Cruising

As promised, here are a few photos from the cruise my family took during the Christmas holiday in the Caribbean. The first photo is from Cococay, an island that the cruise line owns. Sounds like the ultimate tourist trap, but it was a beautiful place, small and low key, with crystal clear water and pure white sandy beaches. The second photo is from the island of St. Thomas where we hired a local guide to drive us around, then deposit us on a beach for a couple of hours. Our cruise ship is in the distance (the 2nd one to the right) which gives you an idea of just how enormous these boats are. Our ship was 3 football fields long and 14 floors high – a mammoth feat of engineering and design that absolutely blew my mind.

In the beginning of the trip, I have to admit I was a little appalled at the extravagance of it all, especially in the midst of our country’s economic crisis – the luxurious decor, the gourmet food, the royal service and the non-stop entertainment was almost too much to take in – not to mention the energy and waste the ship must generate with 4,000 people on board. The fact that cruise ships burn 100’s of gallons of diesel per hour made me cringe – that’s a carbon footprint that I can’t even begin to comprehend. But after a few days, I made an effort to change my attitude and let my worries go. After all, the cruise was my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary gift to us and I didn’t want to be caught complaining. Meanwhile, I found myself getting used to the routine of the cruising life: working out in the spa, taking saunas and steam baths, eating 5 meals a day, attending workshops, watching ice shows and musical productions, shopping in the promenade, catching a movie, and playing Bingo – yes I played Bingo! And the service was outstanding. I could get used to someone else making my bed everyday and leaving a chocolate on my pillow. I was actually disappointed when it was all over and time to go home.

The best part of the week, of course, was spending time with my family. Because we live on opposite sides of the country, I don’t get to see my parents or my brother and sister and their families very often. Cruising was a great way for us to spend a vacation together. There wasn’t any work involved, no stress over what to do or where to go, and there were enough activities and sights to see to keep everyone, from ages 7 to 75, happy as could be. Even my 17-year-old had a good time. That’s us in the photo below, relaxing before dinner in the upper deck bar – another activity that became part of our routine that I thoroughly enjoyed. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad – and thanks for one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.