For Courtney Kamna, a special education teacher, finding the ideal balance is crucial while taking holidays with her two children, a 9-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. How We Spent Our Family Vacation She fills each day with activities since she and her son enjoy being active. Although her daughter likewise likes adventure, she also needs time to relax. Finding a trip that suits all three of them can be challenging, but sailing has always been a dependable choice.
Courtney says, “There’s a lot to do, or you can just unwind.” “We get the best of both worlds with it.”
A cruise provides structure without being stiff, excitement without being worn out, and—above all—a wide variety of food selections available all day and all night. Thus, Courtney arranged for her family to take an eight-day Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Horizon, which would depart Miami and visit Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
After that, a combination of island discovery, shipboard fun, and a few travel snags made her realize how important it is to be adaptable when traveling with children.
Why take a cruise?
Having previously taken a cruise, Courtney was sure this was the best option for her family. The allure was straightforward: all they required was in one location. The children were entertained, the activities catered to everybody’s energy levels, and they felt free to do what they wanted while still spending time together.
The selection was also heavily influenced by the itinerary. They wouldn’t feel pressured to fit in shore excursions and exploration because port days are long—8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Aruba and Bonaire and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Curaçao. The vacation was well-paced due to the time spent on land and in the water.
Taking full advantage of the islands
Courtney meticulously organized their beach days, which included three days on land and five days at sea. Each island had a set activity, but there was also flexibility.
She explains, “I didn’t want to overbook us.” Since the excursions typically last three to five hours, I reasoned that we could go on one and then unwind or explore; this way, the timetable would be more flexible to accommodate our moods.
Although each island had something unique to offer, Bonaire was the most popular. They began the day with sailing, which Courtney recalls as “like go-karting, but powered by the wind.” Before they eased down for a more laid-back afternoon, it was the ideal balance of fun and adventure.
After their outing, they took the day at their own pace. “While my daughter unwound with her ice cream and I had a drink, my son chose to go snorkeling at the port,” Courtney explains. We were all content to be together while pursuing our independent interests.”
They seized the opportunity to enjoy the lengthy beach days in Aruba. According to Courtney, “we were in the ports for such a long period,” which allowed them to relax by the water all day. Curaçao, on the other hand, was more about walking around. According to Courtney, “we wandered around the island.” They had time to take in the view, take in the colorful architecture and local culture, and not have any fixed plans. Just be happy to be there.
The vacation felt more like an adventure than a list of things to do because of the laid-back attitude toward every location. Rather than scheduling consecutive outings, they allowed the days to flow organically.
Adventure and relaxation in balance
As a single parent traveling with two children who have very different personalities, Courtney found that spending time on the islands and at sea allowed them to naturally balance activity and leisure.
She explains, “My daughter is more balanced in wanting a vacation where we can relax and do fun things, but my son and I tend to be ‘go go go.'” This explains why the cruise’s adaptability was so effective. Depending on the day, they might spend time together or do their own thing on the ship.
Courtney said, “My daughter adored the ‘SkyRide,’ which is a smart cart on top of the cruise.” She also loved searching for ducks—people hid rubber ducks around the ship,” she added, referring to a humorous, unofficial cruise custom.
However, her kid took solace in something more fundamental—their cabin’s porthole window. According to Courtney, “he adored our room’s port window.” “It functioned similarly to a secondary sitting area.” In addition, he loved family games and mini-golf, which allowed them to bond while still having fun on their terms.
This trip felt easier than taxing because of the harmony between planned activities, free exploration, and shipboard relaxation. Courtney says, “We can unwind and explore.” “We get the best of both worlds with it.”
Surprises, both positive and negative
Even with meticulous preparation, there were times throughout the trip when things went better than anticipated and times when it was a reminder that things don’t always go as planned. One of the biggest surprises was the number of children on this specific trip.
“Compared to previous cruises, there were a lot more kids on this one, which was great because they made friends,” adds Courtney. Her kids had built-in playmates because so many other kids were on board, making the experience even more fun and straightforward for her.
Another unanticipated hit? Guy Fieri’s shipboard burger establishment. According to Courtney, “it was a big hit.” “Despite our low expectations, we continued to return.” Finding a favorite dinner is one of the small joys that may sometimes make a vacation unforgettable.
Fortunately, she avoided what would have been a much worse catastrophe by choosing to arrive by plane one day early. They arrived at the ship on time despite the annoying reminder of the importance of being on time when traveling.
While some shocks strained their patience and others made the trip more enjoyable, they all contributed to the overall adventure.
She would do things differently the next time.
Despite the trip’s success, Courtney would make some adjustments for the next time. First, she would change the cruise’s duration. She claims that the cruise was “about one day too long.” “Going forward, we would search for cruises that last five to seven days.”
Next, the ship selection. She explains, “The boat we were on was a little old.” “I would like to try a newer boat with more going on, like Icon of the Seas, but there was still a lot to do.” To keep the youngsters interested, she believes having more diversity is more important than having a larger space.
Advice for fellow single parents thinking about taking a cruise
This trip confirmed to Courtney why her family loves cruising. It provided her with a balance of freedom and structure, entertainment built right in, and a simple method to travel to new areas without getting overwhelmed. Her best piece of advice? Please do it.
She advises, “Enter with an open mind and let the kids help plan pieces.”
And the most crucial piece of logistical advice? “Flight in at least 24 hours before the cruise departs, and always pack more snacks than you think you’ll need for the airport,” she advises. “If we had flown on the day of the cruise, we would never have made it, and our flight was canceled.”
Would she take another cruise? Of course. “The kids love our cruises, which we’ve done three times now,” she says. “On the appropriate ship, we would cruise once more to the appropriate location.”
She ultimately wants a trip that allows everyone to have their own kind of fun while also creating memories with one another.
The bottom line
Three people make up the group.
Eight days
Cost of the cruise: $2,100
Cost of flight: $1,700
Hotel cost: They used points to get a free hotel when they flew in the day before the cruise.
Extra expenses: $400 for alcoholic drinks, $180 for Wi-Fi,
$1,000 for excursions (one was purchased with $300 in points),
$500 for other expenses and $200 for Ubers.