I couple weekends ago the family and I were able to take short break from school and work to enjoy my mother’s 60th birthday aboard the Carnival Ecstasy. I absolutely LOVE cruising! For me not having to worry about what everyone is going to eat, leaving my room knowing that when I returned I will be met with a fresh bed, linens, and a cute animal towel is what I call relaxing.
We didn’t purchase any excursions they are rather expensive if you have a family of five but I did purchase the Faster to Fun which I highly recommend if you cruise Carnival. You get to pass all the lines getting on to the ship with a guarantee that your room will be ready. This means no lugging your baggage around while you wait for your room to be accessible. You are also the first ones off the boat which means no waiting for your luggage and you can get out of the port before it gets too busy.
Our cruise was a short one just a 3 night cruise to NASSAU, Bahamas. We had a great time meeting up with my family at times and doing our own thing at others. When we docked at the Bahamas we got off for a little shopping then it was back to the boat to enjoy the pool which is a lot less crowded on the days the ship is at port.
The Carnival Ecstasy is one of Carnival’s older ships and it is a great ship for first time cruisers. However having traveled on the Carnival Breeze previously it was a little harder to adjust too all the things we missed from the Breeze. One of the things that was great about the Carnival Breeze is the room is bigger for a family of five. It is tough to fit the five of us (with two children the size of adults) in the tiny room. However one of the benefits of Carnival is definitely the price. Trust me when we came back I was already ready to book our next cruise and I searched all the cruise lines to find that Carnival was definitely the best price. The problem for me in booking a cruise isn’t the price as much is trying to coordinate with two kids in school and one now working. If I can find a cruise that allows the least time out of school it happens to be on days that my oldest soon is not allowed to take off. Since he is working at an amusement park his busy days are the days the kids are off school and he is not allowed to ask for those days off. However I’m just not ready to start cruising with out the kids.
I didn’t take a lot of photos on this cruise. I honestly went in with the thought that I was just going to enjoy myself and try to spend time with my family. Since my oldest started working he misses many of our weekend fun in the pool. It was great to spend a little time with him. In fact, know that he is 18 he was to enjoy things he couldn’t before. One night with my youngest son not feeling well and my husband ready to stay in and watch football I was able to take my son down to the casino and take in the adult comedy show, just the two of us. It was really nice to be able to enjoy the time with him.
There were other times when my husband was eating with my older son or both of them taking a nap that I was able to spend time with my daughter and youngest son. I am so lucky that my children enjoy spending time with the family. One of them once told me a couple years ago when I asked why they don’t want to check out the Carnival Camp (for kids) and was told, “Why would I want to go on a family vacation and not spend time with my family?” Talk about making a mama tear up. Even at the ages of 18 and 15 my boys still enjoy spending time with their parents and their little sister.
You would never guess by this beautiful Miami skyline photo that we just got done with a Florida afternoon storm. The family and I were up on the top deck playing some golf when the skies just opened up with no warning. It was quite a site to see everyone scramble to get under cover.
My daughter did ask me to take a photo of her eating a cheeseburger. The reason? To prove to her daddy that she DID eat a cheeseburger. I was surprised when that is what she chose to eat for lunch. Turned out she thought it tasted pretty good, though she still rarely chooses them when given a choice LOL. She is much more a pasta girl!
We did get a few photos taken to add to my photo frame I have at home with our cruise photos.
Honey wanted to have her own photos and the photographer said she was a natural. Model in the making!
I am SOOO ready to go on another cruise!
Do you enjoying cruising?
Brenda says
How nice of the photographer to let her take her own photo and compliment her. I’m glad you had an enjoyable time with your family. As they get older, it is hard to find times for all of them to be able to go on a vacation.
Terra Heck says
I’ve never been on a cruise but it’s on my bucket list. Sounds like you had a wonderful time.