When planning a cruise from Miami, most travellers might picture staying in the city. For those who want to escape the hustle and bustle, however, one lesser-known spot is Hutchinson Island in Martin County. Just a couple of hours north of Miami, the island offers an array of natural beaches, wildlife, and outdoor activities. Fun fact: it’s the most important nesting area for loggerhead turtles in the world from April to September.
Hutchinson Island, on Florida’s Treasure Coast, is a little slice of paradise. Its beaches are unspoiled and ideal for unwinding, with soft sands and clear waters. The island’s quaint atmosphere, with charming local shops and restaurants, makes for an ideal pre-cruise retreat. For animal enthusiasts, Hutchinson Island is one of the few spots in Florida where you can ride horseback on the beach. Tours on Horseback offer hour-long, three-mile beach excursions from the island’s Frederick Douglass Memorial Park every weekend.
After our relaxing stay on Hutchinson Island, we headed to Miami to embark on our cruise aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunrise. This four-night fam trip took us to the Bahamas and Half Moon Cay. Despite being fully booked, the spacious ship never felt crowded. Our Oceanview cabins offered stunning ocean vistas. There was an endless choice of entertainment onboard, including deck parties, a ropes course and musical shows.
In Nassau, we swam with pigs — a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I heartily recommend. Next we explored Half Moon Cay, with its white powder crescent-shaped beach. Also known as Little El Salvador Island, it was purchased by Holland America Line in 1996. It’s a significant nesting area for waterfowl, too.
Back on Carnival Sunrise, it became our mission to sample cuisine from as many of the ship’s delectable restaurants as possible. Speciality restaurants, such as the Steakhouse and the Italian Cucina del Capitano, were fully worth the extra supplement of $49pp and $24pp, respectively. They are must-visits for guests sailing with Carnival. I was pleasantly surprised with the endless supply of sunbeds on deck. Even at its busiest, we never had to search for a spot to relax and soak up the sun.
The entertainment exceeded all my expectations, too. From themed nights to high-energy shows, every evening was a night full of fun, laughter and joy.
My trip to Hutchinson Island and the cruise aboard Carnival Sunrise was a thrilling combination of tranquillity and excitement. I highly recommend this Florida itinerary to anyone seeking a unique and memorable cruise holiday that offers both relaxation and adventure.
For more information, head to carnival.com
By Caroline Wood, Barrhead Travel
