Eight Relatives. One Ship. Zero Exits.
- Alicia Smith
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 21
TLDR: I somehow convinced my entire family—eight of us—to go on a cruise together for the first time. What started as a fun idea quickly turned into a hilarious mix of planning spreadsheets, shoe rack debates, and clashing travel personalities. We haven’t even boarded the ship yet and the group chat is already spicy. But despite the chaos, I’m genuinely excited to make new memories with my family. Bon voyage, baby—let the cruise and comedy begin.
Yes, we’re all going on a cruise together. The whole family. First time for a family trip in years. Because apparently, coordinating eight people—most of whom live in the same county—to board a floating buffet bar was somehow easier than throwing my mom a 70th birthday party locally.
For those who know me: I love a cruise. I love that I can see a bunch of places (well, beaches) without unpacking more than once. I can spend my evenings at a show or the casino. I hate crowds… but I love cruises. Make it make sense.
The Last Time We Traveled Together…
Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time we all traveled together. My dad was still with us, of course. I think it was for my grandmother’s 100th birthday in Virginia. We stayed in a cabin on a military base. It’s all coming back now—pretty sure someone (either my brother or my nephew) did something chaotic involving a mattress. That tracks.
All the kids are big now, with the youngest about to be a junior in high school. Somehow, we’ve gone from sippy cups and tantrums to pre-calculus and group chats about flight times.
But this year, we’ve decided to celebrate… at sea. Because nothing brings people together quite like ocean wind, unlimited shrimp, and being trapped in a floating hotel room with your relatives—with no escape except the waterslide.
Packing Personalities
Every family has its travel personas:
The Planner (me, duh): Armed with spreadsheets, packing cubes, and a dream of “just one group photo where everyone is smiling.”
The Overpacker: Brings six pairs of shoes because “you never know.”
The Skeptic: Already convinced they’ll get food poisoning, seasick, and sunburned before we even leave port.
The Excited Kid (who is 40-something): Gearing up for bingo, dance-offs, and has been practicing their cruise ship wave for weeks.
Daydreams vs. Reality
In my head: we’ll be sipping cocktails in cabanas, harmonizing over Name That Tune, and maybe even pulling off a family karaoke number.
Reality kicked in when I shared a few of my “comfort must-haves” in the family travel chat (not to be confused with the regular family chat—this one includes my nephew’s girlfriend). For context: this cruise, I’ll be sharing a cabin with my mom and my daughter. So comfortable is non-negotiable.
Me: “Hey fam—here’s my Amazon list of cruise travel product recommendations. Don’t forget to grab the shoe rack for your toiletries—it hangs on the bathroom door!”
Mom: Huh? A shoe rack? How many damn shoes are you taking??
Me: “It’s not for shoes.”
Mom: And how much is this shoe rack? I carry very little clutter.
Me: “I don’t like stuff on the counters, so we use drawers or the shoe rack.”
Mom: And we pay for the drawers and the shoe rack?
Facepalm
Mom: What in the world is this about? OK—you can stay back and declutter the room. I’m on vacation.
Me: “The rooms are small. I have tricks to make it livable. You don’t have to worry—they’ll be in our room.”
We are a funny, chaotic, lovable group. And yes, I’m still bringing the shoe rack.
But Honestly? I Can’t Wait.
Traveling with family is part sitcom, part therapy, part scavenger hunt for patience. But it’s also how we make the stories we’ll laugh about for the next ten years.
This cruise isn’t just a vacation—it’s a floating family reunion with better food and pit stops at some of the most beautiful beaches. And while I may absolutely need a vacation after the vacation, I’m grateful we get to do this.
So if you see me posting from Sorrento’s with a cocktail in one hand and a “Help Me” look in my eyes—just know I’m living, loving, and learning what happens when you try to organize a multigenerational family trip… on international waters.
Bon voyage, baby. Let the chaos (and karaoke) begin. 🎤🌊
Which Travel Persona Are You?
🎒 The Planner? 👡 The Overpacker? 😬 The Skeptic? 🪩 The Overexcited One?
Tell us in the comments—or spill your funniest family vacation story. Bonus points for chaos. Extra credit for waterproof shoe organizers.
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