A group of us went on a seven-day Carnival Celebration cruise recently. I have been on about four cruises so far but this was my first week-long cruise and my son’s first cruise altogether. Carnival Celebration commemorates Carnival cruise line’s 50-year anniversary. It has six zones, which are themed areas that bring together incredible experiences. Key restaurants include Latitudes, The Golden Jubilee, and Emeril’s Bistro 1397. Carnival Celebration also marks the return of innovations like BOLT, the onboard rollercoaster, Bonsai Teppanyaki, RedFrog Tiki Bar, Family Feud Live, Havana Bar, Seuss at Sea, and Playlist Productions. The ship is also Carnival’s second vessel powered by cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas, also known as LNG fuel.
We loved dining at the Big Chicken. It is a complimentary seagoing version of a restaurant created by Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer, NBA Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal. The Big Chicken offers a variety of well-seasoned fried chicken tenders, sandwiches, and traditional sides such as crispy seasoned fries, potato salad and jalapeno slaw. Breakfast is served all day and features a three-cheese omelet, chicken and egg biscuits.
The port days were adventurous and educational. We selected excursions that were extensive yet affordable. I managed to get my and Judah’s passports stamped at each international location. It was a mission to get our Sint Maarten stamp as the immigration office was located about a mile outside of the port area. It was so worth it!
Dominican Republic
We went on a rugged, 45-minute country-side drive in an open-air truck to Coconut Cove. There we enjoyed traditional Dominican cuisine and the serene beach. I selected a whole red snapper with tostones, which are fried plantains, and a side salad. I loved watching some tourists zip line over the beach. Our tour guide Emely, was comical, outgoing, and knowledgeable. The Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola which it shares with Haiti.
Puerto Rico
Our excursion consisted of an air-conditioned bus tour visiting the top 30 sites of Puerto Rico. It gave us a detailed overview of Puerto Rico’s political climate, especially as a United States territory, its cultural and military history, among other notable facts. We visited Old San Juan, a few popular beaches, El Yunque rainforest, a natural pool, San Juan National Historic Site featuring the Castillo San Cristobal fort and the Castillo San Felipe del Morro fort, museums, the capital building, and historic homes to name a few. The tour lasted about three hours.
Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten is also spelled Saint Martin. The island is divided into the Dutch side, which is the southern third of the island, and the French side, which is the northern two-thirds of the island. The capital of Sint Maarten is Philipsburg and it is also the main settlement. I love that Sint Maarten is nicknamed the Friendly Island. Our tour allowed us to witness the island’s key treasures. We spotted many camouflaged chameleons, other beautiful animals and exotic plants. It was interesting to cross the French and Dutch border seamlessly as there is no true frontier definition or gate. Fort Louis in Marigot, which is the capital of the French side, offers incredible views of the island!
The remaining sea days were both productive and relaxing. We took advantage of the free time to go to a couple of the six pools, we lounged around, and attended the onboard events and spectacles. The circus musical was alluring!
Have you ever been on a cruise? If so, what is your favorite part about that mode of travel?
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-Love
