Back in October, I embarked on a seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise across northern Spain with my mom and aunt.
It had been a while since I'd vacationed with my family. Until recently, I'd prioritized traveling with my husband and friends in their late 20s, like me.
But I'm extremely close with my mom and aunt — both in their mid 50s — and I figured we were long overdue for a girls' trip.
We had an amazing time, but having an age gap with my cruise companions came with challenges, from technological mishaps to differing health and fitness levels.
ChatGPT made an itinerary in the wrong continent
Our cruise departed from Southampton, England, on Independence of the Seas and ported in Bilbao, La Coruña, Vigo, and Gijon — all in northern Spain. Although I had been to Spain before, I hadn't visited these cities. I was excited to experience something new.
My mom was also excited. She even used ChatGPT to make itineraries for each port, which she printed out so that we would each have a copy.
I was impressed — until I noticed the itinerary had mixed up Balboa in Spain with Balboa in Panama. My mom initially hadn't noticed the blunder, and the three of us shared a good laugh at her expense.
It wasn't the first technical mishap during the trip. I soon realized my mom and aunt didn't know how to use Google Maps, so getting us around was solely up to me.
I didn't mind being in charge of the directions. But there was an added pressure and responsibility that wouldn't have been there if I had been traveling with my husband or friends my own age.
Next time, we'll use public transport
Our week consisted of sightseeing, shopping, and lots of wine. It was a lot of fun.
But when planning our activities for the port days, I didn't anticipate that my mom and aunt aren't as physically healthy as I am. We decided to get around on foot rather than use public transport, and I soon realized this was a mistake.
My aunt had just had back surgery before the trip, and she assured us she'd be fine. I shouldn't have listened to her. It was understandably a struggle, and at one point during the trip, I heard her compare a 40-minute walk to 20 miles. And while my mom likes to walk, she also struggled to keep up with my pace.
Next time, I'll take this into account and book public transport or taxis to get us around the port cities.
It felt like a slumber party
We stayed in a windowless stateroom with a double bed that my mom and aunt shared and a fold-up bunk bed for me. The room also had a full-length mirror, a desk with a makeup mirror, a TV, a couch, a coffee table, a closet, and a bathroom.
I couldn't decide whether this cramped setup was reminiscent of a teenage slumber party, full of laughter and fun, or more like I was a child on vacation with two parents.
It ended up feeling like a bit of both. While I loved our late-night chats, by the end of the week, I was craving my own space. Next time, I'll definitely splurge and get an extra room for myself to recharge.
It was worth the challenges
Of course, the trip had its challenges. At times, it was difficult to navigate the logistics of traveling with two people who are so different from me.
But looking back, I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Our nights were filled with deep conversations and giggles. Our days were filled with walking, shopping, wine, and more wine.
My aunt, in particular, is a chatterbox. She allowed me to quiz her on all the major life events I haven't yet experienced, like pregnancy and giving birth. I'll treasure those conversations forever.
Traveling with family — especially older relatives — is a rewarding experience that everyone should try at least once.
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Mikhaila Friel was a senior reporter at Business Insider in the UK, where she covers news and lifestyle topics. Mikhaila began her career at BI in 2019, covering the royal family. Since then, she has covered every major royal event and has been interviewed on global broadcasters, including BBC News and BBC Radio. She interviewed royals around the world for BI's Royally Told series and hosted two virtual panels.Mikhaila also enjoyed writing visual travel features about her adventures at home in Scotland and abroad. In 2023, she shared her experiences island-hopping in Scotland and she also reviewed the 5-star hotel in Sicily where "The White Lotus" was filmed.Major outlets have cited her work, and in 2023, her essay about going on a second date in a graveyard was featured on The Drew Barrymore Show.
