CELEBRITY REFLECTION Part 4

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Wednesday 5th December (continued)
After lunch and Boat Drill we met on Deck 15 aft at the Sunset Bar, ready for departure from Miami Cruise Terminal. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, a little sea plane was preparing to take off and all was well with my world. Standing near us in the Sunset Bar was a bride and groom, and many of their guests, all having a noisy and fun time;

The bride and groom

the little sea plane headed from her land base towards her take-off point, but a little craft suddenly appeared in her path, so she had to do another circuit, and try again.

Sea plane base

Sea plane taking off

She headed west towards the turning circle and what in the 1930s were the finger piers, turned and was then able to take off. She gained height and flew away parallel with the MacArthur Causeway. We looked down in the water below our stern and saw a shark swimming along, towards the Causeway. When I later looked at my quickly-taken photo and zoomed in, I could see a patch of red on part of its body, so I wonder if it had been injured by one of the numerous pleasure boats. I shall never know of course.

The shark

Miami Cruise Terminal location

Then it was time to watch our departure along Government Cut, past the sights I have come to recognise from my photographs and those of my Father. The ‘cut’ we could see may well be where the ARANDORA STAR berthed all those years ago

I subsequently located a fascinating web site of

Mr Don Boyd (http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/77354683)

with wonderful photos from many decades, and in particular this 1930 aerial view of Downtown looking east-northeast. Dodge Island and its cruise terminals didn’t exist then of course, so ships had to come up to the finger piers or anchor off.

Arandora Star in Miami 1932

The Goodyear blimp and the ship's funnel

View from the ship

Local people looking at the ship

What fun to compare my photos now and Father’s photos eighty years ago, and see the picture of G W Romer’s postcard of ARANDORA STAR departing Miami, sent by a friend.

Postcard picture of Arandora Star leaving Miami, by G W Romer

Sea plane base

The sea plane base on 13th February 1932

Al Capone's island December 2012

The same view in February 1932

Junior Engineer Harry Williams on the Arandora Star, early 1930s

Many years later this is where some of the Willams genes went: on Union-Castle Line's Transvaal Castle as a Purserette.

We enjoyed our departure on CELEBRITY REFLECTION and sail down the Cut, although this will be my last proper sight of Miami Cruise Terminal and surroundings in daylight. Then came an announcement from the Captain that we could not call in daytime in Nassau, Bahamas, as there was a problem there, so it would be 6 pm arrival and departure at 11 pm.

The ferry that goes across the Cut

View of South Beach

We were disappointed at the Captain's news about Nassau but very happy to be on this new Celebrity ship. We are booked in Qsine Restaurant for dinner on Thursday night, which should be huge fun. The company says: “We call this the food palate pleasers. There are no courses. Guests are taking a culinary journey. The music will be vibrant and upbeat, the ambiance a bit whimsical and mysterious…. And it’s all about the food.”

Dinner in the Opus Restaurant was excellent, with a wide choice, as was the Show afterwards - with a real band, what a difference. The more we see on here, the more we think that CARNIVAL BREEZE has missed out.

Tomorrow we now have a day at sea, arriving in Nassau at 6 p.m. and leaving late, and on Friday we are due to visit Cococay. On Saturday we are due back in Miami and I have to disembark, but hope to be meeting another friend before flying home, so there is lots to enjoy on this lovely ship first.

Ships seen: Norwegian Sun


To be continued….

CELEBRITY REFLECTION & Miami Part 2

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Monday 3rd December 2012
My hotel room was spacious and the bathroom made me smile every time I went in there, as the largest mirror was surrounded by large clear glass light bulbs. Talk about the film-star treatment!

Blue hotel pool

After all that I went out for breakfast just along the road, this time with one of my travelling companions.

Tattooed person glimpsed in a cafe

We went back to the Art Deco shop again to look at the lovely things, and then strolled north and found a Diner in an old railway carriage, which had been built elsewhere, transferred to Miami Beach and re-done, and then installed here in 2002. It was well located on a corner of 11th Street so caught the eye of many passers-by and was an interesting place for a cold drink.

11th Street Diner

The Diner

We strolled up to Lincoln Mall to pay a visit to the Apple store, which was packed with people, and on a little further to a Store exhibition featuring the Pop Artist Romero Britto. Born in Brazil in 1963, he now lives and exhibits in Miami and is a prolific artist and charity benefactor. His work is very bright and eye-catching, and such is his popularity that Romero was selected to serve as the Ambassador to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Britto Central in Lincoln Mall

We decided to take the local bus down towards Government Cut, to see if the cruise ships could be seen, but there was a marina and boats in the way, and lots of new tall buildings going up, so we had another 25 cents worth of bus ride back up to the Diner for lunch.

This piece of art was beside the water near the end of Government Cut

City Hall

South Beach

My other friend arrived later so our little party was now complete and ready for CELEBRITY REFLECTION on Wednesday, but first we had an eagerly awaited evening engagement. Two of our friends who each live in different locations outside Miami made the journey into the city specially to have dinner with us, and we were very pleased to be able to spend time together talking about ships. That evening at the Cardozo Restaurant was a very happy and chatty occasion (thanks Larry and thanks Rich).

No ships seen today.

Tuesday 4th December 2012
Today is our final complete day in Miami’s Ocean Drive, so we all met up to go out for breakfast (and succumbed to one of the nearby restaurant touts!).

A picture in my bedroom

Park Central Hotel, Ocean Drive

We had an appointment at the Wolfsonian, which is between 10th and 11th, so enjoyed our walk there. We were taken through security and then up in the lift to a room which made our ship-loving hearts beat a little faster, as we noticed boxes and boxes labelled with the names of shipping lines! The Union-Castle Line boxes were already laid out for me, but I also chose the Blue Star Line box. My friends chose Cunard and Carnival boxes and we all enjoyed looking at all of the contents.

We saw lots of FESTIVALE (ex TRANSVAAL CASTLE) brochures, and HOLIDAY, both from way back when as they say. We remembered that Rich T. worked for Carnival in the 1980s and was full of information which he was kind enough to share with us last night. We were introduced to another member of staff, and met a friend from New York who was visiting Miami and the Wolfsonian. We went out for lunch at a local Cuban Restaurant, and then had to bid au revoir and thanks to Larry for such an interesting morning.

Wolfsonian plaque

Wolfsonian details

We three walked up Washington Avenue towards Lincoln Avenue Mall and I’m sure it was not by chance that some people’s footsteps led us into the Apple Store. Coffee and cake had to be tried nearby and then we caught a bus down towards our hotel. It was crowded and when a man with a large suitcase got on the bus we all tried to make room. That was fine until the man pulled the suitcase too far into the crush and managed to hit the injured and bandaged foot of a man sitting near me. He was not happy.

Seen in a shop window

Seen in a shop window, just by chance - Bahamas Celebration, ex Princess Ragnhild

Christmas tree in the hotel, our last night in South Beach

The sun had long since disappeared and rain threatened but held off as we relaxed beside the pool, with the palm trees rustling in the strong breeze. Later we went out for dinner on our last night in Miami, ready to pack and prepare for our cruise on CELEBRITY REFLECTION tomorrow. I will be doing the 3 night inaugural trip, and am really looking forward to it, and also to taking more photographs as we sail out of the Port of Miami – following in Father’s footsteps.

Ship not seen but known to be in port is Regatta, on the south side of Dodge Island.

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...