I just got back from spring break and reality is quickly setting in, classes still exist, midterms are coming up, and all I have is a vague memory of the past week in which was nothing short of something to remember. A four day get-away at sea was how it was advertised and sold to both me and my friends during spring break at an affordable price. What more could you ask for, unlimited dining options, multiple tropical destinations, and sunny weather. In theory a cruise sounds like the perfect spring break destination, however during my experience it proved to be so much more.
The moment we boarded something felt off, whether it was the TSA level screening prior to boarding, or the maze-like layout of the ship and the seemingly impossible task of finding our room. We were handed a specified sea-card for onboard purchases and the moment we disembarked it quickly set in that for the next four days we will be completely disconnected from the outside world. There was no shortage of entertainment options on board the cruise, and a dizzying array of activities and experiences to take part in. However, despite this something felt oddly off on the ship.
It felt like a summer camp for adults, in which you intermingle with strangers and making small talk out of boredom and a helpless feeling of being trapped at sea on a metal vessel moving at roughly 15 miles an hour. Yet this was not the most unsettling aspect at sea, a slogan in which cruise workers echoed throughout the ship was “no happy, no cruise”, in which almost all of them always had a smile from ear to ear and an almost disingenuous enthusiasm towards the monotonous routine and work that they regularly do. It felt almost as if each one of them were constantly being monitored and watched, with almost no interactions feeling genuine or authentic.
By the third day many of us fell ill, as it became evident that the ship was overcrowded and disease spread. Between the poor food options available, constant beating sun, and lack of outdoor space asides from the crowded pool deck, I quickly found myself feeling like a prisoner counting down the days until release.
Then finally the day came, the final day of our journey, and we were allowed to disembark the ship and reenter the real world. With an uneasy stomach, unbearable sunburn, and over 300 hundred dollars’ worth of miscellaneous expenses from the journey, I couldn’t help but feel the opposite of being recharged and felt the need to express to friends and family all about how great my experience was.
Due to the slogan holding true and becoming deeply ingrained within my mind, “no happy, no cruise” and despite the inner conflict going on in my mind, it truly was an experience to remember, and I finally had a sweet tan to show that I escaped the cold in Grand Forks.
So, remember, next time you think of booking a cruise, or ask somebody about their experience on it, it is going to be the time of your life and will certainly be a journey that you will never forget throughout the duration of your life. As there truly is not a better feeling than being trapped on a metal box at sea for days on end leaving you feeling recharged and ready to take on anything life throws on you after the fact, because you learn not to take your daily freedoms in life for granted.
Happy April Fools! Most cruises are not that bad, except for the one that tipped over.
Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].
