Seuss Voyage

Last year, we began exploring cruise options. Jeremy and I believed it would be a fantastic way to celebrate our anniversary. However, when I found out I was pregnant, those plans went right down the secret escape hatch.

Once LJ arrived, our enthusiasm reignited, and we started considering a cruise we could take with the kids. We examined all the choices, pricing, meal plans, activities, ports, and everything else that cruising involves.

To be honest, it became quite overwhelming. But I’m thrilled to share that we are officially going to be first-time cruisers this November! We’ll be boarding the Sunshine! That’s the name of the ship… The Dinogo. Isn’t that adorable? So, I have to tell you that the most thrilling aspect of this cruise is that Dinogo Cruise Lines offers Seuss at Sea. We are HUGE fans of Seuss! Remember this one with Weston?

The Seuss books topped our list of recommended children’s literature…

We even had a Seuss-themed Christmas tree…

I mean… come on. We have wockets in our pockets without even trying!

As we began this entire planning journey, we realized that the Seuss at Sea experience would be a massive hit for our boys (and for us). Given how young our kids are (Weston would just barely qualify for the Camp Ocean program, and LJ would need to stay with us the whole time), we figured it would be wise to bring our own babysitters. So, we surprised my parents by telling them we wanted to take them on a cruise (with some hidden motives). They absolutely adore the boys, so they cleared their schedules and enthusiastically agreed. We quickly booked their flights to ensure they couldn’t back out. You have to secure good babysitters as soon as possible!

This past weekend, we invited my parents over to share all our exciting plans for the week at sea. Naturally, it was the perfect excuse to host a Cruise Planning Party with a Dr. Seuss theme. I’m nothing if not entirely predictable!

The idea was to entice them with delightful red and white striped treats, and once they were full and happy, break the news about the nights they would be in charge of our three little whirlwinds. In my mind, it would play out like that airline commercial where the parents hand the kids to the grandparents and then zoom off while Grandpa yells, “Don’t leave us with the babies!” You know the one; I bet those of you with kids quote it too.

But they were excited to hear all about the cruise and the fun they would have with their grandkids! This will be their second Dinogo cruise, and their first time visiting some of the ports.

Anyway…let's return to the food.

We served roast beast sandwiches (roast beef with white American or pepper jack cheese on a Hawaiian roll), green eggs & ham (I simply used food coloring for the deviled eggs), Cat in the Hat skewers (strawberries and bananas… although I’ve seen variations with strawberries and marshmallows, but my kids would only eat the sweets), Hop on Popcorn, One Fish Two Goldfish, and Tuttle Turtle pie.

And yes, I added those words to the plate using Photoshop because, honestly, my handwriting is barely legible 🙂

The fantastic part about this menu is that most of the food is ready to go right out of the box. The prep time didn’t require precise cooking times or much effort. Everything can be prepped in advance and served straight from the fridge or the box.

For the decorations, I focused on a red and white color scheme, using a striped fabric as the tablecloth. The Cat in the Hat hat was a prize I won at the fair, but you can easily find stovetop hats at Party City or Target that look just like it. Naturally, the books were a must-have since, well, Seuss is an author! The Lorax trees were simply pool noodles cut down, wrapped with tape around the stems, and topped with fluffy tissue paper balls.

We also prepared a packet of information for my parents. It was really helpful to have something written down, as it allowed us to cover topics we might have otherwise overlooked, details we needed to finalize, and events that required our attention or decision.

Here’s the list of items that we included in our packets:

I found it particularly useful because I've been scouring blogs, reading websites, and digging through forums for advice and information on how to cruise with a baby, a toddler, and a preschooler. Not many people take on that challenge. However, I'm convinced that with thorough pre-planning, we can make this journey smoother than a Barber Baby Bubble. (Only fellow Seuss fans will understand that reference… by the way, I've completely memorized that entire book.)

While we were all gathered, we let Will join in by sharing the photos from the ship's slideshow. It was also a great chance to go through the excursion list and decide what we wanted to do at each port. Apparently, Jeremy is very against parasailing, and I, who am terrified of heights, am trying to persuade him to join me in that adventure.

The boys are somewhat obsessed with the idea of meeting a real Cat in the Hat on the ship. They don't yet know that we'll be having breakfast with Seuss characters and enjoying whimsical dishes like stacked red and white pancakes as a special event. They'll never want to leave!

One of my friends always hosts planning parties for their family vacations, and I've become a strong advocate for their benefits. There are countless details that can easily slip your mind. Important little things (like getting a Groupon for airport parking discounts, packing walking shoes for day four, and yes, you will definitely need more than one swimsuit, etc.) can make a big difference, and addressing these potential ‘waves’ in the plans helps us save money, reduce stress, and truly enjoy the whole trip.