"Our family's been on 3 cruises. Here are the 8 golden rules we swear by to make the most out of our holiday."

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I distinctly remember so many people telling me that ‘your life will never be the same — kids change everything’. And as an outgoing, carefree person, this scared the absolute heck out of me.

Especially when it came to travel. My hubby and I were used to regularly taking off up the coast for days at a time or jumping on a plane to visit places unknown to us. I couldn’t imagine being able to fit this tiny being into the sometimes-spontaneous lifestyle we loved so much.

But we tried, and we persisted.

The first plane ride was a mess of tears, snot and half-eaten rice rusks strewn across the aisles (and that's not even including my daughter's reaction to the new experience). 

Car rides saw us stopping every 30 minutes to pick up a dropped toy or change a cranky nappy on the side of the road. 

And the luggage. My word, THE LUGGAGE. There is so much to try and stuff into the car boot or within an airlines’ bag limit when you have kids.

After many somewhat failed attempts, I thought our travelling days were over until one night in bed seven years ago my husband whispered to me, "baby, let’s take a cruise."

He had done all the research on Carnival Cruises’ website and could easily rattle off all the reasons why the decision to utter a 'yes' was a no-brainer.

There are tonnes of daily activities entirely all-inclusive. With every mention of the different on-board experiences, my excitement levels continued to rise — waterslides, live music and comedy shows, dive-in movies and Lip Sync Battles as well as 24/7 pizza and ice-cream, a free kids club, fun themed dinners, a huge variety of food and cocktails plus an Adults Only Serenity Retreat. 

And the hassle of luggage? There are no airports to weave through, no measuring out liquids into tiny tubes and no unpacking bags from destination to destination. For a family like us, this was the ultimate way to satisfy our restless travelling souls whilst also being able to spend fun, stress-free time with our little one.

As someone who will never knock back a Lip Sync Battle, my hubby knew I was in. And seven years later, we are happily three cruises down and have experienced them on our own as well as with a family group of 15 people (which was SO much fun!).

I’m by no means a cruising expert now, but after a few trial runs, we've quickly learned how to make the most out of our cruising holidays. Here are the golden rules my family swear by when we prepare to climb aboard a new cruise ship.

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1. Keep your eyes peeled for sale time.

Throughout the year, Carnival have amazing sales on their cruises. They tend to sell out really fast so if you spot a deal you love, book it straight away.

Our favourite packages are the ones that include on-board credit. This allows us to hop on the boat with our Carnival ‘debit cards’ already pre-loaded so we can purchase from the gift shop, lolly shop and Aperol Spritz man as soon as we board. Hello holidays!

2. Pack what you need... and then some.

If you’re cruising to a tropical destination like the South Pacific (like we have), be sure to pack all of the usual suspects – cozzies, shorts, singlets, dresses, hats, sunscreen, goggles, etc. But also pack something a little warmer as the transition from Australian waters to Island time can get a tad cool.

If you’re planning on snorkelling (please do!), pack your own gear if you already have it. If not, everything you need is available to hire once on-board.

Also, I always take my own reusable shopping bags for when I know I will be walking through some of the local markets or buying from the duty-free stores. They’re easy to roll up and pop into your backpack and also reduce the amount of plastic you take back home.

3. Read your cruise ship itinerary well before your cruise.

Every cruise is different, so make sure you have a good read of your cruise ship itinerary as there are often formal dinner nights you can attend as well as themed dinners you can dress up for. I highly recommend them — they're full of dancing, singing and flamed desserts. The staff also get right into it which creates an amazing atmosphere.

However, by knowing about these events well in advance, you can successfully prep your outfits so you know you'll be the best-dressed on the night.

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4. Book your tours early.

My family and I love making the most out of a destination when we visit – seeing the sights, immersing ourselves in the culture and spending a little money on souvenirs to help the local community. Tours are the best way to do all of this and Carnival have a fabulous selection available for booking at the Tour Desk on-board. 

My biggest tip for this, however? Book as early as you can as they are very popular and sell out super quick. We actually tend to check out the available tours via the Carnival website before we board as I feel like this gives us a bit of a head start.

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5. Enjoy the cruise ship newsletter over your buffet brekkie. 

These fun little notes get pushed under your door during the wee hours of every morning so you know what each day has available to you. It provides the schedule of activities for the day so you can really maximise all the inclusions. 

Make note of what you would like to do, read any important announcements and soak up the information on the destination you are visiting next. This is great for the kids as they can learn a little about the places they will be visiting.

6. Know that it's okay to do indoor activities during the day. 

In my experience, when the sun is out, we too are expected to be out. It’s as if staying indoors whilst the weather wants to play is... taboo. But trust me, a lot of the funnest activities my family experienced happened inside of the ship. 

Themed team trivia was an absolute favourite and the bag toss competition in the main foyer was an absolute cack. And as soon as someone mentioned bingo, we were at the auditorium door waiting eagerly with our dabbers. 

Quieter activities like painting, jewellery making and towel folding were also big hits with our daughter. She absolutely nailed the elephant towel fold!

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7. Integrate your kids into the fun.

The words ‘FREE KIDS CLUB’ is enough to make any parent book a holiday without much thought and honestly, we found Carnival’s Kids Club brilliant for our daughter, Summer. They offer different club rooms for different age groups all with age-appropriate activities and games. The carers are all super cool and fun. 

And yes, I definitely recommend you give your kids a taste of the Kids Club — my daughter, nephews and niece absolutely loved it. 

But you know what they also loved? Watching the entertainment shows in the auditorium with us! And playing shuffleboard on the deck. And navigating a round of mini golf. And a family-friendly basketball competition on the top deck before an ice-cream, a swim and a movie.

Integrate your kids into as much of the fun as possible, it’s the best way to holiday and cruising is made for it!

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8. But also take some time out for yourself.

When all is said and done, us parents and carers need (and deserve!) some time to sit back, breathe and relax. If there is a Pina Colada in our hands and a little umbrella behind our ears, then so be it. 

The Serenity Adult Only Retreat is heaven and is the perfect space for you to kick back and enjoy the sounds of the ocean while swimming in the pool or getting a massage. Although a cruise will be a perfect family holiday to share all together, always remember to take a pocket of time for yourself.

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So, what are you waiting for? Whether you're an adventure buff or the Queen of the Calm, there is something for everyone, and a new experience to be had (or not) every day.

From the South Pacific to Mexico, Australia to New Zealand – even all the way to the Caribbean – you are sure to find a cruise package and destination that suits you and your family. And now that we have added another little babe to our brood, we can’t wait to set sail again and make new memories!

Carnival Cruise Line provides fun, memorable holidays at great value. I highly recommend jumping on-board. I have a feeling you may realise that it’s the holiday you’ve been yearning for. 

Carnival is the world's most popular cruise line, thanks to the 5 million people who choose fun onboard every year! See what all the fun is about by checking out the Carnival cruise itineraries for 2022 and beyond.

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