When I first learned that my family would be going on a cruise to celebrate this holiday season, I thought that all my dreams had come true. I was finally going to make it to Costa Rica, a place that I have been longing to go for a while now, and that made me so happy that I just had to sing aloud. None of us had any idea what we were getting ourselves into. Sure, we've been on cruises before, but never for 10 days, and NEVER with the world's densest population of senior citizens.
Ten days on a boat is a long time. I don't recommend it, and pray that I am never forced to do it again. It is boring. I have read a stack of books, taken lots of naps, worked on my rubiks cube, watched movies, every boring activity imagineable - well, I actually those things most of the time, just not when forced to do them for ten days straight. Everyone always talks about cruise entertainment, and I suppose it has been entertaining, if you're 80 and can't see or hear. Maybe I'm just bitter, I don't know.
Ten days on a boat is a long time. I don't recommend it, and pray that I am never forced to do it again. It is boring. I have read a stack of books, taken lots of naps, worked on my rubiks cube, watched movies, every boring activity imagineable - well, I actually those things most of the time, just not when forced to do them for ten days straight. Everyone always talks about cruise entertainment, and I suppose it has been entertaining, if you're 80 and can't see or hear. Maybe I'm just bitter, I don't know.
There have been highlights, though. We rode horses through the ocean in the Bahamas, hand fed sharks and stingrays and giant turtles in Curacao, ziplined through the rainforest of Costa Rica, and saw the magnificent Panama Canal. And the funny old lady, who on Christmas Day, wore a Santa hat, and red swimsuit, and clear plastic high heels - that I will never forget, or forgive myself for not having my camera with me.
We've had lots of sister togetherness time. Maybe too much. We have all been made aware of our each and every flaw at least ten times, and never in a loving way. But we have enjoyed making fun of people together.
The food here was not created with a picky eater in mind. I have eaten lots of bread and lots of desserts, and had some small tastes of other things in between.
Ten years from now I probably won't remember most of this trip, but I will remember the fantastic memories and the dreams that became reality for me. I will remember laughing with my sisters, and that has been worth every second of this holiday aboard the Ship for Seniors.
