A winter in the Caribbean

And we’re off. We’re as in me and approximately 4200 of my closest friends onboard the Carnival Venezia.

The last four days in NYC were magical. Friends, shows, piano bars, anonymity…public transportation.

I got my passport renewed in-person in five hours versus the normal 4-6 week process, which was really the reason for coming so early before I kicked off eighty-eight nights of cruising. (With maybe 6 hotel nights thrown in). Seven different cruise ships, something like twenty-two different islands in the Caribbean and then six different stops on the west coast of Mexico and California.

It’s hard to believe as I type it. One would think it’s expensive, but it’s much less expensive than living in Grand Junction for the same amount of time and I’ll be surrounded by beautiful beaches, ports and get to meet hundreds of new and interesting people. On which I thrive.

The camera, which has been kept in the hotel room in NYC for the last several days due to hard and cold rain, got quite the work out today as we were leaving port. The lighting and sunset against the building and Statue of Liberty was beyond perfect. Yet another pinch me moment.

Now I sit at the Frizzante Bar with Volya (Belarus) sipping on one of their five varieties of Espresso Martinis and work here on my travel blog. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but no complaints, and zero regrets.

I can’t wait to see FA, Will and Craig, Nicole, meet Gabe and Rob, Fun Squad friends from previous sailings… and curious and intrigued for all of the new friendships and connections. We around bound by a love of travel and wanderlust.

I spend the next twenty-four nights onboard the Carnival Venezia, literally the most beautiful and well-designed Carnival ship I have been on. She’s a stunner. The best of the Panorama class meets Italian charm and design. It’s a definite step up even compared to the newer and larger Excel class in my humble opinion. I do have some reference after 30+ ships against five or 6 different cruise lines.

Last night was dinner (excellent food, service was slow but the excellent food made up for it), more wandering around the ship, piano bar, homo happy hour (LGBTQ mixer), comedy club and back to the piano bar. Climbed into bed around 1a.

Three sea days before a Thanksgiving celebration in St Maarten. I think I could get used to this. I may already be.

Cole from Colorado

or wherever the wind may blow and the ship sail.