Carnival Breeze 2021 4-Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 1 Part 1 December 2, 2021 Galveston, Texas
Scheduled Departure: 3:30pm
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Day 1 Part 1 December 2, 2021 Galveston, Texas
Scheduled Departure: 3:30pm
Click Any Photo To Make It Larger!
View of the Carnival Breeze From EZ Cruise Parking
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Arriving Early In Galveston & Parking:
My alarm went off at 5:00am and I got up quickly because of being very excited to cruise again! After getting up I showered and finished packing a couple of things that I would need for the cruise. My last cruise was before the Coronavirus shutdown and throughout 2020 kept re-booking my cancelled cruises hoping that eventually Carnival would be allowed to start sailing again. Since it had been so long since my last cruise I was extra excited and could not wait to finally be back onboard again! Before leaving the house I did a check to make sure I had my passport, negative Covid test result, original paper vaccine card, and boarding pass. After triple checking we had all of the required documents and everything else we needed to pack, we got in the car and started heading to Galveston. We parked at EZ Cruise Parking again this cruise. Prior to the day of the cruise, I booked parking through EZ Cruise's website. Upon arriving at the lot, we showed our online receipt and were directed to a check-in area. The lady working the check-in gave us a ticket to place on the car's dashboard and within minutes we were parked. We just missed the shuttle heading to the cruise terminal by a couple of minutes so we had to wait about 10 minutes before the next shuttle departed. Our shuttle driver was friendly and the ride to the terminal was smooth. |
The Carnival Breeze was docked at Cruise Terminal 2. I was a bit surprised this was the case because typically on Thursdays the Carnival Breeze will be at Terminal #1. A tanker was docked at Cruise Terminal 1 taking our spot. The EZ Cruise Parking shuttle driver dropped us off at Cruise Terminal 2 and told us that when the cruise ends on Monday that we can look for the EZ Cruise Parking shuttle to go back to the parking lot.
Carnival Breeze - View From The Shuttle
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Carnival Breeze Docked At Cruise Terminal 2
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View Of The Ship From The Cruise Terminal
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Arriving At The Cruise Terminal & Check-In
After we arrived at the cruise terminal, we dropped our suitcases off with a porter. There were several porters waiting around the outside of the cruise terminal collecting luggage from guests that were boarding the Carnival Breeze. The outside of the cruise terminal was very crowded as guests from the prior cruise were still debarking the ship and guests for our cruise were arriving. We followed the signage to the main door to the cruise terminal. The doors to the cruise terminal were already open (this was earlier than I expected) and we had to show our boarding pass in order to enter. The staff working the front door reminded everyone to put on a mask and that it must be worn in the cruise terminal at all times. Once inside the cruise terminal we were directed to a lady checking our vaccine cards and Covid test results. The lady checking our papers was very detailed. She looked over every detail on our vaccine cards & Covid Test results and matched the personal identifying information to our passports. After going through this checkpoint we were directed to go through Security. This involved having belongings sent through a scanner and us walking through a metal detector. There were multiple lines open at Security and this part of check-in did not take long. Next, we were directed to check-in. The lady working this counter asked for our passport and boarding pass. She scanned our passports and looked at our boarding passes. Once this was done, we were directed to the escalator to the 2nd floor of the cruise terminal. On the 2nd floor we were told we could sit anywhere and that boarding would begin in a little while. While waiting inside the terminal I walked to the windows to try to get a glimpse of the ship. The time of waiting inside the cruise terminal passed quickly, but was uncomfortable due to having to wear the mask. |
Starting The Boarding Process:
Around 10:30am a lady came over the cruise terminal loudspeaker to announce boarding was going to begin soon. The announcements included information about how the boarding process would work as well as what to expect once on the Carnival Breeze. Most of the announcement felt like a sales pitch for the Cheers alcohol beverage package and Bottomless Bubbles soda package. The Carnival Breeze's boarding process was based on the zone assigned on each guest's boarding pass. First guests with "Priority" printed on their luggage tag were allowed to board. These guests were staying in suites. Due to the Covid procedures VIFP Platinum & Diamond guests did not have priority boarding like in the pre-Covid world. Next, boarding zone A01 was called. This was my boarding zone and when called I jumped up to get in line. The process for getting on the ship was a little different than in prior cruises. Carnival has implemented technology called "Smile & Go" that involves taking a picture of each guest during boarding. This photo checks every guest into the ship. The line for this photo did not take long and within minutes I was walking up the gangway. On the gangway a line of guests formed because the terminal staff stopped the movement of guests to allow for wheelchairs to be brought off the ship into the cruise terminal.
