Lighthouse on Paradise Island-Nassau, Bahamas, Caribbean. -- Medioimages/Medioimages/Getty Images

It only took five minutes to understand.

That's when Ivan, the Lido deck waiter aboard the Fun Ship Fantasy, handed me a pina colada, pointed me to the nearest deck chair and guaranteed I'd have a great vacation.

"So this is cruising," I told my better half as we settled down in the sun with our drinks.

"Now I know why people do this."

Before Carnival's Fantasy pushed off from Port Canaveral, Fla., my knowledge of cruising was limited to a day-long sail on a navy frigate and a childhood spent watching The Love Boat.

And since my military career ended without another day at sea and my Barbi Benton infatuation has long since faded, I never saw the need to take a Caribbean cruise.

Well, fellow landlubbers, I'm happy to say Carnival's new five-day itinerary made me a believer.

The formula is simple -- five days, three tropical paradises and 24-hour-a-day royal treatment from a staff devoted to making every moment an absolute pleasure. The trip features stops in Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau. And from start to finish, the cruise line aimed to live up to their self-styled reputation as the "Fun Ships."

Our cruise started with a day's sail from Florida -- plenty of time to explore the 70,367-ton, 2,052-passenger ship.

And explore we did. From Fantasy's shops and galleries, two formal restaurants, casual eatery, sushi bar, bistro and casino, there was enough on board to keep us busy (or in my case, lost) for a week.

At night, our focus turned to the ship's vibrant nightlife, which featured bands, comedians, a Vegas-style revue and dancing 'til dawn.

And after a few hours of shut-eye, there was nothing like waking to a new port of call and a new adventure.

With stops at Grand Turk and Nassau, the Fantasy offers a taste of a sleepy island getaway and the hustle of one of the Caribbean's busiest ports.

The highlight? The awe-inspiring Half Moon Cay -- a pristine 2,000-acre private island owned by sister company Holland America.

The view of the 5-km crescent-shaped beach alone was worth the trip. The day spent eating kayaking, mingling with our newfound friends and swimming in the clearest turquoise water I've ever laid eyes on convinced me we'd be back for another cruise. In the end, the beauty of a Carnival cruise is there's something for everyone. Beach bums get plenty of time to bum around on the beach, there's a party for every partier's taste and you can always find a patch of sun to catch up on your sleep.

Carnival seems to realize that no two passengers are the same, and it strives to give everyone a vacation to remember.

Ivan was right. Barbi Benton or no Barbi Benton, the Fun Ship Fantasy lived up to its name.

IF YOU GO

You'll be busy aboard the Fantasy, but make sure you find time to ...

- Swim with the stingrays: Everyone who waded in the water off Half Moon Cay and fed these gorgeous creatures called it the experience of a lifetime.

- Snorkel Grand Turk: Or go scuba diving. The coral reefs of Turks and Caicos are consistently ranked among the world's best.

- Take in the night sky: Nothing says "King of the World" like a quiet corner of the deck with that special someone and the stars overhead. 'Nuff said.

JUST THE FACTS

Carnival's superliner Fantasy offers four- and five-day cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. Four-day cruises call at Nassau and either Freeport or Half Moon Cay, while five-day cruises take in Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk.

For more information, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com.