CELEBRITY REFLECTION Part 6 (the final one)

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Part 6 - the final one

Friday 7th December 2012
Hooray, the storm has obviously abated overnight, for we arrived in CocoCay Island at 7.30 in bright sunshine and tremendous heat, and put one anchor down.

My early morning view

The tenders were prepared and goods were sent ashore; this is Celebrity's island and so we can all go ashore for excursion things or to do nothing and have lunch ashore. It is a very small tropical island and like nothing I have ever seen before.

Under the stairs

We had a leisurely breakfast (with good English bacon, in the spacious Lido) and took the free tender to the tiny harbour, then strolled round to one of the fine sandy beaches. I loved the sapphire and aquamarine colours of the water.

Celebrity fleet

CocoCay

CocoCay island

Tender to shore

On the island the trees were sparse and obviously lacked water, but the sand was fine and soft, and there were all sorts of water sports available; one could also do absolutely nothing. We paddled, took photos, I tried a hammock strung between two trees (very comfortable but difficult to disembark) we strolled around to another part of the island where some local craft were berthed, and admired the large piece of carpet on a linkspan.

Carpeted linkspan!

Celebrity Reflection

Lovely

Home

Cococutter 1 and La Santa Maria

I wonder what happened to the other half...

Port side, above the Bridge, is a Suite Shower cubicle, protruding out over the sea. It has one-way glass fitted, so when someone is showering, they can see out, but from the outside the glass is obscured. One must have faith...

We had a light lunch and drinks provided by the cheerful ship’s staff, and then later headed back to the ship for coffee, tea, cake and ice cream in Café al Bracio. What a contrast with yesterday’s weather.

Celebrity Reflection

The X for Excellence

I now have my disembarkation papers for tomorrow when we arrive back in Miami. Thanks to Celebrity I have been able to arrange to leave as an independent traveller soon after 8.10 a.m. and take one of their coaches to the Bayside Market complex; there my luggage will go in secure and guarded storage for the day until 5.30 p.m. when I take another coach to Miami International airport, so I appreciate this facility that the cruise line offers.

Tonight’s dress code is Smart so I had the chance to wear again what we English jokingly like to call a ‘posh frock’. Packing quickly completed, I joined my friends for a pre-dinner drink and then a lovely meal. A late night walk on deck was in amazing heat, even up on the top Deck 15, with no breeze, and with the sight of several other ships in the distance all lit up.

Funnels at night


Ships seen: Cococutter 2, Cococutter 1, Nina, La Santa Maria, a Disney ship on the horizon, various others at night which couldn’t be identified

Saturday 8th December 2012
Back in Miami at the Cruise Terminal I was up early and had the chance to ring beloved daughter, and hear about two little boys seeing real reindeers the day before. I was preparing for an early breakfast and departure from the ship at 8.30 on my pre-arranged Celebrity Excursion, went through Customs and collected my suitcase, and on the quayside I was directed to a coach to travel to the Bayside Market complex. There my suitcase was put in a secure container for the day – peace of mind. Then I could go into the Market mall as planned and locate one of my good friends, with free wi-fi and coffee, before saying goodbye.

One of my American friends was unexpectedly free so we were able to meet and have lunch and a little visit. I saw the Mary Brickell village, the fantastic Biltmore Hotel entrance hall, and routes around there, before being dropped off back at the Bayside Market (thanks Ernie).

I was able to catch a double-decker red open-top tourist bus from there to travel over the MacArthur Causeway and see the cruise ships, before crossing the road and catching another red bus back to Bayside. Driving over the Causeway, there was CELEBRITY REFLECTION coming towards me, along the Government Cut, and it felt a bit odd to be in the position of ship-watching from there, rather than on board!

Back at Bayside I collected my suitcase from the safe storage, and was escorted onto the bus to Miami International Airport, which was all part of the Celebrity Excursion for today. It seemed a sensible thing to arrange to do, as I was unencumbered by my suitcase for the whole day and knew it was in safe keeping.

