Carnival cruise lines are known for their family-friendly atmosphere. For a mother-daughter vacation in the southern Caribbean, Carnival cruise lines get the party started! Carnival packs lively activities and entertainment, multiple pools, specialty international cuisine, and spacious rooms. Top it off with pristine blue waters and stunning Insta-worthy experiences of the Caribbean islands, and you have a family trip to remember for a lifetime. Keep scrolling, because we’re sharing seven reasons why you should choose a Carnival cruise to the southern Caribbean for your next mother-daughter getaway.
7 Reasons to Choose Carnival for a Mother-Daughter Cruise
1. Carnival Vista Really is a Fun Ship
2. Balcony Staterooms Perfect for Mother-Daughter Cruise
3. Carnival Cruise Activities from the Ground Up
4. Pools on Carnival Cruise to Southern Caribbean
5. Indulge in International Cuisine
6. Hamming for the Camera: Onboard Photography
7. Explore Beaches & Dutch Islands in the Caribbean
On a seven-night Carnival cruise to the Mexican Riviera, my daughter Megan celebrated her first birthday 21 years ago. Our family of five had a wonderful time on the ship and in Mexico. Since then, we’ve sailed many times as a family.
Several years ago, we began a mother/daughter cruise tradition. To celebrate Megan’s recent college graduation, I brought her and my other daughter Christina on a Carnival cruise to the southern Caribbean.
What do you get when you travel with two young adult daughters on an eight-day mother-daughter cruise? Lots of fun, silly moments and primping for formal nights and shows. In addition, I got some alone time when the sisters needed their space. These are our 7 reasons for choosing Carnival for a mother-daughter cruise to the southern Caribbean.
1. Carnival Vista Really is a Fun Ship
Considering that the Carnival Vista holds about 4,000 passengers in 1,967 cabins on 15 guest decks, the ship is easy to navigate. As frequent cruisers, we’ve gotten a little turned around on ships with meandering hallways. Not so on Vista. Walking from bow to stern was pleasant: no dead-ends or wrong turns for us. It was easy to locate the pools, restaurants and entertainment venues. It also had a stylish atrium and cozy sitting areas throughout the ship.
2. Balcony Staterooms Perfect for a Mother-Daughter Cruise
For every cruise, I still get excited to see our stateroom for the first time. On the Vista, we were on the 11th deck in a balcony stateroom. Located one floor above the Lido deck, pool, and lively deck activities, our room had an ideal location. With its central location, it was a good place to rendezvous after a few hours apart.
The stateroom itself was spacious enough for three women to get ready for day and evening activities. Plus, there were enough closets to stow our shoes and clothes, a desk that doubled as a vanity, and mini fridge to chill drinks.
3. Carnival Cruise Activities from the Ground Up
One of the many reasons we enjoy a Carnival mother-daughter cruise is that we can do things together or separately. That’s especially important when people have different travel styles.
I like to get up early, grab a coffee, go to the gym, and join onboard Carnival cruise activities. I always carry the Fun Times daily activities list in my bag so I can see what’s happening onboard. Christina likes to sleep in, lounge on our balcony (I like that too) and take her time. Megan is somewhere in between. We usually catch up in the late morning or noon for a meal and pool time.
Megan was my buddy on Vista’s SkyRide, a two-lane suspended course in a pedal-powered vehicle. In addition to SkyRide, Vista’s attractions include WaterWorks water park, mini golf, and a sports complex. It also has the world’s first IMAX Theatre on a ship.
4. Pools on a Carnival Cruise to Southern Caribbean
Without a doubt, a ship’s pools are where nearly everyone hangs out. So it’s a good thing Carnival Vista has several pools and whirlpools.
Vista’s main pool is on the Lido deck, where contests, games and dance parties take place day and night. A giant LED screen shows movies at night. I’m not sure when Matt, Vista’s charismatic (and handsome!) cruise director, ever sleeps! He always got some party started, making friends with young and old alike.
When we needed a break from the high energy vibe on the Lido deck, we moved to the Tide Pool. Here we could lounge on comfy chairs with a little more privacy.
