Hanukkah was a "Breeze" review Dec 2019

[stellarose]

Hanukkah was a “Breeze” review December 2019 

 

I have read a ton of reviews over the years and wanted to share my review on our Hanukkah cruise on the Carnival Breeze from Port Canaveral. Now I do not have a ton of photos of the ship. That has been done before. I can tell you about the ship/ meals/ ports/ travel to and from the ship.

 

I will do this in stages so bear with me. I will first do some background information on the trip. 

 

In 2017 DH, DD, DS, and me (with in laws) did the Pride out of Baltimore in June.  We live in DE and thought what a great port, etc. 

 

Now come early late spring of 2019-  We wanted to do one more trip before DS left for college in 2020.  We wanted spring break 2020 but DS did not want to give up his senior year spring break. So we decided winter break 2019. We knew this year would be a two week winter break.  

 

We then had to decide where to leave from. We had in the past did a Hanukkah cruise out of Baltimore on the Grandeur of the Seas (RCCL). However, it was cold on first day and basically the last two days. So we knew not doing RCCL  or Carnival out of Baltimore.

 

That left driving/flying or train to Florida.  We searched and found the Breeze.  We liked the size (a bit bigger than Pride) , amenities , and new ports. 

 

So, we booked the Breeze. Since we booked late spring, no more FTTF (and I checked daily!!!!).

 

We did a deluxe Oceanview on deck 1.   A deluxe Ocean view has a bathroom and half.  One bathroom- shower/ sink/ toilet.  Second one is sink/ bathtub shower combo.

 

No drink package due to the fact we have 4 ports. 

 

Early seating for dinner. (so has food allergies).

 

So……..   stay tune for more…  

 

Two days before the cruise:    THE DRIVE to FLORIDA!!!!!!

[Hitchcock]

Sailing on the Breeze the end of March 2020 and looking forward to hearing more...

[stellarose]

Drive to Florida from Delaware? What are you crazy?  The cost of flights winter break would have cost more than the cruise.  So, DH and I decided to do the drive. We had 3 drivers (with DS).  We decided to drive to NC first night (we left after school)- did about 4 hours- (stayed in Myrtle Beach).  Day 2- finished driving to Cocoa Beach- Port Canaveral. 

 

Big shout out to GO PORT. Booked a room at the Hilton Cocoa Beach for our trip (port Canaveral). Did this April- smart move. 

 

So why use go GO PORT????  you got a room (two queen beds); shuttle to and from ship and park car for duration of the trip-  cost about 200. 

 

Friday- dav before embarkation day:  We arrived after dinner at the hotel. (second day of driving)  Really nice and helpful staff at hotel.  They explained how the shuttle worked.  

 

Saturday – Cruise Day !!!  Hotel had those waiting for Disney/ RCCL and Carnival.  Very popular hotel.  We had to be down stairs in the lobby by 11am.  Boarded the shuttle by 11:30-11:40.  Got to port by 12.  

 

So we go to port. Dropped off bags. Went through security , right to board. No waiting in the lobby- etc!!!! What????

 

So… Cruise Critic is my friend~!!!! What did those who have been on the breeze or other ships tell you to avoid the lido deck / buffet- YES avoid. 

 

I knew the Italian place (free for lunch) was open. We made a b-line to the lido marketplace and headed upstairs to get Italian. 

 

For lunch you pick a pasta type/ add ons (meat/ veggies etc)/ sauce. You get salad (ceasar or plain) and bread.  

 

It was not packed and it was a nice relaxing way to start the trip.  DO IT!!!!!! 

 

By time we finished eating and did a quick walk around the lido deck-  rooms ready!!!!

 

The room keys/ aka- Sign and sail cards are now in mailboxes by your door and pre punched for easy those lanyards (yes everyone wears them- even DH wore one!!!!).

 

We dropped off carry ons and went to muster .  I totally understand muster but it sucks!!!!!!!!

 

We were crammed in a room- crammed.  Hubby was having foot issues so I got him a seat.  So again, crammed and hot.  We waited and waited. They called names of the guests that were not in the room. Waited. So after about 35 -40 minutes. Done!!!!

