2024 Southern Caribbean Cruise + Miami Adventure

We recently returned from an 8 night southern Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Horizon, combined with spending two days exploring Miami and a few of the Florida Keys. Sadly, we both contracted COVID during this vacation, which has been our first experience with the virus. Heading into the fourth week of the virus, we are getting close to a full recovery. This is why it has taken so long to finalize and publish this post.

Before diving into the information about our 2024 Southern Caribbean Cruise, we must first discuss our adventures exploring Miami and a portion of the Florida Keys. Visiting these places in Florida was a first for both of us. During our time in Florida, every place we ate at was memorable. Our posts are never aimed at reviewing restaurants, so we are not going to provide a review of them. However, we will mention the name of each restaurant we visited and list what we ordered, because the food was just that good! 

Wednesday (4/10/24): By the time we got settled at the hotel in Miami, it was close to sunset and time for dinner. We ate at CJ’s Crab Shack, located directly across from Miami Beach. One thing that was really unusual (to us) was that street vendors came right up to guests’ outside table, trying to sell stuff. One guy seemed to be falsely collecting donations for his football, basketball and baseball teams, and another lady approached our table with a box full of cigars. A waiter told them to leave the guests alone, yet they continued going from table to table anyway. We were like, “What the heck?!” 

Combo Platter w/blackened grouper, snow crab cluster and fried shrimp w/fettuccine alfredo

Blackened grouper sandwich w/fries; key lime pie

Thursday (4/11/24): We left early in the morning and headed to John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo. The snorkeling excursion that we had booked got canceled due to the windy weather conditions. We were very disappointed because the snorkeling in the area where the boat goes is supposed to be amazing. The office told us that they had also canceled the excursion for the following day. It seems that windy conditions are common there.

Despite the canceled tour, we were determined to have a great day exploring the park. Once we had walked around the visitor’s center, we ventured onto two hiking trails at the park. Both were through beautiful jungle areas full of interesting plants.

1) Grove Trail: This is a half-mile out-and-back, located just off the parking lot near the picnic area. The trail is referred to as the ‘Mangroves to Fruit Groves,’ and ends at the historic Shaw Family Farm. Dating back to 1945, the Shaw’s planted 300 fruit trees, a few are Key Lime, Avocado, and seven varieties of mangoes.

2) Wild Tamarind Trail: Looped trail, just shy of a half-mile. It is an interpretive trail that takes you through various flora and fauna of the park. One notable feature along the trail is an existing well drilled back in the 1960s in search of fresh water. Drilled to a depth of 1333 feet, we noticed a pungent sulfur smell waffling in the air as we approached the well. The water is defined as drinkable as 1/6th as salty as seawater.

Afterward, we walked back to the visitor’s center and watched about twenty minutes of the movie in the theater room to cool down. It showcases the fish and coral reef system at the park. From there, we decided to get some lunch before going kayaking. We had a great meal at the Key Largo Conch House. And, I couldn’t resist getting the conch fritters because they are made with curry, a unique variation. Wow, were they good!

Award winning lobster bisque; lobster mac & cheese

Conch fritters; grilled mahi-mahi tacos

With bellies full of delicious seafood, we went back to the park and rented a tandem kayak at the marina. Kayaking at the park is a special adventure due to the extensive network of mangroves. Mangroves are a type of tree vital to the ecosystem for a few reasons. They provide protection against erosion and stabilize shorelines by reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides with their complex root systems. They also act as a natural barrier, protecting coastal areas from the impact of hurricanes. The density of the mangrove forests dissipates energy from waves and storm surges, significantly reducing potential damage inland. Lastly, the biodiversity they provide is important, supporting a wide array of species, including fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusks, which are crucial for the livelihoods of local communities. They also serve as nurseries for many species of fish and invertebrates through providing a safe haven from predators.

After paddling just a short distance away from the marina, our kayak was surrounded with Manatees. And by surrounded, I mean that literally. Manatees, often referred to as ‘sea cows,’ are enormous, gentle creatures sometimes found in groups called an “aggregation,” even though they are innate loners. The group surrounding our kayak contained an aggregate of at least ten, if not many more. Many of them floated barely beneath the water’s surface, while others were a little deeper down.

