My Adventures On Carnival Cruise Line

     Welcome audience! It's Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler here to discuss my first vacation of the year, my journey on the Carnival Splendor to the Mexican Riviera. For this blog we're not just going to talk about my journey on this cruise, we're going to talk about all my times on Carnival Cruise Line and how they are very similar and what the cruise line has to offer YOU. There are many reasons why one would pick Carnival Cruise Line, such as how it's the least expensive cruise line, especially compared with Disney (you might as well go to Disney World, where YOU would get more bang for your buck), it goes to all the places ONE would dream of such as the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe, and how people from all around the world drink and party together. People from all over the country, particularly the Midwest, come explore the world with Carnival Cruise Line and make it the fun ship.

     Before I talk about what works and what doesn't work for Carnival Cruise Line, I will talk about the history of how these became the fun ships. It's one of the 10 cruise line brands owned by the American-British Carnival Corporation. Founded in 1972, its headquarters are located in Miami, Florida. There has been a lot of economic impact to ports such as the Caribbean and Ensenada, Mexico. Carnival has brought lots of jobs and money to Port Everglades. Let me explain to all of YOU why Carnival is the way to party at sea.

     I have taken a good amount of cruises on Carnival Cruise Line such as the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Ensenada, and most recently the Mexican Riviera. Our journey on the Carnival Splendor begins in Long Beach, CA. From there one will start off with a fun day at sea where one can go into the pools and hot tubs, explore lots of restaurants with many different cuisines, and explore activities. Then we arrive at Cabo San Lucas, where one could check out the touristy town full of bars and restaurants as well as shopping. I checked out Lovers Beach, which is one of the best beaches in Cabo close to the Arc. One can also snorkel and see fish and crabs play on the rocks.

     If one wants to get a feel for a real Mexican beach town that feels less American, the cruise stops the next day at Mazatlán. On this port, one should take a city tour where one can see some of the architecture statues, cliff divers, and check out this little town, which feels more authentically Mexican than a tourist town.

     For those who want a mix of both America and Mexico, one would like to explore the final port Puerto Vallarta. There's beach life, Mexican culture, zip-lining, and shopping in town. Something I would recommend would be a city tour, which also allows an hour of shopping and photo opportunities at the Art Walk. If one is a big drinker, the tour offers a tasting at a tequila factory, which includes chocolate, vanilla, and coffee tequila. They all taste great for those who want to drink but don't love the taste of alcohol. The beach is also walking distance from the cruise ships at the resorts.

    

 

     Let's talk about the Carnival Splendor and what one can expect on it. The ship's crew really try their best to make the ship a lot of fun. This ship has a lot of food choices, such as burgers, a 24-hour pizzeria, a deli for those who like grilled cheese, and room service. There's always entertainment that would WOW music and production fans such as those who love Hasbro, as many of the productions are based on the games, as well as music from Queen and Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and Billy Joel. The productions take us back to life in the '70s and '80s with music and costumes. There are also movies on deck at night. If one wants to game and relive The Hangover, of course there's a casino onboard. There are a lot of activities to please all audiences on Carnival Splendor.

       

     On a Carnival cruises, they do more or less the same stuff on each cruise. They typically have a lot of pools and hot tubs for anyone who loves to swim. There is always entertainment such as shows and stand-up comedy featuring comedians who've performed with famous comedians. One can meet people from different parts of the country and build everlasting relationships. Families can see characters such as the Dr. Seuss' Guys and Mr. Potato Head. There's dancing and partying. Also there are people who go on a limb and get hammered. Most Carnival cruises feature the same material, but there is something for everyone.

    Why go on a Carnival cruise? There are several reasons. It seems to be the best value for the money. There also are many different types of destinations that Carnival offers, from just a port that one would choose not to get off at, to weekend getaways, family beach vacations, and that fancy trip around the Mediterranean. One has something to look forward to on these fun ships.

The Los Angeles Auto Show 2018

     Let's talk about the West Hall of the car show. From the moment you enter, one can take a picture with Bumblebee as they were promoting the new movie coming out. A very cool car that actually is a motorcycle is the Slingshot. I feel it's a combination of a motorcycle and a car because it doesn't feel like a motorcycle but doesn't look like a car. Let's explore some of the awesome cars in the first exhibit. The first exhibit features both the car models I had: Honda and Nissan. If you're a current Honda owner like myself, there's a lounge where you can hang and charge your phone. All the cars talk about their MPG, gas mileage, how much you could save in gas per year, costs, etc. Other types of cars this level had were Fords and Kias. You could test-drive a Kia and get a $10 Amazon gift card.

     Let's talk about the West Hall of the car show. From the moment you enter, one can take a picture with Bumblebee as they were promoting the new movie coming out. A very cool car that actually is a motorcycle is the Slingshot. I feel it's a combination of a motorcycle and a car because it doesn't feel like a motorcycle but doesn't look like a car. Let's explore some of the awesome cars in the first exhibit. The first exhibit features both the car models I had: Honda and Nissan. If you're a current Honda owner like myself, there's a lounge where you can hang and charge your phone. All the cars talk about their MPG, gas mileage, how much you could save in gas per year, costs, etc. Other types of cars this level had were Fords and Kias. You could test-drive a Kia and get a $10 Amazon gift card.

     One of the major dealerships that comes to the Los Angeles Auto Show is Galpin Ford, which is located in Mission Hills. I think it's impressive to see all the different cars Galpin has and to see how it has a history of being in business and has a story different than just a typical car dealership. I like knowing how the business has evolved since its inception in 1946. Frank Galpin opened up the dealership in San Fernando and the showroom had three different models and sold 46 cars in the first year. The Galpin Ford Convertible was created in 1952. Galpin's Shaggy Dog became the mascot in 1958. In 1961, Galpin created a NASCAR racing team for the west coast. Galpin Ford loves to show its history and evolution to those who visit the car show. It makes me wish more dealerships actually catered more to customers rather than sales since there is a true story that makes the dealership special.

     If one wants to see luxury vehicles, then one should go to the South Hall at the end of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The first cars one would see are the different types of Toyotas from the low-end to the high-end models. The Toyota Corporate Office comes in to talk about the benefits of having a Toyota. Now let's talk about the higher-end vehicles that look really amazing. Some of these cars include Jaguar, Lincoln, BMW, Lexus, Chevrolet, Acura, and Mercedes-Benz. If one wants to look at nice cars all in one place, this is the place to check out. I think that this is a must-see for those who like to look at cars and know what each type of car contains. I can't wait for next year's car show to see how these models evolve.

     At the end of the Convention Center, there is an exhibit called The Garage. This exhibit shows a lot of vintage cars that have been worked on and updated. These cars get customized to look awesome. One example is a truck that is branded with the Monster logo from the beverage brand. The vintage cars are a great thing to check out as you exit the show.

     Thank you for exploring the Los Angeles Auto Show with me and reading about my journey. This is a fun and interesting event to check out if one happens to be in Los Angeles before or after Thanksgiving. If one wants to go to the car show on the weekdays, there is a $3 discount. They even give tours and open up early for an additional fee. Next year's show starts on November 22 and ends on December 1. Please feel free to watch my YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZR_in1-UoU&feature=share