Journey In Focus

We already felt like VIPs with Chef Jorg’s visit to our table in the Main Dining Room on Elegant Night. Then we had the pleasure of meeting him again during the Behind the Fun Tour earlier and he acknowledged us and our Chef’s Table reservation for later in the evening. Chef Jorg also spotted us at the Lido Buffet as we were getting lunch and reminded us not to eat too much because he had a special meal planned for us. Wow, that’s special! We all met at the Atrium Bar - our home away from home - and at 6:15 p.m. Chef Jorg came to whisk us away for an evening we soon wouldn’t forget. Want to feel like a VIP AND a Celebrity? Simple, just participate in the Behind the Fun Tour prior to ... read more

Tonight was the Deck Party and late-night Mexican Buffet ... woo hoo! We decided to grab our cameras and photograph some of the festivities. Shooting at night allows for some slower shutter speeds ... which really helped bring out the impression of movement from the dancing, don’t you think? INSIGHT: When shooting with slower shutters there is a high chance for blur (obviously). While we do want some motion blur to happen ... movement of dancing, etc ... there should also be something stationary in the frame (such as the Carnival Paradise name) to give the viewer a reference. Stabilizing the camera and using a remote or the timer for the shutter is a must. We wanted to make good use of the lighting available. The Lido Deck on the Carnival Paradise was especially pretty with ... read more

While looking online at the different shore excursions Carnival offers for Ensenada, I kept bypassing the City & Shopping Tour because, quite frankly, the name didn’t sound very interesting at all. I am glad that I pressed further and read the description because once I did I found we would be traveling by bus to three different stops in three hours. The first stop was the Riviera Del Pacifico, “a glamorous resort and casino during the roaring 20s.” Our second stop would find us visiting Bodegas de Santo Tomas, “the oldest winery in Mexico and taste its famous wines.” And finally, our tour would leave us some time for “browsing around the city’s main shopping district” before returning to the ship. Now, that sounds way more interesting than the name of this excursion implies. So, the ... read more

Once back on the ship from our day in Catalina we headed up to the Lido Buffet for lunch then off to see what was happening on deck. Boy, there was a lot going on both on the ship and off! On the ship, the water slide was in full use and the kids looked like they were having a great time. The hot tubs were filled to the brim with sun-worshipping cruisers. Security was working overtime enforcing the 'no kids in this hot tub ... they can only be in that hot tub' rule. And all the while, onlookers were enjoying the show ... like us! We were still anchored and Catalina proved to be a luscious backdrop for all of the afternoon's activities. Off the ship, we watched parasailers being pulled by like ... read more

There is so much to do when you first get on the ship! But, now we can go outside and see what's going on for Sail Away! But first ... Safety Drill We were Lifeboat Station #5, but we had to meet in the Normandie Main Lounge and then be led here by Carnival Team Members. Hopefully, we won't have to use this emergency system during the trip ... I don't think I could find my way here myself! Also, back in the day (as my kids say) we had to go the the Muster Drill with our Life Vests on. Not anymore. I guess they got tired of looking at a sea of tourists in orange vests all blowing their emergency whistles and making 'original' jokes about the ship going down ... am I the ... read more