I cannot even begin to tell you how excited we were, after 18 long, lonely months of sitting and twiddling our thumbs to finally be headed out to cruise again. Despite the long, arduous drive ahead, which invariably requires recuperation immediately after, we were totally stoked for the entire journey before us.

Leaving our abode in Glendale, AZ, the temperatures had leveled off at 108-degrees, not unusual in our area for mid-September. We made our way across the blazing desert toward our destination, Long Beach, California, air-conditioning blasting all the way, succeeding in keeping the cabin temps comfortable.

Arriving in Long Beach at the beautiful Hotel Maya, we stepped from our cocoon into 70-degree temps, and we were, most definitely, in our favorite version of what we hope Heaven will be like. Situated on the water just a stone’s throw from the Carnival Cruise Lines terminal visible within walking range, the Maya is part of the Doubletree by Hilton chain, but very different from what you would expect from an overnight hotel stay. Rooms are spacious and nicely decorated, and the amenities at the hotel include a pool and several fire pits around the property, as well as restaurant and nightclub spaces and special venues for meetings and weddings. The night time view from Maya of the bridge to downtown, resplendent in all its blue/green glory, was amazing, and it drew us across to the seaside area beside the aquarium for dinner at one of our favorite haunts. Read more