Years go by fast, with us parents wanting to live more of our own lives. We personally have been traveling more, which I love for us both. I find John grows a whole new level each time we travel. I hope this helps you find and pack your suitcase. We have his state ID and his passport, got them before he was 18 which is the easiest time. Lots of US-based travel if you don’t want the passport.
John’s first cruise, and we are blessed to have friends who offered us to travel alongside them. They know what they are doing. I kept my ears and eyes open to learn all I could as they showed us step-by-step. Physically getting to the airport had us and suitcases squished in their family vehicle, laughing and yet no room to spare. Made me think of my childhood growing up on the farm, siblings and cousins. I love to help John make similar memories.
Due to lightning/weather, we were 2 1/2 hours delayed in the terminal late Saturday evening. We finally got cozy in our seats, seat belts clicked at 11:45pm. Then came the announcement to say the flight was now cancelled. We all thought it was a joke, but …. nope. As we were traveling with a family of expert traveler friends, everyone started with alternate ideas. Both John and I were on the fringes of how the best travelers cope amid “I thought this stuff only happened in the movies”.
No way to make any travel progress, we headed back to their house and flopped on the couch. John and I woke up late, while they had done all the work of rescheduling and luggage fetching. It took all of Day 2 to get us 7 in 3 waves to Orlando. Kelly and Paul did all the logistics. John and I learned, and share here for your vacation with your young #NeuroSpicy.
We never felt any woozy on the sailing. Two ports of call🌴🦜🐓, a third full day of sailing.🚢I tried to eat wisely. Came home my same weight. I also watched myself carefully to mind my own business, to back off with his sunscreen, food, navigating, entertainment and trash.
At the island stops, I chatted with their services, security, life guard and fire safety personnel. Lots who wanted to know about Texas and life in the U.S.A. All were easy to communicate with, all very kind to both of us. John got lucky to have a borrowed dad to tag along with, which he loved. I explained often that he had already paid for the food and drinks. As for mom duty, I just kept looking the other way, wandering off taking photos, doing what I wanted to, and left him to fend for himself with me at a safe distance. (As a parent, you know that “eyes in the back of your head” thing. I just didn’t let him know I was watching.
On the trip he had ocean, beach and pool, but no internet or phone. He’s handling the deprivation better on Day 2. We had a huge benefit of friends along, so much to do, food, shows and a plethora of people.
He dabbled in the ocean which was cold, so they tell me. I enjoyed walking, lazing about, reading, the warm pool, green grass, and one short exercise session of stretching (not to overdo it.) John loved hanging with their family, and I drifted off to let him. The food was top notch. Buffets, taco lunch feast, 24-hour pizza and ice cream. On the two island port days, we started early and headed back to the boat about 3pm. Room time, towel return, John napped. I read. John flopped beach sandy on his clean bed, and I shooed him to the shower. There was onboard a vast array of food, different restaurants. All-day pizza, The Windjammer, for buffer supper. Kelly had pre-booked us shows (do that—pre-book them!) I enjoyed walking about and then to the quiet of our room. John agreed, brought his plate of ever-available pizza, and played with my phone on int’l roaming. I had pre-arranged ATT international roaming for us one one device to share. There is free ship bare-bones wifi, mainly for the ship’s own communication purposes. Some Brit one-choice channels on the TV channels: BBC news and Ab Fab last night. Lots of cruise add-ons were available, we are finding we are more than satiated with just the basics the cruise offers.
The day beach ports upgrades for each of the 2 islands were lovely, stocked with food and beverages. One day included towels, sunscreen and chairs. The second day we used our own sunscreen, roughing it.
On the final full day of cruising, I walked the boat, to see everything else. Swim on the top deck, kid golf, an on-going, overwhelming array of activities. Reading is lovely on our balcony during the day. In the night dark of the unlit balcony, with a transparent 3-foot tall half-retaining perimeter wall, it was totally freaky unless I was sitting down, nailed in the chair. I could tell John felt the same respect of the void.
Link to the TikTok video Click also on the video directly below.
John was missing all his digital addictions, does share my phone with day-by-day int’l roaming from ATT, about $20/ a 24-hour day on the water, $12/day at port. I set it up prior. We are both night owls, sleeping in a bit, stuffed from the previous day, we skipped breakfast on port days. Two meals a day plus late night snacks for John is serving us fine. John needs to eat more and hydrate more, but I am eating too much even with only two meals daily, trying to do all the healthy things. Lovely to have someone else do all the food. I am not drinking much other than water, coffee and tea. If you wish to splurge, you can buy single extras, one-at-a-time. This can be much less expense than the “all-you-can-eat-drink” packages.
Wandered to get a bad free cup of coffee (I am a coffee snob) and ever-present best pizza in the world for brunch. Stumbled upon the weekly Veterans Appreciation, Ala John Philip Sousa, lights and humongous U.S flag (on a British ship). Loved chatting with the military-connected crowd. I even got to shake hands with the Master of the Vessel (a gorgeous man), and with many of the staff and helpers. Talked to Guest Services with a young man from Ecuador who had a scary story of adventure. A lot of ship time, I had no idea where John was. It’s a huge boat with more to do than you can imagine. I only said “NOT our room”. I think he disobeyed, he does love all his stuff in DropBox. Fine by me, it’s his cruising day. I swam, hot tubbed, chatted, wandered, read, so good for mom. Big dining staff dance party for our final Dining Night. We jumped in to share their fun.
After eating, some wandering, we joined our friends for some card playing. John loves being included in this family so I bow out from time to time. His private time with a borrowed dad. It is a lovely time reading on the balcony….before it gets ocean-dark. Tomorrow 7am we depart.
Please note: If you use int’l phone roaming, I assume it’s measured midnight to midnight. I should have turned it off last night before sleeping, because departure this morning back to land left no time for phone use and I wasted $20.
We left before the crowd, and the time saved was well worth the early start. Some time at Disney Springs shops, Starbucks, lunch and wandering. Lots of laughs and fun for both John and me to be a portable part of another family.
Then to the airport a bit early and blessedly predictable. I get the windows seat.💃