Are you wondering if a cruise is for you?

In the beginning, I was unsure; my mind wondered ‘what if I’m seasick’ what if I do not like it, I’m unable to get off, and worried if we could fall off’ Eeek, Since having kids, I worry about these things; is this you? or just my crazy mind?

Once I stepped aboard I was at ease with the barriers on the ship= safety, but seasickness, well I’m not so lucky with all three cruises I have been nauseous; although I was not physically sick, I felt yuck, I took ginger tablets which helped, and generally by day two I was feeling better, my husband and kids have never felt sick.

In saying this, WE LOVE CRUISING; will we go on another cruise. Hell YES.

A cruise can be anything from relaxed to adventurous; the best part is, it is affordable, a cruise is a great holiday to unwind and relax by the pool, I was worried we may get bored, well definitely not, there is so much to do and a lot of food, my whole family had a blast, it was so much fun.

Would I recommend a cruise? YES, and these are eight reasons why.

Affordable holiday (food, accommodation, entertainment, travel all in one)
Great place to meet new people
Everything in one place- relaxation and adventure
You will not be bored
Unlimited entertainment & activities = loads of fun.
Unpack & pack only once
Taste of luxury & friendly staff -food delicacies, service, pampered, and more.
Explore multiple destinations

I have written this post with the love of cruising, we can’t wait to go on another cruise, we live in Melbourne Australia, and the three cruises have all been to the South Pacific islands, the information below is tailored to our Carnival cruise experience and can differ from each cruise line.

A little tip: If you can travel off-season, peak seasons are extremely busy with school and summer holidaymakers, and the pool areas can become quite crowded and are more expensive.

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First steps for cruising

Getting to the cruise ship. The cruise line directly offers a shuttle to pick you up from the airport at a cost, this can be expensive we have chosen to get a taxi, so, if you are a family or in a group you may find it cheaper to order a taxi to take you to the port.

Are flying in from another city? I suggest to arrive the day before and stay overnight in accommodation if your budget allows; this avoids any unexpected delays in your flight, or if you choose to fly in on the day of your cruise arrive at least 4-5 hours earlier to allow time to get to the port.

The embarkation. The process is done in stages when you complete your booking you get to select a time you would like to embark onto the ship, we generally select the lunchtime allocation, this saves us some money not having to buy lunch and give us extra time to look around the ship before going up to the deck to sail away from the city views.

Make sure you take a backpack on board with your passport, cruise documents, swimsuit, and camera, as it can take a few hours until your luggage arrives at your room.

What to do first – on day one, explore; as tempting as it is, do not sit in your cabin and unpack, there is time for that later, and generally, your bag does not get to your room until later. Go for a walk, check out what the ship has to offer, take a look at the Spa it is always someone there to show you the spa area, for later you may want to unwind with a massage or treatment or use the gym.

On our last Carnival cruise, I treated myself to a 90-minute massage was true bliss I was in complete serenity, and I did not want to leave I left feeling so relaxed and smelling magnificent.

Exploring the whole ship is a must; you do not want to get to the last day and say, ‘I wish I did that’ or ‘Gee; I did not know they had that there is so much on offer from the pools, bars, shows, casino, golf/basketball, water slides, water park, kids club, range of dining areas familiarise yourself on the ship than when the activities are happening you know where to go there are always activities happening all day throughout the ship; it’s surprising how easy it is to lose your direction, or is that just me?

Things you need

Passport if traveling international, cruise documents, travel insurance, do your homework, depending on the country you are visiting, you may need a visa, the cruise line can help with all this information. Luggage tags, no one wants a lost bag.

Enough clothes to avoid paying fees for laundry services, but do not overpack the cabins have hairdryers that will save you space. What to pack for a cruise, check out my full list of ideas.

Money: Many cruise companies have a sail and sign card; this avoids you having to carry cash on you while aboard the ship; you can choose to either link your credit card or deposit cash on the cruise card when you are aboard the cruise ship if you select using cash this is something you can do when you go aboard the first day at the service desk and the end of the cruise you if you have money left you can get this back, but who’s kidding, who will you have money left over? If you do, tell me your secret? Or if you are like me and you need more cash, you can find ATMs on the ship.

Tip: if using a credit card, check if there are any fees and what currency the ship uses.

Each day you get an itinerary for activities happening on the boat; you can also download the cruise app that provides you updates on what is happening on the ship during your cruise, keep in mind your cruise itinerary can change; this has happened to us due to weather we missed one island, a little heartbroken at the time, lucky there is plenty to keep us busy on the ship this does not occur often, it is a possibility the cruise ship will try to visit another port sometimes you may completely miss out on one port.