A large number of them swam alongside of our kayak, close enough to easily touch with our hands. I was worried about accidentally hitting them with the paddle. They also swam underneath the kayak, which made me very nervous because I didn’t want them to come up for air and tip us over. This does happen; sometimes they are unaware that a kayak is directly above their back. To get some distance from them, we paddled in a different direction than where they appeared to be headed.

Manatees are very curious creatures and will sometimes pop their head out of the water to look directly at you. This happened to us in when kayaking in Sarasota a few years ago. They will let you touch them without any reservation, but resist the temptation to do so. The bacteria from our hands can harm them. In Larry’s video you may note the white scars on some of their backs. Injuries, resulting in scars, often occur from boat propellers, which is all too common and heartbreaking.

When we had finished meandering around the mangrove tunnels, we left the park and drove further up the road to explore some more of the Keys. We drove past Islamorada Key to Lower Matecumbe Key where we parked at Old Channel #5 Bridge and took off on a walk on the Florida Key Overseas Heritage Trail. Fishing off this bridge appears to be very popular. We encountered a group of guys fishing who caught a good-sized Crevalle Jack right in front of us. The fish was huge and I’m certain provided a great meal for them that evening!

On the drive back to Miami, we stopped at Robbie’s of Islamorada, famous for its Tarpon feeding activity off the dock. We decided to have a cocktail at the restaurant, which ended up being a very unpleasant experience. Large Pelicans flocked all over the Tarpon feeding dock, hoping to get one of the tiny fish intended for the Tarpons. And fisherman, situated on the shore, cast their fishing line right by them.

Sadly, the Pelicans kept catching the fisherman’s bait (it resembled the little fish given to the Tarpons) and getting caught in the fishing line! Over and over, we watched Pelicans dragged to shore by the fisherman and then being released from the line. It was extremely upsetting. I was ready to find those jerks and strangle them with their own fishing line! I mentioned our observation to a waitress who said that it is a common problem. They repeatedly call the police about it, but the fisherman continue to do it anyway. 

For dinner, I had initially picked out a different restaurant from where we ended up. We ate at Skipper’s Dockside in Key Largo and it was fabulous! We love Caribbean food, and this place offers both seafood and Caribbean food. The smoked fish dip – we will take a gallon of that!

Smoked fish dip; dockside jerk chicken nachos; plantains

Jerk BBQ chicken platter w/rice, beans; key lime pie

Friday (4/12/24): We left early in the morning and headed to Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove; this is such a beautiful area! We scheduled the “Elliott Key Eco-Adventure” excursion with Biscayne National Park Institute. There ended up only being four people on the excursion, which was great! The boat captain (tour operator) provided a great deal of information throughout the entire tour, although we would’ve preferred a little less talking so we could just enjoy the scenery and boat ride. How do you politely tell a tour operator to stop talking so much?

Once the boat reached Elliott Key, the first part of the excursion was kayaking along the mangroves there. The kayaking portion was quite short and we didn’t kayak very far because the captain talked the entire time and insisted we just remain in position and look for fish in the water. We really wanted to kayak as far as we could along the mangrove coast to see as much as possible. Instead, we just floated around, listening to him talk and try to find sea life for us to look at; Larry only saw one stingray. It was really frustrating, so we eventually just tuned him out. The two other people appeared to have done the same thing, also just wanting to kayak and explore. 

The next portion of the excursion was supposed to have been a walk on a hiking path on Elliott Key. However, the mosquitos were horrible, so we all decided to skip the walk and head to the snorkeling locations. Snorkeling, in and of itself, is such a fun activity! But what really takes it to a new level is seeing lots of interesting things in the water. Biscayne National Park boasts an amazing reef system, with vibrant fish and colorful corals, sponges, etc., that we were so excited to explore. 

We were quite disappointed when this excursion only took us to snorkeling spots along the mangroves of Elliott Key. The reason why this was disappointing is because we just snorkeled in a bunch of sea grass, where we observed a minimal amount of sea life. Between the four of us, at two different snorkeling locations, we saw one dead lobster, one crab, and a small handful of fish. That’s it. No colorful or exciting anything. Like us, I think the other two people were disappointed as well. At least the water was really calm and clear that day.

