Cruise control

Luckily, traveling with family meant I was surrounded by good company, and we set out to make the best of it.

There are few situations where five simple words can instantly silence an entire ship of people.

“This is your captain speaking…”

Any experienced traveler knows that missed connections, canceled flights and other mishaps are part of the journey. On my first-ever cruise last month, I discovered that sailing comes with its own set of potential setbacks.

As the captain’s voice crackled over the loudspeaker, 2,500 fellow travelers and I waited with bated breath, the fate of our vacation hanging in the balance.

But perhaps I should start at the beginning.

A three-hour tour

It was a trip 10 months in the making. My wife, Maggie, and I spent a few days in lovely, welcoming Vancouver before being joined by both sets of our parents. From there, we boarded the stately Serenade of the Seas for a weeklong cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage.

While Maggie’s folks are seasoned cruisers, she hadn’t been on a voyage since her teenage years. The Walogorsky clan was set to enjoy the experience for the first time.

We boarded the ship and were pleasantly surprised to find our cabins had ample space and excellent views. (When you brace yourself for a closet with a tiny porthole, a comfortably sized room with a large window feels like a luxury upgrade!)

When it came time to set sail, we headed to the top deck to wave smugly at those still stuck on land, while open water and a beautiful sunset greeted us as we left Vancouver behind.

The blissful feeling of adventure was short-lived. Just 90 minutes into our trek, the captain informed us that the ship was experiencing engine troubles and we would be turning around to return to port. Like the ill-fated cast of Gilligan’s Island, our tour had lasted a measly three hours.

All in the same boat

I’ve traveled enough to understand that these things happen. Mechanical issues and delays are just part of the deal. Still, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed.

Luckily, traveling with family meant I was surrounded by good company, and we set out to make the best of it.

The reactions from our fellow passengers were varied and amusing. Some were unfazed, with one person remarking that even if we weren’t sailing, we were still aboard a floating luxury hotel with endless food and entertainment. Other travelers were less than enthused. Some immediately talked about demanding refunds and storming the bridge to throw the captain overboard.

I chose to keep company with the optimists.

Twenty four hours later, the captain addressed us once more with the fateful announcement. Our engine had been repaired, and we would once again be heading for open water.

Back on track

With our vacation saved, it was finally time to kick back and relax. Although we lost a day of our itinerary and missed out on a scenic tour, a week aboard the ship was a wonderful experience.

Since a detailed breakdown would turn this into a 2,000-word opus, I’ll just hit the highlights.

On a cruise ship, you're never bored—and you’re certainly never hungry. I think I ate more during our seven days at sea than I typically do in a month. We enjoyed fantastic shows, spotted whales and bald eagles, and I even managed to avoid losing my entire Halston Media paycheck at the ship’s casino. We got to mingle with fellow travelers from around the globe, and I was finally able to cross Alaska off my traveling bucket list.

Best of all, I got to experience it all with the people closest to me.

Homeward bound

Like all vacations, the good times eventually came to an end. After a week aboard the cruise, we returned to Vancouver and watched from the port as the next group of passengers smugly waved goodbye on their own adventure. I’ll admit—it’s more fun being on the departing side of that moment.

Thirty hours and one red-eye flight later, our merry band finally landed back in New York. Exhausted but happy to be home, I soon discovered I had brought back an unexpected souvenir: a positive COVID test.

All part of the experience, I suppose. And for the memories we made that week, I’d do it all over again.

Tom Walogorsky went all the way to Alaska and still didn’t see a moose. Contact him at walogorsky@halstonmedia.com