Have you ever been on a cruise?
People seem to have very strong feelings about cruises...
They either love them...
or think they'll hate them.
Last week, we went on our second cruise.The first one, two years ago, was only four nights,
and on a "small" ship --
Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas --
which held about 2,000 passengers.
We wanted to get a feel for cruising and see if we liked it.
Verdict? We LOVED it!
Yes, even landlubber Mr. Goo Shoes,
a cruise-skeptic of the highest order, enjoyed it.
This time, we went on one of the largest cruise ships in the world --
the Norwegian Breakaway.
If you knew Mr. Goo Shoes and I, you'd understand
that this is totally out of character for us...
that this is totally out of character for us...
well, at least it was in our "Before Junior Goo Shoes" days.
We always went to the smallest, most remote hotels,
where seeing as few people as possible was the goal.
where seeing as few people as possible was the goal.
But, everything changes when you have kids, doesn't it?
Planning a vacation with 4000+ other passengers
didn't really float our boat,
but one thing we realized on our first cruise
was that the smaller ships did not have
all the cool things that kids like to do.
didn't really float our boat,
but one thing we realized on our first cruise
was that the smaller ships did not have
all the cool things that kids like to do.
Junior Goo Shoes was relentless in persuading us
to join his friend's family on this cruise.
He really honed his sales skills on this one.
We weren't biting.
The ports-of-call didn't really appeal to us,
and we were concerned about how we'd like a ship
that held half the number of people who live in our town.
As his last desperate attempt,
he showed us the Norwegian Breakaway's promotional video.
to join his friend's family on this cruise.
He really honed his sales skills on this one.
We weren't biting.
The ports-of-call didn't really appeal to us,
and we were concerned about how we'd like a ship
that held half the number of people who live in our town.
As his last desperate attempt,
he showed us the Norwegian Breakaway's promotional video.
I thought, wowza, that looks like a boatload fun!
Junior Goo Shoes finally heard
the three magic words he'd been waiting for...
"Go show Dad."
Junior Goo Shoes finally heard
the three magic words he'd been waiting for...
"Go show Dad."
When Mr. Goo Shoes asked how much the cabins cost,
I knew that for our Spring "Break-away,"
we'd be cruising like Norwegians!
we'd be cruising like Norwegians!
Aside from the fact that Junior GS would have a friend to hang with
(Happy Kid = Happy Parents),
another huge plus for us was that the cruise left from NYC.
No planes to catch!
No worrying about liquids in our carry-on bags!
Just a 30-minute ride from home to the ship terminal on 56th Street.
We were so lucky that it was a beautiful, warm day when we left.
I'd had visions of us yelling "bon voyage" in our parkas and earmuffs,
but it was 70 degrees and sunny.
Aunt Goo Shoes was spying on us from
the Jersey side of the Hudson River as we set sail from NYC,
and snapped this awesome photo.
That's us on the tippy top deck in the front...
I mean, the "Bow."
(I need to get my cruise-speak on).
Can you see us? LOL!
(Happy Kid = Happy Parents),
another huge plus for us was that the cruise left from NYC.
No planes to catch!
No worrying about liquids in our carry-on bags!
Just a 30-minute ride from home to the ship terminal on 56th Street.
We were so lucky that it was a beautiful, warm day when we left.
I'd had visions of us yelling "bon voyage" in our parkas and earmuffs,
but it was 70 degrees and sunny.
 |
| Mr. Goo Shoes |
 |
| JJ and Junior Goo Shoes |
Aunt Goo Shoes was spying on us from
the Jersey side of the Hudson River as we set sail from NYC,
and snapped this awesome photo.
That's us on the tippy top deck in the front...
I mean, the "Bow."
(I need to get my cruise-speak on).
Can you see us? LOL!
 |
| Photo by Aunt Goo Shoes |
It was pretty spectacular leaving from New York...
We had a great view of The Intrepid...
(the large gray naval ship in center)
The Statue Of Liberty waved us off...
and we passed by the southern tip of Manhattan...
to give us a proper send-off.
 |
| Photo by Junior Goo Shoes |
Everyone cheered as we sailed
right under the Verrazano Bridge.
It looked like we weren't going to fit,
but we made it without the aqua slide
scraping the bottom of the bridge.
Once we left NYC behind us,
it was time to explore the ship.
To Be Continued...
