Review of our 2013 Spring Break Carnival Breeze Cruise

[PaulMedik]

I actually found the miniature setting today while I was playing around with my camera. Can't wait to try it out one the cruise.

 

By the way, I just saw you say you are close to the New River Gorge Bridge. We are practically neighbors. I live in Virginia not far from Bluefield, WV. We are up your way on ocassion for rafting and Brdge Day.

 

Thanks again!

 

Brandn03,

 

Bridge day would be an interesting place to try out the miniature setting. ;)

 

I worked Bridge Day for ten years as a Paramedic. The first year I was in the middle of the bridge with the jump platform, and the rest of the time I was under the bridge normally on a jet boat. I never had a chance to take ANY pics on Bridge Day. I keep planning to go back as a spectator, but I have yet to make it.

[KrystalWaters]

Wow excellent review as always Paul.:D

 

I do have a question regarding the hotels and the holds. You mentioned it was $329(ish)X2 & $389(ish) X 2. Was that in addition to the hotel room costs or was that just the price of the rooms times the number of days you stayed?:confused:

[PaulMedik]

Wow excellent review as always Paul.:D

 

I do have a question regarding the hotels and the holds. You mentioned it was $329(ish)X2 & $389(ish) X 2. Was that in addition to the hotel room costs or was that just the price of the rooms times the number of days you stayed?:confused:

 

 

KrystalWaters,

 

Thank you.

 

We only stayed at Hilton one night and only one of the rooms was a connecting room that might have caused a second hold. The holds were in ADDITION to the actual charge for each of the two rooms (The boys room and our combo room for Karen, Britt and myself).

 

I paid off our second night's stay at The Savoy either right before we left The Savoy or after we arrived at the Hilton. (I have an app for Carnival SeaMiles on my iPhone).

 

I recall the front desk clerk at Hilton said he had to swipe the card twice for each room because it didn't go thru the first time. Perhaps those swipes generated holds? The actual charges that went thru were all accurate.

[luv4u859]

 

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

this is a great picture! I love it

[Njbosoxgirl]

Paul people on the shipmate app are saying there was a terrible sewage smell at different parts of the ship. Did you notice any such smells?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PaulMedik]

this is a great picture! I love it

 

 

luv4u859.

 

Thank you.

 

 

Paul people on the shipmate app are saying there was a terrible sewage smell at different parts of the ship. Did you notice any such smells?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

Njbosoxgirl,

 

I didn't notice any smells that I would describe as terrible. I did smell diesel exhaust from time to time and not just in the aft area. My truck is diesel so I'm familiar with the different odors that are created depending on the weather, fuel type, water in fuel etc. 'Sulfur' is a smell that many people would recognize diesel exhaust by simply due to the scrubbing of exhaust that now occurs. Diesel used to be allowed to crud up and spew ash, but now it's periodically burnt off and the odor is significantly different than diesel of years ago.

 

I should also note that I work in a high volume ER and we've had more than our fair share of GI viri this year. Combine those smells with a few infected human flesh odors and you'll have a nose that discriminates and blocks foul offensive odors. ;)

 

If I encounter a smell that I would describe as terrible on a ship, then someone has likely had a very bad day.

 

I specifically recall being near the waterslide with Bryson and he said 'it smells like your truck here.' The wind at that time was from the aft and though there was no visible exhaust from the stack coming forward, it most likely was. He also said that he had smelled that 'all over the ship sometimes.'

[KrystalWaters]

KrystalWaters,

 

Thank you.

 

We only stayed at Hilton one night and only one of the rooms was a connecting room that might have caused a second hold. The holds were in ADDITION to the actual charge for each of the two rooms (The boys room and our combo room for Karen, Britt and myself).

 

I paid off our second night's stay at The Savoy either right before we left The Savoy or after we arrived at the Hilton. (I have an app for Carnival SeaMiles on my iPhone).

 

I recall the front desk clerk at Hilton said he had to swipe the card twice for each room because it didn't go thru the first time. Perhaps those swipes generated holds? The actual charges that went thru were all accurate.

 

Wow that's awfully a lot. I can understand a hold for incidentals.....but to hold up over $1000 is ridiculous!:eek: I've travelled a lot and this much of a hod is shocking to me. Maybe it's just a MIA thing. I wonder if someone choose cash. I like to hold w/CC and just settle up with cash. Regardless it's good o know and info I need to keep in the back of my mind when budgeting and asking questions to the hotel.

