Cruise Recap Part 1

We just embarked on a cruise! It feels surreal to me. This experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I had no idea it would turn out to be such a wild ride. You might be wondering how a cruise could be so eventful? Well, when there's a Katie involved, anything is possible! I can't wait to share all the details with you.

Leading up to the trip, I was bursting with excitement—almost unnaturally so! Our flight and bus transfers went off without a hitch. The boys were well-behaved, which felt like a miracle, and everyone was in good spirits. Upon arrival, we learned that our ship, the Dinogo, was still being prepared, so we had the perfect opportunity for one last meal on land right by the port.

I wasn’t alone in my enthusiasm. Will was practically vibrating with excitement. I’m convinced that if I told him he had to swim to the ship, he would have tried, no matter the consequences.

Once we boarded the ship, everything seemed perfect—until about two hours in when reality hit hard. I became seasick. I don't know if it was sheer pride or simply ignorance, but I never thought I would suffer from motion sickness. Sure, I feel queasy if I sit in the backseat of a car or when a plane hits turbulence, but I’ve always been fine on the water before. This time, though, it was intense. My dad felt unwell too; he took some medication, but I was anxious about my own situation since I’m nursing. In the end, I resorted to wearing pressure point bracelets and hoped for relief.

My parents were incredibly generous to join us on this trip. We invited them to cruise with us because we knew managing three young kids would be nearly impossible on our own, and I was more than willing to spend whatever it took to get them onboard. Looking back at those first three days, I can confidently say they were worth every penny. My mom and dad took the boys to various ship activities while I enjoyed some much-needed downtime in our cabin.

On the second day, we finally spotted land!

I threw on some clothes and headed to the main buffet area for breakfast. The ship would calm down whenever we arrived at a port, and this first stop was particularly welcomed.

On our first day, Jeremy and I had a brief adventure lined up—just the two of us. It was like a mini-date in the Bahamas! I absolutely adore the islands, and Nassau is such a lively, enjoyable destination. We strolled along the pier twice to build up our confidence for what was to come. After that, we found our group and boarded a boat (to our surprise…no seasickness at all!) to witness the most stunning waters I've ever seen. It truly is breathtaking.

The reason we were working through our last bits of anxiety was that I had persuaded Jeremy to try parasailing! AHHH! Here we were, two people who aren't fond of heights, doing something incredibly high up in the sky.

Experiencing parasailing was nothing short of incredible—it’s truly an understatement to say it was amazing. It was more stunning and peaceful than I could have ever envisioned. I felt like a bird savoring its first cup of coffee (you know, if birds actually drank coffee).

As we ascended higher and higher, we were treated to breathtaking views all around us. My only regret is not bringing my iPhone to capture some photos because the colors were so vibrant—the blues and greens were more vivid and dramatic than I could ever put into words.

Jeremy and I were completely unaware that they would allow us to soar so high. After seeing the photos, we were truly taken aback.

Then came the dip! The boat captain cautioned us that he might ‘torpedo’ us. Thankfully, it was just our feet that got a splash…because that torpedo could have taken us under!

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend parasailing. It feels like a beginner's thrill-seeking adventure. You simply sit back and enjoy—there’s no jumping involved, no specific hand positions to master, and no skills required. I'm thrilled to have checked it off my bucket list 🙂 I think Jeremy was just as happy to have some time alone without three little ones screaming around us 🙂

Speaking of the kids…that evening marked our first ‘cruise elegant’ night. We had planned our dinners in advance, and this time we dressed the boys in their finest outfits for a special dining experience. We preferred eating in the dining room over the buffet because it allowed us to sit with the kids and be served, making it much easier to manage them, especially when they started to melt down. One of our best tips is to grab a box of Cheerios from the buffet before heading to dinner; it keeps the little ones entertained as they stack, string, and shape while snacking and waiting for their food.

The first night proved challenging for both my dad and me. Our server was incredibly supportive and offered some valuable tips. He mentioned that, in addition to medications like Dramamine and patches, relief bands are often more effective. They can be a bit pricey, but for a drug-free breastfeeding mama like me, they might be worth the investment. He also suggested that I spend as much time as possible gazing at the horizon from midship, which really helped. It feels a bit steadier there, and the wind and view make a significant difference.

Plus, discovering quirky hippos on your bed at night can really lift your spirits.

For much of those first couple of days, this was my view. I would sit on the bed and just moan.

After hearing that the wind might provide some relief, I decided to venture up to the upper decks. I’m really glad I did because it was at this moment that I began to realize how trivial my complaints were. They were all first-world problems... I had a queasy stomach. I grumbled about the sluggish internet when, in reality, I just needed to unplug. I sighed over the boys piling into our bed, refusing to sleep in their own, when the truth was, I was lucky enough to snuggle with my wonderful husband and our beautiful boys.

Yep. First. World. Problems.

