Today was a “Fun Day” At Sea according to Carnival. It was a nice day. We got up early and had breakfast, then out to grab a lounge chair on the ship’s deck by about 8:30 or 9 a.m. before they got filled up. The Celebration was on its way back to Jacksonville. We sat out there all day, listened to our MP3 players, read magazines, talked w/our new friends we had met from Myrtlle Beach, SC and just relaxed. We left our books in our chairs and ran down to the deck below to eat a buffet lunch. There was a dessert buffet as part of lunch and we got some sweets to brink back up to our chairs after we ate lunch. We literally sat out on the deck the whole day until time to get ready for supper. I got sun and wind burn I think because it was windy, but very hot and sunny. It was very comfortable though, with no rain. We finally went back to get ready for supper and the last shows on the cruise. We went to a show at 7:00 p.m. called X-Treme Country starring the Celebration Dancers and the vocal talents of Lisa Redding and Aaron Dennis Smith and also featuring the Showband’s fiddler, Andrew White. He actually played “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” on the fiddle and it was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel privileged to have seen that performed live by such a talented fiddler. The audience went nuts over his performance.

The show itself with the dancers and singers was good as well. They performed songs such as: Shameless (Garth Brooks), I Feel Like A Woman (Shania Twain), I Smell Trouble (Travis Tritt), Take It Back (Reba McIntyre), I Wanna Talk About Me (Alan Jackson), She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy (Kenny Chesney), etc. We thought it was a very good show–one of the best on Carnival. After going to this early show, we went to a sit-down dinner at the Vista Dining Room for our last time on the Celebration. We have read online that the Vista Dining room has won the best dining out of all Carnival ships over the last month or two. I can see why because the food and staff were always so superb. Our waitress, Gianninna (from Peru) was very nice, helpful, and promptly brought out each course with a smile. She was one of the best wait staff that I have met on a cruise ship. She had several interesting conversations with us at dinner, such as her life working on the ship for 7 months at a time. After 7 months, she goes home to be with her mother and 2 1/2 year old baby girl for about 3 months, and then back on another ship to work. She said it was better for her family for her to work on the ship so she could send money back to help support them in Peru. I know I am talking about her a lot, but she seemed so dedicated and appreciative to have a “good” job with Carnival. She said she worked with others who had been working on a Carnival ship for around 20 years.

We went to the late night comedy of Lewis Nixon again at 10:30 p.m. This was the same comedian from last night but a different show. After that, we went to the casino and played at the roulette and black jack tables. Chad started playing $20 worth of chips on the roulette table and we walked away with $90, so he had won $70. We went and played a couple slots and then over to the black jack tables. Chad donated $10 of his winnings to me but I lost it at two rounds of black jack. There was a $5 minimum at this table so I lost two, cut my losses, and walked away. We were having fun in the casino, so we went back to play some more roulette. We walked away with about $35 of winnings when we decided to quit playing. We may could have won the money back and more but we had been playing for a couple hours and were ready to go get packing and to bed because we had to disembark early the next morning for the drive back home. We got up early and had breakfast, left the ship, and drove home from the Jacksonville port. It was raining and cold. I had on a tank top and shorts and was quite cold once we reached George, South Carolina, and then North Carolina. It felt like October and it was an adjustment. Atleast, we have nice tans going into November now!! I hope our blog readers have enjoyed the Bahama posts. Adios, Bonne journee, and of course—-Aloha, for now.

We stepped off the ship into Nassau about 9:00 a.m. and found ourselves surrounded by beauty. Many ports drop you off in industrial surroundings, but not this port in Nassau. The ship docked right in the middle of paradise, and the picture taking with our telephoto lens had begun. We got some of our most beautiful photos here. We went straight over to the Straw Market where locals set up shop. I was looking forward to and planning this so I could haggle over “knock-off” designer handbags. There were four ships in port, so the Bahamian women wanted a little more than I wanted to give for a bag, but I ended up getting a good deal. They also had wooden carved items, straw made items, and various other items specific to this type of outdoor market. Once we were satisfied with our purchases, we headed back over to the ship for lunch (only about a 10 minute walk). We ate lunch, put our bathing suits on and dropped off our purchases. Then we rushed back out with our wide screen lens to get some more shots around the beautiful port and catch the jitney bus for only a $1 to Cable Beach. Chad had done some research and found that we could get a day pass at the Wyndham hotel for $15. This included using the hotel facilities such as beach chairs, swimming pool, towels, etc. The pool had a neat swim up bar with bar stools. I took a cool picture of it that evening when nobody was there so you can see the stools. We got back onto the ship in time to get ready for dinner and go get some sushi before dinner at the trolley bar again. After dinner, we went to the show: The Amazing Juggling Manuel Zuniga and the Comedy of Lewis Nixon at 10:30 p.m. We had seen Manuel Zuniga on another cruise and really enjoyed his show then as well. He is in the guiness book of world records for the fastest juggler.

