50th Wedding Aniversary Cruise

My first cruise was aboard the Carnival Imagination sailing from Miami in 2000 celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary.  There were 12 family members (eight adults and 4 kids) aboard plus one young family friend that was not going to be left behind!  The cruise turned out to be a fantastic way for the family to enjoy a vacation, celebrate the parents milestone, enjoy time together and create great memories that help build lasting relationships.

If you are considering an extended family celebration, I'll pass on the things that we got right and maybe a few things that I might change.

Done Well:

• The family all arrived in Miami the night before and had a wonderful dinner together.  This eliminated any concern about missed flights or delays.
• The Imagination provided a very good mix of facilities and activities for all age groups.  The dining room staff served flawlessly delivering special requests nightly and keeping the kids engaged.
• We booked one large suite for Kim, Randi, Maggie and me and that provided a hang out for our extended family's informal gatherings and a central meeting place to begin the next adventure.
• The onshore excursions were based on individual family preferences and not planned as a group.   The kids selected what excursion and family members they wanted to go with - giving them a chance to have a say in what they wanted to do.
• The Caribbean itinerary of  Jamaica and Grand Cayman provided great opportunities for shopping and activities.

Room for Improvement:

• The cruise was for five nights.   My father may not agree, but seven would have been better.
• We booked seperately and our staterooms were in different parts of the ship.