I cruised Carnival this summer, paid my own way. Internet was provided as a means for me to post about our trip as it happened. All opinions are my own and are honest.
This summer, a few girl friends and I decided to take our kids on a fun get away aboard Carnival Magic Cruise ship! This was the first 7 day cruise I had been on (5 days was the longest before this one!) and I was really excited about the excursions that I could take with my girls in Belize, Mahogany Bay and Cozumel!
I wasn’t sure if I would feel stressed out or if it would be a relaxing vacation for myself, but I knew my kids would have a blast! The Carnival Magic is stocked full of fun for kids! There is an arcade, a few pools, water slides, mini golf, basketball courts and so much more! I was eager to see if they liked childcare as well! (and they did!)
For our first stop in Cozumel, we took a cab to Chankanaab where we paid low admission fees and enjoyed the beach, snorkeling and a beautiful view of the ocean and dolphins! I knew about this awesome spot thanks to an excursion I took in previous years! The kids had a blast playing in the sand, and we loved how clean this excursion was! (No trash or peddlers!)
Our next stop was Belize. I opted to leave the younger two girls on the ship and just do snorkeling with my 10 yr old. This was a great decision! We booked our excursion while on board (the day before) and knew it would be great! We hopped on board a carter boat and went to a small island to pick up our snorkeling gear, then we got to spend a good amount of time at the barrier reef exploring before getting back on the boat! We then got to play on a small island for a bit. We enjoyed kayaks and sunbathing there!
Our last stop was Mahogany Bay. We opted to pay for the lift chairs while allowed us to enjoy a sky ride to the beach! It was beautiful and the girls loved the “ride!”
At the beach, we enjoyed soaking in the sun, playing on the beach and lots of laughs! Again, this was a very nice, clean beach and we weren’t asked to purchase things left and right.
We enjoyed our time on the ship just as much as enjoyed our time on the islands. The girls loved mini golf a lot and Chloe got to do the sky course a few times as well!
As a mom, there were many things I got to enjoy (away from the kids while they were in Camp Ocean!) I loved the adults only section on the upper deck! I relaxed there several times! I also loved the spa! It was nice to sit in silence in their many rooms with temps that ranged from super hot to cool.
I also loved that I didn’t have to take on “mom duties” during dinner! My kids were served! Our waiter even cut their food if needed! It was wonderful! Not having to cook, clean, or dish up the eats!
Carnival took such good care of it! We enjoyed many surprises each day! From the towel animals, to the treats left in our rooms, to the fun entertainment all over the ship!
If you have reservations about cruising Carnival with kids, don’t! We had a blast! My kids were 6, 8, and 10. There was something for everyone and we did not witness anything questionable (drunkin behavior of other passengers!) The only time I felt stressed was late at night! I wanted to go to late comedy shows but my kids were so tired and wanted to go to bed. It was a tough call, but I know missing the comedians for my kids to get rest was worth it! It was a great trip and I would do it again in a heart beat!
In fact, my (extended) family and I have booked over 16 rooms on the Carnival Breeze for next summer! I love all inclusive vacations! I don’t have to worry about food, traveling in a foreign place, or entertainment!
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