Oh yes!!!
Our first family vacation together with just the four of us and look at what we get to do!! Courtesy of the folks at Carnival! WHOOT! Can you believe that? I’m super excited to be chosen as a Brand Ambassador for Carnival. This is a first for me, both being a blog brand ambassador and going on a cruise. So I’m very excited to share the fun news! To be honest, I’m still in shock over it.
We’re sailing this Sunday from Galveston on the Carnival Conquest. It’s a seven-day Eastern Caribbean “Fun Cruise” that visits Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. As a brand ambassador, I’ll be blogging about my trip. (I know… real tough work huh?? LOL!) Carnival has been so helpful answering my gazillion questions about cruising. I can’t wait to take some beautiful photos and share my stories with you. We will be celebrating my daughter’s 4th birthday on the ship as well! She’s so excited! Shhhh…. I got her a Hello Kitty camera so we can all go on a cruise ship photo safari together.
Goodies for you!
Because I’ll be gone next week, I’ve lined up some GREAT guest bloggers who will be providing you with the most incredible FREE Printables. I can’t wait to post these amazing freebies! YAY! We’ll all be getting a treat next week. Mine is just a little more elaborate. hee!
P.S.- That is SO not my hair in the photo above! I just pictured myself as Bo Derek for a moment. Maybe I’ll get some braids in Jamaica?
I won’t be blogging much while on the ship, but I will be posting on Facebook and Twitter! Be sure to follow my adventures. I’m sure there will be some silly stories.
You can also follow Carnival for the latest news and discounts.
- Carnival on Twitter @CarnivalCruise
- Join them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/carnival
- Funville – Carnival’s online community- offers blogs from cruise directors, videos and pictures and message boards.
Did you know?
Carnival is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22 “Fun Ships” operating voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, New England, Canada, Bermuda and Europe. The line has two new 130,000-ton ships scheduled to enter service – Carnival Magic set to debut May 1, 2011 and Carnival Breeze, slated for delivery in spring 2012.
Have you been on a cruise? Have any advice for me?
[ad#Google Ad- 200 image]
Disclosure: This seven day cruise and one off shore excursion is being paid for by Carnival. All opinions and photos about the trip will be my own. Thanks Carnival!
How fun…you are going to love it! and I say braid your hair =)
@Kate,
Thanks for the great tips!!! I’m taking LOTS of Dramamine:-)
You’ll love it!! My husband and I think cruises are the very best. Who doesn’t love a ship that comes with childcare options built in? I love my kids – but I also love the fact that they can go have fun – the kind of fun they like – during part of the day while mom and dad can go do the things we enjoy (trivia, sleeping, etc). Also – they offer evening babysitting services, too! So you can even slip out for a romantic dinner, a massage for two, or karaoke (of course, they have family friendly karaoke, too – it’s just earlier in the evening)! =) <3 Carnival!
When you're in the Caymans keep your eyes out for roaming iguanas. Seriously! They roam around the way we'd expect to see squirrels! My husband and I opted to not go on an excursion there, instead we just walked around town and the natural beaches. We probably wandered for nearly 3 hours. Everyone was so very nice; a dump truck stopped (when there was no crosswalk or light) just to let us cross the road (and we weren't even, like, poised to hop across the road or anything)! Anyhow, as we were walking in the less "commercial" part of the island (more residential area), there they were… just being all iguana-y. =) I'd have taken a photo, but I didn't want to be rude as they were near people's homes. It was a really neat change from being at home, though!
Oh! In Cozumel, you should hit up Pancho's Backyard for some really awesome food (and margaritas)! Great live music and a fun, festive place. The water there is (hopefully still) beautiful! You can get some really neat shots of the cruise ships, too. Cozumel is a pretty busy port, so they kind of line up there to let folks off ship. =)
Hints:
– The spa often offers discounted packages during times when the ship is in port. Why? Most people leave the ship and they would like to entice some folks to use their services at those times (otherwise they're not making any money, so who can blame them?). Those special packages often come with really discounted (or free!) products, too! Of course, as an ambassador you may not need to worry about the price! 😉
– The pools are usually nearly empty when the ship is in port. If you're not planning an excursion for some reason, take advantage! My husband and I must've gone down the giant slide 20 or so times in a row! Pool and hot tub entirely to ourselves. =) Something to remember for your next trip!
