Search This Blog

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Carnival Glory Cruise: 4-day Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral

 January 2025

We were on the Glory from Port of Miami in 2011. You can find more information about the ship in my previous Glory blog post .


View from Carnival Glory in Port Canaveral

Arrival and platinum check-in ~ Port Canaveral

The last time we cruised from Port Canaveral, our ship was docked at terminal 5, so we had to get a ride out to the pier, as there is no way to walk to that location. This time, Glory was docked at terminal 3, which is located across the street from two Holiday Inn hotels, so we were able to walk to the port. Arrival and check-in was the smoothest we have ever experienced with Carnival. This port has a waiting room for diamond and suite guests. We were platinum, and our waiting area was outside this room. After guests in the private room boarded, we were next. We are on board at 10:40 AM. 


Cabin 6233 on Carnival Glory


Interior cabin 6233 category 4D

I had not noticed that this cabin is above the showroom until shortly before departure. We have stayed on deck 6 before; just not in a forward inside room. After I saw this, I tried to contact our PVP to see about changing rooms or upgrading. The first time I contacted her, she told me there was nothing available. She told me to check with her again after we had completed check-in. I called her and sent her an email after we had checked in, and she never got back with me. After we boarded, I stopped at guest services to ask about a different room. The person I spoke with said there was nothing available; however, she did not look at our cabin number or check anything on the computer. In hindsight, I should have approached guest services again after the first night, and given them our room number. During our 4-day cruise, the late night comedy shows were in the front showroom, rather than the comedy lounge, so the music and noise vibrated inside our cabin until midnight. There was only one night this cruise when there was not a late night show in the front showroom. I do not suggest this cabin, unless you do not plan to sleep until after midnight.

This video was from one of the quietest evenings in our cabin. Noise was not the only thing we disliked about the cabin. The bed was hard, and the two twin beds they make into a king bed would not stay together. The lumpy pillows had a stale odor, as if they needed to be cleaned, and I had to request laundry bags from our room steward. After the poor sleep quality on this ship, I was not interested in another Carnival cruise when we disembarked.


Platinum Aft dining room on Carnival Glory

Food and beverages

Food was pretty much the same as I wrote in my previous Glory blog post. The only food item I recall being disappointed with was the turkey wrap from the deli. It was dry and did not taste fresh. Lobster is not served on elegant night on 4-day cruises. The Carnival drink package has gotten outrageously expensive. We have purchased this in the past, when it was around $50 a day; however, for $80+ a day, we did not even consider it for this cruise. We each brought a bottle of wine on board at the beginning of the cruise instead. We also purchased a bucket of six beers for the week, as they are each $1 off when purchasing the bucket. You can get this at any bar.


VIFP gifts on Carnival Glory

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Cape Canaveral, Florida: Holiday Inn Club Vacations Beach Resort

January 2025, Sunday night

Above: sunset from Holiday Inn Beach Resort Cape Canaveral building 2
Below: property map for Holiday Inn Club Vacations Resort Cape Canaveral


Arrival and platinum perks

I reserved a standard king guestroom with points, and received an upgrade to a two bedroom villa. We arrived early, and the front desk agent said she would put in an early check-in request for us. We checked our luggage, then returned our rental car, and walked back to the property. I am not sure the early check-in request really did much good, because we did not receive a call saying our room was ready until over three hours later, shortly after 3:30 PM. After we received the call, we returned to the front desk to get our checked luggage, and then waited a few minutes for the property tram, as our villa was in building 2 at the far end of the property. We arrived at our villa around 3:45 PM. It did not appear that anyone had recently stayed in this villa. Since check-in time is 4:00 PM, I guess the early arrival request got us into our room a few minutes early! 😆 😳

We absolutely loved our villa upgrade, even though we did not have much of a view. It was much more fabulous than a regular hotel room.

Villa 2312 in Holiday Inn Club Vacations Beach Resort Cape Canaveral


Guestroom villa #2312

The villa number matches the building number, floor, and then unit number. We were in building 2 on the 3rd floor, in unit 12.

Villa 2312 in Holiday Inn Club Vacations Beach Resort Cape Canaveral
Below: view of cruise ships leaving port from our balcony in villa 2312

This villa is a complete living unit. The living and kitchen areas were spacious, and the balcony contained a table and chairs. The view overlooked the pedestrian walkway. The channel was beyond the walkway, although you could not see the water due to the shrubbery. 

Villa 2312 in Holiday Inn Club Vacations Beach Resort Cape Canaveral

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Tifton, Georgia: Hilton Garden Inn

January 2025, weekend, one night

Guestroom 333 in Hilton Garden Inn Tifton, Georgia


Arrival and diamond perks

I redeemed points for this stay, and received my 750 bonus points after the stay. I checked in on the app before we arrived, and chose a room on the top floor (4) near the end of the hall. When we arrived over an hour after check-in time, the front desk agent said this room was not ready yet, so she reassigned us to guestroom 333. I inquired about a room upgrade, and she said there was not anything available. She assured me this was a great room in a quiet location.


Guestroom 333 in Hilton Garden Inn Tifton, Georgia

Guestroom 333

This guestroom is a basic king bed guestroom with a suitcase bench, large flatscreen TV, one soft chair, and a desk and chair. It is located at the end of the hall, and it was quiet in the guestroom. The bed mattress was acceptable comfort; however, I thought the bed linens at the Holiday Inn where we had stayed the night before were much better quality.


Guestroom 333 in Hilton Garden Inn Tifton, Georgia

I assume that all guests in this hotel receive complimentary water, as there were two bottles in our room, and this room had not been pre-assigned before our arrival. The room also contained a Keurig coffeemaker with supplies, ice bucket, a small fridge, and a microwave.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Columbus, Indiana: Holiday Inn

January 2025, weekend, one night


Arrival and status perks

I reserved a standard king guestroom online for this stay, and received an upgrade to a king suite before we arrived. I checked in online, and stopped at the front desk to get our keys when we arrived around 7PM. My bonus points posted to my account the next day.

Suite 334 in Holiday Inn Columbus, Indiana 


Guestroom

I loved the location of this guestroom. It is in the corner on the top floor. It was spacious, quiet, and comfortable. The living area contained a sofa, soft chair, desk and chair, suitcase bench, small tables, large flatscreen TV, microwave, mini-fridge, and Keurig coffeemaker.


Suite 334 in Holiday Inn Columbus, Indiana 

The bathroom shower had a nice glass door. Bath amenities and good quality soft towels were provided.