Cruising Again, Settling In, and Remembering Why We Love This Life

There’s something special about the start of a cruise — that moment when the ship slowly pulls away from the dock and you feel the world begin to shift into a different rhythm. That feeling never gets old.

This time, it’s the beginning of our Transatlantic 2026 journey aboard the Nieuw Statendam — a ship that already carries so many memories for us.

Cruising Again

It didn’t take long to remember why we love cruising. The ease of it. The anticipation. The sense that for the next stretch of days, your only job is to enjoy the journey.

Unpack once. Let the ocean set the pace. Wake up each morning somewhere new — or sometimes nowhere at all, just surrounded by open sea.

There’s a calm that comes with that, and it settles in almost immediately.

Settling In

The first afternoon is always about getting your bearings. Where’s the best morning coffee? Which deck will become your “go-to” quiet spot?

How long does it really take to get from one end of the ship to the other?

Before long, the ship starts to feel familiar again — almost like returning to a floating neighborhood. The rhythms come back quickly: breakfast, a walk on deck, a show in the evening, my favorite bars, and the simple pleasure of watching the ocean roll by.

The first two days were special because it was the day before Easter when we arrived on the ship and Easter the next day. We had a priest on board so Nana was enjoying her “retreat” attending Mass everyday. We had Mass in the World Stage on Sunday morning and then an Easter Brunch at the Pinnacle Grill. It was a great way to celebrate Easter

Meeting Old Friends

One of the unexpected joys of cruising is how often paths cross again.

Within the first day, we were already running into familiar faces — people we’ve met on past voyages. There’s an instant connection, like picking up a conversation that never really ended. Cruising has a way of building its own community.

You may not see each other for months or even years, but when you do, it feels like no time has passed. In addition, you get to know the friends of your friends and experience something new. 

Those reunions are part of what makes each trip feel richer than the last.

Remembering Past Trips on the Nieuw Statendam

Being back on the Nieuw Statendam brings back a flood of memories. This is our 3rd time on the Nieuw Statendam, the first being with our family in 2019, 24 in all children, spouses, and grandchildren plus another 17 people that wanted to join us. for a total group of 41. We visited the Caribbean for a 7 day cruise. My favorite memory was opening up all the balconies and hanging out together. And our older grandchildren found out that they could have steak every night! I loved hanging out with my children at the dueling piano bar. 

Our 2nd cruise was in 2024 for a transatlantic crossing, just like the one we are on now. Except we added an additional 2 weeks on the end, we did not do that this time. We met some great friends on this cruise but unfortunately we do not see them on this cruise….. so far.  My memories here was how we met…. actually through my ND shirt, and a shared dinner table. 

We will also be on the Nieuw Statendam for our next cruise in August, the Solar Eclipse / Arctic Circle cruise.

We walk through the familiar spaces, we can see the echoes of past trips — dinners shared, shows enjoyed, conversations that stretched late into the evening.

Certain spots on the ship hold those memories more than others. The dueling pianos bar and the Rolling Stones lounge .  The  dining area that the family sat in. The Orange club where we had breakfast every morning with our friends. 

It’s a reminder that travel isn’t just about where you’re going — it’s about the moments you’ve already lived along the way.

Visiting the Same Ports

Our first stop was in Bermuda where we have been before.  We were going to do a Catamaran Sailboat ride with snorkeling but the weather forecast wasn’t warm and raining.  Today it is rainy and cold.  You can tell we are cruisers because we just stayed on the ship, did some work and just relaxed. 

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As we settle into this crossing, there’s a sense that this isn’t just the start of another trip — it’s a continuation of a story that’s been unfolding for years.

And once again, the ocean is calling us forward.