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Ok Amy, since it's you I'll keep reading your cruise tales, but I have to say I'm still not convinced this is my kind of travel. I wish you a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Corinne, for reading. It's funny, we had a great time, and we'd do it again, but if it was just my husband and me, we'd never go on such a huge ship. We'd like to try something much smaller, and maybe a river cruise. But, the things you do for kids!
DeleteAmy, Thanks again for linking up with Weekend Travel Inspiration!
DeleteI am not a cruise person, although I could be persuaded for the right kind of trip. We've been on two. One was a family vacation with my husband's family and the other was a sales incentive trip. My husband and I both like to run out in open spaces so the cruise was limiting. And I don't like the limited amount of exploring time at each port. If I could go on a cruise where it docked somewhere for several days and I could explore to my heart's content and could leave the ship to go for my run, I think I'd be very happy! Hope you have a great time...I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures!
ReplyDeleteI get it, Michelle. It's funny...a few years ago I was desperate to go on a cruise through Europe, and my husband asked a key question - at the end of the vacation, would I feel like I've been to Europe, or would I feel like I've been on a cruise? He was really right - if they are ports that I really care about, I might have to be dragged back onto the ship! This one didn't have such interesting ports, LOL!
DeleteThis sounds like it was fun. I can't wait to hear more about it. I love your N.Y. pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katie! We had a great time.
DeleteLooks fabulouso! WOW I have never been on a cruise.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun, Debbie!
DeleteIt was so much fun, Claire! Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteWow - that is a huge ship - like a small city! Lovely shots.
ReplyDeleteIt was absolutely like a small city! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteWe were hooked on the first day of our first cruise - loved it!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading more about your holiday. That ship is soooo big!
It is so different from what we usually like to do. I am actually shocked that we loved it!
DeleteAmazing, taking of with half a city! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOopsie, taking off, of course. :-(
DeleteIt was crazy, Merisi! It was very different from our usual vacations, but lots of fun!
DeleteIt looks cool cruising from NYC. The ship looks huge! All the familiar scenes, I love the statue of Liberty and the city skyline.. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eileen! It was definitely cool cruising out of NY!
DeleteOh my this looks amazing. I have never been on a cruise but I know my husband would really like to and this ship looks very cool
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx
Thank you, Molly! It was so much fun! I highly recommend it. I love your 365 project -- your photos are incredible. I wanted to leave a comment, but I couldn't find the comment section.
DeleteFUN STUFF! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb! I had fun doing it!
DeleteNice photos of the NYC shoreline. Cruises have never appealed to me but I'm glad your family enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a really fun family vacation. If it was just hubby and me, I'd want a much smaller ship!
DeleteWe love European river cruises but they only hold a few hundred passengers. I know I could never get my husband on a big cruise ship. Looking forward to hearing more about yours.
ReplyDeleteDoing a European river cruise is on my bucket list. I would love that! If it was just my husband and I, we'd never do a ship this big, but I have to say, we did have fun!
DeleteJust leaving ( or arriving!) from New York must be an experience. Looking forward to see more of your cruise.
ReplyDeleteWent only once in the Caribbean, a small boat with an incredible service.
It was pretty spectacular to see NYC from that vantage point. Big ships are great for family vacations - for just my hubby and I, we'd prefer a much smaller ship, although we did have fun on this one!
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Your son is a fantastic salesman. I'm sure he had a fabulous time with his friends.
ReplyDeleteI never tire of seeing this side of New York -- it really is a beautiful view.
I run hot and cold about cruising. Hot when I remember the cruise we took years ago to celebrate the milestone anniversary of my sis-in-law's parents. We spent a relaxing week together. The kids had their own activities and never once moaned about being bored.
I run cold when I think of the damage these behemoths do to the environment, especially to fragile coral reefs and fish that live near coastlines. I could go on, but I think you get the picture and have probably heard it all before.
I definitely agree with you, Marcia, about the environmental impact. My husband and I were talking about that while we were on the cruise.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that Junior Goo Shoes managed to twist mom and dad's arm. That's a great picture of you waving from that boat, ha ha. Cruise boats go buy my waterside condo all the time, and I always think about what good times people are having on board. We still have yet to cruise with our kids, but I've enjoyed the cruises that I've taken in the past. For some reason, my hubby keeps telling me that I get seasick on them, but I must be blocking it out because all I remember is the fun.
ReplyDeleteOh so fun! We haven't been on a cruise ship since our honeymoon and while I loved it my husband is reluctant to ever go on another cruise again.. I'm not sure why because he seemed to really like it at the time.
ReplyDelete