Idyllic port ... Grand Turk Island Grand Turk Island. Photo:Alamy
Kristie Kellahan joins a cast of thousands sailing out of New York to chase the northern winter sun.
From Newcastle to New Jersey,holidaying families are pretty much the same:they want a fun trip at a price they can afford,they want the kids to be entertained,and they want to eat and drink too much as they forget about the daily grind for a week or two.
For many,a sunny cruise to the tropics is the ultimate getaway. It means value for money,family time,a few days at the beach,a good laugh and,if they pick the right cruise,a 24-hour supply of pizza.
I was reminded of this recently,sailing out of Manhattan aboard the mammoth Carnival Miracle ship. Bound for a week of fun in the sun in the Caribbean,I was surrounded by thousands of penny-bronze Long Island and Jersey Shore family members posing for the cruise photographers as they held frozen Margaritas aloft like trophies.
Carnival Miracle was made for all-inclusive fun on a grand scale. Its whopping 12 decks accommodate more than 2000 passengers and close to 1000 crew. It sails primarily in the Caribbean and Mexico,picking up passengers in New York City and Fort Lauderdale.
Lead-in prices are often stupefyingly low - less than $100 a night including shared cabin accommodation and three meals a day,plus copious opportunities to snack. This makes it a good option for the 500,000 or so Aussies who visit the Big Apple each year and have the time and funds to extend their trip to take in a slice of the beautiful Caribbean.
(Last October,the Miracle's identical twin sister ship,Carnival Spirit,took up residence in Sydney where it is now home-ported year-round,sailing to destinations in Australia and the south Pacific).
There's something for everyone on board,or so the saying goes. Hot dogs on the pool deck,a sprawling spa and salon for pampering,a busy kids'club,boutiques,casino and multiple dining options for dinner including the high-end Nick and Nora's Steak House (a small surcharge applies). The adults-only late-night Punchliner Comedy Club is as popular with the grown-ups as the self-serve ice-cream sundae station is with the kids.
To be fair,it rarely feels as though there are 2000 holidaymakers on board,so spread out are the accommodation and facilities.