‘I think I just found the most fun and affordable holiday for families’

“I didn't really want to go and before I knew it, I was standing on the fourth floor looking down on the lobby deck watching a woman dance the nutbush with no shoes on. What a vibe!”

It was the holiday I didn’t really want to go on. I’ve heard about cruises and how they’re not so great for those people who hate feeling trapped or scared of catching people’s germies.

Hello, hi… I am those people.

But when I was discussing the opportunity to step on board Carnival Splendour’s famous, annual “Grinchmas” cruise, my daughter’s ears pricked up.

Conversations about how much she loves The Grinch, Christmas, and spending quality time with me ensued, and before I knew it, I was standing on the fourth floor looking down on the lobby deck watching a woman dance the nutbush with no shoes on by the pool.

Who even was I?!

I’ll tell you who… the woman who has clearly never been on a cruise before and after spending five whole days sailing up Australia’s east coast from Sydney to Moreton Island, I realised just why people - especially families - love themed cruises.

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Welcome on board Carnival's "Grinchmas" cruise. Leah Goulis / Kidspot

Let's talk about the activities

When I was telling people I was heading off on a cruise, most would make a comment about getting bored and feeling “trapped” on a boat. But honestly, the itinerary I was given didn’t even allow me that opportunity. From the moment you step on board the ship, it’s non-stop FUN. It's carnival's motto after all. 

You’re immediately encouraged to download the Carnival Hub app so you don’t miss a thing. Through the app you’re able to book dinner, check waiting times in the dining room (very convenient during those busy times and you don't want to be lining up waiting), and even communicate with other people travelling through the chat option.

After checking into our stateroom (we weren’t able to nab a balcony room but I would highly recommend that if you can!) we scrolled through what was on offer for the next five days. My daughter and I bookmarked some activities and shows that we thought we’d enjoy and throughout the trip, we were given reminders that they were due to commence, which made planning our days, hours, minutes so much easier.

RELATED: 6 essential tips for cruising with kids

So what does one do on board? I’m so glad you asked.

Being a Christmas in July / Grinch theme, this particular voyage was jam-packed with festive activities like carol-singing, Christmas craft, Dr Seuss character encounters, and holiday shows.

I was lucky enough to be treated to a remedial massage at the Cloud 9 Spa, which offers an impressive menu of treatments, a hydrotherapy pool, and a ‘quiet’ meditation area to zone out of the chaos on the main deck.

For those who love a production, there are many shows on offer. We watched an 80s tribute show, the holiday show and caught a family-friendly routine at the comedy club. Of course if you want to just kick back with a cocktail and live music, there’s plenty of that too.

RELATED: 11 reasons Tangalooma on Moreton Island should be your next family holiday

Bingo, waterslides, mini golf... how can you ever get bored? Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

As a reward for the adults indulging, the kids will want to game away at the Warehouse Arcade followed by endless rides down the waterslides (even if it is freezing in July!) and games of Mini Golf or basketball.

Out of all of the activities on offer, our personal favourite was Bingo. And we weren’t the only ones! Hundreds of people, with their keen children, piled in for the two games played during our five-day stay with some walking away with over $2000!

Sadly it wasn’t us but what a hoot!

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The food... ALL of the food!

"You could go a whole week without eating the same thing twice (except, you know, you'll want seconds)" - that's the Carnival Cruise tagline when you click on dining options on their website. 

And oh boy, they're not wrong! Everyone talks about all the FREE FOOD on a cruise and I'm not sure I was prepared for just how much we could eat.

If my 9-year-old daughter was writing this, she'd want me to mention the free soft serve at the Swirls bar. 

"You mean we can get as much as we want? Any time we like?" 

Yup, that's right kiddo!

But that's not the only "free" food you can grab whenever you like. I say "free" because obviously you do pay for it in your ticket price but the fact that you can go back for seconds, thirds and fourths at all times of the day and night makes it incredible value for money. 

