Christmas in Aruba

by Victoria
(Portland, ME, USA)

The cruise experience I will describe occurred nearly 10 years ago. This was the first time my family had ever traveled away from home for the Christmas Holiday. It was also my first cruise, as well as the first time ever leaving the Continental US.

I was only 13 years old, but it was still an amazing experience that I will remember for life. We were on the Carnival Cruise Lines, and traveled from Puerto Rico to Aruba, St. Lucia, Curacao, and St. Thomas.

There were so many memorable moments, such as our Catamaran cruise we took in Aruba to go snorkeling - it was beautiful! The water was clear and warm, and we were surrounded by tropical fish. Luckily we had an underwater camera to capture the moments.

The fondest memory I have of the trip is when my Nana won $2,000 in the boat’s casino, but still didn’t break even! Yet she still gave all of us grandchildren a piece of her winnings. She has since passed away, so it is nice to have this memory to look back on.

Spending this vacation with family, both immediate and extended, in such memorable locations is what made the trip so special. I have not had the privilege to go on another cruise since then, but if the opportunity ever arose I would not hesitate to go! It was a wonderful experience.

My tip to first time cruisers would be to plan it with people you love, and prepare for the possibility of seasickness - bring some Dramamine!