Day 1: Friday, October 23, Trip to Mobile
Today, we left the house around 7; no breakfast. We traveled Hwy 43 S through Russellville to 237 through Hackleburg, Beverton, and Sulligent; Hwy 17 through Vernon and Mellory; crossing over into Mississippi at Caledonia; Hwy 12 to Columbus, Macon, Scooba, and Lauderdale, stopping in Merican at Mugshots for lunch.
We stopped at Dollar General Detroit for Ritz Cheese Crackers, Coke, and a restroom break. $7 (Diet Coke and Ritz cheese crackers)
We met a couple of sisters from Paris, TN; they were traveling with their boyfriend to Mobile for their cousin's wedding.
We ordered the Mombo Combo, which consisted of Blanken Mushrooms, Davis pickled chips, and wings with Ranch and honey mustard dipping sauce. Our server was Ericia at table 31, Mugshots Grill and Bar, 5005 Hwy 493, Meridian, Mississippi.
From Meridian, we took Hwy 45 through Quiteman, Shalelle, and Stateline, then Citronelle, onto 1-65 to I-10.
We stopped at Love's off I-10 to purchase fuel. $25.
We stopped for fuel, then went to the Tillan Corner Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mobile West next to IHG. Room either 214 or 215
We met up with Wanda and Buck and walked outside to get our steps in. We ate Ritz cheese crackers and Coke for dinner, showered, watched TV, and went to bed.
9897-9898 Mugshots Meridian, MS @ 12:01 P.M. $21.61
Day 2, Saturday, October 24, Carnival Ship in Mobile Port
Took a shower, then went for a walk, then had breakfast.
We will board between 2-2:30 today. We will leave the hotel around 1:30 P.M. We have the stay-and-cruise deal, so we will be shuttled to the Port.
We loaded into a full van; our luggage was loaded into another van. We went ot Holiday Inn and Suites, sister to our hotel, to pick up other guests.
We arrived at the Port, got in line, cleared customs, and finally got on the ship. We did muster, then went to our room to unpack. We met up with Wanda & Buck at the Serenity Deck until dinner.
We watched the ship leave Port.
We ate dinner in the Empire Room. I ordered a beet salad, salmon with veggies, creamed potatoes, and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. After dinner, we returned to our cabin, watched TV, and went to bed.
Photos
9899 Breakfast Holiday Inn Express and Suites 7:17 A.M. Omelet, Sausage links, Gravy, Biscuits, Juice
9900-9902 Walking around hotel 7:57 A.M.
9903--9914 Carnival Spirit Ship Mobile, AL @ 2:21–5:15 P.M.
9915-9917 Empire Dining Room @ 5:48 P.M. Salad, Grilled Salmon, Potatoes, veggies, Strawberry Cheesecake
9918-9919 Leaving Mobile 6:59 P.M.
Day 3: Sunday, October 25, Sea Day
Got up, took a shower, and our alarm went off. Security called to say they were coming by, but it was a false alarm. We both took hot showers, and the steam set off the alarm.
We went to Sea Day Brunch in the Empire Room around 8 A.M.
I ordered a Strawberry scone, Water, avocado toast topped with two fried eggs, two sausage links, and hash browns.
Hubby was sick all morning, so he didn't eat anything. After breakfast, we returned to our cabin, where Hubby slept most of the morning while I went onto deck 10 to walk.
Wanda, Buck, and I went to a show about excursions with a chance to win one, but we didn't win.
We met Hubby on deck 9 for lunch.
Lunch consisted of fish, carrots, pot pie, chicken nuggets, and cake. Nibbled on my food.
At 3, we did Tea Time, returned to our cabin, and sat outside on the balcony until 4 P.M.
Black Tea, Strawberry scones, cakes, mini sandwiches.
Got ready for dinner in the Empire Room. I ordered Baked BBQ Salmon, creamed potatoes, veggies, and Ice cream.
Photos
9920-9921 Breakfast: eggs, Sausage, hash browns, Strawberry scone with strawberry butter (Sea Day Brunch) @ 8:14 A.M.
9923-9924 Snacks Deck 9 @ 12:20 P.M.
9925- 9928 Tea Time @3:01 PM Hot Black Tea, Cakes, Scones, Mini Sandwiches
9929-9931 Dinner Empire Dining Room BBQ Salmon, Creamed Potatoes, Veggies, Aloo mutter Samosa, and a scoop of Vanilla ice cream.
Day 4: October 26, Monday, Key West, Florida
After breakfast, Hubby, Wanda, and I got off the ship and began walking in Key West.
We saw the Custom House, Key West Waterfront, Mallory Homesite, Naval Depot and Store House Building, the US Coast Guard Headquarters, the Sawyer Building, Hog's Breath Saloon, The Whistle Bar, Capt. Martin Hellings House. We toured the Hellings House and Key West Women's Club. I toured the Key West Lighthouse.
We stopped for a slice of Key Lime Pie ($9) and a cup of Water. We met a couple and their family at that stop, and we sat there and talked while we ate and rested.
We also saw Wicked Lick, St. Paul's Episcopal Church (1832), Tantasy Fest, the 1886 Fire in Key West, the Strand Theater (now housing Walgreens), the Funkey Chicken Store, the Wicked Guest House, and so much more.
We began walking to the southernmost point in the wrong direction, so we stopped to ask a couple for directions. They called a friend who owned a Conch CAB Service, and we took it to the southernmost point and back to the Port. He only charged $20, but Hubby gave him $30. It was hot, and we had walked several miles and were very tired.
