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How to Survive and Thrive on Your First Cruise

Three of my major fears in life include shark attack, shipwreck, and being out on open water, not knowing what lurks beneath the surface.  But if there’s anything I’ve learned in my 30 years on this planet, it’s that a life ruled by fear is no life at all.  And you can quote me on that.

So, last weekend, I confronted my fears head on and boarded a cruise ship: Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas.  We shoved off from Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Bahamas bound.  Who’s “we”?  I’m glad you asked: it was my parents and sister (also cruise virgins), my in-laws, Mark and me.  And not only did I live to tell the tale, but I even managed to have a little a lotta fun along the way.

I’m itchin’ to share some photos from our voyage, but I also thought I’d offer some personal tips for not just surviving, but thriving on your first cruise.  If I can do it with my laundry list of fears, so can you, dear reader.

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

1.  Know your body and plan accordingly.  Nothing can rob your joy faster on a cruise than nausea, so if you tend to get motion sick, don’t wait for the boat to start rocking to take medication.  My Mom, Father-in-Law, and Mark all wore prescription patches behind their ear for the entire trip to stave off sea-sickness…and it worked!  Not a one of us experienced even a moment of nausea on the trip.  We were blessed with gorgeous weather and calm seas, though that first night, sitting down for dinner, I definitely felt off-balance.  I looked out a window at the horizon line to help orient myself, and soon enough, my body adjusted to the subtle ebb and flow of the ship.  It almost became soothing.

How to Survive Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

2.  Embrace the opportunity to unplug.  Because this was an international trip, we all turned our phones to airplane mode after leaving port on Friday afternoon and didn’t have access to texts, emails, or GPS until we returned Monday morning.  And whad’ya know, my blog didn’t explode while I was gone!

While I initially felt uneasy about going the entire trip without checking my email even once, I soon found that I welcomed the break from electronics.  I could be so much more present where I was.  It also forced us to be more punctual.  We couldn’t text to say, “Running late!” but instead, needed to be where we said we were going to be, when we said we would be there.  Just like the good old days!

And the most amazing thing to me was the fact that we all found each other on the island of CoCo Cay when arriving in four separate groups.  I accessed my inner Jason Bourne and tried to think like my family, heading toward the spot on the beach where I imagined they might sit.  (Under a tree for natural shade to avoid the exorbitantly priced beach umbrella rentals.)  And bam!  I found my MIL and together we found my parents and sis, and later, Mark found us!  Cell phones, schmell phones.

How to Survive Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

3.  Explore the ship!  If we hadn’t ventured to the stern of the ship, we would have never discovered the rock climbing wall!  Mark and his Dad enjoyed a friendly race to the top Saturday morning…coming within just a few seconds of each other.  They were even awarded gold and silver medals for their victories.

How to Survive Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

How to Survive Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

4.  Come prepared to play!  Since we didn’t have our phones to distract us, we filled the free time with chats in the hot tub and game-playing.  In fact, Mark and I brought a “fun bag” full of games to keep us busy.  Pictured below: Monopoly Deal, Small World, & playing cards for Euchre.  {Affiliate links.}

How to Survive Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

5.  Having a balcony room is worth every penny.  We paid a bit more to have exterior rooms with balconies, but I can’t imagine doing it any other way.  The rooms were smaller than a typical hotel room, and the bathroom was about the size of an airplane bathroom, so having a balcony and space to go out and breathe really helped avoid claustrophobia   Eating breakfast overlooking the Atlantic was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  Is that not just a breathtaking view?

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

6.  Bring back a souvenir to remember the trip by.  While exploring the shops of Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas, my MIL helped me find a white floppy hat that was calling my name…and lo and behold, Lisbeth found a brown one screaming for her.  Matchy matchy!

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

7.  Soak up some vitamin D!  (Rocking sunscreen, of course.)  Perhaps the most restful day was spent on Royal Caribbean’s private island, CoCo Cay, napping in the half-sun, half-shade.  I was also reminded of how healing the ocean can be…not just for cuts and scrapes, but for the soul, too.  This panoramic photo says it all.

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet
Mark snorkeled and found a live conch.  He returned it to its natural habitat right after this pic, never fear!

8.  Plan at least one night to get all dolled up!  Saturday night was the “formal” night on our cruise, and Mark and I even decided to go all out in black tie attire.  Why not?  I’m always looking for excuses to get dressed up!

