On Day 3 of the Carnival Horizon, we got to see a bit more of Amber Cove. We had a great time with our fellow cruisers and saw some amazing sights!
The carnival horizon returns is a blog post about the third day of the Carnival Horizon. It includes pictures and descriptions of what happened on Day 3.
No matter how many cruises I take, no matter how many days I spend at sea, I never get tired of getting up early to enjoy this view.
Another advantage of getting up early, besides having most of the ship to myself, is that I can go to the gym to work out and make sure most of my fellow travelers are still asleep after last night’s fun.
The ship soon set sail for our first port of call, Amber Bay. Although some people mistakenly think of Amber Cove as a private island, it is actually a cruise port in the Dominican Republic
We are the first ship to call at Amber Bay since March 2024. One of the strange things about returning to sea voyages is that we often wonder how long it has been since the ships set sail. Conversations on board almost always begin with the words How long has it been since you were on the boat? or finally reaching them.
I’m sure at some point we will forget the last 15 months.
Or, if it is not forgotten, it will be the kind of thing that is remembered less and less. Hey, remember that time…
But so far, there are many moments that have happened for the first time since then, including this one.
Although everything seemed back to normal on the boat (if you didn’t look too closely), we had to put our masks back on to go ashore in Amber Bay. We had to keep them on to walk or shop, but you could take them off to lounge by the pool or eat.
Most people spent their time at the main pool or strolling through the shops.
I was very lucky. I often talk about the importance of using a travel agent, but one thing that probably isn’t mentioned enough is the benefits they can often offer you. Sometimes it can be something as simple as a bowl of fruit in your room or a voucher on board. Sometimes more.
It was one of those moments where it was really more. Much, much more. Because my travel agent – who had several friends, clients and colleagues on board – booked a cabin for us.
But it wasn’t just any cabin. Welcome to the large cottage at Amber Cove, which can accommodate up to 20 people and is the perfect place to spend the day.
Blue water, comfortable deck chairs and sunbeds, beautiful day. There’s no such thing.
There are other wild pigs at Amber Cove – many of them in different locations, including by the pool and on the hill.
After an excellent day ashore, I returned to the boat. I had to make myself presentable, as an interview was scheduled with brand ambassador John Heald and Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy.
I’ll post their interviews so you can listen to them in full, but we spent some time discussing a topic that hasn’t been covered in my daily trip reports yet – it’s one of the next big things for all cruise lines: Keep in mind the words of skeptical crusaders (or beginners).
Of course, as I’ve said so many times, there are many people who love cruising and can’t wait to get back on the ships. Others, however, will not be so willing. Perhaps they are nervous about the bad publicity the industry received at the beginning of the pandemic.
Or maybe they’re afraid the cruise won’t be the fun experience they remember. Ultimately, cruise lines will work to reach these people and overcome these prejudices.
By the time I finished the interview, I had missed dinner in the main dining room, so I went back to the Seafood Shack. Unfortunately, it was not the best time to eat there. It was getting late and they were very busy, so they ran out of lobster and soup.
Knowing that beggars can’t be choosers, I chose two pounds of crab legs. I also went to the buffet and made myself a salad. It was strangely satisfying to choose the ingredients and make your own product. I haven’t done it in a while.
After dinner I went to the atrium to listen to acoustic rock violins. They are always popular, especially with visitors before and after dinner. Although we all know I’m not a big fan of shows, I went to the theater for tonight’s Playlist Production, only to quickly realize this is a vintage pop show I’ve seen before.
Since I’m not a big concert-goer, you can guess that I want to see the show a second time. Instead, I went back to the atrium to listen to the violin music. At this point, I think I’ve tested some entertainment options to prove that in some cases, I can at least stay up for a while after dinner.
Tomorrow is sea day, and that means one of the events I always look forward to the most on a Carnival cruise ship: Sea Day Brunch. We will be using the reservation app as they recommend, so stay tuned for updates as they happen. In the meantime, sleep well.
The carnival cruise is a cruise ship that travels to different destinations. On Day 3 of the Carnival Horizon Trip Report, it returned to Amber Cove, where the first day of the trip began.