After snorkeling, the boat took us to Boca Chita Key where we walked around and hung out for about an hour. This really felt like wasted time that could’ve been spent snorkeling and/or kayaking. Boca Chita Key, like much of South Florida, was originally inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Tequesta, However, the most notable period in the key’s history began in the 1930s when it was purchased by Mark Honeywell, a wealthy industrialist and the founder of Honeywell Heating Specialty Co.

Interested in creating a private retreat, Honeywell developed the island significantly. Under Honeywell’s ownership, Boca Chita Key saw the construction of several buildings and amenities, including a chapel, a lighthouse and other guest facilities. The most iconic structure is the ornamental lighthouse, which became a symbol of the island but is not an official navigational aid. The island became a popular retreat for social gatherings among the elite and wealthy, including business tycoons and celebrities. The island was eventually acquired by the government in the 1970’s and later became part of the newly established Biscayne National Park.

Back on the boat, we headed back to the marina, which was a pleasant ride since the captain didn’t talk as much. Overall, the excursion was somewhat fun, but it wasn’t what we had hoped for. The Institute offers a variety of excursions, some of which specifically state they either do or do not go to the reef. Ours did not mention the word “reef,” so apparently I selected the wrong one. Oops. The other two passengers appeared unhappy with the tour as well, so it definitely wasn’t just us. 

When we docked, the captain began doling out suggestions of places to eat in the area. I mentioned Monty’s, and he immediately said that the food isn’t that great, and then suggested a bunch of places that have “great burgers.” Firstly, why would we go to Florida to eat a hamburger? Secondly, we don’t even eat (beef) hamburgers to begin with! That really annoyed me because wouldn’t it be better to ask what type of food we were interested in eating, and then give suggestions based upon that? Who knows, maybe he only eats hamburgers…?

We ate at Monty’s anyway, and the food was outstanding! We were so glad to have dismissed the captain’s negative comments about the restaurant. 

Crab cake sliders; she crab group; crispy grouper w/coleslaw; plantains

Blackened mahi-mahi w/beans, rice; key lime pie

FINAL TRIP THOUGHTS:

Food: First and foremost, the food! We would love the opportunity to eat at all of the different restaurants in the areas we had visited. Every meal was memorable. A staple at nearly every restaurant is their own version of smoked fish dip, conch fritters and key lime pie; we’d love to try them all! Larry insisted upon trying key lime pie at each dinner location. His favorite was at Monty’s; mine was at Skipper’s Dockside.

Miami: Miami is a crazy place! People drive like maniacs and are in such a hurry! We were really taken aback, although a coworker had warned me about this. So much for the notion of ‘island time.’ 

Activities: One excursion got canceled and the other wasn’t quite what we had hoped for. Hiking and kayaking at John Pennekamp State Park was fabulous. We would like to go back to Biscayne National Park and do a snorkel tour that goes to the reef. And, we would like to take a long trip with our RV and travel throughout all of Florida, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Sadly, this type of trip will have to wait until retirement.

On another note, I’ve developed a deep love of the ocean: the sea breeze, the salty smell in the air, the beautiful shades of blue. If you know me really well, then you know how odd it is for me to feel this way about the ocean. But I constantly feel the ocean calling me, begging me to explore it and see its wonders. It is a strong pull that I cannot disconnect from.

2024 Southern Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Horizon

NOTE: The purpose and intent of this post is NOT aimed at providing a review of the cruise ship.

The four locations the Carnival Horizon visited were: 1) Aruba 2) Curacao 3) La Romana, Dominican Republic 4) Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic.

Saturday – Saturday (4/13/24 – 4/21/24): This was my (Stella) second cruise and Larry’s third. In 2023, we sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas. If you are wondering why we chose to sail with Carnival instead of with Royal Caribbean again, that answer is two-fold. First, we simply wanted to explore a different cruise line out of pure curiosity. Second, the cruise dates, port locations and available excursions all aligned with what we wanted. We noted some very distinct differences between the two cruise lines, and Carnival is not right for us. However, this post is not about the cruise line and/or the individual ship, so if you would like information about this, please reach out to us directly. 

