Carnival Horizon: Boarding Day

We were up early excited to board the Carnival Horizon! After puttering around and enjoying in-room coffee, Sister T and I went to the breakfast room shortly after it opened at 6 am.

Boarding Day Morning

I couldn’t see any difference between today and pre-covid in terms of offering or setup. I had scrambled eggs with ham and cheese in it, bagel with cream cheese and part of a waffle. The dark roast coffee was much better than what I had in the room.

After breakfast we got ready for the day and right when I zipped up my suitcase the front desk called that our shuttle was here. We headed down, checked out and met Roberto. He loaded up our bags and collected payment before having us board (smart man).

We had one other pickup at a nearby hotel (Pullman which used to be the Sofitel). He didn’t find the original guests but four other people wanted ride to the carnival horizon and joined us. There was plenty of room in the van.

Drove through a little rainstorm as we headed to the port but it was dry when we got there.

Boarding

Got our bags to a porter went through a very short line for guests that are on time with all their stuff. Had our check-in time verified before we were let in the line. At the stand we had our documents checked before heading through security and upstairs to the “official” check-in. No line there and we were quickly through.

Just after finding seats and sitting down, we were called to board (A1 through A3). Then up and around and finally onboard after doing the facial recognition thing.

First order of business was restrooms which I knew the nearest ones from my recent Carnival Vista cruise. Most things are like the Vista but the ones that aren’t confuse me. 🙂

First sight upon boarding the Carnival Horizon

Lunch

Then off to find lunch. We decided on pasta and headed to Bella Pasta up on deck 11.

Our table had a nice view of Miami.

The foccacia was very good.

I enjoyed the caesar side salad.

There was more chicken buried under the noodles and the it was just the right amount.

We tried to buy the dining package at the front on our way out but they didn’t have vouchers. After taking in a view of the aft pool, we headed down to the buffet for dessert.

I think this was the coffee gelato.

Followed by a selection from the cake bar.

Next on our agenda was to take care of the muster station check-in. Ours is the aft dining room on deck 3. It was done in about 5 minutes.

Afternoon Aboard

We went out to the back deck and ordered sodas while waiting to get into the cabins.

Sister T stepped away to find the smoking area on deck 11 when it was announced it was okay to smoke around 1 pm. It was very nice out. We stayed there until they announced rooms were ready at 1:15 and headed down about 1:30.

Remember last cruise when I was given a cabin number that didn’t exist? This time we get to our cabin and the keys are there BUT they don’t work at all. Either one.

We didn’t see any room stewards around so I found this poor woman delivering luggage and asked her if someone could let us in our room to drop our carryons after she confirmed we’d have to go guest services. She called and told them so someone would come but to no avail I later learned. Meanwhile Sister T stayed with the luggage (our checked bags were there already) and I went to guest services.

Along the way I bought our dining packages.

Thankfully the line for diamond/platinum was fairly short and I got new keys made and headed back. The regular line was very long but they were moving people quickly.

Once in our cabins I wanted to unpack before resting. We figured out how to divide up the storage space and got to settling in.

I like the personalization touch on the tv screen.

Before we knew it, it was time to sailaway. We watched from our balcony and I really enjoyed sailing by all the other ships in port with us.

First the Carnival Legend which didn’t have guests. I enjoyed the horn battle between the ships.

Then the MSC Meravigila which had very few guests that waved at us.

The biggest, Symphony of the Seas, had lots of friendly guests and we all waved at each other.

Evening Aboard

By the time that was done and we were out into open waters, it was time for predinner cocktails. I headed to my favorite watering spot at sea, the Alchemy Bar.

It was busy — it usually takes people a day or so to find this but apparently there are a lot of seasoned cruisers onboard. I found a seat at the back table and Susie came and took my order.

This is a purple sunset with vodka instead of rum.

Yummy! Met two “bar friends” (Sister T makes “smoking friends” lol). Then it was off to dinner at JiJi’s.

JiJi’s Specialty Dining

We were seated at a table for six at the window.

We had made reservations while at lunch after checking out the menu in the MDR and not being excited about it. You can see the menu from my Carnival Vista sailing a couple of months earlier.

I started with the Thai iced tea.

We also got an amuse boche from the chef which had potato and cheese I think.

We decided to order the chicken spring rolls and pork belly.

I loved the spring rolls but was not a fan of the pork belly.

I prefer more bacony pork belly. Then our entrees came starting with peppered beef.

Next was the pork stew.

Our sides were the hakka noodles and chicken fried rice.

The peppered beef was good but way more pepper than the last time I had it. I couldn’t have seconds. Not a fan of the pork but loved the noodles and rice.

Then it was dessert time. Sister T got the rose crème brulee.