This was our 3rd Carnival cruise and 1st time in Miami. We flew in the day before and stayed at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami. Great view from our 7th floor window of the port. Took a cab to South Beach and spent the afternoon with another couple going on the cruise with us. Let me just say, it was much different than Myrtle Beach. Very interesting. That nite we had dinner at Bubba Gumps at the Bayside Market and listened to a band playing by the water. Even a little dancing.

Awoke the next morning to see our home for the next week out our window. Very nice. We were on the ship by noon with our first bucket of beer and tray of food. Weather turned a little wet for sailaway but we still had a good time. Took pictures from our balcony during sailaway. We had been upgraded to the panorama deck which we loved! So convenient to everything.

Half Moon Cay is a beautiful private island but the chairs were kind of crowded on the beach. Still, a very enjoyable day. We booked a snorkel with the stingrays excursion thru the ship which we all enjoyed. Read more