THE FAMILY GETAWAY / JANUARY 2027
All aboard
Mardi Gras.
One week in the Caribbean. First, let’s get through Friday morning at school and onto the ship without the scramble.
VACATION JAN 2027
Cruise map
Explore the five saved stops in sailing order.
The original Google Maps list is also available above.
Saved stops
- Port CanaveralJan 23 & 30
- NassauJan 24
- Half Moon Cay HarborJan 25
- Amber Cove Cruise PortJan 27
- Carnival’s Celebration KeyJan 29
THE WEEK AT A GLANCE
Trip timeline
Port times are from the booking confirmation and can change. Follow Carnival’s onboard instructions.
See ideas for NassauFRIDAY, JANUARY 22
School first, then Florida.
Anastasia and Gavin go to school Friday morning. If it helps with travel, pick them up after noon and head out once everyone is ready.
Fly Friday afternoon or evening
Look for a nonstop to Orlando. Start with Richmond (RIC), then compare Reagan (DCA) and Dulles (IAD) if the flight leaves late enough.
Drive Friday after pickup
Split I‑95 with a hotel near Savannah or Pooler. Leave early Saturday so there’s time for stops, parking and boarding.
THE TRAVEL DECISION
Fly vs. drive
Compare all-in round-trip costs for four from the Fredericksburg area. Both plans can start after noon pickup on Friday, January 22.
YOUR ESTIMATES
What each route adds
Fly to Orlando
—
Drive I‑95
—
Starting numbers are editable planning estimates. Airfare, hotels and transfers are unbooked and unquoted. The travel totals exclude excursions and onboard spending. Time covers both directions, including transit and waits, with hotel sleep excluded.
OPTION A · FRIDAY FLIGHT
Fly Friday, sleep near MCO.
- Fri, Jan 22 Pick up both kids after noon if you need the extra time. If you can leave the Fredericksburg area around 12:30–1 PM, start by searching for a RIC nonstop around 5 PM or later, or DCA and IAD around 6 PM or later. Allow extra time if pickup, Friday traffic, parking or bag drop requires it.
- Sat, Jan 23 From your Friday-night hotel, take a prebooked ride or shuttle to the port. Confirm the hotel holds the room for late check-in. The port is about 45 minutes from MCO before traffic, waiting and loading.
- Sat, Jan 30 Look for a mid-afternoon MCO flight for extra room after debarkation. Carnival’s published minimum is 12:50 PM if using its MCO return transfer.
Flight times are search filters. Check for an actual nonstop with four seats and a backup before booking.
OPTION B · TWO-LEG DRIVE
Drive Friday, split the trip.
- Fri, Jan 22 If you can leave around 12:30–1 PM after both pickups, allow roughly 8½–10 hours with stops to Savannah or Pooler. That puts hotel arrival around 9–11 PM before any extra delays. Confirm late check-in.
- Sat, Jan 23 Allow roughly 4½–5 hours with a stop. A 6:30–7 AM start puts the port around 11 AM–noon in normal conditions. Use your actual Carnival arrival window and check the Final Boarding time before committing.
- Sat, Jan 30 Debark, get the car and head north. Allow roughly 13–14 hours with stops. Price a return hotel if you want a shorter day and a Sunday arrival.
An earlier Friday start gives you more time to rest before the Saturday drive. Check traffic and weather before leaving.
SIDE BY SIDE
The trade-offs
| Factor | Fly | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Friday school | Attend the morning. Pickup after noon opens up earlier flights if the airport timing works. | Attend the morning. Leave after both pickups, at noon or later. |
| School during cruise | Plan for up to five school days away, Jan 25–29, and a Monday, Feb 1 return. Verify both school calendars. | Same dates. A return overnight can still leave Sunday to get home. |
| Parking | RIC economy parking or a ride to the airport. | Official Port Canaveral garage or a quoted off-site shuttle lot. |
| Walking & waits | More transfers, terminals and standing. Ask the airline and hotel about shorter walks and seating. | Drop family and bags at the terminal before parking, if permitted. Schedule stretch breaks. |
| Saturday margin | Already in Orlando after a successful Friday flight. Book the hotel and Saturday transfer separately. | Still several hours from the port. Traffic, rest and the boarding cutoff all matter. |
MAKE IT YOURS
Edit the estimates
Enter full-family amounts unless the label says per person. Add taxes, fees and tips to any real quotes.
