It was the week before winter break, our mom had us packed, and my sister, Lauren, and I still had no idea where we were going. We had to be going somewhere warm because we packed bathing suits, flip-flops, and sun dresses. It was only until we arrived at the port that we discovered that we were going on a 7-day cruise to the Bahamas! We were stoked! We've never been on a cruise, or out of the country. Carnival was running a little late, but after a long process of getting passports checked, getting the room keys, and looking at manuals of fun things to do on the cruise, we finally departed from Baltimore. The cruise was beyond words! As soon as you walked in, you could see the colorful Butterflies Lounge where comedians and amateur singers perform.
When we went to the eighth floor to find our room, there was yet another surprise–my dad! We hadn't seen our dad in months because he took a job offer in Pakistan. After seeing him, I knew this would be the best winter break ever! We went to eat lunch, and a perfect view of us leaving the cold Chesapeake Bay.
Lauren found an advertisement about a club for 12-14 year olds, but we couldn’t find where it was, so we decided that this would be our first expedition! We scanned each floor, still searching for Circle C. We reached the second floor, and found Sunset Gardens. I thought this was too quiet for a kid’s club, but we walked through it anyway to see what was there. As we were walking up the stairs, I heard music, and I busted into a terrible dance. I turned around to see what else was in the room, and there were six people staring at me like I was crazy. I couldn’t blame them, but they forgot about the incident quickly, and they became the people I hung out with for the rest of the week!
We finally arrived to Port Canaveral, Florida! We spent quality time with our dad on the boat. We played mini golf, and explored more of the ship! He said that we were going to save the “fun stuff” for tomorrow, and he most certainly did! We arrived at Nassau, Bahamas. It was interesting to see how another culture lives because there, they are not as fortunate as we are, but they are grateful for everything that they have. I find it funny because people complain about how much more they want, when they have more than most people. The people there have high spirits and are very energetic!
The sands are white, and you can see through the clear, turquoise waters. It was all so beautiful! Lauren and I decided to go parasailing. We were hundreds of feet above the air, and it was soothing to just float and leave all of your worries on the ground.
Tomorrow was our last day on the cruise and I really missed the warm weather. This was my favorite vacation because I met friends that I still keep in touch with, I learned about a new culture, and I got to spend quality time with my family, and you get a chance to forget about the drama at school! I will never forget my first experience on a cruise.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
