Short Story: Cruise Bruise

My pounding head and rolling stomach protested the irony of being surrounded by water, but not being able to drink a drop.  I had discovered Kentucky Bourbon the night before at a local pub and was paying the consequences by keeping my eyes on the nearest garbage can, just in case my tormented belly decided to let me have it.  I stood in line praying that I could keep my composure.  Please, I silently chanted, please just let me make it.

I found myself frustratingly stuck behind an older, sun burnt couple who seemed to be unable to speak my language.  I prided myself on being a participant in internationalism while I seriously considered pushing them over the side of the railing.  My body simply could not take any more delays on my sole quest of feeling better.  I took a deep breath and bit my tongue against the riot in my body.

It surprised me to hear someone call our ship tiny.  I glanced up the line and saw, a huge, seaworthy ship.  I could not understand how a vessel this size could ever be called tiny.  I wondered if maybe some of my dead brain cells had penetrated the people around me.  It amused me to think that a hangover could be contagious.  Finally the line moved forward; we were on our way onto the giant that would take us smoothly into the Bahamas. 

Once on board, I noticed that the ship had a quaint feel of nostalgia from being built in the 1950's.  We found our room, and noticed that many things, including the bed, pillows and life preservers were still around since the maiden voyage.  I quietly speculated at the age span of such items while scanning the room for some water.  Ten hours had passed since the Bourbon originally declared war on my body and I finally tasted the beauty of a small, warm, $7 bottle of water compliments of the cleaning staff. 

Before we left the dock, we all had to practice the steps in case of emergency.  I was not comfortable with the fact that we must entrust our lives to the ancient, orange foam hanging from our necks.  Surely there had been technological updates in life preservers since the 50's?  Shouldn't we have life boats with sensors that automatically inflate in the face of an emergency?  How could technology completely miss the cruising industry!?  I could not help but think of the Titanic as I started into the water with my bright, orange, foam necklace. 

"At least there are no icebergs out here! The water will be warm if we go down," someone called out as if reading my mind. 

As we pulled out of the dock, we I happened to notice another cruise ship about 2 times bigger than ours.  I suddenly realized that our ship might be considered a tad smaller than the rest.  The ship beside us had 3 more levels, a tennis court, a climbing wall and a satellite dish bigger than my house.  It also had private balconies for each cabin for the passengers to enjoy a limited view of the ocean around them.  I felt my spirits lift as the Tylenol I had found kicked in. 

After dark we emerged out onto the deck to view the ocean at night.  My brain thought my eyes were playing tricks and I thought, at first, that the effects of the Bourbon were still tormenting me.  I tried to mentally stop the floor from moving and felt cheated when I realized that I was looking at the ocean, not a solid floor.  Indignant at appearing forgetful or ignorant and I vowed to remember the ocean and the vessel we were cruising on.  We saw another ship glide silently by us in the water.  The strings of lights hung on deck twinkled and blinked at us from the darkness.  The effect was beautiful.  This ship was at least triple our size and I was astonished at the wonders man could create with a simple act of will and a little bit of ambition.  I then started thinking of our ship as possibly a little small.

During dinner the following night every sip created the feeling like I was about to dive right into the glass.  The people at my table smiled and gently explain that the ocean was causing the ship to rock.  Again my brain felt ignorant for forgetting the ocean right outside the walls.  I vowed to keep in mind the concept of a cruise, and the fact that we are surrounded by a big body of water.

Once at the destination I again saw the huge ships docked beside us.  I felt envious that my ship did not contain half the entertainment paraphernalia that must be inside one of those enormous ships.  I started to feel the irony in the realization that I once thought our ship huge.  I felt silly at my lack of knowledge and vowed next time to take a real cruise where we had more than 2 days to enjoy the pleasure of the ocean with much a bigger opportunity to utilize the wonders packed inside the white walls of the giant cruise ship.  I looked back at my ship and thought to myself that was a cute little thing.