The ship didn’t pull into Freeport, Bahamas until noon so we had time to rest up from the previous day of driving/embarking. We were getting off the ship in Freeport and taking a taxi to the Lucaya Shopping center and beach. The shopping was beside of a hotel and casino on the beach side. We walked around the shops for an hour or two before hitting the beach. But first, we got an icy cold beverage to cool off. It was very humid and there were light showers on and off today in Freeport. I was surprised by the weather, as it was starting to cool off a little in North Carolina. I guess I was not really thinking “Caribbean weather.” We spent a couple hours on the beach getting some sun and some more sleep!We had to be back on board by 6:30 and that was fine with us because this evening was formal night and the Captains Formal Cocktail Party. We got back on the ship in time to get all dressed up and leave for dinner. We went to the Captain’s Formal Cocktail Party and enjoyed complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Stephanie, the Assistant Cruise Director asked us could she interview us. The Celebration “aired” our interview on the Carnival TV channel the rest of the cruise. After the Captain’s Formal Party, we just walked around the ship to kill some time before dinner. We passed by a group of 42 people from Myrtle Beach, SC who were trying to find someone to take the group’s picture. I volunteered to take a picture, and Susan told me I was so nice and did I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I ended up taking a picture of the group with about ten different cameras. I didn’t mind, but Chad would have probably been able to maneuver the many types of cameras quicker than I did. Susan was looking for someone to take the picture and saw my new camera around my neck and figured I would be good. She seemed very excited when I walked up and volunteered.

We had lobster and shrimp at dinner tonight-YUM! After dinner we went to the main show of the evening, “Standing Room Only” starring the Celebration dancers and music by the Celebration Showband. The show was sorta a review of various broadway plays. I loved the scene where they sang “The Circle of Life” from the Lion King. We were glad we didn’t miss this show. I still think the Lion King on Broadway would be a fantastic play to see if I get the chance one day.
After the main show, we went back to the formal Vista Dining Room to take pictures of the Grand Gala Buffet at 11:15 p.m. We could go back later at 12:15 to eat if we wanted to, but this time was set aside for all of us wonderful amateur photogs! We left there and went to yet another hilarious adult comedy show with Tony Esposito. However, I couldn’t hardly keep my eyes peeled on the comedian. I was about to pass out in a full blown nap in my comfy chair. It was like being in church on Sunday morning. Ha ha.
After the comedy show, we went and each gathered a plate of samples from the buffet and got it packed up “to go” and we ate it in our room before we passed out. Today had been a long day and we were “whipped.”

We drove to the JAX port (about 7 hours from home) and then boarded the ship about 11 a.m. We ate lunch at the Wheelhouse Bar & Grill (buffet lunch), walked around to become familiar with the layout of the Celebration, and then we went to the Lifeboat drill prior to sailing away at approximately 3:30 p.m.We embarked at about 4 p.m. to first head to Freeport, Bahamas. The Jacksonville bridge was a wonderful opportunity to get some great photos. I rode by w/camera in hand on the ship’s deck. I have to brag that I thought they did turn out beautiful! See for yourself though–don’t take my word for it. This evening, they were having the margarita party and liquor tasting. There was also sushi between 5-8:30 pm. at the Trolley Bar and as you can see it looked like a train car. We had sushi for an appetizer before going to the Vista Dining Room for a sit-down dinner at 8:30. Dinner in the Vista Dining Room is a four course dinner with appetizer, salad, main course, and dessert. We sat with a nice couple from Georgia at dinner. After dinner, we went to the Welcome Aboard Show at 10:30 p.m. We were entertained with music by The Celebration Showband and the comedy of Tony Esposito.I want to say that the Celebration is not going out of commission. It is one of Carnival’s older ships in the fleet but they are only moving it to another company in another country. The ship was smaller than most newer ships, but very clean and beautiful. The Carnival Company owns many other cruise lines including Princess, Costa Cruise Lines, and Holland America only to name a few. We have been on one of Carnival’s biggest ships and this smaller ship was not a disappointment at all.

There just may be another travel blog and/or picture gallery coming soon! As most of our friends and family know, Chad and I have proven ourselves to be “world-travelers.” We are getting ready to add another dot on the map of places we have visited. You guessed it if you said the Bahamas–because that is where we are headed in October. And of course my Olympus Evolt-500 DSLR is going on this trip with us! I should be a “real amateur photog” by that time. I can’t wait!!! What’s a better setting than the Caribbean to take some killer photos?