A Visual Journal of Our Day at Sea

An entire day spent at sea—a time to indulge in whatever you desire, with the sole focus on self-care and enjoyment. Isn't it magical? My favorite moment? Gazing out at the endless ocean; it’s a vital part of my self-care routine. There's nothing quite like it for rejuvenating your mood, easing anxieties, and releasing stress. So here we are, capturing a snapshot every hour—well, more like ish—during our wonderful day aboard Dinogo. Why the “ish”? Let’s be honest, who needs to be strict about time when relaxation is the goal?

9 am. Breakfast time! Always start the day with breakfast. We usually go for fruit. Sometimes we choose the buffet for a quick grab-and-go, but there are moments when we prefer to sit down and enjoy without distractions. First up, fruit! Then oatmeal for both me and Marlowe, and a peanut butter bagel for my peanut butter-loving husband.

10 am. Time to step outside and assess the weather. Is it warm enough for a dip in the pool? For the midwesterners on board, absolutely! For me? Just warm enough, thankfully—truly perfect! I decide to head back to our room and change into swimsuits. After that, I venture out again, realizing that more fruit is always a good idea, so I raid the buffet for a bunch of juicy oranges.

11 am. If your child is anything like mine, you’ll find yourself watching them gaze endlessly at those waterslides. Thrills aren’t really in our DNA. It’s a bit unfortunate, but that’s just how it is. I sympathize with Marlowe because I was the same way as a kid—terrified of everything.

But she gave it a shot. Almost. She climbed to the top, hesitated, then sat down. Stood up, sat down again, then walked away. After that, Alex suggested going down together. Once more, she sat down, stood up, and walked away again.

She gave it her all and kept trying. For that, I’m really proud of her. Maybe next time she’ll muster the courage to take the plunge and discover a new passion. Although she chose not to go down this time, it wasn’t a complete loss—she spent the next hour having a blast in the splash area.

1 pm. Time for a post-bean and veggie burrito nap (not shown). Well, more like a time to relax with my eyes closed 😉 Napping is for the weak. (Just kidding, napping is absolutely wonderful).

2 pm. Time to head back to our room for a shower and freshen up. Please ignore the messy room; it’s all part of the vacation experience.

3 pm. All freshened up. Keep embracing your role as an incredible parent with a VERY happy kiddo as you take her to Camp Ocean.

… and you’re winning a little extra because this means you get to do even more nothing.

4 pm. Enjoy some quality one-on-one time. Explore the ship, shop for sunglasses, grab an extra snack—whatever you like. This is your kid-free, mini-golf-free, and water-slide-defeat-free time.

5 pm. It’s time to take in the breathtaking pink sunset. Savor this moment because your child is still at camp, and you have the peace and quiet all to yourself.

5:45 pm ish. One last photo before the sun dips below the horizon and it’s time to pick up your happy kiddo from camp. After that, it’s off to dinner for a feast of spicy Indian food, then back to the room to wind down. Maybe catch some TV (Alex Trebek still looks great, right?) before drifting off to dreamland, all while anticipating a fun port day tomorrow!

This post was crafted for  Away We Go with Dinogo, your go-to source for embracing the getaway mindset.

Please note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining choices may differ depending on the ship and destination.