One Last Trip Together Before My Sons Flew the Nest
Beth and her sons, Collen (left), Ryan (center) and Kyle (right).
January 11, 2012
by Beth Shaw
I’m lucky because I have three great loves of my life….however I would soon be losing them. Many parents have experienced the mixed emotions that come with sending their growing children off into the world for the next phase of their lives. But as a single mom, that inevitability would have even more meaning for me, as my three sons and I have been a tight and supportive team their entire lives.
The challenges of raising three boys as a single parent for me have been offset by the tremendous pride I have for each of them, and the young men they’re growing up to be.
With Kyle (20) off at college, Ryan (18) joining the Marines, and my youngest Collen (14), already in high school, I couldn’t help but feel that time was running out for one last vacation altogether. We’d dreamed of taking a cruise forever, so I vowed Christmas of 2010 would be it.
Throughout my boys’ childhoods, we would vacation by loading the car with groceries and driving the 14 hours from Ohio to South Carolina, where we’d stay at a place with a kitchenette, to save money on restaurants. When my parents retired to Florida, we would travel there and stay with them. We would visit Port Canaveral, and watch the cruise ships come into port.
We’d talk about the impressive size of those ships were and how incredible they must be inside. Our fascination with cruise ships would continue long after we left the Florida coast. Whenever a cruise-ship commercial came on TV, one of us, usually Collen, would say, “Wow, just think what it would be like to go on a cruise!” I could put it off no longer.
That was how we made this cruise happen. To afford it, I put aside every dollar that I could from my job managing front-desk operations for a chain of physical-therapy clinics. Each of us cut out extra expenditure from our budgets.
The closer we got to our goal, the more excited we got. We agreed upon a Christmas cruise to the Western Caribbean on Crown Princess. That way we’d skip a week of Ohio winter. We made a grand occasion of going to the post office to get our passports. We pre-booked activities – swimming with stingrays, snorkeling, Mayan ruins, the “Twister” speed boat to Passion Island, and an excursion to Roatan, Honduras, because we read about monkeys there that would sit on your head.
Then we drove 18 long hours to get to the ship, arriving tired and hungry and thrilled to have finally arrived.
The week that followed was perfect. The days flew by with me hanging out by the pool and the boys playing basketball and grabbing pizza and hotdogs whenever hunger struck.
Yes, we snorkeled, swam with the stingrays and experienced the weirdly pleasant sensation of monkeys on our heads, exactly as we had planned. Time flew by in a blur of happiness and pure enjoyment.
Each night, I took one of those wonderful peanut butter cookies the pastry chef made along with a cup of decaf coffee to my room. It was my nightcap and my moment to reflect on what we’d achieved. I’d think about how we’d spent the day, that precious family time together, and try not to dwell on Kyle going back to school, Ryan taking that major step to boot camp, and Collen the next to go.
Mostly, I thought about how wonderful I felt to be able to give this trip to us. Then I’d drift off to sleep with the balcony door slightly ajar, lulled by the sound of waves and the soft breeze of fresh ocean air.
Beth resides in Dublin, Ohio and she’s enjoyed one Princess cruise. She hopes to take another cruise very soon!
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Beth, thank you for your heartfelt story. Your cruise with your sons is certainly a wonderful memory to last a lifetime!
Thank you for your kind comments.
Morris black and are very good friends, both of us losing our spouses a few years ago, we are both platium on your lines we returned home after going to aruba in january. we had a great time and little did i knoe that seven days later he would die of a massive heart attack. we enjoyed the ti8me we were together and loved our cruise on your beautfil ships. I am feeling ver sentimental and sad now and had to tell you my story.
Thank you for listening.
sincerely
Hernine schiffman
Sorry for your loss…I have never lost anyone close to me so I cannot tell you I understand. Hold onto those great memories and GOD bless you and your family.
Beth, I know how you feel, having gone through boot camp at Parris Island myself. I have lost 2 sons over the last 10 years, and now have a daughter suffering with breast cancer. As an innitiative to help her fight through it, I let her pick out a vacation we would go on together, in April of 2012. She knew that my wife and I had cruised across the ocean to Rome before, and she thought that was the best thing ever, so, she picked out the Ruby Princess leaving Fort Lauderdale in April. All the best to you and your guys,(especially the Marine to be).