Like our 2023 cruise, we had great weather the entire trip, even though it was notably windier on most days than the year prior. And like our 2023 cruise, on the sailing days, we played Othello in the morning for about an hour after breakfast. Afterward, we walked five miles on the outdoor walking/jogging track, and then two miles later in the day (7 laps = 1 mile). For me, this continues to be my favorite thing to do on a cruise ship. In addition to walking the track and going to the gym, we watched a movie at the onboard IMAX theater and watched movies every evening at the pool-side screen. We did not spend any time lying around a pool or going to any of the bars/clubs in the evening. All of our leisure time was spent eating, exercising, playing Othello, and reading. 

Last year for our post about the cruise excursions, we had elected to not “critique” aspects of the excursion (i.e. the tour guides, organization, etc.). For this post, however, we will discuss some of our thoughts in these areas because we feel there are some important things to share with you. Please see below to read about our thoughts and experiences associated with each of excursion along with our impression of each island. (These are the specific excursion names on Carnival’s website).

1) Aruba ~ Sailaway Snorkel & Palm Beach w/BBQ Lunch:

We really enjoyed this particular excursion for a number of reasons, one of which was because there wasn’t a long bus ride to get to the dock where the catamaran was. However, the tour appeared to be very crowded (or overbooked?), as we were crammed up next to one another on the boat. It was a little uncomfortable, and it would’ve been nice if the excursion had been divided between more catamarans.

The catamaran takes guests to two different areas to snorkel based upon conditions. At the first stop, the water was a little too choppy for me; Larry went in for a little bit. The second stop was closer to the shore where the water was much calmer. We saw an abundance of sea life in the beautiful, clear water. We would have loved to spend more time snorkeling there! And unlike many catamaran excursions, this one did not have a ‘booze cruise’ vibe, which we appreciated. 

After snorkeling, the catamaran sailed to Palm Beach where guests were provided with a BBQ lunch at the restaurant located directly alongside of the dock. The lunch consisted of two pieces of dark chicken meat (yuck), a beef rib (yuck), baked beans (yuck), and a small chunk of corn of the cob. It would’ve been nice if it had included island flavors and foods of Aruba. After lunch, guests had time to walk around the area for about an hour before the shuttle back to the cruise port. During that hour, we walked on the paved beach path, in both directions. Along the path there were hotels/resorts/condos, small shops and a restaurant. The area was very clean, well-kept and beautiful. 

The twenty-minute drive back to the cruise port was very pleasant. The drive is along the main road, stretching from Palm Beach to Eagle Beach. It is lined with hotels/resorts/condos. Everywhere we looked, it was clean, well-kept and beautiful. Once we reached the port, we decided that we wanted to see more of the area since the ship would remain at the port until late that evening. This was the longest amount of time that the cruise ship remained at a port on our cruise.

Just outside of the port is the city of Oranjestad. We walked up and down the main drag, taking in all the shops, restaurants and the overall area. It had a very upscale appearance with a relaxed, casual vibe. And because we love eating local food, we stopped at Iguana Joe’s for dinner. I cannot say enough about how DELICIOUS the food was. I would eat there every day if I could! I accidentally dropped one of the jerk chicken chunks on the floor and was devastated that I couldn’t eat it. I stared at it for a few seconds, looked up at Larry, who was clearly wondering what I was planning to do, before reluctantly scooping it up in my napkin. Next time, I will order at least two or three of that appetizer. 

Jamaican jerk chicken skewers; almond crusted grouper w/coleslaw, mac & cheese “wedge”

Blackened Caribbean grouper tacos w/coleslaw, rice, beans

ARUBA FINAL THOUGHTS: 

We fell in love with Aruba, and ultimately left our hearts there. Of the six Caribbean islands that we have visited in the last two years, Aruba shines like a star amongst them all. It is the only one that we desire to return to, again and again. We did not venture outside of the tourist area, and when we go back, we do not plan to. We have already begun thinking about our next visit to Aruba.

