Glory Review ~ Eastern Caribbean ~ May 16-23 w/pics

[cruiseJMO]

Just when I told myself to stop reading about cruises I'm not even looking at going on, you came along and completely peaked my interest. 😩

 

Subscribed 😝

[kristie64063]

Great review so far! Looking forward to the rest... :) We sailed Glory, exact same itinerary last Summer, I did a review (no pics). LOVED GLORY!!

Edited May 28, 2015 by kristie64063

[TrqoisWtrs]

hi Barbara - Love the review, and especially since we'll be sailing Glory in February on one of the Journey cruises! And loving your pictures - you're like me - taking odd shots - carpeting and beers by the window. :D :D

 

How much was the ride from FLL to MIA? We are considering flying into FLL because it's about 200$ and still haven't figured out how to get to MIA

 

You might want to check out http://www.ridesas.com/. Its about $15-18 pp shared ride.

Edited May 28, 2015 by cruisin*tigger

[kelkel2]

Thanks for doing your review!! I am totally loving it so far!! Keep up the great work, I know they take a lot of time!!!

[cruisinbabs]

hi Barbara - Love the review, and especially since we'll be sailing Glory in February on one of the Journey cruises! And loving your pictures - you're like me - taking odd shots - carpeting and beers by the window. :D :D

 

 

 

You might want to check out http://www.ridesas.com/. Its about $15-18 pp shared ride.

 

 

that is a good option too. I tried doing that but for timing purposes for myself unfortunately it didn't pan out. :-(

[cruisinbabs]

Thanks for doing your review!! I am totally loving it so far!! Keep up the great work, I know they take a lot of time!!!

 

 

Thank you for your kind words. I forgot how much time they do take. especially between work and catching up on everything since I was gone. but its fun! :D

[PurdueChefAmber]

Subscribing! :)

[pghsteelerfan]

I usually try not to comment on reviews until they are finished. I've done so in the past and think I may have "jinxed" them as they were never completed. Since you'd done a review before, I have a good feeling you'll stick with this one. :) I don't know how I missed your first review (Splendor) but since you have the link in your signature I'll head over to that one. I just have to say I love the pictures you got of Oregon from the air - so pretty! We were on Glory in 2010 on an Eastern Caribbean cruise and loved her and the itinerary. We also flew into Fort Lauderdale for that cruise even though Glory was sailing out of Miami. I noticed you also got the seagulls that are etched into the sound walls along the highway...I was finally able to get a good picture after several failed attempts. We don't have any future cruises planned at the moment but I really enjoy reading reviews of ships and itineraries we've done in the past to help get my "cruise fix". Thank you again for taking the time to do a review - I'll definitely be following.

[cruisinbabs]

I usually try not to comment on reviews until they are finished. I've done so in the past and think I may have "jinxed" them as they were never completed. Since you'd done a review before, I have a good feeling you'll stick with this one. :) I don't know how I missed your first review (Splendor) but since you have the link in your signature I'll head over to that one. I just have to say I love the pictures you got of Oregon from the air - so pretty! We were on Glory in 2010 on an Eastern Caribbean cruise and loved her and the itinerary. We also flew into Fort Lauderdale for that cruise even though Glory was sailing out of Miami. I noticed you also got the seagulls that are etched into the sound walls along the highway...I was finally able to get a good picture after several failed attempts. We don't have any future cruises planned at the moment but I really enjoy reading reviews of ships and itineraries we've done in the past to help get my "cruise fix". Thank you again for taking the time to do a review - I'll definitely be following.

 

Thank you for commenting. :-) It might take me a bit but it will be finished. I am a Taurus and stubborn and once I start something I finish it. :D (Exception will be if I am not done by the time I leave for my nyc trip in two weeks and I will continue when I get back)

[cruisinbabs]

Subscribing! :)

 

 

woot woot! thanks for following along!

