Cruising at the Speed of Presence
No wifi, no blueprint - just sea legs and lots of water
Since last October, I spent six months slow-traveling through the Americas — sharing real stories of freedom, growth, and soul-led adventure. I’ll be heading back out again this October, and in the meantime, I’m reflecting on what the journey taught me.
And so we flowed from Costa Rica to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for two nights before setting off on a 12-day cruise through the Caribbean and Panama Canal. Tim and I had done a fair amount of cruising in our earlier years but hadn’t traveled this way in about 15 years — and definitely not together. We each had different experiences from cruising before, but they weren’t as joyful or fun as we would have liked. So we decided to give this type of travel another go. We found a ship with an excellent price, and the idea of being in one place for this long — with no meals to plan, no rooms to book, no driving to manage — sounded like exactly what we needed. Time to land, decompress, relax, work out every day, and hopefully eat well.
Since we were traveling on a budget, we booked an inside cabin with a window — no balcony — and opted out of the Wi-Fi and drinks package. We’d both normally cruised with at least a balcony and unlimited drinks, so I was curious how I’d feel about being in that kind of enclosed space. And while we were still in one small room together, we had a whole ship to spread out, so we were good to try this out and see how it felt.
We traveled from San José, Costa Rica, to Fort Lauderdale two days before boarding to make sure there were no travel hiccups. Once the ship leaves and you’re not on it, you’ve got to fly to the first port to catch up. That just sounds exhausting. (Side note: the woman right behind us in line told us about the time this happened to her. She missed the first two days of her last cruise and had to fly to meet the ship. Ouch.) We hadn’t been in the States since Cabo back in October, and now it was early February, so it felt like a bit of a culture shock. If I had ever spent time in Fort Lauderdale, I don’t remember. Seeing all the expensive cars driving around gave me pause. The amount of material wealth felt jarring compared to the simpler lifestyles we’d been experiencing.
Don’t get me wrong — I also appreciate quality, healthy food, and luxury when I can afford it. But as I get older, and with Tim’s and my shared motto of “less is more,” I make a more conscious effort to spend my dollars where it really matters. Right now, that means experiences over things.
I was also fighting off a cold and trying to settle my nervous system, but the constant shuffling was taking its toll. I kept telling myself: just hang on until we get to the ship. Then, rest.
The crush of people began as we Ubered into the port. Lines everywhere. A glitch in the system meant it took us two hours to get through the embarkation process. But finally — we were on the ship. And when we made it to the upper decks, nearly every lounger was already filled. Humans everywhere. Fortunately, we really liked the room! I’m able to unpack all three of my bags which feels grounding. The bed is spacious and comfortable, and there are lots of movies on the TV to watch.
Similar to the all-inclusive we did in Cabo, people were already partying and having a good time. Tim had been preparing himself to be around crowds again, and I quickly started to pivot too. Time to embrace this kind of experience, stay present, and take it all in. Since we’d only be drinking at the ports, we indulged in lots and lots of water. (Being in search of good water wherever we traveled had become a daily mission, so this was a nice break from the to-do list.) I was also trying to get healthy again, so water was where it was at.
And we’re off! What an exhilarating experience to be on the top deck watching us pull away from Fort Lauderdale. I love the ocean, and seeing it again from this vantage point is exciting. The power and energy is remarkable.
We had two days at sea before our first port of Aruba. Tim didn’t plan to do any excursions, and I was staying open to each port — seeing what called to me and what I really wanted to experience. In Aruba, we walked around, found a beach close by, and enjoyed the ocean. We liked the vibe enough to come back again later that month.
Next was Curaçao. I took a tour around the island and spent time at a beach. I loved hearing about the island’s history and seeing a huge flock of flamingos. After another sea day, we arrived in Cartagena, Colombia. Tim had spent time there years ago, and I wanted to see as much as I could, so I took another all-day tour. It’s a fascinating city. I had some preconceived ideas of Colombia, and I enjoyed having my biases challenged. It was quite touristy, with lots of vendors, but the dance show, churches, and forts were beautiful.
It was around this time that Tim got very sick. It started in Curaçao, and he struggled for a few days. It was different than what I had, and just when I started feeling better. Being on a ship with this many people made it easy to share germs, and sure enough, a day or two later, I came down with the same virus.
There’s nothing like getting sick on vacation to remind you how fragile — and sacred — health really is. I was grateful that we weren’t hopping from place to place and could just stay put. And I had so much empathy for people who plan for their one or two vacations a year, only to get sick during that time. Creating daily practices around health — whether we’re traveling or not — is so important.
The day after Cartagena, we transited through the Panama Canal. It was incredible to hear how it was built and to watch our ship move through the locks — both on the upper decks and on our cabin TV. The next day we stopped in Limón, Costa Rica. If you read the last blog, you know this wasn’t a port we were excited to see again. We got off the ship to visit a pharmacy and check in with the world via Wi-Fi — then returned to rest and recuperate.
It was noticeable how not having Wi-Fi on the ship allowed me to disconnect from the power grid for a while. I don’t consider myself addicted to my phone, but the pull to check in is always there. Without that pull, something shifted. My body and mind settled. I loved that off-grid feeling and committed to doing it again on the next cruise we booked for March.
Day ten brought another sea day, followed by Grand Cayman on day eleven. WOW. The color of the water here took my breath away. I’ve seen beautiful blues in the Bahamas, but this was beyond anything I remember. We took a bus to a beach for some ocean time. Tim was healed up by then, and I was almost there. We learned about the island’s big developments, apparently led by a wealthy family whose goals didn’t necessarily align with the betterment of the locals. (That perspective came from a local we spoke with, but it resonated.) The beach was crowded, but the water was warm and healing.
We had one more sea day before disembarking in Fort Lauderdale.
We loved being in one spot for a bit, but the constant stimulation of so many people and energies wore on us. Still, it was a beautiful experience to do a cruise together for the first time as a couple. I’d estimate a third of the ship was coughing by the end, and we decided to skip the shows in the final days to stay healthy. The food was decent, and I especially loved tea time. I watched the Super Bowl with a group of KC Chiefs fans. And when we had the energy, the gym was great. We’d already booked another cruise at that point, so we were ready to give this another try — hopefully healthy — and apply what we learned from this time around.
One of our favorite phrases — which you’ve heard here before — is “less is more.” Even on a ship that offers 24/7 entertainment, we consciously chose less. We engaged with people but didn’t overextend. We skipped meals when we weren’t hungry. We read on deck, watched movies, took naps, had our solo time. Not having to plan where to stay or what to eat was liberating — and yet, by the end, we were ready to get back out on our own.
We gave heartfelt thanks to the staff and crew who worked so hard to make it a good experience for everyone.
Just like the ocean, there are highs and lows, calm seas and unexpected storms. How we ride the waves depends on the strength of our inner vessel — and I’m continuing to build mine with intention. I’m learning that I don’t have to earn joy, that I’m worthy of this partnership, this rest, this full, beautiful life. I keep choosing to honor myself in this knowing.
There’s no perfect plan. Just the choice to keep showing up with curiosity, grace, and an open heart.
Next stop - Miami, Puerto Rico, and Tim’s birthday on Aruba
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