My first night on a cruise ship was terrifying. The floor trembled beneath me. I was startled by booming noises coming from the decks above and below mine. Was that furniture falling, sliding, and crashing into walls? My imagination was riddled with anxiety.
I sat stiffly on the couch at midnight, determined to stay awake and prepared for disaster. I read the emergency instructions over and over for what felt like hours until I accidentally fell asleep.
I woke up to the sun shining through my cabin window. I rushed out the door to ensure everything was all right. As seemingly unfazed cruisers filled the buffet and lined up for the water…