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

9.  Lounge under the stars.  There’s nothing quite like the sensory experience on the top deck after dark.  You hear the gentle sound of the ship’s wake…spy the twinkling stars up above…and feel the warm breeze.  Our last night on the ship, we spent at least an hour on the top deck, lounging in chairs before a huge movie screen projecting The Hobbit.  In fact, I will now take this opportunity to quote my favorite Lord of the Rings character, Gollum: “Oh, we like goblinses, batses, and fishes, but we hasn’t tried Hobbitses before.”

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

10.  Plan something fun to look forward to after the cruise.  Undoubtedly, after such a high like a first cruise, you’re likely to crash afterward.  So, it can be helpful to have something fun on the docket to lessen the blow.  How about a welcoming committee that includes your sister-in-law and her three kids?  Hugs and kisses from my niece and nephews for Auntie Low-en (as they say say) was just what I needed to help lift my spirits.

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

There you have it!  Some tips and tricks from someone who used to be afraid of the idea of cruising off to sea…and now, says, bring it on!  I tell ya, I can’t wait to get back out there.

How to Survive & Thrive on Your First Cruise | The Thinking Closet

Dear reader, do you have any fears that are holding you back from living life to the full?  You’re not alone!  And I encourage you take baby steps in the direction of facing those fears.  Not only do I have a hunch that you’ll survive, but that you’ll even find that you thrive.

Here’s to fear-facing.

{I like to link up.}

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69 Comments

  1. Oh I loved your post, the ships have so much to offer! You must try a 7 day cruise! I have been on 5 cruises now, I have the royal caribbean crown and anchor tattoos for each one! I just love this form of travel, and if you do your homework first, like you did, you can have the time of your life sailing the high seas! Great post for first timers!

  2. Thank you for sharing your first cruise experience. I’m single and 31 (rhymes with FUN!) and going on my first cruise in 2 weeks. I’m a very spontaneous and outgoing person, and I am looking forward to going solo and having my own personal adventure. I’m a little nervous, but I’ve been scoping out blogs like these and all the advice is helping–thank you! (4 day cruise–Miami, Key West, Cozumel then back to Miami).

    Cheers,
    Liz

    1. Good for you, Liz! How was your cruise? Any surprises? Just reading Lauren’s blog again reminded me of the wonderful experience of cruising!

    1. Go right ahead, Korrine! And if you think of it, let me know when your post goes live. I’d love to check it out!

  3. This was so fun to go back and look through pictures and your memories of the trip! It was a gift to have a set time to unplug from technology and to get matching floppy hats together! Thanks for the invite to the cruise and for making it so much fun. Love you, sis. p.s. It was also fun to read through Mom’s comments and remember the man who sang like a squawking seagull!

    1. Yay! Yes, I think of you and our precious cruise time together whenever I don my white floppy hat. Ha ha. And how could we forget the lounge singer man with his “unique” singing style. Wish we had an audio recording of that!

  4. Isn’t it AWESOME a cruise? I made my first and only with my family just before getting married (I bought my dress on that trip and you would not believe how much it cost) and It was amazing! It was a Carnival Cruise and I didn’t really think about games (I should have LOL) but I love being there soaking the sun and reading a book! I enjoyed so much and I had SO MUCH ICE CREAM hahahahahaha I couldn’t help it having a bunch of self serving machine all over the place… I’m the worst!!!. It was amazing, really, I loved it!

    Hope you are having a lovely weekend!!!

    Hugs
    Cami @ TitiCrafty by Camila

    1. We only discovered the soft serve ice cream machine on the last full day, so unfortunately, we weren’t able to take advantage of it to the same degree you did. Ha ha. Though I absolutely love ice cream and probably would have gotten out of control with it, so it’s all for the best. How fun that you got your wedding dress on your cruise! I bet it was one of a kind! Hope you had a great weekend, Camila…it flew by, didn’t it?

  5. Thanks so much for initiating this wonderful cruise idea and trip, which adds to our the memories of great family times! We loved having quality time with Lisbeth, you and Mark, and Rachael and Darryl. Thanks for preparing us for the fancy-dancy night and bringing along all those games. Who needs a casino or game shows when our family can make our very own entertainment?! This post is fun for me to share with folks who ask about the cruise!

    Hopefully this is just the first of many more adventures (mustering) at sea!!

    1. Thanks for coming along for the memorable ride! And you’re right…we definitely had no trouble entertaining ourselves, especially with that Bob Dylan esque lounge singer to provide the background music. (Or was it Elvis Presley?) Ha ha.

