2016 Caregiver Cruise to New England and Canada!
We know it can be difficult to travel when your loved one has memory impairment, but we all still need a vacation! Both the individual with a dementia diagnosis and their caregiver are able to attend the cruise, making the program possibly the first of its kind in the country. Insight provides supervision during excursions, and respite at sea, giving cruise participants the opportunity for a vacation in a safe environment, in the company of others who “get it.” In addition to the many benefits a cruise offers – the chance for a vacation, seeing new sights, a getaway – the caregiver cruise provides families with a sense of normalcy.
One caregiver shared: "It was just fun to be with other people because at home I’m pretty isolated and this gave me an opportunity to be with people, be entertained, go to the shows, just relax and enjoy things - without my husband and with my husband."
Check Out What We Did!
We made daily posts here with trip highlights and excursions so you can feel like you've cruised along with us!
We departed from Baltimore on Thursday, May 26, 2016, and returned Saturday, June 4, 2016 with stops in Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, St. John, and Halifax.
Day 2: Relaxation and Respite at Sea
May 27, 2016
Day 2 was our first of three sea days. We were VERY glad to hear that because this was the first northern voyage of the Grandeur of the Seas this season, Mother Nature decided to give us a beautiful day. The morning started off with people enjoying a nice cup of coffee on the pool deck to take in the oceanic views, walking the deck path to take in the ocean air, or having a casual breakfast at the Park Café or the Windjammer.
By mid-morning, our Respite Care option was available to all. At 10am we started off with Progressive Trivia in the Schooner Bar. Before you get too excited, apparently “Progressive” meant “start with obscure facts and go from there!” So needless to say, we did not do so hot. But none the less, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to play. Following trivia we headed to our private conference room where we did some fun Boston Themed activities in honor of our first port tomorrow. We had a great time working together, and enjoying each other’s company.
Group lunch was in the main dining room, where we met up with some of the caregivers and talked about everyone’s morning. Some of the caregivers spent the remainder of the morning together having coffee, reading on the pool deck, or just spending time exploring the ship. After lunch we met up with the remainder of the caregivers for an afternoon of games in Centrum, where we did in fact take home some fabulous prizes for being the High-Low Game Champs! Sophie did her best Vanna White and assisted the hostess with turning the cards!
Day 2 also included our first Formal Night! Everyone donned their Cruise Best and enjoyed a pre-dinner orchestra, drinks, and pictures. After dinner was the Captain’s Reception where we met the Captain and had a champagne toast along with a surprise aerial performance. Then it was off to the Headliner Show in the Palladium Theater with David Klinkenberg who put on a fabulous show playing the violin to a standing ovation.
The night ended with some folks retiring to their rooms while others were headed to a Michael Jackson tribute or to the Casino!
Tomorrow we hit Boston for our first excursion – Duck Tour!
Trying our best at Progressive Trivia.
It was fun to give it a try!
Enjoying some Boston themed activities!
Working together!
Christi leading our activities.
Celebrating lunch with a toast!
Sophie doing her best Vanna White!
Enjoying the orchestra before dinner.
Aerialist performance!
All dressed up!
Champagne toast!
Enjoying our first formal dinner!
Enjoying the company too!
Sophie up on stage!
She did a great job!
