Our First Cruise Adventure!
We finally did it—our first cruise! Here’s how it all went down:
Logistics:
We flew into Fort Lauderdale, where we stayed for two days before boarding our ship. From there, we headed to Nassau for an 8-hour stop, then spent a full day cruising the open seas. Our last day was spent on Royal Caribbean’s private island, complete with a water park. It’s hard to capture everything, so here are some highlights—in no particular order:
Exploring the Ship
This was a favorite for most of us! The ship was enormous (though small compared to some others) and packed with things to explore. From the mini-golf on the top deck to the pools, shuffleboard on the side deck, shops, and entertainment, there was always something to check out.
Introverts on an Extroverted Boat
Let’s be honest: cruises are definitely designed for extroverts. PEOPLE. ARE. EVERYWHERE. It’s great if you love chatting and being surrounded by others, but it can feel overwhelming when you just need some peace and quiet.
Our Kids’ Cruise Style
Our kids weren’t interested in the kid-friendly activities or making new friends. And honestly, I don’t blame them—I wouldn’t have been that kid either. That meant we didn’t take advantage of a lot of the onboard options, but we made the best of our time together.
FOMO is Real
With activities running from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., I felt a twinge of FOMO (fear of missing out) every day. There was always something happening! But I had to remind myself it was okay to do what I wanted and skip the rest. I did convince the family to try a mystery game, and it was so much fun!
Beach Time
We didn’t get as much beach time as I’d hoped, but we did explore Nassau a bit. The kids weren’t thrilled about all the walking, but we managed to see some historical landmarks and even got in the water. For December, it wasn’t too chilly!
New Year’s Eve
Celebrating NYE with thousands of people on one boat was a wild experience! We dressed up, enjoyed a nice dinner, and then retreated to our room for a little quiet. Russell tried to make it to the casino but didn’t make it back in time for the big balloon drop. The kids and I, however, were right in the thick of it—it was unforgettable!
The FOOD!
The dining experience was amazing. We mainly ate in the main dining hall, where we got to order appetizers, main courses, and desserts. The kids were in heaven, and I was thrilled not to have to plan, cook, or clean!
Entertainment
The kids really enjoyed the live musical acts onboard. One night, they even stayed later than Russell and me to watch Saturday Night Fever a second time!
Togetherness
Cruising definitely means a lot of time together—in close quarters. If we ever do a bigger cruise, I think it would be great to go with another family or encourage everyone to branch out and make friends. Despite my reminders, no one took me up on the idea of venturing out solo.
My Favorite Moments
One of my absolute favorite parts of the trip was sitting on the balcony of our room. We had an ocean view, and it was pure magic to watch the water while enjoying some rare, quiet moments.
It was an adventure full of highs, a few challenges, and lots of memories. Can’t wait to see where our next trip takes us!
