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Bala Travel and Tours with Jodie Lovewell

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Bala Travel and Tours with Jodie Lovewell

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Travel Advisor with Bala Travel and Tours (TICO: 5003172) with specializing in cruises, Disney and bucket-lis travel.

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween from me and Goofy at Disney's Vero Beach Resort!

At least one of us is wearing a costume!

10/30/2026

Let's talk about this morning, because it may have been the most chaotic debarkation of my 25-ish cruises!

It started off so well.

We got up at a reasonable hour, packed up the last of our stuff, and headed to the dining room for a civilized breakfast.

We'd put our luggage out the night before, and our scheduled debarkation time was 8:45 a.m. No rushing, no dragging suitcases around, just a nice breakfast before heading off the ship.

Everything was going swimmingly!

And then, around 7:15, we realized we weren't even alongside the pier yet.

Some passengers had estimated debarkation times as early as 7:15, so clearly things were running behind.

The first passengers didn't start getting off until somewhere around 8:30.

As it turns out, arriving from Barcelona rather than returning from a typical closed-loop Caribbean cruise meant clearing the ship was taking longer than usual.

And then came the announcement that every passenger would need to have their passport checked and speak with a customs officer, rather than using the facial recognition process we've become accustomed to.

And so began the waiting.

And waiting.

And a little more waiting lol

We finally got off the ship around 10:15, only to discover that we'd basically traded one waiting area for another.

The luggage and customs hall was absolute chaos!

We collected our bags, made our way through the process, and finally walked out of the terminal around 10:45.

So here's the travel lesson in all of this.

Bob and I aren't flying home until Sunday. We have a couple of days in Florida, so a delayed debarkation was really just an inconvenience.

But plenty of passengers had flights booked for noon, or even earlier.

And here's the thing: I've booked midday flights for clients myself! Under normal circumstances, they're often perfectly reasonable.

But mornings like today are a reminder that things don't always go according to plan.

A ship can arrive late. Clearance can take longer than expected. Customs can be backed up. And when you're sailing into Port Canaveral, you still have roughly an hour's drive to Orlando International Airport before you even start navigating airport security.

Suddenly, that perfectly reasonable flight doesn't feel quite so comfortable anymore!

It's why I always encourage a little breathing room in travel plans whenever possible. Sometimes everything runs like clockwork. Other times, you get a morning like this one.

And now? I'm sitting at the car rental place just down the street from the cruise terminal, waiting to pick up our car for the next part of our adventure!

Who says debarkation day has to mean the end of vacation?

10/29/2026

Well, Celebration Key was a pleasant surprise!

Anyone who knows me knows I'm not exactly a beach person, but I really enjoyed our day here!

We headed ashore around 8:30 a.m. because past experience has taught me that if you want a good spot on a private island, you'd better get there early!

Turns out we could have slept in lol There were plenty of chairs available at both the beach and the pool, even later in the morning.

We spent most of our time at Starfish Beach, alternating between floating in the ocean and sitting in the sun.

My one complaint? The shade! The umbrellas didn't do much, and there really aren't enough shady spots.

After a few hours, we headed over for our included lunch beside what might be the biggest pool I've ever seen! Then we wandered around to check out the shops and see what else Celebration Key had to offer.

We skipped the waterslides since they cost extra, and we were quite happy enjoying a day that didn't cost us anything!

All in all, a really lovely day. I'd absolutely recommend Celebration Key to my beach lovers!

And coming from someone who isn't much of a beach person, that's saying something! lol

Celebration Key has officially renewed my faith in private island stops.

What a great way to end an amazing cruise! ❤️

10/28/2026

We found our bench! ❤️

Well, sort of lol

Fourteen years ago, Bob proposed to me on a bench aboard Carnival Freedom, somewhere off the coast of the Bahamas.

Before we left for this cruise, I said there was one thing I really wanted to do — find that bench again.

Mission accomplished!

Okay, so there are actually about TEN identical benches onboard, and I'm pretty sure they've been replaced since 2012 lol

But we found one in pretty much the same spot and decided to recreate our engagement photo.

And here's the really neat part. Fourteen years later, we're once again sailing off the coast of the Bahamas!

Same ship. Same pose. Same two people. And almost exactly the same stretch of ocean.

Just 14 years older, married, and with a whole lot more adventures under our belts.

I think we did a pretty good job recreating the original!

