Emma and I went on our first cruise this year and it was a blast! We’ve had several people tell us to go and how much they’ve loved it and all of our parental units seem to rather enjoy the cruise experience so Emma and I were pumped to see what all the fuss was about. We were happy to report back to Glenn that next time he should certainly join in as well, however a girl’s trip was so much fun!
Embarkation Port: New Orleans
We sailed out of NOLA, which was fun as it is somewhere I’ve been lots and it was full of memories to show Emma! We stayed in NOLA the night before we boarded, and were able to walk around the city a bit at night and grab dinner. Now, let me tell you, Bourbon Street is certainly not a spot for children, but also, hear me out. The 7:00pm version of debauchery in the streets is that PG-13 version of things that is *just enough* to be wary of, while simultaneously making a fourth grader indicate that it was all together too loud, smelled funny, and was full of girls who needed longer skirts and real shirts. Let’s just say, it was not her cup of tea, and I wasn’t mad about it one bit.
Daytime NOLA was much more her speed, and she was obsessed with Cafe Du Monde and all the shops and Mardi Gras items, amazed by Jackson Square and all the art displays, and was fascinated by St. Louis Cathedral as well.
Boarding
The boarding process was quite similar to an airport, and was done in waves. You check your big luggage to be taken to your room, and then can have your carry on bags with you as you board the ship. This part was key to remember as there is a waiting period before you can go to your room. We made sure we had a bathing suit, coverup, and sandals in our carryon along with sunscreen. You’re also allowed to bring up to 12 cans & a bottle of wine or champagne (no liquors) in your carry on as well, so be mindful of having something with wheels because that gets heavy! And certainly have water bottles or a travel cup to take your drinks around (the cups they have are tiny for the included drinks).
Packing
Emma and I packed one large rolling suite case & one rolling carryon for both of us combined for less luggage to deal with. We each had our belt bags, and I also had a bigger tote to pop our bags into with snacks and such that was able to stack on the rolling carryon. I used my LV Pochette in the evenings, and then packed some different options for daytime; my favorite portable beach bag (you could also use your Bogg Bag as your carryon for a good daytime option!), and my camera bag doubled as the perfect bag for our excursions too.
We spent most days in swimsuits so we actually ended up overpacking despite just bringing the one bag if you can believe it. Must haves however are sandals (both cute and waterproof ones), closed toed shoes, some cute dresses and casual outfits, pjs, and a sweatshirt or light jacket because it does get chilly at night on the open sea.
State Room
We had the Ocean View Room, which had two twin beds a pull down top bunk, and a sofa that also made into a bed. We had a window that Emma could actually sit up in as a kind of reading nook We had plenty of closet and drawer space and an in-room safe for valuables too. We also used lots of magnetic hooks to hand wet items, bags, hats and more along with over the door organizers. Truly game changing! And, every room had a dedicated stateroom attendant (ours was so kind!). Our larger luggage was waiting for us at the room (thanks to these handy luggage tags) and there was even a surprise Carnival Squishmallow waiting for our arrival as well that was a fun add on! The room itself was perfect for what we needed for the four of us, and the beds were pretty comfortable too. The bathroom was a good space as well and the shower head was adjustable which was noce given some height differences. It also had a clothes line which was perfect for our suits to dry on at night.
We ended up being upgraded the day before so there was a bit of a snafu when we got to the room originally, however once all of that got sorted we were good to go! Your key, player’s card, and funds are all on your card and you need it to get towels and such too, so having a lanyard & clip are essential. These ones were perfect! I’ve got all our cruise essentials linked below and on Amazon too if you’ve got a cruise coming up too! And don’t forget to pick up some ducks to hide around the ship too – we had such a fun time searching for them – these ones were always so cute to find too, and these ones were the perfect addition to a lanyard as well.
Carnival Hub App
The app was SO useful. You could purchase gifts, wifi, spa services, shore excursions, and more all in one place. You could make dinner & breakfast reservations, order room service, complete Online Check-In, and view the daily schedule and save events. The planner feature was my particular favorite! Also the map – because sometimes it got a little tricky with some of the floors that didn’t go fully across the ship. You don’t have to have internet to use the app, and we didn’t purchase a wifi package at all (which was so great spending the week being fully disconnected!)
All the Details:
See our other posts about the Carnival Valor, because one post just wouldn’t do it justice: Entertainment & Shops, Food & Drink, and Ports of Call.
Our Cruise Essentials!
Find it all in our Amazon Storefront under our Cruise Essentials list or shop here:
