Wherever I May Roam Blog

09/08/2026

One last Caribbean-style beach day before crossing the Atlantic. 🌴🌊🚢

Before the Carnival Freedom pointed toward Europe, we made a stop at Celebration Key in the Bahamas. It was my first visit, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

Let me just say…PRIMO! 🙌

I was seriously impressed. Celebration Key was spotless, beautiful, well maintained, and most importantly to me, incredibly functional. It felt like someone actually thought through how thousands of cruise passengers would move around and use the space.

And we didn’t spend one extra dime while we were there.

My friends and I headed to the beach, plunged in the gorgeous water, and soaked up our last Caribbean beach day before 10 straight days at sea. One word of advice: bring water shoes! The bottom was pretty rocky and the current was swift enough that staying upright became its own workout. 😂 I went barefoot and my leg muscles were SORE the next day from trying to keep myself planted.

There were plenty of loungers, hammocks for relaxing, and even shuttles to move you around the property without wearing yourself out before the day even gets started. 👏

But can we talk about the FOOD?! Because Carnival absolutely knocked this one out of the park.

Our last NCL private-island experience was a joke food-wise—basically more hot dogs and burgers and nothing I even cared to stand in line for. Celebration Key was heads above the cruise-line competition we’ve experienced, though it's been a minute since I've been to the Bahamas minus that NCL gig.

Island Eats allows each guest one complimentary meal at participating fast-casual spots, and there were actually choices! Food trucks—including a HOT DONUT truck 😳🍩—restaurants, and the huge Captain’s Galley Food Hall.

And y’all, that food hall was so Disney-designed. And I mean that as the highest compliment. 😂 The layout made sense, the lines moved, there were tons of choices, and it handled the crowds (though we had none) beautifully.

Burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, pizza, Mediterranean bowls, tacos, burrito bowls and more. My friends and I went with Mexican and Asian bowls, and they were fantastic. Not “good for a cruise private island.” Just GOOD.

You can also use your Island Eats benefit for 40% off an entrée at the full-service restaurants if you’d rather go that route.

Beach. Hammocks. Beautiful water. Good food. Easy transportation. And we did it all without paying anything extra.
Celebration Key gets a BIG thumbs-up from me. 👍🌴

And with our final little taste of the Caribbean behind us, it was time for the BIG adventure…
Next stop: AFRICA. 🌍❤️

09/07/2026

Could you handle 10 days at sea? 🚢🌊

That’s probably the question I’ve been asked the most about my transatlantic cruise.

And my answer? ABSOLUTELY. In fact, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I'm already looking at another in late October and wishing I had a roommate in which I would most definitely say YES!

My friends and I came prepared. 😂 We brought enough craft projects to open our own Hobby Lobby—painting, diamond art, coloring, card making, crochet, you name it. And yes, we actually DID them. Arts & crafts became serious business on this cruise. LOL.

But Carnival Freedom kept us plenty busy, too. We went to afternoon tea, played MANY rounds of trivia, saw shows and musical performances (plus a magician), visited the casino (some of us more than others 🎰😂), had spa treatments, played games and cards, watched movies under the stars, enjoyed leisurely brunches, participated in frog races (Go, Julie!), listened to lectures, and found plenty of quiet little spots around the ship to read and watch the Atlantic roll by.

We were somewhat social, too. 😂 We met several other cruisers along the way and really enjoyed seeing familiar faces as the days went on, especially my casino friends.

The funny thing is, those 10 sea days went by FAST. We never once had trouble entertaining ourselves or sat around wondering what we were going to do.

But here's what surprised me most...
By about Day 3, I actually felt RESTED.
Not “I slept eight hours last night” rested. I mean that wonderful, nowhere-I-have-to-be, nothing-I-have-to-accomplish, shoulders-finally-drop kind of rested.

And it made me realize something.

When did vacations stop being relaxing?

Mine are usually a challenge to see how many things I can possibly cram into every waking hour. 😂 What can I see? Where can I eat? What attraction can I squeeze in? How many photos can I take? What's next? Truly exhausting!

Somewhere along the way, vacation became another thing to maximize.

This trip reminded me how good it feels to simply BE somewhere without needing to conquer it.

Now I'm wondering if that's just me.

When was the last time you came home from a vacation feeling truly RESTED? Or are you like me and normally need a vacation from your vacation? 😂

09/06/2026

What’s it REALLY like crossing the Atlantic on a cruise ship? 🚢🌊

Apparently, it’s a whole lot busier than you might think. 😂

We spent 14 days aboard Carnival Freedom, including 10 days at sea, and not one of us was bored. Not. One. Time.