I checked in for my evening British Airways flight, which arrives tomorrow morning at London Heathrow.

Ships seen: Celebrity Reflection, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Breeze, Norwegian Epic


Sunday 9th December 2012
It was an uneventful long flight home, but I think the ‘social whirl’ caught up with me and I slept well! On arrival at Heathrow I was soon able to catch a coach heading south, and then beloved son met me and drove me home. I had been away for three weeks and enjoyed every minute of it, both the sea time and the land time.

The ships were all very different but interesting in their own ways, and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been very fortunate.

Carnival Breeze

Carnival Paradise

Celebrity Reflection


One could say that, on REFLECTION, I’ve been able to BREEZE through PARADISE.


The End

CARNIVAL PARADISE Part 5

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Friday 30th November 2012

Towards Tampa

Today we have a day at sea, before arriving back in Tampa tomorrow, but it is very misty and we cannot see the horizon. I had to set the alarm clock as I am going on a ‘Fun Ship Behind the Scenes’ tour and we have to meet at 8.45 a.m. in the Blue Riband Library.

I think this must be first time I have been there in daylight and could see the ceiling properly. Because the room is curved around part of the Atrium it is not a regular shape, and a ceiling mural starting with the Arctic Circle in one corner of the ceiling spreads out to show some of the shipping lanes used for travel from European ports such as Genoa, Le Havre and Southampton to New York, plus ships and other geographical points. Teak wall panels are shaped to resemble ships’ hulls, topped with mahogany superstructures fitted with amber-tinted brass-trimmed porthole lights. Carved chain mahogany mouldings connect the hulls, with brass anchors completing the bulkhead and door decorations.

Blue Riband ceiling mural

Blue Riband Library

Blue Riband Library

Blue Riband Library

A full-size Replica of the Hales Trophy is in the centre of the room in a glass case. Models of six Blue Riband winners are in glass showcases that form the walls between the Library and the Atrium – fascinating to see but almost impossible to photograph with so much glass. I really liked this room and its design features, again from Mr Joseph Farcus. He was a protégé of Morris Lapidus (1902-2001), the Odessa-born American architect responsible for so many buildings in Miami, and the man who reminds us that soldiers march in a straight line but people meander, and the man who was asked to design the interiors of the first two Carnival ships and followed this principle. I gather Mr Farcus worked with Mr Lapidus on the second ship, and then set up on his own account with great success. As one of my good friends says, the rest is history.

On this, our day at sea, the security man checked each of us to ensure we were not carrying phones or cameras, and the sixteen of us were taken on our tour. We saw the various departments and met their head person, including the Galley, Laundry, Stores, Thaw Store, Crew bars and mess rooms, Engine Room control room (Italian officers) and finally the Bridge, where we were introduced to the Captain and a group photo was taken.

Back in the Crew mess room we were each given a baseball cap and a lanyard as gifts, and later that afternoon there was a knock on my cabin door and I was handed a covered plate with two buns, three tiny Florentines and three chocolate-covered strawberries as another gift.

Guest goodies

More guest goodies

There was rain, cloud, a big swell, and force 5/6 on the Beaufort scale all showing on the weather chart.

I went for lunch up in the Paris Restaurant inside and, for the first time ever, had a Reuben sandwich, and made especially for me in the American grill sector. As I ate it I thought of a tiny boy at home, and American friends who occasionally mention it on one of my favourite web sites (thank you Liners Listers).

The weather cleared a bit after lunch and became warmer so I sat on deck and thought about the 5.45 p.m. entertainment shown in the Programme as 'Let it Snow'. Many of us went into the Grand Atrium to see a female singer, saxophone player, and a pianist on the atrium dais; she sang the well-known song ‘Let it snow’, the wonderful Christmas song created by lyricist Sammy Cahn and the composer Jule Styne in 1945, and by the time she came to the chorus, it did indeed snow! Fake snow fell down on us from on high, and gosh that was fun. She sang it again, and hundreds of us took photos. Tiny 'flakes' floated down and settled on the cloths over the Bar bottles (poor Bella) but it soon disappeared – it was a huge success.

