my dream cruise essay

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If I Had a Ticket to Go Anywhere

• Categories: Dream Tourism Vacation

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Words: 1362 |

Updated: 5 December, 2023

Words: 1362 | Pages: 2 | 7 min read

Table of contents

Prompt examples for dream vacation essay, dream vacation essay example.

• Dream Destination: Imagine your dream destination and describe it in vivid detail, explaining why you would choose to visit this particular place.
• Personal Goals and Interests: Discuss how your personal goals, interests, or passions influence your choice of a travel destination and what experiences you hope to have there.
• Cultural Exploration: Explain the cultural aspects and unique experiences you anticipate encountering in your chosen destination, and how they align with your interests.
• Impact and Memories: Reflect on the potential impact of this trip on your life and the lasting memories you hope to create during your journey.
• Personal Growth: Discuss how traveling to your chosen destination would contribute to your personal growth and broaden your horizons.

My Dream Vacation in Iceland

Works cited.

• Brown, J. (2018). Fiji: A Traveler's Guide. Lonely Planet.
• Dorling Kindersley Limited. (2019). Iceland: Eyewitness Travel Guide. DK Eyewitness Travel.
• Fodor's Travel Guides. (2020). Fodor's Essential Iceland. Fodor's Travel.
• Hamilton, R. (2017). Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice. National Geographic.
• Harper, L. (2020). Blue Lagoon: A Journey to the Heart of Iceland. Forlagið.
• Iceland Tourism Board. (n.d.). Official Tourism Website of Iceland. Retrieved from https://www.iceland.is/
• Lonely Planet. (2021). Fiji. Lonely Planet.
• Matador Network. (2022). 101 Most Beautiful Places You Must Visit Before You Die. Retrieved from https://matadornetwork.com/trips/101-beautiful-places-visit-die/
• Rough Guides. (2021). The Rough Guide to Fiji. Rough Guides.
• Travel + Leisure. (2022). Best Places to Travel in Iceland. Retrieved from https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/iceland

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Experience of cruising -Tips for first time cruisers

I’ve always been curious about cruise holidays and wondered if they would be the kind of holiday that would appeal to me and any budget conscious, independent travellers.

I’ve invited Sofia Vasconcelos from the blog, FromMadeiratoMars.com to share her feedback and experience of cruising with MSC Cruises earlier this summer. As a mother of two, travelling with her family, she has an important perspective to share which I thought would be useful to share with readers of the blog.

So in her own words, here is her experience of cruising for the first time. I would love to also hear from you with your thoughts. If you have been cruising recently or are considering hopping on a cruise in near future-please leave a comment.

The splendid pool area of our cruise ship, the Msc Splendida

Describe your experience of cruising for the first time

Exciting! That’s what I’d call hopping on a cruise for the first time.

Discovering what’s inside that gigantic vessel that floats across the Mediterranean sea is an adventure by itself.

Our departure port was Barcelona which is a fantastic holiday destination in itself ( I live in Madeira) Spent 3 memorable days in the city. We felt sad to leave.

Swimming pool area, MSC Splendida

The cruise took us through some Mediterranean hotspots- France (Marseille), Italy (Genoa, Napoli and Messina) and Tunis (la Goulette)

After going through all a few key boarding procedures that include getting our picture taken by a professional photographer (which the kids loved), putting on a wrist band and given our access cards to the rooms, we started exploring our boat- MSC Splendida.

First impressions? It was astonishing to see how it looked from the inside.

It didn’t feel like we were inside a boat at all. It felt more like a luxury hotel with see through elevators and sparkling Swarovski crystal stairs.

A pianist was playing Nat King Cole in the lobby…the holiday had begun…

Bedroom of the balcony cabin

Our balcony room was great: comfortable bed, air conditioned, safe box, minibar, movies on demand and the ensuite bathroom that was small but pleasant.

Best part of the day were the early mornings onboard sitting on our balcony. This is the coastline of Cote D’Azur as the ship approaches Marseille

It had also a balcony which then became our favourite spot to relax, watching the ship arrive at port in the mornings, reading a book or having a drink with wide expanse of sea as your view.

The life in the cruise has no boring moments. There is a wide range of entertainment programmes throughout the day onboard if you choose to stay inside the boat or you have the option of taking of the MSC city excursions for each city we visited.

There are boarding hours to respect. Beware of time.

There are 4 restaurants to choose from, ranging from buffet to a la carte and a choice of cuisine ranging from Mexican, Italian to French. The ship also has 18 bars/lounges including L’Espresso coffee bar, Jazz bar, Piano bar, Wine bar, Sports bar (where you could go bowling) Cigar lounge and a pool bar.

Plus there are 5 pools to choose from, 12 jacuzzis, a large gym, solarium as well as basketball and tennis facilities.

Kids loved the Formula 1 simulator

You have access to the large Strand theatre (accommodates 1603 guests ) which has different types of shows every night , a casino, a disco, a 4D cinema, a Virtual World video arcade plus the very cool Formula 1 simulator and children’s play area.

Fantastic food at the Italian restaurant onboard: Pappardelle with mushrooms

So there is not shortage of choice in terms of food and drink and entertainment.

The last day in the cruise was a long day of travel so I treated myself to a full body massage (book in advance, they are always full) and it felt like heaven. I was so relaxed that I felt asleep inside the spa lounge while looking at the sea horizon line in a distance.

And no, I didn’t felt sea sickness nor none of the people that were with me, you can hardly tell you’re in a boat.

For me the adventure is remembered by the smiles of the children, the excitement of the families and the discovery of new cities each day.

Why did you decide to go on a MSC cruise?

It was my mother’s dream, to get all the family together on a holiday cruise. And so it happened.

Advantage was we could all stay together but still have the privacy and independence to do our own activites.

There are programmes for all tastes and ages.

We could share the meals and tours plus kids go free which makes a big difference when you are on a family budget.

Highlight of the trip: Visiting the beach and small islands of Taormina, Sicily

Also we loved the circuit: Spain, France, Italy, and Tunisia.

Wondering the streets of the Old Town of Marseille

For the kids, this was a nice and easy introduction to the world of travel.

What things did you enjoy the most at the cruise?

Balinese massage at the Spa

The bedroom with balcony (it’s worth the extra cost), the variety of food, the night shows, the Balinese massage at the spa and most of all the cities we visited.

It does feel in parts quite overcrowded with an average of 3000 people in the boat.

Restaurants and pool areas can be quite noisy and boarding the ship at every port included long waiting lines which was tough when you have small children that are anxious to go back to the pool…:)

In my opinion, they should make priority lines for families with small kids.

It also takes a few days inside the cruise to get to know how to go from A to B. There are not enough elevators for so many people, which makes you have to go by foot to reach faster.

I think they could improve direction signs and there could be an orientation programme of the ship for families.

Internet access was really expensive and not within the means of our budget. I recommend trying to catch wifi signal once you’re in the city not from the boat.

Also there are some hidden extras like paying for drinks, Venchi ice-cream by the pool (delicious and worth it) and video arcade games which adds a nice amount of euros by the end of the holiday. Make sure you take that into account.

The MSC tours aren’t cheap, so sometimes we would rent a taxi at the arrival port and make our own guided tour. There are lots of taxis waiting by the pier so you can then discuss prices according to how many people are in your group.

To help save money, I would recommend opting for the drinks package so that you can enjoy more the experience and no surprises in the bill at the end.

As for the video arcade, charge each kids card with a budget and stick with it.

Would you recommend a MSC cruise to your friends and family?

I definitely would recommend the experience of MSC cruise.

New city, every day. Loved Sibi Bou Said, the blue and white fishing village of Tunis

Waking up in a new city every day, opening the window and seeing the sunset/ sunrise by the sea all week without having to move luggage or not having to think which good restaurant to have a good meal- cruising makes travelling easy, especially when you have young kids.

Plus the entertainment for all ages is definitely a great extra, especially if you’re in a group.

In one week we visited the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, we walked along the old historic streets of the old town of Marseille drinking pastis and savouring Nutella crepes, we wondered aimlessly along the beautiful streets of Genoa, tasted the best pizza ever in Napoli, saw the Etna volcano in Sicily, explored the streets of the lost city of Pompeii and drank in the amazing colours and smells of Tunis. Rounding off our days of adventure with a plunge in the jacuzzi, a shower and then a nice warm meal followed by a show in the theatre, dance in the disco or a drink by the peaceful Meditteranean sea- hard to top that.

To give you an idea of cost, MSC Splendida is sailing out of Barcelona on January 2, 2015 for 7-nights calling at Marseille, France; Genoa, Italy; Civitavecchia, Italy; Palermo, Italy; La Goulette, Tunisia and back to Barcelona, Spain. Prices are from just £299 per person, cruise only. ( Inside Cabin- £299, Balcony Cabin starts at £499 )  They have an all-inclusive 24-hours Allegrissimo drinks package, which can be purchased for £22 per person per day. The ‘Allegrissimo’ includes wine, draught beer and soft drinks in the main restaurants and buffet, as well as cocktails, wines, aperitifs, sprits, hot drinks and take-away ice cream. There is also a mealtime ‘Cheers!’ drinks package which is unlimited, wine, beer and soft drinks at mealtimes only, which costs £14.50 per person per day.

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I love that you wrote this. I’ve traveled to many countries across the world, yet…I have NEVER been on a cruise. I still think about why I haven’t done it yet. I guess I never knew of all of the amenities offered on cruises, and at the same time how cheap it was. I’m in Los Angeles, however, and most of our cruises are down to Mexico. I’ll definitely consider it when I fly out to Europe though!

Thanks for documenting it and sharing the pictures!

Cruise Travel is becoming very affordable in Europe…huge growing segment. You should definitely try one of the mini cruise experiences with DFDS or Brittany as a primer…cheap and definitely an experience

My family cruises at least once every 4 years. We live in the USA and mostly go to the Caribbean. I’ve been on NCL once (a long time ago as teenager) and Royal Caribbean 4 times. Honestly cruising is a great way to vacation. I don’t know of another vacation where you get lodging, food, entertainment and travel between destinations for so cheap. With that being said I strongly suggest going on the newer ships if you want the best service and better food options. Many of my family members are “foodies” and cruise food is not the best by any means but it is included. My brother also says (and I agree) that after a few days the food all starts to taste the same. If you’re a foodie seek out local food places at each port. We have our next trip on Anthem of the Seas (one of the 3 newest ships from RC). They are doing some new things with their dinning options and new features so I’ll be curious to see what we think. I haven’t cruised in Europe and since I haven’t been I think it would feel a bit rushed and overwhelming for a first trip but great after a few trips.

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INSPIRATION

Working on a cruise ship – is it a dream job.

Visits: 8268

In my life I have met so many people who said: “Oh, you are working on a cruise ship?! That must be an amazing job!” But is it?! Let me explain you how it truly works on a cruise ship from the point of an employee and what the pros and cons of working on cruise ships are.

Firstly some practical information how I got this job and when and where I started. My very first season started on RIVERS in France in 2014. I successfully completed the whole season – from March till November. This year (2017) I have started to work for the same river cruise company but we are sailing from Switzerland, through Germany to Netherlands.

I am very grateful for this opportunity to work on a cruise ship to Slovakian agency called BackUp Jobs Agency which helped me get this job without paying any fee . The only thing I had to pay was 80 euro which will be reimbursed to me after three months of working on a ship.

If you want to know WHY I decided to work on cruise ships, then read my articles “ 5 Things which Helped my Dream Come True ” or “ How I Quit my Jobs & Start from Zero “.

PROS & CONS

I will describe pros and cons of working on river cruise ships from my personal point of view, therefore, it may differ from your experience (especially if you worked on ocean liners).

WHY CRUISE SHIP JOB MAY SEEM LIKE DREAM JOB

• possibility of HIGH SALARY including tips from customers
• possibility of SAVING LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN VERY SHORT TIME (as the accommodation, food and sometimes even travel expenses are reimbursed and/or paid) – from the money I saved in 2014 I travelled almost whole South America , Thailand and some European capitals
• opportunity to travel the world (especially if it comes to ocean liners)
• getting to know new people and cultures as most people on board (customers and crew) are from the whole world
• one of the best test of your determination and patience
• an awesome life lesson which will make you stronger and more resistant to any life situation which may come up in the future

WHY CRUISE SHIP JOB MAY SEEM AS HELL

• working 10 – 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, months straight is not a dream job for everyone (day off is a matter of discussion but at most cruise ship companies such thing as DAY OFF doesn´t exist )
• everyday routine will (may) possibly make you crazy after couple of months of everyday work
• harsh physical and mental exhaustion (already after 7th, 8th week)
• so called “submarine disease” on cruise ships truly exists – even for people you really like
• listening to everyday complains of customers is part of this job – and as a bonus everything must be handled with a big smile on your face 😉
• forget about comfortable clothes – you will get strict uniform followed by strict appearance rules etc …

Very shortly I described 6 advantages and 6 disadvantages working on cruise ships . As I mentioned above, it may differ from your own experiences as each company has its own rules, vacation plan (if there is any), etc …

To conclude, I don´t regret my decision to work on cruise ships though I went through hell in some moments. However, thanks to job onboard I learned a lot about myself, my limits, I was given an amazing life opportunity but most importantly I was able to save large amount of money out of which I backpacked a lot. And travelling subsequently changed my way of thinking, widened my horizon and open my mind to new things. And MiliMundo blog is a result of all of this! 🙂

So my lovely readers, would you go for it? How does a cruise ship job seem to you? Dream or hell?

In case you would like to read about my personal experience with working on ships with more specific situations, click HERE and choose one of many articles based on my personal experience. 😉

If you have more questions, don´t hesitate to contact me on FB of MiliMundo or on email [email protected]

And has been the article useful and you want to buy me some chocolate in exchange?! No hesitation and do it ! 😉

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7 Responses

z tohto clanku sa clovek vela nedozvie, viac menej veci ktore su jasne, chcela by to konkretne zazitky 🙂

No tak toto bol len taky uvodny clanok k lodiam (kedze som sa len teraz vratila opatovne na lod, necely tyzden), chcela by som napisat aj ine zazitky, ale musim mat na pamati “company policy” ktora nedovoluje vela zdielat z pracovneho zivota na lodi 😉

Nezávidím ale ako ta poznám zvládneš setko lebo to chceš a chceš prekračovať vlastne limity a sny ✌️ Držím palce na ďalšej výprave do sveta

Dakujem Tomas – ano ako pises, chcem cestovat dalej a mam skvelu motivaciu, tak preto sa to posnazim zvladnut, ale miestami a chvilkami to bude doslovne peklo 😀 ale co clovek nespravi pre cestovanie 🙂

Ahoj, chcel by som sa ťa opýtať či si mala predošlé skúsenosti čo sa týka prace v obsluhe. Ďakujem vopred za odpoveď.

Ahoj Martin, áno mala. Nič veľké, ale životopis niekedy znesie veľa. 🙂

Ďakujem, pýtam sa pretože ma čaká v utorok pohovor pre lodnú spoločnosť Viking a neviem či som vhodný kandidát. Síce mám vyštudovanú Hotelovú akadémiu a tiež jazykové znalosti no i tak neviem čo mám od toho očakávať. Nejaké rady na pohovor ? ?

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Essay on My Dream Vacation

My dream vacation is a magical adventure filled with excitement, fun, and unforgettable memories.

My dream vacation destination is a tropical island paradise. Crystal-clear turquoise waters, soft sandy beaches, and palm trees swaying gently in the warm breeze. I can already feel the sun kissing my skin as I run barefoot along the shore, collecting seashells and building sandcastles.

One of the best parts of my dream vacation is staying in a cozy beachfront bungalow. It’s painted in vibrant colors and adorned with seashell decorations. From my window, I can see the breathtaking sunrise every morning, painting the sky in shades of pink, orange, and gold. And at night, I fall asleep to the soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore.

I would love to go snorkeling in the coral reefs, where I can swim alongside colorful fish and discover hidden underwater treasures. Imagine exploring a magical world beneath the sea, where every corner holds a new wonder to behold!

I would go on a thrilling adventure through the lush tropical jungle. I would zip-line through the canopy, feeling the wind rush past my face as I soar through the trees. Along the way, I might encounter playful monkeys swinging from branch to branch and exotic birds singing their sweet melodies.

Of course, no vacation would be complete without indulging in delicious food. I would feast on fresh tropical fruits like juicy mangoes, sweet pineapples, and creamy coconut. And for dinner, I would savor mouthwatering seafood dishes prepared with local ingredients and bursting with flavor.

But perhaps the most unforgettable part of my dream vacation is the opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture. I would learn traditional dances, listen to captivating stories from the elders, and make friends with the warm and welcoming people of the island. I believe that experiencing different cultures enriches our lives and broadens our perspectives.

