It makes sense when traveling from the United States to Europe: As long as we’re taking the time to go there, why not make it a longer travel experience?  The process of getting there is the same regardless of how long we stay.  To that end, travel companies are offering an increasing number of options that last longer.  Extensions on land tours make sense and we did just that after travel in Egypt, going on to close-by Jordan.  In the world of cruising, we are seeing more long cruise options too.  What was once an inexpensive and seasonal repositioning sailing has become a first choice among travelers with the time to do them.  As long Caribbean cruise popularity rises, so do the choices, as we see with a recent move by Carnival Cruise Line.

 

What was a limited series of 9- to 15-day Carnival Journeys enrichment cruises has expanded.  Added: 13 new 12- to 14-day seagoing adventures departing from homeports along the East and West Coasts and the Gulf of Mexico in 2018 and 2019.

Long Caribbean Cruise Options Expand

In addition to leisurely visiting some of the world’s most beautiful destinations, travelers sailing on a Carnival Journeys long Caribbean cruise can choose to participate in unique activities designed for a long Caribbean cruise. They can sample local cuisine, enjoy entertainment and cultural opportunities focusing on a broad range of topics.  More on those activities shortly. First, a list of the 13 new Carnival Journeys long Caribbean cruise voyages:

• Carnival Breeze: a 14-day departing Galveston Sept. 16, 2018, calling at Grand Cayman, Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica and St Maarten.
• Carnival Freedom: a 14-day from Galveston Oct. 27, 2018, visiting Montego Bay, Aruba, Curacao, and Cartagena prior to a partial transit of the Panama Canal followed by Limon (Costa Rica) and Cozumel.
• Carnival Breeze: a 14-day from Port Canaveral Nov. 3, 2018, with stops at St Thomas, Antigua, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, St. Maarten, Tortola, and San Juan.
• Carnival Pride: a 14-day from Baltimore Nov. 4, 2018, calling at Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Maarten.
• Carnival Ecstasy: a 12-day from Charleston Nov. 10, 2018, featuring Amber Cove, Aruba, Curacao, St Maarten and San Juan.
• Carnival Miracle: a 14-day from Tampa Dec. 2, 2018, visiting Cozumel and Limon prior to a partial transit of the Panama Canal followed by Cartagena, Aruba, Curacao and Ocho Rios.
• Carnival Pride: 14-day from Baltimore Jan. 6, 2019, visiting St Thomas, Antigua, Grenada, Dominica, St. Maarten, San Juan and Grand Turk.
• Carnival Sunshine: 13-days from Port Canaveral, Jan. 12, 2019, calling at Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan and Amber Cove (Dominican Republic).
• Carnival Freedom: 14-days from Galveston Jan 19, 2019, featuring Grand Cayman, Aruba, Bonaire, and Cartagena prior to a partial transit of the Panama Canal followed by Limon and Cozumel.

Beyond Long Caribbean Cruise Options

Actually, Carnival Journeys has added a couple other sailings that go beyond long Caribbean cruise options:

• Carnival Splendor: a 14-day Alaska cruise round-trip from Long Beach Aug. 25 to Sept. 8, 2018, visiting Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Sitka, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia.
• Carnival Splendor: three 14-day Hawaii cruises round-trip from Long Beach departing Oct. 13, 2018, Dec. 1, 2018, and Jan. 12, 2019, visiting Maui (Kahului), Honolulu, Kona and Hilo.

Plenty To Do On A Long Caribbean Cruise

Carnival Journeys activities are tailored to each itinerary in the areas of dining, entertainment, team member connections and enrichment, all infused with the line’s spirited brand of fun. These experiences include:

• Authentic Eats: Partnering with local restaurants and chefs, Carnival Journeys participants enjoy on-board cooking demonstrations.  Culinary artists recreate their signature dishes and traditional cuisines from their country. Participants also have an opportunity to dine at the chef’s restaurant ashore.  For a nominal fee they accompany the chef as he or she visits local markets for delectable regional specialties.
• “Local”-tainment: From calypso, soca and Goombay to colorful folkloric entertainment, Carnival Journeys participants will get an up-close-and-personal look at their destination.  They do this through local entertainment performances taking place outside the ship or on board.
• Academy of Fun: Carnival’s shipboard experts instruct guests in topics ranging from cooking and arts and crafts to digital photography and social media. All of these activities are performed with the fun and entertaining style that only Carnival can provide.
• Throwback Sea Day: Carnival sets the “way back machine” to 1987 and recreates a fun day at sea. Featured: retro pool and deck games, old school dining options and the gala midnight buffet. Also included: a white glove Captain’s Celebration, popular movies from that era and a circa 1987 version of the Carnival Capers shipboard newsletter.
• Shipboard Team Member Connections: Here, Carnival Journeys participants can learn more about shipboard life through informative question and answer sessions.  Hosted by the ship’s captain, cruise director, hotel director and others these are held at different times throughout the voyage. There is also an unforgettable show performed by the ship’s crew during the voyage.