My first cruise was on the world's largest cruise ship with my mam — here's what we got up to

First-time cruiser Breda Graham finds more than her sea legs sailing with her mam on the world’s largest cruise ship

Caroline Graham and Breda Graham set sail on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas

Sharing a a ‘pinch-me’ moment with a parent is special.

Sitting on our port side balcony together on the Legend of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, was one of those moments: Of pure gratitude for the experience, for each other, and for that shared feeling of ,‘Is this real life?’

I grew up in Tipperary, in the countryside. it’s the largest landlocked county in Ireland. Our childhood consisted of adventures in the rolling fields behind our house, walks in the forest, and that time in the summer all of us cousins looked forward to most: Hay bailing season, because it meant spins in the tractor with grandad and a cup of flat Coca Cola as a treat for our ‘hard work’.

But my family also loved the sea, my mother in particular. Trips to Clonea beach and Tramore in Co Waterford were regular in the summertime, and memories of popping into the local waterfront shop to buy a bucket and spade and an ice cream are still some of my favourite.

As we got older, we visited Co Kerry a lot and Inch Beach became a regular spot, as did Redbarn beach in Co Cork.

Mam would always say, looking out to the view of the sea: “Imagine that being your view every day.” We would often say that if we ever won the lottery, a sea-view house along the coast would be the priority, but mam is so kind, caring, and generous that she’d always put others ahead of herself first.

Breda Graham and Caroline Graham on their sea view balcony on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas.

So when I was told that I had the opportunity to bring someone along with me on an exclusive preview sailing of Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, it was a no-brainer that mam would be the one to join me.

Legend of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s newest Iconclass cruise ship: 364m long, with 18 guest decks, 2,805 staterooms, seven pools, the largest water park at sea, a basketball court, a theatre, a two-floor casino, a nightclub, and a huge variety of restaurants and bars.

It also has a massive, well-equipped gym, a running track, a climbing wall, mini golf, and the popular Crown’s Edge, a skywalk and zipline suspended 47m (or 152ft) above the ocean.

The preview sailing would take us from Malaga to Rome, so we flew from Cork to Malaga on the evening before embarkation and explored the culinary delights and small, winding streets of the city, before resting up ahead of what would be the most exciting and yet relaxing five days at sea.

The stateroom with a balcony on board Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas. Picture: Breda Graham.

The embarkation was nothing like I had expected. The excitement was infectious, from the gasps and exclamations of ‘Wow!’ from our taxi driver as Legend of the Seas came into view as we made our way down to the port, to the energy of the welcoming staff at the port terminal.

We stood and took it all in. Looking up at the 66m-high ship, I was reminded of all the times we walked the port of Cobh in Co Cork on a summer’s day to sneak a peek at whatever cruise liner had docked for the day.

We would be in awe of the sheer size and promise that some day we would make it onto one of them. And there we were, about to board one of the largest cruise ships in the world for a five-day adventure at sea. That was pinch-me moment number one.

The second came soon after, when we walked onto the ship and saw the Pearl in the Royal Promenade: A massive, spherical, kinetic structure built with hundreds of specialised LED panels designed to mimic ocean waves. It was mesmerising, as was the size of the Promenade, which houses many of the ship’s restaurants and bars.

Breda Graham pictured at The Promenade on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas.

Friendly and helpful staff directed us to our stateroom on Deck 7, where the third pinch-me moment came when we opened the door to our cabin. Mam did the honours, and we gasped when we walked in and saw that we had a balcony with a view of the sea. I couldn’t help but jump up and down like an excited child, with tears in my eyes, because, in that moment, it felt like one of mam’s dreams was coming true. And I can’t explain what it feels like to play a small part in making that happen for a parent.

We rushed out to the balcony, admiring the soft, golden light over Malaga, pointing out the sites we had visited the previous day. Unpacking, we shared a lovely moment, talking through the outfits we had brought and planning the accessories we’d wear with each as we folded everything away.

The Promenade on board Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas. Picture: Breda Graham.

After meeting our lovely cabin steward, Mishel, who would be our go-to staff member for the trip, we set off to explore the ship.

It has 18 decks, so it wasn’t until day three that I felt I fully had my bearings. There was just so much to do that I thought we wouldn’t get to see it all.

And that’s the thing about a trip like this: You can make it your own.

Caroline Graham and Breda Graham pictured at The Overlook on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas. Picture: Simon Brooke-Webb.

As two people who had never been on a cruise, we decided to take it slow, exploring the facilities at an easy pace that felt right for us.

As an outdoorsy person, I had the option to take on the thrilling experience of Crown’s Edge, the climbing wall, the running track, and the many waterslides on board.

Equally, I could choose to sip a cocktail in The Hideaway and read a book while lounging in Chill Island.

That’s the beauty of a sailing trip like this.

And while the size of the ship can feel overwhelming, the neighbourhood concept of areas such as Central Park, Thrill Island, Chill Island, The Overlook, The Grove, and Surfside makes it feel like home very quickly. So much so that I didn’t want to leave and I still miss it.

Central Park on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas.

Some of the trip highlights are the simple moments: Rushing back to our cabin on night one, when we realised we would have a better view of the firework display from our balcony than from a crowded Deck 16; witnessing a full moon reflecting on the water on night two; the first bite of a slice of Sorrento’s pepperoni pizza; pulling out of La Spezia cruise port and sailing into what I can only describe as a pink haze that felt other-worldly; waking up to the sound of breaking waves each morning; playing games at the arcade just like those summers spent in Tramore; and walking through Central Park to the sound of crickets mimicking a stroll through a tropical resort.

Aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas during the fireworks display at Malaga.

Those were small, poignant moments of joy.

During the preview sailing, we made one stop along the Italian coast in La Spezia. We hummed and hawed about whether to disembark or stay on board to make the most of everything the ship has to offer.

The view of the mountains leaving La Spezia from on board Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas. Picture: Breda Graham.

Then, I remembered what Gerard Nolan, vice-president and MD of Royal Caribbean Group, said when I asked him what the biggest misconception is for first-time cruisers before they embark.

“That there isn’t open space,” he said. “When you come on board and see the way the ship is structured, there is so much space. Even at full capacity, you don’t feel it.”

And, to me, that was enough of a reason to remain on board: To experience for one final day that seductive cruise culture, knowing we had a few days in Rome when we would finally disembark for good.

We know in our hearts that we will be back on board Legend of the Seas during one of her summer returns to the Mediterranean, after winters of sailing the Caribbean. We’ve been converted to life at sea now.

And how special it was to experience it all with mam; a core memory that neither of us will ever forget.

Breda was a guest of Royal Caribbean

Escape Notes

• Seven-night Mediterranean cruise on Legend of The Seas from Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Provence (Marseille), Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples/Capri, Barcelona, from €1,392 in September and October this year. Prices for next summer start at €1,484. Flights not included.
• royalcaribbean.com