TEA AT SEA

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”
Psalm 24:1-2

The seas were calling, so we set sail on the Carnival Fascination for a 5 Day Key West and Nassau Cruise! 

 

 

 

However, two encounters were very unexpected.  First, temperatures were quite different as we sailed south since we seldom saw the sun and a couple days were even rainy – this was the view out of our cabin window most days!! 

Second, there were numerous opportunities to experience tea at sea and in port!

 

Here is a glimpse of our special time with old and new friends:

Day 1 – Departure from Jacksonville, FL

After boarding, lunch, settling into our cabins and a short nap, we were off for our first multi course dinner which most nights started with a soup and ended with an array of desserts and for me a Bigelow’s Orange Spice tea!

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner, my husband and I toured from top to bottom to get our bearings for the days ahead, went to the evening Showtime and ended the day back at the cabin with our 1st towel animal – a dog!

Day 2 – Fun Day at Sea

Breakfast, then off to the Spa for a head to toe Managers Special including a therapeutic massage, scalp massage, foot massage and my first ever facial!

 

 

 

 

Next off to Tea Time at 3:00 in the Club 88 Piano Bar where the unique tables were set for Afternoon Tea and included an amazing cart of tea time savories (cucumber and smoked salmon tea sandwiches), scones with clotted cream, and numerous sweets (mini glazed donuts plus holes, raspberry tarts, orange sponge teacakes and chocolate macaroons) plus your choice of teas including one of my favorites Earl Grey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Captain’s Dinner was Cruise Formal and included all you could eat lobster – as you can see the 6 of us enjoyed several . . .

 

 

 

. . . plus we celebrated a 47th Anniversary with our table mates Jim & Donna!

 

 

 

 

Showtime dance performance and our 2nd towel animal – an elephant – completed our day.

 

Day 3 – Key West, Florida

The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

 

Off early for fun in Key West including a City View trolley tour, butterflies, key lime pie featured on a Bobby Flay throwdown, roosters and a tea & spice shop!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key West Tea & Spice Trading Company

Dinner included a few of my favorites of the cruise:

Tropical fruit plate

Jerk pork with yams, fried green beans, plantain chip and fried rice! 

Tiramisu

Showtime was a passenger talent show (we didn’t participate!!)

Our 3^rd towel animal – a dino!

Day 4 – Nassau, the Bahamas

Rain dampened our day a bit, but we did enjoy a little shopping and a horse drawn carriage tour, however we had to settle for a iced chai tea & brownie at Starbucks when we couldn’t find a place to get a cuppa!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we headed back to the ship – just before the real downpour, I spotted these teas in the Straw Market.

Vanilla, Banana & Pineapple Bahamian Rum Tea

 

A table favorite dessert  – Warm Melting Chocolate Cake served with two ice creams as Mickey Mouse ears!

Showtime was “Battle of the Sexes” and the women won! 

Our 4th towel animal – a bunny!

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5 – Fun Day at Sea

Began the day in the Spa with a hot stone massage then later that afternoon another tea time at the piano bar – this time with friends Susi and Cindy!

 

 

 

A few different treats!

Chocolate mini donut & hole, coffee macaroon and lemon curd tart with scone & cucumber sandwich plus Earl Grey tea

 

 

 

 

 

Our last dinner with our fun waiter staff starting with a cold asparagus soup and ending with baked Alaska- Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final Showtime was “Far From Over” - all about the 80’s music and dance and sadly our final towel animal – a frog!

Today we headed home to recuperate!!

                                                                                                   Joyce