your first Carnival cruise that kept you coming back!

[Aplmac]

Early May 2007. Carnival Destiny.

She had been booked for dormitory purposes

during a World Cricket 20/20 event, here on the island.

Cricket got done a few days early, and the ship had idle time.
Cabins sold out quickly to locals, and we did Antigua, Sint Maarten

and St. Lucia.

 

It was the escapism I didn't even realize I was looking for!

13 other cruises since then.

 

[vicky3vicky]

Our first cruise was in the late 1990s' on the Fantasy. We owned an auto repair shop and the parts shop we were using closed down. The new owner, to retain business, offerred to take all of the former customers on a 3 day cruise to Nassau.. This included airfare, the hotel we stayed in the night before, the cruise, tips, everything. 

 

I had no idea what to expect when we boarded the ship, but I was incredulous at all the glitz and glamour when we boarded. I was actually quite ill from a medical condition during that first cruise [I passed out during the muster drill] and don't remember much of it other than I loved it.

 

On the way home I kept telling my husband how much I wanted to cruise again when healthier. We had decided earlier that we wanted to take our son to Disneyland when he turned 5 years old. We figured that would be the perfect age. Old enough to know what was going on, and young enough to believe all of the magic. 

 

The next day I called my husband at work and told him that I had reservations for a hotel near Disneyland for a few days, and that I had booked a cruise on the Elation immediately afterwards. That  next cruise- disneyland combo was the best vacation of my life, and we have been hooked since.

[ctkathchick]

My first cruise was Spring Break April 2004 on The Pride. I took my son and both of my Foster kids and one of my sisters came along. We were blown away by the service as well as the ability to see other parts of the world. When we were out on excursions we were enlightened by how the conditions in some places lags so far behind the U.S. It helped give the kids as well as myself an appreciation to life in the U.S even with the adversities that we still have. P.S I love Carnival Cruise and can't wait to cruise again this year !!!

[glentally]

15 hours ago, kansas kruiser said:

1991 Fantasy she was the largest cruise ship in the world!!! Took me 9 years to cruise again but now have 26 Carnival cruises, 27 total!

My dates were similar.  First cruise, always remember the 1st.   Coolest moment of the cruise was the sail away!

[sparks1093]

Our first cruise was on Pride on the Bahamas itinerary out of Baltimore. This was our first 7 day cruise and we were celebrating 20 years together. Our previous cruises had been on NCL but the price for Pride was right for a balcony cabin and we could drive to the port. We weren't fans of the decor but Pride was a fun cruise and we enjoyed ourselves. We keep coming back because of price but aren't strictly loyal since our last cruise was with Royal (so we've done the big 3). Next up is Radiance in August...we hope.

[vacationlover16]

Carnival Holiday in 2009 for our honeymoon. Although we had a wonderful time, we didn’t cruise again until 2013. Since then I’ve done six with two more scheduled for this year. All have been fantasy class & I’ve done Empress & Majesty on Royal. We have Navigator of the Seas scheduled for July & Breeze in October. Fingers crossed both happen. I’m really looking forward to trying larger ships but have thoroughly enjoyed the quaintness of the smaller ones. As a mom, it’s nice to have meals cooked & all cleaning done for you when on vacation.

[TNcruising02]

3 hours ago, Aplmac said:

 

You need to check out this album of the early Carnival ships

- if you haven't already!

 

 

Those are pretty neat pictures.

[sgttami]

My first cruise was in 1992 but I didn't give Carnival a try until  Feb. 2014 when Splendor sailed from NY.

 

It was close to home and there was no extra charge for sailing solo.  I went on an 8 day cruise in a balcony for $640. Sailed 5X that year on Splendor and took advantage of casino offers after that.  

 

Just stuck with Carnival ever since.

 

Thirty two cruises so far and just did my 15th Carnival on the Pride on the Journey's in January.   Hope to continue when the world gets back to normal!

[clhayes]

2001 cruise on Ecstacy out of Long Beach, CA.  We like the easy going laid back vibe, consistent high level of service, and the quality of the product which continues to evolve and improve.  Next up, Panorama in September 2020.  
 

In my home office, I have a wonderful little collection of our travels.  Some Disney in there too.  I worked at DisneyLand for several years back in the late 80’s.  
 

Happy future sailing and safe travels all. Carnival will be back!  

[Joe817]

What a nice collection C.L.! Well done! 👍

[SMSACE6]

I am enjoying all these posts and photos, it keeps me feeling positive and hopeful that we will all some day soon get on a cruise again.  Memories are a great way to keep us motivated and hopeful.