– If you don't know if you will get seasick go ahead and take the Dramamine BEFORE you get on the ship and just KEEP taking it. Even if you feel fine. Why? You never know when the ship might hit rough seas or get behind because of bad weather and have to make up for lost time by speeding up (which can make things a little bit bumpier). I, myself, don't get sea sick. My husband often gets sick on amusement park rides, so we don't risk it with him. Better to never find out that you get seasick than to find that you do the hard way.
– Seriously, the karaoke is fun. If you feel comfortable with a few hours away from the kids – make the time for you and your husband to go alone. It's great bonding and it's like you're dating again! =D
– They give out trophies as prizes for on ship contests (trivia and other games). Cheap plastic dust collectors? Yes. Fun to get? YES!! Our first cruise we came home with 3 trophies and a medal. Second cruise? SIX trophies! We owned trivia. =) Totally silly, but way fun!
Hope you have a fantastic time! We've been itching to take a cruise and reading about your trip might be enough to get us to book one!
I am SO jealous!!! We love cruising though we haven’t been since the birth of my son (I am crazy, I won’t leave him at home with anyone, but am scared to take him with us being so young) so I will be living through you I guess!! I have never been to Montego Bay, but I have heard there are some beautiful falls there and they have tubing which is fun. I suggest going to see Stingray city in Grand Cayman, you swim with and feed the stingrays on a sandbar, it is amazing. I would go to the mayan ruins of Tulum in Cozumel. It is amazing!!! Enjoy all the fun, sun, and food! Get the lava cake at supper, it is delicious! You know calories don’t count in international waters! Have fun and be safe!
Family Fun with Carnival! | Living Locurto – FREE Printables … http://bit.ly/bWCLoc
Family Fun with Carnival! | Living Locurto – FREE Printables … http://bit.ly/9x9FnR
@TidyMom,
Maybe I can find Flat TidyMom! 🙂
You ARE picking me up to sneak me on in your bag right?!
I’ve never been on a cruise either……it’s my DREAM vacation!! I know you’re going to have so much fun!!
So excited for you!!
Yay for you! Congratulations!!! The Conquest is nice, you’ll really enjoy that ship.
Don’t forget to bring:
-nightlight (it gets dark in the cabins, esp for kids),
-walkie talkies and extra batteries (great way to keep in touch with your spouse or kids when you are apart)
-clock (in case you set up an early tour or want to be on time for dinner)
-power strip (so you have enough outlets to charge up your laptop, dvd player, camera battery, etc)
-hand sanitizer (we have not gotten sick on any of our 3 cruises, but if you get sick and see the doc, they may completely quarantine you to your room for 3 DAYS. period. so don’t get sick and don’t see the doc unless you absolutely must!)
You can buy most anything else on the ship. Oh wait, we had an impossible time finding aloe to treat a very bad sunburn after our first port of call. I’d bring a bit of that just in case.
We have always booked our shore excursions through an outside company called shoretrips.com. Since Carnival is sponsoring, they probably want you to use their services, but we liked that shoretrips was cheaper and much less crowded for the exact same types of excursions.
Enjoy your trip!
@Solenia,
How exciting! I’m sure he’s going to freak out!! What a great gift.
Thanks for that link! It’s just what I needed because I haven’t even started packing yet. I need some tips.
Have a blast on your cruise:-)
So super cool for you!! Congrats! RT @livinglocurto: Just announced that I'll be a Brand Ambassador for Carnival. http://bit.ly/CarnivalFun
Oh I’m so exited for you!!!!! Please keep us posted off all the fun things in the cruise and in Cozumel.
