Day 1 of the trip and I’ve got to admit that yesterday, I was freaking out. I don’t know why. I have done this so many times now and yet, I still rely on lists and schedules to keep me straight. I thought that I could wing this trip. I should’ve known better. Late last night, I ended up repacking my backpack and reorganizing everything. I hate that. I had everything packed the night before like I was supposed to, but I couldn’t shake this niggling feeling that everything was wrong. Long story short, everything was wrong and I fixed it last night by rearranging everything into a more familiar layout. As usual, I have gone down a rabbit hole. Back to Day 1.

Gotta love a window seat. The flight on the way down to New Orleans, Louisiana to catch our cruise.

It is not recommended to fly to the city where your port is on the day your cruise departs. You never know what could happen that might delay you. Of the cruises I have taken, I have done it both ways: fly in on departure day and fly down the day before. Today, I will land and embark on the boat on the same day. A red-eye flight this morning to get to New Orleans in time to catch the boat was fun, but I wake up early most days anyway. That is the compromise that I use for the flying in on the same day thing. I fly in super early. I will say. on an aside, that my new laptop works great for this whole plane tray thing.

HP Chromebook 13 fits perfectly on the airplane tray!

After arriving in New Orleans, I promptly ordered an Uber to get me to the port. When you sail out of New Orleans, the arrival appointments seem to be more of a suggestion than a requirement. I was there a full hour early and there were no questions asked, they simply put me on the boat. As with any cruise, there is border control and a security check similar to an airport (but nowhere near as stringent). After that, you just weave your way through the line until you’re on the boat. There are so many things you want to do all at once when you get on board. The primary concern is eating. You want to grab some food and find a hiding place. Cruises are notorious for enhancing your waistline in a negative sense. It is easy to overeat as there is food everywhere.

I grabbed a plate of something light and made my way around the boat to find an adequate place to hide. Serenity Deck, you are my savior. The Serenity Deck is for 21 and older only and is conveniently placed next to the child care facility, though you cannot hear them from out there. There are partitions set up with big signs saying what the area is. There were not many wanderers, it was delightful.

My room was ready at 1:30 pm. That meant that I only had to deal with the chaos for an hour and a half. Despite being an avid traveler, I am not always a people person. As soon as 1:30 hit, I was off like a shot to my room and into the quiet of my own space.

Exploring the boat is always so much fun, but doing that the first day can be exhausting as everyone else on the boat has the same idea. I usually just camp out in my room for a few hours and order room service. The balcony is a great place to unwind and start your vacation, though when you are in port, it can be very warm and stagnant; depending on the port and the time of year, of course.

Eventually, I made my way out into the world to see what this boat had to offer. This is my first time on this ship and it didn’t disappoint. The food is better than I remember Carnival being before, but the staff isn’t quite as friendly. I ended up in the casino mostly. The first night is the best night to hit the casino. The slots are loose to draw you in and keep you playing. The drinks at the bar int he casino are definitely stronger than the ones by the pool were. I couldn’t believe how terrible the bar by the pool made the drink of the day.

If you are a heavy drinker (and I mean this with all respect) consider getting the alcohol package. Carnival changes the limit to the number of drinks every so often, but as of now, it’s 15 drinks per day and nothing top shelf. If you purchase the package, everyone in your cabin over the age of 21 is also required to purchase the package. You can only get it before you board, on the first day, and on the second day. It is not a day to day selection. If you drink the drink of the day, it is typically less expensive than every other drink at the bar. It used to be around $7/drink, but on this boat, it seems to be closer to $9. I don’t care about that. I opt, instead, to get a different drink for only $2 more. To achieve the highest alcohol to dollar ratio, I recommend the classic Long Island Iced Tea. It’s better than the fruity drinks loaded down with sugar water. I have gotten off-topic again.

There is a restaurant on Carnival boats called the “Pizza Pirate” that serves what the name suggests, pizza. Their pizza is more Italian style than American. The crust is thinner and there isn’t as much sauce. I am a fan. I don’t care for thin-crust pizza, in general, but Italian style pizza is my jam. They have a limited selection, but the pizzas are very good. After pizza, there was some more gambling and off to bed for a delightful, gentle, rocking sleep. I love sleeping on a cruise ship.

I hope you enjoyed Day 1 of my adventure in the Gulf of Mexico! Until tomorrow.

Thanks, y’all!