Hubby and I shopped at the stores near the dock; we did not buy anything. We returned to the ship and had lunch at Guy's Burgers and Fries.
Someone had health problems and had to be taken to the hospital, so the ship had to wait for the ambulance to come and collect him.
For dinner, I ordered BBQ salmon with potatoes and chocolate mousse
After dinner, we went to the theatre to watch Deal or No Deal. Stopped at the photo area and purchased a duck photo for $ 12.99.
Returned to the cabin and went to bed.
9932-9958 Sunrise @ 6:45–7:05 A.M.
9959-9976 Key West arriving 7:36-8:06 A.M.M
9977 Breakfast Omelet with Tater Tots and Sausage link deck 9@ 8:38 A.M.
9978-9997 Walking in Key West 9:312-10:03 A.M.
9998-0020 Captain Martin Hellings Museum Key West Women's Club10:04–10:38 A.M.M
0021-0040 Walking Key West Duval St 11:38–11:30 A.M.
0041-00081 Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters 11:36–11:58 A.M.
0082-0102 Walking Key West and southernmost point 12:1:24 PM
0103 Lunch Guys Burgers and Fries @ 11:49 P.M.
0104- 0123 View from Ship 3:37–5:09 P.M.
0124-0170 Leaving Port @ 5:26–5:51 P.M.
0171-0173 Dinner
Bought Duck Photo $12.99
CVS $36.33 Sunglasses, drink
Day 5, Tuesday, October 27, Celebration Key, The Bahamas
We got off the ship around 9 A.M.
We walked around, looked in the shops, and bought some sunscreen and drinks.
We found some lounge chairs near the beach and sat for a while. Wanda and Buck brought their books. Hubby played on his phone, and I walked around. The Water was too cold to swim. I watched the parade and shopped.
Walked to the dining area at lunchtime, where we got chicken fingers, fries, and lemonade. The food wasn't that great, so I didn't eat much.
After lunch, it looked like rain and started to sprinkle, so we headed back to the ship.
We went on Deck 9 to see what food was available. I ordered a shrimp burrito with avocado dip.
I opened the burrito and ate the Shrimp, then ate a slice of key lime pie.
We returned to our cabin for a little while. I went on deck 2 or 3 to watch the ship leave Port. Beside our ship was another Carnival ship, the Sunshine.
While on deck, I met a crew member; she said she worked at the Guy's Restaurant. She was telling me about her adventures on Carnival; she had just returned from Alaska and Hawaii, and her next assignment was New Zealand and Australia. She said she left her family at home, and her Hubby was working on another ship in Europe.
For dinner, I ordered spring rolls (too rubbery to chew), wedge salad, grilled salmon, creamed potatoes, and Mango Passion fruit cake for dessert.
Hubby, Buck, and Wanda all ordered carrot cake. I ate a few bits of Hubby's; it was very good.
We went to the bar to listen to music but did not stay long. We returned to our cabin and watched TV.
0174 Duck Photo 8:31 A.M.
0175 Breakfast: Bread Pudding @ 8:41; the buffet fruit punch
0176 -0187 Celebration Key 10:32–11:36 A.M.
0188-Returned to ship 2:01 P.M.
0190-0204 Leaving Port 3:34- 5:08 P.M.
0205-208 Dinner 6:48
Day 6, Wednesday, October 28, Relaxaway, Cay, The Bahamas
We had to board another boat to get to the Island because our ship was too big to dock.
Two other Carnival ships, the Pride and Elation, were docked at Relaxaway, but they docked farther down the Island.
At least 6,000 people will be on the Island from the three ships.
We had an excursion at 10 A.M. on the Island Tram Clayso for $65.98 for both of us. The Island is not very big, and our excursion is only an hour long.
We rode to the tip of the Island, stopping to see the horse ranch and for a restroom break.
Our next stop was to see the stingrays, and our guide demonstrated how to get the conch to come out of its shell. She said they were good to eat. Not me, not a snail.
We ate lunch on the Island that was cooked by the crew from the ships. I ate mac & cheese, BBQ, and salad. We saw Jinkey, our waitress from the ship, at table 208.
After our excursions, we returned to the ship and went to our cabin to take a cool shower because it was so hot outside and we felt sticky.
On our way back to the ship in the tethering boat, we sat next to a woman who had lost her sign and seal card and her driver's license while swimming.
Dressed for dinner. I ordered Crispy Yuca fries and tartar sauce, fried fish with pico de gallo, shrimp salad, and key lime pie with ice cream.
After dinner, we went to the theatre to watch Family Feud.
We returned to our cabin, watched TV, and went to bed.
0209-0218 sunrise 7:24–7:40 A.M.
0219-0235 two Carnival Ships @ 8:15–8:23 A.M.
0236 Breakfast @8:56 AM
0237-0312 Excursion: Relaxaway Half Moon Cay 11:10 to see horses, stingrays, and conchs 12:09 P.M. $65.98
0313-0317 Lunchtime on Island 12:28–12:55 P.M.
0318-0320 Leaving Island on foot 1 P.M.
0321-0323 Leaving Island ship 4:57 P.M.
0324-0325 Ship walk-on deck 10 5:07 P.M.
0326--0334 Sunset @ 5:29-6:02 PM
0335-0338 Dinner at 6:40–7:12 P.M.
Day 7, Thursday, October 29, Sea Day
