When we decided to go on our early winter trip (PV in December) we thought we would need to, or I should say we would really like to, have another winter escape. Although I must say winter really has not been too bad this year, we missed the worst of it while in Puerto Vallarta :) I spent some time over the summer trying to find an inexpensive and easy trip to somewhere that would be warm. Anyone who knows me well knows I LOVE to research and plan trips! We decided on a short 7 day cruise and picked this cruise so we could get back to New Orleans, we just love it there and have not been back since Hurricane Katrina, so over 10 years. The other perk about leaving from New Orleans, which really does not require another because it is such an amazing place, were the flights. For us it will be a few hours shorter and a few dollars less than if we were to go to Fort Lauderdale or Miami. We have been to Fort Lauderdale enough.
We are also looking forward to checking out a Carnival cruise, they typically are less expensive than the other cruise lines. We have only sailed one other time on Carnival and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Granted that cruise left out of San Juan Puerto Rico, was a wonderful itinerary, and of course leaving from San Juan speaks for itself! Originally I booked an inside porthole room, these are really great rooms, you get 2 portholes which offer light and a bit of view for the inside price. There are very few of these rooms on a ship so they go quick. After our PV trip I kept watching the price of our cruise and one day the balcony state rooms went on sale for a deal too good to pass up so I called and changed my reservation. Dave has never had a balcony room, I think he will love it.
As we pack I have to keep reminding myself that I will be on a cruise ship and not in Puerto Vallarta, which means I have to keep reminding myself I don't need numerous tank tops and shorts. What I will need is a bit more of a dressy attire, skirts, tops, dresses, jewelry, sweaters (they keep ships too cold) fancy purses (sorry good old crochet bag you stay home this trip). I will of course take my floats since we will be spending some time on beautiful Caribbean beaches along with my new purchase, a water proof/underwater camera. So excited about this purchase as it will also come in handy at the lake :)
I really would like to keep up this blog while on this little winter get away and will try to post when I can but it will be a challenge due to that fact I will not have internet access while on the ship, I will have access in some ports but not sure I want to take my phone with me as I hate to leave it unattended on a beach! On the ship I can pay 16.95 a day for internet, can purchase day by day, so who knows maybe I will purchase for 1 day and publish the blogs I wrote, otherwise they might not come through until we get back to New Orleans at the end of the cruise. But I am for sure going to write the blog every day using my phone as I have always done so they will be brief. I have never written in a diary or journal and have enjoyed doing this for myself as a travel journal. Wish I would have done this on our Europe trips, guess I will now have to plan another one of those so I can journal one!!!!
I wanted to end this post with a few picture from our last trip to New Orleans, but obviously it was before we had iPhoto, so no pictures. I will end with some a list of what I am looking forward to on this trip.........
New Orleans: Gumbo, Cafe Du Monde's beignets, red beans and rice, pecan pie, jazz, street musicians, Preservation Hall, wandering the streets in the French Quarter and the Garden District, Royal Street, French Street, Mothers (debris sandwich) Jackson Square.
Carnival Dream: Balcony State room!!!!, cruising down the Mississippi River, walks and runs on the promenade deck, watching the waves crash along the ship, watching the sunset over the ocean, watching the sunrise over the ocean (maybe), reading on deck in the sun, chocolate melting cake with extra ice cream, wine on our balcony, coffee on our balcony, comedy club, piano bar, beaches, swimming/floating in the warm beautiful caribbean blue water, snorkeling, exploring, five course dinners and seeing Grand Cayman (we will get there yet, third times the charm)
I am looking forward to these moments along with many more :)
We stopped and got a handmade praline to share :)
Loved this sign:
We had an early dinner to beat the crowds at The Gumbo Shop. I had Gumbo (voted best in New Orleans so they say) Dave had the Creole Combo ( jambalaya, shrimp creole, red beans and rice) finished with pecan pie :) yummy. We ate here on our other trips and just had to return for old times sake! 
We wandered towards French Street to hear music and happened up one this fabulous duo:
