Alright, ladies, if you’ve been trying to convince yourself whether you should go on that cruise, then let me be the one to say, “GO ON THAT CRUISE!!” It was me and JR’s first time vacationing on a cruise ship and we loved every second of it! Our cruise, Carnival Conquest, had an array of entertainment, food options, and a cruise director with a contagious energy that made our trip unforgettable!
One of the key things that made this trip easy breezy was their, Carnival Hub app. It had a list of entertainment options and times featured for the day, meal and drink packages, and excursions all in one spot. It even had a map of the cruise ship! With so many friendly staff members, an app that was easy to navigate on the cruise, and great company, we had an unforgettable trip to the Bahamas!
Like many people, I too was nervous being out at sea, mostly due to the possibility of being sick or lost at sea but that didn’t stop us from enjoying our trip. If you’re a planner like myself some key items we brought with us included, Dramamine, a great travel essential for any travelers who get seasick. Advil, liquid IV, and a pre-workout for those afternoon pick-me-ups were also some key items we brought on our trip! After all, planning can either make or break your trip!
During my time out at sea, I documented my most memorable moments I hope to inspire you for your next getaway! Let me take you down memory lane on my cruise to the Bahamas!
The cruise line we chose departed from Miami’s port on a Monday and because we’d never been to Miami before, we decided to fly into Miami 2 days before our departure date. If you’re like us and you’ve never been to Miami before I would recommend flying in a couple of days before to explore and tour the city.
South Beach and Little Havanna were our favorite parts of the city. South Beach in particular had a much livelier atmosphere, if you’re into the party scene or want to go to the beach, this is a great spot for you! It had great upscale restaurants like Gianni’s Versace’s Mansion Restaurant, which was my favorite restaurant there and the service was top-tier! For the day, little Havanna was perfect for sightseeing, and shopping, and if you go further out of Little Havanna you can find local restaurants for half the price you would get in South Beach! The food portions were much more generous and the taste was unmatched!
Our second day consisted of a full day at sea, which meant we had a full day to explore the boat and attend any shows or events the cruise line had to offer, and boy, did we enjoy the entertainment! From comedy’ to live performances’ to movie nights by the pool, there was always something to do!
Our Cruise director has been working for the cruise line for 7+ years. She truly made our first cruise memorable! By far, every event she had hosted was unforgettable and entertaining. During our cruise, she announced she was being promoted and moving up in her position; this meant a new cruise director would be taking her place, and luckily, we didn’t miss her hosted events! It’s safe to say if you have a great cruise director, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable experience!
When we booked the cruise we booked a particular package that consisted of our food and drinks to be included, except alcohol and personal gifts from the shopping center. The amenities on the boat’ included’ the pool, Mini golf, fitness center, and many other perks. You truly get the most for your buck!
On our second day, we debarked at Princess Cays, a private oasis in Eleuthera, Bahamas. We debarked our boat around 8 am to make the most of our beach day! If you think Eleuthera would be best for sightseeing, then you’re sadly mistaken. The town is further into the island and requires a taxi or local guide to take you to the city limits’ however, just out of the fenced line, there are local shops and local cuisine you can easily enjoy! We decided to enjoy the beach and purchased a shell cabana to lounge in after snorkeling and swimming. The beach consisted of a rock bed that was uncomfortable to walk, but it didn’t stop us from enjoying the water. I would recommend purchasing swimming shoes to prevent any scrapes along the way!
From the weather, the water, and the beautiful views, we truly had an unforgettable experience, which meant a photo op to finish the night!
On our third day, we debarked in Nassau, Bahamas! We new ahead of time this was going to be our day of venture around the island. So, in true tourist fashion, we booked a couple of days prior an excursion, which was an ATV tour through a local guide. Considering we needed to be back on the boat at 3:30 pm, we booked a half-day excursion. Something to consider when visiting an unknown country is to be cautious of your surroundings, luckily we didn’t experience anything out of the ordinary, but always be on the lookout for the unexpected. During our tour we hit a local rum cake spot, that was nothing special but it was a local delicacy. On our next stop, we hit a memorial war museum that had an amazing view of the celebrity mansions. The coconuts were also a plus! The next stop was at a memorial site for Queen Elizabeth demolishing slavery. It was said that the staircase was built to smuggle out slaves and when the queen abolished slavery the staircase was left in her honor commemorating each step to represent how many years she reigned. After lunch, we finished off our tour with a rum tasting tour and let me tell you, the rum pina colodas were a must!! We ended our night back on the cruise with dinner and an amazing sunset out at sea!
Whether you’re escaping your daily life and seeking relaxation, beautiful views, or endless entertainment, I highly recommend taking a cruise! There are countless cruise lines available catering to your specific needs!
I hope my style and experience have given you the tools and inspiration to go to your next destination out at sea! Your vacation awaits ladies so don’t skip on a new experience, you may be hooked, on your first trip like we were! Till next time!
-XOXO
Vanessa
Vanessa Serna 