Cruising is a wonderful way to explore the world, and doing it with your family is an experience you’ll cherish for years to come. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my experience of my first family cruise with Carnival Cruise Horizon to Aruba, Bonaire, and La Romana, and Amber Cover in Dominican Republic during spring break. We had a great time exploring the destinations, enjoying the onboard amenities, and creating memories that we will cherish forever.
Day 1: Embarkation Day
We arrived at the Port of Miami in the morning and were greeted with friendly and efficient staff that helped us check-in smoothly. After checking in, we enjoyed a quick lunch before exploring the ship. The Carnival Cruise Horizon is a beautiful and spacious ship with plenty of activities for all ages, including a water park, mini-golf course, ropes course, and an onboard brewery.
Day 2-3: At Sea
The first two days were spent at sea, allowing us to relax and enjoy the amenities of the ship. We spent our days trying out the water slides, playing mini-golf, and enjoying the onboard shows and entertainment. We also indulged in the delicious food and drinks available at the various restaurants and bars.
Day 4: Aruba
Our first port of call was Aruba, where we booked a shore excursion to explore the island. Lucky for us one of our family friends is from Aruba and arranged a van tour, which took us to some of the most beautiful spots on the island, including the Natural Bridge and Natural Pool. We also had the opportunity to visit the popular Baby beach and enjoy some time in the sun and water.
Day 5: Bonaire
Our second port of call was Bonaire, which is known for its stunning coral reefs and clear waters. We went on a glass bottom boat excursion and were amazed by the variety of marine life we saw, including colorful fish and sea turtles. After our excursion, we explored the charming town of Kralendijk and enjoyed some local shopping and drinks.
Day 6: La Romana, Dominican Republic
Our third port of call was La Romana in the Dominican Republic. We did not book any shore excursion on this day it was super hot and the port of call looked like it was for cruise guest to relax, eat and shop. We grabbed a quick lunch of chicharron, picked up some duty free liquor and, had the chance to purchase unique souvenirs. The highlight for us when Rian jumped in and started playing the drums with the local welcome band. Look at how happy he was at his skills, proud mommy moment here.
Day 7: Amber Cove, Dominican Republic
Our final port of call was Amber Cove, another destination in the Dominican Republic. We spent the day relaxing on the La Casa en la Playa with the most amazing host. It was the best way to unwind on the white sandy beach with Bad Bunny blasting in the background and an endless flow of strong Caribbean cocktails made by the cutest bar tender. What kids? Oh, did I mention it also included a traditional Dominican lunch. We (kids included) had the best day by the beach enjoying the many amenities available at La Casa en la Playa, including playing en la playa, hair braiding, snorkeling, and kayaking.
Day 8-9: At Sea
Our last two days were spent at sea, which gave us more time to relax and enjoy the onboard amenities. Most of the specialty restaurants on Carnival Cruises are an additional charge however during lunch they do offer free buffet of menu items that you can try in lieu of the Lido Market dining, we tried to catch a few of the evening comedy shows, checked out a teaser at the Cloud 9 spa and participated in some of the onboard activities.
Day 10: Disembarkation Day
Our cruise came to an end, and we disembarked the ship early in the morning. The disembarkation process was smooth and efficient, and we were grateful for the wonderful memories we had created during our trip.
In conclusion, our first family cruise with Carnival Cruise Horizon to Aruba, Bonaire, La Romana, and Amber Cove during spring break was an incredible experience that we will always cherish. We highly recommend this type of vacation to anyone looking for an enjoyable and memorable family getaway.