Around 10:30am a lady came over the cruise terminal loudspeaker to announce boarding was going to begin soon. The announcements included information about how the boarding process would work as well as what to expect once on the Carnival Breeze. Most of the announcement felt like a sales pitch for the Cheers alcohol beverage package and Bottomless Bubbles soda package. The Carnival Breeze's boarding process was based on the zone assigned on each guest's boarding pass. First guests with "Priority" printed on their luggage tag were allowed to board. These guests were staying in suites. Due to the Covid procedures VIFP Platinum & Diamond guests did not have priority boarding like in the pre-Covid world. Next, boarding zone A01 was called. This was my boarding zone and when called I jumped up to get in line. The process for getting on the ship was a little different than in prior cruises. Carnival has implemented technology called "Smile & Go" that involves taking a picture of each guest during boarding. This photo checks every guest into the ship. The line for this photo did not take long and within minutes I was walking up the gangway. On the gangway a line of guests formed because the terminal staff stopped the movement of guests to allow for wheelchairs to be brought off the ship into the cruise terminal.
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View As I Crossed The Gangway
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Boarding & Officially On The Carnival Breeze!
The embarkation process for this cruise was very efficient and was the best experience for boarding compared to every other cruise I have been on. After crossing the gangway, I was officially on the Carnival Breeze!!! We entered the ship on Deck 3 (Lobby Deck) in the ship's atrium. The first thing I noticed was the ship's Christmas tree and atrium garland. This was the Carnival Breeze's first of several Christmas cruises. Crew members were directing guests to their assigned muster station as the Safety Briefing protocols have changed to allow guests to complete the Safety Briefing at their own time prior to sailing (more on the new Safety Briefing protocols in Day 1 Part 2's review). We walked towards the elevators to head up to the Lido Deck for lunch. The elevators were being operated by crew members to help direct guests. I asked the elevator operator if we could go straight to the Lido Deck for lunch before doing the Safety Briefing and she said yes, but we needed to complete the Safety Briefing as soon as possible. |
I headed up to the Lido Deck (Deck 10) first because I wanted to eat at the ship's buffet. In order to get to the ship's buffet I crossed through the Lido Deck level of the atrium and passed by the ship's main Lido pool. Since boarding had just started the pool area and deck chairs were empty, but later in the day would be filled with people. On sea days the pool area and surrounding deck chairs were popular.
Deck 10 - Atrium
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Lido Main Pool Area
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Lido Main Pool
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First Lunch on the Carnival Breeze:
The Carnival Breeze's buffet is called the Lido Marketplace. As a side note, sometimes I will refer to this buffet as the Lido Marketplace and other times may keep it simple by just calling this area the Lido Buffet. Once I was in the buffet, I saw several different food lines to choose from. The front area of the buffet had two main buffet lines and the ship's Mongolian Wok. The back area of the buffet had another two main buffet lines, the deli, and the main dessert station. Outside the buffet near the main Lido pool, guests could eat at Guy's Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina. At the very back of the deck, by the ship's aft pool guests could eat the 24 hour pizzeria or buy food at the Seafood Shack. The Carnival Breeze had several Lido buffet food options to choose from on this day of the cruise! Below are a couple of pictures of the Lido Marketplace:
The Carnival Breeze's buffet is called the Lido Marketplace. As a side note, sometimes I will refer to this buffet as the Lido Marketplace and other times may keep it simple by just calling this area the Lido Buffet. Once I was in the buffet, I saw several different food lines to choose from. The front area of the buffet had two main buffet lines and the ship's Mongolian Wok. The back area of the buffet had another two main buffet lines, the deli, and the main dessert station. Outside the buffet near the main Lido pool, guests could eat at Guy's Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina. At the very back of the deck, by the ship's aft pool guests could eat the 24 hour pizzeria or buy food at the Seafood Shack. The Carnival Breeze had several Lido buffet food options to choose from on this day of the cruise! Below are a couple of pictures of the Lido Marketplace:
Lido Marketplace Buffet Tables
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Lido Marketplace
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During my past few cruises I have tried to get pictures of the food offered on the buffet line to show in my cruise reviews. I enjoy taking food pictures and when not on a cruise will look back at these pictures to remember all of the great food that there is to choose from. Here are some pictures I took of one of the main Lido buffet lines, which includes some of the salad bar fixings:
Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace - Main Buffet Line
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After looking at what was offered at the ship's main Lido buffet lines, I walked over to the dessert station. The Carnival Breeze's dessert station at lunch typically had 6 cakes to choose from, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, and jello. Besides the dessert station, both sides of the buffet had ice cream and frozen yogurt machines. These machines could be found near the front of the buffet on both sides.
TIP: The cake flavors are not typically repeated during the cruise. If you see a cake flavor available one day you need to get it when you see it because it will likely not be available later in the cruise!
Here are some pictures of the ship's dessert station:
TIP: The cake flavors are not typically repeated during the cruise. If you see a cake flavor available one day you need to get it when you see it because it will likely not be available later in the cruise!