Tom – I ‘am sorry for your loss, I could not imagine the terrible sadness you must feel to loos your sons, I dont know how I would survive without my sons in my life and I hope I never have to. Thank you for your service and sacrafices you made and your daughter is making for our country. God bless and Semper Fi <3
Beth,
A great heartwarming story Beth. Except that its true.
the best and the goodess among of all is the family tight that we share all the time….that is really great…..
we can stop time but instead share all the time you have…..
Well said Walter…life is too short
True indeed William
We will never forget this, thank you for this amazing experience and memories that will last a lifetime for my and my sons! I think when my youngest graduates HS in 2 yrs I will try to get a job on the ship so I can be a part of making someone else’s dreams come true. I have my degree in Finance and have moved up the corporate ladder over the last 8 yrs and now work as a Revenue Cycle Manager for all of Ohio ( 42 clinics) and Colorado ( 15 ) clinics so if you need someone to help with finances/admin I ‘am your person
Thanks Again from the bottom of my heart for this memory and my sons thank you as well <3
how wonderfull. We love princess cruises. You have given you and your sons a taste for cruising that will be there for ever. It is addictive of the healthy kind. I have 3 sons 21 19and 17. We hoe to take them on a cruise one day. My husband and i did a cruise recently.Sea princes 8 night from sydney going to tasmania via a day in Melbourne. We live in Adelaide.
Best wishes for you and your family
Di
We have cruised aboard the Princess Dawn in Alaska then toured the islands of Hawaii on a different cruise line. We want to go to Australia and New Zealand for our 40th anniversary. We will definitely go back to Princess! How did you like your Australia and N.Z. trip? What are things we shouldn’t miss?
how did you like the alaska cruise on the princess dawn? we are planning a cruise for this summer…..
Patti: We did our first cruise on the princess dawn in 2007 to alaska. Now we are about to do our 3rd. cruise on the coral princess a 20 day panama canal trip. Cruising is diffently addictive but in a really way. My husband is 86 and loves travelling.
your truely blessed
Thanks for ur story … I am a single mom with 4 kids and it insipres me… My youngest is 2 and my oldest is 16 quite a span between them but i am hoping that we can do something like this as a family before they grow up
I highly recommend you go…it was a memory that will last forever. The Christmas Cruise is exceptional and your kids will never forget it ( except maybe the 2 yr old ) Life is too short..you gotta just do it
Love your story, very touching….Went on a two week Hawaiiian cruise on Sapphire Princess in October….it was the mot relaxing and beautiful trips I have ever done…..
I bet you had a blast…Hawaii is beautiful but I have yet to cruise there as I need to stick to cruises on the East Coast…Maybe someday
thank you so much for sharing your wonderful story !! I took my 3 boys on a cruise in 2002. we still talk about the wonderful time we had ; these are moment to remember . cruises are wonderful with kids because they can hang out with new friends and you cant lose them !!
Sons are the best! Glad you too had a wonderful Cruise…I ‘am addicted and want to go again
Good for you and the boy’s.
Thank you Diana it was such a blast!
The next cruise is with me, Beth. The Shaws and the crazy Cooneys! This is a wonderful story and I love how you sacrificed in order to make such a special memory for you and your awesome children. Love you guys!
I just saw your comment…Haha Thank you Demaree <3
Thanks for sharing your story. Your boys are so lucky to have such a strong and determined role model in you. I’m sure you all have great memories to look back on as they all start their productive lives thanks to all of your dedication and support. I’m sure it has been a bumpy road raising three boys but I’m so inspired by you. All the best
Thank you Sophia, My boys are the reason I ‘am who I ‘am today they are my inspiration. Yes we have had our moments like all families but we remain loyal and loving no matter what.
Truly a relatable story indeed, my mother raised me and my two brothers all on her own as well after my father passed away in 1993. After 12 wonderful years of schooling in Marietta, Georgia i came back to my home state of Californi-yay!!! Believe it or not it may not be the last cruise with your boys. My mom and i are still single and sometimes life brings you back together again!!!
Thats a great story Jason thank you for your kind words. I hope its not our last and we will get to share more wonderful memories with Princess
You rmother did a great job and raised a kind person.
Loved your story Beth, thanks for sharing. Cruising is my idea of heaven on earth! We have 8 kids, 7 boys and 1 girl, my dream – the entire family cruise together for our 40th wedding anniversary, 2 years from now. There will be 11 adults, 9 grand children. To God be the glory!
