A viral TikTok shows you're never too old for a girls' trip.
Leah Aikens (@healthandleah) shared a hilarious video on TikTok of her mother and her mother's best friend on a sailing excursion while sailing on an 80s cruise aboard a Royal Caribbean ship. "We may or may not be being kidnapped," her mother said in the video, "We were told to lay flat. Our belongings have been taken...Not to mention we're three margaritas in."
Since being published in March 2024, the video has garnered over 600,00 views, 96,000 likes, and 100 comments. Coco🍉🍉🍉 wrote, "It's her world girl we're just living in it," while notcapnamerica said, "I want them to have their own reality show. Ultimate Girls Trip." Even Snapple had to chime in: "To your mom: Please teach us your ways, we're humble servants."
As first reported by Newsweek, Leah's mother, Christine (nicknamed Ata), and her best friend Kym Nadeau met in middle school; however, their mothers were best friends, too, and they grew up taking trips together.
"When I was a senior in high school, [Aka's] mom and my mom took me to the Bahamas," Nadeau said, "I started traveling with them once a year, going to Aruba and Mexico, and then Aka started going with us...our moms taught us how to party, and we learned everything from them. We would find them playing quarters with the locals and things like that."
Their travel roster includes more than cruises, with Nadeau mentioning that she bought a condo in The Bahamas with the hopes of the duo retiring there.
"Aka is the very best friend you can have...When I am down, I watch videos of our trips, and it always makes me laugh. She is...the life of the party. She always has my back, and we always want to do the same things and go the same places," Nadeau remarked.
Aikens often uses social media to share her mother's and Nadeau's adventures. Nadeau said margaritas or martinis typically prompt their videos, which was certainly the case on the sailing excursion booked by Aka.
"We had a few drinks and they started taking bags and things below. It was because the water was pretty rough, and we were getting tossed around, but we were still slightly unsure and buzzed, so we decided to film it," Nadeau said to Newsweek.
A second TikTok posted by Aiken shows the pair of friends supposedly out at 3:00am onboard saying that everyone's obsessed with them and that they need to go hide. "In actuality, not a single person was," Nadeau revealed. As expected, the video was taken after the duo had a few beverages.
Whether you're a large multigenerational family traveling together or a pair of friends, cruising offers something for everyone
Ata and Nadeau prove that cruising can reignite your sense of adventure, even if you think your party days are long gone. From included dining to jaw-dropping entertainment, complimentary youth programming, and exciting shore excursions, everyone in your group will find something to enjoy on a cruise vacation.
If you're sailing with children or teens, consider booking a cruise on a newer ship, as they feature some of the greatest innovations at sea, including go-kart tracks, rollercoasters, zip lines, and more, ensuring that they're never bored.
Sometimes, however, you may not want to spend a week surrounded by other children. Travelers seeking a relaxing adult-focused cruise should consider a voyage on an upscale cruise line, such as Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, or Princess Cruises. Though not adult-only, guests will appreciate the refined atmosphere, including the serene onboard spa, upscale dining options, and thoughtfully designed cabins.
Read more: 10 things I'd tell anyone new to cruise ships
Adults seeking a lively onboard environment with no children should look to sail onboard one of Virgin Voyages' ships. With a minimum sail age of 18, no child-friendly amenities are onboard. Instead, you can expect innovative cuisine (no main dining room or buffet!) and experiences curated specifically for an adult audience, including wild dance parties and provocative theater shows.
You can't go wrong with a cruise on an older ship, either. Though they may not be as updated as today's newest vessels, ships like Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas and NCL's Norwegian Star emphasize destinations over onboard amenities, meaning they're a great choice if you're focused on exploring more unique ports of call.
Read more: From Royal Caribbean to Disney: These 5 cruises are among the best, travelers say
Cruising is an affordable vacation option, too
It's easy to spend upwards of $10,000 on a cruise, especially if you're traveling with a large family or splurging on a lavish suite; however, there are ways to save money while taking a memorable vacation.
First, skip the balcony cabin and book an interior. Though they're often the smallest cabins onboard, you'll enjoy the same onboard amenities for a fraction of the cost. In June 2025, for instance, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise onboard Carnival Celebration starts at $889 per person for an inside stateroom, with balconies going for $1,189 per person.
Additionally, you can save money by sailing on an older vessel. While there's plenty of hype for Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, prices start at over $1,500 per person for an interior room in 2025. Instead, you can cruise onboard one of their massive Oasis Class ships for far less. A 7-night cruise on Harmony of the Seas, for example, costs as little as $615 per person.
Read more: Study reveals that taking a cruise is more affordable than you think
Those with flexible schedules should consider sailing during the shoulder season, which is the period either at the beginning or end of a region's peak season. A 7-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard Norwegian Escape in February 2025 starts at $679 per person. In July, however, you'll see fares around $1,129 per person.
While cheap fares are a major appeal of sailing during the off-season, ports tend to be less crowded, too, as there are fewer land-based tourists.
Whether you're looking for a girls' trip like Ata and Nadeau or hoping to take your family on their first cruise, there's no better time to begin planning your next getaway! If you're dreaming about sipping cocktails on the beaches of the Caribbean with your friend or exploring Alaska's rugged wilderness with your children, starting the planning process is the first step in turning your daydreams into a reality.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
