As a mother of five, I tend to get very busy
in the small details of day to day life: menu planning, schooling, after-school
activities, cleaning, laundry, diapers, college applications, etc. So when my
husband suggested I take our oldest daughter on a vacation, my jaw dropped to
the floor. I wasn't even sure how to process his comment. After picking up my
jaw and discussing it more, we decided to start a family tradition. The year
that each child turns 18/graduates, they get to go on a vacation with mom. Just
the two of us. Yay!
Our oldest turned 18 and graduated this past
year, so we got to plan our trip. Given this daughter's personality, I knew going somewhere
warm during the winter months (we live in Minnesota) would be a fabulous choice
for her. So we started throwing around some ideas that mostly involved flying
somewhere warm and renting a car and exploring. Sounds fun, right? Then Kristy
suggested a cruise. Wait, what?!? I can't afford a cruise. But after looking
into it, I was surprised to find that we could totally afford a cruise. They are
way more reasonable than most people realize!
We decided on a Royal Caribbean cruise to the
Bahamas. What an experience! This was a first for both of us, so every little
thing was new. Being out on the ocean was pretty amazing and ridiculously good
for the soul. The food was incredible; the beaches were beautiful; the food was
delicious; exploring Nassau was breathtaking; the food was drool-worthy; the
ocean was soothing...and did I mention the FOOD?
Visiting the private beach destination,
CocoCay, was one of our favorite parts of the cruise. Sitting on the beach,
soaking up the hot sun, drinking out of pineapples-- Paradise. Seriously. My
feet miss that sand.
My daughter's highlights were seeing the
beaches and all the cute Bahamian shops, along with the amazing cuisine served
on the cruise by the same waiters every meal. My highlight was the food and
history tour we went on while at port in Nassau. I was shocked at how much
fascinating information and delicious food was packed into just a few short
hours. That went above and beyond my expectations. Our tour guide, Joy, was full of interesting
information and was clearly very passionate about her homeland and its rich
culture and diverse cuisine.
The ship itself was filled with endless entertainment
and fun things to see and do: nightly shows, comedians, pools, hot tubs, a rock
wall, bungee trampolines, an arcade, shops, a spa, an orchestra, live bands, theme
nights, game shows, a casino, movies on deck, dancing, restaurants, classes--the
list goes on and on.
I am so glad my daughter and I were able to go
on this adventure together. Making memories like this is my favorite thing to do.
