A Clownfish Honeymoon: We'll Be Cruisin'

If you read my last post, you saw that after much number-crunching and crafting a Pro's and Con's list, Mr. C and I decided on a cruise for our honeymoon. A cruise was perfect for us because it's low-key and pretty much hassle-free once you get on the boat. No connecting flights, no cars to rent, no hotels to reserve...just hop on the boat, stuff your face with food, enjoy all that the cruise ship has to offer, and hop off once you reach your port destinations. Like I said, not too much excitement and adventure, but we both wanted our honeymoon to be as chill and stress-free as possible. A cruise was perfect for what we wanted and it fit our small-ish honeymoon budget, which was the most important aspect for us when planning.

After we decided to go on a cruise, I started researching various cruise lines and itineraries. Since I had cruised once before, I knew what to look for when it came to the overall style and layout of the ship, and also what to avoid. When I cruised back in 2010, it had been a short 3-day trip out of Port Canaveral in Florida to Nassau, Bahamas. We cruised on an older ship (built and clearly decorated in the 90's) with outdated furnishings and decor, so I knew I wanted to try and cruise on a newer, more updated ship. My family and I had also stayed in a room with a small porthole, and I seriously enjoyed those staying in rooms with decks (mostly 'cause I loved the idea of sitting out there and drinking my morning coffee). I told myself that the next time I cruised I would stay in a room with a deck, so another "would-like-to-have" was added to Mr. C and I's list.

We really wanted to depart on our honeymoon the day after our wedding, so I looked up all cruises (via CruiseCritic) leaving on that day. Luckily, we found a cruise that perfectly fit what Mr. C and I were looking for, on a newer ship that was headed on a 7-day trip to the Bahamas. The very best part of this cruise (at least in my book) is that the ship is departing from Baltimore, MD, which is only about an hour and a half drive from where we live and will be having our wedding. No flights to catch, no rental cars, and a lot less post-wedding hassle. A major, major plus for both of us. We also looked up tons of reviews of both the cruise ship itself and also the itinerary.

After seeing that there were many, many more good reviews than less-than-stellar reviews, we decided to go for it and book ourselves a honeymoon....over a year before our wedding. By booking early, we were able to go in and select the exact room we wanted (we sprung for a room with a balcony!), and were able also able to select the "your-time" dining option so we can eat dinner whenever we want, as opposed to being forced into eating at the exact same time every day. Hey, what can I say, it's the small things that excite me.

Image via CruiseWeb

Mr. C and I will be cruising aboard the Carnival Pride, a newer ship with a Renaissance-ish flair. Because I always love to know what the inside of cruise ships look like (Anyone else watch cruise ship documentaries? No? Just me? Okay, then...), I did my fair share of Googling and found some pretty sweet pictures that got me excited about our trip...

This ship's decor is most definitely geared toward adults..hello naked people paintings! Image via MotorKid

Image via SmartCruiser

Image via CruiseDirect

In the time since we've booked our honeymoon, the ship has undergone some pretty awesome upgrades. New restaurants (a mexican cantina and tequila bar, hello!), as well as some new shops and overall upgrades to entertainment and decor.

Our cruise will start off in Baltimore and will then spend two days out at seas (giving Mr. C and I plenty of time to explore the ship, lay out and tan, eat massive amounts of food, and overall just unwind from the craziness of the wedding weekend) before arriving in Port Canaveral, Florida. We were pretty psyched that our ship is stopping in Florida for a day, and we have lots of awesome excursions to choose from once we dock. At the moment we're still deciding between Universal Studios, Disney World...or an alligator park with an airboat ride. The environmental lover in Mr. C is pulling for the alligator park, so I think we may end up going that route!

After spending a day in Florida, our ship will once again spend a day at sea and will arrive next in Nassau, Bahamas. Although I've been to Bahamas before, I am so excited to be going back! Before it was as a teen, now it will be with my husband! And will be infinitely better, I know it. Mr. C has never been on beaches with clear water, so he's excited to do some water activities. Our one "big" excursion we plan on doing in the Bahamas is an up-close encounter with dolphins. Definitely a first for both of us, and what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hang out with one of the coolest animals.

After spending the day in Nassau, we'll return to the ship and dock the next day in Freeport, Bahamas. We plan on booking an "all you can eat/drink private beach trip", which sounds exactly my speed. When I asked Mr. C what he wanted to do on the last leg of the trip, he told me "Relax on the beach with a beer in my hand". Okay then, babe, a beach and some beer it will be! Our last day will be spend out at sea returning to Baltimore

At this point in planning, both of us are looking forward to our honeymoon just slightly less than the actual wedding. A relaxing week on a cruise sounds so awesome right now amidst all the craziness of planning a wedding, and we are so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to just escape real life for a week as husband and wife. And of course, I plan on doing full reviews and giving the deets on everything (food/drinks, entertainment, excursions) so that future honeymooners know whether a cruise is a good fit for them.

Did any bees go on a honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas? Any helpful tips for Mr. C and I?