We're on deck 12 as the 250-foot-long AIDAmar sets in motion. With a loud honking she moves away from the cruise terminal Warnemünde, from the loudspeakers roars "Sail away" of Enya. I pinch my lips to avoid accidentally smiling. Damn, the unwelcome smile is impudently just transformed into a goose bumps. The music, the sea, the many people with their handkerchiefs, that really touches me. And that, although I have sworn all my life never to become one of DENES. DIE, these are the cruise tourists. And me, I'm the self-proclaimed opposite. Whatever that may be. Nevertheless, I stand here now, on the AIDA? for the sake of my husband (clearly one of DENEN). Every second, between the joy of the salty wind in my face and the rebellious defiance, I hesitate to stop thrilling to enjoy this tourism machinery. Seriously now ... a cruise !!! For me, that was so far away from any idea that I am here on Deck 12 a bit scared of my own goosebumps.

The peak of all decadence

With my husband, our three children and about two and a half thousand other people, I am now being taken to a different port every day. Our tour: a day on the high seas, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, one more day of sea, then again Warnemünde. Four countries in just one week. Na cheers! Also included: a room with sea view, seven restaurants, a casino, a 4D cinema, a library, various cafes, bars, whirlpools, saunas and ... heaven, let's leave that. The Baltic wind blows through my hair and I do not know if I should laugh or cry. Is it perverted what we do here? The height of all decadence? Certainly! And yet a lot of endorphins in my blood against my will celebrate the first pool deck party on this trip. The excited farewell blush of the ships that accompany us a bit, tears me from my thoughts. "Hungry!", Also our youngest and we let us roast a few meters away a burger, which is awesome delicious. Whether we want to drink wine, asks the waiter. It's inclusive, he says. I nod thankfully, Yes, wine could help. Especially inclusive.

I do not have to do anything, and yet my head is buzzing

In the next few days I feel especially lift and climb stairs. I have to admit, that's kind of funny. From our cabin on deck 4 to the restaurant on deck 10, then get the jacket on deck 4 to go out on deck 12, or play football on deck 14. Jacket off again on deck 4, get coffee on deck 9, onto the Playground on deck 5. One has nothing else to do (a sentence whose importance I do not have to explain to a mother ...). I quickly learn to know Estonia (not a country that I really had on the screen), walk the next day through the Russian St. Petersburg and jump the next day through Finnish puddles in Helsinki. As in the intoxication the many impressions fly past me. Meanwhile, on the AIDA stage, talks about the destinations are held, shows are performed and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". Every evening at our cabin a small booklet with the program of the next day hangs. Four pages full of workshops, dates and possibilities. I really do not have to worry about anything, and yet my head is buzzing. Learning one thing on board the AIDA is the ability to choose between thousands of options. Otherwise is not my supreme discipline. Somewhere between St. Petersburg and Helsinki, the most beautiful feeling in the world finally sets in: The Joy of Missing out. The pleasure of missing a lot. Especially workshops, appointments and opportunities.

My conclusion? Unfortunately nice.

Five days after our departure, we dock in Stockholm, the final destination of the tour. By now I know my way on board, I know when to go to which restaurant to win the fight for the best spot, I feel like an old acquaintance of the captain, who talks to us twice a day about the weather , the sea and the regional characteristics supplied and can now sing along "Sail away". With Bordwein intus even very loud. My head has gotten used to the slight rocking of the floor and my stomach has grown to three times the amount of food it actually knows.

Well, now Sweden. My husband wakes us early this morning and we sit down to five on one of the round sofas on Deck 10, right by the window. Most passengers are still sleeping. The huge ship meanders past the small islets in the direction of Stockholm, on the shore you can see through the morning mist small red wooden houses with jetty. In my hand I hold a cup of hot coffee that I did not have to cook, and the children maneuver us through the narrowest sea lanes with an imaginary steering wheel as the sun rises golden out of the sea. At that moment, reconcile me with the thought I've been resisting the whole time: Yes, damn it. I think it's awesome.Totally weird, but cool. Even though I am officially one of DENEN now ...

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