I’m a liar.

I have always said I would “never take a cruise.” Then I did.

I blame my lifelong best friend who happens to also be one on the top sales people in her profession. There’s a reason for that; she can convince you to do something you really don’t want to do. Like a cruise.

I joke I’m just thankful my friend doesn’t try to have me do something illegal, illicit or immoral. I’m not weak, she’s just that good.

Taking a cruise ship that spews waste into the ocean and is eleven stories of gluttony is pretty bad. I’m convinced if you made every one lose weight to reach a normal weight you could fill a second ship with the leftovers.  Do you really need a discount pass so you can have fifteen alcoholic drinks a day? Or the pass that allows you to pump your kids with unlimited sodas? Yikes!

So how did I enjoy myself?

I decided I was going to enjoy the trip.  Once I said, “Yes, I’ll go,” I decided I was just going to “go with the flow” (within some parameters).

I went with my best friend and we traveled with four other women she knew from work. We had three sets of close friends, but enjoyed each other enough to easily rotate various combinations of who was doing what with whom.

We didn’t always  stick together.

We participated in a few activities on the ship, but selected carefully.

We took naps.

We had our own private balcony for quiet escape.

We found the “quiet deck” on the ship to be near others reading and napping but not interacting with them.  Isolation in community.

Our one excursion was to a private island where we did nothing but watch the waves.

I was mesmerized by the ocean and saddened to know it needs more care. Aware I wasn’t helping by being on a ship.

Would I cruise again? No.

I would, however, like to sail on a boat large enough to be out to sea for a few days. Hear nothing but the waves.  No night lights except the stars and moon. Silence.

Next time.