Preparing for the snow

It snowed!

I changed ready for drinks and dinner, had a glass of Prosecco in the America Bar with the others, and Dewey played for us. There was more snow at 8 p.m., with an even bigger audience this time.

Snow fell on us again

Snow on the Grand Atrium Bar

My final dinner on board was again with the lovely and friendly Misty and Jeremy, and I hope they have a beautiful baby in April. At 10.00 p.m. more snow was expected and there was an even bigger audience that time. I thought that was such a fun final touch on my Carnival cruise, to be long remembered. There was the usual crowd in the America Bar again after the final snowstorm, and there I met Bobby and one of his friends. Amongst other things, we talked about my father’s photographs from his visit to Miami in the early 1930s and also my reasons for visiting the USA, so he was interested in the ships. Bobby and his wife are expecting twins in the Spring, which is happy news.

This is my last night on board CARNIVAL PARADISE, as we berth back in Tampa early tomorrow morning. I then return to Miami for a few days before sailing again, this time on CELEBRITY REFLECTION on her short inaugural voyage from Miami.

I have enjoyed being on this ship and seeing all the Farcus interior decorations; it was a complete contrast with the interiors on CARNIVAL BREEZE, and just as interesting. For people who enjoy discovering cruise ships of old and a shipping ambience, CARNIVAL PARADISE and its historical cruise ship detailing come highly recommended.

Ships seen: Jewel of the Seas heading south as we were on the Bridge.

Saturday 1st December 2012

Back in Tampa

Grand Caymman poster

Cozumel poster

Looking back towards the sea

Reflecting on Carnival Paradise

How about that - being able to pat a funnel (stack/engine uptakes) and stand beside it and take such a photograph!


To be continued…

Miami & CARNIVAL BREEZE Part 2

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Thursday 22nd November 2012

How lovely, it's Carnival Day! It's also Thanksgiving Day, so there were lots of good wishes flowing back and forth all day.

After breakfast in the hotel we took a taxi to the Carnival terminal to check in for the CARNIVAL BREEZE 2 nights Inaugural cruise from Miami to Nassau in the Bahamas.

Boring-free zone

Check in was rather long-winded, but as we had each completed all documentation on line that helped a lot. Once on board we could take our time walking around to take photographs, as there were few other passengers around. I located my cabin 1351, an inside single way down on Riviera Deck, which was very spacious, so I could put things in the safe even though my luggage had not arrived.

CARNIVAL BREEZE is the third of the Dream Class Ships and was built by Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, and in May 2012 Carnival accepted delivery. In June the ship was then based in Barcelona, Spain, for her inaugural season of Mediterranean cruises. She can take 3,690 passengers, and is 130,000 gross tons.

Carnival Breeze deck plan

Ovation Theatre

Carnival Breeze Atrium

Toy Fun Freddy in the Fun Shop (no, I didn't buy one)

Library Bar

Sapphire Restaurant

Art Gallery

Circle C

Club Oz

Blush Restaurant

Fahrenheit Steakhouse

Piano Bar

Liquid Night Club

Red Frog Pub

Bonsai Sushi Bar

Ocean Plaza

Taste Bar

Looking down in the Atrium

On deck

Water fun

We enjoyed seeing a lot of the ship soon after boarding, but my thoughtful travelling companion decided it was time to have an Italian-style lunch in the Cucina del Capitano Italian speciality restaurant. We were each handed a list of food available and enjoyed choosing what to eat by ticking off each item on that list, and handing it to the waiter to be cooked. We could then go and look at the photographs decorating the room, and I was shown the one that would be of special interest to me: it was the ship FESTIVALE, bought by Mr Arison in 1977 from Union-Castle Line for Carnival Cruise Line. She was built in 1961 as the TRANSVAAL CASTLE for the regular Mailship voyage from Southampton in the UK to Durban in South Africa, calling at various ports along the way, and she was the first Union-Castle Line ship I worked on as a sea-going Purserette in December 1965. That was a long moment of nostalgia for me, looking at that photograph and others. I loved the beautiful lighting in that restaurant, and the whole decor.

