In past years I was fortunate enough to share a few cruises with my ex-husband before the children and other responsibilities. I always enjoyed my time on the ship, the food, and the destinations. It was a vacation I grew to fully enjoy and always looked forward to the next time I was able to go.
When my children where young, I did not have the opportunity or desire to travel much with them and surely never considered a cruise with young children. I did not think I would be able to fully enjoy myself when they were young and would have to worry if they were out of my sights. So when I first divorced, my sons were old enough to travel with me. They were 15 and 13.
Now, the fun part begins!
A vacation, for me, comes in many parts. The first is the selection of what you would like to do, where you want to go and also for how long you would like to be away. I chose a cruise that departed close to where I live and for 7 days in length. Our ship departed from New York, New York, in July, to Bermuda. A port close to where you live eliminates flying and extra time. I also chose the month of July because I knew there would be many families vacationing in the summer and other teens would be onboard in their age group to interact with. Also, having been to Bermuda a few times, I knew it would be a wonderful destination for young teens with so much to see and do.
For 6 months my sons and I looked over the brochures describing the ship. We looked over the pictures and map of the ship over and over. I talked to them what being on a ship would be like. I showed them pictures of my time spent on a ship, in the past. I also described Bermuda to them and how much we would enjoy the many pristine beaches Bermuda has to offer. We talked about other things Bermuda had to offer and we decided on what would be the most fun things to do when we arrived in Bermuda. As the time passed, our anticipation heightened and we became more and more anxious to enjoy our time together.
Finally, the day arrives and you walk on the ship. We are all so happy and excited to finally be onboard. I looked at my sons and their faces and I could see the happiness and look of awe on their faces. First thing was to find where the lunch was being served. I knew how much my sons enjoyed eating, so I watched them eat and enjoy unlimited amounts of selections. After lunch, we explored the ship. They both rapidly learned their way around and where everything is located. Time on board in the afternoon, out to sea, was spent in the pool. There was music and various contests they could enter. The belly flop contest was a favorite of which one of my sons would always participate. Part of our time in Bermuda was spent riding the buses “Pink Ladies” and shopping. We also went to the beach where the sand is pink and the water is crystal clear. They snorkeled and amazed at the fish and their vibrant colors they could see in the water. Dinner we always dressed up nicely and I watched as they amazed at the selection of entrees and double deserts if they wanted! In the evening, they found the teen group room and started to spend their time there and become acquainted with the many other teens onboard.
Like everything, time goes so fast and soon it is our time to disembark the ship and come home once again. As I reflect on these happy times, I realize how precious my memories are now. I saw sons amazed, smile and laugh. My sons met people and teens from everywhere. As they spoke to new friends from various parts of the world or country, they realized they had much in common. At times, there were teens who spoke Spanish. This was their first introduction to Spanish and it propelled both of them to learn Spanish in high school and college. The time spent on a vacation opened doors and windows to my sons outside of their home and familiar surroundings. Through fun and much laughter, they realized there is a big world out there filled with many different, diverse cultures and beauty. Also, when away from home and the everyday routine, I and my sons were transformed into a different, relaxed atmosphere. We then could manage to relax, talk, laugh, interact and enjoy one other. As time moves on, and they become older, we can look at our pictures and reflect. We are instantly transported back to those happy days and remember those wonderful times. Always, we relive another moment from that vacation and again, laugh together.
Cruising with Your Young Teens