My first time ever going on a cruise was in January 2014. It was a 4-day Carnival cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. The ship departed from Miami with a stop Key West before reaching Cozumel. Here’s a rundown of my experience which hopefully gives you a better idea of what to expect from a Carnival cruise adventure.
Itinerary
Our cruise ship was the Carnival Ecstasy with the following schedule:
Day 1- Depart Miami
Day 2- Key West
Day 3- Cozumel
Day 4- Full Day at Sea
Day 5- Return to Miami
Overview
We had an all-inclusive package on board which included food, drinks, and entertainment. Our room had a balcony which was a nice touch because the rooms aren’t that big by design. Fresh towels were folded into cute little animal shapes. I must say it was great to only have to unpack once and then be set for the rest of the trip.
There was a pool with an enormous water slide and plenty of lounge chairs scattered around. The food at the main dining room was pretty decent. I tried alligator meat for the first time and it was surprisingly delicious! We saw a few live shows including George Lopez in the Punchliner Comedy Club.
Our cruise consisted mainly of young couples. The staff was super friendly. The horizon views were indeed stunning but after so many hours out at sea it gradually became less and less amusing. Thankfully seasickness wasn’t an issue due to the sheer size of the ship. There was only one night I remember feeling the ship sway a little.
Time aboard seemed to pass by quickly. There was something going on at all hours to keep everyone occupied. It was up to you as far as how much you wanted to indulge.
Key West, Florida
The first stop on our cruise was Key West. It was pouring rain that day so we didn’t purchase an excursion and just explored the city ourselves.
Of course I had to try some key lime pie in the city where it originated. I’m usually not the biggest pie fan but it was actually quite tasty!
Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel was the highlight of the trip. Upon arrival I marveled at the pristine turquoise water. It was so beautiful!
We purchased a cave excursion so first we had to take a ferry over to the main land. The ferry ride was extremely unpleasant and I could literally feel the boat rock left and right from the intense waves. A lot of people got seasick including myself. I’m not prone to seasickness so that just goes to show how bad the water conditions were that day.
I was so relieved when we finally docked onto land. We transferred to a shuttle and got driven to Rio Secreto National Reserve. Once there we were going to swim in an underground river through caverns and observe remarkable formations. Funny thing is I didn’t actually know how to swim. I was honestly under the impression that the swimming part was optional and that exploring on foot was possible. Oops, too late.
The guide provided us all with life jackets which initially put me a little bit at ease. But as soon as I got into the water I freaked out. I was like a piece of floating blob and literally had to be pushed along. I was holding up the line and I’m almost positive the entire group hated me. In retrospect I’m so glad I didn’t chicken out because it was truly such a unique and unforgettable experience!
After the swim we had lunch inside the caves which was pretty cool. We then headed onward to Playa del Carmen to shop for souvenirs before returning to Cozumel.
Miami, Florida
When our ship returned to Miami’s port we went on our final excursion which was a thrilling air boat ride through the Everglades. We observed crocodiles in their natural habitat and spotted an adorable baby crocodile out and about.
After that the cruise part was officially over and we ventured out into the city on our own.
Last Impression
I do recommend going on a cruise at least once in your life especially if you want an easy vacation involving minimal planning.
Cruises are fun-filled and the cruise line offers enough services to keep you entertained throughout the entire journey. However, because there is a limited time given at each destination I prefer other means of travel that provide more freedom.
Cruises may not be my first choice but a Disney cruise is definitely still high on my bucket list because I’m a sucker for all things Disney.
I hope this gave you some insight on what to expect from a Carnival cruise.
For more first-time experiences, read my post about my first international trip to Laos.
Have you been on a cruise? How did you like it? Let me know in the comments!
