Caribbean Cruise:  Tampa - Grand Cayman - Cozumel, Mexico on the Carnival Paradise

Our dear friends Jamie and Abby were married on October 14, 2023, and set off on their honeymoon, a Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas. It was the first cruise for both of them, and they were thrilled. Jamie—whom Abby affectionately calls OJ, short for “Other Jamie”—and I, both seasoned cruisers, did our best to prepare them for the adventure ahead. Just a few days later, we were happy to hear that they had safely returned from their honeymoon and were already planning their next voyage: an anniversary cruise. They invited us to join them for a 5-day Caribbean cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico, and we gladly accepted! Though the trip was still a year away, we had our upcoming adventure in France to look forward to in the meantime.

Jamie and I have been on numerous cruises, but we had never sailed during hurricane season or departed from Tampa, FL. Our cruise was set to depart from Tampa on Monday, October 14, 2024. As the weather became increasingly volatile in late September, we anxiously monitored the news. Hurricane Helene was forming in the Caribbean and made landfall on Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 storm on the night of September 26, 2024. Florida was hit hard, but the storm caused most of its devastation in North Carolina. It was a truly heartbreaking event for those in the affected areas.

While people were still recovering from the destruction caused by Helene, news of another hurricane dampened spirits yet again. Hurricane Milton, the second-most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico, made landfall in the Big Bend region as a Category 5 storm. It also impacted the Gulf Coast of Mexico and the northern Yucatán Peninsula. On October 9, 2024, Siesta Key, just over an hour south of Tampa, took a direct hit. In the aftermath, we closely monitored the Tampa Bay port, which had been closed in preparation for the storm.

Our ship, the Carnival Paradise, was at sea during the storm and was scheduled to return to Tampa on the 10th. With the port closed, it became clear that this plan would be disrupted. The Carnival Paradise was supposed to leave again on the 10th and return on the 14th for our trip. As we continued watching the news, it became apparent that the cruise directly before ours would be canceled. Withe the cruise at sea, there was no way for them to return safely to Tampa.  Passengers were either bussed back to Tampa from Miami or allowed to stay on board and return to Tampa on Monday, October 14, 2024, hopeful that the port would be open again.

During this time, we received updates from Carnival indicating that our cruise was still scheduled to depart, but there was a possibility it would leave from Port Canaveral instead of Tampa.

Despite the uncertainty, we had already decided to drive to Florida. So, on Saturday, October 12, 2024, we set off for either Tampa or Port Canaveral, unsure of which it would be and not knowing what kind of damage, flooding, or road closures we might encounter along the way.

Journey to Tampa from Indiana

Saturday, October 12th, 2024 and Sunday, October 13, 2024

Our adventure began on Friday evening when Jamie and Abby drove down from Warsaw, Indiana, to Frankfort, a two-hour trip, to spend the night at our place. After a quick homemade breakfast the next morning, we packed up and hit the road!

The drive flew by as we caught up on life, sharing stories and laughter. Road trips are the best for reconnecting and simply enjoying the company of good friends.

Our first notable stop was Buc-ee’s in Smith’s Grove, Kentucky—a must-stop for any road trip enthusiast. Known for its clean restrooms and smoked brisket, Buc-ee’s didn’t disappoint. A brisket sandwich in hand and refreshed from the stop, we continued south, mindful that over a million people were still without power in Florida. Unsure whether we could stay in Tampa due to hurricane damage, we decided to press on and assess the situation upon arrival.

Abby had a friend in Kissimmee, Florida—conveniently located between Tampa and Port Canaveral—so we aimed to reach Kissimmee that evening. Normally, it’s a 15-hour drive, easily manageable with two drivers switching off. However, traffic in Chattanooga was brutal, turning the journey into a stop-and-go grind that set us back by hours.

Late into the night, we made another stop at Buc-ee’s in Warner Robins, Georgia. With hurricanes Helene and Milton having recently wreaked havoc across the South, hotel rooms were in short supply. So, in true road trip fashion, we made the decision to catch a few hours of sleep in the car—four adults over 40, squeezed into an SUV in a parking lot. Not exactly comfortable, but it definitely added to the adventure!