Parking defaults checked November 5, 2026. RIC parking · Port Canaveral parking · Carnival transfer times
THE PORT DAY SHORTLIST
Port ideas
Keep a few ideas handy and decide what sounds good that morning.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 · 10 AM–6 PM SCHEDULED
Nassau, The Bahamas
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TOP PICK · $0 EXTRA
Stay aboard for a pool-and-burgers day
Sleep in, grab pool chairs after breakfast and let everyone pick their own included lunch. Try Guy’s Burger Joint, Big Chicken, BlueIguana Cantina or the Lido Marketplace buffet.
Save Chibang! for dinner or a sea-day lunch. Check the Carnival HUB app for the day’s dining and activity hours.
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QUICK FAMILY OUTING · ABOUT $42 FOR FOUR
Pirates of Nassau Museum
About an 8-minute walk from the port and a 30-minute visit. Aim for 11 AM since published Sunday closing times differ.
Museum tickets and hours -
LOCAL FOOD · ABOUT $49 TO SHARE
Twin Brothers at the Arawak Cay Fish Fry
Open Sundays 11 AM–9 PM. Share conch fritters, tropical conch salad and guava duff. The estimate includes tax and service. Drinks and a cab are extra. It’s about a 25-minute walk each way.
Twin Brothers menu -
LESS WALKING · AT THE CRUISE PORT
Preacher’s Kid
Try a Bahamian sandwich or stew on the way back to the ship. Sunday hours are listed as 8 AM–5:30 PM. Check menu prices at the counter.
Preacher’s Kid hours -
BEACH BREAK · FREE ENTRY
Junkanoo Beach
About a 13-minute walk from the port. Bring a towel and head back to the ship for lunch. Chairs and refreshments cost extra.
Junkanoo Beach details
Prices and hours can change before sailing. If you go ashore, use Carnival’s posted all-aboard time.
MONDAY, JANUARY 25 · 8 AM–5 PM SCHEDULED
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
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TOP PICK · $0 EXTRA · LESS WALKING
Beach morning and lunch at Mango
Head ashore midmorning and take the free tram from the Arrival Plaza to Mango. Grab included beach chairs and an umbrella, swim, and have lunch at Orchid Beach Grill by the tram stop.
Bring towels from the ship. Stay longer if everyone’s having fun, or head back to Mardi Gras after lunch. Check Carnival’s posted all-aboard time before leaving the ship.
Carnival’s island and tram map
A LITTLE PREP, MORE FAMILY FUN
Tips & Tricks
Ship favorites and practical notes for every stop. Open a section below. Port suggestions are ideas to consider, not booked plans.
Use ship time, check the posted all-aboard deadline and leave a generous return buffer. Check the HUB app for that day’s dining and activity hours.
Mardi Gras · On the ship
ALL WEEK · FOOD, FUN & COMFORT
- Mix up lunch. Try Street Eats and check its rotating daily selections. Keep Guy’s Burgers, Big Chicken and BlueIguana on the family shortlist.
- Boarding-day lunch. Check Pig & Anchor’s embarkation lunch hours as an alternative to the main buffet. Choose what is open when you board.
- Pick a few evening favorites. Look for the sail-away party, Grand Central shows, comedy and a poolside movie in the HUB schedule. Arrive early for the shows you really want; seating and times vary.
- Keep exploring comfortable. Explore a little at a time, with seated breaks. Learn the nearest elevators and save favorite dining locations in your notes.
- Room service: check the price. Continental breakfast is complimentary. Other room-service items cost extra; the paid menu lists an 18% service charge. Do not assume every delivery is free.
- Cabin comforts. Ask the steward about an extra blanket or towel animals. Magnetic hooks can help organize small items. Ironing rooms are available on several cabin decks—ask for the nearest one.
- Wi-Fi, if wanted. Compare packages before sailing for advance savings. Premium supports video calls where coverage allows; speeds vary. Check the four-device option if the whole family needs access.
Nassau
SUN, JAN 24 · KEEP IT FLEXIBLE
- A ship day is an option. You have already toured Nassau, visited Atlantis and shopped the Straw Market. A relaxed pool-and-burgers day aboard is on the shortlist; check port-day dining and activity hours.
