If you’re a loyal follower here on Mom Sparks, you may be aware of my love of cruises. In fact, cruising may just be my favorite form of travel.

A few weeks ago, my husband (Ryan) and I set sail with Carnival Cruise Line (Carnival Magic) for the very first time. Just the two of us. No kids.

We had the best time. Let me explain why.

10 Reasons Why Carnival Cruise Line Rocks

It’s The Fun Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line definitely has fun ships. Our Cruise Director on the Carnival Magic had us giggling with each announcement (he loved to sing, “Good morning, I said uh, good morning!” and “Good evening, it’s a good uh evening uh!”) and the crew, from the coffee bar to the Alchemy bar (more on this gem further down), was lively, funny, and ready to show us a good time 24/7. To put it simply, Carnival just wants to have fun. I’m totally into that.

Other fun things that Carnival offers are the “Lip Sync Battle” (debuting on the Carnival Vista this winter) and a hairy chest contest (we saw this on the Magic, hilarious)! You really never know what fun is around every corner when you are onboard a Carnival Cruise Ship!

Veranda Sunsets

Nearly every evening as the sunset, I sat out on our cabin veranda and watched the colors collect on top of the ocean.

It was a magical piece of art each and every time.

It also made the perfect backdrop for a couple’s photo. 🙂

Alchemy Bar

The Alchemy Bar is a quaint little bar with a big presence. The concept is unique to Carnival – master mixologists who can “prescribe” a drink that can address any of one’s ailments.

Just simply tell the mixologist what you like, even if it’s just a color you adore, and the “scientists” go to work. This bar was a nightly hangout for the girls in our group and one of my absolute favorite spots on the Magic.

photo by Danielle Smith

No Cleaning

We didn’t have to lift a finger throughout our cruise, which almost felt foreign to us as parents. You may have noticed that I said, “almost.”

Let’s just say that we quickly became used to having our room stewart popping in and out of our cabin a couple times of day, taking care of our toiletries, trash, clutter, and messy bed. He even wished me a “happy birthday” on our stateroom mirror.

Yup, I had a rude awakening when I returned back to the real world.

Towel Animals

Every evening cleaning and turn-down service included a fun towel animal; a new one each night!

These creations were such a fun surprise to see at the end of the day.

Cruise Naps

On a normal day at home, I rarely nap, if ever. But on a cruise ship? A whole new ballgame. Ryan and I had a daily nap each day of the cruise.

There is something about sailing in the middle of the ocean that says, “You’re getting sleepy.” It’s basically the best way to nap.

Eat When You Want

One of the best perks of a cruise ship is having food available whenever you feel like eating.

Want soft serve ice cream? Get it.

Want a late lunch? It’s waiting for you. Want a table service dinner? Sign up for “anytime dining” and arrive. Carnival makes it easy to keep you fed.

Various Entertainment Options

Another great perk of cruising with Carnival is the various options of entertainment. From karaoke to musicals, there is never a lack of something to do on the ships.

Ryan loved attending a show every night after dinner, which was the perfect way to wind down for the evening. We laughed, cried, and cheered together through magic performances, game shows, concerts and more. So much fun!

Beautiful Beaches

Oh the places you will see when on a Carnival cruise ship! The most beautiful locations, including brilliant blue skies, palm trees and stunning beaches.

My happy place.

The Escape

I will never forget this special time that I was able to spend with my husband alone. It’s incredibly rare that we get a whole week together without having the responsibility of cleaning, cooking, or working.

Honestly, I don’t think it has ever happened before.

We are forever grateful to Carnival for the opportunity and cannot wait to take another adventure again! Perhaps we’ll let the kids come next time. 😉

If you haven’t booked your cruise yet, do so by visiting www.Carnival.com!

Happy cruising!

Disclosure: I participated in the #LetsGOCarnival retreat managed by SJ Consulting. The opinions on this blog are my own.