Winter is finally coming to an end but I was lucky enough to escape the worst of it by going on a cruise this year. My boyfriend travels to Miami yearly for work and this time around, I was more than happy to join him for the cruise that follows. Departing from the port of Miami, we were able to enjoy the sights of South Beach as we slowly sailed away into the Gulf of Mexico. I have been to Miami before but seeing it disappear into the distance while on top of a cruise ship was a completely different experience altogether. It was a great start to a 6-day cruise into the Caribbean.

 

We were on board the Carnival Vista, which is only a year old so the ship was still fairly new. It took a few days for me to explore the ship fully as there were a variety of restaurants, bars, cafes, entertainment venues and lounges in different parts of the ship. I was impressed by the wide selection of food and entertainment options we were offered as I had only been on the Disney cruise before and in comparison, the Carnival definitely had more variety by far. Our cruise itinerary included three ports of call and three sea days. I wish we could have had one more day at sea though – I spent these mainly relaxing in the hot tub or just lounging on top deck, enjoying the sunrays and view of the endless sea.

 

After two days at sea, we finally arrived at our first destination – Cozumel, Mexico. I was excited to get a taste of Mexico as it has been on my list for awhile now and I was getting the chance to see it along with two other locations all in one go. After much debate about which excursion to go on, we finally settled on a laid-back beach day with tequila tasting and some shopping. I wished we could have skipped the tequila tasting in the morning as sunbathing after taking multiple tequila shots didn’t sit well with me. By the time we got to the beach, most of us didn’t want to move at all. It was only after napping for a good portion of my time there, I was finally able to enjoy the beach – white sand, blue waters and collecting seashells against the waves.

 

Mexico was the longest of all three destinations in duration with nine hours on land but in actuality, it was probably the place we did the least on. I would have loved to see the Mayan ruins but strapped for time, we opted for the more low key option, which basically included drinking, eating and tanning (standard vacation activities). Besides the beach, I really enjoyed the tacos we had while in town for the last hour – only $5 USD for three tacos and a Corona. They very simple but packed with flavour and when in Mexico, you definitely can’t leave without having some of their signature foods.

 

The next morning we arrived in Grand Cayman of the Cayman Islands, which was definitely the highlight of my vacation. The day started off with some light rain but the clouds quickly disappeared as we set off by boat into the crystal clear waters towards Stingray Bay. With the sun beating down on us the entire time, I felt as if I was in paradise. When we arrived, I was a bit reluctant to go near the stingrays because of their deadly counterparts but after mustering enough courage, it ended up being really fun! They felt really weird and slimy but it was all part of the experience of being here – you have to try it at least once in your life. Aside from the stingrays, what made this part of the trip so memorable was how beautiful our surroundings were. The water was not only completely clear but shallow enough to walk and play in; nothing like soaking in the sun while horsing around when you’re on vacation.

 

After spending the majority of the day sailing through the picturesque waters of Grand Cayman, we were dropped off at their famous Seven Mile Beach. Again, we were strapped for time so we quickly rented some jet skis for the group of us and enjoyed the last hour getting our adrenaline fix. It was actually my first time going jet skiing and terrified of falling into the water, I remember holding on for dear life as my boyfriend gunned it full-speed. I could taste the salt water as it kept splashing onto my face – that was the moment I decided, no more wearing makeup for the rest of the excursions! (Something I should’ve learned after the Dominican) But ultimately, this was probably the most fun I’ve had in a while and I would do it all over again if I could 🙂

 

One of my favourite nights I spent on the ship was the first Captain’s night we had. The attire is formal for the evening, which always gets me excited because I have a million dresses lined up ready to be worn. The one I chose for that evening was a navy blue suede number from M by Mendocino I had gotten a few months ago. I loved the asymmetrical cut of the dress, which let me show a lot of leg on one side while the other side kept things classy and sophisticated. The suede fabric also added a luxuriousness to the dress. I completed the look with my favourite Steve Madden strappy rose-coloured heels.

 

One of the best parts of the cruise was definitely the food. The buffet was pretty decent with creamy mouthwatering gelato that I managed to try on one of the days but the dinners were what really did it for me. We were scheduled to eat at the same restaurant every night but the menu would be different every night with some signature items staying the same. We could order as many appetizers, mains and desserts as our hearts desired – something I’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing before. And since I’m a dessert lover, one of the standouts for me was definitely the baked Alaska we were served on the last night. Nothing beats a combination of ice cream, cake and meringue – pure orgasm in your mouth.

 

On the fifth day at sea, we finally made it to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I had been waiting to see the breathtaking waterfalls that Jamaica is known for but instead of going to Dunn’s River Falls – which is the main tourist attraction – we ended up going to the Blue Hole. I’m going to admit I didn’t even know we were going cliff-diving until we actually got there but apparently, this is what they are known for at the Blue Hole. I thought we were just going to get a great view of the falls while exploring the Jamaican jungle but little did I know, this was more of an excursion for the daring thrill-seeker.

 

Not surprisingly, I only managed to jump down the shortest out of all of them while everyone else cliff-dived like pros. It was entertaining to watch but I think the next time I come, I’d rather just relax and take my cliche tourist pictures at Dunn’s River Falls 😉 After spending the entire day there, we managed to grab some jerk chicken and bag juice (literally just juice in a bag) on our way back. Apparently, bag juice is a pretty hot commodity in Jamaica – everyone working near the port was ecstatically commenting on it as I passed by while drinking it. For anyone traveling to Jamaica in the near future, definitely, try to get your hands on some! It was deliciously refreshing and a perfect treat for the long day we had.

 

One of the things I love the most about being on a cruise has got to be the spectacular views. You can’t really beat looking out into the ocean, knowing you’re miles away from everything and just being able to enjoy life at that moment. By the end of it, there was still more I wanted to do on the ship that I didn’t get a chance to. For those that have been on a cruise before, you’ll understand when I say there’s never enough time to do everything! There are so many activities on the ship – you’re always running around trying to catch a show or to make time to go on the waterslides (cruise life problems). But in the end, the only thing I wish I could’ve made time for was watching the sunset – until next time.

 

After debarking the ship, we had a day to spend in beautiful Miami. In the land of palm trees, we were on a mission to take advantage of our last day in tropical weather. We knew in only a few short hours, we’d be welcomed back with a snowstorm in Toronto. So of course, we made a stop in South Beach – which is still one of the nicest beaches I’ve been to – and then did a bit of shopping up the Lincoln shopping strip. What I loved most in South Beach was seeing the Art Deco architecture with the pretty colourful walls that you can’t find anywhere else in the United States – there’s definitely something about Miami that fuels the creative soul.

 

We ended the day with a stroll through Wynwood Walls in the Art District, which features huge, colourful street murals done by artists from all over the world. I was literally in heaven as the amount of artwork I saw lined from street to street seemed endless. I would definitely recommend coming here if you’re an art lover like myself. There was a bit of something for everyone but I think this ‘World Peace’ one ended up being my favourite shot of the day. I wore my cropped mesh top with my leather shorts for my one day in Miami. Call me crazy but I didn’t care if it was thirty degrees out – I wanted an edgy look against the backdrop of the street art I had set out to see and to me, this trip ended perfectly.

 

 

Wearing:

M by Mendocino Top | American Apparel Shorts | Steve Madden Sandals | Nordstrom Sunglasses | Marc Jacobs Purse