Senior Trip

Fun in the sun

   They were on the perfect romantic vacation. Away from the hustle and bustle of schoolwork, they walked hand-in-hand with their spouses, enjoying the sites and activities. On a seven-day Grand Princess Cruise, Mr. and Mrs. West and Mr. and Mrs. Goolsbay enjoyed an ideal vacation. Well, almost ideal ("If it weren't for those darn kids".just kidding). Although required to check in with the supervisors at dinner, morning devotions and curfew, the students were given their fair share of freedom. For many of the seniors, this was their first vacation away from home, free from parents and family, with a newfound sense of independence.
   With plenty of sandy beach destinations, shows, excursions, miniature golf, night clubs, spa treatment.there were almost more activities than old people. Here are some of the trip highlights.

On-Board Entertainment
   From 7:00 am until past midnight, the Grand Princess staff made certain that there was always something for its passengers to do. For the relaxed, passive passengers, tanning in front of the gigantic TV screen, soaking in the hot tub, playing video games in their cabins and receiving massages and facials were heaven. For the energetic, active passengers, working out at the gym, playing tennis or miniature golf, and swimming in one of the two indoor pools was exhilarating. For those who enjoy learning and trying new things, the Grand Princess offered ballroom and line dancing classes, computer classes, and even shopping classes.
   The bright lights of the vessel's nighttime entertainment lit up the sky more than the stars did. The whole boat rocked with the professional singers and dancers as they preformed three classic Broadway shows. Later in the week, a magician's nifty tricks and clever wit kept the audience both laughing and awing. Although some seniors disliked the "Bash Oklahoma" comedy act, they couldn't help but die laughing with Julia Stanton at her Princess Idol performance. Julia's singing and dancing to "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain kept the entire audience cheering, even when she intentionally sang out of tune. Two night clubs also kept the seniors busy. And then there was Luna. Luna was a sassy jazz band who started playing music every night at around 11:30. Even after the trip, a couple students adopted Luna as their new favorite band.

Ports
   Over the course of the trip, the senior class added Belize, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel to their list of places that they've experienced. At each port, the seniors had two options: they could go on excursions or go exploring. Some of the available excursions included the Mayan Palaces, snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and beach safaris. During the excursions, tour guides provided fascinating information about the countries' cultures. Those who chose not to go on excursions could shop, explore, take pictures, and visit beaches. A few seniors even paid to have their hair braided.

Rooms/Meals
   Although they were small, each room contained two bunk-beds, a television, a safe, a desk, a closet, and a bathroom. Room perks included room service and free "pay"-per-view movies. When they didn't feel liker ordering room service, the seniors could always go to the buffet. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the buffet brimmed with a great variety of foods and endless chatter. At around 4:00 pm, a couple seniors attended the ship's tea party. For dinner, the seniors always met at Michelangelo's. There, they dined on exquisite cuisine including caviar, lobster bisque, rabbit, quail, steak, and lobster. The tiramisu, cheesecake, chocolate soufflé, and the decadent chocolate "Love Boat" made it impossible to resist dessert.

Company/Other passengers
   The Grand Princess carried hundreds of new (and old) interesting people. Unfortunately for both the senior guys and gals, the majority of the cruise members were very old. Though they weren't much to look at, the golden oldies were fun to talk to, but highly interrogative. Contrastingly, the workers were young, foreign, and hilarious. Their accents, names and cultural background made each one unique. Hungary, Romania, Mexico, England, and Australia were just some of the countries represented. After a week of getting to know them, it was hard to say goodbye.
   The memories made on this trip will never leave the senior class. The developed independence, made new friends and bonded with the ones that they already had. Talk to a senior for long enough, and you'll be sure to hear the line, "Ooooh, I miss senior tri-i-ip-right now on the boat, we would have been." A few seniors are even planning their next cruise.
   In closing, I'd like to thank a few people for making this trip possible. First, I'd like to thank our sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. West and Mr. and Mrs. Goolsbay, for planning the trip and keeping us safe and altogether satisfied. Next, I'd like to thank the administration for approving this trip, and the teachers for not assigning too much homework while we were gone. And finally, thank you to everyone who bought fruit and poinsettias, or who help a senior in any way to raise money for this trip. The senior trip meant a lot to us, and we will never forget you for helping us get there.

Story by Melissa Martinek