As the sun sets on my dream vacation, I feel a sense of gratitude and contentment wash over me. It’s been an incredible journey filled with laughter, adventure, and new discoveries. And as I drift off to sleep, I know that these memories will stay with me forever, inspiring me to dream big and explore the world around me.

My dream vacation is a magical escape to a tropical island paradise, where I can immerse myself in adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration. It’s a journey of a lifetime that I can’t wait to embark on someday soon. Until then, I’ll keep dreaming and imagining all the wonders that await me on my dream vacation.

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Dreaming of Travel Essay — My Dream Vacation

Where would YOU go if you could have the vacation of your dreams?

For me, If I could choose the vacation of my dreams, I would definitely choose southern Europe. Although the USA is far from here, it is possible to reach to Europe by plane. Why do I want to travel to countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal or Greece? The answer is simple; their climate is perfect and their ancient buildings and monuments teach about the birth of Western Civilization. I would love to go to the airport today and buy a ticket to start my journey in Greece.

Greece is the cradle of Western Civilization. Such philosophers as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates generated their wise ideas and ‘invented’ philosophy in Greece. Very soon, their thoughts spread in other European countries. I would like to visit Greece in order to understand the influence of the country’s nature, people and cuisine on our culture. Their influence has been positive because of so many talented personalities originating from this magnificent place. I would love to start my vacation in Athens. This ancient city, the capital of Greece, is full of marvelous monuments and prehistoric buildings that have survived until our time. I would like to walk about the old city and admire the historical places of interest.

It would be foolish to leave Greece without trying its cuisine. Greeks are famous for their love for dairy products, olives, fish and of course wine. They manage to combine these ingredients to produce splendid dishes.

The second stop of my journey would be Italy. But I am confused about which places to visit with so many great choices. The most obvious place is Rome, the capital of Italy. This ancient city is supposed to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. The Colosseum, Vatican City, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain would all be worth visiting. The entire city is practically a big monument and a complex of historic buildings that impress your mind. I would like to spend a few days wandering around and visiting its cozy restaurants and pizzerias.

I would try all possible kinds of pizza if I were in Italy because this dish is one of my favorites. It would be a crime to miss the chance to eat a genuine Italian pizza cooked in its motherland. Then, I should definitely try different sorts of the Italian wine. I would like to devote a day or two to the exploration of the small villas and private households that grow grapes and produce their wine.

If I am in Italy, I should go to Venice. This city is known all over the world due to its unique position and organization. When I was a child I dreamt to visit Venice, this magical city placed on the water. You will not see a car or scooter there because native citizens travel about Venice by boats. I want to look at the police, vendors and public transport that function on boats. In addition, Venice is rich in Gothic architecture. It is difficult to imagine something more imposing that looking at Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco and Doge’s Palace from your gondola. I suppose, I will feel like in a fairy tale when I decide to spend a week in the city on the water. I would try to visit this spectacular city during the carnival that gathers thousands of people in the streets wearing masks and weird costumes.

Next would be Spain. Barcelona is the primary city in my ‘must see’ list. The city is known for its architecture and lifestyle. I have dreamt about visiting the Sagrada Familia for years. I think this historic church will definitely impress me with its size and beauty. Then, I will look at the other Gaudi masterpieces that have made Barcelona famous. Barcelona Cathedral, The Arc de Triomf, The National Museum of Art of Catalonia and other places of interest are worth attention. The Barcelona beach is the ideal place to have a good rest. Its pure water and well known parties will make your vacation unforgettable. Although I am not a big fan of soccer, I would like to visit the museum of the strongest European team in Barcelona. Moreover, it would be nice to watch the game at the largest stadium in Europe called Camp Nou.

I suppose I would finish my vacation in Barcelona and fly home by plane from it's airport. I believe that these experiences and impressions obtained in the picturesque and warm southern European countries will stay with me for years. Obviously, I will try to turn this dream vacation into reality.

What would your dream vacation look like?

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Make Your Dream of Working on a Cruise Ship a Reality

Turner September 24, 2013 Travel Job Tips

1) Assess if you are ready for a job working on a cruise ship

The idea of working on a cruise ship may seem glittery and fun, but the truth is it is still a job. Hence, you need to be professional about it and not treat it as a holiday. To prepare for it, ask yourself first if you are ready for the challenges that await you. First, are you willing to be away from your family for months at a time? Cruise ship employees usually stay on board for not less than 6 months and that could be hard for individuals who are very attached to their families. Second, are you ready to work for long hours at varying schedules? Cruise ships operate 24 hours a day, so its crew and staff have to work round the clock too. You may be assigned to work early in the morning or during the night and there might be occasions when you have to work 2 shifts if your reliever is sick. If an 8 to 5 job is what you are after for, then working on a cruise ship may not be for you. Third, is your health ready for the challenges of life at sea? If you suffer from seasickness, then without a doubt, life will be difficult for you if you have to live on a cruise ship.

2) Do a research on various jobs on a cruise ship.

3) get training for the cruise ship job you are interested in..

From the list of various jobs on a cruise ship, pinpoint the ones that you are interested in and get training for them. You may study for an additional course if necessary or you may find temporary employment that will give you an experience on the said post. As a tip, knowing several languages is a huge plus if you want to be hired on a cruise ship, so a quick course may prove to be helpful. If you happen to be more than qualified already, then you can proceed to the next step.

4) Prepare your resume and apply for the cruise ship job.

belle fait toute attention à chaque pas. Nous trions les robes en différents styles, couleurs, longueurs, tissus, saisons et occasions. Avec un si grand nombre de choix, vous serez rassuré de savoir ce que vous voulez le plus. Pour ceux qui ont du budget serré, faites vos achats de robes en diverses occasions ici, c’est de bénéficier d’un meilleur rapport qualité/prix. belle vous promet une bonne qualité de chaque article des robes de mariée .

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My Dream Vacation

Essay by toharetry   •  October 31, 2012  •  Essay  •  1,122 Words (5 Pages)  •  4,656 Views

Essay Preview: My Dream Vacation

If you've never cruised before, then your ideal dream vacation will be taking a Hawaiian cruise. Imagine enjoying island paradise experiences each day. Major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Int'l and Princess Cruises offer Hawaiian cruise vacationsbetween 10 and 14 days with port stops at most of the major islands. The Hawaiian island chain includes the islands of Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui. A new cruiser may be intoxicated by the experience afforded by the Hawaiian culture.

Oahu is the most populated island. Cruise passengers will savor in its beautiful beaches, breathtaking views, wonderful restaurants, and great shopping. The Lolani Palace, built in 1882 by King David Kalakaua is the only Royal Palace in the United States. The Polynesian Cultural Center offers the most authentic luau and entertaining night show on Oahu. Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, which is located on the North West side of Honolulu, remind us of this pivotal event during World War II.

The Big Island of Hawaii is twice the size of the other Hawaiian Islands combined. Visitors will marvel at the diversity of the island, from Mauna Loa with its snow-capped peaks at over 14,000ft and Mauna Kea host to Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world. The Big Island of Hawaii offers the most breathtaking beaches with sand showing all the colors of the rainbow due to the effects of its volcanic history.

Kauai is an ideal destination for those looking to lose themselves in the romantic beauty, and tranquility of an island paradise. There are the high mountain cliffs that rise from 3,000-3,567 feet to form the Na' Pali Coast. Kauai's Waimea Canyon stretches 14 miles across the western end of the island and is called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". It has amazing views you have to see to believe. Waimea Canyon is also known for many Hollywood movies, such as Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Wailua Falls has some of the most beautiful waterfalls made famous by TV shows such as Fantasy Island and Magnum PI.

Maui is known as the "Valley Isle" with natural diversity, ranging from mountains, to deserts, and beautiful beaches. Many vacationers voted Maui as the "Best Hawaiian Island". The Maui Nui Botanical Gardens were established in 1976 by Rene Sylva, and are mainly aimed at conserving dry forests and coastal plants. Hiking through the Haleakala National Park from the height of a 10,000 ft volcanic peak to the warm Pacific water, is truly a unique experience that will last a lifetime. Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian Islands providing miles of diverse cultures, climates, and landscapes.

To experience this dream vacation, it is necessary to explore each of the islands by enjoying the on shore excursions that some of these major cruise lines have to offer. Hawaii, from a cruise ship is not a true Hawaiian vacation. Shore excursions located at these ports include tours of the waterfalls and rainforests located further inland on Kauai. Visitors will relish in snorkeling activities into the crystal clear waters of Maui that will get you up close with the aquatic life. Passengers will marvel at the different color landscape from lava at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Each of these shore excursions is available for a fee and range from 2 to 5 hours long. The islands of Hawaii are considered to be the ultimate playground that hosts a range of activities on both land and sea.

Taking a Hawaiian Cruise can be an experience worth the cost. Many passengers choose to cruise over flying to Hawaii because of the amenities and lower price. Traveling by air is the fastest way to reach Hawaii. When flying to Hawaii, a visitor has to take in to consideration the extra costs of hotels, dining, and many other expenses, which can be very costly in the long run compared to taking a cruise. The price of the cruise includes all meals, non alcoholic drinks, most ship board entertainment, and some of the most luxurious rooms on board. It is like taking your hotel

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Essay on My Dream

List of essays on my dream in english, essay on my dream – essay 1 (100 words), essay on my dream – essay 2 (250 words), essay on my dream to become a soldier – essay 3 (300 words), essay on my dream and fears – essay 4 (300 words), essay on my dream life – essay 5 (400 words), essay on my dream to become a doctor – essay 6 (400 words), essay on my dream – essay 7 (750 words), essay on my dream – essay 8 (1000 words).

Every night I dream of living a life of a celebrity. In my dream I see myself dressed up like a model posing for cameras. It is my dream to work in the film industry and become famous. But, for that, I will have to work really hard. My mother always tells me to concentrate on studies and live up to the dream of becoming a model. My father also supports me and he says that he believes in me. Once he told me that I should help others and be in good books of the people to win their heart as it will help me make my dream come true.

Every day I like to take some time aside from my responsibilities to think about my dreams and all the goals I want to achieve. My dream is to become a successful businessman. Business is something that has always intrigued me. As my father is a businessman, since childhood, I had this keen interest to be a part of or to lead a business.

Only having a dream won’t help, I also need to work towards the achievement of my dream. As doing business is not as easy as it seems, first I need to understand the basics of what business actually is. This will the first step towards my dream. So after completing my intermediary, I have enrolled myself in a reputed college to do my Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA). After completing BBA, I will also do my Masters in Business Administration. By then I will have gained the complete knowledge on business and its functioning which will help me reach my dream.

Apart from the theoretical part, I can always count on my father to share with me the practical experiences and advices that will help me shape my dream. This will take me closer to my dream of becoming a successful businessman. I have also started reading magazines about successful businessmen and their success stories in order to gain some idea that will help me in the long. I will put the best of my efforts and work hard towards achieving my dream.

Introduction:

My dream to become a Soldier started on an Army Day (January 15th), when I was still in High School. I witnessed the tribute paid to martyred soldiers at the Amar Jawan Jyoti in India Gate. It was followed by parades displaying Tanks, Missiles, and War Helicopters etc. The impression I received that day motivates me to realise my dream to become a Soldier.

Love of a Soldier:

The history of Indian independence and the life of freedom fighters has always fascinated me. Those who were responsible for the air of freedom we breathe today, loved our motherland and dedicated their lives to its well-being. These seeds in me have developed a sense of love for the country. It has also nurtured my dream to become a soldier and safeguard it.

Spirit of a Soldier:

Apart from academics, I started to collect all details about how to realise my dream to become a Soldier. I began to understand the values that inspire a Soldier to willingly face challenges and responsibly safeguard the nation even at the cost of his own life. This inspired me to study well and keep myself fit to achieve my dream to become a Soldier.

Training of a Soldier:

I also understood about the training before service. The feeling of pride and mutual loyalty is imbibed among the trainees. They are also trained to willing sacrifice for the country’s honour, with a do or die spirit. A sense of fearlessness, fairness and honesty are inculcated during the disciplined training. These components further kindled my dream to become a Soldier.

Lifestyle of a Soldier:

On the one hand, the soldier’s life is a life of self-sacrifice. On the other hand, the lifestyle it offers far exceeds my expectation, and fuels my dream to become a Soldier. Opportunities to advance in ranks, paid study holidays, subsidized housing, free medical coverage and recreational facilities are provided, apart from regular salary and perks. Lifelong pension is awarded after retirement.

Conclusion:

Many young people in the country offer the time of their life to work for big Corporates. But, I am here to pursue my dream to become a Soldier and dedicate my life to the welfare of the nation. I often encourage my friends to follow my dream to become a Soldier, at least for a short service tenure ranging from 10 to 14 years.

At a very early age, my dream was to do something big in life. But along with that I still had some fears also. I want to have a successful career, and for this, I had set an aim. It is quite essential for everybody to get them to establish professionally and successfully. Besides this, few other dreams are also necessary for me like health, relationships, and many different aspects of life. However, I also fear to get fail in achieving all these targets.

Career Dream and Fear:

When I was a kid, my dream was to become a doctor. But during my growing age, the Bollywood industry fascinated me and then my dream of becoming doctor changed to an actor. When I passed my class 12 th , the only goal that hit my mind was becoming an engineer. I always fear of dreaming about big things, but if you have potential then, you can achieve anything in life.

Dream and Fear of Health and Fitness:

When I was young, I was not so much concerned about my health. But now I realized the importance of having good health. My dream of becoming fit and healthy was only achieved due to strong willpower and eagerness of doing regular exercise. With this thought, I managed to lose around 15 kg easily. Now, I don’t fear about eating any food as I compensate that with my daily workout.

Dreams and fear about the relationship:

There is a special place of relationships in my life, and sometimes I fear about losing the important people in my life. But, now I realize that instead of thinking negative, we should try to spend more time with the people. It is as essential as my dream of good career.

Thinking only about the career and success with the little amount of fear might not offer you complete happiness later. It is good to become serious about your career, but you should also try to overcome any fear for a more successful life ahead.

Life is a dynamic process that has its ups and downs. Juggling the disparities of life can be very stressful at times and that is why you get your mind wondering in thoughts. Most thoughts are usually based on what people desire, which we call the dream life. The desires in life may not always be achieved but it is good to have a picture or at least an idea of the kind of life on desires to have. In America, people have the American dream but you as an individual should ask yourself; what is your dream life?

How my dream life looks like:

Socially, I have always imagined myself being a very influential person in my society. Currently in school, I always have the urge to influence someone but I still lack the confidence and resources to do so. I have always wanted to travel the world and explore different cultures of the world through interactions with people. I also imagine of having a great family with whom I can travel the world with.

Career-wise, I want to work at the comfort of my own home and be flexible so that I can always have time for my family. Spiritually, I have a desire to always be in good terms with God and follow the doctrines of my religion.

Economically, I want to be self-actualized at an early age so that I can focus on my influential personality, having all the resources I need. I want to be satisfied with what I will have achieved and work on living a happy life.

How I plan on living my dream life?

Living the dream life can begin any time that you chose to be as an individual. For my dream life, the things that I can achieve while still at school is the ability to have a spiritual wellness and flowing the doctrines of my religion. I can also start learning to appreciate whatever I have and living a happy life.

For the desires that I cannot achieve at the moment, I will work towards achieving them by shaping and redirecting the pathway. For example, my career, I will pursue something in the university that will allow me to work from home without necessarily going to work.

A dream life is basically the desired of one’s heart inform of an imagination. A dream life does not affect the reality in any way.

A dream is something that helps you to mold your future and aim your life to an appropriate goal. Dreaming big will help us to work for it harder and finally achieve it. Without desire and aim in life, we cannot focus and work hard to fulfill our dream.

My Dream to become a Doctor:

The biggest dream of my life is to become a doctor. I have seen many doctors, who save other people’s lives and they feel happy in the satisfaction they get through this activity. I want to be a doctor, who will serve good for this society and help poor to get good medical care without expecting big money in return.

Doctors are respected in all places and among all types of society. In spite of being different in many things like wealth, religion, etc., everyone will be in need of the best doctor to treat them honestly. I dream of being one such doctor to whom anyone can come without any doubt and fear of being tricked.

I don’t want to be a doctor who just works for money. I want to help others who can’t afford big budget treatments and choose their fate due to their lack of money. When a person is cured of their illness, the smile that appears on their face will be the greatest reward I will ever get. My dream is to become a doctor, who is praised for the kindness and get rewards through others blessings.

How to become a Doctor?

