Our 5-Day Carnival Sunrise Spring Break Caribbean Cruise

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Before too much time passes, I wanted to make a quick post about our family’s spring break cruise to the Caribbean on the Carnival Sunrise. This was our second time aboard the Carnival Sunrise, and a very similar trip to the one we took in August of 2022.

Since we are now lucky enough to once again call Miami home, cruising on the Sunrise was a no-brainer! Although its an older ship, it’s been refinished and upgraded, and is one of the few that has cabins for 5 people. Our preference is to save on cabin type, and splurge just about everywhere else.

Booking Process and Preparation

Because 5 person cabins are few and far in between on Carnival cruise ships, we booked this vacation early– about a year in advance. While John and I like to scroll through the Carnival website to find ourselves the the best options, we did call our Carnival Personal Vacation Planner (PVP) to do the actual booking.

The PVP is a Carnival employee, and they are free to use. I am all for helping them earn a commission, plus they sometimes offer incentives that we’re not aware of. By booking with our PVP, we were actually able to get $500 of on board credit, versus the $100 that we would have gotten for booking ourselves on the website.

Day 1: Departure from Miami

It was a rainy morning as we woke up at home and got our selves breakfast before heading to the port. We also made sure to stop by an ATM on our way there to grab cash for tipping.

Most of our cruising experience has been out of Miami, so we are fairly familiar with the port. On this particular day, the Sunrise was sailing out of Terminal D at the port of Miami. With the rain still coming down, we parked for $22 a day, and hustled across the street from the garage to the terminal to hand over our checked luggage to the porter.

We arrived at the Port of Miami around noon and were able to breeze through check-in. The process was smooth, and we were onboard in no time. We grabbed lunch from Guy’s Burger Joint (because, obviously), then explored the ship and found our cabin.

Sailaway from Miami never gets old— beautiful skyline views, warm breeze, and the perfect way to kick off vacation mode. We unpacked, grabbed some drinks, and caught the sailaway party from the Lido deck before dinner. This ship definitely has all of that lively and fun Carnival vibe.

Day 2: Sea Day

We spent our sea day soaking up the sun, bouncing between the Serenity adults-only retreat and the main pool area near the RedFrog Rum Bar. Chairs fill up fast, especially on sea days, so if you’re hoping for a good spot in the shade or close to the action, it’s worth getting there early with a towel and a good book.

We also took time to explore more of the ship, grab a frozen cocktail (or two), and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch from BlueIguana Cantina. That afternoon, we caught a little bit of trivia, explored the art gallery, and relaxed before dinner.

Day 3: Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

Grand Turk is hands down one of our favorite ports, and it didn’t disappoint. What’s amazing about this stop is that you can literally walk off the ship and straight onto a beach. We set up camp on the sand just steps from the pier, and later wandered a bit farther down the coast where we came across a wild donkey just hanging out! It was so random and fun—one of those little moments that makes Grand Turk feel extra special.

We didn’t do a formal excursion this time since everything is so walkable, but if you’re looking for a super easy beach day with clear water and zero stress, Grand Turk is perfect.

Day 4: Princess Cays (Carnival’s Private Island)

Okay, so… Princess Cays wasn’t our favorite. This was our first time visiting this private island, and we were expecting something similar to Half Moon Cay (which we love). But unfortunately, the beach here was super rocky and not great for lounging or swimming. The water was pretty, but the shoreline just didn’t have that soft-sand, barefoot-friendly vibe we were hoping for.

Lunch was typical BBQ-style cruise food—nothing to rave about but not terrible either. We ended up heading back to the ship early and spent the afternoon relaxing onboard instead.

Day 5: Nassau, Bahamas

We were really looking forward to this day because it was going to be our first time doing a “swimming with pigs” excursion. Sadly, it was canceled the morning of due to rough seas. Total bummer, but safety first!

Instead, we decided to walk around the newly renovated Nassau cruise port, which turned out to be really cute and colorful. They’ve done a great job with the upgrades; lots of open space, new shops, and great photo ops. We stopped into a few local spots for drinks and souvenirs, and honestly, it turned into a pretty chill and fun day despite the change of plans.

Day 6: Back in Miami

I was up super early with Ju, who couldn’t sleep more than 4 hours prior to an EEG once we got on shore, so we wandered the outside decks and watched as we approached and docked in Miami.

Disembarkation was quick and easy. We had breakfast on board and were off the ship by around 9:15 AM. It pays to have passports and just be able to zoom out. And then…just like that—back to reality!

Cabin & Ship Thoughts

We had an interior cabin for the five of us, which definitely made for tight quarters, but honestly, it worked out as expected. With so much to do on the ship (and at the ports), we were really only in the room to sleep and shower, so it made sense to save in this area and splurge a little more on other parts of the trip, like drinks, excursions, and souvenirs.

The layout was manageable, even with three kids, with two upper bunks, the standard king bed, and an extra cot. Storage space was limited, but we made it work by unpacking everything and tucking suitcases under the beds.

As for the ship itself, the Carnival Sunrise is older, and you can tell in a few spots, but it’s still in good shape overall. The crew did a great job keeping everything clean and running smoothly, and the energy onboard was upbeat and fun the entire time. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly cruise with a lively vibe, the Sunrise still delivers.

Dining and Food Experience

  • Food-wise, we stuck to the basics: Guy’s Burgers, Blue Iguana, the buffet, and the main dining room for dinner. And of course the unlimited ice cream machine! Nothing blew our minds, but everything was good enough. The chocolate melting cake is always a must.

Entertainment

You already know that Carnival knows how to bring the fun. The comedians were hilarious and the shows were great! Especially The Carnival Live Spotlight Series show on the last night. We loved the overall vibe, which was just the right mix of casual, energetic, and little wild.

Final Thoughts

This 5-day itinerary was the perfect little getaway. Grand Turk was a standout (as always), Princess Cays was a bit of a miss, and Nassau surprised us in a good way. If you’re looking for a short, affordable Caribbean cruise with plenty of sun, drinks, and fun, Carnival Sunrise still gets the job done.

Tips for Future Travelers

  • Get to the pool deck early on sea days if you want a good lounge chair.
  • Skip the beach at Princess Cays unless you’re bringing water shoes.
  • Have a backup plan for excursions—weather can change everything.
  • Download the Carnival Hub App—it’s super helpful for tracking activities, menus, and your onboard account.
  • If you’re booking a short cruise for a quick escape, don’t overthink it! Just go and enjoy!

Let me know in the comments if you’ve sailed on the Sunrise or have questions about this itinerary—I’m happy to share more!