In fact, we stayed busy from the time we woke up until midnight—or later, depending on how long I felt the casino needed my supervision. 🎰😂

We ate all our meals together, read on the Lido Deck with nothing but that peaceful Atlantic surrounding us, went to arts & crafts and trivia, caught shows and musical performances, enjoyed afternoon tea, listened to lectures, and drank some seriously decadent dirty matchas. We even took a dip in the hot tub—which was more like a cold tub, but you get the idea. LOL.

We made new friends, attended the Chef’s Table, celebrated one of our girls’ milestone birthdays at the steakhouse, pampered ourselves, and laughed. And laughed. And laughed some more.

Honestly, the laughter may have been my favorite part of the entire trip. ❤️

The four of us hadn’t all traveled together in 10 or 12 years, which made this one extra special. We slept in exactly twice, took ONE short nap the entire trip, and otherwise kept ourselves happily occupied without ever feeling like we were running ourselves ragged.

Then, after 10 glorious days of doing basically nothing but having fun—and getting a pitiful number of steps 😂—it was GAME ON.

Three ports of call back-to-back, followed by two long, cram-packed days in Barcelona for Angie and me. My step count definitely got its revenge. 😂 And dare I tell you all the miles that followed were on cobblestones!?

This trip was exactly what all four of us needed. Time to slow down, reconnect, laugh ourselves silly, see new parts of the world, and just enjoy being together again.
Magical is really the best word I have for it.

And for everyone who told me I'd get bored crossing the Atlantic...nope. Quite the opposite.

I will 100% be shopping for another transatlantic cruise. 🚢

Oh, and one thing that genuinely surprised me? The Wi-Fi was spectacular the ENTIRE way across the Atlantic. Who knew?! I took a break from social media by choice—not because the middle of the ocean made me. 😂

So now I’m curious: Could you handle 10 days at sea, or would you be climbing the walls by Day 3?

09/06/2026

I’M BACK!!! 🎉❤️

And man, did I miss you guys!

For the first time in 13+ years, I took a REAL break from social media. Other than maybe a single day here or there, I honestly can't remember ever completely stepping away for that long.
And I needed it. Like, REALLY needed it.

But here's the funny part—I missed this. I missed sharing my days with you, reading your comments, seeing what you're up to, and just having my little online social family around. ❤️

The vacation, though? Exactly what the doctor ordered. (well, what my social calendar desired rather)

There were daily laughs and plenty of craziness with my three girlfriends, 10 glorious days of R&R while crossing the Atlantic, some seriously good food, trivia wins (because apparently we know some stuff 😂), arts & crafts that we absolutely RULED, plenty of pampering, and new parts of the world none of us had ever seen before. And shall I mention I didn't lift a finger to do any housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, or making my bed. I did have to wash one single load of clothes though. LOL

No deadlines, pressure to post, thinking about algorithms, and all that other jazz. Just being present and enjoying the ride.

And to think this whole adventure started with that crazy $350 transatlantic cruise deal I scored. Hands down, some of the best $350 I've ever spent. 🙌

Rested? ✔️

Recharged? ✔️

A ridiculous number of photos and stories to share? OH YES. 😂

It was a win-win all the way around, and I'm excited to be back.

So before I start bombarding you with Morocco, Spain, cruise life, food, gorgeous views, and all the stuff...

What's new with YOU? What did I miss while I was gone?

08/29/2026

Day 12 of our transatlantic cruise brought us to Tangier, Morocco. The itinerary was originally stopping in Gibraltar, but yeah for us, we got upgraded.

Country #50 in the books!

08/28/2026

Every single time I see this view, I immediately want to belt out, “Love, exciting and new…” 😂🛳️❤️

Tell me you grew up watching The Love Boat without telling me you grew up watching The Love Boat. 😂

There’s just something about looking out over a cruise ship that makes that theme song start playing in my head.

Come aboard! We’re expecting you! 🛳️🌊

08/26/2026

A 9 minute live video from middle of the Atlantic Ocean on our Transatlantic cruise. Things to expect, things to know, travel tips, and rambling.

I’m so shocked the WiFi has been so exceptional for 8 days at sea.

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

Middle of the Atlantic Ocean crossing to Europe

08/19/2026

My home for the next 14 days as my friends and I make our way across the Atlantic to Morocco and Spain. 🛳️🌍

And I’m doing something I haven’t done in 13 years—officially taking a vacation. 😘

I’ll still be gathering some content here and there for videos when I get home (old habits die hard 😂), but after a pretty pivotal few months, I’m giving myself permission to unplug, enjoy the journey, and reset.

See y’all in early September. Take care of yourselves while I’m gone. ❤️