Here are some pictures of the ship's dessert station:
Dessert Station: Orange Jello
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Dessert Station: Sugar Cookies
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Dessert Chocolate Chip Cookies & Red Jello
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Dessert Station: Elderflower Cake (Vanilla Sponge Cake)
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Dessert Station: Peanut Butter Smores Cake
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Dessert Station: Citrus Cake With American Butter Creme
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Dessert Station: Funfetti Cheesecake
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Dessert Station: Soya Custard Torte
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Dessert Station: German Chocolate Cake
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My first stop at the buffet was the Carnival Breeze's deli. I got a Bacon Lettuce Tomato (BLT). There was a guest in front of me in line and it took a couple of minutes for their sandwich to finish before my order was taken. The crew member working the deli was friendly and she was quick to get the sandwich made. The sandwich tasted great and the bacon inside was crisp! After eating my BLT I walked to the Blue Iguana Cantina and asked for shrimp tacos. The shrimp taco with guacamole was very good. For dessert I ate some Funfetti Cheesecake. The Funfetti Cheesecake tasted great, except the icing was kind of bland.
My family and I all had very different plates for lunch. Here are some pictures of the various things we ate for lunch:
My family and I all had very different plates for lunch. Here are some pictures of the various things we ate for lunch:
Burrito From The Blue Iguana Cantina
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BLT From The Deli
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Looking Inside My BLT From The Deli
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Plate Of Food From The Main Buffet Line
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Reuben Sandwich From The Deli
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Shrimp Tacos From The Blue Iguana Cantina
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Funfetti Cheesecake
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Cookie & Fruit From The Dessert Station
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Touring The Carnival Breeze After Lunch:
After eating lunch I was excited to take my first walk around the Carnival Breeze. I started on the Lido Deck (Deck 10) and walked up to Deck 11. The weather outside was very sunny with only a few clouds in the sky. It felt great, especially considering this was a December cruise.
After eating lunch I was excited to take my first walk around the Carnival Breeze. I started on the Lido Deck (Deck 10) and walked up to Deck 11. The weather outside was very sunny with only a few clouds in the sky. It felt great, especially considering this was a December cruise.
Umbrella & Chairs On Deck 11
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Looking Down At The AFT Pool From Deck 11
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Deck 11: Looking Towards The Front Of The Ship
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From the back of Deck 11 I walked up to Deck 12. The back of Deck 12 is home to the Carnival Breeze's SportsSquare area. SportsSquare on the Carnival Breeze includes the ship's basketball court, some outdoor fitness equipment, jogging track, mini golf course, ropes course, and several games tables (such as billiards and foosball). Below are some pictures of the Carnival Breeze's SportsSquare area.
Deck 12 - Basketball Court
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Deck 12 - Seating By The Basketball Court
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Deck 12 - Outside Fitness Equipment
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SportsSquare: Foosball Table & Mini Golf Course
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SportsSquare: Mini Golf Course
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SportsSquare: Billiards Table
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SportsSquare: Mini Golf Course & Ropes Course Above
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Looking Towards Pelican Island & Texas A&M Galveston
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Parked Rigs Along Pelican Island
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I walked towards the front of Deck 12. While walking I passed by the ship's Lido Deck (Deck 10) main pool area. From Deck 12 I was able to look down at the pool area and saw several people were already lounging in the deck chairs. I will have some pictures of the Lido main pool in future parts of this review. The Carnival Breeze's WaterWorks is at the front area of the outside portion of Deck 12. The WaterWorks was already open for the day, but I noticed that there were no guests using any of the slides or splashpad. On the Carnival Breeze, the WaterWorks consisted of the Twister Waterslide, Drainpipe Waterslide, mini racing slides for children, and a splashpad. The entrance to the Twister Waterslide and Drainpipe waterslides was on Deck 15 and the landing to the slides is on Deck 12.
Carnival Breeze's WaterWorks
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Carnival Breeze's WaterWorks
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WaterWorks & Looking Towards The Back Of The Ship
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WaterWorks - View From Deck 14
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Entrance To The Waterslides On Deck 15
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The next part of Day 1's review will start with my walk up to the Serenity Adults Only Retreat on Deck 15.
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Click Here For Our Facebook Page I will be sharing review updates, cruise tips, and more! Carnival Breeze Fun Fact #1:
The Carnival Breeze is 1,004 feet long and has a gross tonnage of approximately 130,000 tons. Gross tonnage is a measure of the ship's interior space. Onboard the Carnival Breeze there are 1,845 guest staterooms and the ship has a double occupancy of 3,690 guests. Due to the Covid protocols, I do not know the exact occupancy of this cruise but the ship was sailing at a reduced occupancy compared to pre-Covid cruises. |
Up Next: Day 1 Part 2 Is Now Posted!
Due to taking many pictures on Day 1, I had to split it into 2 parts. Day 1 Part 2 includes many more pictures & information about the Carnival Breeze including the Serenity Adults Only Retreat, some interior areas of the ship, Self-Mustering, sailing away from Galveston, our first dinner onboard, and the Welcome Aboard Show. Click Here To Go To Day 1 Part 2's Review! Click Here To Return To The Review's Mainpage |