Carnival Cruise for Jonathans 18th birthday. DAY ONE (....and there were 4 days)

We started our journey with a drive down to Galveston on Thursday 27th.
The destination being Calica, not a quaint Mecican town or village but a but a Granite company docking station.

Calica and surrounding area had been subject to 53 hours of 'Hurricane Wilma' with winds of over 180 Miles per hour. Trees were still severely damaged, but the beach we were driven to was intact and very beautiful.

The Cruise Company Ports in Mexico we could have been going to were still too damaged to take the ships.

We returned back to Galveston on Monday 1st May in the morning.

As with most of life....It's not about the destination.....,its about the journey.

Here are some highlights from our journey.

Arrival on the ship and sail away:
We arrive in Galveston to find that Carnival have switched Ships on us.
The Elation we were supposed to be on became the Ecstacy. They are sister Ships and supposed to be no difference between the two.

The Ecstacy had just come back out from a refit having been requisitioned last year by FEMA for use as a base for FEMA and rescue personnel helping out with Hurricane Katrina relief.

Jonathan's first comment of the day may give the impression that he is not very compassionate.

Jonathan: “You mean to say were going on a ship that is full of evacuees....? ...... oooow no !’
....but this was his birthday treat and I can only assume his primary concern was how he was going to enjoy his birthday sharing a room crammed in with people from New Orleans that we did not know.

We checked in and got through customs, as in effect we were leaving the USA and heading into International Waters. There are a few complex forms to fill in relating to residency and credit card details.
Then they give you the card to be able to access the ship and charge drinks, and for anything you purchase in the ships stores. On previous Cruises on Royal Caribbean and Princess you get One key for all things. Carnival give out a key for the room and a key for ship access and purchases.
Helping Jonathan understand the obvious proved to be an interesting excerise in helping him understand:
Jonathan: ” Which is the room key? "
The ‘Check in Agent’, ‘Dad’, ‘Mum’ , Helen , together, individually and repeated several times “……the room key is the grey one with the holes in, and the other card is to get on and off the ship and to charge drinks to. ......Shall we say it once more”
Jonathan “Ok. Just wanted to be clear”. “Now once again the ....………OK ...now I understand the grey one is the room key and the other card for the ship”
Everyone: "ok good"
About an hour later once on the Ship...
Jonathan….”Does anyone know where my room key is?”

The key was later found in Jonathans back pocket. And Timothys view on the subject.......

During the refit of the Ecstacy in my view they missed a perfect opportunity to tastefully redecorate the ship, but after a few days one got used to the 'Assault on the Senses'.

Carnival claims to be the 'Fun Ship' Cruise Line. Someone was certainly having some fun with colour in the decor...

Here is a typical walkway to the elevators.

I don't take 'mind enhancing' drugs but I imagine this maybe something like what people see when they are having a 'bad trip'.

The Central Area with restaurants, cafes shopping the Pursers desk, Shore trip desk, Casino, bars, restaurants theater, etc all accessable from this atrium.

If you like Neon this is the place for you. They turned it green for the second two days.. (Imagine changing all those bulbs :-) ).

I was given a late birthday present on Helen's arrival in the US, from Mum. A healing Gem neckless, with a typed out note about all the healing qualities of this gemstone. As I put on the bulky neckless, with about as much support from the family as a rotting jock strap....I guess the usual kind of conversations for us in a way.

Hazel : “Oh boy You look like Medallion man”

David “Its healing me and it looks great”

Tim: “O Gay Dad, lets go to eat now”.

David: "Timothy, did you just say OK?"

Jonathan: “ Please tell me I’m adopted”

Guess what Jon. You got one as well....

Anyway, Jon, Tim. Helen and I, headed down to the Buffet for much needed food. Now over the period of the 4 days I visited the pizza place several times, sometimes twice in a day, or so...... They did Great Anchovy and Capers Pizza. Jonathan and I believe were the only people who ordered that. The guy serving told us it would be a 'special order' and would take 6 minutes to cook. Everyone else on the cruise seemed to be eating Peperonni Pizza that came out in factory production line style. People would look at the selection eyeing up the choice of 10 or so different types of Pizza on display,then come out with their much thought about choice ......." Pepperoni please". Some I believe would just grunt and point and Peperoni pizza would be handed to them and they'd go on their way.It got to the point that each time I walked into the buffet area and approached the Pizza counter the guy would smile knowingly and just say "6 minutes?" I'd smile back and wait for my Anchovy Pizza to be ready. I Shared half with Jonathan.