 

[IcanSeaclearlynow]

Sensation '97 out of Miami.  My 30th bday, 1st plane ride & cruise for me & hubby.  Met wonderful people from all over on that sailing and we stayed in contact with & visited some for a few years after.   Best cruise ever out of our 12.  Loved that ship & it's vibe.  Of course we were younger, energy to party til 2, get up at 7 & start the day over lol.  
 

We've been so nostalgic for that ship, last year we booked a 5 day on sensation for this October (in the same cabin) and then the Mardi Gras the next day.   MG was cancelled because of delay so whole trip was scrapped.  We'll get back on the sensation one day though and until then go down memory lane looking at pictures. 😊

[Cruise-Crazy]

First cruise ever, Carnival Paradise June 2003. No occasion, just wanted to go on a cruise. 

[Saint Greg]

2014 Elation

 

 

My first cruise luggage was a duffel bag.

 

 

 

[James4me]

My first Cruise was with my now husband.  We started dating early 1996.  He asked me if I’d like to go on a cruise, I’ve never been and I’m like, well yeah!  So we went July 13, 1996 on the Fantasy.  We went to the Mexican Riviera.  The humidity was off the charts.  We had the best time.  We got engaged the following year and got married in May, 1998 and went on the brand new Elation.  It was her 5th voyage.  Same itinerary, Mexican Riviera.   We had a great time. Carnival holds dear to my heart ❤️.

[crusinpsychRN]

6 hours ago, Joe817 said:

What a nice collection C.L.! Well done! 👍

 

Agreed!

 

I grew up on boats, some of which my father built up to the 55 footer in the canal behind our house. My first cruise was when I was 13 y/o on the Queen Elizabeth--original not the 2nd.. My grandmother told me and my older brother if we paid for it she'd take us to Europe. We worked in my dad's dry cleaner and went to Europe on a tour for 2 weeks and stayed in Germany with relatives another week. 

[cruisinpips]

Carnival Destiny April 2001. My wife and I on our honeymoon. My first cruise, her second. I didn’t want to go, but after  that I was hooked! We have been on 20+ since then...itching for another right now!!!  Booked for December and it cannot come soon enough. 

[nhraformula00]

Mardi Gras fun fact. I remember 4 or 5 slot machines and that was the casino. Our room was about 8 ft.by 8 ft. and the toilet was IN THE SHOWER. You had to stradle it to take a shower.

[klfhngr]

1984, Tropicale to the MR!

[christyran1228]

2013 Carnival Elation out of New Orleans for my daughter's 18th birthday.  I only booked a 4-day just in case we didn't like it.  We loved it!

[crusinpsychRN]

I do miss the skeet shooting, really pretty raunchy pool games, clever comedians and pool side steel band music. They also had the midnight buffet but I never got to taste any as the people taking pictures took way too long.

Edited March 22, 2020 by crusinpsychRN

[Butterbean1000]

2007 on the Celebration.   My oldest sister came into some money and paid for a cruise for me and another sister.  It was the first vacation the 3 of us had ever taken together.  I must admit I wasn't immediately enamoured with cruising though we had a great time.  I really wanted to cruise with the hubs but couldn't talk him into it.  He asked me where I wanted to go for our 30th anniversary, I told him I wanted to go on a cruise.  He relented and we booked a 7 day on the Triumph.   We were both hooked and have been cruising almost every year since.  I turn platinum on our upcoming Breeze cruise in August.  He now busy planning his platinum cruise for next March. 

[IcanSeaclearlynow]

1 hour ago, crusinpsychRN said:

They also had the midnight buffet but I never got to taste any as the people taking pictures took way too long.

I owe you a buffet cause I was that person 😅 

I do have some really great midnight buffet pictures 😁

[crusinpsychRN]

36 minutes ago, IcanSeaclearlynow said:

I owe you a buffet cause I was that person 😅 

I do have some really great midnight buffet pictures 😁

 

I'll take you up on that!  My kids and I would wait and wait then finally leave sans food.

[sprint180]

First cruise was on the Elation.  It was our first real vacation (a trip that wasn't to my sisters house)  My kids and I went on a 5 day Western Caribbean and we were hooked from the start.  3 of my girls had graduated high school and my two boys were in high school.  We had so much fun.  That was in 2011.  Went to other cruise lines after that but the Elation has a place in my heart.