Happy New Year! ✨ Can we just take a second to acknowledge that it is officially the first full week of January? While I’m sitting here in Bloomfield, Connecticut, watching the snow dust the trees and sipping on a hot tea, my mind is drifting back exactly six months.

Last year, during the second week of June, I decided to treat myself to a 4-day Bahamas itinerary on the Carnival Conquest. Now that I’m back in "winter mode," juggling my career and that post-grad life, I realized I never gave you the full breakdown of how to navigate a cruise as a vegetarian with a taste for the finer (but budget-friendly) things.

If you’re a professional woman needing a "reclaim my time" moment, this one is for you.

🚢 The Ship: Carnival Conquest Class & Character

The Conquest has a certain soul to it. It’s not the newest mega-ship on the block, but she’s got personality. As a woman who appreciates a well-designed space (shoutout to my fellow lifelong learners!), I loved the Impressionist-themed decor. It’s vibrant, a little bit extra, and perfect for the "Fun Ship" brand.

🛌 The Room: Is Interior Cabin #6401 Worth It?

Let’s get into the logistics. I stayed in Interior Room #6401 on Deck 6. Now, as someone with a Masters, I’m all about the ROI (Return on Investment).

• The Location: This cabin is situated Forward (the front of the ship). It was a quick walk to the theater for the nightly shows and the spa.

• The Sleep Quality: If you’re like me and your brain never stops buzzing with work and projects, you need total darkness to reset. Since this is an interior room, it was a literal sanctuary. No morning sun, no distractions—just deep, restorative sleep.

• The June Heat: Since I sailed in the second week of June, the Bahamas was glowing (read: 90 degrees!). Coming back to a chilled, dark cabin was the ultimate relief.

🥗 The Vegetarian "Connoisseur" Guide to Dining

One thing about me? I’m going to eat well. Being a vegetarian on a cruise shouldn’t mean just eating sides, and Carnival actually showed out for the plant-based community.

1. The Main Dining Room (MDR): My assigned dining was a highlight. I highly recommend the Indian Vegetarian dinner. It’s authentic, spiced to perfection, and honestly more flavorful than many of the meat options my ship-mates had!

2. BlueIguana Cantina: This was my morning ritual. A bean and cheese breakfast burrito with extra cilantro lime rice and all the salsa? Yes, please.

3. Guy’s Burger Joint: Don't let the smoke fool you; they have a veggie burger that is actually seasoned. Pro-tip: Hit the toppings bar for those sautéed mushrooms.

The Itinerary: Bahamas in June

June in the Bahamas is beautiful, but honey, it is humid.

• Nassau: I spent my time exploring the local culture. There’s something so grounding about seeing the vibrant colors of the island.

• Princess Cays: This private island day was exactly what the doctor ordered. I found a spot under a palm tree, listened to a podcast, and just was. No deadlines, no "per my last email," just the ocean.

January Reflections from Connecticut

Looking at these photos now, while I’m layered up in three sweaters in CT, I’m reminded of how important it is to pour back into yourself. Whether you’re a busy professional, a student finishing that degree, or just a sister needing a break, a 4-day getaway is sometimes all the "reset" you need.

Are you planning your 2026 escape yet? I’m thinking about looking into the new Carnival Excel-class ships for my next plant-based food tour. Would you like me to do a comparison of the best cruise lines for vegetarian foodies?