A Cruise Before College

A Cruise Before College

Mother-daughter cruises had been an annual tradition — but now she’s all grown up.

By Sherri Ziff

It was 8 a.m. on August 12, on a flight with my daughter, Rachel (almost 18), to Seattle where we’d board Holland America Line’s ms Oosterdam for a cruise to Alaska. Watching her fidget with her headphones, I flashed back to a similar moment eight summers ago, when we were on our way to San Francisco for our first cruise together aboard Crystal Cruises. Rachel loosened her headphones so I could hear “What Dreams Are Made Of,” by Hilary Duff. “It’s my favorite song, Mommy,” she whispered.

Have you ever wondered what life is about? / You could search the world and never figure it out

You don’t have to sail the oceans / Happiness is no mystery it’s / Here and now it’s you and me …

Open your eyes / This is what dreams are made of

My eyes opened wide. I realized that childhood is fleeting. I knew that happiness is here and now, and while you don’t have to sail the oceans, it is an amazing way to spend “you and me” time. My dream — that our adventure 10 years ago would be our first annual mother-daughter cruise — had come true.

This year’s cruise marked a milestone: two days after returning home, Rachel would leave for college. This cruise marked the end of childhood. Like a breeze on deck on a sticky August afternoon in Aruba, it was here and then it was gone….


This is an excerpt only. To read this article in its entirety, pick up the current issue of Porthole Cruise Magazine.

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