Travel Journal

“So, where are you going next?” is a question we travel agents are often asked, and over the past few months I’ve taken great pleasure in answering,

“To the Caribbean, darling.”

Although the Bahamas are only 85 kilometres from Miami, they feel a world away, and the Caribbean has such an exotic ring to it.

Why the Caribbean, I hear you ask? Well, that’s a story in itself. While we were in Bali in October, I asked the kids what they wanted to do during the July school holidays. “A cruise” they answered in unison.

“Where to?” I asked Lily.

“Not bothered,” she replied.

“What about you, Charlotte?”

“Well, I’ve always fancied the Caribbean,” replied 13-year-old Charlotte.

“Really?” I said. “And why is that?”

“To swim with the pigs, of course,” she replied gleefully.

“You mean swim with the dolphins?” I said, thinking of the Atlantis resort.

“No, the pigs, Dad. Just watch Travel Guides—it was on there last month.”

And with that, Travel Guides sealed my fate.

With the destination settled, the next challenge was logistics: finding an affordable Caribbean cruise that included the Bahamas and fitted our fixed dates. The school holidays began on 3 July, so flying out that evening meant we could spend 4 July in the USA for the 250th anniversary of Independence. That left us needing a cruise departing on 5 July. To keep costs down, we had already agreed on an interior cabin and weren’t too fussy about the itinerary. In the end, there was only one real option: Carnival Celebration, sailing to the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. “That’ll do nicely,” I thought—until I looked more closely at the ship. It was the largest in Carnival’s fleet, carrying up to 5,600 new friends. This could be interesting.

Our journey to the Caribbean took us via Houston to Miami, then home from Orlando through Houston to New Zealand. I was surprised by how many people asked whether we would be safe travelling to the United States, or whether we would even be allowed into the country. As it turned out, our arrival experience in Houston was unforgettable.

We used the MPC app to speed up immigration and reached the desk in about five minutes, with only four people ahead of us. When it was our turn, Jose, our immigration officer, asked what we were doing in America. I told him we were going on a cruise.

“Me too,” he said. “Though mine isn’t until January.”

“What kind of cruise?” I asked.

“A salsa cruise,” he replied.

“I take it you’ve salsa danced before?” I said.

“Oh yes,” Jose replied, before showing us his best salsa moves from behind the desk and returning our passports with a Latino flourish.

“Have a great cruise,” he said—and that was our entry into America.

Miami had embraced the World Cup in a big way, which was no surprise in a city that is home to Lionel Messi and a large South American community. In a rare outbreak of common sense, city officials had combined the FIFA Fan Park with the 4 July 250th anniversary celebrations, so we headed downtown to join in. We watched France beat Paraguay before the focus shifted to the festivities. A concert featuring local artists followed, headlined by Willy Chirino and then The Fray. I had to admit I didn’t know much about Willy, but a quick search revealed he was a local legend: a Cuban immigrant who had been making music for 50 years and was also well known in Miami for his clever property deals. He warmed up the crowd nicely before The Fray really got the party going, finishing at midnight just in time for an incredible drone and fireworks display. It was quite a first day.

The next morning, as we weren’t boarding the ship until 1pm, I took the family to explore South Beach’s Art Deco district. It was lovely, and South Beach had embraced the World Cup too, with plenty of outdoor seating and big screens showing the games. Miami reminded me a little of London: a collection of distinct neighbourhoods sitting side by side. Walking among those beautiful Art Deco buildings, it was hard to believe the shiny steel-and-glass towers of downtown Miami were only 10 minutes away.

From there, it was off to the docks to board the ship. It was only when we pulled alongside that we fully appreciated its size: 19 decks of Carnival fun, fun, fun.

Back in New Zealand, people visibly winced when I told them how big the ship was. But having sailed on ships carrying more than 3,000 passengers, I was confident this one wouldn’t feel dramatically different. In fact, it felt less crowded than many smaller cruise ships. Its sheer size meant passengers were spread across countless spaces, so it rarely felt busy.

Our cruise itinerary was very glamorous, beginning in the Bahamas before continuing to Celebration Quay, the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos Islands. I had visited the Bahamas on a previous cruise and was impressed by the improvements at the port: a colourful local-style village of weatherboard shops and bars for visitors who preferred to stay close by. Downtown Nassau looked much the same as it had 10 years earlier, but the real focus of our visit was, of course, the pigs!