      And yes, I’m looking forward to lining up at a muster station with you in the future (though only in a drill, of course!). Muster, muster!

      1. I’m smiling even now thinking about that singer and Mark’s question, “Is that English?” LOL Muster, Muster, Ketchup, and French Fries!! 🙂

  6. Sounds like such a wonderful time! I actually have never been on a cruise (though I don’t share the same fears — we used to sail all the time when I was growing up). These tips are going to be so helpful for when I do finally go on that cruise (Mediterranean touring the Greek Islands, yes please!!)
    Kenley
    P.S. I love that Gollum quote too! 🙂

    1. I married a man who LOVES to sail, so I suppose it’s God’s way of helping me to slowly but surely overcome my fears. And we totally have a dream of sailing the Med. one day (and touring the Greek Isles). Will have to bump into you when your cruise ship is docked in port, k? K.

  7. You’re the coolest! And how awesome that you got to do this with your family?!?! Great tips for those of us who are still yet to take the cruise leap! I especially appreciated the balcony tip – as a claustrophobic myself, that would be KEY!

    1. Since none of my family had ever done a cruise before, I wasn’t sure if they’d be keen on the idea when Mark and I proposed it to them…but lo and behold, they totally seized the chance to experience something new together, and we all ended up having a fantastic time! I hope you get a chance to go cruisin’ in your lifetime…balcony room and all! You’re so fun-lovin’, I know you’d have a blast, Thalita.

  8. We are going on our first cruise with my parents in January so I really appreciate this post! Thanks so much for tips; I’m so glad we paid extra for the balcony room after reading this!

    If you have a minute to spare I’d be thrilled if you could share this post at my weekly Say G’Day linky party-this would be a perfect addition!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

    1. That’s so exciting that you’re planning your first cruise for next year, Natasha! And that you’ll get to enjoy it with your parents. Seriously, you’re going to make so many wonderful memories together. And you were definitely wise to go for the balcony room. I really can’t imagine doing it any other way.

  9. The room with a view, so awesome! I would do that and I totally get spending the money on that. That looked like an awesome time! 🙂

    1. Thanks, Alex! Awesome is the perfect word to describe the whole experience. And I’m so glad that Mark thought to snap that photo on his iPhone because it really captured so much of the beauty and wonder of being out at sea. Hope you get to experience a cruise ship balcony in your lifetime. It’s definitely one for the bucket list!

  10. Never been on a cruise because I don’t particularly enjoy the sun or the beach (I know, I’m weird that way), but congrats on facing your fears! That’s something that I’m working on at the moment.. applying for a Master’s degree is so scary, because what if they say no? Then again, maybe they’ll say yes.. I guess we all have that inner fraidy cat! :))

    1. Hey, weird is cool in my book, Johanna, so no need to be ashamed! (And your skin will thank you when you’re 65.) And I remember having trepidation about taking the plunge and applying for my Master’s, too…but it was so worth the leap! (I applied to only 1 school for 1 program in particular, and by God’s grace, it all worked out.) So, have a little faith, and go for it, girlfriend. If the door closes, you may surprised to find another door opening even better than the first. At least, that’s what I’ve found in my few years here on this planet.

    1. Thanks, girl! It was one I will not soon forget…especially now I have this post to help me remember it by!

  11. YAY! glad you enjoyed and survived your first cruise Lauren! You Go Girl, glad you did it and came out stronger from it! 🙂 Like you, I’m super scared and never been on a cruise, maybe one day! MAYBE! ha!ha! You look so pretty in your picture from Saturday, all of you look great! 🙂

    1. Thanks, Ingrid! I’m so glad that we all decided to get dressed up and meet before dinner to take pics. The 7 of us haven’t taken a picture like that since our wedding four years ago! It was high time. And I hope you do get to an experience a cruise in your lifetime…especially one that leaves from a port in Florida so I can see you off!

  12. Ha! I have the exact same three fears. It almost makes me want to hyperventilate just thinking about it. So I have to ask… did you snorkel? I’m only see Mark in a snorkel mask. My personal opinion is that there is plenty of beauty and relaxation to enjoy right on that beach. 🙂

    1. No, I’ve decided that snorkeling is not my gift nor my calling. And while I enjoy swimming and body-surfing, I’d rather not know what’s swimming around beneath the surface. Ignorance is bliss in my mind! And like you, I can’t get enough of lounging on the beach. So, Mark ventures out and brings back sea creatures for me to look at from the safety of my beach chair! Ha ha.

