How We Spent Our Family Vacation is a new column that unpacks a single trip down to the cost, from the point of view of families who love to travel.
For special education teacher Courtney Kamna, vacations with her kids—an 11-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter—are all about striking the right balance. She and her son love to be on the go, filling every day with activities. Her daughter enjoys adventure, too, but she also wants time to unwind. Finding a trip that works for all three of them can be a challenge, but one thing has always been a reliable option: cruising.
“There’s so much to do, or you can just relax,” Courtney says. “It gives us the best of both worlds.”
A cruise offers structure without feeling rigid, excitement without feeling exhausted, and, most importantly, plenty of food options available at all hours. So, Courtney booked an eight-day Caribbean cruise for her family on the Carnival Horizon, setting sail from Miami to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
What followed was a mix of island exploration, shipboard fun, and a few travel hiccups that reminded her why flexibility is key when traveling with kids.
Why a cruise?
Courtney had been on cruises before and knew this was the right choice for her family. The appeal was simple: everything they needed was in one place. There was entertainment for the kids, activities that matched everyone’s energy levels, and a sense of freedom that allowed them to do their own thing while still spending quality time together.
The itinerary also played a big role in the decision. With long port days—8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Aruba and Bonaire and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Curaçao—they wouldn’t feel rushed to fit in shore excursions and exploration. The mix of time at sea and time on land made for a well-paced trip.
Making the most of the islands
With five days at sea and three days on land, Courtney planned their shore days carefully—one structured activity per island, leaving room for flexibility.
“I didn’t want to overbook us,” she says. “The excursions are usually three to five hours long, so I thought we could do one excursion and then relax or explore—it left the schedule somewhat open to our moods.”
Each island had something unique to offer, but Bonaire was the standout favorite. They started the day with a “land sailing” experience Courtney describes as “like go-karting, but powered by the wind.” It was the perfect mix of adventure and fun before they slowed things down for a more relaxed afternoon.
After their excursion, they took the day at their own pace. “My son decided to snorkel at the port while my daughter relaxed with her ice cream and I with a drink,” Courtney says. “We were all happy to be doing our own separate things but still be together.”
In Aruba, they took advantage of the island’s long stretch of beach time. “We were in the ports for such a long period of time,” Courtney says, which meant they could spend the entire day by the water without feeling rushed. Meanwhile, Curaçao was more about exploring on foot. “We wandered around the island,” Courtney says. With no strict agenda, they had time to soak in the scenery, admire the vibrant buildings and local culture, and simply enjoy being there.
The relaxed approach to each destination made the trip feel more like an adventure than a checklist of activities. Instead of cramming in back-to-back excursions, they let the days unfold naturally.
Balancing adventure and downtime
The mix of time on the islands and at sea gave them a natural rhythm between activity and relaxation—something Courtney found to be key as a single parent traveling with two kids who have very different personalities.
“My son and I tend to be ‘go go go,’” she says, “but my daughter is more balanced in wanting a vacation where we can relax and do fun things.” That’s why the flexibility of the cruise worked so well. On the ship, each of them could do their own thing or spend time together depending on the day.
“My daughter loved the ‘SkyRide,’ which is like a smart cart up on top of the cruise,” Courtney says. She also got into a fun, unofficial cruise tradition: “She loved searching for ducks—people hid rubber ducks around the ship.”
Her son, on the other hand, found comfort in something much simpler—the porthole window in their cabin. “He loved the port window in our room,” Courtney says. “It was like a secondary sitting area.” He also played mini-golf and enjoyed family games, which let them connect while still having fun on their own terms.
The balance between structured activities, independent exploring, and downtime on the ship made this trip feel effortless rather than exhausting. “We can relax and we can explore,” Courtney says. “It gives us the best of both worlds.”
Unexpected surprises (the good and bad)
Even with careful planning, some moments on the trip turned out better than expected, while others served as reminders that travel doesn’t always go smoothly. One of the best surprises was how many kids were on this particular cruise.
“There were a lot more kids on this cruise than previous cruises, which was wonderful because they made friends,” Courtney says. Having so many other children on board gave her kids built-in playmates, making the experience even more enjoyable for them—and a little easier for her.
Another unexpected hit? Guy Fieri’s burger spot on the ship. “It was a big hit,” Courtney says. “We didn’t expect much, but we kept going back.” Sometimes, the simplest pleasures—like finding a favorite meal—make a trip memorable.
Of course, not every surprise was a welcome one. Just five hours before departure, their original flight to Miami was canceled, turning what should have been a quick direct flight into a 12-hour travel ordeal with two separate flights. “The kids weren’t thrilled about spending so much time in airports, but honestly, they didn’t complain much,” she says.
Thankfully, her decision to fly in a day early prevented what could have been a much bigger disaster. While the delay was frustrating, they still made it to the ship in time—a reminder of why buffer days matter when traveling.
Some surprises made the trip more fun, and others tested their patience, but together, they added to the adventure of it all.
What she would do differently next time
Even though the trip was a success, Courtney would tweak a few things for the future. First, the length of the cruise. “The cruise was about one day too long,” she says. “Moving forward, we would look for five- to seven-day cruises.”
Then, the choice of ship. “The boat we were on was somewhat old,” she says. “It still had a lot to do, but I would want to try a newer boat with more going on—like Icon of the Seas.” For her, it’s less about bigger being better and more about having more variety to keep the kids engaged.
Takeaways for other single parents considering a cruise
For Courtney, this trip reaffirmed why cruising works so well for her family. It gave her a mix of structure and freedom, built-in entertainment, and an easy way to explore new places without feeling overwhelmed. Her biggest advice? Just do it.
“Go in with an open mind and let the kids help plan pieces of it,” she says.
And the most important logistical tip? “Always pack extra snacks than you think you need for the airport and always fly in at least 24 hours before the cruise leaves,” she says. “Our flight was canceled, and we never would’ve made the cruise if we flew in the day of.”
Would she cruise again? Absolutely. “We’ve done three cruises now, and the kids enjoy them,” she says. “We would cruise again to the right place on the right ship.”
Because at the end of the day, a vacation that lets everyone have their own version of fun while still making memories together is exactly what she’s looking for.
The bottom line
Group size: 3
Days: 8
Cruise cost: $2,100
Flight cost: $1,700
Hotel cost: They flew in the day before the cruise and the stay was free with points.
Additional costs: $180 for Wi-Fi, $400 alcoholic beverages, $1,000 for excursions (used $300 in points to pay for one), $200 for Ubers, and $500 for miscellaneous spending.
Total cost: $6,000
