This post is sponsored by Avalon Waterways. All thoughts and opinions are my own. River cruises are not what they used to be. Gone are the days of meeting in port for stuffy tours on big busses with boring itineraries. Avalon Waterways has created something unique for a new generation of thoughtful travelers, their Active…
You’ve made your New Year’s resolution, you’ve gotten your bathing suit ready for your cruise. It’s time to relax, enjoy, and par-tay! But with the endless days of lounging by the pool and unlimited 24 hour buffets, they say the average cruiser puts on 10 pounds in a week. Yowza! That’s not cool. When I…
I feel like I can still smell the scent of pine mixed with salty sea air from a recent Alaska cruise. It was a cool and refreshing break for an otherwise hot summer, and the memories we made on the cruise are ones we’ll be talking about and sharing for years to come. Summer Alaska…
During our latest cruise on Carnival Vista, I was excited to visit a new-to-me destination: Aruba! Just off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba is a Dutch island with rocky, desert-like landscapes along the northern side, and sandy beaches and coconut palms along the southern coast. With such a variety of picturesque landscapes, we booked the…
There’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to dining experiences on Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Vista. All of my favorite restaurants that I experienced on Carnival Sunshine are there and are even more well integrated into the new ship’s design — like a sort of deliciously enticing restaurant row. There’s sushi at Bonsai…
During our cruise to Alaska onboard the Carnival Legend, we were so exited to go on several glacier excursions, especially since one of the benefits of cruising Alaska is that you get to go places that are impossible to see by car. After cruising through the Tracy Arm Fjord to gaze at glaciers right from…
When cruising along the shores and through the fjords of Alaska, you can’t miss the opportunity to experience the great outdoors and get up close and personal with nature. Throughout our Carnival cruise, I mentioned to my husband, Pete, more than once that it felt like we woke up in a painting, surrounded by fresh…
I hadn’t been on a Carnival Cruise in over 10 years, so when I hopped on board the Carnival Sunshine for a girlfriends getaway retreat, I was surprised by all the new amenities available on Carnival’s new ships. It seemed with every corner we turned, and every nook and cranny explored, there were fun surprises…
Browsing through the dining options on my last cruise, there was something new I didn’t expect to see — Carnival’s Chef’s Table. I’ve had this sort of meal in restaurants and resorts, but I hadn’t experienced this type of interactive dinner on a ship. Turns out, it’s not just dinner, but a multi-sensory experience. We…
What do you think of cruise dining? Do you imagine big buffets, formal dinners, and sharing a large table for eight with strangers? Based on my past cruise experiences, that’s exactly what I expected. Not that that’s bad. I have fond memories of making friends with fellow cruisers and having fun getting dressed up for…
Do you remember your first cruise or vacation? I certainly remember mine, as it was one of my very first trips outside of the country — and it was on a Carnival cruise that went to the Caribbean and Mexico. I recently stumbled upon an old college album filled with travel photos. The year was 1998,…
It’s been at least ten years since my last Carnival Cruise, and my-oh-my things have changed. Last month, my friend, Suzie, and I went on a girl’s getaway on the Carnival Sunshine to relax and unwind before the busy start to the new year. We set out to disconnect from the world and find time…
I just got back from a Carnival cruise and have a whole list of notes of things I want to remember to bring next time, as well as a few things I brought along that I now know I can’t live without. If you’re headed out on a cruise soon, here’s are some helpful tips for…