  13. Beautiful post! With your gorgeous photography, fun stories, tips and tricks, I almost felt like I was there with you! I’m so glad you overcame your fears to enjoy your trip. We did a cruise for our honeymoon almost 10 years ago and I loved it after that busy time of wedding stuff because everything was planned and in one place. Such a great time to relax and reconnect with loved ones without life’s distractions. Hmmm, maybe it’s time for another one. I’m thinking tenth anniversary…Perhaps I should point my hubby to a little Thinking Closet reading in hopes he should stumble upon this hint.

    I actually have the opposite problem of not being afraid of things I should probably be and then ending up taking on too much, especially when it comes to the kids. Somehow by the grace of God it always works out!

    Glad you had a wonderful time! You look so beautiful and happy and that Mark is a handsome guy in his black tie.

    1. Thanks, Jessica! While about half of these were snapped on my iPhone (not too shabby!), my Mom does deserve photo credits for the other half! (Gotta give credit….) And it’s true what you said about the sense of relief that comes with not needing to worry about where to go or what to eat when on a cruise…the options are just laid out before you and it’s oh so nice for a change.

      And yes! I love the idea of a 10th anniversary cruise trip for you and the hubs. And if he doesn’t pick up the hint for that while visiting my blog, let me know if you need me to bring out the big guns: i.e. skywriting. I know a guy. (Ha ha. Not really. I just have always wanted to say that.)

      I think that’s so funny that you actually aren’t afraid of things when you should be…ha ha. We’d make a great pair, then! I could totally balance you out and vice versa.

      And I’ll have to pass along your sweet compliments to Mark; I think he looks rather smart in a tux myself, and while he doesn’t love getting dressed up, he was the one that thought to bring his tux. I was really excited about that!

  14. That looks like a lot of fun!
    I was on a small cruise last year with two of my fellow student girls – but we went to Oslo/Norway. In winter. So, umm… we had to skip Nr 7 and Nr 9 was only doable with all of our jackets, hats, scarfs and other stuff worn all at once. (And we skipped to Nr 5 because we’re poor students…)
    But it was as well a fun cruise we had!
    And surprisingly I wasn’t afraid for a moment, I would’ve thought, I maybe would be a bit, when we’re on the open and stormy sea… but it felt all good 🙂

    Love, Midsommarflicka

    1. Ha ha. I should have clarified that some of these tips only apply to cruises to tropical regions. 🙂 Wow, I bet that was a chilly cruise, but it sounds like you had a blast! That’s the bottom line. And I’m glad to hear that your fears didn’t creep up on you either while out at sea. Was your ship pretty massive?

      1. Oh yes, it was chilly. There was ice on the outside decks in the mornings!
        The ship wasn’t that massive (although they all look massive to me and I never get used to them – and we have a lot of them here in the Hamburg harbor…), these mini cruises also get used as ferries, because they go daily in both directions!

        (I looked it up and they are 224 meters long and 35 meters wide, so not that big!)

        1. Ice?! Wow. A very different cruise experience indeed! And thanks for taking the time to look up and share the dimensions of your ship; I looked up ours and it was 989 ft long, which is 301 meters, so not too much bigger than yours. I would say that yours qualifies as fitting in the “massive” category. 😉

  15. Woohoo! God’s perfect love casts out all fear and it is great to be encouraged by your story Lauren. Scott & I just returned from a vacation in France, so very far out of my comfort zone that it took him years to get me to go! We celebrated our 25th anniversary, albeit almost 2 years late and I’m so glad we did. So many adventures! Lots of photos on Facebook, I hope you have a few minutes to check them out. By the way, I think I recognized your mom’s beach hat – we bought matching crushable hats for our 2000 trip to Israel and I still enjoy mine as well!

    1. Amen to that, Nancy! And I had caught a few quick glimpses of your trip on FB, but I’m eager to really pore over your photos some more and see all that you’ve been up to abroad! Belated congrats on your 25th, anniversary, Nancy, and I think it’s wonderful that you stepped out of your comfort zone, too, and thrived while you were at it!

      And yes, you’re right on about my Mom’s hat! In fact, I can still picture you donning yours while climbing the dusty hills in Israel. 😉 I was just remembering that trip the other day, and said to Lisbeth, “I can’t believe that little Kevin is all grown up, married, and about to become a father to twins!” God is good.

  16. Out of all the things I’ve done in my life, a cruise has not been one of them. This was a wonderful story. You keep things so interesting. When at first you mentioned about not using the cell phones, doesn’t it seem like going back in time? Kind of nice Huh?
    I think I could go on a short trip like that. I’ve been deep sea fishing, so why wouldn’t it be like that?
    Really, really, enjoyed hearing about your trip.