So, I made the decision to shake off my self-pity. The seasickness would pass, and I wasn’t going to let it spoil our trip.

I have to admit…mini golf turned out to be the absolute favorite activity on the boat. Even more popular than having ice cream whenever they wanted or riding the water slides. Who would have thought?

On the third day, we enjoyed a delightful Seuss parade. Will had the chance to answer a trivia question and got to grab the first pick of parade goodies.

My mom joined in on the fun too. The hat she wore is her own—she brought it from home. She's just that awesome!

I think Will nearly fainted when he spotted Sam-I-Am. We’ve never really introduced him to the big characters in costume, but he absolutely LOVED them.

Then something magical happened, and his little world erupted into a whirlwind of rainbows and unicorns.

They paraded right into the grand theater room, and Will shook those pom-poms like his life depended on it.

The parade concluded, and we secured front-row seats for a reading (and reenactment) of The Cat in the Hat. The kids' staff was fantastic, and The Cat in the Hat even made an appearance to share hugs and high-fives.

After all the excitement, we decided to hit the mini-golf course again. Just look at that face—total concentration!

And this is where I found my sanctuary. The sunset truly worked wonders, helping me feel a sense of normalcy again—normal in a delightfully spoiled way. After all, I had spent nearly half the trip wallowing in self-pity. But isn’t that just part of being human? Sometimes we experience the greatest things, like this cruise for me—a once-in-a-lifetime adventure shared with my parents, Jeremy, and my kids. Yet, during these incredible moments, we might encounter a little turbulence, a bump in the road, or wave swells that make us lose sight of the good. While it’s okay to indulge in a bit of wallowing, it’s far more valuable to recognize how truly blessed we are. It’s all about perspective, and that evening, I gained plenty of it.

It certainly helps when this is the view! 🙂

Can you tell I’m a bit obsessed with the towel animals? I need to learn how to make them. I would definitely be the best mom ever!

By this point, we had spotted quite a few cruise ships. After a good look, it was clear that ours was by far the most fun-looking. The top of the Dinogo features a huge, vibrant water slide, and there’s also Waterworks—which translates to ‘A GIANT WATERPARK FOR EVERYONE.’

The boys were absolutely thrilled.

And when I mention boys, I mean both the big ones and the little ones!

LJ had different ideas in mind.

At one point, Will discovered which side of the mini slide was the fastest, and he and his little cruise friends began racing each other. We could relax right at the edge of the water area and enjoy some downtime.

Additionally, there were plenty of distractions…like giving this little guy some love-filled gazes.

St. Thomas marks a pivotal moment in my cruise adventure. By this time, the seasickness had faded, and my outlook was much more grounded. I felt like a completely transformed Katie. I had mostly disconnected from my computer and phone (I would share photos on Instagram but didn’t read any blogs, scroll through Instagram posts, check emails, or even watch those funny Jimmy Kimmel videos). It was incredibly liberating. Plus, St. Thomas is absolutely stunning.

Doesn’t that scenery look like a painted backdrop? Those vibrant little houses and resorts peeking through the trees are absolutely stunning.

Indeed. I witnessed this with my own eyes. It’s undeniably real and etched in my memory forever. It’s what I envision heaven to be like.

After arriving on the island, we climbed the 99 Steps to reach the summit. It wasn’t too challenging. From there, we made our way to Blackbeard’s Castle. It was a fantastic spot for the kids since there wasn’t much they could damage.

The tour guide at Blackbeard’s Castle was quite the storyteller, which led to questions like, “What does massacre mean, Mommy?” I also got to hear about Blackbeard's notorious acts against his wives. Will made sure to remind me later that “that man made them DEAD” at least seventeen times.

The view from the opposite side was stunning. There was a lovely pool, and when you turned around, the entire island unfolded before you.

Isn’t this absolutely breathtaking?! Honestly, the stops on this cruise were nothing short of spectacular. If you love islands, I can't express enough how much I cherished the vibrant colors and island vibe at every port.

After descending the 99 Steps, we hopped into a taxi that took us to the beach, where we spent the remainder of the day soaking up the sun and enjoying the sensation of sand between our toes.

Will rescued that leaf from the castle and chose to bury it in the sand. He has these charming little quirks that make my heart melt, and I just want to shower him with kisses. One day, he won’t care about the yellow leaf in the sand, but for now, I adore that it’s the most important thing to him.

You can check out a bunch of our pictures from that day in our post about Weston’s birthday. Those beach photos are definitely frame-worthy!

As we bid farewell to the island of St. Thomas, I anticipated a wave of nausea. Fortunately, the entire week took a positive turn, and I was free from seasickness! I wanted to share that this was truly an unforgettable experience, and we cherished every moment. The truth is, it was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, complete with some challenging moments that made us appreciate it even more. Sometimes, it's those rough waves that help us value the calm, right? The rest of the week turned out to be even better, if you can believe it! I can't wait to share all the details with you!