By Sunday morning, we decided to drive straight to Tampa to assess the hurricane damage and, if possible, find a place to stay. The landscape showed clear signs of the storm—flooding, debris, and battered homes—but the Florida sun was shining, and locals were already hard at work cleaning up. We made it to the Tampa Port around 2 p.m., relieved to find that access to the port was possible.

Just as we arrived, Carnival sent us a welcome update: our cruise would be departing from Tampa after all! With that good news, we set our sights on Kissimmee, where Abby’s friends graciously hosted us for the night. They welcomed us with warm hospitality and fed our weary souls—a much-needed comfort after our long, eventful drive.

The adventure was just beginning!

Cruise Day 1: Monday, October 14, 2024

I woke up to the irresistible aroma of coffee and bacon, courtesy of our gracious hosts. As I wandered downstairs, the Florida sun was streaming through the patio windows, lighting up the morning. With a steaming cup of coffee in hand, I stepped outside onto the patio—and was greeted by a yard full of wild turkeys! Osceola turkeys, to be exact. In all my years of visiting Florida, I had never seen turkeys running free like this. Our hosts were feeding them, and the turkeys seemed more than happy to stop by for breakfast.

After a leisurely breakfast (and, of course, another cup of coffee), we loaded up the car, thanked our hosts, and hit the road to Tampa. On the way, we came across some roadkill—nothing unusual, except this time it was a bear cub! That was definitely a first for me.

We arrived at the port around noon, parked the car, and hauled our luggage over to Port #3 to board the Carnival Paradise. The check-in process was smooth and fast, and before we knew it, we were on board and headed straight for our room on the Empress Deck 7. Ocean view, naturally! After checking out our room, we made a beeline for the Lido Deck to grab lunch at Guy’s Burger Joint. If you’ve never had the pleasure of a Guy Fieri burger on a Carnival cruise, you're missing out—they’re incredible! Guy Fieri teamed up with Carnival back in 2011 to bring his signature burgers to the high seas, and they definitely don’t disappoint.

With lunch behind us, drinks in hand, and the sun shining, we headed up to the Sun Deck for the Sail Away Party! Though we were scheduled to depart Tampa at 3:30 p.m., the ship didn’t set sail until 5:30. No word from the Captain or Cruise Director Johnny about the delay, but we later heard it might have been due to late arrivals. Either way, the drinks were flowing, the company was great, and we were officially on vacation!

After watching the Florida coastline fade into the distance, we headed back to our rooms to get ready for dinner in the main dining room. When you’re on a cruise, food options are never in short supply. From fine dining in the dining room to the casual buffet, deli, salad bar, pizza, and even ice cream on the Lido Deck, there’s something for everyone. We love the dining room experience—the food is fantastic, and the staff usually put on some sort of entertainment for the guests.

Dinner was delicious as always, but the highlight of the night came at the piano bar. Andy from Argentina had the crowd singing along to everything from Billy Joel to Morgan Wallen to the Talking Heads. At one point, it was just the four of us, and we ended up with a private concert—an unforgettable experience!

After hours of music and laughter, we made our way back up to the Lido Deck for some late-night ice cream and snacks before calling it a night. Tomorrow promised a fun day at sea, and we couldn’t wait to see what adventures awaited!

Fun Day At Sea!

We slept in a bit, lulled by the gentle sway of the ship, and woke up ready for a relaxing day at sea. First stop? The dining room for Carnival’s famous Sea Day Brunch! Eggs Benedict, waffles, and, of course, a steaming cup of coffee were the perfect way to start the day.

With brunch behind us, we headed up to the Lido Deck to soak up some sun. A few hours of sunbathing, people-watching, and working on a word search was just what the doctor ordered. October in Indiana means chilly 50-degree weather, so the 90-degree sunshine was an absolute treat.

For lunch, we stopped by the Deli—Jamie had a ham and cheese sandwich, while I opted for a tomato and mozzarella one. Afterward, we spent the afternoon wandering through the Fun Shops and trying our luck in the casino. We don’t usually gamble, but it's all in good fun, and a portion of the proceeds goes to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Jamie even won a little, which meant more money for cruise cocktails!