[cruisinbabs]

It was about a 40 min ride and finally I was at our hotel! I hurry into the lobby and thank you a/c gods! I texted the girls and they had already hit up Starbucks while waiting for me. I sat down and waited for them in the nice cool lobby. (sorry forgot to get picture because I was still trying to wake up somewhat). After about 10 min the girls walk through the doors and we were all finally HERE... after months of planning it all worked out meeting up. phew!

 

 

Ann originally had us booked at the IC but changed last minute to the Holiday Inn - Port of Miami. Which was also recommended by fellow cruisers (you know who you are... :-) ) Which was a awesome move on her part.

 

 

A little map showing location of hotel and places we hit up along the way.

 

We were able to check in our luggage with the hotel where they put it in a locked room until our room was ready. Which was nice because I did not want to be schlepping our luggage everywhere. Once our suitcases were locked up we were hungry and decided to cross the street to Bayside and we were on a mission for some food. I have been to Florida before during this time and always forget about the humidity. Way different than my dry heat at home!

 

 

Hotel is in a great location!

 

I love the Bayside marketplace area. Very touristy but nice. Lots of little shops etc. I was just trying to take it all in and enjoy every single minute of it. Finally vacation has started and I was here safe and sound. We walked along the bayfront looking at everything.

 

 

I will take yacht number 3 on the right side for 200 Alex. I have never seen a yacht up close before but wont be able to have one of my own until I win the lottery.

We finally decided on eating at Hard Rock Café which I don't mind because my hubs and I always enjoy going to one and we always get a t-shirt from ones we visit. This one is pretty cool I have to say in a fun shaped building.

Sorry no food porn on this one but I got some nachos and they were huge. You can easily share with 2-3 people. We got there at a great time as soon as they opened so it was not crowded, we got our food fast and the service was great! Time to hit the gift shop and I found my husband a shirt. I did not get one for myself because I figured since I was on a awesome vacation at least I can get the hubs something. lol.

 

After lunch we walked around some more, hit up a couple of shops so the girls could get some items they had eyeballed when they ventured out earlier in the morning. We headed back to the hotel to see if they had our room ready by chance. It was not so we decided to pop a squat in comfy chairs and wait in the a/c. About 1/2 hr later our room was ready and we were able to check in, get our luggage out of hotel jail and head up to our room.

 

Now, this holiday inn is not brand new. It is decent and it looks they keep it upgraded as much as possible. We got a room on the 8th floor and they honored Ann's request with a bay view. YA BABY!!! JUST WHAT WE WANTED! The room is spacious and it had two full size beds and a sofa sleeper with plenty of room for us to maneuver. Fridge, microwave, flat screen, desk, coffee table. Not too shabby for a one night stay! We plopped our stuff down and just chilled for a few minutes to unwind. We knew that ships were going to set sail approx. at 4 pm so they had to convince me to take a nap. My adrenaline was pumping and I wanted to keep going and doing stuff. They were like "um I really think we should take a nap". I was kind of thinking like a toddler and didn't want to miss anything but I laid down on sofa anyways with a pillow and what do you know I am out like a light. We took a well needed 2 hour nap to fill our batteries again and woke up to an alarm so we could watch the Carnival Ecstasy set sail. By this time in true Florida weather some clouds had rolled in to dump some rain for a few minutes. But being here before I know it rolls through and dries up 20 minutes after it rains. :-)

[lyndilouwho]

Subscribed! Taking this cruise in October and even staying at the Holiday Inn POM! =)

[Willeve]

We are on this cruise in August, first Caribbean and first Carnival cruise for us, so looking forward to the rest of your report!

[JohnIII]

We are on this cruise in August, first Caribbean and first Carnival cruise for us, so looking forward to the rest of your report!

 

When in August? We sail on August 22. I can't wait!

[Anthomaniac]

Going on this exact trip in November! Minus the stops at your house 😜

[cruisinbabs]

After our glorious nap we watched the Ecstasy set sail from the comfort of our hotel.

 

 

I love watching ships "dance" in the basin

 

 

After she set sail, it was then Bimini superfast turn..