 

Sail away!!!!!!!!!!!

Now to begin the cruise. I did the sail away party. Teens hit the teen club. Hubby chilled in the atrium to hear music. After dinner- we decided to not do the opening show but went to the comedy club.  I have to tell you the comedy clubs are where to get great entertainment. 

 

Now to say we were party animals the first day would be a lie. We were exhausted.  So after the 815 show- we crashed. 

 

Day one done. 

[Jerseygirl1416]

We were on the same sailing. I’m looking forward to reading your opinions on it. Thanks for taking the time!

[stellarose]

Day two SEA DAY:

 

I have waited and waited for this  Blue Iquana- breakfast burrito!!!!!!!!!  I also did a nice walk on the jogging track . they have an outdoor work out station too . that was fun.  I highly suggest walking the ship in the am. So peaceful. 

 

Use the hub app. This allows you to see what is going on and even make a day planner.  This time around the hub would send me notifications if I had “tagged” something to do or watch to remind me.

 

After my breakfast of the wonderful burrito- I showed, got ready for the day- 

I found  a great spot. Deck 10 back pool (by seafood shack). The bathroom was near, the bar kept ice water in a dispenser (easy to fill my swell bottle).  That pool had two hottubs as well. 

 

DH came out to pool with me. DS and DD did the teen club and sports deck.  At one point DS and DD got me to do the ropes course. 

 

So you need closed toed shoes.

 

We went to get shoes and shorts. No bathing suits.  

 

Lucky for us it was not crowded when we went. 

 

They hook you up to a harness and explain that only one person can go at a time on a particular “area”. You an go as many times as you want. We did it 3 times.  When DS and DD and I got off? It was packed- the line.  So much fun. Very windy. 

 

Back to the room to change back to bathing suit. Grabbed a burrito for lunch.  Went back to my fav spot on deck 10 by seafood shack. 

 

Ok. Now this is where things got fun.

 

It was the first night of hanukkah and the eagles game.  Oh the drama. (plus first formal night).

 

Ok. We quickly did hanukkah before the game started . the atrium did a great job. They had latkes and wine. Very nice. LD did a great job. 

 

Back to the game. We were told – it would be played on the large screen outside- lie

Then we were told it would be on the red frog pub- well about 7-8 cowboy fans and about 7-8 eagles fans all waited……………………nope . we had to go to the casino on ONE screen. Now everyone was packed in there. 

 

So for half a game DD had to stand and I sat on the casino floor. 

 

About halftime a group of eagles fans came to get us- they complained to guest services and GOT the game!!!!!!!!!

 

So off to the red frog pub again.

 

BEST game this season. So much fun. Had a blast.  DD was upset she missed formal night but she got over it. 

 

Ate dinner in lido marketplace and then sit the limelight club .

 

Exhausted by 11:15- went to bed and was getting excited for our big excursion in Cozumel…. Well……

 

 

 

[stellarose]

Day 3 Cozumel!!!!!

 

This was a day I waited for since we booked the trip . We booked a catamaran/ snorkel/ beach day.  It was a 1:00 excursion so I figured this would give the family a chance to sleep in and relax- also, I told them to have an early lunch since we would be getting off the ship around 12:30.  

 

Well…. Needless to say… the excursion was canceled. High winds. Now carnival should have informed us that morning. I could have booked another excursion. Now we were only in port for another 4 hours.  I also spent close to 350 for that trip- yes, four adults. 

I was told it would go back on my SS card. 

 

We decided to do some cheap shopping.  So back on the ship to enhance my tan.

 

Haunukkah again.  This time we “lit” the electric one in the atrium and then to the library for latkes and wine. 

 

Dinner in MDR. DS loves to get the most obscure food. 

 

Evening activities: 

Went to the ocean plaza and found a band that was AWESOME. (so good we saw them every night)- Sea Sharps with the Surplus of Diggity. 

( I mean soooooooooooo good).

 

Another night of limelight comedy. The “R” one.