to check all the articles in this series to get the complete story about our cruise.   If you have tips you'd like to share, feel free to contact us here or on our Facebook page.

After the Game Embarkation Day

The Night is Young

Evening On Board

Carnival Conquest 

After our dinner at the steakhouse and the conclusion of the Superbowl, it was time to determine what to do for the rest of the evening.  There's something for everyone to enjoy.

 

Toulouse Lautrec 3,4 & 5 Forward

Checking our Fun Times, we found that there was only one Welcome Aboard Show scheduled that evening at 10:15 PM.  It was hosted by our Cruise Director, Gary.   It featured a preview of the Playlist Productions and Punchliner Comedy Club entertainment.   The entertainment portion of the show wasn't very long which gave our CD plenty of time to explain what we should expect for the remainder of the cruise.   

Tahiti Casino (click for more images)

 Tahiti Casino

Following the show the casino was bopping as passengers weren't ready to retire for the evening just yet.

The casino has state-of-the-art BlackjackPro and PokerPro tables where you can try your luck against the house (which is actually a computer).  Of course, if you prefer live action or slot machines, there are plenty of options there as well. 

Earlier in the day, the casino had complimentary play on the state-of-the-art tables prior to sailing and in honor of the Superbowl, they had a Big Game Score Pursuit where you could win up to $500 on a $10 bet.   Throughout the week you could use your Sail & Sign card to advance funds and also as a players card which could earn you free drinks.

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Tip: Be sure to check your Fun Times when you board the ship and plan your evening.

In our next installment we'll look at the welcome aboard activities for youth and also take a look at some of the bars and lounges that offer nightly entertainment.