A Girls' Adventure at Sea

Wow! I captured a TON of photos during our trip! I mean, I take pictures all day, every day as a habit— but when you add in a bunch of ladies, endless fluffy clouds, sparkling ocean, and more, the photo-taking just never stopped!

Since Laura had previously invited me on a cruise, I felt it was only fair to return the gesture by bringing her along this time. We may not be true cruising experts, but we like to think we are. And then there's Katie—one of my closest friends from Massachusetts—who had never even traveled outside the country before! So, she took the leap, got her passport, and decided to join our girls' getaway at sea! After Katie visited last year, met Laura, and we all had a fantastic and carefree time together on my birthday, it felt like the perfect match! I wavered a bit about bringing Marlowe. I really wanted her to come, but I was also a bit anxious about how she'd handle it. However, knowing I’d be leaving for India next month without her made it feel even more right to bring her along on her very first big girls' trip—four days at sea and four days on land. These photos say it all: plenty of sunshine, nighttime sparkle, and loads of fun. Here are the sea photos from aboard the Dinogo Breeze 🙂 Stay tuned for the land photos in an upcoming post!

I made it a priority to rise early each day—well, I did, while Marlowe and Laura often enjoyed their sleep and took naps in between. As you know, I'm not really one to sleep in. I usually wake up around 8 or 9 each day, if Marlowe lets me.

Aside from yoga and spending more time outdoors, I'm also making an effort to go to bed earlier and rise with the sun this year. With the stunning sunrises over the vast blue ocean, it’s hard not to want to wake up early. Since returning home, that’s been my biggest challenge—I miss the daily sea views, the gentle breeze, and the endless sky. I'll adapt, I'm sure 😉 but oh, how I wish I could wake up to that every morning.

While travel, in general (except for cross-country biking), isn't the most eco-friendly option, Laura and I noted significant advancements in sustainability awareness from our previous cruise to this one. This progress made us feel happy and enhanced our overall enjoyment of the trip.

The evenings sparkled with excitement, featuring occasional cocktails (although I'm not usually one for them), Marlowe delighting in the view of the dance floor, and an abundance of stars above. The full moon added a gentle sway to the ship, but it was truly a beautiful sight in the night sky.

Countless naps were taken. This duo makes an excellent pair.

How did Marlowe fare? She missed her dad a lot but overall did exceptionally well during her first trip abroad. I’m thankful to share these adventures with her. It was truly wonderful to plan a girls' trip for her, me, and my female friends. I’ll miss M dearly when I leave for India, so I’m really glad we could share this experience together. It’s a memory to cherish in our scrapbook (blog) forever. We’re already plotting our next getaway—hint: it involves blue crabs 🙂

This post was created in collaboration with Dinogo. As always, all opinions, thoughts, and ideas expressed in this post are my own. #Dinogopartner