Throughout my childhood, I heard stories about glamorous dinners over silent shimmering waters, with pranks equally as present at the ladies high heels and men’s tuxedos. Dad’s stories of the fun and elegance of crosses sparkled in my imagination as I tried to imagine a teenage Auntie Tots demurely flirting with suitors while her dashing dad scared them off with a bit of mockery. Meanwhile, my own dad, in his long shorts and socks pulled up to his knees, watched and learned.
Now my own daughters are 18 and 17 and absolutely gorgeous, and they danced with Poppy as the Vision of the Seas glided smoothly over the Atlantic between Baltimore and the Bahamas. In a modern-day version of cruise culture—and there is almost a cult-like culture among the faithful cruisers—I even enticed Kevin to brave the dance floor in a “silent disco,” in which each dancer wears headphones and can toggle between two settings with different songs and dance like there’s no tomorrow. Those watching can’t hear a thing—are they listening to Boot Scootin’ Boogie or Gangnam Style?—but they see some enthusiastic jiving, while we the dancers had so much fun.
Kevin and I were prepared to find a cruise a bit cheesy, but we truly enjoyed it. It was such a nice mix of elegant—especially the nightly dining with a three-course meal served beautifully to us—and relaxed and engaging. We attended several trivia games; listened to live piano music (Beatles, jazz, Bruce Springsteen) in the Schooner’s Bar, or Shooner’s Bar, as Tatum called it; and read on the deck. There was an Enrico’s movie screen but it was too cold and windy at night for more than a hot tub run for me. The morning coffees there with the wide open ocean beside us were pretty glorious; it was a treat for Kevin and me to have unrushed quiet time together.
We also had some excursions as land lubbers. We signed up for a walking tour of Charleston on Day 3, and it was excellent. Even Poppy agreed. We all loved (again) Charleston’s southern charm, unique blend of British, French and African cultures, deep history, cool, quaint boutiques, and fat willow trees. A bus tour of Nassau was as dismal as the Charleston tour was great, but Hugh and I were amused to be reminded of Ghana there. We visited the Kennedy Space Center, but it was a little underwhelming.
All in all, it was a fun week that brought a lively mix of dancing, dining, theater, ping pong, trivia, clubbing, touring, tanning and old-person deck walking. The only thing we missed was shuffle board. I didn’t cook a single dish, drive a mile or wash the sheets. What a gift!
Highlights:
Finn – hanging out with my friends, volleyball on the beach
Kev – mornings on the 9th deck with a cup of joe, Charleston and the feel of the city, dinner at the tiki bar with the family in Florida
Poppy – being with the family, dancing, playing chess with Hugh and ping pong with Finn, dinners and talking over the day with everyone, playing volleyball with Finn in the Grand Bahamas
Clara – meeting John, going to Charleston with Finn, walking around with Tatum in Nassau, going in the Yorktown
Hugh – the grilled chicken, hanging out with Kevin and Heather in the Schooner Lounge
Tatum – “
Dear Poppy,
Thank you so so much for taking us on the cruise. I had so much fun at our dinners, playing trivia, and especially when I (finally) went to see the show with you. I wish we could go back and do it all again! I’m so glad I was able to be there 💖
Love,
Tay”
Heather – the tour in Charleston, dancing with Poppy in general and with Kevin at the silent disco, morning coffees on the deck, stockings and revealing the Indonesia trip, sitting with Kevin on the top deck in the sunshine
With apologies for the mad amount of photos, because I will never post this if I delay any longer, here are lots of good moments shared through the lens.
@theterrace 