Life on Board: Our Fall Vacation, Part Two

After our day exploring New York City and that unforgettable view of Lady Liberty, it was time to settle into cruise life!

For part two of our fall vacation series, I’m sharing some of our favorite moments on board, along with the new layouts inspired by them.

Most of this week’s kits celebrate the ship itself and the things that make cruising so much fun—from dancing at the sail away party to enjoying a quiet sunrise in our pajamas.

Beautiful from Bow to Stern

Pictures just don’t do cruise ships justice! There is so much to admire, and somehow, even when you think you’ve taken plenty of photos, you turn another corner and find something else worth capturing.

I knew I had to create “Beautiful from Bow to Stern” to give those pictures a home. I wanted a layout that celebrates how beautiful the ship itself is, because it’s such a big part of the vacation!

This kit was designed to work with pictures of any cruise ship. Whether you’re photographing your favorite spaces inside or getting a picture of the whole ship in port, those views deserve a spot in your scrapbook.

Sail Away Party

I’ve only been on three cruises, but one thing I’ve looked forward to on every single one is the sail away party. It’s such a fun way to kick off a vacation!

This cruise’s party was lacking a little excitement, so we decided to do our part. We sang along, got up, and danced—sometimes you just have to bring a little of your own fun!

The Macarena was definitely the highlight. Apparently, that’s all it takes to get us going!

We also enjoyed taking in the views while playing some fun card games together. Between the dancing, the cards, and the company, we found our own way to celebrate the start of our cruise.

My “Sail Away Party” layout is the perfect place to remember those first hours of vacation fun.

Balcony Moments

My mom is a little bougie when it comes to cruising—she insists on having a balcony room. And honestly? I don’t blame her one bit!

Having our own private balcony makes the vacation that much better. As much as we enjoy everything happening around the ship, we also love having a quiet place to sit and enjoy the view.

And waking up to a beautiful sunrise without even changing out of your pajamas? That’s pretty hard to beat!

Those quieter moments are worth remembering, too. “Balcony Moments” was inspired by the time we spent slowing down, enjoying the scenery, and appreciating that we had nowhere we needed to rush off to.

I think Mom might be onto something with that balcony requirement!

Dining on the High Seas

One of our favorite things about cruising is getting a break from cooking—and from the daily “Where should we eat?” conversation!

We had so much fun looking at the different menus and deciding what to try. But the best part was getting to sit down with our group every night and enjoy dinner together.

When you’re traveling with family, those meals become part of the memories. There’s time to talk about the day, laugh together, and enjoy having everyone around the same table.

“Dining on the High Seas” is where I’m preserving those dinner photos. The food was certainly part of the fun, but so were the people sharing the table.

Formal Night

If you’re an avid cruiser, you probably know how much fun formal night can be!

We love having a reason to get dressed up. After spending so much of the trip in comfortable vacation clothes, it’s fun to put on something special and head out for the evening.

I also love seeing everyone else all dressed up. There are so many beautiful outfits, and it makes the whole evening feel a little more festive.

Of course, when everyone has taken the time to get ready, you have to take pictures! My “Formal Night” layout gives those dressed-up memories a special place in the album.

Exploring Boston

Our first stop brought us to Boston, where our group headed off on two different adventures!

My sister, Scott, Amanda, and I went to Salem, while Jennifer, Roberto, and Lynette took a tour of Boston. They had so much fun exploring the city!

Even though we didn’t all spend the day together, I wanted to include their adventure in this collection, too. “Exploring Boston” gives their sightseeing photos a place alongside the rest of our vacation memories.

That’s part of the fun of traveling with a group: you can head in different directions and have new stories to share when you’re back together!

From doing the Macarena to watching the sunrise in our pajamas, some of my favorite memories happened right on the ship. I’ve loved creating layouts for both the big vacation moments and the everyday things that made our time together so much fun.

Next week, I’ll be sharing part three, along with some super fun Salem, Massachusetts, kits inspired by our day exploring there. I can’t wait to show you!

Until then, what’s your favorite part of cruise life—the balcony views, the dinners, the dancing, or something else? I’d love to hear!