Carnival Adventure will sail from Auckland in May 2027. Photo / Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line’s first Auckland-departing South Pacific journey is scheduled for 2027. So, would your kids get onboard? Leena Tailor asks three forthright children.
“If we were in the Black Pearl dining room, we’d have water by now,” griped my 10-year-old nephew Kiyaan 10 minutes after sitting down at Carnival Splendor’s acclaimed steakhouse Fahrenheit 555.
He wasn’t wrong. However, two hours later, the kid had changed his tune about the ship’s fanciest spot.
“Okay, I like this place now because of the food,” he whispered.
“The steak’s so yummy.” “Best I’ve ever had,” agreed Shayan, 15.
Meanwhile, Rehaan, 13, was loving the “best naan ever,” swiped from granddad’s Indian meal.
My three nephews were thrilled when we booked an eight-night family cruise from Sydney. Carnival Cruise Line has since announced its first Auckland-departing South Pacific voyages onboard Carnival Adventure from May 2027, saving Kiwis the trip across the ditch.
So how do kids rate cruising with Carnival? I asked my nephews.
The “infinite amounts” of soft serve, cookies and cocoa pops at the Lido Buffet were a hit, while pepperoni pizza connoisseur Shayan reckons Pizzeria del Capitano’s slices were up there with Sal’s Pizza.
Black Pearl proved the unanimous winner. Favourite food on the boat? “Black Pearl’s chocolate lava cake,” the boys chorus. What would make you do another cruise? “Chocolate lava cake.” What would you tell friends about cruising? “Try the lava cake.” “It was ‘OP’. Melted in your mouth,” says Shayan, using the boys’ golden standard of adjectives. (OP = overpoweringly good. Scam = unfavourable.)
The kids also loved breakfast dosa with dada (granddad) and Nutella pancakes in the dining room.
Having watched videos, Green Lightning waterslide was their top priority and I was set on being the cool aunt who didn’t chicken out. After Kiyaan assured me I’d survive, they had a good giggle watching me shriek as the trapdoor slammed shut, then vanish into a heart-jolting 11.3m drop.
“Best waterslide I’ve been on,” says Shayan. “The drop’s the best!”
He and Kiyaan rode Green Lightning 20+ times, while Rehaan stuck with tamer Twister – “I got one great boost and went a million miles-per-hour.”
The pool was so small and crowded, we skipped it for the spas.
“I’m surprised on such a big boat there’s only one kids’ pool,” remarks Kiyaan.
Coming from the spacious, luxe rooms of InterContinental Sydney was an adjustment, with Rehaan surprised how tiny the bathrooms were. Balconies were the saving grace.
“Looking out the balcony was fun when we passed ships or land,” says Rehaan.
“And when we saw infinite jellyfish,” adds Shayan, who loved the comfy bunk.
However, it was my parents’ upgraded suite that became our hub, the extra space perfect for playing cards while grown-ups popped a bottle.
“No deal!” roared hundreds of cruisers during a gripping live Deal or No Deal show.
“It was the best watching people lose all their money,” laughs Shayan.
“It was rigged,” insists Kiyaan. “Both winners only won $1000.”
Rigged or not, the clan played along from their phones the next day, winning $20.
Bingo was another favourite.
“Except we bought so many tickets and won nothing,” says Rehaan.
“Scam!” declares Shayan.
The boys skipped the kids’ clubs, however, word on Facebook was they didn’t miss much.
Carnival Splendor’s Facebook group also offered handy tips like bringing golf balls since the mini golf course (rated “really good” by Kiyaan) rarely had any. While there were few youth-oriented trivia sessions, the kids enjoyed witnessing my sister and I win the ’90s music quiz.
Lolly shop Cherry on Top was Rehaan’s dream, but nothing topped hovering at the casino’s R18 boundary peeking at Grandma on the pokies.
The sports bar saved the day when the football-obsessed trio had to catch a 12.30am Chelsea game, while RedFrog Pub became our foosball stop.
With weather diverting us from New Caledonia, we arrived in The Whitsundays’ Airlie Beach, strolling through markets, where Rehaan bought a prized new Cristiano Ronaldo shirt, then plunged into the sprawling, beachside lagoon.
Cairns was the highlight thanks to a trip to the Great Barrier Reef’s picture-perfect Fitzroy Island with Fitzroy Island Adventures. From a glass-bottom boat, the trio were entranced fulfilling their biggest wish – seeing turtles. A colourfully captivating snorkelling trip followed.
“There were 20 different fish,” enthuses Rehaan. “One kept chasing me.”
Back in Cairns, we lunched at Crystalbrook Riley’s tropic Calypso Club, where Shayan devoured prawn and chorizo skewers while exhausted Kiyaan retreated to an “OP” daybed.
The boys adored InterContinental Sydney’s 31st- floor heated pool, “OP comfortable” beds, as well as jogging through neighbouring Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
Post-cruise, they were mesmerised watching Darling Harbour fireworks from our 44th floor balcony at Meriton Suites Pitt Street, where the expansive indoor pool and sizable apartments were welcomed after cramped cruise life.
So would they cruise again?
“Yes!” they chorus. Kiyaan’s even contemplating packing up his toys and teddies to live on-board.
“We just need Wi-Fi and a kids’ casino where you don’t lose money, then I’d live on the ship forever.”
The writer travelled at their own expense.