It's Time for a CELEBRATION!!! (with pics) - April 16th 2023

[Jamman54]

Ahoy, Cruise Critic Family! My beautiful wife Patti and I have just returned after another cruise adventure. This time we sailed aboard the new, big, and beautiful Carnival Celebration, on a seven-day cruise to Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay.

 

 

How many of you got to sail on the original Celebration? I sailed on her when she was brand new in 1987. The last time I sailed on her was in 2005 with Patti and our boys. I’m feeling nostalgic today, so here are a few pictures from that cruise for old times sake. We’ve come a long way in the last eighteen years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

I hope you enjoyed the little trip back in time. We’re now back to 2023. We had originally booked a B2B with the 4/23 sailing, but circumstances that had us needing to be back in New Jersey by 4/29, caused us to cancel that sailing. No worries though, we just lifted and shifted that Celebration booking to next January 14^th which happens to be the Tribe Cruise, so we’ll get to enjoy it with quite a few Cruise Critic friends! Post cruise we will be spending five days in Orlando before heading home to New Jersey.

 

Once again, we will be driving down to Florida. Being away from home for so long it just makes sense for us to have our own car down there. We can pack as much of our stuff as we want to, since we don’t have to worry about luggage weights and car rentals. Back in the day when our vacation time was limited, we used to drive straight through in one shot which used to take about sixteen hours. Since we have the time now, we will break it up into two days.

 

As usual, our reviews start and end at home and cover everything in between. I know that some people like to get right into the cruise stuff and I understand that, but when doing these reviews we want to re-live the whole vacation, not just part of it.  Our format will remain the same as our past reviews with a day by day account. As always, there will be many, many pictures with plenty of explanations and details. For those that are wondering, our go to camera is the Canon PowerShot XS740 HS, and our water, and back-up camera, is the Fuji FinePix XP60.

So, let’s get this party started! We strive to make you feel that you are cruising right along with us, so grab yourself a DOD, and hop on board with us and join the fun!

 

Pre-Cruise  -  (April 13^th & 14^th)  -  Heading South to Georgia!

 

As always, we begin our travels around 9pm in the evening. This allows us to bypass the morning rush hours in Baltimore and Washington. Our son Ryan will be minding the house and our cats. He takes our picture as we head out the door…..

 

 

After leaving the house we make a quick stop at Dunkin Donuts for a large coffee. Though I took a nap before leaving, the extra caffeine will definitely help. It’s a beautiful clear night for driving. I don’t mind the drive at all. There is hardly any traffic, so I set the cruise control to 79 mph and listen to tunes all night. Patti on the other hand, tolerates the drive as long as I stop at Cracker Barrel along the way. As usual, we stop at the Cracker Barrel in Santee, South Carolina just as they open at 7am…..

 

 

 

After filling our bellies, and Patti getting a little shopping time, we are back on the road again. We make it to today’s final destination, Kingsland, Georgia around noon. We are going to be staying at the Country Inn & Suites. If this place looks familiar, it is our usual stop over point when heading south or cruising from Jacksonville…..

 

 

 

 

We checked in at the Front Desk and were given Room # 107…….

 

 

 

Before I’m allowed to step into the room, Patti goes in to take pictures…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

After getting settled in, Patti gives us a tour of the hotel. Here is the little Fitness Center…..

 

 

 

This is a good-sized Pool and Spa area…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They have a small Laundry Room…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[HeyJut]

Aww! Love the nostalgic pix.

And I’m the #1 Follower!

Hi to Patti.

[TxTeach79]

Oh heck yeah!!!! A Jamman Review!!! Stoked to be onboard early! This'll really tide me over til may May 28 Pride sailing... Sailing Celebration on NYE, so I'm even more excited than usual! 

 

Special thanks for those original Celebration photos! She was my very first, as a 9 year old in 1988 with Mom & Dad, and definitely sparked my entire love for cruising. Really appreciate the pics!

[Jamman54]

Patti’s picture tour takes us into the Lobby Area…..

 

 

 

 

This is the hotel Business Center…..

 

 

This is where the free breakfast is served…..

 

 

 

We’re getting hungry so we drive over to the nearby Ruby Tuesday…..

 

 

Here is the first food porn of the review. Patti had the salad bar, and I had boneless wings and the loaded fries.

 

 

 

That hit the spot after the long drive. Afterwards we went back to the hotel where I watched a little TV and then crashed for the night.  Patti took a ride to check out some of the nearby stores. Patti told me that she got back to the hotel a little after five, and then she crashed shortly after.

 

Coming up next: The journey south continues, and a little bit of a scare.

[Jamman54]

2 minutes ago, HeyJut said:

Aww! Love the nostalgic pix.

And I’m the #1 Follower!

