Three lucky winners can win a cruise to Vanuatu for four. Enter now and find out the 10 best ways to have fun on board

Fancy spending Christmas on a sun-bed somewhere in the Pacific? Enter our competition for a chance to win an 11-day cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines.

It is not possible to define fun on a Carnival Cruise with just one example.

Instead here are the top 10 definitions of fun at sea on board the 12-deck Carnival Spirit.

Food fun

All you can eat. Yep, included in the price is the food. Fill the large oval plates from the many buffets available as many times as you like. The children can eat as much pizza, noodles, fruit, and cakes as they can without feeling sick. Fresh tailor-made omlettes can be ordered. If you prefer fine dining, the grand Empire Dining Room has table service, dancing waiters and you can order as much as you can eat of any course The children’s menu is like none you’ve seen with a Froot Loops French toast breakfast.

Kid fun

Every parent on the boat said the best thing about the cruise was the free time without the kids. The Youth Program takes care of children in a section of the ship designed especially for them. Knowing your children are happy makes parents happy. A simple formula and it works.

Slide fun

Green Thunder is the steepest and fastest water slide on any cruise ship and is a must for young and old. Spinning out over the ocean, slide fun doesn’t get any better than this.

Slide the Green Thunder for a waterside thrill at sea.

Staff fun

Every cruise ship worker wears a name badge with a flag of their country. From the moment you step on board, every staff member knows your name. From the cabin crew who leave folded towels as animals in your room (known as towel art) then you pop out for a sunbake to the waiters, who hail from Bulgaria and Estonia and dance during dinner, they will make you feel welcome. And who could forget the Italian capitano who broadcasts the longitude and latitude of the location of the ship on the loudspeaker.

Grown-up fun

There is the Serenity Retreat where only adults are allowed. Music, bar and spa pool. You’d think Serenity would be quiet but it is anything but. The adults are having fun and as laughter spills from the hammocks and sun loungers and there are shouts for more cocktails, serenity seems to be the last thing on anyone’s mind.

Give me a pool, a bar, a sun lounger.

Get to Serenity via the glass lifts in the Atrium.

There is the casino too, just for adults. And if you feel like truly spoiling yourself, and who doesn’t when they are on holiday, have a hot rocks massage or a spa at the gym.

Towel fun

In each cabin, guests’ towels are folded each day into a different animal shape, including elephants and monkeys. This towel art is so popular there are daily towel-folding workshops.

Not a towel but a monkey.

A towel turned elephant.

Embarrassing fun

What is a cruise without a bit of karaoke. The three people I dobbed in to sing were actually very good. The atmosphere in the karaoke bar was jovial and supportive. I declined to sing because it would have ruined the cruise but as the night wore on and the drinks flowed, everyone was singing.

Sun fun

There are hammocks and sunlounges all over the ship. The shaded loungers that comfortably fit four people are so popular, it is only the early risers who manage to get one.

Beer fun

Blair Hayden, manager of The Lord Nelson Brewery in The Rocks, created Thirsty Frog Summer Ale for Carnival Cruises. It is a light beer with a floral and citrus aroma and I made sure I drank several to test just how good it tasted.

Aussie fun

Carnival Crusies have ‘Aussiefied’ aspects of the cruise ship to suit Australian passengers. There are Australian sockets and plugs. More beer, coffee and smoked salmon because that is what Australians like. And it appears we are shade-seekers. More shaded sunlounges have been ordered especially for cruise ships leaving from Sydney. It seems the sun safety message has become truly ingrained.

Travelling on the cruise ship were two foodies: former Masterchef contestant Justine Schofield and food blogger Thang Ngo.

Justine Schofield said:

“For a short weekend trip, there was never a dull moment, with activities galore and lots and lots of eating. There were so many restaurants to try, from trendy burger and barbecue buffet bonanzas to glorious fine dining options where steaks were cooked to perfection. The last night on the ship really topped the experience off, with the head chef treating us to an Indian banquet. Simply sublime.”

Thang Ngo said:

“This is my first cruise. Sure it’s noisy, frenetic and fun — there’s always something to do. For me it’s relaxing because I’m out of range and I’m not constantly interrupted. Food, fitness, sun — that’s all included, I just have to enjoy. You can be as social or anti-social as you like — it’s like I get back some me time.”

To enter this competition, fill out the entry form below.

Food blogger Thang Ngo

Justine Schofield, former Masterchef contestant on carnival cruise

● Carnival Spirit relocated to Australia in October 2012, after undergoing an Aussification process that saw the addition of the Green Thunder waterside.

● Carnival Spirit is 12 decks high and three footy fields long.

● Carnival Spirit is the largest cruise ship ever to be based full time in Australia.

● Rising almost 53 metres above the water line, she is too large to sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which has a shipping clearance of 49 metres.

● During an average week, Carnival Spirit guests consume more than 9000kg of meat, 4500kg of chicken and poultry and a further 11,300kg of grocery and produce.

● Thirsty guests drink enough juice, tea and coffee during an average week, to fill the swimming pools three times over.

● With a gross registered tonnage of 88,500 tonnes, Carnival Spirit is equivalent in tonnage to 77 Manly ferries.

● There are 20 bars and lounges on board

● There are 40 different activities to do every day.