At Sea

“Forgive me for saying so, but you’re too young for cruising” my work colleague quips a few weeks before our departure.  On the contrary, I rather wish we had discovered this way of travel long before now.

We’re on our first day at sea travelling from Warnemünde, Germany to Tallinn, Estonia where we will dock tomorrow morning.  Most travel days are rather tiring and somewhat dreary.  Take Friday when we flew into Copenhagen from Dubai.  Bags packed the night before we were up at 4am to make the 8am flight.  The iPads were fully charged, stocked with new downloads, there are activity books to lug around and other games and challenges (both for their sanity and ours!) along the way.  Sufficient snacks and water must be brought and packed to ensure they are on hand when the most inconvenient hunger and thirst appears and treats on hand for the odd bribe when we’re in a hurry.  After a long flight there is waiting in customs lines, dragging bags and tired children through the airport, more waiting in taxi lines and when we finally arrive at our apartment accommodation in Copenhagen, we lug our 4 heavy suitcases up as many flights of stairs in a final act of bravery!  Twelve hours of transit and I sigh, grateful for the cup of coffee that awaits as I sink onto the sofa.

A Sea Day

Today’s travel is a little different.  We start our day at sea on the Norwegian Breakaway with a shower, followed by a 3 course breakfast.  I select spiced peaches with blueberries to start, followed by eggs benedict and a pot of tea.  I finish with a grapefruit juice and an apricot danish.

Rock Climbing, Bungy Trampolines & Other Activties

After breakfast, we debate what to do first and eventually head to the rock climbing.  I’m not as agile as I once was (despite what my work colleague thinks) but I do manage to ring the bell at the top of the wall on both the medium and easy courses.  The boys both have a few turns each, Jasper reaching the top without much fuss, he’s done this before.  Harley practices the moves with a few tips from the professionals.

Next is the bungy trampoline.  “Can we, can we please mum?”,  “Yes, go!” I reply and watch them run off to line up.  They don’t have to wait very long for their turns.  They get about 5 minutes each and by the end on his turn, Jasper has done enough front and back saults to wind the rope right up and mostly unwind it again.  Also enough to make me a bit dizzy just watching.  It’s pretty incredible being able to do these type of activities on a ship.

While they are waiting for the bungy trampoline there’s a spider web climb to keep the action happening and amusement going.  The spider web is a series of elasticised straps woven together to form a web.  They’re fashioned in a sort of vertical tunnel with five or six layers of ‘web’ to climb through.  Jasper master it pretty quickly buy Harley is smaller and not quite as strong and it takes him a bit of maneuvering to work out his ideal strategy.  Once he’s got it though, he’s hooked and does several laps up and down (via twisty slide) before he’s ready to move on.

Water Fun

Having warmed up on the slippery slide, the boys decide it’s time to tackle the water slides. These aren’t the little kiddie slides we found so much fun while cruising the Mediterranean last summer. These are proper water slides, the sort you’d expect to find at LEGOLAND Water Park or a dedicated water park.

There are two twisting slides that look fairly tame. Mr 4yo and Mr 7yo cajole me into climbing to the top, but I have a sinking feeling when I realise they’re now braver than I am! Jason, meanwhile, takes on the vertical drop slide, which is something I certainly haven’t plucked up the courage to try.

I do manage a couple of runs on the twisting slides, with Harley insisting I try both colours. Once I’m wet, I figure I might as well make the most of it. The boys enjoy several turns too, and I’m secretly relieved they’re not quite tall enough for the drop slides. At least I still have an excuse!

A Quest For Relaxation

After the slides, we head for the hot tubs to relax for a while. Jason brings me a Pimms and lemonade. It’s holiday time, after all, and the bar is open, so we decide it’s perfectly acceptable to indulge.

Our relaxation doesn’t last long. The boys are keen to get into the swimming pool, and they’re now far too confident swimmers for the baby pool. I reluctantly leave the comfort of the hot tub and join them in the main pool. Not so much because I fancy another swim, but because I’d rather the other guests didn’t worry about a four-year-old happily swimming around on his own!

Thankfully, the pool is heated and surprisingly pleasant. We spend some time swimming, floating and playing before climbing out to lounge on the deck chairs. Just as we’re settling in, someone comes around with icy poles. A welcome little treat after all that activity.

Eventually, we dry off, change and make our way to lunch. After a three-course breakfast and a morning packed with activities at sea, we’ve certainly earned another meal. Or at least, that’s what we’re telling ourselves!

Lunch & Down Time

After a buffet lunch (I lose track of the courses!) the checkers comes out and we play games for a while before deciding to move down to the Atrium Cafe for a coffee and the afternoon quiz.

Our afternoon at sea is filled with the 9 hole putt putt golf course, the obstacle course, ice creams, more games and dinner followed by a 7pm performance in the theater of Burn The Floor, a ballroom dance extravaganza.

There is also a shuffle board, a library, an arcade, bingo, the spa, various talks and lessons, a casino, an art gallery, a whiskey bar, martini bar, an Irish pub, giant chess board, dance parties, single meets, wine tastings, a basketball court and a Spiegeltent.

I can think of worse ways to amuse the family on a travel day.  Far from having nothing to do, we are spoiled for choice with options and in fact, there’s just not enough time to have a go at everything.

We return to our state room in the evening.  There is a lobster folded on my bed, the children have a dog waiting for them.  I guess the towel folding demonstration will have to wait until our next day at sea…

Would I Return?

Yes.  ASAP!