Family Cruise: Sailing with God's Love

Never in my 33 years of living here in the U.S. did I ever imagine myself on a cruise ship, whether alone, with my husband, and especially with our two grown sons.

Cruising just wasn’t on my radar. There was always a valid reason. So instead, our family vacations were spent at amusement parks, on long road trips, in airports catching flights, or some adventurous mix of the two.

This year, we had our hearts set on Europe. The plan was to retrace the places we’d lived and loved during my husband’s eight years in the military. For a whole year, we poured ourselves into it—researching hotels, figuring out trains and buses, and even reaching out to an old friend who still calls Germany home. I even went so far as to plan outfits, right down to the shoes, because we were supposed to be there either in January or May.

But life had other plans. For one reason or another, the trip never happened. And just like that, all the effort and excitement fizzled into a big family question mark: So… where do we go now?

Seriously, it was a valid question. 

New York came to mind. Chicago came to mind. But these are places we’d rather visit in cooler weather. I’m not into long walks in the heat—after just four blocks, I’d be ready to stop for a cold beverage. Before we know it, we’ve spent a lot of time just waiting to be seated and served a snack or a full meal.

Thanks to our sons who insisted on trying cruising this time around. They, too, are done with rides at Disneyland and Universal Studios. We’ve had enough of Southern California, all the way to San Diego. And so yes, we were glad cruising became an option. An option that I still wasn’t sure if this vacation would be a hit or a miss.

I started searching for cruises—so many cruise lines, so many destinations! The dilemma came down to the sailing dates, since we were also planning to renovate downstairs—specifically the kitchen—and make some updates to the breakfast nook and family room. On top of that, we had to factor in our younger son’s schedule. He always preferred to spend some time at home before heading back to his apartment after returning from our vacation.

Good grief, I finally got everything settled. But I couldn’t decide between the two-bedroom grand suite and the sky loft suite—they both had their perks. Meanwhile, the planned renovations had us running around nonstop—showrooms, home improvement stores, DIY shops, and scrolling endlessly online for the right materials. Somehow, though, knowing I still had over a month to plan the cruise kept me from feeling rushed.

Boy, oh boy! Talk about procrastination—did I wait too long, or what? See, when I finally went to book the cruise, our options were slim to none. Would you believe it? I had the mentality that the emails from the cruise line were just a push to get us to book soon, like they all do. That’s what I thought. But it turned out I was wrong.

The cabins we had our hearts set on? Gone. Just like that. Sigh...

It broke our hearts. I feel sheepish… I really messed up.

So, one early Saturday morning, I sat before my laptop, heart pounding, hands poised above the keyboard. I prayed first—because battles are fought with faith before action. And this cruise… this perfect sailing date… it wasn’t going to slip away without a fight. The night before, I’d nearly surrendered and gave in, but something inside me refused to quit.

The following morning, I took a deep breath and tried one last time. I don’t give up easily. I don’t accept “No,” not when I’ve yet to throw every ounce of effort, strategy, and hope into turning the tide. This was my stand, my moment, and I was ready to raise our hopes.

I chatted with the agent for about an hour, if not longer, and also had a phone call with him. I was put on hold a couple of times—if not more—and those were long holds. All I could do was wait patiently while staying confident about the whole situation.

Then it came down to the cruise agent requesting that two balcony staterooms with unobstructed ocean views be converted to two occupants each, as the suites were no longer available. I was advised to keep calling to check if the suites became available, which usually happens a few days before the sailing date. I didn’t want to take that route. I wanted something concrete; otherwise, I’d just be hoping against hope unnecessarily.

We were grateful that the request was a success. Oh, this time I didn’t procrastinate. I had the agent book it for us, and I prepaid everything. I just wanted us to focus on preparing for the cruise so then the excitement is up for the coming weeks leading up to the sailing date.

As soon as I got everything taken care of, our family talks around meals were about the cruise. Putting them into imagination mode like stepping onto a cruise ship for the very first time. The heart is racing with excitement. Smiles on our faces. Camera-ready for those picture-perfect moments.

The saltwater air. our luggage seemingly lighter than it should (probably because our heart is heavier with excitement), and realizing we’re not just boarding a ship—we’re stepping into an all-new experience—a family experience at that! A totally whole new adventure. Just a whole new world, if you know what I’m saying.