Make your dreams come true as life passes us by too fast…make memories, I want to cruise again and hope to someday.
luv the yellow! unuusal to see in a family photo but it sooo works !!Luv the looks u captured in the kiddos’ eyes and the love between Momma and Poppa!You have skillz sista!Andrea
thank you for appreciating princesscrew…i am an ex-crew of princess. in fact my husband’s still in princess @ d mo. i remember an inspiring story from one of my passenger.She told me that not all guest/passenger can afford an expensive vacation on-board. She have to save every single bucks for yrsssssss to cruise with us. That statement has inspired me in my 8yrs of ship career. What she said to me gives me inspiration and puts a smile in my face even how tired i am…a smile with hard work… to make each of my guest feel welcome and well taken cared off.Thank you Beth…thank you for being our good patron…
Everyone was wonderful and it was because of all people involved that my sons and I will have memories for a lifetime. Thank you for being so kind and tell your husband thank you as well for being a part of my memories with my sons.
I am hoping to go on a cruise with my mom in the end of the year. Can you share with me which cruise you would think of taking for a first timer???
Well I can only speak of the one we went on into the Western Caribbean, if I get to go again I want to do the Southern Caribbean but for more than 7 days, I was not ready to leave when the 7 days ended. Princess is wonderful and every detail is taken care of no matter what room level you stay on. The Christmas cruise was so special because they had the ship decorated like a xmas tree, santa flew in, and they left stocking with candy on our beds on xmas eve…I ‘am trying to save now to go on xmas cruise this december. I hope you go…you will never forget it I just wanr you…you will become an addict and want to go again
Great post Beth. Isn’t Princess a great way to make memories? My wife and I have made many memories with Princes and looking forward to many more. Thanx again.
princess cruises…a never ending and amazing moments that you’ll never forget for the rest of your life…
I’m glad you had a good time with your family, life is short and they grow up quick. Our experience was similar to yours, but we live in Australia and had a great cruise on the Sea Princes to New Zealand.
Your story really touched me – I am a single mother too and went on a Princess Cruise with my parents, cousins and daughter in 2009. It was wonderful to share a room with my daughter and leave the balcony door open at night, falling asleep to the sound of the waves rushing by. She is away at university now but I hope we have future cruises ahead together ahead of us. We loved it!
Thanks for sharing your story. It was a terrific story especially being a single mom and getting a balcony besides. I assure you, this is one vacation that your boys will not forget. I hope you can take another cruise in the future the and maybe a 10 day. We did the 14 day to Panama was from Ft. Lauderdale to LA not very practical for you. Princess has a lot of nice cruises.
Hi Beth,
Although i am not a single mom (married) i very much enjoyed your story & agree family is
very important. My husband & I have been on three different cruises, & have always wished our girls were with us. Finaly this is happening and we are so excited. For Christmas this year there gift was a family cruise! We cut back on other stuff to make our dreams come true, & now our girls & their husbands can enjoy what we have enjoyed but only it will be better because we are all together. Thankyou for a true story of a close-knit family. May you always connect & have many more happy sailings!
Gillie
hi beth i retired last march and we took a mediterranean cruise last sept on carnival magic and had such a wonderful time we decided to go on another one this year. we never used princess before and they had the itinerary we liked so it will be very interesting to see how they compare to carnival. we will be traveling to egypt,turkey,greece and end up in venice this time. we love cruises- you only have to unpack once. this is our fifth. next year i want to take my grown kids and spouses also. family is everything!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Beth,
Your story brought to mind the two week Christmas/New Years Panama Canal cruise in 2009 on the Grand Pincess (I think) that my son, Tyler, and I went on. My wife had recently passed away and Tyler and I decided we wanted to get away for the Holidays; away from family and friends and reminders of our wife & mother that would probably cause sad feelings.
It was his winter break from college in Michigan, where he was working on his masters degree. So going on this cruise would get him out of very dismal snowy weather and into a brighter warmer climate where his spirits would be lifted. I live in California, so we each took separate flights to Florida and met there. It was the first time that he and I would vacation together, just the two of us. The three of us had done much world traveling together and probably 15 cruises together and he had, in the past, gone on vacation with just his mom, but never just with me. We just wanted to be together, just the two of us.
He had told me of a girl he met in college that he liked, but they were just friends; I met Crystal the day before we left on our cruise. I am at the Elite status on Princess and on this particular cruise I think I had 200 free internet minutes. I told Tyler he could use some of my minutes to keep in contact with her, but to save me some! So everytime we were in port he headed for an internet cafe to e-mail her. By the end of the cruise they were “officially” boyfriend & girlfriend! Sometime during the last few days of our cruise I asked him if he would like to do this again next year. He emphatically said “No!” At that exact moment the thought came to me that by this time next year he will be married. So it was with a little bit of sadness in my heart that this would most likely be our first and last vacation together. At the end of the cruise, it was bittersweet parting at the airport, each of us going or respective ways.