To get the admissions in a medical seat is not that easy. But I will work hard and crack the competitive exam to get a merit seat in the college. I will work hard from the beginning to end to improve my knowledge and keep updated about every upcoming and ongoing development.

I would like to choose the specialization when I can actually decide which one will suit my desire. I have an aim to serve the people in their needs and once I grow big enough to decide the correct career to fulfill my dream, I will work harder to achieve that as well.

After achieving My Dream:

Once I complete my whole medical courses I would be looking to practice in a well-reputed hospital to perfect my job. With this perfection I will start my own clinic and serve people for the rest of my life along with this I will help other students also to get trained to become a good doctor. I will make sure that my dream will come true at the best time.

We all have some sort of ambition or dream. My dream is to become a world class chef. Dreams play a very important role in moulding our future. There is a saying that “if you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it”. This saying implies that if you can work hard and put in your best to achieving your dream, it is very possible to live your dream. Working hard to achieve ones dream is easier said than done but if you put in your best effort and never give up, dreams are achievable.

In the path of achieving my dream, it is important that I take one step at a time. Even if I have a very big dream of becoming a word class chef, it is best for me to take steady and small steps by setting both long term and short term goals, by doing this, I am always working towards achieving my dream. When I take one step at a time, it helps not to rush into decisions and take things easy.

I know becoming a world class chef is not very easy and can only happen if complete and proper training from a very reputable institute and there isn’t much I can do at the moment to speed up the realisation of my dream since I am still in school. However, I still do my best to set my dream rolling, I follow a lot of cooking websites and blogs, watch cooking shows, read culinary books and I practice my cooking to sharpen my skills every time. These are all little steps I am taking towards achieving my dream. Though my goal is to become a world class chef, I have small goals in place for each month and year to come so that I can reach my dream.

A major hindrance to achieving my set goals and my dream is the lack of inadequacy of motivation. A lot of people have given up their goals and dreams just because they got tired on the way. It is extremely important to remain motivated and only stop is when the dream has been achieved. Highlighted below are some useful tips that I have used to keep myself motivated on the journey to reaching my dream:

i. Anytime I see that I am running out of drive and energy and I am becoming too tired to stick to my set goals, I try to remind myself of what my dream is and the feeling of pride and joy I will experience when I achieve it and become a world class chef. It feels like pressing a reset button and starting with a refreshed mind again and working harder towards achieving my dream.

ii. Long term goals and short term goals are set towards the ultimate goal of achieving my dream and as I reach these short term goals, I try to reward myself for my achievement. The reward can vary from eating dinner at my favourite restaurant or buying myself a new phone I wanted or going out with my friends. Rewarding myself is a very good way to remain motivated towards the achievements of my goals and ultimately my dream.

iii. When I work too much and have no time to relax and play, my productivity drops and I become dull. Therefore, it is a good idea to have some time for myself away from work to focus on something fun that I love. I find time in my schedule every day to engage in some form of leisure activity or sport.

iv. Having people who believes in my dream and support my goals around me makes all the difference. Having positive people helps me find the strength and courage to push on and not give up on my dream. They motivate me to work hard and do the best to achieve my goals and my dream.

v. A mistake is nothing more than an experience and an opportunity to try again and do things much better. So, instead of getting heartbroken and disheartened to the point of wanting to give up on my goals and dream when I face a tough time or make mistakes, I learn from the mistakes and move on as the tough times and mistakes make me a lot stronger.

I will keep working hard towards achieving my dream and I believe that I will become a world class chef one day.

Who in this world does not have a dream? A dream to buy a car, a dream to be a scientist, a dream to do something for the society, or just a dream to live a life with contentment. Something or the other, but surely every person has a dream. It is this dream that drives you to work hard, achieve your milestones and ride towards success in your life. Success need not be becoming the wealthiest person on the earth. Achieving even your smallest dream can be a huge success for you. Since childhood, you come across various fields which often you think of as your ultimate targets. However, most of them are just fantasies and fade away with time. Still, there are some things which just stick on to your minds and these very things eventually go on to be your dreams.

My Dream – My Passion:

Like others, even I have a dream. My dream is to join the intelligence unit of the country and serve my country with pride. Usually, in order to serve the country, people think of joining the armed forces. However, I have a different point of view. I dream to join the intelligence unit and provide inputs to these armed forces so that they can protect the country in a good way and not many lives are lost fight battles with our neighbours.

Where did it all start?

Since my childhood, I have been fascinated by the role of intelligence and the methods of work they are used to. I had got a chance to be with a couple of people early in my life who were in the same field and it is from here that I got so much stuck up with this profession that I have dreamt day and night to be a part of this elite team. Moreover, I feel that I have it in me to research about things as well as people and am known in my circles to extract information from nowhere. I feel that this talent of mine can prove helpful for the country as well. Intelligence plays a crucial role in the security establishment of the country. The inputs gathered from intelligence units help the government and the forces to plan their steps both at diplomatic and at the level of securing the borders.

Another thing which excites me about this dream is that it is not a conventional field such as common occupations which are sought after by most of the youth of our country. Another very important thing to mention here that you need not formally join the intelligence to realise this dream. By keeping a check on your surroundings and providing proper information to the police in case you notice an unfavourable incident is also a form of your contribution to the security agencies of the country. If everyone remains active, a lot many incidents such as terrorist attacks can be averted.

Why having a dream is so important?

Dreams are very important for everyone. Without dreams, there will be no desire to pursue. There will be no objective to reach. We will all be nothing without dreams. Not having dreams resembles pursuing a traceless homicide. It resembles following an undetectable shadow. It is a loathsome goose pursue. We should comprehend what we need to do and pursue that desire.

A great many people have dreams. Successful ones or little ones. Indeed, even the best individuals had dreams and that is the thing that has made them what they are today. Envisioning is basic for a person. Without dreams, you will lose enthusiasm forever lastly prefer not to live. You will be exhausted and tired of the equivalent dull schedules of your everyday life and won’t discover an enthusiasm for the most energizing things. Just with dreams, will you discover a reason to carry on with your life? You will begin buckling down towards the fantasy and will never lose enthusiasm forever. You will never tire and dependably be spurred. This is the most ideal approach to end up effective. So, dream and dream big. It is the only way to achieve contentment in life.

Be that as it may, with dreams, comes extraordinary duty. It is not just sufficient to dream and disregard that fantasy. Numerous individuals dream, however just some wake up and work for it.

It is basic to buckle down for your fantasies. Without this diligent work, a fantasy will just remain a craving in the subliminal personality and will never be accomplished.

On the off chance that you don’t have a fantasy, you can never appreciate the extravagances of life or all that life brings to the table. You will never feel that delighted sentiment of accomplishment. You will never get pride in what you do and what you have accomplished. Every one of these things is vital for people and without these emotions, there is no inspiration.

In the event that you don’t have inspiration, you will be a disappointment throughout everyday life. You won’t have the capacity to accomplish those objectives and will have a hopeless existence. You will never appreciate the extravagances of life and you will never feel glad. You will be a disappointment and you will be nothing throughout everyday life. We should go that additional mile to achieve our objectives. Disappointments may come, however a state of mind to continue proceeding onward and attempting to enhance is completely accomplished by dreams. Dreams are the fuel that continues invigorating you to go further. Regardless of whether there are numerous snags throughout everyday life, you will, in general, continue moving further and attempting to be superior to anything your identity. Consistent and endless enhancement is extremely imperative in advancing throughout everyday life. It improves your identity and furthermore whatever you need to advance in. It causes you to gain from your missteps

Only having career objectives and succeeding professionally can disregard you after one point throughout everyday life. Work as constantly to accomplish these as you do to understand your ultimate dreams. Having a dream is not important. What is important is striving continuously to achieving it. The sense of satisfaction you acquire once you have attained your goals cannot be explained in words and has no alternative in life. So, strive hard and live your dreams. Who knows, what is there in store for you?

Ambition , Doctor , Dreams , Goal , My Dream , Soldier

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My Dream Destination Essays – Paris, Dubai, Canada, New York

Explore dream destinations like Paris, Switzerland, Dubai, Canada, New York, and the Maldives in this captivating blog post series. From the historical charm of Paris to Switzerland’s natural beauty, Dubai’s architectural wonders, Canada’s diverse landscapes, New York’s iconic landmarks, and the Maldives’ tropical paradise – each essay title promises a vivid journey through rich histories, cultural allure, and unique experiences. Join us on this virtual adventure through dream destinations

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Introduction

Paris, the capital city of France, often referred to as the “City of Light”, is my dream destination. Known for its rich history, breathtaking architecture, and vibrant culture, it presents a unique blend of charm and elegance that is hard to resist.

Historical Significance

Paris is steeped in history and each corner of the city tells a tale of its past. An important center during the French revolution, it has witnessed numerous political upheavals and changes over the centuries. The city’s numerous museums like the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, and the Picasso Museum house artifacts from different eras, offering a glimpse into the city’s historical journey.

Architectural Marvels

Paris is world-renowned for its architectural splendor. From the iconic Eiffel Tower, which is a symbol of French ingenuity, to the majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral showcasing Gothic architecture at its best, the architectural marvels of Paris are awe-inspiring. The city’s wide avenues and elegant bridges over the River Seine further enhance its architectural beauty.

Cultural Richness

The cultural richness of Paris is unparalleled. It’s a city that celebrates art in all its forms. Being the home to world-class museums and art galleries, it has been an inspiration to many renowned artists, writers, and musicians. Its vibrant music and dance scene, along with its theatrical performances and fashion shows, highlight its rich cultural landscape.

Culinary Delights

Paris is also famous for its culinary delights. Known as the culinary capital of the world, it offers a wide array of gastronomical experiences. From mouth-watering croissants and crepes to exquisite wines and cheeses, Paris is a food lover’s paradise.

In conclusion, Paris, with its historical charm, architectural marvels, rich culture, and delectable cuisine, is my dream destination. It’s a city that offers something for everyone, from history buffs and art enthusiasts to food lovers and fashionistas. The thought of exploring the streets of Paris, soaking in its beauty and experiencing its vibrant culture, excites me. It is this dream that fuels my passion for travel and motivates me to work hard to turn it into a reality.

Essay On My Dream Destination Switzerland

Switzerland, a small but enchanting country nestled in the heart of Europe, is my dream destination. Known for its pristine landscapes, snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and vibrant cities, Switzerland is a paradise for nature and adventure lovers.

Natural Beauty

The natural beauty of Switzerland is unmatched. It is home to the Swiss Alps, one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the world. These mountains offer stunning views and are a haven for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and snowboarding. The country also boasts of numerous sparkling lakes, such as Lake Geneva and Lake Lucerne, that add to its scenic beauty.

Cities and Culture

Switzerland’s cities, such as Zurich, Geneva, and Bern, are bustling with life and culture. Filled with historical sites, museums, and art galleries, these cities offer a rich cultural experience. Switzerland is also renowned for its multicultural society, which is reflected in its diverse cuisines, languages, and customs.

Swiss Cuisine

Swiss cuisine, influenced by its neighboring countries, is a culinary delight. Switzerland is famous for its cheese and chocolates. Swiss fondue, a dish made of melted cheese served in a communal pot, and Swiss chocolate, known for its superior quality, are must-try delights.

Adventure Sports

Switzerland is a hotbed for adventure sports. The Swiss Alps provide an ideal setting for skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. Paragliding over the beautiful landscapes is another thrilling experience that Switzerland offers.

Tranquility and Quality of life

Switzerland is known for its tranquility and high quality of life. The country has a reputation for cleanliness, safety, and efficient public transportation. It is a country where tradition and modernity coexist, providing an enriching travel experience.

In conclusion, Switzerland, with its natural beauty, rich culture, delicious cuisine, adventure activities, and high quality of life, is my dream destination. The thought of immersing myself in the tranquility of its landscapes, exploring its vibrant cities, and tasting its delectable food, fills me with anticipation. This dream inspires me, pushing me to work harder towards making it a reality.

Essay On My Dream Destination Dubai

Dubai, the jewel of the United Arab Emirates, is my dream destination. Known for its mesmerizing skyline, luxurious lifestyle, rich cultural heritage, and endless desert sands, Dubai is a place of contrasts that blends tradition with modernity in the most captivating way.

Rapid Development

Dubai’s rapid development from a small fishing village to a global city is awe-inspiring. Its skyscrapers, such as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the Burj Al Arab, a luxury hotel resembling a billowing sail, are architectural wonders that demonstrate the city’s progressive vision and ambition.

Cultural Heritage

Despite its rapid modernization, Dubai upholds its cultural roots. The city’s old quarters, like Al Fahidi Historic District and Al Seef, transport you to bygone eras with their traditional wind towers and bustling souks. These places, along with the Dubai Museum, offer a glimpse into the city’s rich past and Bedouin culture.

Shopping Extravaganza

Dubai is known as the “shopping capital of the Middle East”. Its numerous shopping malls, like the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, offer a plethora of international brands and luxury goods. The annual Dubai Shopping Festival is a shopper’s paradise, offering massive discounts and grand prizes.

Culinary Landscape

Dubai’s culinary scene is as diverse as its populace. It offers a multitude of dining experiences, from high-end restaurants serving international cuisines to food stalls offering local Emirati dishes. Signature dishes like Shawarma, Hummus, and Falafel are not to be missed.

Adventure and Recreation

Dubai is also a hub for adventure and recreation. Activities like dune bashing, camel riding, and sandboarding in the Dubai Desert offer thrills for adventure seekers. For leisure, one can visit the stunning Jumeirah Beach or enjoy a traditional Dhow cruise along the Dubai Creek.

In conclusion, Dubai, with its majestic skyscrapers, rich cultural heritage, shopping extravaganzas, diverse culinary delights, and thrilling adventures, is my dream destination. The prospect of experiencing the city’s luxurious lifestyle, immersing myself in its culture, and exploring its modern and traditional facets excites me. This vision fuels my aspiration to travel and keeps me motivated to realize this dream.

Essay On My Dream Destination Canada

Canada, the second-largest country in the world by land area, is my dream destination. Known for its stunning natural beauty, multicultural cities, and friendly people, Canada is a country that promises a unique and enriching travel experience.

Scenic Beauty

Canada is a haven for nature lovers. From the majestic Rocky Mountains in Alberta to the stunning Niagara Falls in Ontario, the country boasts breathtaking landscapes. Its numerous national parks, such as Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, offer opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking, and camping. The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), visible from places like Yukon, are a spectacle that is on many people’s bucket list.

Vibrant Cities

Canada’s cities are as diverse as they are vibrant. Toronto, the largest city, is a bustling metropolis known for its iconic skyline, which includes the CN Tower. Vancouver, with its scenic backdrop of mountains and sea, is renowned for its outdoor activities. The French-speaking city of Montreal, with its European charm and cultural festivals, offers a unique blend of the old and new.

Cultural Diversity

Canada is a multicultural country, and this is reflected in its cuisine, music, and festivals. Canadian food is a blend of influences from British, French, and Indigenous cultures, along with contributions from successive waves of immigration. Poutine, a dish of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy, is a must-try Canadian delicacy.

Canada is a paradise for adventure enthusiasts. From skiing and snowboarding in Whistler to canoeing and kayaking in the country’s numerous lakes and rivers, there is no end to the outdoor activities that one can indulge in. Ice hockey, the national winter sport, is a significant part of Canadian culture.

Education and Innovation

Canada is renowned for its education system and is home to some of the world’s top universities. It is a leader in areas such as technology, scientific research, and innovation. Visiting the tech hubs like Waterloo would be a treat for any tech enthusiast.

In conclusion, Canada, with its stunning landscapes, multicultural cities, rich culture, adventure sports, and emphasis on education and innovation, is my dream destination. The idea of exploring Canada’s wilderness, experiencing its cities, and immersing myself in its multicultural society is truly exciting. This dream propels me towards my goal of travel, motivating me to make this dream a reality.

My Dream Destination Essay New York

New York, often referred to as the “city that never sleeps”, is my dream destination. Famous for its vibrant culture, iconic landmarks, diverse cuisine, and fast-paced lifestyle, New York is a city that promises an unforgettable experience.

Iconic Landmarks

New York is home to some of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy, and the Empire State Building, a testament to human ingenuity and ambition, are must-visit sites. Central Park, a green oasis in the heart of the city, offers a respite from the city’s bustling pace, while Times Square, known for its neon lights and Broadway theatres, is a hub of entertainment.

Cultural Melting Pot

New York is a cultural melting pot, with its diverse population contributing to a rich tapestry of traditions, languages, and cuisines. The city’s neighborhoods, such as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Harlem, each have their unique cultural identities and histories. New York’s museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, house extensive collections that span across time and geography.

