Worldwide Wanderers

Summary Review-- January 2023 Embarkation The dome Long Beach Terminal is neat. We dropped our bags with the porters, who were collecting luggage in the parking garage. Our embarkation check in slot was 11-11:30 am. Unfortunately, when we got there a few mins after 11am, they were calling any boarding time could get in line. However, our boarding pass had a pre-assigned boarding group C01, so we did not lose that spot. Check-in was pretty quick; they checked our passport and that is all. Then we went through security. They did a small rip in the 12 can soda cardboard box during the check and let us through. Then we sat and waited for boarding to start, and this was slow. Excited for a boarding announcement, instead they kept announcing rooms not being ready until 2:30 pm, which seemed late. Our luggage also arrived at our cabin later than I expected. This is the biggest ship that we have been on, so maybe I did not have the right expectations. When they began boarding, they boarded in ...

Sea Days and Disembarkation -- January 26-28, 2023 Or, as Carnival calls it, Fun Day at Sea. Both days were too windy for the SkyDrive to be open. I was looking forward to it again. I also wanted to do the waterpark, but I did not brave the cooler and wind. Others did, and the kids did not mind. On the first sea day, I had an omelet in the buffet, and Travis an oatmeal. The omelet station was not crowded; everyone was sleeping late. This night was also the night that we got the time change hour back. The cruise director encourage people to stay out late with the extra hour.   We had lunch at Guy's Smokehouse and buffet cake dessert; then Travis found the empanadas on the Lido that he had liked before. Then second lunch at the smokehouse again. I ate too much on this cruise! We watched the Dive In movie, the new Top Gun . I asked about blankets at the towel station. He mentioned them coming in 10 minutes, but others already had them. Carnival now sells the popcorn at a bar at t...

For fun --  World scratch and U.S. National Park pin maps history; both from my sister. We have a lot more traveling to do.  August 2015 March 2023 March 2023 Table of Contents

Puerto Vallarta -- January 25, 2023 For breakfast, I had a bagel and Travis oatmeal. We have a pre-booked Carnival excursion for whale watching, dolphins, and snorkeling at Marietas Island. We had a meeting time in the dining room with the others tours, checked in, waited to be called, exited the ship through crew area stairs, and then waited in lines outside. We befriend a gentleman on the tour that we talked with before and during the boat ride. Port authorities came through to check bags for produce. When it was time, we walked to the boat dock. I did not know that were were walking, so I was surprised when we walked passed all the buses/coaches. We did get town wifi on the walk to check messages from the kids and for me to sync my Fitbit. After we arrived, we were assigned a boat or catamaran.  The crew was friendly, handed out snacks, drinks, and lunch was served on the bottom deck around the bar. They had a good DJ onboard. We were approaching Marietas Island. It was abo...