    As a PS – It is so hard to tell whose parents are whose – you all look alike! (A compliment, by all means)

    1. Yes, Karen. It did feel like a flashback to my childhood to figure out how to stay connected without cell phones; and yet, somehow, we didn’t lose each other or our minds! Imagine that. 😉 And while I was anxious about it at first, after the first day, my mentality had shifted to “good riddance.” I definitely needed to fast from electronics for a long weekend. Makes me want to intentionally choose to do it more often.

      Wow, deep sea fishing sounds thrilling and even a bit frightening to me! And I’ve heard that if you can survive motion sickness from deep sea fishing, a cruise is nothing. 😉

      And that’s funny that you couldn’t distinguish who belonged to which set of parents; a compliment indeed! To satiate your curiosity, in the very last group picture, my family is on my right and Mark’s is on his left. I’m so thankful for each person in that picture. And for you, dear Karen!

  17. I’m not sure if I’m more impressed that you conquered your fear or that you were able to post about it already! 🙂 I am not at all surprised that you had a fabulous time! It’s been almost 5 years since our last cruise, and reading this makes me itch to go again!

    1. Ha ha. I gave myself a deadline, otherwise, I knew that the more time passed, the less likely I’d be to post on it! (I can lose momentum if I don’t carpe diem and sieze the day.) And I’m glad to hear this post gave you the cruise itch! I can just imagine little D with wide eyes looking over the railing on the top deck at the water passing by…that boy definitely has a thirst for adventure…like his Mama.

  18. I NEED that white floppy hat! Haha! Sounds like a wonderful weekend with wonderful people! I don’t share the same fears you have, but all the negative press those cruise ships have had would make me leery. I love going without technology for vacations. It’s one of my number one rules. We have been doing annual camping trips. At first the boys were opposed to no electricity or technology. But after a couple trips, the guy can’t wait! It’s so relaxing to unplug. Great tips!

    1. I’m glad you approve of the floppy white hat, Bethany! And the best part about it is that it’s made to fold and roll up on itself for easy packing. Love it when the cute and practical merge like that into one.

      And because we don’t get TV, I was spared a lot of the negative press about cruises lately…which was definitely God’s grace. I didn’t need any more fears than I already possessed!

      And that’s great that you guys seize the opportunity to unplug on family camping trips. I definitely relate to how the boys used to feel…reticent at first, yet quickly, I enjoyed feeling footloose and fancy free of my phone!

  19. Lauren! How funny that we both went to the Bahamas this month!?

    One of my favorite things about traveling to another country is that it forces you to disconnect from the internet/cell phones. Seriously, it really puts vacations on another level when you can get a break technology. And it’s so true, you can find people and still communicate with your party without a cell phone. Someone’s 5 minutes late, no big deal, you will just patiently wait.

    I really loved your last tip about something to look forward to after your vacation, it ensures the good vibes and feelings to keep you perked up. I’m going to be sure to do that in the future.

    1. So crazy cool, right? Oh how I would have loved to bump into you in the Bahamas…but since it didn’t work out this time around, we’ll have to plan a Bahaman-bump-in sometime soon, k? K.

      And I think you hit on a key point with the phrase, “patiently wait.” I definitely felt my whole mind, body, and spirit slow down this past weekend, and I know that unplugging was a big part of that.

      And I’m glad that last tip spoke to you, Jess. I’ve all too often felt the “crash” that comes after the high of a great trip…so, it definitely helped to evade that experience by having things to look forward to, such as niece and nephew time! It kept the party going just a little longer….

  20. You look like you had a blast and survived your first cruise:) I love cruises because of the fact that everyone is disconnected from what ever device! It’s a chance to really “hang out” together! I also agree with spending the extra bucks for a balcony room! SO. Worth It!

    1. Glad to hear that my tips weren’t totally out of left field, then! 🙂 Out of curiosity, where have you cruised, Tori?

  21. I am a TOTAL cruise chicken for all the reasons you mentioned in this first paragraph. However, I’ve recently been considering venturing out of my shell and giving it a shot…. Then Titanic was on not so long ago, so I’m having to start all over. I feel inspired though – so who knows! I might actually give it a shot!