 

Thanks for the info.:)

[caljencruisers]

I rousted Spencer and Jaden out of their room and up to the front of the ship for some pics;

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

 

Deck 6 forward;

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

 

Looking up from deck 5 (Note the abundance of windshield wipers on the bridge windows);

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

 

Stairway from deck 6;

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

Lanai deck 5 forward;

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

This last shot is absolutely beautiful!! You've become quite the photographer! ;0)

[bdtmoult]

Paul,

 

Is it a big deal taking a child that isn't yours? My son is trying to get me to let him bring a friend. Big deal to me cause I will lose my cabin to add a 4th person. Do you need much paperwork?

 

Becky

[Joyride37]

Is it a big deal taking a child that isn't yours? My son is trying to get me to let him bring a friend. Big deal to me cause I will lose my cabin to add a 4th person. Do you need much paperwork?

 

Becky

 

Becky,

 

I can help you, since it seems Mike is busy. It really isnt that big of a deal. All you need is a witnessed letter from the parent(s) saying that their child is free to go with you and will be under your supervision the entire time. Have that and a copy of his birth certificate and or his pass port when boarding. It also doesnt hurt to call the cruise line and see if there are any other issues/needs that will need to be addressed prior to boarding. Have fun

 

Joyride

[PaulMedik]

This last shot is absolutely beautiful!! You've become quite the photographer! ;0)

 

 

caljencruisers,

 

Thank you.

 

I classify myself as someone who likes to take pictures. One of these days I might be a photographer, but for now I'm still practicing. :)

 

 

 

Is it a big deal taking a child that isn't yours? My son is trying to get me to let him bring a friend. Big deal to me cause I will lose my cabin to add a 4th person. Do you need much paperwork?

 

Becky

 

Becky,

 

I can help you, since it seems Mike is busy. It really isnt that big of a deal. All you need is a witnessed letter from the parent(s) saying that their child is free to go with you and will be under your supervision the entire time. Have that and a copy of his birth certificate and or his pass port when boarding. It also doesnt hurt to call the cruise line and see if there are any other issues/needs that will need to be addressed prior to boarding. Have fun

 

Joyride

 

 

Joyride,

 

You're absolutely correct and thank you for answering.

 

We had a letter signed by his Mother and witnessed by a notary, his passport, and a permission to treat letter for medical issues. Not one single person asked for anything other than his passport, but I sure wouldn't want to try it without the permission letters.

[crusinpsychRN]

Ha Ha, It's always so funny to see a mens restroom:eek: But one of the things I love in the public bathrooms is the little tissues by the door so you don't have to touch the door handle after you wash your hands. I wish all public bathrooms were that clean:)

 

Same reaction here! My brother invented that tissue by the door.

 

Love the pics! That moon shot was stunning.

[crusinpsychRN]

Paul, your son doesn't look old enough to be in the casino or drink beer!

[girlscruise2011]

Ok, 14 pages since this morning, Please don't tell my boss I wasn't working :)

 

What a great review! I love your style and the pictures are fantastic. I love pictures but mine never come out good. My dream is to have an afterwrap but when I price them, I hate to pay the extra money but seeing yours makes me think they may be worth it. I have to get on the Breeze. Its a beautiful ship. I love the décor.

 

Thank you for the review. You have a wonderful family and you can tell by them letting you plaster their faces all over cruise critic :)

[bp traveler]

Enjoying your review, beautiful family!

[PaulMedik]

Paul, your son doesn't look old enough to be in the casino or drink beer!

 

 

CrusinpsychRN,

 

I'm not old enough to drink beer and I'm 47! :D Casino age on the ships is 18 and even though all his friends kept telling him he wouldn't be allowed to play, he was able to play without question.

 

 

Ok, 14 pages since this morning, Please don't tell my boss I wasn't working :)

 

What a great review! I love your style and the pictures are fantastic. I love pictures but mine never come out good. My dream is to have an afterwrap but when I price them, I hate to pay the extra money but seeing yours makes me think they may be worth it. I have to get on the Breeze. Its a beautiful ship. I love the décor.

 

Thank you for the review. You have a wonderful family and you can tell by them letting you plaster their faces all over cruise critic :)

 

 

girlscruise2011,

 

Thank you.

 

I'm on day #7 of an 8 day stretch of work days so...........:o I guess you can tell that some days are busier than others. :cool:

 

Aft wraps pay for themselves in that no time is wasted hunting for a lounge chair and the view remains awesome. :)

[Yoli=)]

Paul,

Great review. We are also going to dreams in DR. do we have to take our own towels? Can we eat at any restaurant we want?