New York’s culinary scene is as diverse as its population. The city offers a wide range of culinary experiences, from fine dining at Michelin-starred restaurants to street food vendors selling hot dogs and pretzels. Iconic New York foods include the New York-style pizza, bagels, and cheesecake.

Arts and Entertainment

New York is globally renowned for its arts and entertainment scene. Broadway, the epicenter of American theater, is known for its high-quality plays and musicals. The city’s music scene is equally vibrant, hosting numerous concerts and music festivals across a variety of genres.

In conclusion, New York, with its iconic landmarks, cultural diversity, culinary delights, and thriving arts scene, is my dream destination. The thought of immersing myself in the city’s dynamic and fast-paced lifestyle, exploring its cultural enclaves, and experiencing its entertainment offerings is exhilarating. This dream keeps my passion for travel alive and fuels my determination to make this dream a reality.

Essay On My Dream Destination Maldives

The Maldives, an archipelago of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, is my ideal travel destination. Renowned for its enchanting blue waters, white sandy beaches, and abundant marine life, the Maldives promises a paradisiacal and unforgettable vacation experience.

Pristine Beaches

One of the key attractions of the Maldives is its pristine beaches. The islands are surrounded by endless stretches of white sands, which, under the tropical sun, gleam like a carpet of diamonds. These serene beaches offer a perfect backdrop for relaxation and sunbathing while also providing opportunities for beach sports and activities.

Incredible Marine Life

The Maldives is home to a diverse and vivid marine ecosystem. With crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs, it offers some of the best snorkeling and diving experiences in the world. A multitude of colorful species, including butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, and even the occasional shark or turtle, can be observed in their natural habitat.

Over water and Underwater Resorts

Luxury in the Maldives is synonymous with overwater and underwater resorts. These unique accommodations offer an immersive experience of the island’s scenic beauty and marine life. An underwater room provides a panoramic view of the vibrant coral reefs and the myriad of sea creatures that inhabit them, while an overwater bungalow offers the soothing lullaby of waves and a stunning view of the vast ocean.

Maldivian Cuisine

Maldivian cuisine is an exotic blend of flavors, heavily influenced by its Indian, Sri Lankan, and Arab neighbors. The primary staples are fish, coconut, and rice. Mas huni, a dish made from shredded smoked fish, grated coconut, and onions, is a traditional Maldivian breakfast. Garudhiya, a fish broth served with rice, lime, chili, and onions, is another popular local dish worth trying.

Eco-friendly Tourism

The Maldives is a leading player in sustainable tourism, with many resorts incorporating eco-friendly measures. From solar-powered energy to desalination plants and waste management systems, sustainability is at the forefront. This commitment to preserving their natural environment for future generations is truly commendable.

In conclusion, the Maldives, with its breathtaking beaches, vivid marine life, unique accommodation options, exotic cuisine, and commitment to sustainability, is my dream vacation destination. The thought of immersing myself in this tropical paradise, exploring its underwater marvels, and experiencing its unique culture and cuisine is truly enticing. This dream fuels my passion for travel and keeps me motivated to turn this dream into a reality.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

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10 things I wish I'd done differently on my first cruise, from booking a better room to avoiding specialty restaurants

Posted: April 9, 2024 | Last updated: April 9, 2024

• I took my first cruise on one of the world's largest ships, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas .
• Mistakes like choosing a room at the ship's front and forgetting earplugs made it less enjoyable.
• I also regret taking my first cruise by myself and sailing for seven nights.

I'd traveled by car , bus, train , and plane , but boats of any kind were completely new to me until April 2022, when I went on my first cruise to the Caribbean.

I embarked on a seven-night voyage on one of the world's largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas . We sailed to Roatán, Honduras ; Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. 

While it felt surreal to be on such a large vessel in the middle of the ocean, I made some mistakes that made my trip more expensive and less enjoyable than it could have been. Here's what I'll do differently next time.

Booking a seven-night trip for my first cruise experience was an ambitious decision that made me feel overwhelmed.

Cruises can be as short as two nights or as long as several months . When booking my cruise, I thought one week would be a good amount of time to get used to the lifestyle.

While initially in awe of the ship and the journey ahead, I struggled with sleep and motion sickness every day. I was grateful to be out in the ocean, but by the fourth day, I felt ready to go home and overwhelmed by the remaining time I had on the ship.

Since cruising was a new form of vacation and transportation for me, I wish I had booked a shorter trip for the first time.

I took this cruise by myself, but if I were to do it again, I'd travel with someone else.

The length of the trip would have been more bearable if I hadn't traveled solo .

While there were many social activities and friendly cruisers who loved chatting with random strangers like me, I still felt lonely on the ship. I longed to talk with someone who knew me or share my experiences in new places with a loved one. Being surrounded by so many families and groups of friends made me wish I could be with mine.

When I cruise again, I'll bring a crew.

I'm prone to motion sickness, and I unknowingly booked a room where movement on the ship felt the strongest.

For $2,000, I slept in a 179-square-foot stateroom on deck eight. My cabin had a private bathroom, a king-size bed, and an ocean view.

It was a mid-tier room — a step above interior staterooms with no window, a step below staterooms with a balcony, and two steps below a suite. I quickly realized this was the wrong room to book.

Since it was at the very front of deck eight, I felt constant motion in my room. This made sense to me after talking to seasoned cruisers on the ship, several of whom told me that the front of the ship was one of the worst places to be for feeling motion. They said that higher decks in the middle of the ship feel calmer and more stable.

Some nights were rockier than others. On the roughest nights, I heard and felt a similar sensation to thunder beneath me every few minutes. Loud thumps and heavy vibrations in my room sounded like large pieces of furniture falling down. The first night this happened, I feared the worst, but over time, I realized that this was a normal aspect of cruising — but one I would likely never get used to.

Next time, I'd choose a room in the middle of the ship.

If I had remembered to bring earplugs, I might have gotten more sleep.

Because I heard sounds that reminded me of thunder every few minutes some nights, it was nearly impossible for me to sleep. 

If I had earplugs with me, I may have been able to rest more during my trip. One night, it was so loud that I decided to sleep with my earbuds in, but since I sleep on my side, I woke up with one earbud painfully pushed too far into my ear.

I forgot to bring cash, which was essential for tipping bus drivers and tour guides during excursions.

Cash is a must on cruises, I learned. While you can tip the cruise ship members with a credit card at the end of your trip, you need cash to tip the bus drivers and tour guides during excursions at the ports.

There are ATMs on the ship, but they have withdrawal fees, according to the Royal Caribbean website .

I regret wasting space in my suitcase on dresses for formal nights since dress codes were not enforced.

I hate dressing formally, but I knew cruises had formal nights going into the trip, so I brought one nice dress with me to wear whenever I needed it. However, after the first formal night, I learned that the dress code wasn't strictly enforced. People wore a variety of outfits, from evening gowns to T-shirts. 

I relaxed my look on the other two formal nights but felt like I wasted the limited space in my suitcase with the dress. Next time, I won't bring it with me.

I missed some shows because I didn't make reservations for the week as soon as I boarded the ship.

The cruise ship was full of activities and restaurants that I could go to, but some restaurants, like the specialty ones, as well as all the shows on board, required reservations that I made through the Royal Caribbean app.

I found that it was often hard to get day-of reservations for many shows I wanted to attend. Waiting until the last minute to plan for these events was a mistake. 

For example, the circus-like acrobatic water show in the AquaTheater seemed to be the most popular and hardest reservation to get. I tried to get one on the day of the event but couldn't find any availability until a show two nights later.

Next time, I'll make all my show reservations as soon as possible.

Before my trip, I reserved all specialty restaurants, but I wish I hadn't booked so many once I realized the included restaurants were delicious and diverse.

One of the unique things about cruising is that most meals, snacks, and drinks are all-inclusive as part of the cruise rate.

But on large ships like Wonder of the Seas, more than a dozen restaurants with specialty offerings, like sushi, are not included and incur additional charges, either as a one-time fee or by the dish.

While show reservations aren't available until you board the ship, specialty restaurants can be reserved as soon as you book your trip. I booked specialty restaurants for nearly every night of the cruise.

I was surprised that some of my most delicious and satisfying meals were in the restaurants included for guests. There were a handful of buffets with different types of food, and the main dining room served a three-course meal with varying menu items each night.

Every single one of my cravings was satisfied by these complimentary options. One of the best meals I had was in the main dining room.

Since I booked so many specialty restaurants, I didn't have time to try all the buffets or eat in the main dining room more than once. Next time, I'll save money and eat more included meals.

At the ports, I booked two excursions with beach stops and felt like I wasted time.

At each port stop, guests have the option of booking excursions through the cruise line for an additional cost. These include tours and activities like hiking or zip-lining. At two of the port stops , Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, I booked excursions that included a few hours of beach time, where guests got access to a beach club with lounge chairs.

In Cozumel, I went to a beach club in Tulum after a long tour of Mayan ruins. It was nice to relax and enjoy some of the clearest ocean water I had ever seen.

The next day in Costa Maya, I went on a very brief tour of the island before going to the beach. Since I felt like I got my beach fix the day before, I found myself wishing I could spend the time exploring more of the island.

Next time, I'll book only one excursion with beach time. 

For the end of my cruise, I made the mistake of booking a night flight, which left me in the airport for 14 hours.

At the end of the cruise, passengers disembarked in the morning upon returning to port. But when booking my cruise , I learned that the scheduled port arrival time wasn't the exact time I'd be off the ship.

As Business Insider previously reported, a cruise ship's scheduled arrival time is when the ship docks at the port. Before passengers can get off, there's an inspection that can take "anywhere between 20 minutes to an hour or more," the article says.

To be safe, I booked a night flight , since I'd rather wait at the airport all day than miss my flight home.

I definitely overdid it. I arrived at the airport at 9 a.m. for my 9 p.m. flight, which ended up being delayed two hours. 

Next time, to avoid spending 14 hours in an airport, I'll book an afternoon flight for the end of my cruise.

Ultimately, I left the ship thinking that cruises were cool but not for me. But I might have had a different conclusion if I hadn't made these mistakes.

I don't think cruising is my preferred form of travel, but a lot of these mistakes had a huge influence on my experience.

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Crying Myself to Sleep on the Biggest Cruise Ship Ever

Seven agonizing nights aboard the Icon of the Seas

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Updated at 2:44 p.m. ET on April 6, 2024.

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MY FIRST GLIMPSE of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, from the window of an approaching Miami cab, brings on a feeling of vertigo, nausea, amazement, and distress. I shut my eyes in defense, as my brain tells my optic nerve to try again.

The ship makes no sense, vertically or horizontally. It makes no sense on sea, or on land, or in outer space. It looks like a hodgepodge of domes and minarets, tubes and canopies, like Istanbul had it been designed by idiots. Vibrant, oversignifying colors are stacked upon other such colors, decks perched over still more decks; the only comfort is a row of lifeboats ringing its perimeter. There is no imposed order, no cogent thought, and, for those who do not harbor a totalitarian sense of gigantomania, no visual mercy. This is the biggest cruise ship ever built, and I have been tasked with witnessing its inaugural voyage.

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“Author embarks on their first cruise-ship voyage” has been a staple of American essay writing for almost three decades, beginning with David Foster Wallace’s “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again,” which was first published in 1996 under the title “Shipping Out.” Since then, many admirable writers have widened and diversified the genre. Usually the essayist commissioned to take to the sea is in their first or second flush of youth and is ready to sharpen their wit against the hull of the offending vessel. I am 51, old and tired, having seen much of the world as a former travel journalist, and mostly what I do in both life and prose is shrug while muttering to my imaginary dachshund, “This too shall pass.” But the Icon of the Seas will not countenance a shrug. The Icon of the Seas is the Linda Loman of cruise ships, exclaiming that attention must be paid. And here I am in late January with my one piece of luggage and useless gray winter jacket and passport, zipping through the Port of Miami en route to the gangway that will separate me from the bulk of North America for more than seven days, ready to pay it in full.

The aforementioned gangway opens up directly onto a thriving mall (I will soon learn it is imperiously called the “Royal Promenade”), presently filled with yapping passengers beneath a ceiling studded with balloons ready to drop. Crew members from every part of the global South, as well as a few Balkans, are shepherding us along while pressing flutes of champagne into our hands. By a humming Starbucks, I drink as many of these as I can and prepare to find my cabin. I show my blue Suite Sky SeaPass Card (more on this later, much more) to a smiling woman from the Philippines, and she tells me to go “aft.” Which is where, now? As someone who has rarely sailed on a vessel grander than the Staten Island Ferry, I am confused. It turns out that the aft is the stern of the ship, or, for those of us who don’t know what a stern or an aft are, its ass. The nose of the ship, responsible for separating the waves before it, is also called a bow, and is marked for passengers as the FWD , or forward. The part of the contemporary sailing vessel where the malls are clustered is called the midship. I trust that you have enjoyed this nautical lesson.

I ascend via elevator to my suite on Deck 11. This is where I encounter my first terrible surprise. My suite windows and balcony do not face the ocean. Instead, they look out onto another shopping mall. This mall is the one that’s called Central Park, perhaps in homage to the Olmsted-designed bit of greenery in the middle of my hometown. Although on land I would be delighted to own a suite with Central Park views, here I am deeply depressed. To sail on a ship and not wake up to a vast blue carpet of ocean? Unthinkable.

Allow me a brief preamble here. The story you are reading was commissioned at a moment when most staterooms on the Icon were sold out. In fact, so enthralled by the prospect of this voyage were hard-core mariners that the ship’s entire inventory of guest rooms (the Icon can accommodate up to 7,600 passengers, but its inaugural journey was reduced to 5,000 or so for a less crowded experience) was almost immediately sold out. Hence, this publication was faced with the shocking prospect of paying nearly $19,000 to procure for this solitary passenger an entire suite—not including drinking expenses—all for the privilege of bringing you this article. But the suite in question doesn’t even have a view of the ocean! I sit down hard on my soft bed. Nineteen thousand dollars for this .

The viewless suite does have its pluses. In addition to all the Malin+Goetz products in my dual bathrooms, I am granted use of a dedicated Suite Deck lounge; access to Coastal Kitchen, a superior restaurant for Suites passengers; complimentary VOOM SM Surf & Stream (“the fastest Internet at Sea”) “for one device per person for the whole cruise duration”; a pair of bathrobes (one of which comes prestained with what looks like a large expectoration by the greenest lizard on Earth); and use of the Grove Suite Sun, an area on Decks 18 and 19 with food and deck chairs reserved exclusively for Suite passengers. I also get reserved seating for a performance of The Wizard of Oz , an ice-skating tribute to the periodic table, and similar provocations. The very color of my Suite Sky SeaPass Card, an oceanic blue as opposed to the cloying royal purple of the standard non-Suite passenger, will soon provoke envy and admiration. But as high as my status may be, there are those on board who have much higher status still, and I will soon learn to bow before them.

In preparation for sailing, I have “priced in,” as they say on Wall Street, the possibility that I may come from a somewhat different monde than many of the other cruisers. Without falling into stereotypes or preconceptions, I prepare myself for a friendly outspokenness on the part of my fellow seafarers that may not comply with modern DEI standards. I believe in meeting people halfway, and so the day before flying down to Miami, I visited what remains of Little Italy to purchase a popular T-shirt that reads DADDY’S LITTLE MEATBALL across the breast in the colors of the Italian flag. My wife recommended that I bring one of my many T-shirts featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, as all Americans love the beagle and his friends. But I naively thought that my meatball T-shirt would be more suitable for conversation-starting. “Oh, and who is your ‘daddy’?” some might ask upon seeing it. “And how long have you been his ‘little meatball’?” And so on.

I put on my meatball T-shirt and head for one of the dining rooms to get a late lunch. In the elevator, I stick out my chest for all to read the funny legend upon it, but soon I realize that despite its burnished tricolor letters, no one takes note. More to the point, no one takes note of me. Despite my attempts at bridge building, the very sight of me (small, ethnic, without a cap bearing the name of a football team) elicits no reaction from other passengers. Most often, they will small-talk over me as if I don’t exist. This brings to mind the travails of David Foster Wallace , who felt so ostracized by his fellow passengers that he retreated to his cabin for much of his voyage. And Wallace was raised primarily in the Midwest and was a much larger, more American-looking meatball than I am. If he couldn’t talk to these people, how will I? What if I leave this ship without making any friends at all, despite my T-shirt? I am a social creature, and the prospect of seven days alone and apart is saddening. Wallace’s stateroom, at least, had a view of the ocean, a kind of cheap eternity.

