Professor Hargraves
ENGL-1005
18 September 2014
My First Cruise
Like it was yesterday I remember my first vacation on a cruise. My Dad and I went on a three- day long cruise to The Bahamas. I had never been on a cruise, so it was a new experience for me. We needed to be in Tampa for our departure, so we drove the two hours from Orlando, Florida to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My Dad and I used this time to talk, make plans for the trip and think about our upcoming adventures on the cruise.
We left while the sun was fully up and the sky was blue with fluffy white clouds; there was not a sign of rain anywhere. We walked on the pier to where we had to board our cruise ship. Many cruise ships were docked. Some were coming in while others were waiting to depart.
The boarding of cruise ships takes as long as boarding an airplane. First, my father and I had to check in and then go to a boarding area. Then, we had to go through customs and check our luggage that was not seen again until we arrived at our cabin, where it was waiting for us. From there, everyone was to meet at the emergency exits to hear the proper procedures to follow in case of an emergency. After the brief introduction, the passengers were free to roam. Of course, everyone went on deck to see the boat leave and wave goodbye to those seeing us off on a safe journey. Everyone was waving, taking pictures, shouting goodbyes, and having fun.
The picture was surreal when we were on deck looking down at the water as the boat cut through the waves. We were speeding to our destination. Everyone was cheering and shouting as we came near another cruise ship sailing to a destination unknown. I was so happy that I had a smile from ear to ear. As we arrived at the Bahamas, the sights were unbelievable. The clear tropical waters and the rich white sand were something out of this world. My dad thought it would be a good idea if we rented some jet skis; I agreed. Unfortunately, I needed a driver’s