I actually just purchase my tickets on Carnival for me and my husband for September… it is a secret and he doesnt know yet… its for his birthday… 30th!!! we had to celebrate big… and he is not expecting it… CANT WAIT!!!
I had never being in a cruise so if you have any pointers during and after the cruise it will be appreciated. We are doing a 4 day from Miami to Key West and Cozumel. SOOOO EXITED!!!!!
check this link that I found to help you pack, they had a bunch of things that I never even thought:
http://cruises.about.com/cs/cruiseplanning/a/packinglist.htm
Have lots of fun!!!!!!!!!
Family Fun with Carnival! http://bit.ly/akGs04
Family Fun with Carnival! http://bit.ly/9XYUTV Design.alltop.com
That’s AWESOME! Can’t wait to hear about it.
@Rachel ~ Southern Fairytale,
Awww! I wish we were on the same ship. Hurry… you can still go… only a few days to pack and change your plans. LOL!
Congrats honey! I can’t wait to hear what you think! We’re going on that same cruise in October!!!! I’m an ambassador too but we already had stuff booked for August/Sept 😉
I can’t wait!!!!!!! I’m going to get tons of ideas from you!
Wow! How did you get this gig? I better keep working on the blog, so one day someone will want to pay for me to take a vacation. 🙂
Live it up and enjoy! I’ll try not to be too jealous!
You are such a crack up with the Bo Derek braids! I saw that photo and I was thinking…that Amy sure is funny! I remember that one Christmas photo you redid. Have fun on the cruise for me!
@Jen@balancing Beauty and Bedlam,
Ha! Thanks for the sweet comment. I’m soooo looking forward to it:-)
I have a series of posts about Cruising: http://magnoliamom.com/?cat=20
Congrats! So jealous! Have a super time! I have been on 14 Carnival cruises…can you tell I love their brand!! I want to work for Carnival!
I’ve been on a cruise very similar to this one. You’ll love the Caymans. You have to go swimming with the stingrays. It’s so much fun.
HOLY COW I am SO thrilled for you, AMY. They couldn’t have picked a more perfect person and just think of all the great pictures you’ll take.
I have never been on a cruise, not to mention such a fun family vacation like that. WOOT WOOT! Can’t wait to hear all about your Carnival experience.
If they want a family of seven, next time, I’ll raise my hand….lol.
@laura,
Thanks Laura!
@Dana-from chaos to Grace,
Great advice Dana. I know… I’m jealous of myself… and then I remember it’s ME going. ha!! It’s our first time anywhere with the kids that isn’t visiting family. I’m excited to have just the four of us. It will be special.
OMGosh I’m TOTALLY JEALOUS!!! What FUN! Our family hasn’t been on a big vacation in 13 YEARS! And I didn’t have 2 of our kids! LOL I am SO excited for you guys!
I blogged my Mission trip to Mexico, so my only advice is to keep a bag with you with a couple of pens and a journal so you can jot notes down to keep them from being forgotten! I did that on the Mission trip and it made a HUGE difference in my blogging when I came home! I could blog everything, with all the fun details by the day.
Can’t wait to see pictures!
Just ENJOY I love cruising you feel so pampered. There is somethign for everyone on cruising.
@MissCaron,
I’m prepared to gain 10 lbs. 🙂
So much fun! Definitely take the time to just relax and hang on deck for a while… I ordered the “bucket of water bottles” and it comes with them in a bucket of ice and then I sat on the chair almost all day and baked in the sun and enjoyed the breeze… whenever I’d get hot I’d take some ice cubes and run them all over me, etc. It was perfect! You’ll have a great time… be sure to save room for dessert!
@the BLAH BLAH BLAHger,
Oh, you know I’d do it too!! ha.
I’ll give you 100 bucks if you do Bo Derek braids and wear them the whole trip. ; )