 

 

 

Then we were ready for our mission to get last minute items... booze and soda. We hit up the liquor store first and bought some necessities, then on our walk back we hit up CVS for the sodas. (refer to map on previous post). Thank goodness those two places are super close to the hotel. We schlepped our stuff back to our room to drop off then headed back out to get some dinner! We were hungry travelers. Back out we go and we decided on Zona Fresca which again was super close. If you want some good fast food this is your place.

 

 

All the noms!!!!

 

 

With full happy tummies we walk back to the hotel to hang out and have girl time.

 

 

But we quickly decided we were not ready for bed but busted out blue tooth travel speaker and good ol Pandora... EVERYBODDDDYYYYYYY!!!!!

 

We figured maybe we should pre-game too..

 

 

This was only some of our acquisitions.

 

We were dancing, laughing and just having a good time.. and coming up with our plan of attack for in the morning. I made my sleeper sofa bed and it was actually quite comfortable but at that point I was exhausted again and it didn't matter.. lol

 

Then it was time to turn out the lights because tomorrow is Embarkation day!! woop woop!!!

 

 

Night Miami!

[Alexv500]

Barbara I am loving your review! I read your Splendor one today, and you are super funny! Hopefully this time you'll have more pictures of your adventures during sea days haha! Can't wait to see more!! :D

[cruisinbabs]

Barbara I am loving your review! I read your Splendor one today, and you are super funny! Hopefully this time you'll have more pictures of your adventures during sea days haha! Can't wait to see more!! :D

 

 

Thanks love! I am just who I am.

 

Um... Not sure about sea days pictures. I kept forgetting to snap snap snap. But I still have tons of pictures.

[mykindaparty]

Saving my place....[emoji227][emoji225][emoji224][emoji305][emoji568]

[Willeve]

We are August 22nd too! Flying from the UK, 6 nights in Naples them driving over to Miami. Very excited now!

[saskplcguy]

We're going at the end of November, can't wait to see the rest.

[cbreit]

We'll be doing it in two weeks!!! Keep the review coming...

[cruisinbabs]

I slept so good and even on that sofa sleeper! We set our alarms .. yes while on vacation sometimes. But when you are a ship nerd like myself you tend to get a little excited about seeing some ships! The night before I had tracked on ETA of her arrived and had to google UTC time and figured out approx. time she would be strollin on into Miami. Said about 6 am... for me that is 3am in my brain.. lol.. but hey I don't mind because today was EMBARKATION DAY! YAHOO!

 

We got up with our alarm, and just watched through the window for our whale tail.

 

 

Good morning Miami! Great day for a cruise!

 

 

 

 

You see it?.... I spy a whale tail...

 

 

There she is!

 

 

Still amazes me watching ships maneuver! It was still hard to fathom that I was actually watching her in person and not on my webcam this week!

[cruisinbabs]

We sat and watched her for a little bit longer while she danced in the basin.. which I was hoping deep down we would have been able to do that but not for sailaway today.. bummer! Oh well I am still going on a cruise! We slowly get ready since we are really in no rush but we did need some coffee STAT to peel my eyelids open some more.. if you haven't noticed by now.. I love me some coffee and so does the other two. After we are out of pajamas and into vacation clothes.. we venture back down to bayside to Starbucks for our caffeine... seriously they should just have a iv stand at Starbucks... just sayin..

 

 

Gave them the first part of my roller derby name.. can't mess that one up...

 

 

Us girls all caffeinated and ready to go.. had a coffee cake too.. was trying not have to spend money on too much food since in a few hours I wouldn't have to anyways!

 

We walked back to the hotel to get all our stuff together, listened to more music and hung out til about 11:15, put luggage tags on etc and then did a dummy check throughout the room to make sure we didn't leave anything.

 

 

My "water" bottle

 

 

 

 

Was counting down how many sailaways, ours was not showing on there anymore and we would be on the other side of the lens in a little bit!

[sgcass123]

Great review! Can't wait for the rest!