Located aft is the Havana Pool, one of the most relaxing places on the ship. However, it’s a private pool area reserved for guests staying in the Havana staterooms. The secluded oasis has a bar, whirlpools, colorful umbrellas, and thatched patio huts.
5. Indulge in International Cuisine
It’s no secret that cruises are known for all-you-can-eat meals. I wish I could have eaten more! Vista raises the bar with amazing international cuisine. On our Carnival mother-daughter cruise, I think we sampled every restaurant.
For breakfast, we alternated between the buffet-style Horizons and the Blue Iguana Cantina for breakfast burritos. It’s also open for lunch. Eateries also included in the cruise rate are Guy’s Burger Joint and the super delicious Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse. Located outside on deck 5, this place was a hot spot for lunch. Tasty beef, pork and chicken BBQ, grilled bread, mac n’ cheese and potato salad doesn’t encourage bikini wearing. But that’s what cover-ups are for, right?
But our dinners at the specialty restaurants (extra fee) were truly a travel-inspired dining experience. At Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, our server had us play a little game to see who would place our order. The winner, Christina, used a small chalkboard to mark our orders, consisting of chili shrimp, pepper beef, short ribs, and broccoli.For dessert: creme brulee, crepes, and fried wontons.
The adjacent Cucina del Capitano was a cozy Italy-themed establishment with red and white checked tablecloths. Over a bottle of Gaetano D’aquino Chianti, we savored traditional pasta dishes.
Equally impressive was the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse. A simple, elegant setting, tender juicy steaks, and impeccable service won five stars from our table of three.
Part of the fun of traveling with kids over 21 is enjoying drinks together. On the Vista at the RedFrog Pub & Brewery, we sampled craft beer from the onboard brewery.
6. Hamming for the Camera: Onboard Photography
On every cruise, Christina and Megan become familiar faces to the ship’s photographers. That’s because they love posing for both serious and silly portraits. They’re not usually hams at home, so it’s funny to see this side of them. They love the props, sets, and costumes. Later, they giggle looking at the finished products in the ship’s photo gallery. Of course, buying them is a must.
7. Explore Beaches & Dutch Islands in the Caribbean
For this cruise, we picked the ship first (curious to experience the Vista), then the itinerary. On this sailing, we visited Grand Turk, La Romana, Curaçao, and Aruba.
Grand Turk: 1st Stop on a Carnival Cruise to the Southern Caribbean
This first stop was a memory-maker. We walked off the ship and straight to a beautiful beach with the ship in sight. Chairs were free and we paid $10 for an umbrella rental. With Captain Jacks just steps behind us, cheap tropical drinks were aplenty. But the best part was the clear and warm water. Two local dogs lapped up attention, with one showing off on a surfboard.
La Romana, Dominican
We’ve been to several all-inclusive resorts on beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic. So, without a nearby beach, my girls wanted to stay onboard. They were nervous about taking a taxi into town. Instead, we bought cheap tickets (about $10 each) for a touristy train ride through town.
Discovering Curaçao’s Dutch History
Situated in the Dutch Caribbean region 40 miles north of the Venezuelan coast, Curaçao reminded us of a mini Amsterdam. We walked by colorful historic buildings, the Queen Emma swinging bridge, a fort, and floating market.
There was a little mother-daughter tension when I wanted to take a taxi to a beach, but Megan insisted we walk. Half an hour later we were still walking. A kind concierge at the Avila Hotel allowed us to stay at the private beach. There, we cooled off in an ocean lagoon and had drinks. Later, we took a taxi back to the ship.
Snorkeling & Swimming in Aruba
This was probably our favorite port stop. We went on a sail and snorkel excursion with an open bar on a comfortable catamaran. The snorkeling was magnificent, with close-up views of the Antilla shipwreck from WWII. So clear was the water you could actually see the wreck and fish without snorkeling.
Afterward, we took a taxi to stunning Eagle Beach. Powder soft sand and calm water with several hues of blue meeting the sky was a dreamy way to end our day in Aruba.
What is your most memorable family cruise? And why? Have you ever embarked on a mother-daughter cruise? Share with us in the comments below.
Steven on aFabulousTrip says
Nice article and cool pictures ! It looks like you had a fun bonding time together. I always love to travel with my parents because it’s an experience you’re going to remember for the rest of your life !