When I went on Norwegian Cruise Lines it was listed on the daily schedule of activities as "meeting of friends of Bill". At the time I didn't know what that was but a member of our group did go.
-- Edited by ChristineG on Saturday 12th of January 2013 01:48:41 PM
Well folks, I am back from my 7 day cruise. San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas....all very pretty. I had a wonderful time with my partner. I have to say the most unexpected and pleasant thing of the whole trip was the AA meetings on the boat. There were about 7 of us. I had planned on maybe going to one meeting and hoping there would be 2 or 3 other folks there. I was thinking I needed 1 meeting out of the week to not go all dry drunk crazy. Turned out those meetings were some of the best I have ever been to and I went every day. 3 of us were counselors. All the meetings were started by topics from "As Bill sees it." Everyone's shares were gut honest and some of us were actually close to crying at our last meeting LOL. We got kinda tight. The dynamic was just perfect. 6 guys, 1 woman. All with varying degrees of sobriety time. There was 1 person who was a definite stand out as the "oldtimer" in charge (but in a natural leader sort of way...not a crusty know it all jerky way). This guy was really cool....ex navy. I NEVER NEVER expected to have such a wonderful AA experience on a cruise. The woman was only 18 months sober and she was saying it was a bit difficult cuz everyone around her was drinking. The rest of us had been sober long enough that we were not even trying to hang out around other people drinking at the bars and and we were with are significant others mostly doing other things. I went on a cruise when I had 7 months sober and that was hard. It felt like everyone was getting plastered but me. Now the reality is more that some folks are getting plastered, most aren't, and I stay away from places were people are drunk and liquor is flowing. This time the only an annoyance because of the high frequency with which you are turning down alcohol that is offered to you at every meal...and half the food is cooked in booze too. Drinks were $7.50 per drink so not drinking was a huge money saver.
Once again though, I'm gonna reflect on that group and those meetings. I wont forget it. We can travel anywhere and AA travels with us. I feel sad for active drunks that say "AA is just not for me!" It is truly a blessing to be part of such a wonderful worldwide fellowship that is everywhere I go pretty much. The sharing that gets done in a meeting of 7 people over 1 week is pretty intense, if the group is right. Grateful to be home. Grateful to be able to travel and mostly grateful that AA went with me on this trip!!
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Great to have you back PC and even more so, with the share you just posted ... my wife and I have talked about maybe a cruise someday ... now, with your experience, I won't feel it to be such a stressful event ... and it is a comfort knowing there ARE actually meetings aboard ...
Thanks, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
That is so great, PC. A woman I know told me about being in a remote part of Mexico once and finding a wonderful AA group. Cool that you can find the fellowship in many different places. How did it get arranged on the boat?
Been on 4 cruises and really enjoyed the groups that we had onboard. It was fun seeing these folks around the ship and on shore excursions too. A couple times, when I had 10 and 14 years, I was the baby of the bunch lol. Old timers rule on Cruise ships
Never been on a cruise, but if I ever get to go, I hope for the wonderful AA experience you described-how cool, we are just "everywhere" now! And a great vacation too!!
Glad you enjoyed the trip. I recently went with my 20 year old son on a costa cruise in the caribean. He met some wonderful AA folks on the ship. There were meetings every day.
Great story Mark. I always like to got to meetings when I'm on vacation also. It seems to highten the experience.
It's also nice to come back from a vacation and feel like I actually was on vacation. In the old boozing days, it seemed like I came back more stressed and had to go through a mini detox LOL.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
I can't really explain why but reading this filled me with great optimism and hope. Maybe because it painted a picture of what I hope to have someday. I'm glad you had such an amazing experience.