- Keep an outing short. Choose one stop instead of another full island tour. The Port ideas tab has the museum, local food and beach options already gathered.
- Budget before leaving. Agree on spending for snacks, souvenirs and a taxi. If walking starts to feel like too much, shorten the outing and head back early.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
MON, JAN 25 · BEACH-DAY PLANNING
- Keep the beach bag light. Pack sun protection, swimwear, towels and anything needed for a comfortable few hours ashore. Keep travel documents and valuables secure.
- Check how we get ashore. Confirm the sailing’s landing arrangements, queues and available assistance with Carnival before deciding how much to do.
- Choose comfort before extras. Start with a simple beach plan. Check what seating, shade, food and drinks are included before paying for upgrades; nothing is booked yet.
Amber Cove
WED, JAN 27 · AN EASY DAY OR ONE OUTING
- Choose one main plan. Compare a relaxed port-area day with one excursion. Avoid filling the day with several stops just because they are available.
- Ask about the whole walk. For any tour, ask about pier-to-pickup distance, stairs, uneven ground, seating and time on your feet—not just the advertised activity.
- Price it for four. Get the full cost including transport, food, admission and any extras. Keep the return journey and ship time in the plan.
Celebration Key
FRI, JAN 29 · LAST PORT, LOW PRESSURE
- Check the current destination map. Pick a family meeting spot and a manageable route before heading out. Confirm transport options if you want to reduce walking.
- Check inclusions first. Review your booking and the HUB app for food, drinks, seating and activity inclusions. Treat cabanas and other upgrades as optional until priced.
- Leave time for the final evening. Aim for an unhurried return, then leave room to pack and enjoy one last dinner together.
Port Canaveral · Coming & going
JAN 23 & JAN 30 · TRAVEL DAYS
- Use your boarding appointment. Confirm the terminal, arrival window and final boarding time on Carnival’s documents. Keep original travel documents and medications in your carry-on.
- Parking payment. Have a major credit card ready for cashless port parking. E-PASS is listed for Terminal 3 by the expressway authority; do not assume a Virginia E-ZPass works for parking.
- Make the walk easier. Confirm family-and-luggage drop-off before the driver parks, and request any boarding assistance ahead of time.
- Keep return timing realistic. Ship arrival is not the time everyone is off the ship. Allow for luggage, the terminal exit and the drive or airport transfer.
Ship policy notes checked November 5, 2026. Menus, schedules and offers may change before January. Confirm sailing-specific details in Carnival. New port sections are planning suggestions; detailed activity research is still open.
ONE THING AT A TIME
Family checklist
Get school sorted early, then handle the little things that make travel day easier.
Changes are saved in this browser.
BOOKINGS, NOTES & OPEN ITEMS
Trip details
Keep what’s settled separate from the things you still need to check or book.
Cruise booking
Paid in full- Ship & stateroom
- Carnival Mardi Gras · Balcony
- Travelers
- Rita, Chris, Anastasia & Gavin
- Paid to Carnival
- $1,810, including $476 prepaid gratuities
- Dining
- Unassigned on confirmation. Check your preference in Carnival.
- Online check-in
- Look for it around Sat, Jan 9 (14 days before sailing). Save the arrival appointment, boarding passes and luggage tags.
- Port terminal
- Port schedule lists Terminal 3, 220 Christopher Columbus Dr., Cape Canaveral. Confirm the assignment and Final Boarding time on your pass.
Easier boarding & shorter walks
Assistance to confirm- Start with what would help. Ask Kristina or Carnival Guest Access for a shorter walk, a place to sit while waiting, and the meeting points for boarding and debarkation. Request wheelchair assistance only if you want it.
- Ask about timing for all four. Have Carnival explain what assistance they can arrange, whether the family can stay together and what arrival time to use. Priority boarding is still unconfirmed.
- Check port days separately. The new Half Moon Cay pier can accommodate Mardi Gras, and free trams run from the Arrival Plaza. Confirm your sailing’s arrangements and ask about walking distances or transport at other stops.
- If driving: ask about passenger drop-off and accessible parking. Review the port’s separate fee-waiver criteria if you have a placard by sailing.
THE FAMILY TRACKER
Confirmed vs. tentative
Change a status when you have the details in hand. A preferred route is a planning choice until you confirm it below.