We cruised the Victory out of Miami on April 26. We left Middle Tennessee with frost on the ground and arrived to 78 degrees and sunshine in Miami. This made cruise number 8&9 on Carnival for us. One more in December and we will reach #10 to earn Platinum status before they change the system for the loyalty program. We arrived at 10:30 AM in Miami. At the airport baggage claim area, we noticed a Carnival check-in station. I thought this was just for those who had transfers to the port through Carnival, but I went over there to ask them where the ship was docked in port so we could tell our cabbie if needed. The Carnival rep was very helpful. He said this was a check-in station here so we could get processed quicker at the terminal. Sure enough, we handed him our documents, and they were able to take our security pictures there and print off our sail-and-sign cards. They gave us a placard to give to a representative at the terminal to show that we were already checked in. We took a taxi to the port. (Much quicker than waiting for the Carnival transfer. If you get a transfer from Carnival, they make you wait until the bus is full and then they take the whole group to the cruise terminal.) Cab fare is standard. $24.00 per regular taxi. NOT per person like Carnival transfers are. The taxi vans could carry more people and I think they cost a little more but would still be more economical for a family or if you have another couple wanting to share a cab fare. Cab dropped us off directly in front of the terminal. We had already printed off our luggage tags online, and put them on our bags, (Bring a midget stapler) so the porter took our bags, and we walked right inside the terminal, handed the greeter our placard from the airport check-in and just flashed our sail and sign card thereby bypassing all the lines to check in. We were able to board very quickly. Lido was ready for us to eat lunch. Our cabins were ready by 1:00 and we got our bags very quickly this time.

Our first port was Key West. You can tell it is an American Port. We docked at 8:00, and none of the shops were open right outside the port. In most caribbean ports we have ever travelled, the shops open as soon as the first cruise passenger steps off the ship and close up when the cruise ships leave. We walked around and found a kiosk for the Conch Train. We were able to buy 2 tickets to the train and added on Truman's Little White House and Hemingway's house. The worker was very helpful. She said that would be about all we would have time for. She was right. If you are allergic, don't go to Hemingway's house. He had lots of cats and their descendants roam the property at will. My regret is that we didn't eat on Key West. I would like to have had authentic conch fritters and key lime pie.

Our second port was Cozumel. We have been to Cozumel several time. Our favorite trip was for a ride on the twister jet boat to Passion Isle. The sand is fine and they have beach chairs, floats and water toys. But the excursion is pricey. We decided to take a taxi to Paradise beach. The taxi ride was $14.00 one way. We walked onto the beach and claimed two beach chairs with an umbrella. A worker came around and collected $2.00 per person for the use of the chairs and gave us a wrist band. The flyer about Paradise Beach Resort said there was $2.00 per person for beach chairs and there was a required minimum purchase of $10.00 per person for food or drinks. We never saw anything posted at the resort about a minimum food purchase, but we did order some drinks from the bar. There were waiters coming around who would take your order and bring it to your beach chair, but I just got it myself. Needed to at least get some exercise, right? They also had three computer stations set up at the bar. Internet access was complimentary but they had signs posted to limit your time to 15 minutes. I never used it, but I saw someone check their facebook while I was ordering my drinks. Read more