Food... all of the food! Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

We ate way too much pizza from Pizzeria del Capitano when it wasn't even lunch time, the burgers from Guy's Burger Joint were delicious and during a special planned breakfast for Thing 1 and Thing 2's birthday, we enjoyed some themed morning treats like the festive pancakes above.

But the meal of the trip was definitely had at Fahrenheit 555, a specialised steakhouse that you will pay extra to dine in. My little lady wanted to be fancy with the rest of the adults and ordered off the adults menu. Her picks? Smoked oysters for entree, steak with a side of broccoli for main and a chocolate sphere for dessert. Of course. 

While there is a lot of food included (I haven't even mentioned the Lido Buffet and all the other side eateries in the main dining area), it's definitely worth splurging one night for a quiet, fancy meal. 

Before we move on to the next reason why a cruise is a great affordable holiday, I need to mention how drinks work.

Alcoholic beverages are charged to your on-board pass and there are a lot of specialty cocktails available. You can also opt for the Bottomless Bubbles package which allows you the freedom of all of the soft drink and juice you want during your holiday for $14.95 per day for adults or $10.95 per day for children. We went for this package and drank waaaaay too many sugary drinks. #yolo

The offshore excursions

Many of the itineraries Carnival offers will include offshore excursions and that's probably another reason why families love to holiday this way. The ship itself is a holiday and a bonus is waking up in a different destination and being able to step off for some on-land adventures. 

The voyage we were on took us up to Moreton Island, QLD, and after a few rocky times during the sea days, we were keen to get off and explore some land for a bit. 

We landed just off the coast of Tangalooma and were shuttled by boat to the wharf in the morning for a day of fun IN the sea instead of ON it. 

Known for its shipwrecks, whale-watching adventures, and incredible snorkelling, Tangalooma Island Resort is named among the top 100 beaches in the world by Lonely Planet. The water is crystal clear (albeit a little crisp in July) and there are a lot of activities to enjoy. 

We chose to lap up the sun and water and swim around the wrecks, which was just the right amount of relaxation we needed before it was time to jump back on the ship for some more non-stop festive fun. 

An offshore trip to Moreton Island. Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

How much is it? 

OK. Let's talk costs. That's the whole reason I'm writing this after all.

For a four-day cruise on board the Carnival Splendour at around the same time of year we went and heading to Moreton Island, you're looking at $619 per person for an interior room, $789 for an oceanview room, or $979 for a balcony room. 

Considering that this is very much a "set-and-forget" holiday in that your daily activities are all planned for you and meals are included, I would consider this great value.

Not having to worry about paying for things got a big tick from me but also, the mental load of not having to organise everyone was a great novelty. 

In our Christmas era. Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

What about sea sickness?

I've been on a boat out at sea before. A smaller one, but enough for me to know how horrible sea sickness feels, so I was armed with all of the drugs.

Within minutes of leaving Sydney Harbour those tablets were needed, so my advice here is, to take those sea sickness tablets and make sure you take them a good half hour BEFORE you set sail. That rocking does catch up with you - even if it is nice weather. Also, be warned... I wasn't able to get rid of the sea legs until a good week AFTER we were back home!

But is it really a good holiday? 

When you combine the sailing, the activities, the food, and the overall entertainment of a cruise, you can't help but agree it's great value for money.

While we didn't sign up for the kids club, we noticed so many children of all ages just living their best lives while the parents and even grandparents were doing the same.

I was able to enjoy the trip for what it was with the best travel buddy ever - my daughter. Five whole days of uninterrupted quality time with my girl, no sibling squabbles, no fighting for mum or dad's attention, no rushing to after-school sports, begging for homework to be completed, and really getting to know her fun personality away from distractions with an incredibly fun backdrop. 

As it turned out, the holiday I really didn’t want to go on ended up being one of the best.

Leah and her daughter were guests of Carnival Cruise Line Australia and they genuinely enjoyed doing the conga with strangers.

Originally published as ‘I think I just found the most fun and affordable holiday for families’