Shadowmeboy's 2022 Encore Christmas and New Year's Southern Caribbean Cruise Adventure

gotscrapz · April 3, 2023

Such an amazingly detailed review and I love all of the pics! Can't wait to read and see more!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

14 hours ago, gotscrapz said:

Such an amazingly detailed review and I love all of the pics! Can't wait to read and see more!

Thank you

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

The weekend got a little busy, so I didn't have a chance to work on this over it. I hope everyone had a good one!

--

So after lunch we made our way up to our stateroom for this trip.

9172 is a BA located right over the District Brew House. This for the most part was not a problem, but it did create a problem falling asleep several nights due to the music. Once we fell asleep it was not an issue. I would not suggest it for a light sleeper.

There she is!

Standard Breakaway class ship bathroom

Since the room was over the district brewhouse, it did extend father out than the balconies above us. You could also look down into the DBH and see the people stilling on the couches by the windows.

Poof! Our things magically appeared!

Pano from the Balcony while sitting at the dock in Miami

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

We decided to go exploring.

Onda - Deck 8 mid

My ship compass!

Sugarcane's Menu

The top one is my favorite!

1st of many Raspberry Guava Mojitos!!!

After getting a Mojito in us, we headed down to the Spa to do the tour.

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Spa menu from the cruise

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shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Thermal Suite

Well hello Norwegian Sky!

Susan enjoying the lounger

Exercise Room

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

We made our way across the pool deck to check out the pools and to see the buffet.

These performers were good, just not my cup of tea!

Okay, time to brave the masses to see the buffet.

They had another massive gingerbread display in the Garden Cafe

The Executive Chef was wandering around the buffet.

The Garden Cafe was set up nicely, but it was way too busy for my liking.

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

We then popped down to the Observation lounge.

So after walking the buffet and observation lounge, we headed back to the stateroom to check for luggage and get ready for sailaway!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Carnival Spirit was the first to depart Miami. We last saw this ship in July when we got off the Norwegian Spirit. It also ported in Juneau and Ketchikan with us.

Once Carnival Spirit got past Freedom of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas headed for the turning basin.

Finally a clear view!

Once Freedom of the Seas got past the Norwegian Sky, the Sky pulled out of its berth.

We would see the sky 11 days later when we returned to Miami.

The Sky is one of the NCL ships we have yet to sail. We will just have to couple it with a longer cruise out of Miami.

Freedom of the Seas got turned and made its way out to sea.

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

The fuel bunkering barge passed by us.

The MSC Divina was next to depart

I noticed the police boat had gotten in position for us!

Night Balcony Pano

We started out of our berth

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Coast Guard Station

It was cool seeing the walkers waving their cell phones with the light on as we passed!

The beach was quite empty, go figure!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Looking back at Miami. See you in 11 days!

Small container ship entering the Port of Miami

Pilot boat waiting to pick up our pilot

My view of the pickup was blocked by the DBH

Pilot successfully picked up and off they go!

Below is the time-lapse sail away video!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

We did get the suitcases unpacked and put away! We then got ready for dinner and headed out.

We headed down to deck 6 to see if there was a photography station the first night. There was, but we didn't choose any of the shots from that night.

Another view of the gingerbread display on deck 6.

Time for dinner!

We always like dining in the Specialty Restaurants on the first night as its often very quiet and not very full. It also gets us into cruise mode faster!

See how empty Los Lobos and even Cagney's is

Guacamole Time!

We sipped our Margaritas as they made the guac! Susan got her margarita blended.

I got mine on the rocks.

Finished guacamole

SenatorsFan · April 3, 2023

I love those beautiful nighttime Miami pictures!

www3traveler · April 3, 2023

I have never sailed out of Miami after dark-- beautiful lights.

Thank You

I woke up this morning to 4 inches of snow on the ground in Walla Walla. I need a warm weather cruise. I am looking at the Spirit next June. Sounds like a great cruise.

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Quesadilla de Tres Quesos con camarones - Shrimp three cheese quesadilla

Aguachile de Camarones - Shrimp Ceviche

Enchiladas de Mariscos - Seafood Enchiladas

Arroz y Frijoles - Rice and beans

Huachinango a la veracruzana - Veracruz style snapper

Tamales - Pork tamale

Elotes - Mexican Street Corn

Dessert Menu

Bunuelos de la abuela - Grandma's Donuts - fried beignets with brown sugar syrup and guava

Tres Leches Cake - 3 Milk Cake

Dinner at Los Lobos was awesome like normal. Our server Kim was outstanding! The food was excellent!

Lupush · April 3, 2023

Never did a Miami sailaway at night, looks beautiful.

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

3 hours ago, SenatorsFan said:

I love those beautiful nighttime Miami pictures!

Thank you!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

3 hours ago, www3traveler said:

I have never sailed out of Miami after dark-- beautiful lights.

Thank You

I woke up this morning to 4 inches of snow on the ground in Walla Walla. I need a warm weather cruise. I am looking at the Spirit next June. Sounds like a great cruise.

It was the first time for us as well.

Glad we are done with that up here in North Central!

We were totally fine with doing the POA until we saw this one! Perfect itinerary especially only having to go one way to Hawaii! Let me know if you book the Spirit. I wouldn't mind hanging out onboard

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

2 hours ago, Lupush said:

Never did a Miami sailaway at night, looks beautiful.

I will admit it was really cool!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

We were really full after Los Lobos! So we did the slow walk forward on the ship.

We both didn't want to go to bed yet since we were so full. So we headed for the DBH to hang for a bit.

It was fairly calm in here tonight. I think it was the fact it was the first night and people wore themselves out on the first day and crashed early. I had a hard cider and Susan got a drink she did not like at all. she literally drank two drinks. This is why I like having the drink package. I can try things without regretting my purchase if I don't like something!

I also like trying new foods on cruises. I fell in love with gnocchi aboard a cruise ship. Would I have bought it in a grocery store and tried it? Would I have taken a chance in a restaurant? probably not on both questions.

Needless to say, we crashed when we got up to the room.

End of Day 1

Sea Day tomorrow!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Day 2 - Sea Day

December 24th, 2022 - Christmas Eve

Location: Caribbean Sea - North of Cuba

Day 2 Daily

Good Morning from the Caribbean Sea! What a fine way to greet the day on Christmas Eve! It was a wonderful 70 degrees this morning.

Home was 5 degrees; Miami was 40 degrees; Edgewater was 35 degrees; I was glad to be on the ship!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Pano - Hard to get a good pano while underway

Really quiet out on deck!

I found a spot and enjoyed the sea rolling by!

Ship in the distance

I did come prepared for morning like this! I brought a few magazines including the latest Great Northern Historical Society Great Northern Goat Magazine! It was amazing smelling the sea air, listening to the ocean roll by, and just relaxing!

Another ship!

Someone finally woke up!

Time to head to breakfast!

We headed to Savor this morning.

Chocolate croissants!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Susan got the Fruit Salad

I got the half grapefruit and asked for cottage cheese. The server we had, acted like they were going to have to row a boat back to Miami to pick some up. I have never had an issue getting cottage cheese before. I might get a small ketchup sized ramakin of it, but they brought some.

Susan got the french toast with bacon

I got the eggs benny with bacon, ham, and hashbrowns!

As we were leaving the MDR, we ran into Jay. He asked us how breakfast was was. I said the food was excellent, the staff was friendly, but I mentioned the cottage cheese. He apologized and I said it was really not that big of a deal. I like to have it with my grapefruit, but its not the end of the world. He mentioned that he would make sure there was cottage cheese available in the MDR. I thanked him and we headed towards the atrium!