05/19/2026
For Mother’s Day, we joined our friends on a Caribbean cruise that we booked for them. This was their second cruise with Carnival Cruise Line, but on a different ship this time. We took them on the beautiful Carnival Venezia, one of my favorite ships. Sister ship to the Carnival Firenze, the Venezia has such a beautiful and unique layout inspired by Italy and the city of Venice. The ship originally sailed for Costa Cruises before joining Carnival’s fleet, which gives it a more elegant European feel compared to many other Carnival ships. From the stunning atrium and gorgeous murals to the Terrazza area and amazing dining options, there’s just so much character throughout the ship. Plus, it offers tons of entertainment, specialty dining, and some really beautiful outdoor spaces to relax and enjoy the ocean views.
This cruise was also extra special because we officially became Diamond members with Carnival Cruise Line! Such an exciting milestone for us after all of our cruising adventures. One of the fun perks was being able to take our friends to the Diamond luncheon. We also made friends very quickly at the craps table and ended up inviting one of our new friends to join us for the Diamond lunch too. It turned into such a fun experience meeting new people and making even more memories onboard.
Our stops were Grand Turk, San Juan, and St. Thomas. One of our must-dos in Grand Turk is renting a golf cart and exploring the island. We always make a stop at Governor’s Beach. The water was perfect — a little windy, but absolutely beautiful, crystal clear, and the temperature was just right.
In San Juan, we did a tour around town. At only $20 a person, it was such a great deal. The tour lasted about 2 hours, give or take, and our guide was hilarious and very informative. Definitely worth the money. And the air-conditioned bus was a huge plus in that Puerto Rico heat!
For St. Thomas, Jimmy and I decided to stay on the ship. Jimmy was feeling a little under the weather, and I needed to get some work done. But honestly, staying onboard wasn’t bad at all. We introduced our friends to our favorite restaurant, Bonsai Sushi — you guys already know how much we love that place! Over the 7 days, we went twice, and it was delicious every single time. And OMG… the oysters at Seafood Shack were HUGE, sweet, and so fresh. So delicious to say the least.
We are so happy that our friends enjoyed the cruise, and we already can’t wait for our next adventure together!
What’s one cruise destination or ship that you would go back to again and again? 🚢🌴
