In July, 2014, we began planning our first Caribbean cruise vacation. My Mom was part way through her breast cancer treatment and she always wanted to go on a Caribbean Cruise. My sister, brother, and I decided it would be a full family vacation. We booked 4 rooms on an 8 day Southern Caribbean cruise out of Port Canaveral on the Carnival Sunshine departing December 6. We also rented a 3 bedroom delux condo at Reunion Wyndham Resort from Dec 4-6.

At 1:30AM on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, we drove to Seattle to catch a flight to Orlando with a connection in Detroit. We picked up a rental car and groceries and everyone met at the resort around 9:00pm!

Kennedy Space Center: At 1:30AM on Thursday, my Mom and I stayed at the resort with the 2 youngest kids while everyone else went to the Kennedy Space Center to watch the launching of Orion. Unfortunately, it never did launch, but they did get to explore the space center and learn about space.

Universal Studios: We spent all day Friday at the amusement park. Our favourite was Harry Potter. We were impressed at the size of the park. It was definitely way better that the one in California.

Disney World: On Saturday morning, we were up early to visit Disney’s Magic Kingdom. The lines weren’t too bad and we went on quite a few rides. By 11:00 it was getting crowded, so we began our drive to Port Canaveral to meet everyone on the cruise ship. We were all very tired by the time we boarded the ship, but there was so much to see. It seemed so surreal being on such a large ship with so much excitment and endless activities.

Our first day at sea was mostly spent racing down the waterslides and relaxing on the loungers in the hot December sun. We took part in the Cat in the Hat parade and enjoyed a great meal together in the dining room.

Our second day started at the Morning show where Ari volunteered to go up and tell a joke. We had no idea he knew any, and as it turned out… he didn’t, but he and Addison were broadcasted on the tv all day and for the rest of the cruise he was recognized by many passengers who complimented him on his joke.

Aruba: After disembarking, there were many people offering taxi services. We found a driver who took us to a beach about 15 minutes from the Port. We spent the day snorkeling and relaxing in the sun. It was a great day in Aruba! In the afternoon, a van came and picked us up as planned. The only thing I wish we would have done, was spent more time shopping at this Port. The best deals of the cruise were in Aruba.

Curaçao: Transportation was a lot more expensive than Aruba. We split up as our family wasn’t into snorkeling as much as everyone else. They went to a private beach and had a great time. We walked through the village, danced to local music, and explored the area. We found a warf and swam in the ocean. It was a low key day, but everyone had fun.

Grand Turk: The beaches in Grand turk were lined with loungers free for cruise passengers. The sand was soft and we had another relaxing day at the beach. When we walked around the corner at the end of the beach, there were hundreds of conch shells which the kids were fascinated to hold and play with. This was our most relaxing day. My brother did an excursion swimming with Sting Rays which they really enjoyed. 

Final Thoughts: Carnival was most definitely the fun ship!  On the last sea day, Ari got to be part of the Hasbro game show and won $150 gift card along with a bunch of games. There were activities with prizes every day. Whether you are into trivia, boardgames, scavenger hunts, dancing, or just being silly… they had a little bit of everything.  The staff was amazing, from the crew members cleaning you room, to those planning activities, serving meals, or tending the bars. On the morning of our last day, the crew members had spent hours folding towel animals which filled the main pool deck area. It left a great impression!

Combine adventures when possible: Since we were flying into Orlando, we decided to take the extra time before and after the cruise to explore other attractions in the area (Kennedy Space Center, Universal Studios, and Disney World). It was especially nice arriving a few days before the cruise because it provided a buffer incase the plane was delayed or cancelled.

Carnival has a lot of give aways: On the first day of our Carnival cruise, made a point to attend all of the contests. They gave away free spa treatments, drinks, jewelry and other items, and even excursions!  You have to be present to win though so it also gives you an opportunity to explore the ship and all of the different areas. If you are interesting in purchasing any specific items on your cruise, be sure to check in with the shopping expert.

You don’t have to book excursions through the cruiseline: The cruiseline does offer some good deals on excusrions. You often get the best deal when purchasing them before the cruise. Some excursions sell out early. It is also a good idea to research ahead of time to see what else is offered. Sometimes, it is nice to just walk around the port and explore the local atmosphere. We have also planned hikes, geocaching, and just finding a beach nearby.