Worse awaits me in the dining room. This is a large, multichandeliered room where I attended my safety training (I was shown how to put on a flotation vest; it is a very simple procedure). But the maître d’ politely refuses me entry in an English that seems to verge on another language. “I’m sorry, this is only for pendejos ,” he seems to be saying. I push back politely and he repeats himself. Pendejos ? Piranhas? There’s some kind of P-word to which I am not attuned. Meanwhile elderly passengers stream right past, powered by their limbs, walkers, and electric wheelchairs. “It is only pendejo dining today, sir.” “But I have a suite!” I say, already starting to catch on to the ship’s class system. He examines my card again. “But you are not a pendejo ,” he confirms. I am wearing a DADDY’S LITTLE MEATBALL T-shirt, I want to say to him. I am the essence of pendejo .

Eventually, I give up and head to the plebeian buffet on Deck 15, which has an aquatic-styled name I have now forgotten. Before gaining entry to this endless cornucopia of reheated food, one passes a washing station of many sinks and soap dispensers, and perhaps the most intriguing character on the entire ship. He is Mr. Washy Washy—or, according to his name tag, Nielbert of the Philippines—and he is dressed as a taco (on other occasions, I’ll see him dressed as a burger). Mr. Washy Washy performs an eponymous song in spirited, indeed flamboyant English: “Washy, washy, wash your hands, WASHY WASHY!” The dangers of norovirus and COVID on a cruise ship this size (a giant fellow ship was stricken with the former right after my voyage) makes Mr. Washy Washy an essential member of the crew. The problem lies with the food at the end of Washy’s rainbow. The buffet is groaning with what sounds like sophisticated dishes—marinated octopus, boiled egg with anchovy, chorizo, lobster claws—but every animal tastes tragically the same, as if there was only one creature available at the market, a “cruisipus” bred specifically for Royal Caribbean dining. The “vegetables” are no better. I pick up a tomato slice and look right through it. It tastes like cellophane. I sit alone, apart from the couples and parents with gaggles of children, as “We Are Family” echoes across the buffet space.

I may have failed to mention that all this time, the Icon of the Seas has not left port. As the fiery mango of the subtropical setting sun makes Miami’s condo skyline even more apocalyptic, the ship shoves off beneath a perfunctory display of fireworks. After the sun sets, in the far, dark distance, another circus-lit cruise ship ruptures the waves before us. We glance at it with pity, because it is by definition a smaller ship than our own. I am on Deck 15, outside the buffet and overlooking a bunch of pools (the Icon has seven of them), drinking a frilly drink that I got from one of the bars (the Icon has 15 of them), still too shy to speak to anyone, despite Sister Sledge’s assertion that all on the ship are somehow related.

Kim Brooks: On failing the family vacation

The ship’s passage away from Ron DeSantis’s Florida provides no frisson, no sense of developing “sea legs,” as the ship is too large to register the presence of waves unless a mighty wind adds significant chop. It is time for me to register the presence of the 5,000 passengers around me, even if they refuse to register mine. My fellow travelers have prepared for this trip with personally decorated T-shirts celebrating the importance of this voyage. The simplest ones say ICON INAUGURAL ’24 on the back and the family name on the front. Others attest to an over-the-top love of cruise ships: WARNING! MAY START TALKING ABOUT CRUISING . Still others are artisanally designed and celebrate lifetimes spent married while cruising (on ships, of course). A couple possibly in their 90s are wearing shirts whose backs feature a drawing of a cruise liner, two flamingos with ostensibly male and female characteristics, and the legend “ HUSBAND AND WIFE Cruising Partners FOR LIFE WE MAY NOT HAVE IT All Together BUT TOGETHER WE HAVE IT ALL .” (The words not in all caps have been written in cursive.) A real journalist or a more intrepid conversationalist would have gone up to the couple and asked them to explain the longevity of their marriage vis-à-vis their love of cruising. But instead I head to my mall suite, take off my meatball T-shirt, and allow the first tears of the cruise to roll down my cheeks slowly enough that I briefly fall asleep amid the moisture and salt.

I WAKE UP with a hangover. Oh God. Right. I cannot believe all of that happened last night. A name floats into my cobwebbed, nauseated brain: “Ayn Rand.” Jesus Christ.

I breakfast alone at the Coastal Kitchen. The coffee tastes fine and the eggs came out of a bird. The ship rolls slightly this morning; I can feel it in my thighs and my schlong, the parts of me that are most receptive to danger.

I had a dangerous conversation last night. After the sun set and we were at least 50 miles from shore (most modern cruise ships sail at about 23 miles an hour), I lay in bed softly hiccupping, my arms stretched out exactly like Jesus on the cross, the sound of the distant waves missing from my mall-facing suite, replaced by the hum of air-conditioning and children shouting in Spanish through the vents of my two bathrooms. I decided this passivity was unacceptable. As an immigrant, I feel duty-bound to complete the tasks I am paid for, which means reaching out and trying to understand my fellow cruisers. So I put on a normal James Perse T-shirt and headed for one of the bars on the Royal Promenade—the Schooner Bar, it was called, if memory serves correctly.

I sat at the bar for a martini and two Negronis. An old man with thick, hairy forearms drank next to me, very silent and Hemingwaylike, while a dreadlocked piano player tinkled out a series of excellent Elton John covers. To my right, a young white couple—he in floral shorts, she in a light, summery miniskirt with a fearsome diamond ring, neither of them in football regalia—chatted with an elderly couple. Do it , I commanded myself. Open your mouth. Speak! Speak without being spoken to. Initiate. A sentence fragment caught my ear from the young woman, “Cherry Hill.” This is a suburb of Philadelphia in New Jersey, and I had once been there for a reading at a synagogue. “Excuse me,” I said gently to her. “Did you just mention Cherry Hill? It’s a lovely place.”

As it turned out, the couple now lived in Fort Lauderdale (the number of Floridians on the cruise surprised me, given that Southern Florida is itself a kind of cruise ship, albeit one slowly sinking), but soon they were talking with me exclusively—the man potbellied, with a chin like a hard-boiled egg; the woman as svelte as if she were one of the many Ukrainian members of the crew—the elderly couple next to them forgotten. This felt as groundbreaking as the first time I dared to address an American in his native tongue, as a child on a bus in Queens (“On my foot you are standing, Mister”).

“I don’t want to talk politics,” the man said. “But they’re going to eighty-six Biden and put Michelle in.”

I considered the contradictions of his opening conversational gambit, but decided to play along. “People like Michelle,” I said, testing the waters. The husband sneered, but the wife charitably put forward that the former first lady was “more personable” than Joe Biden. “They’re gonna eighty-six Biden,” the husband repeated. “He can’t put a sentence together.”

After I mentioned that I was a writer—though I presented myself as a writer of teleplays instead of novels and articles such as this one—the husband told me his favorite writer was Ayn Rand. “Ayn Rand, she came here with nothing,” the husband said. “I work with a lot of Cubans, so …” I wondered if I should mention what I usually do to ingratiate myself with Republicans or libertarians: the fact that my finances improved after pass-through corporations were taxed differently under Donald Trump. Instead, I ordered another drink and the couple did the same, and I told him that Rand and I were born in the same city, St. Petersburg/Leningrad, and that my family also came here with nothing. Now the bonding and drinking began in earnest, and several more rounds appeared. Until it all fell apart.

Read: Gary Shteyngart on watching Russian television for five days straight

My new friend, whom I will refer to as Ayn, called out to a buddy of his across the bar, and suddenly a young couple, both covered in tattoos, appeared next to us. “He fucking punked me,” Ayn’s frat-boy-like friend called out as he put his arm around Ayn, while his sizable partner sizzled up to Mrs. Rand. Both of them had a look I have never seen on land—their eyes projecting absence and enmity in equal measure. In the ’90s, I drank with Russian soldiers fresh from Chechnya and wandered the streets of wartime Zagreb, but I have never seen such undisguised hostility toward both me and perhaps the universe at large. I was briefly introduced to this psychopathic pair, but neither of them wanted to have anything to do with me, and the tattooed woman would not even reveal her Christian name to me (she pretended to have the same first name as Mrs. Rand). To impress his tattooed friends, Ayn made fun of the fact that as a television writer, I’d worked on the series Succession (which, it would turn out, practically nobody on the ship had watched), instead of the far more palatable, in his eyes, zombie drama of last year. And then my new friends drifted away from me into an angry private conversation—“He punked me!”—as I ordered another drink for myself, scared of the dead-eyed arrivals whose gaze never registered in the dim wattage of the Schooner Bar, whose terrifying voices and hollow laughs grated like unoiled gears against the crooning of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

But today is a new day for me and my hangover. After breakfast, I explore the ship’s so-called neighborhoods . There’s the AquaDome, where one can find a food hall and an acrobatic sound-and-light aquatic show. Central Park has a premium steak house, a sushi joint, and a used Rolex that can be bought for $8,000 on land here proudly offered at $17,000. There’s the aforementioned Royal Promenade, where I had drunk with the Rands, and where a pair of dueling pianos duel well into the night. There’s Surfside, a kids’ neighborhood full of sugary garbage, which looks out onto the frothy trail that the behemoth leaves behind itself. Thrill Island refers to the collection of tubes that clutter the ass of the ship and offer passengers six waterslides and a surfing simulation. There’s the Hideaway, an adult zone that plays music from a vomit-slathered, Brit-filled Alicante nightclub circa 1996 and proves a big favorite with groups of young Latin American customers. And, most hurtfully, there’s the Suite Neighborhood.

I say hurtfully because as a Suite passenger I should be here, though my particular suite is far from the others. Whereas I am stuck amid the riffraff of Deck 11, this section is on the highborn Decks 16 and 17, and in passing, I peek into the spacious, tall-ceilinged staterooms from the hallway, dazzled by the glint of the waves and sun. For $75,000, one multifloor suite even comes with its own slide between floors, so that a family may enjoy this particular terror in private. There is a quiet splendor to the Suite Neighborhood. I see fewer stickers and signs and drawings than in my own neighborhood—for example, MIKE AND DIANA PROUDLY SERVED U.S. MARINE CORPS RETIRED . No one here needs to announce their branch of service or rank; they are simply Suites, and this is where they belong. Once again, despite my hard work and perseverance, I have been disallowed from the true American elite. Once again, I am “Not our class, dear.” I am reminded of watching The Love Boat on my grandmother’s Zenith, which either was given to her or we found in the trash (I get our many malfunctioning Zeniths confused) and whose tube got so hot, I would put little chunks of government cheese on a thin tissue atop it to give our welfare treat a pleasant, Reagan-era gooeyness. I could not understand English well enough then to catch the nuances of that seafaring program, but I knew that there were differences in the status of the passengers, and that sometimes those differences made them sad. Still, this ship, this plenty—every few steps, there are complimentary nachos or milkshakes or gyros on offer—was the fatty fuel of my childhood dreams. If only I had remained a child.

I walk around the outdoor decks looking for company. There is a middle-aged African American couple who always seem to be asleep in each other’s arms, probably exhausted from the late capitalism they regularly encounter on land. There is far more diversity on this ship than I expected. Many couples are a testament to Loving v. Virginia , and there is a large group of folks whose T-shirts read MELANIN AT SEA / IT’S THE MELANIN FOR ME . I smile when I see them, but then some young kids from the group makes Mr. Washy Washy do a cruel, caricatured “Burger Dance” (today he is in his burger getup), and I think, Well, so much for intersectionality .

At the infinity pool on Deck 17, I spot some elderly women who could be ethnic and from my part of the world, and so I jump in. I am proved correct! Many of them seem to be originally from Queens (“Corona was still great when it was all Italian”), though they are now spread across the tristate area. We bond over the way “Ron-kon-koma” sounds when announced in Penn Station.

“Everyone is here for a different reason,” one of them tells me. She and her ex-husband last sailed together four years ago to prove to themselves that their marriage was truly over. Her 15-year-old son lost his virginity to “an Irish young lady” while their ship was moored in Ravenna, Italy. The gaggle of old-timers competes to tell me their favorite cruising stories and tips. “A guy proposed in Central Park a couple of years ago”—many Royal Caribbean ships apparently have this ridiculous communal area—“and she ran away screaming!” “If you’re diamond-class, you get four drinks for free.” “A different kind of passenger sails out of Bayonne.” (This, perhaps, is racially coded.) “Sometimes, if you tip the bartender $5, your next drink will be free.”

“Everyone’s here for a different reason,” the woman whose marriage ended on a cruise tells me again. “Some people are here for bad reasons—the drinkers and the gamblers. Some people are here for medical reasons.” I have seen more than a few oxygen tanks and at least one woman clearly undergoing very serious chemo. Some T-shirts celebrate good news about a cancer diagnosis. This might be someone’s last cruise or week on Earth. For these women, who have spent months, if not years, at sea, cruising is a ritual as well as a life cycle: first love, last love, marriage, divorce, death.

Read: The last place on Earth any tourist should go

I have talked with these women for so long, tonight I promise myself that after a sad solitary dinner I will not try to seek out company at the bars in the mall or the adult-themed Hideaway. I have enough material to fulfill my duties to this publication. As I approach my orphaned suite, I run into the aggro young people who stole Mr. and Mrs. Rand away from me the night before. The tattooed apparitions pass me without a glance. She is singing something violent about “Stuttering Stanley” (a character in a popular horror movie, as I discover with my complimentary VOOM SM Surf & Stream Internet at Sea) and he’s loudly shouting about “all the money I’ve lost,” presumably at the casino in the bowels of the ship.

So these bent psychos out of a Cormac McCarthy novel are angrily inhabiting my deck. As I mewl myself to sleep, I envision a limited series for HBO or some other streamer, a kind of low-rent White Lotus , where several aggressive couples conspire to throw a shy intellectual interloper overboard. I type the scenario into my phone. As I fall asleep, I think of what the woman who recently divorced her husband and whose son became a man through the good offices of the Irish Republic told me while I was hoisting myself out of the infinity pool. “I’m here because I’m an explorer. I’m here because I’m trying something new.” What if I allowed myself to believe in her fantasy?

“YOU REALLY STARTED AT THE TOP,” they tell me. I’m at the Coastal Kitchen for my eggs and corned-beef hash, and the maître d’ has slotted me in between two couples. Fueled by coffee or perhaps intrigued by my relative youth, they strike up a conversation with me. As always, people are shocked that this is my first cruise. They contrast the Icon favorably with all the preceding liners in the Royal Caribbean fleet, usually commenting on the efficiency of the elevators that hurl us from deck to deck (as in many large corporate buildings, the elevators ask you to choose a floor and then direct you to one of many lifts). The couple to my right, from Palo Alto—he refers to his “porn mustache” and calls his wife “my cougar” because she is two years older—tell me they are “Pandemic Pinnacles.”

This is the day that my eyes will be opened. Pinnacles , it is explained to me over translucent cantaloupe, have sailed with Royal Caribbean for 700 ungodly nights. Pandemic Pinnacles took advantage of the two-for-one accrual rate of Pinnacle points during the pandemic, when sailing on a cruise ship was even more ill-advised, to catapult themselves into Pinnacle status.

Because of the importance of the inaugural voyage of the world’s largest cruise liner, more than 200 Pinnacles are on this ship, a startling number, it seems. Mrs. Palo Alto takes out a golden badge that I have seen affixed over many a breast, which reads CROWN AND ANCHOR SOCIETY along with her name. This is the coveted badge of the Pinnacle. “You should hear all the whining in Guest Services,” her husband tells me. Apparently, the Pinnacles who are not also Suites like us are all trying to use their status to get into Coastal Kitchen, our elite restaurant. Even a Pinnacle needs to be a Suite to access this level of corned-beef hash.

“We’re just baby Pinnacles,” Mrs. Palo Alto tells me, describing a kind of internal class struggle among the Pinnacle elite for ever higher status.

And now I understand what the maître d’ was saying to me on the first day of my cruise. He wasn’t saying “ pendejo .” He was saying “Pinnacle.” The dining room was for Pinnacles only, all those older people rolling in like the tide on their motorized scooters.

And now I understand something else: This whole thing is a cult. And like most cults, it can’t help but mirror the endless American fight for status. Like Keith Raniere’s NXIVM, where different-colored sashes were given out to connote rank among Raniere’s branded acolytes, this is an endless competition among Pinnacles, Suites, Diamond-Plusers, and facing-the-mall, no-balcony purple SeaPass Card peasants, not to mention the many distinctions within each category. The more you cruise, the higher your status. No wonder a section of the Royal Promenade is devoted to getting passengers to book their next cruise during the one they should be enjoying now. No wonder desperate Royal Caribbean offers (“FINAL HOURS”) crowded my email account weeks before I set sail. No wonder the ship’s jewelry store, the Royal Bling, is selling a $100,000 golden chalice that will entitle its owner to drink free on Royal Caribbean cruises for life. (One passenger was already gaming out whether her 28-year-old son was young enough to “just about earn out” on the chalice or if that ship had sailed.) No wonder this ship was sold out months before departure , and we had to pay $19,000 for a horrid suite away from the Suite Neighborhood. No wonder the most mythical hero of Royal Caribbean lore is someone named Super Mario, who has cruised so often, he now has his own working desk on many ships. This whole experience is part cult, part nautical pyramid scheme.