2) Curaçao ~ Best Treasures of Curacao & Lagoon Turtle Swim:

We have mixed feelings about this excursion. We enjoyed learning about the island’s history provided by the tour operator – she was exceptional. However, we did not enjoy long bus ride. Had we known that the bulk of the tour would be spent riding on a bus, I’m not certain that we would’ve booked it. And, I saw 10 stray dogs as well as dogs languishing at people’s properties who look like they would be better off as strays. I am very, very sensitive to animal welfare and couldn’t handle seeing it. I ended up closing my curtain on the bus. Further, the drive through the city was beyond depressing, as the degree of filth and trash everywhere was indescribable. Other guests commented on this as well. The provided lunch is a chicken wrap, some chips, cookies, and soda/water. The wrap was pretty good, consisting of all white meat and a tasty sauce.

The tour bus goes to four spots: a) an area to view flamingos b) Shete Boka National Park where you take a short walk to an outlook point of the ocean c) Playa Grandi {turtle lagoon} d) Grote Knip Beach to hang out. It is our opinion that both the flamingo area and the outlook point at the park should be eliminated from the excursion so people can spend more time at the lagoon with the turtles. That was the most fabulous snorkel experience we’ve ever had, and we think people would rather spend the bulk of the excursion there.

In the thirty minutes we spent there, we saw a dozen or more turtles swimming all around the area along with a variety of different fish; the water was very calm and clear. The turtles often swam right underneath our bellies and we didn’t see them until they were out in front of us. The reason why so many turtles congregate in this area is because they are fed there, specifically for the snorkeling tourists. Like the manatees, the turtles will let you touch them, but please resist the temptation. The turtles sometimes bump into people when they come up for air, so you have to watch out for them.

The beach that guests are taken to after the turtle lagoon was nice, but no chairs were provided. You have to sit on your towel or find a picnic bench. And, there are no lockers at the beach so if you want to go into the water, you have no option but to leave your stuff sitting out and hope no one steals it. If lockers and beach chairs were provided/available, we would’ve had a great time there. Instead, we just sat on a towel until it was time to get back onto the bus.

CURAçAO FINAL THOUGHTS: 

It was good that we visited the island on a cruise because now we know what Curaçao is like/what to expect. Curaçao is a desert terrain (not really tropical) and has a lot of high mountains. Parts of it are beautiful, but it is not an island we plan to revisit. When compared to Aruba, it just doesn’t match up for us. There appears to be significantly more poverty, and it is very, very crowded, particularly in the city/downtown. As I mentioned above, the drive through the city was upsetting, although I saw disturbing animal-related situations while driving through the countryside as well.

3) La Romana, Dominican Republic ~ DR Greatest Zip Line Adventure:

There is about a forty-five minute bus ride to the zip line park. Like Curaçao, I did not enjoy the ride and kept the curtain closed – for the same reasons. We found the tour operator annoying, although he was doing his best to entertain everyone. There was a guy in our group who coughed continuously throughout the entire excursion. We wonder if that is whom we got COVID from – who knows. There is no snack provided on this excursion – only water. By the time we were finished and headed back to the port, everyone was very hungry.

We were really excited about this excursion because of the sheer magnitude of the zip line park. The park boasts 12 individual lines, which is a lot. The lines vary in height and length, zipping guests through the jungle and over rivers. This excursion was a BLAST! I thought Larry would exhibit some hesitancy before bolting off the platforms, but he surprised me. He just went for it each time, although I think he made the guys at the receiving platform a little nervous when came barreling toward them. On one particular platform, I watched Larry come speeding in and the guy yelled, “Slow down Big Bubba!” Clearly, he was a little nervous. I laughed so hard!

The park operators provided exceptional instruction about how to position our hands and bodies for an optimal zip lining experience. Larry often forgot to keep his knees bent and pulled tightly to his chest. Myself, on the other hand, I was so preoccupied with doing it ‘right’ that I often forgot to look around and enjoy the scenery. I didn’t want to get stuck in the middle of the line and then have to use my hands to pull myself to the end. 

