My 12th cruise is in the books and while I wouldn’t say it was the best cruise (I’ll talk about why below), it was still a really nice getaway with my mom. We enjoyed ourselves and I feel refreshed and ready to take on the last month of 2024! (It probably helps that I’m only working two weeks in December, oops.)
Let’s get into the recap, shall we? I was hoping to do my recap in one post but when I was nearing 1,000 words after day 2, I decided to spare you guys a super-long post and I’m breaking this up into the first two days of ship life and then the second two days (when we were in port in the Bahamas).
MONDAY
We left early Monday morning (a little after 6 a.m.) so that we could make it to Miami by noon. With a pit stop for Starbucks, another for gas, and a third at a Publix to pick up Dr. Pepper for the room, we were cruising into the port right around noon. We dropped off our luggage and then zipped through check-in pretty quickly. Before long, we were on the ship! Our first order of business was lunch, and thankfully, we were situated right next to a pizza place so we got food, found a table, and then ate and people-watched for a bit. That first hour on the ship is always a bit overwhelming because people are everywhere! So many people! And everyone wants to find food and a place to sit. Once we ate and learned the rooms were ready, we decided to get away from the crowd and find our room.
We had a balcony room at the front of the ship, which was a good location in some respects (close to the solarium, the breakfast buffet, and the pizza place/soda machine) but a lot of the other happenings around the ship were on the aft side, which meant a LOT of walking for us. But it meant I closed all of my rings every day I was on the cruise, which is something I never do. Ha.
We spent a little time in our room before we went to do our safety check-in, which was quick and easy, and then ventured over to the solarium to hang out and watch the ship leave port. We found a cabana to lay in, my mom got us some drinks, and I laid back to read on my Kindle. I was ready for cruise life to begin!
The rest of the day was fairly low-key for us! We eventually went inside when it started feeling a little too cool outside, took naps, and then unpacked our suitcases when they arrived. At night, we saw a really cool ice-skating show, had dinner in the main dining room (delicious!), and then strolled around the shops looking for little items to bring home. (I always buy a magnet from the ship!) By 9:30, we were ready to head back to the room so we did, got cozy in our jammies, and played a round of triple Yahtzee before calling it a night.
TUESDAY
Tuesday was an at-sea day! We got up around 9, went to the buffet for breakfast (which was a bit disappointing), and then decided to try to find a soda machine to fill up our cups. Unfortunately, on our way to a soda machine, my mom fell on the deck and likely pulled her hamstring really badly. Oof. Poor mommy! But as she said afterward, “It’s not a trip if I don’t fall.” Which we should really get stitched on a pillow because IF THAT AIN’T THE TRUTH. She was in a lot of pain but was able to walk to a nearby deck chair to sit down for a bit, and then we made our way slowly back to the room so she could elevate her leg and ice it. (We opted against going to the medical center. I had a really bad experience in a cruise ship medical center on our last cruise, and we’re both scarred by the experience.) I got some ice from one of the bars on deck and used the plastic bag from the gift shop we went to yesterday to create a makeshift ice pack.
And then we just lounged in bed! I played games on my phone, read my Kindle, and eventually fell asleep. My mom had booked a mani/pedi at the spa for herself in the afternoon so while she did that, I… slept some more. Oops. It was a good nap, though! I woke up refreshed.
My mom’s leg was doing a bit better in the afternoon. She was still limping but she could walk on it more than she could earlier. We got pizza for lunch and then went to the solarium for some time in the sun. But oof, it was not fun in the sun on deck! It was windy and cold and not very relaxing. We stayed for maybe 30 minutes, womp. We wandered around inside for a bit—I always love checking out the library on cruise ships and this one was located in a quiet part of the ship and had a really nice selection of books. Then, we stopped by a bar to get some drinks and chat with the bartender. Once we had finished our drinks, it was time to head back up to the room for showers and to get dolled up for elegant night.
Our evening was a good one! We had dinner in the main dining room, although it was a bit lackluster. (They even gave me my dessert with a hair in the ice cream and when I told the waiter, he was like, “So you want a new one?” UM YES????) Then, we played Bingo, which was fun but gah, prices have really increased. We paid $50 to get 6 cards for the three games. And that was the cheapest option! I love playing Bingo on the ship but I wish it wasn’t so expensive. We didn’t win anything sadly.
After Bingo, it was time to head over to the back of the ship for a show! It was an acrobatics/diving show that was really sensational. I was so impressed with all of the divers/dancers because it was very windy and a bit cold, and they handled it like the pros they are. I was in awe of them the whole time! Most shows on cruise ships are pretty cheesy, but this cruise had some really amazing ones that didn’t feel cheesy at all.
It was late by the time to show ended, so my mom and I were happy to go back to our room, get in our jammies, and read until we were tired.
Have you ever been on a cruise?
Yay! I’ve been looking forward to this post! Dang, it’s such a bummer that your mom fell! I’ve never been on a cruise. Does the boat rock? I’m thinking I’d have a hard time with that as I’m not too steady on my feet on land! It sounds like you know how to make your cruises fun. Little things like bringing Dr. Pepper probably makes a huge difference. I can’t wait to hear more!