Cabins – Luxury or Budget, inside or balcony?

Are you traveling on a budget or have a bit of extra cash to splurge? let’s talk cabins there are a few different options: inside, porthole window, balcony, suites, and staterooms.

I love a good bargain and shop for holidays at a bargain price I have been fortunate to get a balcony every cruise at a great price; I love being able to go out on the balcony in the morning and see where you have arrived in the comfort of my pajamas, to watch the sunrise and sunset and to see how to dress depending on the weather and the beds are comfy.

Yes, it comes at a higher cost than the inside cabin or porthole window, and how much time do you intend to spend in your cabin.

Inside cabins can allow for more sleep as the rooms are dark; if your budget is tight and you like more spending money an inside or porthole cabin is the best option unless you can snag a great deal. Regardless of the cabin you choose, you get the same experience around the ship as everyone.

Each cabin has a small safe, be sure to place your valuables (wallet, passports, jewelry) inside before you venture around the ship.

If you are like me and tend to get a little seasick/ nauseous, try to get a cabin closest to the middle of the ship, you can still feel the ship’s movement with the waves but not as much as the front and rear of the cruise ship.

Food and more food

You will never go hungry; try out the different dining areas, restaurants, and buffet, from breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snacks throughout the day and night, you have endless options with the food included or the choice to pay extra, we only did the included to avoid paying extra, there are so many different eateries on board throughout the ship, walk around, explore and you will find places like a burger bar, pizza 24/7, sushi and so many more, you are in food heaven.

You will soon discover your favorite place to eat if you are a picky eater like our son is, no problems, there is something for everyone.

The buffet & restaurants have a large selection of food for all dietary requirements. My mother always said ‘buffet is like cattle at a trough’ I love a good buffet the first cruise I spent much of my time eating at the buffet, but the line up to get your meal can be very long, especially if you are helping your children get food.

On the second and third cruise, we chose to eat at the restaurant for dinner, live a little more luxury with fine dining and being served, and try your hand at eating some delicacies like frog legs, snails, kangaroo, quail, deer, and much more they have a kids menu too.

The first time we went to the restaurant; we left feeling hungry and followed it by tackling the line up at the buffet for more food.

The next night we returned to the restaurant and asked if we could order more than one entrée or/and main meal; to our surprise, the answer was yes.

Hot tip: do not be embarrassed to order more than one entrée or/and main, Miguel & I often ordered two entrées and two mains as the food was so yummy and it is not every day you get to try new delicious food like frog legs or snails in butter garlic sauce.

Endless eating aboard from dinner to the burgers at lunch, bacon and eggs, and all the different omelets for breakfast not to forget the endless soft-serve ice-cream machine by the pools. I find myself overindulging in food glory, I wonder if I will fit into my swimsuit?. EEK. I think I will take the stairs to burn some of those calories.

If you are celebrating an anniversary, birthday, or wedding, make sure you tell the wait staff to help you celebrate they bring great fun and joy to the dining experience, one you will not forget.

Cruise lines allocate dining times; that you can choose when setting up online or change it by going to the customer service desk, we choose anytime dining so we can eat at any time; this sometimes can have you seated in different areas if you like to sit on the same table with the same servers you may like to pick a dining time; don’t worry if your late you won’t go hungry, you will still be seated.

We were lucky with our anytime dining option that we most times got the same table and servers throughout our cruise.

Tip: Check the cruise line you are sailing with; some allow you to take BYO alcohol.

Are you a spender?

A cruise can be expensive or as budget, as you make it; between enjoying the luxuries of the spa or drinking all day; buying gifts, not to mention the internet package prices I found expensive.

If you like to dabble in some gambling in the casino or playing bingo, the cruise lines know how to make their money, if you can have some self-discipline enjoy your time with the onboard entertainment and activities offered throughout the day/night, most are included in the cruise.

Excursions: As luring as it is, avoid buying excursions on the cruise, they are expensive, and many places are safe to explore yourself. We cruised through the South Pacific; once onshore there are plenty of local tour companies/guides to offer you the same itinerary for a fraction of the price; some places have things you may want to buy on the cruise so, you do not miss out, due to limited tickets.

Have a look at the excursions desk to get an idea of what is on offer at the places you are visiting; there might be an excursion with a price you are happy to pay, but do your research first.