From the June 2014 issue: Ship of wonks

“The toilets are amazing,” the Palo Altos are telling me. “One flush and you’re done.” “They don’t understand how energy-efficient these ships are,” the husband of the other couple is telling me. “They got the LNG”—liquefied natural gas, which is supposed to make the Icon a boon to the environment (a concept widely disputed and sometimes ridiculed by environmentalists).

But I’m thinking along a different line of attack as I spear my last pallid slice of melon. For my streaming limited series, a Pinnacle would have to get killed by either an outright peasant or a Suite without an ocean view. I tell my breakfast companions my idea.

“Oh, for sure a Pinnacle would have to be killed,” Mr. Palo Alto, the Pandemic Pinnacle, says, touching his porn mustache thoughtfully as his wife nods.

“THAT’S RIGHT, IT’S your time, buddy!” Hubert, my fun-loving Panamanian cabin attendant, shouts as I step out of my suite in a robe. “Take it easy, buddy!”

I have come up with a new dressing strategy. Instead of trying to impress with my choice of T-shirts, I have decided to start wearing a robe, as one does at a resort property on land, with a proper spa and hammam. The response among my fellow cruisers has been ecstatic. “Look at you in the robe!” Mr. Rand cries out as we pass each other by the Thrill Island aqua park. “You’re living the cruise life! You know, you really drank me under the table that night.” I laugh as we part ways, but my soul cries out, Please spend more time with me, Mr. and Mrs. Rand; I so need the company .

In my white robe, I am a stately presence, a refugee from a better limited series, a one-man crossover episode. (Only Suites are granted these robes to begin with.) Today, I will try many of the activities these ships have on offer to provide their clientele with a sense of never-ceasing motion. Because I am already at Thrill Island, I decide to climb the staircase to what looks like a mast on an old-fashioned ship (terrified, because I am afraid of heights) to try a ride called “Storm Chasers,” which is part of the “Category 6” water park, named in honor of one of the storms that may someday do away with the Port of Miami entirely. Storm Chasers consists of falling from the “mast” down a long, twisting neon tube filled with water, like being the camera inside your own colonoscopy, as you hold on to the handles of a mat, hoping not to die. The tube then flops you down headfirst into a trough of water, a Royal Caribbean baptism. It both knocks my breath out and makes me sad.

In keeping with the aquatic theme, I attend a show at the AquaDome. To the sound of “Live and Let Die,” a man in a harness gyrates to and fro in the sultry air. I saw something very similar in the back rooms of the famed Berghain club in early-aughts Berlin. Soon another harnessed man is gyrating next to the first. Ja , I think to myself, I know how this ends. Now will come the fisting , natürlich . But the show soon devolves into the usual Marvel-film-grade nonsense, with too much light and sound signifying nichts . If any fisting is happening, it is probably in the Suite Neighborhood, inside a cabin marked with an upside-down pineapple, which I understand means a couple are ready to swing, and I will see none of it.

I go to the ice show, which is a kind of homage—if that’s possible—to the periodic table, done with the style and pomp and masterful precision that would please the likes of Kim Jong Un, if only he could afford Royal Caribbean talent. At one point, the dancers skate to the theme song of Succession . “See that!” I want to say to my fellow Suites—at “cultural” events, we have a special section reserved for us away from the commoners—“ Succession ! It’s even better than the zombie show! Open your minds!”

Finally, I visit a comedy revue in an enormous and too brightly lit version of an “intimate,” per Royal Caribbean literature, “Manhattan comedy club.” Many of the jokes are about the cruising life. “I’ve lived on ships for 20 years,” one of the middle-aged comedians says. “I can only see so many Filipino homosexuals dressed as a taco.” He pauses while the audience laughs. “I am so fired tonight,” he says. He segues into a Trump impression and then Biden falling asleep at the microphone, which gets the most laughs. “Anyone here from Fort Leonard Wood?” another comedian asks. Half the crowd seems to cheer. As I fall asleep that night, I realize another connection I have failed to make, and one that may explain some of the diversity on this vessel—many of its passengers have served in the military.

As a coddled passenger with a suite, I feel like I am starting to understand what it means to have a rank and be constantly reminded of it. There are many espresso makers , I think as I look across the expanse of my officer-grade quarters before closing my eyes, but this one is mine .

A shocking sight greets me beyond the pools of Deck 17 as I saunter over to the Coastal Kitchen for my morning intake of slightly sour Americanos. A tiny city beneath a series of perfectly pressed green mountains. Land! We have docked for a brief respite in Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis. I wolf down my egg scramble to be one of the first passengers off the ship. Once past the gangway, I barely refrain from kissing the ground. I rush into the sights and sounds of this scruffy island city, sampling incredible conch curry and buckets of non-Starbucks coffee. How wonderful it is to be where God intended humans to be: on land. After all, I am neither a fish nor a mall rat. This is my natural environment. Basseterre may not be Havana, but there are signs of human ingenuity and desire everywhere you look. The Black Table Grill Has been Relocated to Soho Village, Market Street, Directly Behind of, Gary’s Fruits and Flower Shop. Signed. THE PORK MAN reads a sign stuck to a wall. Now, that is how you write a sign. A real sign, not the come-ons for overpriced Rolexes that blink across the screens of the Royal Promenade.

“Hey, tie your shoestring!” a pair of laughing ladies shout to me across the street.

“Thank you!” I shout back. Shoestring! “Thank you very much.”

A man in Independence Square Park comes by and asks if I want to play with his monkey. I haven’t heard that pickup line since the Penn Station of the 1980s. But then he pulls a real monkey out of a bag. The monkey is wearing a diaper and looks insane. Wonderful , I think, just wonderful! There is so much life here. I email my editor asking if I can remain on St. Kitts and allow the Icon to sail off into the horizon without me. I have even priced a flight home at less than $300, and I have enough material from the first four days on the cruise to write the entire story. “It would be funny …” my editor replies. “Now get on the boat.”

As I slink back to the ship after my brief jailbreak, the locals stand under umbrellas to gaze at and photograph the boat that towers over their small capital city. The limousines of the prime minister and his lackeys are parked beside the gangway. St. Kitts, I’ve been told, is one of the few islands that would allow a ship of this size to dock.

“We hear about all the waterslides,” a sweet young server in one of the cafés told me. “We wish we could go on the ship, but we have to work.”

“I want to stay on your island,” I replied. “I love it here.”

But she didn’t understand how I could possibly mean that.

“WASHY, WASHY, so you don’t get stinky, stinky!” kids are singing outside the AquaDome, while their adult minders look on in disapproval, perhaps worried that Mr. Washy Washy is grooming them into a life of gayness. I heard a southern couple skip the buffet entirely out of fear of Mr. Washy Washy.

Meanwhile, I have found a new watering hole for myself, the Swim & Tonic, the biggest swim-up bar on any cruise ship in the world. Drinking next to full-size, nearly naked Americans takes away one’s own self-consciousness. The men have curvaceous mom bodies. The women are equally un-shy about their sprawling physiques.

Today I’ve befriended a bald man with many children who tells me that all of the little trinkets that Royal Caribbean has left us in our staterooms and suites are worth a fortune on eBay. “Eighty dollars for the water bottle, 60 for the lanyard,” the man says. “This is a cult.”

“Tell me about it,” I say. There is, however, a clientele for whom this cruise makes perfect sense. For a large middle-class family (he works in “supply chains”), seven days in a lower-tier cabin—which starts at $1,800 a person—allow the parents to drop off their children in Surfside, where I imagine many young Filipina crew members will take care of them, while the parents are free to get drunk at a swim-up bar and maybe even get intimate in their cabin. Cruise ships have become, for a certain kind of hardworking family, a form of subsidized child care.

There is another man I would like to befriend at the Swim & Tonic, a tall, bald fellow who is perpetually inebriated and who wears a necklace studded with little rubber duckies in sunglasses, which, I am told, is a sort of secret handshake for cruise aficionados. Tomorrow, I will spend more time with him, but first the ship docks at St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Charlotte Amalie, the capital, is more charming in name than in presence, but I still all but jump off the ship to score a juicy oxtail and plantains at the well-known Petite Pump Room, overlooking the harbor. From one of the highest points in the small city, the Icon of the Seas appears bigger than the surrounding hills.

I usually tan very evenly, but something about the discombobulation of life at sea makes me forget the regular application of sunscreen. As I walk down the streets of Charlotte Amalie in my fluorescent Icon of the Seas cap, an old Rastafarian stares me down. “Redneck,” he hisses.

“No,” I want to tell him, as I bring a hand up to my red neck, “that’s not who I am at all. On my island, Mannahatta, as Whitman would have it, I am an interesting person living within an engaging artistic milieu. I do not wish to use the Caribbean as a dumping ground for the cruise-ship industry. I love the work of Derek Walcott. You don’t understand. I am not a redneck. And if I am, they did this to me.” They meaning Royal Caribbean? Its passengers? The Rands?

“They did this to me!”

Back on the Icon, some older matrons are muttering about a run-in with passengers from the Celebrity cruise ship docked next to us, the Celebrity Apex. Although Celebrity Cruises is also owned by Royal Caribbean, I am made to understand that there is a deep fratricidal beef between passengers of the two lines. “We met a woman from the Apex,” one matron says, “and she says it was a small ship and there was nothing to do. Her face was as tight as a 19-year-old’s, she had so much surgery.” With those words, and beneath a cloudy sky, humidity shrouding our weathered faces and red necks, we set sail once again, hopefully in the direction of home.

THERE ARE BARELY 48 HOURS LEFT to the cruise, and the Icon of the Seas’ passengers are salty. They know how to work the elevators. They know the Washy Washy song by heart. They understand that the chicken gyro at “Feta Mediterranean,” in the AquaDome Market, is the least problematic form of chicken on the ship.

The passengers have shed their INAUGURAL CRUISE T-shirts and are now starting to evince political opinions. There are caps pledging to make America great again and T-shirts that celebrate words sometimes attributed to Patrick Henry: “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.” With their preponderance of FAMILY FLAG FAITH FRIENDS FIREARMS T-shirts, the tables by the crepe station sometimes resemble the Capitol Rotunda on January 6. The Real Anthony Fauci , by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appears to be a popular form of literature, especially among young men with very complicated versions of the American flag on their T-shirts. Other opinions blend the personal and the political. “Someone needs to kill Washy guy, right?” a well-dressed man in the elevator tells me, his gray eyes radiating nothing. “Just beat him to death. Am I right?” I overhear the male member of a young couple whisper, “There goes that freak” as I saunter by in my white spa robe, and I decide to retire it for the rest of the cruise.

I visit the Royal Bling to see up close the $100,000 golden chalice that entitles you to free drinks on Royal Caribbean forever. The pleasant Serbian saleslady explains that the chalice is actually gold-plated and covered in white zirconia instead of diamonds, as it would otherwise cost $1 million. “If you already have everything,” she explains, “this is one more thing you can get.”

I believe that anyone who works for Royal Caribbean should be entitled to immediate American citizenship. They already speak English better than most of the passengers and, per the Serbian lady’s sales pitch above, better understand what America is as well. Crew members like my Panamanian cabin attendant seem to work 24 hours a day. A waiter from New Delhi tells me that his contract is six months and three weeks long. After a cruise ends, he says, “in a few hours, we start again for the next cruise.” At the end of the half a year at sea, he is allowed a two-to-three-month stay at home with his family. As of 2019, the median income for crew members was somewhere in the vicinity of $20,000, according to a major business publication. Royal Caribbean would not share the current median salary for its crew members, but I am certain that it amounts to a fraction of the cost of a Royal Bling gold-plated, zirconia-studded chalice.

And because most of the Icon’s hyper-sanitized spaces are just a frittata away from being a Delta lounge, one forgets that there are actual sailors on this ship, charged with the herculean task of docking it in port. “Having driven 100,000-ton aircraft carriers throughout my career,” retired Admiral James G. Stavridis, the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, writes to me, “I’m not sure I would even know where to begin with trying to control a sea monster like this one nearly three times the size.” (I first met Stavridis while touring Army bases in Germany more than a decade ago.)

Today, I decide to head to the hot tub near Swim & Tonic, where some of the ship’s drunkest reprobates seem to gather (the other tubs are filled with families and couples). The talk here, like everywhere else on the ship, concerns football, a sport about which I know nothing. It is apparent that four teams have recently competed in some kind of finals for the year, and that two of them will now face off in the championship. Often when people on the Icon speak, I will try to repeat the last thing they said with a laugh or a nod of disbelief. “Yes, 20-yard line! Ha!” “Oh my God, of course, scrimmage.”

Soon we are joined in the hot tub by the late-middle-age drunk guy with the duck necklace. He is wearing a bucket hat with the legend HAWKEYES , which, I soon gather, is yet another football team. “All right, who turned me in?” Duck Necklace says as he plops into the tub beside us. “I get a call in the morning,” he says. “It’s security. Can you come down to the dining room by 10 a.m.? You need to stay away from the members of this religious family.” Apparently, the gregarious Duck Necklace had photobombed the wrong people. There are several families who present as evangelical Christians or practicing Muslims on the ship. One man, evidently, was not happy that Duck Necklace had made contact with his relatives. “It’s because of religious stuff; he was offended. I put my arm around 20 people a day.”

Everyone laughs. “They asked me three times if I needed medication,” he says of the security people who apparently interrogated him in full view of others having breakfast.

Another hot-tub denizen suggests that he should have asked for fentanyl. After a few more drinks, Duck Necklace begins to muse about what it would be like to fall off the ship. “I’m 62 and I’m ready to go,” he says. “I just don’t want a shark to eat me. I’m a huge God guy. I’m a Bible guy. There’s some Mayan theory squaring science stuff with religion. There is so much more to life on Earth.” We all nod into our Red Stripes.

“I never get off the ship when we dock,” he says. He tells us he lost $6,000 in the casino the other day. Later, I look him up, and it appears that on land, he’s a financial adviser in a crisp gray suit, probably a pillar of his North Chicago community.

THE OCEAN IS TEEMING with fascinating life, but on the surface it has little to teach us. The waves come and go. The horizon remains ever far away.

I am constantly told by my fellow passengers that “everybody here has a story.” Yes, I want to reply, but everybody everywhere has a story. You, the reader of this essay, have a story, and yet you’re not inclined to jump on a cruise ship and, like Duck Necklace, tell your story to others at great pitch and volume. Maybe what they’re saying is that everybody on this ship wants to have a bigger, more coherent, more interesting story than the one they’ve been given. Maybe that’s why there’s so much signage on the doors around me attesting to marriages spent on the sea. Maybe that’s why the Royal Caribbean newsletter slipped under my door tells me that “this isn’t a vacation day spent—it’s bragging rights earned.” Maybe that’s why I’m so lonely.

Today is a big day for Icon passengers. Today the ship docks at Royal Caribbean’s own Bahamian island, the Perfect Day at CocoCay. (This appears to be the actual name of the island.) A comedian at the nightclub opined on what his perfect day at CocoCay would look like—receiving oral sex while learning that his ex-wife had been killed in a car crash (big laughter). But the reality of the island is far less humorous than that.

One of the ethnic tristate ladies in the infinity pool told me that she loved CocoCay because it had exactly the same things that could be found on the ship itself. This proves to be correct. It is like the Icon, but with sand. The same tired burgers, the same colorful tubes conveying children and water from Point A to B. The same swim-up bar at its Hideaway ($140 for admittance, no children allowed; Royal Caribbean must be printing money off its clientele). “There was almost a fight at The Wizard of Oz ,” I overhear an elderly woman tell her companion on a chaise lounge. Apparently one of the passengers began recording Royal Caribbean’s intellectual property and “three guys came after him.”

I walk down a pathway to the center of the island, where a sign reads DO NOT ENTER: YOU HAVE REACHED THE BOUNDARY OF ADVENTURE . I hear an animal scampering in the bushes. A Royal Caribbean worker in an enormous golf cart soon chases me down and takes me back to the Hideaway, where I run into Mrs. Rand in a bikini. She becomes livid telling me about an altercation she had the other day with a woman over a towel and a deck chair. We Suites have special towel privileges; we do not have to hand over our SeaPass Card to score a towel. But the Rands are not Suites. “People are so entitled here,” Mrs. Rand says. “It’s like the airport with all its classes.” “You see,” I want to say, “this is where your husband’s love of Ayn Rand runs into the cruelties and arbitrary indignities of unbridled capitalism.” Instead we make plans to meet for a final drink in the Schooner Bar tonight (the Rands will stand me up).

