Family Vacation - Days 1 & 2

      Three weeks ago today I was on the BEST vacation with my family!  Our destination was the Caribbean Sea aboard the Carnival Imagination cruise ship.  By far, the most frequent question I am asked about our trip is how did the boys do?  In all honesty, they were awesome!  They were so good, and we had so much fun, that I actually want to take them again.  In fact, in my opinion, if you have a family cruising is the way to go. 

        I was a little surprised by how well the kids behaved while on the airplane.  The flights were long, but they kept occupied and thankfully didn't get too bored.  Southwest Airlines doesn't fly directly into Miami, so we flew into Fort Lauderdale, which is close.  We arrived at 12:30 a.m. eastern time and I immediately felt the humidity once we got off the plane.  The weather in Florida was wonderful; 78 degrees with a slight breeze ... perfect for a winter escape.  That first night we stayed in a hotel near the airport and the following morning we caught a shuttle to the Port in Miami.   

        We arrived for check-in around noon and the process was so easy.  Once on board we ate lunch, walked around the ship, then hit the pools and water slides.  All while passengers were still boarding.  I didn't really know what to expect when it came to our room but I was assured that all five of us could fit in one cabin.  And it was true, the way they maximized the space was brilliant!  Each of the boys had their own bed that folded down, while Spencer and I shared a king size one.  I loved it!  We set sail at 5:00 p.m. that night.

      Camp Carnival was another one of the highlights aboard the ship.  They offer tons of activities all day long specifically designed for kids.  Every morning at breakfast we would go through the list of activities and pick out the ones they wanted to attend.  Activities they went to include:  A Magic Show, Break Dancing Class, Color your Own T-Shirt, Wii & PlayStation Game Time, Kids Only Dinner & a Farewell Party.  The Camp was free of charge and it allowed Spencer and I some quality time together while they were gone.

 

      Hands down, one of the best parts of the cruise was the food.  All you can eat, 24 hours a day, and good quality too!  The boys especially enjoyed the 24 hour Pizzeria and soft serve ice cream machine.  Every night after we picked them up from Camp Carnival we stopped by for a slice of pizza and ice cream before bed.  Not good for the belly, but oh so much fun!