I requested this book nine years ago, and am no longer interested in reading. Thank you for the opportunity.

I DNFed at 29%

I'm really not sure that this author has ever been on an actual cruise.

1. A cruise line would never cancel a cruise, unless it’s because of covid or an irreparable mechanical issue. If the passengers all canceled, they would not receive any kind of refund, so the cruise would still happen for those left who didn’t cancel and they would offer highly discounted last-minute bookings so they could hopefully sail with a full ship.

2. If a cruise line actually did have to cancel a cruise, they would let their passenger know. They would not tell you once you arrived to check-in.

3. Never, under any circumstances, would a cruise line rebook you on another ship/cruise. They especially wouldn’t do it without telling you first/getting your permission. In the real world, Joss would have been offered the opportunity to cancel and receive a refund on her fair because the line canceled the cruise she paid for.

4. How convenient that another ship just happened to be setting sail on the same day from the same port! Miami is large enough that they can handle the traffic and parking and baggage handling and ground crew and insanity of two ships boarding and embarking on the same day, but Long Beach would not be able to handle this. And, based on the fact that this is a 7-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera (Puerto Vallarta, Cabo, and Mazatlan), this cruise most likely left out of a California port.

5. A cruise ship terminal does not have one little ticket counter where you hand over your ticket and then board. It would take DAYS to board if that's hoe it worked. A terminal has tons of agents and tons of counters checking you in (it looks like an airport inside). People board in groups that are numbered based on the time they were assigned to check in on their boarding pass. Even with this system, the boarding process takes 5-6 hours.
No, you do not hand over your ticket, board, and check in in a ballroom on board. The ship’s communal areas are not big enough to do that. You check in in the terminal and board in at staggered times to help control congestion.

6. You have to go through security and have your luggage/carry-on scanned before you board like on an airplane. Most people choose to check their bags and drop them with a baggage handler to deliver them at your cabin later that evening. Joss just walked on with her suitcase. One could argue that the author just didn’t want to mention this part, but she chose to outline the rest of the boarding process so why would she leave this part out?

7. Early in the story, Joss wants to flee and get off the ship before the ship leaves port. But then she looks out the window and notices that they are already under way. Oh no! First, she would definitely feel it. Second, she would definitely hear it. Ships blow their horns when leaving port to alert other vessels in the area. Third, there was no mention of the lifeboat drill, which is required by US maritime law before a ship sets sail. All passengers are required to congregate and be instructed on on-board safety protocols. Crew members search common areas and cabins to ensure all guests are in attendance. Room cards are scanned when you arrive so they can log your attendance. If you do not attend, they can kick you off the ship. It's a huge deal and takes at least 30 minutes from the time you congregate until you're released to go have fun. Joss should have attended this, which would have told her that the ship was about to set sail as they kick off people who will not be sailing (this is almost always people who are on the ship for weddings and then get off before the ship leaves) right before they do this drill. Joss would have had to have been unconscious in a place nobody could possibly find her in order for her to not know the ship was leaving.

I understand that authors have creative license and can do whatever they want, but that's not what this is. This is a lack of research. It ruined my reading experience, and I decided to move on to a different book.

Oh my gosh. These books are too funny. Great holiday reading.