My dad died of cancer at 58. My family used some of his insurance money to go on a cruise, and it helped us grieve and connect.

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figcaption>The author said traveling with her family after her dad passed away helped them grieve.Like those people we used to roll our eyes at, we attended all the evening shows, joined the morning aerobics on the deck, spent hours people-watching, and got my mom hooked on strawberry daiquiris (the virgin ones, because they were cheaper). Looking back, I think those moments mattered more than any destination we visited during the trip.

We didn’t become “cruise people” after that, but we understood the appeal

After my dad’s death, my mom fought to keep the free accommodation at the conservation areas. My sister now lives in Dubai, and whenever she comes home, we go back to those same self-catering, DIY stays that hold so many memories of Dad. This time, with homemade strawberry daiquiris in hand.

Who would have thought that a cruise could give us the space to appreciate those old family trips in a completely new way?