After an hour browsing the local market, it was time to take the boat to Rose Island for our swimming pigs experience. I had wondered how well the excursion would be managed, especially with two Carnival ships in port and potentially 7,500 day-trippers coming ashore. I needn’t have worried. There were fewer than 20 people on our boat, and the second boat that arrived shortly before we left carried only about 25. The pig encounter was well organised, with a clear briefing on the do’s and don’ts before the pigs were released from their enclosure and came trotting across the beach into the surf. We waited in the water with cups of chopped fruit and frankfurters, using long cocktail sticks to feed our hungry visitors. Some people were more comfortable around the pigs than others, and coming from New Zealand, you forget how little contact some city dwellers have with animals. There was squealing (not just from the pigs) laughter, and even a few tears (from the aforementioned city dwellers) The pigs moved through the water with almost laser-guided accuracy towards the food and all in all, it was a great experience and one most people enjoyed. The pigs seemed happy and not in the least bit stressed, and after travelling all that way, the smile on Charlotte’s face made it completely worthwhile.

The next stop on our cruise was Celebration Quay, Carnival Cruise Line’s exclusive, purpose-built destination on the south coast of Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas. It features a mile-long white-sand beach, massive freshwater lagoons, and a dedicated cruise pier where ships dock directly. The 65-hectare destination is split into five distinct zones, known as portals:

Paradise Plaza: The vibrant welcome area featuring live music, guest services, and a large sandcastle centerpiece.

Starfish Lagoon: A family-friendly zone with a splash pad, waterslides, sports courts, and beach access.

Calypso Lagoon: An adult-friendly space with swim-up bars, a DJ, and active social spots.

Pearl Cove Beach Club: An exclusive, paid adults-only retreat with a private beach, infinity pool, and upgraded dining.

Lokono Cove: A shopping and cultural hub showcasing local Bahamian art, crafts, and independent artisans.

To give you an idea of how big a “massive fresh water lagoon” actually is, the capacity of the lagoon is 4,300 bathers! We spent the day on the beach and walked into Paradise Plaza for lunch (included in the cruise price) before heading back to the ship, via more time on the beach and a quick dip in the azure, blue Caribbean waters. We were again one of two ships, but once again there were no big queues to get on and off the ship and it was only after getting back on board this day that I realized how many people just stay on board. There were lots of large family multi-generational groups who were using the ship as a floating resort, many were Americans who had driven to Miami from nearby states and for them the ship was the focus. They had paid for their drinks package, the food was plentiful and there were lots of activities provided, shows and quizzes.

Our next stops in the Dominican Republic were Amber Cove and Puerto Plata. Amber Cove is a purpose-built Carnival dock, complete with the expected village-style shopping area beside the pier. We bypassed it and were picked up for a city tour. After four days in the Caribbean without so much as a hint of rum, I was beginning to wonder whether we were really in the Caribbean at all. Fortunately, all was not lost: our first stop was a rum distillery, where we enjoyed an interesting look—and taste—at how traditional spirits are being repackaged and refreshed to appeal to new generations of drinkers.

From there, we continued into town for a chocolate tasting, a look at the amber the country is known for, and a stroll around the main square and cathedral. Afterwards, we headed to the beach for a one-hour horse trek through fields and small villages, finishing in the surf with our ship in view. It was a wonderful way to end our day in the Dominican Republic.

Our final port of call was the Turks and Caicos Islands, where we had booked a snorkeling excursion using underwater scooters. It all felt very James Bond. From there, we headed to a sheltered bay for a stingray encounter, which was incredible. The crew had effectively trained the wild stingrays to come close enough for photos, making it quite an experience.

The penultimate day of our cruise was our second “at sea” day and these were needed, as shore days were long and had early starts. We enjoyed sunbathing and doing some quizzes plus a teppanyaki lunch one day and really enjoyed having no set plan for the day other than meal times.

I set off expecting to enjoy the cruise, but I hadn’t realised just how much. The ship offered so much to see and do, with excellent dining options, plenty of bars and entertainment venues, four pools, and countless places to relax. That may sound unlikely on a ship of this size, but its clever design made it feel surprisingly easy.

Big ship cruising is huge market with many different options, is it for everyone? absolutely not, would I do it again, definitely!