Cucina del Capitano lighting

Cucina del Capitano

Beautiful light

In the Cucina restaurant

Classic Poster

Festivale, bought by Mr Arison in 1977, previously the Transvaal Castle of
Union-Castle Line

Carnival Breeze Life Ring

Sports Square

We sailed at 5 p.m. after boat drill, to which we didn't have to take our life jackets. This all saved time and trips to and from cabins. I was sitting patiently in my Muster Station when there was an announcement apologising for the delay in starting. The voice continued by saying that this was due to some people not yet being present at their Muster Stations, but having been seen on the CCTV sitting in one of the Restaurants and eating a meal. These people were politely requested to leave this location, as food was available on board for 24 hours per day, and their mandatory presence was requested at the Muster Stations so the Lifeboat Drill could start!

Carnival Destiny leaving Miami

Grandeur of the Seas leaving Miami

Follow my leader...

I have looked at Dad's photos again and can see where he must have docked on the ARANDORA STAR at one of the then finger piers, in 1932. When we came down Government Cut from the quayside it was obvious how his photos were taken. I think we can identify Al Capone's island now as Palm Island, so I can show his and my photos, taken eighty years apart.

Arandora Star passing Al Capone's island in February 1932, on their way out of Miami through Government Cut (photograph by Henry F Williams)

Carnival Breeze passing Palm Island (previously Al Capone's island) in November 2012, on the way out of Miami through Government Cut

Back then it seems there was a railway track running down MacArthur Causeway, all the way from what is now Biscayne Boulevard and crossing NE 1st Avenue, probably at the northern end of what is now Bicentennial Park. The Park is more reclaimed land, because it is thought that the original 1930s finger piers were located there, and the remaining current 'cut' on the south side of that is almost certainly where the ARANDORA STAR berthed during her annual visits to Miami. I have the photos and the railway pictures which I think illustrate this.

Port of Miami area

Arandora Star in Miami on 12th/13th February 1932 for 33 hours (photograph by Henry F Williams)

Blue Star Lines brochure, showing Arandora Star Cruise Number 1, leaving Southampton on Saturday 23rd January 1932, and in Miami on Friday 12th/Saturday 13th February for 33 hours

Local ferry Eagle, which crosses Government Cut. It often has to wait or pirouette in the water as the cruise ships leave port!

The working end of the MacArthur Causeway

The famous Smith & Wolensky restaurant

Last view of Miami Beach for a while

We soon settled into ship life with a family comedy show, and then dinner in the Blush Restaurant for second sitting on the upper level. The food was excellent, with a good choice, and appropriate Thanksgiving Day menu. During the meal the Maitre d' announced that he would sing, which he did beautifully, and this was followed by some of the waiters on the lower level leaping on to small tables and dancing to pop music, and this was rather spectacular to watch.

After dinner entertainment was a Latin Nights Show in the Ovation Theatre, which was very enjoyable to see, but there was no live music. This was such a shame, and we couldn't understand why. The Atrium had its own six-piece band which played immediately after the Show and this drew hundreds of people on all deck levels to watch, listen and dance. We passengers like real live music played by real live musicians!

Tomorrow we visit the port of Nassau in The Bahamas, so that will be interesting. I have the 1932 Blue Star Lines brochure advertising the ARANDORA STAR itinerary for her first cruise that year but of course nowadays such brochures are a rarity from the shipping lines so I have nothing similar to show for my Carnival cruise. How strange that I am following in Father's footsteps...


Ships seen: Carnival Breeze, Grandeur of the Seas, Carnival Destiny, ferry boat Eagle

To be continued...