Back on the ship, I try to do laps, but the pool (the largest on any cruise ship, naturally) is fully trashed with the detritus of American life: candy wrappers, a slowly dissolving tortilla chip, napkins. I take an extra-long shower in my suite, then walk around the perimeter of the ship on a kind of exercise track, past all the alluring lifeboats in their yellow-and-white livery. Maybe there is a dystopian angle to the HBO series that I will surely end up pitching, one with shades of WALL-E or Snowpiercer . In a collapsed world, a Royal Caribbean–like cruise liner sails from port to port, collecting new shipmates and supplies in exchange for the precious energy it has on board. (The actual Icon features a new technology that converts passengers’ poop into enough energy to power the waterslides . In the series, this shitty technology would be greatly expanded.) A very young woman (18? 19?), smart and lonely, who has only known life on the ship, walks along the same track as I do now, contemplating jumping off into the surf left by its wake. I picture reusing Duck Necklace’s words in the opening shot of the pilot. The girl is walking around the track, her eyes on the horizon; maybe she’s highborn—a Suite—and we hear the voice-over: “I’m 19 and I’m ready to go. I just don’t want a shark to eat me.”

Before the cruise is finished, I talk to Mr. Washy Washy, or Nielbert of the Philippines. He is a sweet, gentle man, and I thank him for the earworm of a song he has given me and for keeping us safe from the dreaded norovirus. “This is very important to me, getting people to wash their hands,” he tells me in his burger getup. He has dreams, as an artist and a performer, but they are limited in scope. One day he wants to dress up as a piece of bacon for the morning shift.

THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC (the Icon of the Seas is five times as large as that doomed vessel) at least offered its passengers an exciting ending to their cruise, but when I wake up on the eighth day, all I see are the gray ghosts that populate Miami’s condo skyline. Throughout my voyage, my writer friends wrote in to commiserate with me. Sloane Crosley, who once covered a three-day spa mini-cruise for Vogue , tells me she felt “so very alone … I found it very untethering.” Gideon Lewis-Kraus writes in an Instagram comment: “When Gary is done I think it’s time this genre was taken out back and shot.” And he is right. To badly paraphrase Adorno: After this, no more cruise stories. It is unfair to put a thinking person on a cruise ship. Writers typically have difficult childhoods, and it is cruel to remind them of the inherent loneliness that drove them to writing in the first place. It is also unseemly to write about the kind of people who go on cruises. Our country does not provide the education and upbringing that allow its citizens an interior life. For the creative class to point fingers at the large, breasty gentlemen adrift in tortilla-chip-laden pools of water is to gather a sour harvest of low-hanging fruit.

A day or two before I got off the ship, I decided to make use of my balcony, which I had avoided because I thought the view would only depress me further. What I found shocked me. My suite did not look out on Central Park after all. This entire time, I had been living in the ship’s Disneyland, Surfside, the neighborhood full of screaming toddlers consuming milkshakes and candy. And as I leaned out over my balcony, I beheld a slight vista of the sea and surf that I thought I had been missing. It had been there all along. The sea was frothy and infinite and blue-green beneath the span of a seagull’s wing. And though it had been trod hard by the world’s largest cruise ship, it remained.

This article appears in the May 2024 print edition with the headline “A Meatball at Sea.” When you buy a book using a link on this page, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.

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I Went on a $75,000 Luxury Air Cruise for 22 Days. Here's a Peek Inside the Over-the-Top Travel Experience Unlike Any I've Had Before. I wanted to do something epic to celebrate my 30th wedding anniversary with my wife.

By Amanda Breen • Apr 15, 2024

Key Takeaways

• Jim Tobin read a Travel + Leisure article about Safrans du Monde's air cruise offering last year.
• He and his wife took the 22-day Grands Classiques trip; tickets cost $75,000.
• With no planning required and everything taken care of, the experience was stress-free — and one he'd recommend.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jim Tobin, a 57-year-old entrepreneur. Tobin is based in Raleigh, North Carolina and has run a social media marketing agency for 17 years.

I first learned about Safrans du Monde , the luxury French tour operator and travel agency, from an article in Travel + Leisure that came out last spring. When I first saw that article, I sent it to my wife, sort of along the lines of This is ridiculous, who could do this. This is epic but so over the top. We laughed about it and thought how cool it sounded, then sort of forgot about it. Then, about six months later, I realized our 30th wedding anniversary was coming up, and maybe we should do something big because 30 years is a long time she's been suffering with me, and that article came back to mind.

Related: Wealthy Travelers Are Flocking to a New Luxury Cruise Ship With a Rolex Store, Crystal-Infused Water, and a $190 Tasting Menu. See Inside.

I was drawn to it because it's such an interesting and painless way to cross off so many items on your bucket list at once. The trip we went on was the Grands Classiques , so we saw Machu Picchu , Easter Island, the Taj Mahal and so many other iconic places. At one point a few years ago, we looked into getting to Easter Island, and just getting there is no small feat. And that was just one of the stops that you could do on this 22-day excursion. We had been to Sydney twice before because my brother lived in Australia for 15 years, but otherwise all of the destinations were new. Seeing the Taj Mahal was just so impressive and a little surreal to suddenly be there, particularly when we had been in Cambodia the day before, and witnessing that as the sun rose was incredible. It's something I'll never forget. From a destination standpoint, I was also struck by Bora Bora and just how beautiful it was.

Related: The Young Founder Behind a $100 Million Luxury Travel Business

Tickets for our trip cost $75,000. There were 52 passengers total on our vacation, and there was a French-speaking group and an English-speaking group. Our sort of subgroup was about 15 English-speaking people, and we had our own guide who stayed with us the entire time. She was on the plane from day one until the end and took care of everything — from visas and collecting passports before we went to certain destinations to letting us know what was happening next. We had a local guide for just our group who met us at each destination and stayed with us from the time we arrived until they dropped us back at the airport. The ability to have all of these experiences with no planning on our part and very little thinking about what we needed to do — hotels, transportation, meals — was remarkable and stress-free.

Related: People Sold Their Homes to Board a 'Never-Ending' Cruise Around the World. But the Ship Will Never Set Sail — Here's How the Big Dream Sank.

The plane itself had plenty of room; you have your own seat for the entire 22 days. You have the same flight attendants, the same pilots, the same chef. It was a little inverse of a normal trip where the plane flight could be sort of taxing. Getting to the destination was very relaxing , but you did have to hustle a little bit to see things on the ground. My wife and I joked a little bit that it was like the Amazing Race : One morning, we're looking at the Easter Island statues, and that afternoon, we're landing in Tahiti. But they did have a nice break scheduled in French Polynesia. We were there for four days, and it was much less planned, so we could relax a little bit more. There is a lot packed into that trip in a fairly short period of time, and I was grateful that we did it at a point where we still had the energy and mobility to do things like that.

Related: Going on a Family Vacation? This Popular U.S. Destination Is the Most Expensive in the World.

It's not an inexpensive trip, but when you look at the value provided, it's completely worth it. The logistics of getting to these places are very difficult when you fly on commercial airlines and have to make various connections. So logistically, it was so much easier. It was so much more pleasant not having to think about all of the planning and just be well taken care of the entire time. It made it both more cost-efficient and more enjoyable when you add up all the things you got to see.

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Tom Cruise’s Dream Role in ‘Watchmen’ Is Certainly a Choice!

The “heroes” of Watchmen work because many of us want to unpack what makes them not really heroic—one of the best examples being Rorschach. Call me unhinged, but the incel nature that is typically associated with Rorschach fascinates me when analyzing these characters.

What I wouldn’t expect would be Tom Cruise wishing to play Rorschach. A lot of the team are not people you should look up to, especially the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Ozymandias (Matthew Goode). But in Zack Synder’s film adaptation of the Alan Moore comic, the casting for these characters could have been very different.

Synder was on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast with host Josh Horowitz to talk about his new movie, Rebel Moon: Part Two – Scargiver and talked about the casting for Watchmen . I was but a young teenage girl when Watchmen came out, and watching as Night Owl struggled to … perform … changed my entire life. I love him, I would die for him, and it is all because of Patrick Wilson.

But Synder revealed that there were some other big names originally in play for the film. Like Tom Cruise. “I wanted Tom Cruise for Ozymandias,” Snyder said. “Tom wanted to play Rorschach, which obviously he could have done, but we had Jackie already, and Jackie’s unbelievable. I certainly would have considered Tom in retrospect, if I hadn’t had Jackie.”

He also kind of sort of confirmed that Keanu Reeves was considered for Dr. Manhattan, a role that eventually went to Billy Crudup, by talking about his wife’s (and producer’s) love of Reeves. “I think—my wife is a huge Keanu fan, she’s always bringing up Keanu for every role,” Snyder said. “So it makes sense to me that we probably talked about that. He’s probably a good [choice for] Dr. Manhattan, but [Billy] Crudup is insane.”

Rorschach is my guy though

One of my pet peeves about movies like Joker is that the narrative around it is that it highlights this toxicity in men specifically who use their “woe is me, I am a small guy” attitude as a weapon, as though it’s the first time a movie has done that. People obviously point out that Joker is basically superhero Taxi Driver, but I will go one step further and point out that we already have Rorschach .

Played by Jackie Earle Haley in Watchmen , he is our guide through the messed up world of the Watchmen team, and he will definitely give you the ick, but Jackie Earle Haley played him in such a way that even the darkest parts of Rorschach are interesting to talk about. It’s not that I think Cruise couldn’t have done that, but I don’t think my weird draw to unpacking Rorschach would exist.

In that case, I might have reacted to Watchmen in the same way I did Joker . But hey, we ended up with Jackie Earle Haley, and that’s the best! But Cruise as Ozymandias would have been very interesting indeed.

(featured image: Warner Bros. Pictures)

L.A. Affairs: I was new to Los Angeles. Was driving 70 miles for love worth it?

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I begrudgingly met my husband. I had been in L.A. for a short time and was keeping busy with the California lifestyle I had always dreamed of. With my doctorate in audiology, I had my first real job in the profession I had studied for many years. I also had my own apartment, complete with a complex pool surrounded by palm trees. I even bought a convertible that I could cruise top down year-round.

Having come from Canada, where winter is the most prominent season, being in Southern California felt more like a vacation than real life.

My weekdays were about work, so I decided to settle close to my office in Santa Clarita. I had the dream commute. I was two songs on the radio from my doorstep to the office. Also, Santa Clarita provided the perfect springboard for exploring SoCal on weekends. It was a quick jaunt to the beach on the 126. Or I could go north to the wine country or over to the desert or mountains depending on my mood or the weather.

L.A. Affairs: I went to USC. He went to UCLA. Could I fight on in the name of love?

As he courted me, my future husband said he would manage to overlook the fact that my diploma was from USC because he (unfortunately) was a devoted Bruin.

April 12, 2024

I was single and excited to take advantage of all California had to offer. I wasn’t looking for love or a boyfriend. I loved dating and was excited about trying it in SoCal.

My brother, who previously lived in Huntington Beach, kept bugging me about going south to hang out with a houseful of his friends — in Orange County!

Driving two hours south through L.A., traffic pending, to visit a rowdy house of people I didn’t know did not sound desirable, especially when I had so much of California to explore.

Therefore, the “open invitation” went unanswered.

That is, until my brother came to visit me. Upon his insistence and promise to drive, we went south to the Fountain Valley House. We arrived late on a Friday night and pulled up in front of a much larger house than I had expected. The house, as I would come to learn, had an ever-changing cast of characters as the jobs or relationships of its occupants changed. It was common to have guests or semi-permanent company parked on the couch.

L.A. Affairs: Enough with the perfect Instagram weddings. But how could I make mine special?

As I planned my wedding, I knew that I didn’t want a sweetheart neckline or a tea-length hem. I vowed to have a wedding that felt personal, modern and authentic.

April 5, 2024

Even the large master closet had no vacancy. It had been repurposed as a bedroom for one of the more permanent roommates.

Peak season was the winter. A lot of the actual roommates had friends or soon-to-be roommates from northern states — guests who wouldn’t leave once they came to visit — looking to escape those snowy climates.

I am not (or was not? ) one to believe in love at first sight but I remember the large wood panel door swinging open that first night and seeing Kirk for the first time. I love meeting new people but had never had a connection like the one I have with him before. He was attentive, honest and intellectual. He had previously lived in the house and moved out to live with a girlfriend in her apartment. After they broke up, he moved back into this crazy house.

He was in the kitchen, casually leaning back on the kitchen island wearing a striped zip-up hoodie that he still wears to this day.

L.A. Affairs: What am I doing here, I thought — until spotting a shirtless dude by the pool

We cooked Bolognese sauce, wrote songs together and continued talking about the meaning of life. Could this relationship last?

March 29, 2024

For some reason, time stood still. I did not know that evening what we would grow to become. I just knew it was different from anything I’d experienced. We clicked. Although he was immediately interested in me, he knew where I lived and didn’t think a relationship with me would go anywhere.

But I knew better.

After all, we had plenty in common. My brother and Kirk are pilots and ride motorcycles, so I was familiar with his hobbies and interests. He also loved cars, and I had just gotten my convertible. Our first real date was asking him to go for a drive and show me around. From that moment on, he became my new L.A. tour guide.

The two-hour drive I didn’t want to make became the drive the two of us did willingly, almost every weekend for five years. It was 70 miles one way, and traffic could be a beast. If I went south, the traffic was even worse, and I would leave Sunday night, which cut into our time together. The goodbyes were the worst, and we’d start feeling sad on Sunday afternoons. Although we technically lived in Greater L.A., it was next to impossible to get together on a weeknight and be back to work on time the next day.

If we felt like being social, I headed south. The Fountain Valley House was like a frat house.

There was always someone willing to go out or a party already planned on the premises. Mattress rides down the large entrance staircase were common as was fire twirling, juggling and unicycle riding.

L.A. Affairs: I slept with a married man with kids. But don’t call me a home-wrecker

Being a straightforward person, I wanted to know if the chef wanted to come back to my hotel. The next day I asked him if he’d be back for Round 2.

March 22, 2024

The house was a literal circus at times as many of the regular household members were competitive unicyclers. If solitude was what we needed and we craved a relaxing weekend, we would head north to Santa Clarita.

We would hike in the surrounding hills, drink wine and cook quiet meals together. We would order Thai food to be delivered to the community hot tub. (We were the only ones who used it.) Instead of a hangover brunch at the Sugar Shack Cafe in Huntington Beach, we would make pancakes together and pack a picnic for a day of bocce ball in the local park.

No matter where we ended up, the weekends were blissful. “But is this real life?” I wondered as I did all my laundry, shopping and cleaning during the week and absolutely nothing productive on the weekends.

L.A. Affairs: I was 18. He was 36 and my teacher. Could our marriage survive?

I was attending college when a lonely Mr. C asked me to dinner as a thank-you for taking care of his children.

March 15, 2024

With 70 miles between us, Kirk wanted to have daily phone calls to keep in touch, but as someone who despises talking on the phone, this was a true test of our relationship.

Thankfully we wanted to experience life together more than we wanted unending, magical, surreal weekends. We got engaged and then married. Best of all, my husband moved north, and although we still love to explore L.A., we can now share a quiet meal together — any day of the week.

The author is a writer and audiologist from Winnipeg, Canada. She lives in Santa Clarita and still tries not to do laundry on weekends. She can be reached at [email protected] .

L.A. Affairs chronicles the search for romantic love in all its glorious expressions in the L.A. area, and we want to hear your true story. We pay $400 for a published essay. Email [email protected] . You can find submission guidelines here . You can find past columns here .

More to Read

L.A. Affairs: He turned our romantic getaway into a stress test. Did I pass?

Feb. 23, 2024

L.A. Affairs: I met my dream man. The only problem? He wasn’t my husband

Feb. 2, 2024

L.A. Affairs: I said, ‘I love you.’ She quickly replied, ‘As a friend, right?’

Jan. 26, 2024

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Take Those Old DVDs Off The Shelf - Criterion Announces July 2024 Blu-ray and 4K UHD Titles

Posted Mon Apr 15, 2024 at 09:56 AM PDT by Tom Landy

The Criterion Collection's July's wave of 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray titles include Glauber Rocha's western Black God, White Devil on Blu-ray only; Wim Wenders' drama Perfect Days; Sam Peckinpah's western Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid; Chen Kaige's Farewell My Concubine; and Paul Brickman's classic Risky Business starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay - all arriving on both formats.

