Spoiler alert: I am a cruise newbie.
Despite being curious about going on a cruise, I never made the leap from idea to itinerary. I can’t even say why. It just seemed like our travel wish list was too long (and getting longer) and cruising such a foreign language that is was easier to go with what you know.
That’s why I am excited to be partnering with Carnival Cruise Lines for my very first cruise experience. My family and I will be joining a group of bloggers on the 7 Day Western Caribbean cruise leaving from Port Canaveral on board the Carnival Magic and stopping at Costa Maya, Mexico, Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan, Belize and Cosumel, Mexico.
So far, all my worries about confusing cruise details have been unfounded. Once you book your cruise, you can login to My Cruise Manager account and browse through dining options, on board activities and entertainment, shore excursions and spa services.
(Here’s a quick preview of Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint!)
They even have an entire section for those of us who are new to cruising, entitled you guessed it: NEW TO CRUISING? The Cruise Preparation section covers off everything you need to know from what to wear on a cruise to how the heck you get on the ship (which as a newbie seems a bit intimidating, but turns out, it’s pretty straightforward).
The best part of the experience so far has been checking out the shore excursions. You can view your options by Port and then narrow down the results by type of activity, accessibility requirements, price range, duration and difficulty level. We opted to visit the Altun Ha Mayan Site & River Wallace in Belize and the Lost Maya Kingdom Adventure Park in Costa Maya, Mexico.
AND let’s just say there is one little girl who is very excited about this…
Want to learn more about cruising? Join @CarnivalCruise for the #LetsGOCarnival Twitter Chat on July 6th at 12pm EST. There’s no RSVP to join (but you’ll want to because they’re giving away Carnival gear). Prizing is open to U.S. and Canada residents 18+.
Here’s how to find Carnival online:
Carnival: http://www.carnival.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarnivalCruise
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Carnival/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carnival/
Disclosure: I am participating in the #LetsGOCarnival retreat managed by SJ Consulting. The opinions on this blog are my own.
As images courtesy of Carnival Cruise.