That evening was "Cruise Elegant" night, where everyone dons their best formal wear, and the photographers are out in full force. While it’s always fun to dress up, we had a Chef’s Table planned for later in the trip, so we decided to keep things casual and enjoy dinner at the Lido buffet and marketplace instead.

After dinner, we caught our first onboard show: the Epic Rock performance. It was a high-energy musical theater production featuring rock hits and iconic movie soundtracks. The cast was full of enthusiasm, making for an entertaining evening.

We called it an early night, excited for the adventure awaiting us the next morning—we’d be docking in Grand Cayman and had plans to swim with the sea turtles!

Grand Cayman Adventure: Swimming with Sea Turtles

I awoke with a surge of excitement—it was finally time to swim with the sea turtles! We started the day with a quick breakfast on the Lido Deck before heading down to our meeting point for the ferry ride to Grand Cayman for our much-anticipated excursion.

The ferry ride was short, only about 10 minutes, and soon we met our tour guide and boarded a bus for the *Amazing Turtle Wildlife Adventure* at the Cayman Turtle Centre. Our bus driver, Bess, gave us a mini-tour of the island along the way. Grand Cayman is the largest of the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory, with George Town as the capital and the famous 7 Mile Beach nearby. The island itself is about 76 square miles and 22 miles long—small enough that the high gas prices (around $8 USD!) aren’t too bad.

When we arrived at the Cayman Turtle Centre, we were greeted by Benny, our wonderful guide. He introduced us to Sparky, a 70-year-old sea turtle weighing in at about 550 pounds! Sparky has laid tens of thousands of eggs over the years, and it was incredible to meet such a majestic creature. We also got the chance to pet juvenile turtles and even saw some predators in the predator tank.

Next, we made our way to the beach area, where we donned our snorkeling gear and headed into the water to swim with the turtles and other marine wildlife. The experience was beyond words—floating alongside these gentle giants was truly magical.

After several hours of snorkeling and soaking in the beauty of the sea turtles, we headed to Schooner's Bar and Grill for a well-deserved lunch. I indulged in a Cayman Sunset cocktail, and our waitress, originally from Cuba, shared that she'd been working at the Cayman Turtle Centre for 16 years. Fun fact: Cuba is just a quick 45-minute flight from the Cayman Islands!

We had planned to visit the turtle hatchery, but unfortunately, the season had ended, so no baby turtles were around to see. Before we left, we popped into the gift shop for some souvenirs and exchanged a few US dollars for Cayman currency as keepsakes.

As the afternoon came to a close, we caught the ferry back to the ship, reflecting on the unforgettable day with the turtles.

Once aboard, it was time to prepare for the evening’s highlight: The Chef’s Table—a private dining experience featuring a multi-course gourmet meal, fine wine, and a tour of the ship’s galley. The menu was a creative mix of exclusive appetizers, entrées. like duck, sea bass, lobster foam, and desserts. The experience comes with free-flowing red and white wine, sparkling wine to start, and coffee or tea to end. It’s an extra expense, but one we would splurge on again in a heartbeat!

By the time we finished dinner, we were in a full-blown food coma and headed straight to bed. Tomorrow, we’ll be exploring Cozumel, and we can’t wait!

Cozumel Day: Tequila, Beaches, and Adventure!

Today was all about going with the flow—no planned excursions, just a casual day exploring Cozumel and catching some beach time when the moment felt right. Having been to Cozumel a few times before, Jamie and I knew what to expect. The day started with a bit of wind, rain, and humidity—typical tropical weather—but we were ready to make the best of it.

We docked directly on the island, which meant no need for a ferry ride. As soon as you step off the ship, you're funneled through the duty-free shopping area. Here, you can stock up on cigarettes, alcohol, and souvenirs. Believe it or not, some people cruise to Cozumel solely for the duty-free deals, never venturing beyond the port! But for us, Cozumel is an island that feels safe and far removed from any cartel concerns on the mainland.

