Our very first cruise: June 2012, aboard the Carnival Victory

We still remember that month of June 2012.

We were nervous, excited like children before Christmas. A first time always has something magical about it... and that time, it was going to mark a turning point in our way of traveling.

A foretaste of departure: a night in San Juan

We had decided to arrive the day before boarding, in order to avoid the stress of a flight on the same day.

We spent the night at the hôtel Verdanza, located in Isla Verde, not far from the beach.

The next morning, with our hearts pounding, we took our transfer to the port.

It was at that precise moment, upon arriving near the cruise terminal, that we caught our first glimpse of the Carnival Victory from Carnival Cruise Line.

We were literally impressed by its size. In retrospect, this ship would be considered "small" compared to the giants of today, but in 2012, for us, it had all the makings of a true floating city. This first look was enough to ramp up our excitement and impatience.

Boarding: discovering a new world

Once the formalities were over, we walked across the gangway. And there, everything accelerated.

We found ourselves in the grand atrium, immense, bathed in light, and overlooked by glass elevators. We were dazzled, but also completely lost.

Every hallway seemed infinite, every staircase led to a new place. Fortunately, crew members, smiling and kind, were everywhere. They guided us and helped us get our bearings. And already, we felt that human warmth unique to cruises, that feeling of being expected and welcomed.

The cabin: a pleasant surprise

For this first cruise, we had chosen an oceanview cabin.

We were expecting a small, narrow, almost minimalist space. And yet... what a surprise when we opened the door!

The cabin was much bigger than we thought.

In addition to the king-size bed, we had a sofa area with a small coffee table, plenty of clever storage, and a spacious bathroom, more comfortable than in some hotels on land...

But the real luxury was that porthole looking out onto the sea (and no, it was not a small window!). Each morning, opening our eyes to the infinite ocean was an indescribable sensation. This was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful discoveries of this first trip: falling asleep and waking up with the sea as our backdrop.

The port calls: six stops, six wonders

Saint-Thomas

First stop, first adventure. A taxi, and here we are at Coki Point Beach.

It was here that we experienced our very first swim in the Caribbean Sea. The moment will forever remain etched in our memories: water of a dazzling turquoise, the softness of the sand, and above all... all those colorful fish that were swimming around us, visible to the naked eye, without mask or snorkel.

A magical, unforgettable Caribbean baptism, which alone symbolizes everything we were to love about cruises.

Barbados

An unforgettable morning: diving in a submarine with Atlantis Submarines Barbados.

Seeing the seabed drift by behind the windows, like in a waking dream. The afternoon? Back to simple pleasures: the beach, the sun, and the impression of living a perfect day.

Saint Lucia

An absolute favorite.

We had booked a tour with Cosol Tours, and it was a rich and authentic day. Volcanic panoramas, villages, plantations… and that typical meal shared with other travelers. It was more than an excursion: it was an encounter with a vibrant and welcoming island.

Saint Kitts

Here, we improvised. No precise plan, just a taxi and a desire to discover. Our driver turned out to be incredibly kind: she stopped to offer us an unforgettable photo break.

In front of us, a unique sight: the place where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are separated only by a thin strip of land. Seeing these two immensities brush against each other like that was a powerful, almost surreal moment. Then off to the beach, for a simple but memorable day.

Saint Martin

Last stop, like a grand finale.

An organized tour took us through the two faces of the island: the French side and the Dutch side. And to close the day, an afternoon of relaxation on Great Bay beach. The sand, the sea, and that gentle melancholy of the end of a trip.

Then came the return to San Juan, suitcases full of memories and our hearts even fuller.

Life on board: a constant show

But the stops were only part of the adventure. On board, every day was a celebration. The evenings ended with shows worthy of Broadway, dazzling with energy and creativity.

The entertainment team, the Fun Squad, never stopped: games, dance, music, activities of all kinds.

And what about the food… An incredible diversity, from morning to night. Buffets, refined dishes, culinary discoveries: it was impossible to be bored. We felt like we were in a world where every moment was designed to surprise and amaze.

What next?

At first, we thought this would be our only cruise. A parenthesis, a unique experience to live once.

But as soon as we returned home, one question kept coming back: “When are we leaving again?”

This first cruise was the starting point of a passion. A passion that, since then, has led us to increase our sea voyages, to discover other ships, other horizons… and which continues to make us dream with every new boarding.

Ulrich & Sidara