On the first cruise, I was advised to buy the excursions on the ship to avoid being left on the islands. I freaked out a little at that time; I could not afford the excursions through the cruise line. I am so glad I didn’t step off the boat to find many locals offering tours and cheap; be sure you are back before the cruise ship is due to leave, the cruise ship will not wait for you; on the cruises I have done, the tours have been great, and know to be back in advance.

Adults only: Need an escape from the kids or the noise aboard, but still be on the same ship; enjoy some serenity and feel the sea breeze head to the Adult only retreat where you will find a spa, pool, bar, and hammocks, and lounge chairs.

Need some more R&R, whether traveling solo, as a couple, or as a family when the kids are busy in the kids club, unwind in the spa, and indulge in a massage, facial, body wrap, and more.

Entertainment – each night enjoy entertainment for you and the family, from family comedy and adult comedy, trivia, bingo, game shows, musicals, shows with professional singers and dancers, and more.

Gym and spa – The fitness center is open every day from early morning; I am not much of a gym person tho I did try the gym a few times in the morning before breakfast. I must say I felt rejuvenated and energized to start the day; if you are more energetic than myself occasionally they do fitness classes.

What is your favorite drink? Cocktail, mocktail, spirits, wine, and beer; there are many bars around the ship to choose whether it be sitting by the pool being served in your seat or watching sports. I love to indulge in cocktails; my favorite is Toblerone or mudslide.

Fun for everyone

Pools, waterslides, and kids’ activities Not all cruise ships have water parks for the kids or waterslides, but there are always about two pools and spas to keep the whole family entertained.

Our last two cruises have been with Carnival Cruise lines I have to say Miguel and I have both enjoyed the slides as much as the kids; although they freak me out, it’s priceless seeing the joy on the kid’s face when we try to be somewhat adventurous.

Around the ship, you can find many activities like mini-golf, basketball, games room, and much more depending on the cruise line you choose; there is honestly something for everyone of any age.

Theme Nights. Each cruise line has theme nights an opportunity to get dressed up and have fun and be outrageous; check with the cruise line what their theme nights will be to pack accordingly, there are generally two-three different theme nights depending on the length of your cruise; they can: Elegant, 80’s, rock, Caribbean/Mexican nights.

Kids Club. We love this; by we, I mean hubby and me; if you’re feeling in need of some R&R, a cruise is definitely for you, and let’s be honest the kids love it too; they can spend so many hours in here.

Riley and Sophie woke every morning asking to go to the kids club; what a hit; there is an array of different activities from arts and craft, video/board games, movies, science, theme activities and so much more to keep them entertained.

The kids are safe and well looked after; you need to sign the kids in and out each time depending on the age of your child you can permit them to sign in and out; on occasions, the club does activities around the ship like a scavenger hunt that your child will need to be able to sign in and out themselves to be included.

The kids club close at mealtimes and need to collect your child at lunchtime, the club reopens in the afternoon, and the kids have the option to join the kids club for dinner in the buffet then they are taken to the kid’s rooms, Riley by the last few nights aboard decided to join the club for dinner each night; he loved it and made so many friends throughout the cruise.

If you like some time in the evening after 9 pm to go to a bar, a night club or the adult comedy, the club offers night sitting at a cost, I found the price relevant to being at home if you were to engage in the babysitting service.

Do you like to bet? Welcome to the onboard Casino – I enjoy playing the slot machines, and Miguel enjoys playing blackjack and roulette; on the last cruise, I learned how to play blackjack and roulette and highly enjoyed them.

If you have some restraint try your luck, you can use cash or insert your cruise card if you are using money be sure to insert your cruise card as you earn points or prizes, grab yourself a drink, sit back, and hope you win.

Shopping: there are many little shops around the ship; duty-free shops, jewelry, a lolly shop, clothes, knick-knacks, and more. After some cruise ship souvenirs check out the Duty-free shop and many other items, you may grab yourself a bargain, but remember when on land be sure to check their duty-free stores as they are sometimes cheaper.

Loyalty programs – We have sailed with Carnival on two occasions and P&O on one. If you get to be a frequent cruiser with the same cruise line, you can enjoy some perks with their loyalty programs like joining the Captain’s dinner party, free water bottles, free internet access, and other bonuses.

Before we disembark, let’s not forget to mention the amazing staff, the staff are so friendly and make your cruise vacation fun and one to remember, from the bar attendants, room attendant and especially the dining attendants, they make the whole experience so much fun and welcoming, it will be a holiday never to forget.

Disembarking is like the embarking process, it is done in phases; you will be allocated a time to disembark with your belongings.