Carnival Horizon Day One
Ahoy there, fellow landlubbers! Buckle up as we dive into the glitz and glamour of Day One aboard the Carnival Horizon. Spoiler alert: the journey begins before you even step foot on the ship.
Parking Like a Pro
Let’s talk parking. If you’re driving to Miami like I did, do yourself a favor and don’t get suckered into port parking fees. Enter Rightway Parking (through We Park Miami, because branding). For about $14 less per day, you can leave your car in a lot that’s not sketchy at all (wink) and hop on their shuttle. They’ll drop you off at the baggage handlers, who—brace yourself—expect a tip for touching your suitcase.
Embarkation: A Breeze... With a Side of K9 Drama
Checking in at the port? Shockingly smooth. No, really—it was so fast and organized I almost forgot I was in Miami. Just don’t get too excited yet. Before the x-ray machines, you’ll meet a friendly K9. Pro tip: cruise lines are still very much not okay with your weed stash. Shocker, right?
Oh, and Carnival has decided to play fun police—Bluetooth speakers? Confiscated. So now, instead of enjoying your playlist on the Lido Deck, you’ll be forced to endure Jimmy Buffett’s greatest hits on repeat. Cheers, Carnival.
Boarding Zones: Survival of the Fanciest
Once you’re through security, you’ll wait for your boarding zone to be called. Unless you’re part of a wedding party or have Platinum/Diamond status, in which case you’re probably already sipping champagne on the ship. For the rest of us peasants, there’s a lounge with seats—if you’re lucky enough to snag one.
Welcome Aboard the Carnival Horizon
At 133,500 gross tons, the Horizon is technically large, but don’t expect it to compete with the floating cities in Carnival’s fleet. Think of it as the fun-size candy bar of cruise ships—big enough to impress, small enough not to overwhelm.
For this voyage, we went all-in with a Havana balcony cabin, because nothing says vacation mode like exclusivity. Havana is a private oasis featuring two hot tubs, a pool with jaw-dropping aft views, and bartenders who could teach mixology at Harvard. Want to win at cruising? Tip your bartender. Seriously.
Havana Heaven
The Havana area is spotless. The staff is on deck-scrubbing duty so often you’d think they’re auditioning for a cleaning product commercial. Our room was cozy but functional, with enough storage space to make Marie Kondo proud. The cabin stewards are absolute gems—flash them a $20 early on, and you’ll be treated like royalty all week.
Dinner: Surf, Turf, and Culinary Bliss
For dinner, we hit the main dining room. Let me tell you, Carnival did not skimp here. I went all out with the steak and lobster surf-and-turf upgrade. Worth every penny. The rest of the menu looked amazing too, but once lobster’s on the table, who’s even looking?
Final Thoughts on Day One
So far, the Carnival Horizon is living up to the hype. From seamless check-in to Havana-level luxury and that divine surf-and-turf, it’s already shaping up to be an unforgettable cruise. Stay tuned for Day Two, where I’ll undoubtedly discover more ways to spend money and sip cocktails I can’t pronounce. Cheers to that!
