This cruise was planned in the last minute. I knew I was going on a cruise during this time period because it was during mine and my friends Spring Break time. However being in college you are dealing with a lot of people who wait forever. Finally the last week in February my one friend tells me he has the money to do it. Then we call the travel agent that I have used before (stole her from my parents who travel a lot) She found us a great deal! Once we were booked for three of us we were set to go. 4A category guaranteed....by 2 days later we were already upgraded to a oceanview....HOWEVER my step brother decided he wanted to join in on this cruise. We ended up paying 427 a piece and being in cabin # 2345. Now that it was paid for etc. it was time for me to get on cruise critic and look up what to do!

We left for Orlando early Friday morning out of Raleigh, NC. My family has always driven to cruises so I figured it would be cheaper (which it turned out to be) On a cruise I had been on before (Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas) I had met many friends. One of them I kept contact with always lets me come down and stay with him the night before a cruise. We left and go onto i-95 at about 10AM. With gas stops and food stops we made it to Orlando at 7PM. It was a Friday night and the other 3 wanted rest for the full week...BUT I wanted to go do the infamous downtown church street. Well that happened, it was crowded as always, and I do not remember much of it. Thanks to my buddy again Fred Keller for allowing us to stay at his house and show us a good time. Well the early morning came and we were already late to head to MIA. Got out of Orlando at about 9AM and were in MIA by noon. Once there we noticed lots of construction but the place is beautiful. Once arrived to the port of MIAMI we were greeted by the baggage guys and off we went to park and go inside. Once filling out the forms was done we were in line and ready to go. I would recommend NOT being hungover waiting in LINE especially in HOT Miami. It was a little slow but by 1PM we were on the beautiful Carnival Triumph.

The ship was amazing. I have been on bigger ones but this one was different. I had really wanted to do Royal Caribbean but for the price we got it was worth it. Once on we had some food in the cafe. Good food, not the best but good. Out to the pool for the bon voyage party. You could tell this wasn't going to be any ordinary cruise. I was looking around and there were college aged/young people everywhere. 18-30. The mustard drill never happened for half of us as people spent the whole afternoon putting MAD money already into the bars pockets of Carnival. (the FUN ships it is...and during the weeks of March I would not recommend anyone who wants a quiet cruise on ANY during that time) Off we sailed to the Western Caribbean. That night we would learn the places you would see most people...the piano bar (around 9/10-midnight), club HOLLYWOOD (all night long until 330-4AM, and late night pizzeria at about 4-5AM. Mark the "Piano Whore" played great tunes for everyone and the Club Hollywood is the perfect "club" I loved it. The late night pizza was awesome. My friend Bryan is a vegan and even he got served well at night. Overall the ship in general was spent at the casino, club hollywood, the piano bar and a couple other lounges every night. Read more