Our March Break cruise on the Carnival Celebration—snowstorms, sunshine, and everything in between

So… this trip didn’t exactly start the way we planned.

Now that we’re back home and fully back into real life, I can finally look back and laugh a little. But at the time? 😅

We had planned this trip the way we always do—build in buffer time, get to the cruise port early, ease into vacation mode. This year, we even added two full days in Miami before the cruise, thinking we were being extra smart.

And then… Canada decided to give us a full-on snowstorm.

Our 1:00 p.m. flight turned into a 10:45 p.m. departure after three delays, and what should have been a smooth travel day turned into 14 hours at the Toronto airport. By the time we landed in Miami just after 2 a.m., we were already exhausted… only to find out our hotel had given away our room.

So the four of us made it work in a one-bed room with rollaways for the kids and very little sleep. Not exactly the calm start we had envisioned.

But honestly? It kind of set the tone for the whole trip… because we had no choice but to just go with it.

One small win—we grabbed a deck of cards at the airport, and between that, our phones, and having teens who can entertain themselves, we made it through.

A quick (but much-needed) taste of Miami

We may have lost a full day, but we weren’t about to waste the time we did have. We headed to Bayfront Park, did a boat tour, walked around, and spent as much time as possible outside soaking up the sunshine.

And after a Canadian winter, I would have happily stared at a palm tree all day and called it productive.🌴

Embarkation day… and a little more “go with the flow”

Embarkation day is always exciting, and I had stayed up very late the week of registration to grab us one of the earliest boarding times—feeling very organized, very prepared.

And then we got to the port.

Chaos. 😅

The ship didn’t have one of their gangways open, everything backed up, and what should have been a quick process turned into a four-hour wait.

At that point, we just looked at each other and laughed… because honestly, bad things really do come in threes, right?

Like… okay, this is just how this trip is going to go.

And I’ll be honest—sometimes that’s not easy for me. I’m a bit of a Type A planner. I like a plan. I like things to run on time. I like knowing what to expect. So being forced to let go of that a little? Not always comfortable.

But the funny thing is, the second we stepped on the ship, none of it mattered anymore.

And then… vacation mode finally kicked in

Once we were on board, everything shifted. Our room was ready, we unpacked right away, and then it was time to explore.

The ship itself was incredible, but we quickly found our favourite spot—Summer Landing at the back of the ship. It had this beautiful pool overlooking the wake, and a covered patio that quickly became my go-to (because I am not here to burn in the Caribbean 😅).

It was the kind of place where you could sit, relax, and actually feel yourself slow down—which, if I’m being honest, doesn’t come naturally to me.

The little moments were the best part

It wasn’t the big excursions or the “must-do” things that stood out the most. It was the little stuff.

Morning coffee on the balcony, evening wine watching the waves, ice cream breaks, random conversations, laughing over nothing.

The kind of moments that don’t look like much when they’re happening… but end up being the ones you remember most.

There’s something about being on the water that just pulls you into the present. No rushing, no multitasking—just being.

I made a point to be in the photos this time

I made a point to be in the photos this time.

It’s something I say to my clients all the time… and something I have to remind myself of too.

Be in the photo.

Not just the one taking them, not just capturing everyone else—but actually in them.

We always grab a few of the professional photos on board too. Some of them are a little cheesy, not going to lie… but we always end up having a good laugh, and it’s nice to let someone else take charge for once.

And this trip, I really tried to do that. Not perfectly, not every moment, but more than I usually do. And I’m so glad I did.

A proud mom moment I didn’t expect

We basically lost Chloe every night… to the teen club.

In the best way.

She made friends, put herself out there, and just fully leaned into the experience. And if you know her, that was such a proud moment to watch.

Usually, Wyatt is the one diving into everything, but she really surprised us this trip.

Why we keep choosing cruises

We’ve realized over the years that we’re just not sit-still vacation people. We like having options, a little adventure, and the chance to explore new places.

This trip took us to Honduras, Cozumel, and Celebration Key in the Bahamas, and each stop had its own vibe.

We’ve now cruised quite a bit over the years. This one was on the Carnival Celebration, but we’ve also sailed on the Carnival Vista, Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas, as well as the Disney Fantasy.

They’ve all been so different and fun in their own ways.

If you’re ever thinking about a cruise and want tips or recommendations, I’m always happy to share what we’ve learned along the way.

And then… the very real ending

Because no trip is complete without it. 😅

Toward the end, Wes and I both came down with a cold. I feel like this always happens the second I actually let myself relax—like my body just waits and then goes, okay… now we rest.

Not ideal, but also not enough to take away from everything else.

A few things we’ll do differently next time

We made it work, but having two teenagers in one room was… cozy.

Next time, we might splurge on a second room.

And I will always say this—the balcony is 100% worth it.

At the end of the day…

It wasn’t a perfect start, and it wasn’t a perfect ending. But it was full of connection, laughter, and moments we’ll never get back—and that’s the whole point.

We always let the kids help choose our vacations… and they keep choosing cruises. So I have a feeling we’ll be planning the next one soon.

Maybe Norwegian… maybe back to Royal Caribbean…

Time will tell. 😉

And if you’ve been on a cruise before, I’d love to hear—do you have a favourite ship?