 

Thanks again... =)

[PaulMedik]

Paul,

Great review. We are also going to dreams in DR. do we have to take our own towels? Can we eat at any restaurant we want?

 

Thanks again... =)

 

 

 

Yoli=),

 

Thank you.

 

We took Carnival towels, but they do have towels available......I think. :confused:

 

There are three casual restaurants with lax dress codes that you can eat at......others require proper attire that you aren't likely to take with you. ;)

[crewsweeper]

Love the review Paul. Pictures are fantastic. Glad to see shots of Dreams, LaRomana since we missed that on the 8 day inaugural.:( Given the port area (beer party excepted), Dreams looks to be the spot. Hopefully, we'll be able to try again soon.

Now I'm waiting for that ubitquous night time money shot of the Breeze in Curacao. With your camera should be a beautiful sight. Also the downtown Curacao across from the pedestrian bridge would show up very well on from your camera.

Crew

[DolfanNY]

Paul sorry if I missed the answer for this question. How much was the cab to Dreams and how many people went with you?

[serene56]

Yes, we definitely missed the steel drums last year on the Liberty.

 

The Breeze having more activites for "all ages" would be a big improvement for us! This was the biggest issue on the Liberty. The kids main experience on cruise ships was the Freedom of the Seas which had activities all day for them and none of this was on the Carnival Liberty last year. Since the cruise was very port intensive, it wasn't a big deal, but they were a little bored on the sea days. The pool slide did not interest them since it wasn't "fast" enough.

 

My kids ages next year will be 18, 17, 15, and 11. What type of activities did the Breeze offer??

 

 

I'd like to pop in and ask a question-- your cruise on the Freedom was a july sailing--- the Liberty was an august sailing so I am curious to know what week in August. The later in the month the less kids onboard so less activities.

 

I LOVED the Liberty-- sailed 3 times but looking for different--- so the Breeze is really catching my eye--more so with this review

[Njbosoxgirl]

I'd like to pop in and ask a question-- your cruise on the Freedom was a july sailing--- the Liberty was an august sailing so I am curious to know what week in August. The later in the month the less kids onboard so less activities.

 

I LOVED the Liberty-- sailed 3 times but looking for different--- so the Breeze is really catching my eye--more so with this review

 

I was on the same cruise as FFO6... I found that my son who was 12 at the time had plenty to do. We are actually sailing on the 8/31 sailing on Breeze this year. I'm hoping that he has plenty to do again.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[serene56]

I was on the same cruise as FFO6... I found that my son who was 12 at the time had plenty to do. We are actually sailing on the 8/31 sailing on Breeze this year. I'm hoping that he has plenty to do again.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

we usually sail that week and there are not many kinds onboard. I think one time there was 35 kids under the age of 18.

 

(we usually split between that week and the 3rd week of Sept.

[PaulMedik]

Love the review Paul. Pictures are fantastic. Glad to see shots of Dreams, LaRomana since we missed that on the 8 day inaugural.:( Given the port area (beer party excepted), Dreams looks to be the spot. Hopefully, we'll be able to try again soon.

 

Now I'm waiting for that ubitquous night time money shot of the Breeze in Curacao. With your camera should be a beautiful sight. Also the downtown Curacao across from the pedestrian bridge would show up very well on from your camera.

 

Crew

 

 

Crew,

 

Thank you.

 

I got a few shots across the bridge and my shots after the sun went down in that area are better than before sunset IMO. I guess my night time football shooting experience paid off. ;)

 

 

Paul sorry if I missed the answer for this question. How much was the cab to Dreams and how many people went with you?

 

 

 

DolfanNY,

 

The cab was $8 per person. We paid $88 for 11 people.

 

There was a large CC roll call group that also went to Dreams, but I missed the M&G which was during sail away so I never met my roll call friends. :o

[PaulMedik]

We didn't get off the ship in Curacao until 5:50PM so we missed the Carnival Photogs. Here we are gathered on the pier discussing our evening's plans;

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

 

Our goal for the evening was sunset Senior Pics of Bryson and Curacao is the perfect backdrop for senior pics;

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

 

Britt watching the photo session and about to offer his suggestions;

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

 

I realize that most of you reading this review didn't read it and expect to see multiple pics of the same person (Bryson), but if you will just imagine someone you'd like to get pics of and imagine them with these backdrops, then you'll appreciate the resource that Curacao has in abundance; beauty;

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr

 

 

Carnival Breeze Day 5 by paulmedik, on Flickr