A few years ago, when I heard that Disney had started a cruise line, I thought it sounded like a living nightmare. A boat full of other people’s noisy children, and giant characters popping out around every corner? No thanks.

Boy, was I wrong! My mom had the idea for all of us to go on one for Thanksgiving this year, and I have to say it’s one of her best ideas yet.

The food was amazing, the weather was incredible, and there was plenty for us to do — as a family, a couple or a crowd. If I could live on that boat all year, I would. Still trying to figure out how to make that happen.

But, most importantly, Joe seemed to really love it. He ate like a horse (this is a kid who merely tolerates food here at home, but he wolfed it down at sea). He chatted non-stop, laughed a lot, and made lifelong friends with a waiter who wasn’t even assigned to us. He thought the ocean was a great big bathtub and could have spent hours splashing around in it.

Here he is in his Mickey ears:

In a few years, I imagine we’ll be venturing out to Disney World for the full experience. (Expect 2,896,419 more pictures then!)