My First Cruise: An Unforgettable Adventure
They say you never forget your first cruise, and mine was certainly one for the books! It all started in 2017 when I met my partner, Norbert. We quickly bonded over our shared love of travel. We met in May, and by the time my birthday rolled around in September, Norbert had a surprise in store for me. He told me to keep my schedule clear from August 31st to September 10th. Little did I know what he had planned.
The night before our trip, as we were packing, a bit of excitement (and maybe a little bit of pre-vacation bubbly) led to some playful teasing. Norbert wouldn’t reveal our destination! The next morning, he simply handed me a plane ticket. Since we were traveling within Europe, passports weren’t necessary, or so I thought – Norbert had mine safely tucked away in his carry-on.
At the airport, I finally learned we were headed to Marseille, with a layover in Brussels. Up until the check-in desk, I had been convinced we were spending the entire 10 days in Brussels, I even started to look up local attractions. A bit of a shock, but a welcome one! After a busy period at work, I was ready for some relaxation, and a stroll around Marseille was just what I needed. I crashed soon after arriving, ready for a new adventure.
The next morning, Norbert told me to pack again. He started rummaging through some papers, and my curiosity was piqued. Where were we going now? That’s when he revealed the cruise tickets. It was going to be my first cruise, aboard the MSC SeaView, exploring the European coast. I had seen photos and videos of cruise ships before, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer scale of the MSC SeaView. It truly is like a floating city.
When we entered our cabin, we were greeted with a bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries – the perfect start to our adventure. As a first-time cruiser, I wasn’t quite sure about the dress code. I week before the Holiday, I went out to buy a dress, but my mom, who was in on the surprise, told me it wasn’t elegant enough. Turns out, there were Gala Nights and White Parties on board, and I needed something spectacular! Norbert suggested a white dress and an evening gown. The outfits I ended up wearing drew compliments from the crew.
We don’t usually buy photo packages, but this trip was an exception. On many cruises, professional photographers offer various backdrops and themed shoots. We couldn’t resist capturing the memories.
The cruise itself was incredible. Waking up in a new port each day, exploring different cities, strolling, having coffee, and relaxing on beaches – I fell in love with cruising instantly and was already looking forward to our next voyage, which happened later that year.
That was my first cruise experience. What was your like?