The boat isn’t as rocky as you would think! My mom slipped outside on the deck – I think it was just slippery from water, not the rocking boat. We were also on one of the bigger cruise ships so we barely felt any rocking the whole time!
I’ve never been on a cruise, but I’d like to try it at least once. I’m thinking Alaska.
I’m all about the people watching, food and drink at my disposal, and spending my days relaxing. It’s a bummer that it was a little cold, but hey, it was what it was. Looking forward to part 2!
An Alaskan cruise is our dream vacation! One day we’ll do it.
Oh no, your mom!!! Well, it could have been worse- it sounds like this was painful but didn’t ruin the whole trip. I hope it got better for the days in port.
This sounds fun and VERY relaxing! I’ve never been on a cruise (but I want to, someday.) I can’t wait for part 2.
She’s still struggling with it but was able to go to HIIT last night so I think it’s slowly getting better. Being able to do cold/hot therapy now that we’re off the ship is helping a lot!
YOUR MOM’S JUMPSUIT!! She looks so glamorous and chic! Tell her this RIGHT NOW.
If I had written this post, I would write something like “my mom fell and hurt her leg and it was cold and miserable and we couldn’t hang out by the pool and it was TERRIBLE.” LOL. I really should adjust my attitude and be more like you.
This is such a sweet compliment! Thank you! I told her and it TOTALLY made her day and she said to say thank you!
I have never been on a cruise, but this sounds FUN!!!
It’s my favorite way to travel!
Your poor mom! I bet that was so painful and even more so with how much walking you do on the ship. I have never been on a cruise! I am so worried about being trapped on a boat… although, my Mr and I have been talking about trying an Alaskan or Norwegian one in the next couple of years, so we’ll see!
We did so much walking, so I know it didn’t help the injury at all.
I never thought of the idea of feeling trapped on a boat, but that makes sense, especially if you’ve never been on a cruise. An Alaskan cruise is on my bucket list!
Oh gosh I hope your mom’s leg didn’t bother her the whole trip!
I love your fancy outfits (sorry about the ice cream with hair, ew). So nice for you to be able to travel with your mom! It sounds very relaxing for you!
Unfortunately, it did. 🙁 I think with all the extra walking we were doing, she couldn’t rest it as much as she could have at home. But it’s getting better now!
Traveling with my mom is my favorite!
Egads about the hair. ICK. Tangent. Everytime I watch something like GBBO and none of the contestants wear hairnets I’m like – PAUL HOLLYWOOD MUST FIND HAIRS SOMETIMES???
Love your Mom’s jumpsuit. Tres chic. But a real bummer about the weather and how awful about her fall.
I have never been on a cruise but think I’d like to do at least one. I suspect I’d enjoy a river cruise more than ocean?
Ooh, a river cruise! I’d love to do one of those someday, too. Great choice!
Oh no! I feel so bad your mom fell. NOOOOOOO. 🙁 I hope she is feeling better now!
It sounds like the food was pretty meh so far, and that it was quite cool! Are both of those things unusual?
She’s getting better now that she’s home and doesn’t have to walk as much! And she’s doing lots of cold/heat therapy, which we couldn’t do on the cruise.
The food wasn’t our favorite but we are not foodies and can be very picky eaters! But we do think the food was worse on this cruise than others (maybe because it was just a 4-day? We’re not sure). We’ve gone on other cruises at this time of year and it’s never been as cool/windy as this one! We were surprised by it!
Ok you have to get your mom a pillow or a shirt with the phrase about is it a trip if she hasn’t fallen. That is so funny – but also so terrible! I hope it didn’t impact your trip too much!
I have never been on a cruise. I am open to it but not with my children. Ha.
I know! I told her we need that stitched on a pillow, haha.
Try a Virgin cruise! NO KIDS. So you could get away without the kids AND not see kids on the cruise, lol. People who bring BABIES on cruise ships astound me. That just does not seem fun.
Ack! I’m sorry that your mom fell and hurt herself, I’m glad it wasn’t worse (like, no broken bones, that would SUCK.) We have a retired neighbor who goes on these huge long cruises. She plans them for every 2 or 3 years, and that’s what she spends her money on instead of home improvements or a new car. She is leaving on January 1st and will be gone for 4 months. She is going around the world though. I cannot even imagine, but she really loves it. She sometimes sees the same people, and I think they plan to be on the same cruise together so they can hang out. Wouldn’t it be fun if all of the cool bloggers were on a cruise together??? SO FUN.
Oh my goodness, I don’t think I could do a cruise that long! I think 5-6 days is my sweet spot. More than that and I just want to be home, lol.
Cool bloggers cruise? SIGN ME UP!
Oh I would be on a cool bloggers cruise. That sound like an adventure.
I am sorry your mom feel.
I have never been on a cruise ship so it is interesting to read about all the things. And the first photo is so impressive. But also so big. I can not imagine all the people on such a tight space.