Once we made it through the maze of duty-free shops, we found ourselves in Three Amigos, where the party had already kicked off. We couldn’t resist stopping for some jello shots, and Abby had a particularly fun time with an enthusiastic employee pouring shots and blowing a whistle with every pour! From there, we bounced between shops, trying tequila shots along the way, before crossing the street to visit a little hidden shop that Jamie loves. He always haggles for a specific kind of tequila here, and it’s become a bit of a tradition. Each passenger is allowed to bring one liter of alcohol back on board, which gets stored until disembarkation day.

With our tequila in hand, we braved the waterlogged streets (thanks to the rain) and caught a taxi to a beach resort. Our driver, “Coach,” took us to Buccanos Beach Club. Despite the brewing storm in the Gulf, which brought strong waves and cloudy skies, we still enjoyed a few hours of beachside margaritas and pure relaxation. The occasional rain shower couldn’t dampen our spirits!

Before heading back to the port, Coach made a quick stop at a small Mayan ruin memorial, giving us a great photo op. He even shared that he’s of Mayan descent and speaks Mayan, Spanish, and English—a cool tidbit that added a personal touch to the day.

Back at the port, we wrapped up the afternoon with some more souvenir shopping before heading to the ship. After a refreshing shower and a casual dinner on the Lido Deck, Jamie and I decided to try our luck at the Deal or No Deal show. It’s Carnival’s onboard version of the classic game show, and we watched as a lucky passenger, Cameron, won $1,000! The energy was contagious.

As the evening progressed, the storm started picking up, and the waves became stronger, hinting at a wild ride ahead. Tomorrow is our last full day at sea, and we’re ready to enjoy it—stormy seas and all!

A Rocky Day at Sea: Rest, Relaxation, and Laughs

With no plans on the agenda, we indulged in the luxury of sleeping in. Well, *some* of us slept better than others! The sea had gotten pretty rough overnight, with winds kicking up to 30 miles an hour. While I let the gentle (okay, maybe not so gentle) rocking of the ship lull me to sleep, Jamie didn’t fare as well—apparently, all that motion wasn’t his idea of a restful night!

Once we were up and moving, we met our friends for a Sea Day Brunch in the dining room. But as luck would have it, our plan to soak up some sun was quickly squashed—the skies were overcast, and the wind was still strong. After breakfast, I wasn’t feeling my best and had to retreat to the room to rest for a bit. Meanwhile, Jamie and Abby braved the cooler breeze on the sundeck, holding out hope for a break in the clouds.

A couple of hours later, after lounging in the room, watching Harry Potter, and filming the dramatic waves outside, I felt well enough to head out. Walking around the ship, it was clear the rocky seas were taking a toll—lots of kids (and some adults) were struggling with seasickness. Thankfully, watching the horizon helped, and I managed a light lunch—just a salad and some Starry to settle my stomach. We spent a bit more time on the Lido Deck, enjoying the cool air while keeping our eyes on the distant horizon for any signs of smoother sailing.

The afternoon turned into a quiet, cozy retreat in our stateroom. We watched movies and listened to the rain patter against the windows—definitely not the sun-soaked day we had imagined, but a restful and relaxing one nonetheless. Sometimes, these unexpected, slower moments are the best parts of a vacation.

In the evening, we decided to make the most of our last night aboard and headed to the dining room for one final meal with our friends. Fine dining, good company, and, of course, Carnival’s famous molten chocolate cake!

After dinner, we made our way to the Normandie Lounge for the Love and Marriage Show, a cruise classic. Cruise Director Johnny picked three couples from the audience—a newlywed couple, a couple married for over 15 years, and the longest-married couple, who had been together an incredible 56 years! The show is always full of laughs, as couples answer questions to see how well they know each other. As expected, tonight’s answers were hilarious, and we were laughing along with the whole crowd.

With the show over, it was time to head back to the room and start the dreaded task of packing. Tomorrow would be debarkation day, and while we were sad to see our adventure coming to an end, we were grateful for the fun, relaxation, and memories made during our time at sea.