How long it takes to complete the full zip line course depends upon how big the excursion group is. Our group seemed quite small, so we completed the entire course in about an hour, seldom having to wait in line at the platforms. It is important to note that the platforms are very high off the ground, so be prepared to go up A LOT of steps! It was a great workout combined with an amazing zip line experience through the jungle! 

LA ROMANA DR FINAL THOUGHTS: 

This is on the south side of the island. The countryside is beautiful, although I saw some horrific animal situations that I cannot erase from my memory. Like Curaçao, the poverty and overcrowding in the city is unlike anything we would see in the United States. It really makes me thankful.

4) Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic ~ Deluxe Catamaran Sail & Snorkel w/Lunch & Drinks:

There is about a thirty-minute bus ride to get to the drop off point where guests then walk about half a mile to the beach where the catamaran awaits. The first ten minutes of the bus ride was along a highway of sorts, but then went into the city/downtown. Again, I kept my curtain closed. Once on the beach, there were vendors trying to sell guests stuff (cigars, sunglasses, jewelry, etc.). They have no reservations about getting right in your face. This excursion provided a deli-style lunch, but we did not partake in it.

We didn’t fully enjoy this excursion for a few reasons. It had a strong ‘booze cruise’ vibe, which was thoroughly encouraged by the excursion operators. They were all young and wanted guests to party. If that is your thing, then you’ll love it! But, one good thing about this excursion was that the boat was not crammed, like it was on our first catamaran excursion in Aruba. Apparently, not as many people signed up for this one. There was plenty of space to move around and sit wherever you wanted.

The boat only took guests to one snorkel location where the water was really rough – I did not go in. The operators threw bread into the water to attract a bunch of fish, which did work. However, everyone was cloistered together to see the fish, and knowing my luck, I would’ve gotten kicked in the face by someone’s fin. So I was glad to have elected to stay on the boat. And, couldn’t’ the operators have taken the boat to a calmer area to snorkel? There were a lot of other boats around and it just didn’t feel safe to me, and I wasn’t feeling very well anyway. Larry saw some fish, but said that it was just a cluster f*** with all the people and boats, causing the water to be a little murky. He assured me that I didn’t miss out on anything.

Regarding the catamaran, I am at a loss about why it is labeled as ‘deluxe,’ because it does not fit that description. And, the bathroom, even before it got used by a lot of people, was beyond filthy. That is unacceptable. The van that took us back to the port, the AC was minimally working (i.e. barely a trickle of air coming out of the vents). The van that we were in the first time, heading to the boat, the AC blasted out the vents. We mentioned this to the tour operator, but he shrugged it off. 

AMBER COVE DR FINAL THOUGHTS: 

This is located on the north side of the Dominican Republic, and it is where the movie “Jurassic Park” was filmed. While it does have a little different of a feel, it still shares similar attributes of the south side. If I had to choose a side of the island to revisit, it would be this one. The cruise port is the most gorgeous of all of the ports we had visited on the cruise. When we reached the shore of the port, it felt like walking through the gates of the movie, “Jurassic Park!” One important thing to note is that the place where the ship docks is a very long walk to the shore of the port. There were guys offering rides on rickshaws, although I do not know how much they charge.

FINAL CRUISE THOUGHTS: 

We do plan to cruise again sometime in the future, but we have our sights set on a few other things first. Next April, we want to go to Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort in Belize. And of course, we also want to return to Aruba. When we do go on another cruise, we would like to try Celebrity cruise line and/or cruise with Royal Caribbean again. As I mentioned earlier in this post, we will not sail with Carnival again. 

For the excursions, they were very carefully picked. Larry read reviews for each of them and it seemed like they would be great. Some were and some were not; some portions of the excursions were great and some were not. That is just how it goes with cruise excursions – it is hit or miss. Overall, we had a great time! If you have never cruised before and do not know where to begin, we recommend subscribing to some cruise vlogs on YouTube. Some vlogs are specific for different cruise lines, while others discuss all of them. The information they provide is invaluable.

WHERE IS PADDLE & TRAILS HEADED NEXT?