A week in paradise

ST. THOMAS, US Virgin Islands (17/01/12) – The majestic Disney Magic is seen anchored in St. Thomas on Tuesday Jan. 17, 2012. St. Thomas is the second destination that the Disney Magic visits during their seven day Eastern Caribbean cruise. Photo By: Kayla Allen

By Kayla Allen

I am scared to be on a cruise the week after an Italian cruise boat sunk after hitting a rock, I think to myself as I look to my right and see the captain of the Disney Magic

It’s a difficult moment, but the fear comes to me fast as I see my family walking ahead of me. Vacation is a time to relax and spend time with the people you love, not a time to worry about accidents that have happened. Accidents do occur, but they are just that, an accident.

The warmth on your skin as you walk towards the loading gate for the Disney Magic cruise ship fills you with joy.

Hundreds of little girls run around in their princess dresses and all the little boys walk around with their pirate swords looking forward to seeing Mickey and Minnie Mouse makes you feel like a kid yourself. All the smiles from ear to ear makes you wonder if anyone has even heard about the Italian cruise ship, the Costa Concordia, which left six people dead and 29 are still missing.

After you check in at the gate, you make your way through the big yellow Mickey Mouse ears toward the ship. “Welcome the Allen family!” is all you hear as you take your first footsteps on to the Disney Magic. All the cheering and clapping makes you feel right at home. Myself and eleven other family members have now started our 7 day vacation to the Eastern Caribbean islands.

While sitting through the mandatory safety evacuation drill before the cruise sets sail, I look down the fourth floor deck and see everyone lined up in lines of four. While parents try to keep their restless children in line, the evacuation leaders all turn on their megaphones and say, “You have now all started your evacuation drill.” The safety drill explained how to make your way toward the safety boats if there was ever an accident and how to use your life jacket.

Ten minutes pass and the drill is now complete. Now I know that if anything ever happens to the Disney Magic while I am on board it’s a complete free for all race toward the safety boats.  I try to keep thoughts about the accident out of my head as I walk into line at the first buffet on the cruise.

During my vacation I took the opportunity to ask seven different people on the Disney Magic if they were scared to be on a cruise after the terrible tragedy that happened on Jan.13, 2011.