Explore Nassau and Princess Cays With Us!

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In the summer of 2022, we went on our first cruise, and it certainly did not disappoint. We cruised out of Jacksonville, Florida to the Bahamas on the Carnival Elation. Now, we want to tell you all our favorite things about the trip (plus some tips for getting the most out of your experience!) This was definitely a budget trip, so if you are looking for a low cost, but fulfilling vacation, you’ve come to the right place!

Days at Sea

Food & Drinks

If you’re anything like us, the first thought is always food. So, let’s talk about food! 

The buffet area was set up like a dining hall, with different options and sections. The food on board was pretty hit or miss for us, but it was all free— so we can’t really complain! A spread of fruit, pastries, and a hot bar was available for breakfast every morning. For lunch and dinner, all of the “restaurants” in the buffet area were open. There were specials each day, along with the usual pizza restaurant, the burger joint, and the deli. Of course, my personal favorite was the dessert bar, which always had new cakes to try.

For dinner, we usually went to the “formal” dining room, where we were served a 4 course meal. There was usually some type of entertainment by the staff and a gorgeous view from the windows. The dinner itself was okay, but we kept going back for the otherworldly chocolate lava cake (which we strongly recommend). Literally, we had it every single night. 

Like I said, this was a budget trip, so we did not purchase a drink package. We took the allowed amount of alcohol per person on board, and only purchased a couple of drinks during the whole trip!

Recap: The things We Liked About Carnival’s Food:

• All the food is free and unlimited, so you can try anything and everything! Personally, we recommend trying everything, because why not?
• The selection of available food is somewhat extensive, so hopefully everyone can find something they like!
• Ice cream never disappoints.
• The aforementioned Chocolate Lava Cake is top tier!
• The pizza bar is always open late, if you find yourself in need of a late night snack.

The Room

We are a travel-on-a-budget type of couple, so our room was nothing spectacular. Since we had never been on a cruise, we were worried about getting claustrophobic, but we also did not want to pay for a window or balcony room. We ended up going with an interior room and upgraded a slight bit for a porthole! The room itself was very basic, with a bathroom, closet, mini-fridge, and a TV (although we didn’t really watch it). We’d rather spend our time outside the room enjoying the destination, so as long as we have a clean and comfortable place to sleep, we’re happy.

This is one of those preference things that you’ll want to think about when booking. If you’re like us, the room is pretty much the least important part of the trip. However, some of our friends would prefer the luxury of a balcony. Be honest with yourself, because this is your space for the week!

Recap: The Pros of an Interior Room

• There is a TV, a full closet and bathroom. That’s luxury enough for us!
• The room was clean and comfortable. And as a bonus, we got adorable towel animals when our room was cleaned each day!
• This is the cheapest option with a view!
• Room service is available upon request.

Daily Entertainment

There were events from sun-up until sun-down on the cruise. From trivia, to bingo, to comedy shows, we were never short of something to do! Once we set sail, we were able to see a daily itinerary in the Carnival app, which would outline all the events taking place for the day. We loosely planned each day, but we typically just went with the flow. The pool and waterslide were always available to us if we wanted to cool off, as well. 

During the days, we went to some trivia, which was a lot of fun and a great place to meet people with similar interests! We also went to a comedy show, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We spent most of our evenings at the Karaoke bar, laughing and singing. The best thing we can tell you is get out there, go to the events, sing the karaoke, and get to know your cruise-mates! There is more than enough to fill your days on at sea.

Recap: The Best of Entertainment

• There is trivia every single day, tons of fun categories, plus a prize for each winner!
• The comedy show on board was much funnier than we expected, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
• Karaoke gets pretty serious on Carnival! Some of the singers went every night and attracted an audience, while other singers cleared out the room. Disclaimer: my best friend and I may be the ones who cleared out a room LOL. 
• There is a full casino if you are feeling lucky. We didn’t spend any time here but it certainly looked like it could be fun!
• If you don’t feel like doing anything, you have that option too.

Now, let’s get into the port days. On the two port days, we were able to get off the ship around 8-9 AM and were expected back on board by 5 PM. Don’t forget to note the time change!

Port Days

Port Day 1: How to Spend a Day in Nassau

We did not sign up for or purchase any excursions prior to the cruise, because we wanted to explore the ports more than anything. When we got to Nassau, the first sight we saw was the vibrant colors of the buildings along the coastline, and beautiful crystal clear water beneath them. 

1- Obviously, the beach!

We walked down the entire beach before deciding where to stop and spend our day. There were multiple vendors along the shoreline, each offering different amenities and pricing. We ended up going with a vendor who had kayaks, paddle boards, and tubes available for unlimited use, plus chairs to lounge in and soak up the sun. My best advice is to weigh the options and decide what you want from your day at the beach! For us, having the water activities was a big deal, because we wanted to get out and really explore the crystal clear waters.

2- The Straw Market! 

After leaving the beach, we headed to the Straw Market, which is an open-air market for all types of local sellers and crafters. We took our time looking around and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the unique crafts and meeting locals. These are top-tier salespeople, and they are more than willing to make a deal. I was happy to support their small business while also snagging some unique souvenirs! The Straw Market is definitely a must-do in Nassau.

3- Historical sites! 

From the Straw Market, we meandered through the downtown area, in and out of shops, and also visited some of the historical sites. Nassau is rich in history dating back to the 1600s, and there is plenty to see. Pompey Square is the historical site nearest to the port, so if you only have a little time, I’d definitely recommend stopping by to admire the big pink building! Nassau is a place we would love to visit again and have more time to explore, as it is such a beautiful destination! 

Port Day 2: What to do in Princess Cays

1- Relaxing beach day!

Princess Cays is actually owned by the Carnival Corporation, and is the southern part of the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. Because of this, we were instructed not to leave the area of Princess Cays. The actual cruise ship itself was not able to dock on the island, so we were shuttled in groups by smaller boats to the private beach! Once on the island, there are chairs all the way down the shoreline for cruisers to spread out and enjoy the serenity of the blue waters. There are also kayaks, paddle boats, and other water activities available to rent on the island.

2- Excursions!

For this day, we decided to check out the off-shore excursions. When we arrived at the island, there was a service desk with an array of excursions and sign up-slots available, so we decided to go snorkeling!

We got on a small charter boat and went about 3 miles away from the shoreline, we were briefed on how to use the equipment and accompanied in the water by the guides. We spent about an hour wading around, taking in all the sights, pointing out different types of fish before loading back up and taking a tour around the island. The guides on the boat were super friendly and helpful, and even found a massive king crab! This was a very cool excursion and we would definitely suggest it to anyone who wants a shorter, but very fulfilling excursion.

Final Review:

Overall review on our first cruise? 10/10! We absolutely loved it and can’t wait to go on another. Carnival was a great first-time cruise for us, and was very budget friendly. The staff was awesome, everything was well-taken care of, and we were able to try tons of new things! Plus, we were able to leave out of a port where we live, which made it even better! If you’re thinking about going on a cruise, we say, DO IT!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out our others, and stay tuned for adventures to come!