Sometimes you just need a Spring Break Cruise.  There is something about the beginnings of the warm weather that just makes you want to hop in the car and drive (a really long ways) down to Miami for a cruise.  Ok…maybe not the driving part.  But every spring I swear we’re not going anywhere for Spring Break.  We’re going to stay home and do some cleaning or paint the spare bedroom or something. 

We still haven’t painted the spare bedroom but we have gone on a cruise for spring break too many times.  Sometimes we go to the beach instead…but cruising is cheaper. 

So…after a very long drive we made it to Miami the night before the cruise.  We slept in and got to the port around lunch time. 

Getting onboard the Carnival Vista in Miami was the fastest experience of my life.  At least after we left the parking deck.  We handed our bags off literally at the curb and then walked onto the ship. 

There were no lines.  We walked past the photographers and right on board.  When we cruise with family or friends we will stop for pictures, but if it is just the two of us…we never stop for those pictures.  It makes getting on and off the ship so much faster.  We sped past the photographs and right onto the ship. 

There is something so exciting about stepping into the atrium of the cruise ship.  I know some ships enter you into a hallway, but I love that almost all Carnival ships enter into the lobby.  There are people everywhere, people drinking already at the bar, staff trying to sell you things, giant towel animals and honestly chaos.  But I love that chaos.    

Elevators on embarkation day are always crazy and we try to avoid them.  So we found a friendly looking set of stairs and headed up to lunch. 

I tried to start the cruise right with a salad.  The plan after that was my favorite food onboard Carnival – Guy’s burgers – but the line was too long so I just had some cake instead.  That’s roughly the same in terms of calories, right? 

We swung by our room after they opened them at 1:30 to check out our extra-large balcony. No couch, but lots of balcony space.

This was not our first trip on the Carnival Vista, but I wanted to review what cool features were on this ship, so we wondered around until time for the safety briefing.  Our safety briefing was in the aft dining room and was a very painless experience.  I always appreciate when I don’t have to line up outside in the Florida heat to listen to them tell me how to put on a life jacket.  If I didn’t already know how to put one on I’m sure them telling me wouldn’t help.  But on the other hand, it is nice to know where you would go if there was an actual emergency. 

After the muster drill we hustled up to the top deck for the classic sail-away photos. We like to stop by the sail-away party, but what we really like to do is watch the shore get further into the distance. Especially in Miami – it has the prettiest skyline.

We had a set dining time and were hoping for some interesting dining companions but were disappointed to find we were dining by ourselves at our four-person table.  The waiters were great and we chatted with one of our waiters about where he was last time we were on the vista and if he knew our previous waiters. 

After warm chocolate melting cake, there was only one place we wanted to be.  Our balcony.