10 Nov The “family-feeling” on the Reggae Queen
Lars and Johanna, taking a selfie underwater
I am sitting here in my cabin. Watching the ocean. Listening to the sound of the waves. Today is the last day of our 4-day-snorkeling trip to Surin. In a few hours only we will be back at the pier. And you know that I will miss? The guests or let us say, the friends that I made on the boat! There was one German guy, an American couple and a Danish father with his Son on the trip. I really must point out how well the group just got along with each other. That made the trip just so awesome!
Staying together for four days on the boat is a unique experience. This can be meant in a positive and maybe also in a, let us call it, challenging way. At 7 am you get up together, brush your teeth next to each other and share the bread, the ham and the eggs for breakfast together at one big table. I kind of notice that I repeat myself in using the work “together”. But that’s how it is – you just do everything together. Not only cleaning the table, playing games and drinking some beers in the evening together – no. What we also do is, we take care of each other all the time, especially when snorkeling.
When guests feel like your family for a few days…
At the start of the trip you do not know the people who will be with you. But in the end, you spend so much time with them so that they kind of feel like your family. Sounds strange? I can understand. If you have not done an experience like this before, you probably cannot imagine how it feels like. But sticking together and behaving like a family is not an exaggeration. And this part is unique for the tours of Andaman Snorkel Discovery, I guess.
Why a liveaboard experience makes the difference…
When snorkeling, we take care of each other
Before I experienced this tour, I joined a speedboat trip. The daytrip with its food, guides and snorkeling sessions was well but – that’s what I kind of missed: I did not get close to the people, I did not get to know anybody and just did not really have the opportunity to chat with others. The ride on the boat was very rough and very loud, so socialising with my neighbours was kind of hart so I gave up after the typical small talk conversation. Due to the fact that this was not a liveaboard experience but only a daytrip, there was also no time to get to know someone later on. Instead of having a beer in the evening, we spend another 1,5 hours on the “noisy-no-conversation-speedboat” to get back to the pier. I still liked the trip: We went to amazing beaches, explored the underwater sea life and the guides were funny and knew a lot about the surroundings. But anyway, I felt a bit “lost” on the speedboat with its anonymous atmosphere.
Do not stay by yourself: Go out and start talking to others…
Chatting and joking as usual on the table
Some people might do not want to get in touch with others first. But I am pretty sure that those people change their mind as soon as they just start to socialise, they will change their mind. Give it a try – talk to the people on the boat and ask them what you are interested in. Even if they have different opinions on different things – try to get out of your comfort zone and open your mind =). For sure, you will not regret that in the end. Good vibes will come up quickly!
Small groups and a lot of time to chat, joke and laugh: That’s how it is on the Reggae Queen…
Our guest Ann, free diving like a mermaid
I am somebody who is always up for a small chat and like to make new friends. So, this is what I really appreciated on the Reggae Queen: Small groups and more time to socialize. You spend at least 3 days with the same people on the boat and the maximum number of guests is 16. That makes it different.
And that is what makes memories. The snorkelling, the good food, the stunning beaches you visit are great things – but the people you meet, they make the trip just unforgettable.
Thank you, Ann, Martin, Rolf, Emil and Lars for making this trip so amazing! It was a pleasure to have you on the Reggae Queen!