Not only that, there is a 4K upgrade of Jean-Pierre Melville's classic, Le samouraï.

First up on July 2 comes Sam Peckinpah's western Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid - arriving on 4K UHD Blu-ray as well as Blu-ray .

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Sam Peckinpah’s cycle of genre-redefining westerns came to a close with this blood- and dust-caked elegy for the American West, which marries his renegade style with a fatalistic sense of finality. As newly minted lawman Pat Garrett (James Coburn) stalks the outlaw Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson) across the plains, their old friendship is twisted into rivalry, and mythic ideals of freedom come up against an emerging ruling-class order—all to the strains of a haunting soundtrack by Bob Dylan (who also appears as the mercurial Alias). Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid—presented here for the first time in three separate versions—stands as perhaps the maverick auteur’s richest, most mature work, a world-weary ballad that bears the solemn weight of history passing into legend.

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration of the 50th Anniversary Release, supervised by editors Paul Seydor and Roger Spottiswoode, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• New 4K digital restoration of the Original Theatrical Release, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• Audio commentary for the 50th Anniversary Release featuring Seydor, Spottiswoode, and critic Michael Sragow
• Two 4K UHD discs of the films presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the films and special features
• New 2K digital master of director Sam Peckinpah’s Final Preview Cut, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• Dylan in Durango, a new interview with author Clinton Heylin about the film’s soundtrack
• Passion & Poetry: Peckinpah’s Last Western, a new program about the making of the film
• Archival interview with actor James Coburn
• Trailer and TV spots
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by author Steve Erickson

The week after that on July 9, Jean-Pierre Melville's Le samouraï will be getting its long-awaited 4K UHD Blu-ray debut.

Le samouraï - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

In a career-defining performance, Alain Delon plays Jef Costello, a contract killer with samurai instincts. After carrying out a flawlessly planned hit, Jef finds himself caught between a persistent police investigator and a ruthless employer, and not even his armor of fedora and trench coat can protect him. An elegantly stylized masterpiece of cool by maverick director Jean?Pierre Melville, Le samouraï is a razor-sharp cocktail of 1940s American gangster cinema and 1960s French pop culture—with a liberal dose of Japanese lone-warrior mythology.

• New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Interviews with Rui Nogueira, editor of Melville on Melville, and Ginette Vincendeau, author of Jean-Pierre Melville: An American in Paris
• Interviews with Melville and actors Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon, and Cathy Rosier
• Melville-Delon: D’honneur et de nuit (2011), a short documentary exploring the friendship between the director and the actor and their iconic collaboration on Le samouraï
• PLUS: An essay by film scholar David Thomson, an appreciation by filmmaker John Woo, and excerpts from Melville on Melville New cover by Polly Dedman

Then a Blu-ray of Glauber Rocha's Black God, White Devil will be hitting stores on July 16.

Black God, White Devil - The Criterion Collection 

Myth, mysticism, and revolution collide in a blistering existential western from Glauber Rocha, the father of Brazil’s socially committed Cinema Novo movement. After killing his swindling boss, ranch hand Manoel (Geraldo Del Rey) goes on the run with his wife, Rosa (Yona? Magalha?es). In the stark hinterlands, they join forces with armed bandits and pledge allegiance to a self-styled holy man who preaches revolt against rich landowners while perpetrating unspeakable acts of violence against the innocent. Suffused with antiauthoritarian fervor and the intensity of life in the desert, this landmark work of radical cinema is a scorched-earth allegory about mindless fanaticism and the allure of dead-end ideologies.

TWO-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• Audio commentary by restoration producer Lino Meireles
• New interview with film scholar Richard Peña
• Glauber the Movie, Labyrinth of Brazil (2003), a documentary on director Glauber Rocha
• Cinema Novo (2016), a documentary on the Brazilian film movement
• Memória do cangaço (1964), a short documentary on the origins of cangaço, a form of social banditry in northeastern Brazil
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by film scholar Fábio Andrade New cover based on the original poster by Rogério Duarte

Also on July 16, Wim Wenders' Perfect Days will be available on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray .

Perfect Days - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

A perfect song that hits at just the right moment, the play of sunlight through leaves, a fleeting moment of human connection in a vast metropolis: the wonders of everyday life come into breathtaking focus in this profoundly moving film by Wim Wenders. In a radiant, Cannes-award-winning performance of few words but extraordinary expressiveness, Koji Yakusho plays a public-toilet cleaner in Tokyo whose rich inner world is gradually revealed through his small exchanges with those around him and with the city itself. Channeling his idol Yasujiro Ozu, Wenders crafts a serenely minimalist ode to the miracle that is the here and now.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• 4K digital master, approved by director Wim Wenders, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• New interview with Wenders
• Interview with actor Koji Yakusho
• Some Body Comes into the Light (2023), a short by Wenders, featuring a new introduction by the director
• Interview with producer Koji Yanai, founder of the Tokyo Toilet project
• PLUS: An essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri New cover by Michael Boland

Chen Kaige's Farewell My Concubine will be available on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on July 23.

Farewell My Concubine - The Criterion Collection 4K UHD Ultra HD Blu-ray 

A breathtakingly intimate romance unfolds against a sweeping backdrop of social upheaval in renowned director Chen Kaige’s sumptuous saga of passion, fate, and the transcendent possibilities of art. Spanning fifty years of twentieth-century Chinese history, Farewell My Concubine follows aspiring actors Dieyi (a heartbreaking Leslie Cheung) and Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) as they emerge from a childhood of brutal training to become Beijing-opera stars, with life mirroring art as Dieyi’s unrequited love for Xiaolou and the country’s changing political tides engulf them in their own personal tragedies of jealousy and betrayal. The first Chinese film to win the Palme d’Or is epic filmmaking of the highest order—visually and emotionally ravishing from frame to exquisite frame.

• New 4K digital restoration of the original director’s cut, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• New conversation between Chinese-cultural-studies scholar Michael Berry and producer Janet Yang
• Documentary from 2003 on the making of the film
• Interview from 1993 with director Chen Kaige conducted by journalist Charlie Rose
• PLUS: An essay by author and scholar Pauline Chen New cover by Eric Skillman

And finally the film that launched Tom Cruise into super-stardom, Paul Brickman's Risky Business will hit stores on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on the same date.

Risky Business - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

A sly piece of pop subversion, this irresistible satire of Reagan-era materialism features Tom Cruise in his star-is-born breakthrough as a Chicago suburban prepster whose college-bound life spirals out of control when his parents go out of town for the week and an enterprising call girl (Rebecca De Mornay) invites him to walk on the wild side. While Cruise boogying in his briefs yielded one of the most iconic pop-cultural moments of the 1980s, it is the film’s unexpected mix of tender romance (enhanced by a moody synth score by Tangerine Dream) and sharp-witted capitalist critique that remains fresh and daring.

• New 4K digital restorations of the director’s cut and the original theatrical release, supervised and approved by director Paul Brickman and producer Jon Avnet, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Audio commentary for the original theatrical release featuring Brickman, Avnet, and actor Tom Cruise
• New interviews with Avnet and casting director Nancy Klopper
• New conversation between editor Richard Chew and film historian Bobbie O’Steen
• The Dream Is Always the Same: The Story of “Risky Business,” a program featuring interviews with Brickman, Avnet, cast members, and others
• Screen tests with Cruise and actor Rebecca De Mornay
• PLUS: An essay by film curator and critic Dave Kehr New cover illustration by Jeremy Enecio

Pre-orders for The Criterion Collection's July releases should be available soon!

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Essay on My Dream Is to Become a Pilot

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Dream Is to Become a Pilot in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Dream Is to Become a Pilot

My dream: becoming a pilot.

I have always been fascinated by the sky. The vast blue expanse has been my playground for dreams. My dream is to become a pilot.

Why a Pilot?

The idea of soaring high above the clouds, experiencing the tranquility of the sky, and seeing the world from a unique perspective excites me. As a pilot, I would be able to connect people and places.

The Journey Ahead

I know the journey to become a pilot is challenging. It requires hard work, dedication, and a strong understanding of science. But I am ready to face these challenges to make my dream come true.

250 Words Essay on My Dream Is to Become a Pilot

Introduction.

The dream of becoming a pilot is a fascinating aspiration, one that is often ignited by a deep-rooted passion for aviation and an unquenchable thirst for exploration. This dream is not merely about controlling a massive machine, but it is also about the freedom to traverse the vast skies and connect with different cultures worldwide.

The Allure of the Skies

The allure of flying is a powerful pull. It is not just about the adrenaline rush that accompanies the take-off or the tranquility that the view from thousands of feet above the ground brings. It is about the harmony between man and machine, the intricate dance that pilots perform to safely navigate these metal birds. The skies represent an unexplored frontier, a place where one can truly experience the wonders of our world from a unique perspective.

Responsibility and Challenge

Becoming a pilot is not just about the thrill of flying; it carries immense responsibility. The safety of hundreds of passengers lies in the hands of the pilot, making the job challenging yet rewarding. Navigating through turbulent weather, ensuring smooth take-offs and landings, and constantly updating skills to keep up with new technologies are all part of the job that I eagerly anticipate.

Connecting Cultures

As a pilot, I would have the opportunity to connect different cultures and people. This profession transcends geographical boundaries, making it a platform for cultural exchange and understanding. It is this aspect of the job that truly fascifies me, enabling me to contribute to a more interconnected and understanding world.

In essence, my dream of becoming a pilot is fueled by my passion for exploration, the thrill of responsibility, and the desire to connect cultures. It is a dream that motivates me to strive for excellence and fuels my journey towards achieving this goal.

500 Words Essay on My Dream Is to Become a Pilot

The allure of the sky has always held a profound fascination for me. The vast expanse of the azure sky, dotted with fluffy clouds, and the mystery of what lies beyond the horizon, has often filled me with a sense of wonder. This fascination, coupled with a deep-rooted desire to explore, has led me to dream of becoming a pilot.

The Dream of Flight

The dream of flight is not just about the physical act of soaring through the sky. It is about embracing the spirit of exploration, pushing the boundaries of human capability, and experiencing the thrill of discovery. As a pilot, I would not simply be a navigator of a machine, but a voyager in the truest sense, charting a course through the unexplored territories of the sky.

The Responsibility of a Pilot

Becoming a pilot is not just about fulfilling a personal dream, but also about assuming a great responsibility. A pilot is entrusted with the lives of hundreds of passengers and the safe delivery of valuable cargo. This responsibility requires a high degree of skill, precision, and dedication. It demands constant learning, rigorous training, and a commitment to safety above all else.

The Thrill and Challenges

The thrill of being a pilot comes with its own set of challenges. The job requires a deep understanding of complex machinery, meteorology, navigation, and aviation law. It involves working under pressure and making critical decisions in high-stake situations. But these challenges are what make the dream even more exciting. They push me to strive for excellence, hone my skills, and constantly expand my knowledge.

Contributing to Society

As a pilot, I would also have the opportunity to contribute to society in meaningful ways. Pilots play a crucial role in connecting people and places, fostering cultural exchange, and facilitating global trade. They also play a vital role in times of crisis, delivering aid to disaster-struck areas or evacuating people in danger. Thus, my dream of becoming a pilot is also about serving society and making a positive impact.

In conclusion, my dream of becoming a pilot stems from a deep fascination with the sky, a desire for exploration, and a readiness to embrace the challenges that come with the profession. It is about assuming a great responsibility, striving for excellence, and contributing to society. As I work towards realizing this dream, I am driven by the words of Leonardo da Vinci, “For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will long to return.”

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on My Dream Home
• Essay on My Dream Company
• Essay on My Dream City

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Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now

In this month’s sci-fi picks, cruise through dreams, hook a right at multiverses, turn left at portals, then put it in reverse for some time travel.

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By Elisabeth Vincentelli

Rent or buy it on most major platforms.

In 2021, this column featured a Canadian movie about multiverses called “Parallel.” Now here comes an American movie about multiverses called “Parallel,” based on a Chinese movie about multiverses called “Parallel Forest.” Déjà vu all over again?

The greatest asset of Kourosh Ahari’s “Parallel” is the wonderful Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”), who confirms she can not only suggest depths of psychic pain but also throw herself into a part’s physical demands. Tormented by her child’s death, Vanessa is trying to get away from her thoughts at an idyllic lakeside house with her husband, Alex, and his brother, Martel (played by the real-life siblings Aldis and Edwin Hodge, who also co-wrote the film with Jonathan Keasey). Out for a walk in the woods, Vanessa narrowly avoids being shot — by a woman who looks just like her. Discrepancies begin to pop up in what she thought she knew about her own life; Alex and Martel’s behavior and even their very identities become unpredictable, to the point that she’s never quite sure who she’s talking to. The movie can be confusing as the parallel realities become ever more complex, but it eventually coalesces into a poignant tale about the stories we tell ourselves in order to deal with traumatic events.

‘Dream Scenario’

Stream it on Max.

Aggressively average, Paul Matthews is an evolutionary biologist stuck on the academic ladder and watching, with bitter, powerless envy, some of his peers take off. This sounds like the premise for a Paul Giamatti vehicle, but the central role of “Dream Scenario” is played by Nicolas Cage, who brings completely different baggage to the story. Paul, you see, acquires viral fame when he starts popping up in people’s dreams. He is recognized everywhere he goes and while he has zero control about his starring role in people’s unconscious, he still becomes a living meme — a familiar experience for Cage, a frequent subject of memes rather than dreams. Kristoffer Borgli’s surreal dark comedy can be read as a meta commentary on fame, particularly that of Cage himself. Seen from a science-fiction perspective, however, the casting is a red herring and the movie becomes a disturbing description of invasive marketing campaigns and, down the line, direct mind control. Borgli parallels this vision with a concomitant one of destructive herd mentality, and how easy it is for a mob to form. The combination of those two strains truly is the stuff nightmares are made of.

‘Extraneous Matter: Complete Edition’

One random day, a strange life form turns up in the bedroom closet of a young woman (Kaoru Koide). We don’t know the nature of the creature or how it got in there, only that it seems to have just one thing in mind, and it’s not killing earthlings, for a change. Be warned that Ken’ichi Ugana’s film is not for the prude or the squeamish, as its first of four sections features abundant sex of the tentacled, polymorphous kind. The special effects are primitive, almost defiantly so — at times “Extraneous Matter: Complete Edition” made me think of an unlikely papier-mâché hybrid of “Little Shop of Horrors” and Andrzej Zulawski’s classic “Possession” — but oddly this makes them more effective, not less. The creatures are especially striking as a lo-fi counterpoint to human characters plagued with anomie and aimlessness. As the film (which was extended from a 2020 short, as its title indicates) progresses, it’s obvious that what Ugana is really concerned with is the unbearable loneliness imposed by modern living, and our inability to connect with others. What a true oddity this project is.

‘Time Addicts’

Australian dirtbag cinema tends to be set in the outback, but there are exceptions: Sam Odlum’s movie takes place in Melbourne. The foul-mouthed, rather dim Johnny (Charles Grounds) and his slightly sharper friend Denise (Freya Tingley) are addicts so desperate for a hit that they agree to do a job for their dealer, Kane (Joshua Morton): They’ll retrieve a bag of crystal meth left in a derelict house, with strict instructions not to sample the goods. Except, of course, Johnny does, and poof — he is whisked back to 1995.

The contraband “temporal narcotic” allows Johnny to hopscotch back and forth through the decades, both past and future (Melbourne in 2053, we are told, is barely livable). In short order, Denise follows him in time-traveling escapades and the pair crisscross timelines, meeting the undercover cop Tracey (Elise Jansen) along the way. The best part, besides the imaginative variations on a certain curse word, is the detective work required of the viewer to follow the trail of visual and aural cues that Odlum spreads throughout the film. Rest assured they do tie up in the end.

Stream it on Netflix.

The Japanese director Makoto Shinkai is regularly hailed as one of the modern masters of animation, and this dense, action-packed film helps show why (even if newcomers to his world might want to start with “Your Name, ” from 2017).

When the high school student Suzume finds herself in front of a door that seems to float on a lake, little does she realize the responsibility she is about to inherit: The door is one of several such portals throughout Japan that could let out a gigantic earthquake-causing energy worm, and Suzume must find them and close them. She is helped by the handsome Souta — handsome, that is, until a cat transforms him into a talking three-legged chair. Let’s just say that few directors besides Shinkai (and Hayao Miyazaki, to whom he is often compared) could pull off a central character consisting of a chair jabbering as it cavorts around the countryside.

A breathless sense of adventure courses through the visually stunning “Suzume,” which adroitly works both as an allegory for Japan’s life under the constant threat of earthquakes and as a coming-of-age story that is graceful and often funny. But it also acknowledges death looming over our lives.

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