Jon also shared his experiences with me about his time working at 'Pappa Johns Pizza'. If anyone ordered Anchovy on their pizza, (about once a month) no one liked touching the anchovies. That would explain once when I ordered delivery with anchovies on the side I got a tin of anchovies for me to open myself. What is wrong with these fish ? They are great !

Whilst eating I talked with Tim, comparing our first impressions of Carnival with other cruse lines we had been on.

Timothy: “I prefer the other cruises, because I did more fun things and met more people”
David: “Timothy you have only been on the cruise an hour, seen the room and then headed straight for the buffet…..maybe give it some time?”

In an attempt to keep off sodas , Coke and Sprite he tried the fresh lemon drink

I think the photos express the extent of the zesty lemons.......

Wow !

Jonathan had mentioned to Helen, that Hazel, as with every vacation, at some point during this cruise, Hazel would say the following sentance....'This is the kind of weather that can really can get you tanned'. I agreed this was extremely likely to happen....

I guess for the British who supposedly don't see much sun (even if living in Houston for over 10 years) it is part of the deep seated psyche that a tan is good for you and a holiday is the time to get looking that way at least on the bits people see..

Standing on the front of the ship it was warm. the wind blowing, clear sky there it came, the comment , out of the blue...

Hazel: “This is the kind of weather that can really can get you tanned ”.

Jon and I stood there speachless and just looking at each other. Helen smiled, we all laughed.....……The stars were twinkling in the dark night sky it was around 10.00pm. . Sorry Hazel but due to the timing of the comment it deserved a mention…It was dark, very dark, and the sun was shining in another Hemisphere and not the US, but that small detail aside...Yes, maybe.

Well the purpose of the weekend was to celebrate Jonathans birthday and this was most certainly very much on his mind. In the UK he can legally drink at 18, publically (and also in Mexico...get the picture).

Yet in the US he is still Mummies little boy until 21 years old. So what can you do in the US at 18. Well Jonathan had already thought it through and let us know.

Jonathan: "When I’m 18, as soon as I get back to the US, I’m going to a gas station to buy some porn and a packet of cigarettes coz that’s about all you can do when you’re 18 in America. Well whilst your there.......could you fill the car up......

Jonathan during a pre birthday, nosing over my laptop screen.

David “hey,,,,don’t be so damn nosey….”

Jonathan: “ Dad, I guess I’m just a Curious George”

David: “Well your a bloody annoying one….”

Jonathan planning the other activity he can do at 18 years old.

Jonathan: to Helen.. .”Helen you can please go on the adult topless deck until Sunday, because I’m 18 on Saturday and Sunday I’m going up there and really don’t want to see my Aunt topless."

David: to Joanthan, “Mum said that she was on the topless deck earlier aparently. When looking for her I was going to look up there but decided not too. Wasn’t sure I could cope with the sight if I found here there”.

Jonathan: oooooowww no ! Who goes up there ?

Hazel: “from what I saw the topless deck is full of men hanging around waiting for women to take their tops off”

After the days events we'd meet up at the formal dining room at the 8.00pm seating, with just enough room on top of the Pizza's for a 4 course meal and some wine and coffee. A good opportunity to meet and share the days events. Except that was, for Tim who found it an interruption to the continious round of socializing and activities with his friends.

Timothy: “I’m showered dressed and ready for the evening. To save time , under my nice shirt is a T shirt and under my nice trousers I have my shorts on, so that once dinner is finished I can quickly take off my nice clothes and hand them to you, then I can go an meet my friends.”

Helens first Cruise:

If your wondering where the pictures of Hazel are...well after this we lost her for over 4 hours...Found her sometime later in the Casino....

Whilst meandering around the ship minding my own business my camera in hand two cute girls came up to me.....

Two cute Girls to me on the back deck “excuse me Sir" (The 'Sir' word always a sad thing to hear from cute girls when they address you, it implies a big age gap and they thought I was older than them) "Can you please take a photo of us both with our camera”

David “ Certainly”

The girls “Hang on let us just take our T shirts off”

David “ok” (slight camera shake and thinking…so this is what they mean by Carnival being the Party Ship?).

SO they took their T -shirts off and I took the photo.

(they had bikinis on under their shirts by the way, but my heart rate did increase slightly).

DAY TWO....to follow shortly....