Who knows? Maybe we'll come back and do it again in another 14 years. ❤️

10/28/2026

Tomorrow we're visiting Celebration Key for the first time!

If you haven't heard of it, Celebration Key is Carnival Cruise Line's exclusive destination on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas. It opened in July 2025 and was designed specifically for cruise guests.

The destination is divided into five areas, called portals, each offering something a little different:

- Paradise Plaza — The welcome area, home to the iconic Suncastle and its waterslides.
- Starfish Lagoon — The family-friendly area, with a huge freshwater lagoon, splash pad, beach and sports activities.
- Calypso Lagoon — A more adult-oriented atmosphere, with a freshwater lagoon, swim-up bars, music and beach access.
- Lokono Cove — Shopping, local Bahamian artisans, souvenirs and cultural experiences.
- Pearl Cove Beach Club — An adults-only retreat with an infinity pool and private beach. This area costs extra.

There are also excursions available for anyone wanting to explore more of Grand Bahama Island.

And here's something worth knowing: you don't have to book an excursion or pay for a beach club to enjoy Celebration Key! Beach access, loungers, umbrellas, the main lagoons and several activities are included. There's also a complimentary meal option at participating dining locations.

Now, here's my confession. I'm not much of a beach person lol

I could happily spend another day onboard the ship, but I'm really curious to see what Carnival has created and what the experience is like for different types of travellers.

So tomorrow we're going exploring! We're not planning to purchase any upgrades, and I'm particularly interested in seeing how much there is to enjoy without spending extra.

I'll share what we discover!

10/27/2026

One of my favourite things about transatlantic cruises? There are hardly any kids onboard.

Which means I can take over the waterslides without feeling guilty about stealing some poor seven-year-old's turn.

I've been eyeing the slides on Carnival Freedom all cruise, and today I finally decided it was time.

Both slides. Both conquered. And OH MY GOODNESS, they were FUN!

Honestly, I don't know why I waited so long!

I'm in my 40s. I probably should be lounging by the pool with a book and a Diet Coke.

But apparently I'd rather throw myself down a giant plastic tube at ridiculous speeds.

Growing older is mandatory. Growing up? Highly overrated lol

10/25/2026

Today's sea day entertainment? A little mini golf and co****le at SportsSquare! ⛳

We're now on day 5 of 8 consecutive sea days aboard Carnival Freedom, and I can honestly say I haven't been bored for a minute!

Before we left, quite a few people wondered what on earth we'd do with eight days at sea.

Turns out, there's plenty!

We've had our pick of trivia, live music, shows, movies on the big screen, games, sports and all sorts of activities. There's even a waterslide that I'm still trying to convince myself to go down! lol

But I think my favourite part is that we don't actually have to do any of it.

Some days we feel like getting involved in everything. Other days, finding a quiet spot and watching the ocean go by sounds pretty perfect.

Today happened to be a mini golf and co****le kind of day.

Tomorrow? Who knows! And that's exactly how I like my vacations.

Three more sea days to go, and I'm definitely not complaining! 🚢

10/24/2026

There are some things you do on a cruise that you probably wouldn't do anywhere else lol

Like cheering on a little plastic frog in a swimming race.

Today on Carnival Freedom, I entered the frog race, with dinner at the steakhouse up for grabs!

Unfortunately, my frog wasn't particularly interested in winning.

In fact, he turned himself around and started swimming BACK towards me, eventually finishing dead last.

So no steakhouse dinner for me, but I had an absolutely ridiculous amount of fun cheering on my frog!

And really, isn't that what vacation is all about? Sometimes you just have to embrace the cheesy stuff lol

10/23/2026

One of the little traditions of cruising is coming back to your cabin to find a towel animal waiting for you!

I think they're fun, although I know some people find them a little cheesy lol

I've even heard of people asking their cabin steward not to take them apart so they can collect an entire zoo by the end of their cruise!

What about you? Do you love the towel animals, or could you take them or leave them?

And more importantly, I think this one's a penguin. Bob and I might need a second opinion lol

10/22/2026

It's almost dinner time here on Carnival Freedom! 🍽️

I'm looking at tonight's menu and trying to make some decisions lol

I'm pretty sure I'm starting with the spinach, strawberry and feta salad.

For my main course, I'm torn between the cheese ravioli and the chicken scallopini.

And dessert might actually be the fresh fruit plate!

I've attached tonight's menu. If you were having dinner with us, what would you order?

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