It took me an entire month to finally sit down and write about the cruise we took in early January—and honestly, it’s because life doesn’t pause just because you go on vacation. If anything, it speeds up the moment you get back. That’s exactly what happened to me. The past few weeks have been non‑stop.

I juggle two full‑time jobs, serve actively in my church, am still considered a newlywed, have three kids, and run my travel business on the side. Busy is an understatement. One of my roles is serving on staff at my church, and in early 2025 we decided to take a staff vacation to rest, recharge, and strengthen our bond as a team. I planned and coordinated the entire cruise—which is one of the reasons I became a travel agent in the first place. I’ve always been the planner for my family, my friends, and my workplace, so I figured it was time to earn income doing what I was already doing naturally. Money should work for you, not the other way around.

I’ve only been an official travel agent for a few months, but it has already been incredibly fulfilling and exciting.

In the travel world, it’s always recommended to arrive at your departure city a day early to avoid travel delays. I knew that… but we still booked flights for the morning of embarkation day. Our cruise left on a Monday, and we scheduled early‑morning flights for that same day. The day before, right before church started, we began receiving delay alerts. The delays continued throughout the service, and by the time church ended, we made the call to drive instead.

For context, we live in Northern California, just past Sacramento, and needed to get to the San Pedro cruise terminal near Los Angeles—about a six‑hour drive. We had five groups in five separate cars, all leaving at different times. I wasn’t even packed yet, so I rushed home and threw everything into my luggage. The upside of driving: no TSA. The downside: I definitely overpacked.

My group left around 3 p.m., stopped in Fresno for dinner, and then continued to Bakersfield for an overnight stay. The next morning, we met up with others in Valencia and caravanned to the terminal. As we pulled into the parking garage, another group arrived at the exact same time, and the remaining two cars weren’t far behind.

We sailed on a 5‑night/6‑day cruise aboard the Carnival Radiance, with stops in Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada.

My wife and I purchased the Faster to the Fun pass, which we almost always do. It covers the entire cabin—not per person—and gives you priority check‑in, priority debarkation, express luggage service, a dedicated Guest Services line, and priority water shuttle boarding. At $114.95 per cabin, it may seem steep, but for us, the convenience is worth every penny. We boarded in about ten minutes while everyone else waited in long lines. (VIFP Diamond and Platinum members already receive these perks, so they don’t need the pass.)

I hadn’t sailed with Carnival in ten years, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. You hear all kinds of stereotypes—“ghetto,” dirty, rowdy, rude guests—but our experience was nothing like that. The Radiance is an older, smaller ship, so embarkation day felt crowded, but once everyone settled into their routines, the cruise was fantastic. People were simply enjoying their vacation. Carnival may have a “party ship” reputation, but all I saw were families, couples, and groups having a great time.

We soaked up the sun on poolside loungers, enjoyed the perks of our spa stateroom (highly recommend if you love thermal suites), sipped specialty coffees while watching the ocean each morning, attended events, won jackpots in the casino, and spent quality time with our friends and family. We even managed to eat dinner together every night, which was perfect.

Carnival’s customer service deserves a shout‑out. Every attendant and steward went above and beyond. Even the customer service calls leading up to the cruise were excellent. They truly take care of their guests.

One of the highlights of the trip was hitting a couple of jackpots in the casino. We’re not big gamblers—we set a budget and stick to it. But this time, I tried my brother’s strategy of max betting on the slots. I put in my room key and $20, hit max bet a few times, and suddenly… jackpot. A little while later, my wife hit one too. We turned $20 into $2,000, which is now our spending money for our Hawaii trip in May.

We’ve visited Ensenada many times, and every single visit includes one non‑negotiable tradition: lunch at the best restaurant in town—La Guadalajara. It’s just one block from the main tourist area, an easy 10‑minute walk from the ship. Cross two streets, step inside, and the aroma alone will make you hungry. The food is incredible, and even cruise line employees eat there, which tells you everything you need to know.

The moment you sit down, you’re greeted with fresh chips and salsa. I always order a Diet Coke (Mexican Coke just hits different) and three carne asada tacos. My wife gets the birria tacos, and she insists they’re the best she’s ever had. We brought a few people from our group this time, and they all agreed—La Guadalajara is a must‑try when you’re in Ensenada.

For Cabo San Lucas, I booked a day pass through one of my favorite suppliers, Resort For A Day. I found an all‑inclusive resort that wasn’t part of the cruise line’s excursions, and it ended up being perfect. The Solmar Resort was only an eight‑minute walk from the pier, and it was beautiful—quiet, relaxing, and not crowded with cruise guests. Just resort guests enjoying their day.

We had lunch, ordered drinks, walked along the beach, and soaked up the warm Cabo sunshine by the pool. We didn’t stay too long because we wanted to try to get into the Serenity adults‑only spa back on the ship. It was full by the time we returned, but we still enjoyed a peaceful afternoon onboard.

When we got home, the casino offers started rolling in. I intentionally played to see what it would take to earn offers, and after a few hundred dollars and about 2,000 points, I received enough deals to book a free balcony cabin for a five‑day cruise in October 2026 and a super‑affordable three‑day solo cruise this summer. If you enjoy cruising and don’t mind spending a bit in the casino, the offers can be incredible. I booked two cruises for around $800 total.

Disembarkation was just as smooth as embarkation thanks to Faster to the Fun. We were escorted off the ship quickly and were driving out of the parking garage by 7:30 a.m. We made it home about eight hours later.

Overall, the cruise was fantastic. We relaxed, had fun, and started the new year on a high note. I would confidently recommend Carnival Cruise Line to any client. I already have two more Carnival sailings booked this year—and probably more next year if the casino offers keep coming.

If you’re ready for an unforgettable cruise experience, reach out. I’d be happy to help you plan a seamless, memorable journey.