Hi to Patti.

First to the party, welcome aboard! Patti says hello back! 

[cruzin Phillis]

Yes! Glad I am able to catch this one at the start! I am always a couple of years behind your reviews. 

 

We caught up with you all in Costa Maya. I was on Adventure of the Seas and saw the ship in port! 

 

I will be on the Celebration in 16 days for her 1st trip to the ABC Islands!

[Jamman54]

3 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

Oh heck yeah!!!! A Jamman Review!!! Stoked to be onboard early! This'll really tide me over til may May 28 Pride sailing... Sailing Celebration on NYE, so I'm even more excited than usual! 

 

Special thanks for those original Celebration photos! She was my very first, as a 9 year old in 1988 with Mom & Dad, and definitely sparked my entire love for cruising. Really appreciate the pics!

Great to have you aboard once again!  Glad the old Celebration pics brought back some great memories! 

[4hunters]

Hi Jeff!  I realize we've never met, but seeing both the boys in your throw-back pics nearly brought a tear to my eye.  

 

However, like many others, I'm ready for another Jamman review!

 

-Scott

Edited May 4, 2023 by 4hunters

[Jamman54]

3 minutes ago, cruzin Phillis said:

Yes! Glad I am able to catch this one at the start! I am always a couple of years behind your reviews. 

 

We caught up with you all in Costa Maya. I was on Adventure of the Seas and saw the ship in port! 

 

I will be on the Celebration in 16 days for her 1st trip to the ABC Islands!

Glad to have you along for the ride again, and from the beginning no less! Saw you guys pulling in at Costa Maya. It was a busy day there for sure! 

[Jamman54]

3 minutes ago, 4hunters said:

Hi Jeff!  I realize we've never met, but seeing both the boys in your throw-back pics nearly brought a tear to my eye.  

 

However, like many others, I'm ready for another Jamman review!

Thanks for following along again, and for your kind words. We miss Kevin each and every day. 

[AmyJA]

Man, I sooo miss Ruby Tuesday's salad bar. One of the best.

[blarko]

Yay…..love your reviews and have been waiting for this one 😀

[canes20]

 

[blarko]

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

Ahoy, Cruise Critic Family! My beautiful wife Patti and I have just returned after another cruise adventure. This time we sailed aboard the new, big, and beautiful Carnival Celebration, on a seven-day cruise to Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay.

 

 

How many of you got to sail on the original Celebration? I sailed on her when she was brand new in 1987. The last time I sailed on her was in 2005 with Patti and our boys. I’m feeling nostalgic today, so here are a few pictures from that cruise for old times sake. We’ve come a long way in the last eighteen years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

I love these old photos!!! My very first cruise was on the original Mardi Gras all the way back in 1988. Cruise ships sure have changed since then.

[SenatorsFan]

I'll be following along, Jeff. Thanks for the throwback photos. 😀

[Jamman54]

32 minutes ago, AmyJA said:

Man, I sooo miss Ruby Tuesday's salad bar. One of the best.

 

Glad to have you aboard! We're lucky to have a Ruby Tuesday near our home. With the rewards program, the salad bar and boneless wings were free! 

 

28 minutes ago, blarko said:

Yay…..love your reviews and have been waiting for this one 😀

 

Always good to have you along for the ride! 

[Jamman54]

14 minutes ago, SenatorsFan said:

I'll be following along, Jeff. Thanks for the throwback photos. 😀

Always good to have you along Heather! I love being able to share some of the old pics from time to time. Go Devils! 

[Hogladyrider]

@Jamman54.....Jeff all signed up with foo foo drink in hand.

Loved all the nostalgic pics!

I enjoy your reviews from leaving home to returning home...great way to preserve the memories.

Susan

[SenatorsFan]

14 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Always good to have you along Heather! I love being able to share some of the old pics from time to time. Go Devils! 

They bring back such good memories, I'm sure. 🙂

[Jamman54]

12 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

@Jamman54.....Jeff all signed up with foo foo drink in hand.

Loved all the nostalgic pics!

I enjoy your reviews from leaving home to returning home...great way to preserve the memories.

Susan

Thanks for following along once again Susan. Glad to have you aboard! 

[MeMetwo]

Fantastic start to your review Jeff.  Those nostalgic pictures made my heart swell and my eyes water. Such beautiful family pictures. Thanks for sharing and can’t wait for the rest of your fantastic review.

Loretta

[jedi bobs]

 Been looking forward to this Jeff. Tell Patty that Ann and I said Hello. when we get on Vista we have to do something at the prorts or something.

 

[LatinaInTexas]

Perfect timing catching your review. Even though I'm a few months away from sailing Celebration there's no one better than you and Patty to show and tell me every thing I need to know about this ship!