I remember thinking on the ship that he had to go back to his university, where they had met, to finish his degree and by the end of the year he would be married. Well, my thoughts came true and on December 20, 2010 he and Crystal were married in a beautiful church wedding. (Mom was sorely missed).
They both graduated with their respective degrees on May 1, 2011. They are closer in distance to me now, they live in No. California and I in So. California, but as your story states, my son (the only child my wife and I had) has flown the nest. It’s hard coming to terms with the idea that he will never live in our house again. I still see him as my little boy, even though he is a grown man. I’m so thankful we had the opportunity to take that last cruise together before he permanently “flew the nest.”
Beth, I hope you and your three boys will, indeed, be able to enjoy another cruise together as a family; there’s something very special vacationing with your children. Your story brought warm memories to me. Thank you.
Hey Beth…………great story! You’ll always remember your 1st cruise and hope they’ll be
many more to come. Your boys no matter where they are will always be with you and
grateful for their upbringing……….
I had a little laugh when you said that you were “losing” your boys. My daughter is in the Air Force reserves and my son just graduated from college and got his first teaching job. Well
after they left home for training and college….they are back! My daughter is stationed at a nearby base and my son is teaching music education at a local high school. So until they get established, put some money away, and get their feet on the ground……….they are back living at home!!!!!!!!!!! Haha you’ll never lose your boys!!!!!!
My wife and I have been on 15 cruises, most w/the kids. My son is sailing the Crown Princess
w/his girlfriend out of Ft. Lauderdale during spring break this year. The first on his own…….
Loved your story! My first family of 4 cruise (in 1981) was a 3-nt Mexican Riviera cruise! For two years, I took all the cash from my cents-off coupons and saved it until I had enough for our first cruise. When there’s a will, there’s a way! It’s not only for rich people! That first trip hooked me – I am still cruising 31 years later!
Beth – what a priceless story. The destination is great, but the memories and experiences with family is the true treasure.
I have been trying to keep up with everyone messages but it has been a task so I wanted to send one message to all and say thank you for the kind words. Its nice to hear everyones stories about there families and cruise experiences. I cheated over Spring Break and I went on another cruise but not with Princess, it was with a less expensive cruise line and I have to say ……the rate was great, the ship was just ok, food didn’t compare to princess, the staff was not as friendly, and the excursions were not well orchastrated etc. This was a gift from my Marine who graduated with honors as PFC and wanted to gift us with a cruise, unfortunately he couldn’t go with as he was in more training so I didn’t want to break his bank so I chose the cheaper one. You definately get what you pay for and if you can afford Princess…thats the way to go but the bottom line is to make beautiful memories with your family and make it affordable for you. Please remember to aknowledge service members and thank them for there sacrifices, Freedom is not free and we have them to thank. God Bless and Semper Fi
Hi Beth,
My husband and I wanted to take our two sons on a last family holiday before they settled down. We really wanted to do something that we knew they wouldn’t be able to afford or would consider so we booked onboard the Sea Princess out of Sydney, Australia for New Zealand. It was such a wonderful holiday – the boys really enjoyed themselves and we had a great time with them. It was a holiday to remember (despite getting caught up in the Qantas grounding Oct ’11). Shortly after we arrived home, son number 1 found himself a lovely young lady that he’s quite serious about and son number 2 found a job in the USA and will be leaving home for some time. Consequently our family holiday to remember has become just that and I will always remember our time on the Sea Princess with great affection.
PS we were the ones sailing out of Sydney Harbour wearing Viking helmets! My two silly sons and my equally silly husband all decided that we weren’t so much cruising as invading NZ in style! So if anyone reading this saw some rather strange looking Vikings – that, ladies and gentlemen, was my wonderful family!
One last trip sounds like such a good reason to go on a cruise. Your story confirms my idea that this would be the right thing to do. I have an 18 year old living at home but working two jobs and going to college. I know he wont be under my roof much longer and although our family goes camping and on trips home “to see the family”, we’ve never been on a real “luxury” trip. I am going to start putting my dollars away now! I do want to ask, was it worth the extra expense to travel during the week of Christmas? I was looking at that week and it is obviously a bit more expensive. I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you, Beth, for sharing your story and best wishes to you and your boys. I know they will remember the time they spent together on the cruise forever.