M
MoJo2Rusty
Guest
I must say that my trip to get to this cruise was one for the books. I had chosen to drive from SW Missouri to my friends house in Alabama. This trip was to be about a 9 hour drive. About 2 hours into my drive, the rains same, the storms came, the tornado's came and it was Crazy. Tornado's followed me all the way thru Alabama. I think I was about an hour ahead of them. My 9 hour drive became 11 hours, but I made it.
We spent the pre cruise night in New Orleans. Needless to say, we drove in rain and storms all the way to NO also. Even tornado warnings in the area on our way down. Luck for us the rain stopped long enough for us to spend a very enjoyable evening in the French Quarter and Pat O Brian's in the Piano bar.
It rained and stormed ALL the way to Mobile the next morning. Finally about an hour before sail away, the rain stopped, the sun came out and we didn't see a cloud the rest of the week.
I will start by saying I was a little skeptical booking on the Holiday. It's the oldest and smallest of the Carnival ships. I was on the Inspiration last Dec and just couldn't imagine one smaller. We had originally booked on the Fantasy but when they canceled it, the only choice we had for the time we had off was the Holiday. My friend had been on her several times and said I would love it. She was right! I still prefer the larger ships, but I must say, the Holiday was a very nice little ship.
The ship was very clean! She showed some wear but then she's old so this is to be expected. They have not up dated the deck chairs like on other ships but the Holiday has been sold and will be going away in the fall so this is understandable.
My friend is Platinum so embarkation was a breeze. We had our luggage before we left port. Our room steward was friendly, greeted us by name and we never wanted for anything.
Michael Smith was the entertainer in the Piano Bar. Although maybe not the best on vocals, he knew how to interact with the patrons in the bar. He learned who we were and always greeted us anywhere on the ship. He was great at fitting things about people into the bar into his songs. Although he's not Ron Pass, he quickly became one of my favorite Piano men.
All of the Staff on the Holiday was very friendly. Not just those we dealt with frequently, but everyone. Anytime you encountered any of the crew they were smiling and always greeted you.
This cruise was on that had the ports changed. It was to have been Mexican ports but they were changed to Key West and Freeport Bahama's. Both ports we arrived at 7am. Key West was beautiful but we were there such a short time it was difficult to do much. We took the trolley tour of the city, visited the original Margaritaville then back to the ship. It would have been nice to have stayed a little longer but we enjoyed out time there in spite of the short stay. I believe we sailed at 3p. We learned that evening that there were 5 people that missed the ship in Key West. We never did hear if they caught up with it in Freeport.
Freeport was also a 7am arrival but a 2p departure. We were docked in an area where they bring in the big freighters and load them. It was quite noisy as there was a lot of loading going on. There was a Norwegian ship in dry dock here also. There was a small straw market at the port, other wise you had to catch a cab into town which was a 30 min cab ride. We checked out the straw market then went back to the ship for some sun time. Our dinner mates, that went into town said it was $40 each way for them to go in and the shops were very expensive. They compared a pair of pants they looked at that they had bought in Mexico for $20 and they were $80 in Freeport.
Don't think we left anyone in Freeport.
Food was good, service in the dining room was great. We had a great wait staff and our bar waiter was the same as we had in the piano bar and the aft pool deck. He pretty much knew what we wanted without asking.
My only complaint on this cruise is that the entire cruise was so SMOOTH that the gentle rocking motion that we all like at night was NOT there. Smooth as glass.
I really enjoyed the Holiday. If you get a chance to sail on the Holiday before she departs later this fall I think you will be pleased.
My trip back to Missouri was much the same as it my trip to Alabama, minus the tornado's. I did make it in 10 hours but 8 of that 10 were in the rain. At least our 5 cruise days were full of sunshine.
We spent the pre cruise night in New Orleans. Needless to say, we drove in rain and storms all the way to NO also. Even tornado warnings in the area on our way down. Luck for us the rain stopped long enough for us to spend a very enjoyable evening in the French Quarter and Pat O Brian's in the Piano bar.
It rained and stormed ALL the way to Mobile the next morning. Finally about an hour before sail away, the rain stopped, the sun came out and we didn't see a cloud the rest of the week.
I will start by saying I was a little skeptical booking on the Holiday. It's the oldest and smallest of the Carnival ships. I was on the Inspiration last Dec and just couldn't imagine one smaller. We had originally booked on the Fantasy but when they canceled it, the only choice we had for the time we had off was the Holiday. My friend had been on her several times and said I would love it. She was right! I still prefer the larger ships, but I must say, the Holiday was a very nice little ship.
The ship was very clean! She showed some wear but then she's old so this is to be expected. They have not up dated the deck chairs like on other ships but the Holiday has been sold and will be going away in the fall so this is understandable.
My friend is Platinum so embarkation was a breeze. We had our luggage before we left port. Our room steward was friendly, greeted us by name and we never wanted for anything.
Michael Smith was the entertainer in the Piano Bar. Although maybe not the best on vocals, he knew how to interact with the patrons in the bar. He learned who we were and always greeted us anywhere on the ship. He was great at fitting things about people into the bar into his songs. Although he's not Ron Pass, he quickly became one of my favorite Piano men.
All of the Staff on the Holiday was very friendly. Not just those we dealt with frequently, but everyone. Anytime you encountered any of the crew they were smiling and always greeted you.
This cruise was on that had the ports changed. It was to have been Mexican ports but they were changed to Key West and Freeport Bahama's. Both ports we arrived at 7am. Key West was beautiful but we were there such a short time it was difficult to do much. We took the trolley tour of the city, visited the original Margaritaville then back to the ship. It would have been nice to have stayed a little longer but we enjoyed out time there in spite of the short stay. I believe we sailed at 3p. We learned that evening that there were 5 people that missed the ship in Key West. We never did hear if they caught up with it in Freeport.
Freeport was also a 7am arrival but a 2p departure. We were docked in an area where they bring in the big freighters and load them. It was quite noisy as there was a lot of loading going on. There was a Norwegian ship in dry dock here also. There was a small straw market at the port, other wise you had to catch a cab into town which was a 30 min cab ride. We checked out the straw market then went back to the ship for some sun time. Our dinner mates, that went into town said it was $40 each way for them to go in and the shops were very expensive. They compared a pair of pants they looked at that they had bought in Mexico for $20 and they were $80 in Freeport.
Don't think we left anyone in Freeport.
Food was good, service in the dining room was great. We had a great wait staff and our bar waiter was the same as we had in the piano bar and the aft pool deck. He pretty much knew what we wanted without asking.
My only complaint on this cruise is that the entire cruise was so SMOOTH that the gentle rocking motion that we all like at night was NOT there. Smooth as glass.
I really enjoyed the Holiday. If you get a chance to sail on the Holiday before she departs later this fall I think you will be pleased.
My trip back to Missouri was much the same as it my trip to Alabama, minus the tornado's. I did make it in 10 hours but 8 of that 10 were in the rain. At least our 5 cruise days were full of sunshine.
