Carnival Breeze 2023 Cruise Review Debarkation

Carnival Breeze 2023 5-Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 6 (Debarkation) May 18, 2023 Galveston, Texas
Scheduled Arrival: 8:00am
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Last Morning Walk Around The Carnival Breeze:
I got up early to finish packing and have time to walk around the Carnival Breeze. My alarm went off around 4:15am and by 5:00am I was ready to walk around the ship. Breakfast was starting early so my plan was to walk around for 45 minutes and then head to the buffet in-case it opened early. This morning's walk started on Deck 3. I first went into the Ovation Theater. The Ovation Theater was going to be used for Platinum & Diamond priority debarkation as well as for guests needing special assistance. The atrium lobby was mostly blocked off with crowd control ropes that were in place for the debarkation process. The only area in the atrium accessible for guests on the final morning was the Guest Services Desk.

Ovation Theater

Atrium Lobby - Close To Carnival Adventures Desk

Atrium Lobby

I walked by the non-smoking casino annex on Deck 4 during my last morning walk around the ship. The slot machines were turned off due to the gambling laws of Texas. The casino closed late in the night and would not re-open until the next cruise had sailed away from Galveston.

Smoke Free Casino Annex

Blush Dining Room

On Deck 5 I walked from the back of the deck to the front. I visited the Limelight Lounge, Piano Bar 88, Bonsai Sushi, Ocean Plaza, and continued until I got to the front. Below are some pictures taken on Deck 5:

Limelight Lounge

Piano Bar 88

Bonsai Sushi

Plaza Cafe

Ocean Plaza

Pixels Kiosk Area On Deck 5

After walking around the ship's interior areas I went up to the Lido Deck. The decking was wet and the area was empty. I was able to see Galveston in the far distance, but we were not yet close enough for me to get cell phone reception.

Lido Main Pool

Towel Station by the Lido Pool

Red Frog Rum Bar

I visited Deck 12 and walked through the SportsSquare area. The mini golf course was closed and the putts & golf balls were locked up.

Mini Golf Course

Ship's Funnel

While walking on Deck 12 I saw the Galveston pilot boat approach the Carnival Breeze. The boat was here to drop off the local pilot that would help the Carnival Breeze navigate through local waters. The light on the pilot boat was bright. The Carnival Breeze's exterior lights were turned up brighter to help illuminate the side of the ship for the pilot boat.

Pilot Boat Approaching - View From Deck 12

Pilot Boat Approaching

Pizzeria - Closed On The Last Day

Final Breakfast Of The Cruise:
I am not much of a breakfast person and since breakfast was open early, I was not too hungry. The continental breakfast and main breakfast buffet lines both opened at 6:00am. Breakfast was scheduled to end at 9:30am. The Blue Iguana Cantina was open for breakfast from 6:30am until 8:30am.
For cruisers that did not want to eat breakfast in the Lido Marketplace, the Blush Dining Room was open from 6:30am until 8:00am.

Continental Breakfast Buffet Line

Main Breakfast Buffet Line

While we were eating breakfast the Carnival Breeze approached Galveston. The ship did not turn around this morning. After breakfast I stepped outside and saw we were very close to the Harbor House Hotel & Pier 21 area. My cell phone was now working so I was able to access the Verizon network without incurring roaming charges on my phone plan. I watched us arrive in Galveston from Deck 12.

Galveston's Harbor

Pier 21 & Harbor House Hotel

Fisherman's Wharf & Approaching Cruise Terminal 25

Cruise Terminal 25

Area In Between Both Cruise Terminals

Cruise Terminal 28

Before heading back to my stateroom I went to the front of Deck 9 to look out. The Carnival Breeze was pretty much docked and it looked like a fuel barge was coming to dock alongside of us.

View From Deck 9's Front

View From Deck 9 - Pier & Gangway Below

Sunrise - View From Deck 9

I did not stay on Deck 9 too long because it was time to gather my luggage and head out of the stateroom. On my way back to Deck 2 I observed people standing around at each elevator area trying to move their suitcases. Moving luggage on debarkation day is difficult and makes elevators clogged.

Ovation Theater - View As I Waited For Debarkation

Disembarking The Carnival Breeze:
On the last sea day a letter was delivered to my stateroom that said VIFP Platinum guests were allowed to debark early and could arrive in the Ovation Theater at 7:15am prior to debarkation. This time was only for VIFP Platinum guests that were doing self-assist debarkation and did not check any luggage outside their stateroom. I arrived in the theater right at 7:15am and a crew member was seating everyone in order of arrival. Guests who arrived in the Ovation Theater first were first in line to get off. The seating was very controlled and organized. A few minutes before the ship was given clearance, the crew members working the theater made an announcement that we would be told when we could get up to leave. When the time came, the crew members went row by row to get people out of the theater in the order they arrived. By the time it was my row's turn the debarkation process was halted for 5-10 minutes due to an order. Everyone stopped, but then we were able to start moving when the crew member in the theater was given the signal. I'm not sure what happened, but at least the delay was not long.

Note: For a cruiser to get off as self assist, he or she must carry off all luggage and bags. All self assist guests would be allowed off before the general disembarkation guests.

After getting our Sail & Sign Cards scanned we exited the ship and went down the gangway. Going through customs was very quick and easy. Carnival had the Smile & Go machines setup to take our pictures. This was the process for guests that were US passport holders & used the US passport to board the cruise ship. Guests without passports or foreign visitors had a separate area where they had their documentation scrutinized by a US customs officer. Once getting my picture taken by the Smile & Go machine I walked through the terminal. Before exiting the TABC officials were asking guests to declare any alcohol purchases in order to pay state taxes. I did not have any alcohol so I did not have to worry about paying any tax. From the time of stepping off the ship, it took less than 20 minutes to be outside of the cruise terminal because of how fast and efficient the debarkation process now was.

About To Get Off Carnival Breeze

View From The Gangway

View of Carnival Breeze's Back From The Gangway

View Of Carnival Breeze's Front From The Gangway

View From The Gangway

Carnival Breeze

Outside the cruise terminal, we had to walk a little ways since the Carnival Breeze was docked at Cruise Terminal 28. I was hoping we would have been docked at Cruise Terminal 25 because the walk would have been shorter, but the walk from Cruise Terminal 28 was not bad. Within 10 minutes we were in the Port of Galveston's parking garage and on our way home!

Final Thoughts About This Carnival Breeze Cruise:
This cruise on the Carnival Breeze was great! I enjoyed the food, service, and the crew worked hard to provide us with a fun vacation.
I hope this cruise review has been informative and interesting to you. Please feel free to write to RyG's Cruise Guide on Facebook (click here for our Facebook) if you have any questions, comments, or want to know something about Carnival or the Carnival Breeze. Thank you for reading my cruise review of the Carnival Breeze and thank you for checking out my personal cruise blog.

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