Travel: Cruise offers perfect combination of relaxation, sightseeing

Last month, my husband and I discovered the joys of cruising.

When we were pondering vacation spots for 2013, we decided that a cruise would be something new and different to try. We booked the trip for the end of August, but had to reschedule it for November when Drew had a work conflict. So by the time November rolled around, I was more than ready for a getaway.

We opted for a five-day Carnival cruise from Charleston, S.C., to two ports in the Bahamas. Departing from Charleston was a no-brainer, as it was just a 3 hour and 15 minute drive and eliminated the hassle and extra costs of flying.

We spent the first day and a half as well as the last day and a half on the water. The first full day at sea was beautiful and sunny, while the last one was cold, windy and rocky, leaving quite a few green-faced cruisers. Luckily, Drew and I were spared of the seasickness.

There were a number of activities to do on the “fun ship.” I went for a run on the outdoor track, settled into a lawn chair to read by the pool, played trivia games and Bingo, watched a comedy show and talent show, learned my way around the ship, perused the shops, and hit up the slot machines. My husband camped out quite a bit at the casino’s Black Jack tables.

The two days in the middle of the trip were reserved for the Bahamas. Cruisers had from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to explore the ports, and could book excursions through Carnival or do their own thing. Our first stop was Nassau, and Drew and I picked a bus tour of the city in order to see as much of it as we could.

Our driver educated us on the culture, history and happenings of the area while we drove by a fort, beaches, ancient churches, the homes of Bahamas leaders and celebrities like Sean Connery, the lavish Atlantis Paradise Island and other famous sites. We also stopped by the John Watlings Distillery for rum samples. Drew and I had hoped to catch some rays at the beach after our tour was over, but the overcast skies made us opt to do a little shopping instead.

The Bahamas’ number one industry is tourism, and that was easy to see in the bustling markets and activity options. Nassau reminded me a little of Charleston, S.C., with colorful, multi-story buildings stacked close together in this developed area. Seventy percent of the population (about 250,000 people) lives in Nassau.

While we enjoyed our time in Nassau, Drew and I were bigger fans of Freeport – our second port. This area was less populated and less developed, with fewer buildings and businesses and more scenic areas. We signed up for a Jeep tour, in which we shared an open-top Jeep with another couple and followed a caravan of vehicles. A guide led the pack to three stops, pointing out the sites through a CB radio. We took a break at two picturesque beaches, with time to swim in the ocean and lay in the sand at one of them. For lunch, we went to a park called Garden of the Groves, which had gorgeous waterfalls and vegetation. It was a near perfect day (except for my run-in with a web containing a monstrous spider).

There was no shortage of delicious food on the ship. Breakfasts and lunches were offered buffet-style, while our dinners were in an elegant dining room. We were paired with four other couples our age. I thought this would be awkward, but it was actually really fun and we met some very nice people. I had fun dressing up for these meals, especially on the fancy dinner night where everyone wore their best. I had prime rib, salmon, shrimp, pasta with turkey, sushi, chocolate melting cake and lots more.

Drew and I both had a wonderful time on our cruise, and we’d love to go on another in the future. Five days was the perfect cruise length for us, not too short and not too long.

It was a pretty economical trip, with everything included in the booking price except for drinks, gambling money, shore excursions and souvenirs. Plus, we felt like it was the perfect combination of relaxation and sight-seeing. We were able to see some breathtaking places and also enjoy some peaceful time together, which was just what we needed.