While making marmalade last year with my costuming friend Tina and my blogging bestie Miranda from Spooky Little Halloween, we booked a Halloween cruise under the influence of a lot of alcohol (as one does). And then we convinced our other blogging bestie, Cheyenne from Sense & Serendipity to sell find a sitter for her kids and come along…and the rest is history! In this part 1 of our Halloween cruise trip report, I’m sharing our planning and excursions, sea day and cruise ship fun, and a sneak peak at our many costumes (which I’ll share tomorrow in part 2).
[Related: Surprisingly Simple Citrus Marmalade inspired by Chilling Adventures of Sabrina]
Planning and Itinerary
Not having a Halloweenie Roast to plan, Miranda was free to frolick as she pleased last October, and evidently Halloween is celebrated during the entire month of October on Carival Cruise Line! Halloween is the best time of the year and we were thrilled to spend spooky time in the Caribbean. Our 7-day itinerary was Galveston, sea day, Cozumel, Belize, Honduras, sea day, Galveston, and you better believe we had costumes planned for every single evening.
[Related: Cruise Packing Lists: Backpack & Rolling Suitcase Packing Checklists]
Excursions
I love cruising with my girlfriends on their first cruise, so I made most (okay, all) of the excursion plans so Miranda would have the best experience. Cheyenne and Tina were onboard for whatever, pun intended. So I planned a free day in Cozumel, a Mayan ruins tour in Belize, and a beach day in Honduras to keep it versatile and fun. I mean, if you don’t come back from a cruise with me relaxed and exhausted simultaneously, are you even doing it right?
[Related: Cruise Tips: Planning and Packing]
Cozumel, Mexico
I’ve been to Cozumel enough times to know which excursions are a waste of time, which ones are worth every penny, and where to walkabout on your own. My preference is to shop for a minute, and then walk to El Cid La Ceiba Beach Resort just a few minutes north of the cruise terminal where you can purchase a day pass (the one that does not include all you can eat/drink), so we did exactly that! In the winter, El Cid is quiet and very accomodating. We enjoyed a light lunch with Mexican wine, hung out in the pool, and lounged around as long as we possibly could. Sasalele!
[Related: These Are a Few of My Favorite Western Caribbean Cruise Things (Part 1: Cozumel & Progreso, Mexico)]
Belize
In Belize, we had the Altun Ha & Belize City Tour excursion, where we could climb and walk on the ruins. I usually cruise in December, so unbeknownst to me, June-November is their rainy season. So we got rained on. And you know what comes with rain in rain forests? Mosquitos!! A kind fellow cruiser shared their bug spray, and the staff at Altun Ha carried smoke buckets with the tours, but we were still eaten alive. Appropriate for a Halloween cruise, I guess, but we still had a blast!
Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan, Honduras
By far the bestest, most magical, most relaxing, and most beautful day on the cruise was this day. If ever a beach day includes private cabanas in their excursions, I snatch one up no matter the cost. Within a short walk or a ride on the “Magical Flying Beach Chair” (like a ski lift) from the port, is Mahogany Beach, where our private cabana on Fat Tuesday property provided us with serene privacy and a gorgeous beach. We swam, we floated, we enjoyed frozen cocktails, we napped, but mostly we just soaked in that beautful water we absolutely don’t have here in Texas. What a PERFECT day!
Sea Days, etc.
On our sea days, we explored every inch of that ship. We attended brunch and afternoon tea, enjoyed quiet time at Serenity (adult only), did crafts, attended a whisky masterclass, shopped, and napped. A lot of wine was consumed, as well as fun cocktails by our favorite bartenders at Alchemy Bar. Sea days are my favorite!
[Related: How I Maximize Relaxation & Fun on Cruise Sea Days]
Towel…animals?
Worth noting are Carnival’s towel animal creations, which are always a fun surprise on every cruise. This cruise was no exception, but in the spirit of Halloween, our stewarts had extra fun making us scream after dinner with what looked like dead bodies or strangers sleeping on our beds. Well done, good sirs!!
This was such a special cruise, particularly for Tina and I, who costume at cosplay conventions, and for Miranda, who celebrates Halloween year-round. We took this opportunity to dress in costumes every single night on the cruise, and we think even the staff in the dining room came to look forward to what we would wear each night. Here’s a sneak peak above of some of the costumes we wore, and the rest will be revealed tomorrow. I would love to take another Halloween cruise again. Until then…boo voyage!
[Related: Halloween Cruise? Don’t Mind if I Boo! (Part 2: The Costumes)]
More Cruise Tips, Packing Lists, and Past Cruise Adventures:
First 24 Hours on a Cruise Ship: Do’s and Don’ts
Cruise Tips: Planning and Packing
My Cruise Kit: The Practical & the Ridiculous
A Cruise Must: Chef’s Table on Carnival Cruises
How I Maximize Relaxation & Fun on Cruise Sea Days
Cruise Packing Lists: Backpack & Rolling Suitcase Packing Checklists
Read about our Mediterranean cruise here and British Isles cruise here and Alaskan Cruise here.
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