OUR RETURN TO CARNIVAL
After an absence of 19 years and 20 additional cruises, my wife and I decided to try Carnival Cruise Line once again. Carnival was pictured as a good cruise experience for beginners with not quite the standards of Royal Caribbean, Princess and the like. Over time Carnival continued to grow and absorb one cruise line after another. We decided on trying the "Spirit" for an eight day "Southern Caribbean" cruise because it allowed four and a half days at sea, which we like. We browsed the internet and decided to try "Cruises Only" agency. Our agent, Yadira Usatorres, was very friendly and helpful. We booked a February 3, cruise. We eventually persuaded two other couples, friends in the East, to join us. Yardira, was again very helpful in securing good balcony locations at a very reasonable price. We had a slight problem when I tried to buy travel insurance from a company I had used before. A Ms. Eileen Cody at "Cruises Only" did a superb job getting cheaper and more comprehensive coverage for us. We booked our own flight arrangements, but booked a hotel and transfer package with them. We chose to arrive a day early to avoid flight delays, bad weather conditions, etc.
Everything went well with our departure from Dallas. Our luggage was thoroughly searched, but Security was courteous and efficient. Better to be safe than sorry. There was a clinch in our arrival in Miami. No one from Carnival was there to greet us. After some time we were able to find a representative. They had our name, but not the arrival time. They took us to a bus at the pick up area and we were quickly brought to the nearby convenient Miami Airport Hilton Hotel. It was a beautiful hotel with lovely accommodations, good food and service. One couple decided to stay right in the airport Hilton, and they were satisfied with their accommodations.