Oh yes, we also discussed the restaurants (who doesn’t love buffets and formal dining anyway?), and the deck plans. What to buy for souvenirs? Knowing everything has been prepared for us—meals, rest, entertainment… it just got easier to focus on the fun while aboard the ship.

And then, embarkation day had come.The ship was massive! As for our experience, mine specifically, stepping onto a cruise ship for the first time was something unforgettable.

With the vastness of the ocean surrounding us, the ship feels like its own little world, and there’s a thrill in knowing what the crew had prepared for the guests, long before the guests have arrived, though it’s all mentioned in the daily itinerary. And that’s because of the fact that it’s the first time ever. Stepping into a floating city for the very first time. We will dine there, have fun there, and even sleep there at sea!

Our cabin was perfect! The crew had thought of every detail before we even stepped on board. We loved it so much that I took a video of ours, and our sons’ as well to memorialize it. Lots of photos of the wonderful cruise. And our staterooms were just one stateroom apart, and only a few steps from the elevators and stairs, so getting around the ship was easy, even for someone like me who has knee problems. The agent had mentioned this detail, but I know God made these staterooms available specifically for us with our comfort in mind. 

The formal dining was definitely a step above. From the moment we entered the dining room, we felt welcome, and as we were ushered to our table, smiles from our servers awaited us. Their attentiveness was there every second for an enjoyable and more polished dining experience—basically saying, “You’ve arrived, and we will take care of you.”

Purely a bliss.

To wake up in the morning, and you see the horizon stretches endlessly, making you feel small in the best possible way was astounding. And as the ship pulled away from shore, you know you’ve just embarked on something unforgettable. That was both exciting and humbling, as everything feels new, even overwhelming to say the least. 

It was a blessing to enjoy breakfast on our balcony. Our sons did the same thing. Truly, food tastes better at sea!

The day excursion was an experience of a culture so vibrant, it felt like stepping into another world—yet a strong sense of familiarity remained. I couldn’t help but take a piece of it home to remember it by.

And the stage plays?

Oh, they were a hit! So captivating that they reignited my love for them. I wasn't alone in this feeling; in the restroom, I overheard fellow passengers saying they were inspired to attend more often. I completely understand their enthusiasm—the moving plot and excellent performances truly made for a memorable experience.

Well, there was one more thing that made this cruise extra memorable, not only that it worked around our younger son’s schooling, but it happens on the week leading to my husband’s early retirement, and celebrating my birthday as well. 

I have been up in the air on my birthday. I’ve been on the road on my birthday. On many occasions, I celebrated my birthday at home, but this time around, I was aboard a gigantic cruise ship! This is why booking this cruise was important to us. And God, in His kindness and being a great Host all the time, He made sure we would be on this cruise. 

Did I make it happen? No! It’s true, I didn’t give up on it, but it was something He put in my heart. I just listened to His inspirations and trusted in His mercy and love. Maybe it was a test of obedience. Who knows? 

Thinking back about the whole process, isn’t it true that cruising is a lot like walking into God’s love? The moment you let go and trust the process, you begin to see the beauty of being on that cruise, to being by His side, right in His heart.

God’s genuine love is like that endless horizon seen from the ship’s deck. Or from a balcony. Steady, constant, unshakable.

Wandering through corridors, in the vastness of the ship, we might think it’s easy to get a little lost, but His presence is always there at every corner and turn, surrounding us like the ocean itself. He acquaints us with His comforting protection.

As with the cruise, and all the preparations that took place before the passengers were let in, that’s nothing in comparison with the preparations that God’s love does for everyone trusting in His care. Everything gets double-checked ensuring that we’d find peace for our restlessness, grace for our mistakes, and joy for our journey. We just have to step on board, and allow Him to guide us.

Let our journey be a call to hear and ponder on the sermon to us, because in every stage there is a sermon for that day. No matter where we wandered on the ship, or anywhere we may happen to be, we will continue to be near Him, like ships in the ocean. 

So, a reminder I also need to keep close to me is that every encounter we have should remind me of the bigger voyage, which is life in God’s genuine love, where the Captain always knows the route to the destination for the voyage, with God as the captain, even when storms roll in, even when we can’t see the shoreline, He is steady. He is sure. And He is enough. God is enough.

As with every cruise, we simply have to trust the captain and follow the crew's instructions. In the same way, we don’t have to earn God’s love. He already loves us. We just have to receive what He has already prepared for us.

Now is your turn to share your stories ingrained with a heavenly touch. Shoot me a message, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

Many Blessings!