Cruise Control

One of the best things about living in Miami is the ability to book a cruise at the last minute and jump right on the ship.

Last weekend, my cousin Dan and his wife flew in from Cleveland to take their first cruise ever. My mother and I decided to join them. I zipped over to the port after work, parked my car in a jiffy, and met everyone outside the terminal. We checked in and climbed aboard Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas. Our three-night itinerary included stops in Nassau and Coco Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas. After we finished the lifeboat drill and the ship was pulling away from the dock, I spotted one lone dolphin swimming in front of the Chalk’s Seaplane Terminal.

I’d forgotten how relaxing these mini-cruises can be. You can pack in a flash, park for $12 a day, and take a roll-on bag onto the ship instead of having to check your luggage. We had three days of perfect spring weather and the sea was as calm as my bathtub.

The sea agrees with me on a basic level. The first night out, I found myself watching the Big Dipper from my cabin window, thankful to have left my worries behind and knowing that I’d enjoy three nights of that deep, restful sleep induced by the gentle rocking of the ocean. For grown-ups like me, ships are like one of those wind-up baby swings. I am lulled into a more pacified existence the moment I step onboard.

The more you cruise, the more you learn about yourself. Some people enjoy the new mega-ships with all their bells and whistles. I prefer smaller ships. There’s less walking, and I don’t need a zillion forms of entertainment. Just being out at sea is a thrill for me. One thing I missed this time was having a balcony. The cabin we booked didn’t have one, and I wished it had. It’s so nice to sip your morning coffee out on the balcony while enjoying a soft ocean breeze, or to have a bird’s eye view of the ship as it maneuvers itself into port. Balconies are also handy for drying wet bathing suits.

My mother – a frequent cruiser if ever there was one – took me on my first cruise when I was twenty-one. While we sailed around the Virgin Islands, mom shared her cruise tips with me. Little nuggets of wisdom like: “Always sit with the smokers. They’re a lot more fun.” And: “Be sure to choose the second seating at dinner -- so you don’t end up dining with a bunch of screaming kids.” Though smoking in the dining rooms is a thing of the past, mom definitely had a point about smokers being the lively ones.

Other cruise basics I’ve gleaned from my mother’s numerous bon voyages include:

• The first night at sea is always casual dress.
• Always tip the cabin steward well. They work harder than anyone else on the ship.
• Always get a room located at midship – the stablest point on a ship. (You won’t feel the motion of the waves nearly as much as you do at the bow or stern.)
• The higher the deck, the better. (Lower decks are closer to the ship’s engines, and therefore noisier.)
• Order a room service breakfast on the morning you disembark, so you won’t have to struggle with everyone else trying to grab coffee and Danish at the same time.
  

Dinnertime was especially enjoyable on this cruise. Two boisterous ladies who work for Midwest Airlines sat at our table, making jokes about Wisconsin and asking me where they could go for an airboat ride when they got off the cruise. Our headwaiter and assistant waiter were both from India, and brought me curry dishes to sample when they found out how passionate I am about Indian cuisine. (The chef had been preparing special meals for some Indian passengers.) When I lamented about my longtime Indian grocery in Coral Gables having recently gone out of business, they recommended one in Downtown Miami.

This time around, it was fun watching Dan and his wife navigate their first cruise, clearly overwhelmed by all of the onboard activities and the constant barrage of “shopping opportunities”. I decided to sit back and let them figure things out for themselves.

Dan: “Should we try salsa lessons in the lounge, or go hear the calypso band out by the pool?”

Marsha: “I wanted to book a spa treatment, but I don’t want to lose any shopping time while we’re in port.”

Dan: “These slot machines aren’t giving anything away.”

Marsha looked zonked one night at dinner, a victim of too many Cosmos (the day’s rum drink special) and too much sun. I, on the other hand, was feeling totally refreshed. (I’d just taken a two-hour nap, something that just doesn’t occur back on dry land.) I’ve had my days of partying wildly by the pool deck, doing the limbo and dancing till the cows come home. Now, I take my vacations at idle speed.

I smiled at Samir, our jovial waiter from Bombay, and asked him to bring me a second helping of dessert.

Life, and cruising, is all about pacing yourself.


CRUISE INFORMATION:

• Click here for a list of cruise lines sailing from the Port of Miami.
  
  
  PRE- AND POST-CRUISE ACTIVITIES:
  
  If you have a few hours to spare, or if you’ve added a day or two to explore Miami before or after your cruise, here are some ideas for getting the most out of the Magic City.
  
  
• Attractions
• Miami Spas
• Dining Hot Spots
• What’s New in Miami