    Maryellen

    1. Oooo! Venture out, Mary Ellen! It’s so worth it. And re: Titanic, just imagine I’m a Jedi and I’m waving my hand in front of your face as I say, “You will forget that you saw Titantic recently. You will go boldly in the direction of your dreams and consider taking a cruise!” #jedimindtrick #youcandoit!

  22. Lauren, this a great journal and summary of an amazing weekend! It was wonderful to be with all of you ~ great pics, send some of your selection my way! I agree, the welcoming committee at the end was a highlight!

    1. Thanks, Mom! So very thankful we got to enjoy this unforgettable experience together. One for the record books! And I’ll be sure to send you some of these pics soon. (Love the one of you and Clara.) Thanks for sending yours!

  23. Lauren, this looks so inviting and FUN! I love cruising and although I also do not like the thought of open large bodies of water- I have pushed myself to cruise a few times and love it- the flight there- that’s a different story! I bet you are all vitamin D’ed up!

    1. Ha ha. Yes, I definitely got my fill of Vitamin D and then some. Thankfully, we didn’t have to deal with flights being only an hour from Cape Canaveral…that certainly made this an even smoother process. I know! You can move to Florida where you’ll be close to cruises and your crafting buddy, Lauren! Sound good? Good.

      1. your sweet! actually my sister and her family still live there- I stayed with her for a couple summers and left right when I got engaged! I did cruise from one of the ports there but I forget which one! it was fun.

  24. It’s looks like you had a great trip! I’m a cruise addict, and I too have been excited to know that I can unplug for a week without the world ending. It’s definitely shown me that I need to unplug more often in my normal life (or maybe just take more cruises!). Thanks for sharing 🙂

    1. Yes, Emily! I think 3 days was the longest I’ve gone unplugged for a while now…and it was a much needed relief. It’s funny, I didn’t even realize how addicted I was to checking my email and blog comments and instagram and Pinterest until I could no longer do those things…and after the panic wore off, I felt so FREE and able to be present where I was. I definitely need to take a Sabbath from my phone more often! Or as you suggest, go on more cruises; ha ha. I like that option.

  25. That looks lovely. I think with cruises I it’s all about where you go and it looks like you had an amazing time!

    1. Thanks, Laura. Yes, I’ve heard that “the where” can be a really important factor where cruises are concerned…also how many days you spend at sea versus in port. I was really glad that we could get off of the boat on Saturday AND Sunday; feeling the sand in between my toes was both reassuring and oh so relaxing!

  26. Great post! I am so happy you enjoyed your first cruise and overcame your fears. I’ve only been on one cruise, but I think the best part was coming home and sleeping in my own bed. Sure, I enjoyed the cruise, but the week after the cruise I found myself ‘rocking’ to sleep in my very own bed. That was a great after effect that I really loved – my own little keepsake from the cruise experience. 😉

    1. Oh my! I suppose you took the sea with you…what a great souvenir! 😉

      I had actually braced myself to have a rough first cruise experience, so you can imagine my elation when a hurricane didn’t crop up, when our ship didn’t crash into the rocks and start to sink, and when the sharks didn’t swarm the waters while our ship went down. It was so…strangely…unexpected!

  27. What a fun post, Lauren! (And, if we hadn’t ALREADY figured it out, I’d have said, “You’re JAY’S daughter???” after seeing your photos!) 🙂 You have such a lovely family, and I wish you many, many more vacations together in the future! 🙂 Hugs, Katherine

    1. Ha ha! You’re right; we would have figured it out sooner or later! Thanks for your well-wishes, Katherine. And once again, for your many generous shout-outs in your blog post tonight.

  28. Loved this! I took a Royal Caribbean cruise with my mom about 10 years ago, and then another with my dad’s family about 5 years ago…both were AWESOME! Cruises are just crazy…soo many amenities, food, nice people, beautiful things to see, and relaxation! I’m so glad you had fun on your first one! I loved your advice and all of your beautiful photos. I’ve never had a cabin with a balcony, but I am totally doing that next time – your breakfast picture was mighty convincing! I also loved your Low-en welcoming committee…toooo stinkin’ cute! 🙂

    1. Hooray for being a fellow cruise fanatic! Yeah, Royal Caribbean really had it dialed from the service to the quality of food to the movie nights by the pool; I’d definitely travel with them again and would definitely opt for a balcony room next time around. It was crazy to wake up in the morning, open the curtain, and be like, “Yup! There’s the ocean. Right out my window!” Totally surreal.

      Ha ha. And you can totally call me Low-en all you want; I associate that pronunciation with the cutest kids in the world. 🙂

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