Jeannette McCurdy Video from Nickelodeon Cruise Vacation

Jeannette McCurdy is one of the stars of Nickelodeon’s iCarly, along with Nathan Kress and, of course, Miranda Cosgrove. My kids love Jeanette McCurdy and the gang, in fact, iCarly is one of their favorite Nickelodeon shows (along with Spongebob Squarepants, starring that goofy yellow invertebrate). When my kids and I were on the Nickelodeon Cruise, Jeannete McCurdy and Nathan Kress were perfect; fun, humble, never condescending, and genuinely happy to be on a cruise with legions of adoring fans. Jeanette McCurdy even took some time to let my older daughter interview her, and here is the resulting video.

Now, a year and a half has passed since that family cruise vacation. My younger daughter (who interviewed Nathan Kress for this video) now fits into the shirt my older one is wearing in that Jeannette McCurdy interview video!  I’m embarrassed to admit this, but it took me a long time to remember I had video from our Nickelodeon Cruise family vacation online because I misplaced that Flip video camera. It’s been a real pleasure, and a nostalgic trip, to watch all the videos from our family cruise — children grow up a lot in almost two years! The Nickelodeon Cruise itself has changed as well: The Nickelodeon Cruise has switched ships from the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas ocean liner to one in the Norwegian Cruise Line. I’m sure, though, that Nathan Kress and Jeannette McCurdy are just as gracious as ever.

That Nickelodeon Cruise allowed my children and I to explore Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta during day trips off the ocean liner. Looking back, I am certain that there are better ways to get to know a travel destination — especially one as large and diverse as Mexico’s Pacific coast. It’s a pretty good introduction for children to a different place, though. After giggling over all the raw videos with my kids, I asked them what their favorite memories of that family cruise vacation were. My younger daughter most loved recalling the rain forest in Puerto Vallarta, the Spongebob Squarepants concert, meeting Nathan Kress, and the all-you-can-eat soft ice cream self serve by the children’s pool. My older daughter most fondly remembered meeting Jeannette McCurdy, a “find the Splat” ship-wide scavenger hunt, and winning a dollar (from me!) for eating a hot jalapeno in Mazatlan. I lost that bet, and yes, she reminds me whenever the opportunity arises.

Walking through a rain forest, thrilling to a child-centric trip, even winning a bet with your mother: These are some experiences that add up to wonderful memories of a family cruise vacation. If we are, indeed, the sum of our experiences, then I’ll always recall that Nickelodeon vacation with gratitude. I am so thankful to have these valuable, shared experiences of laughter and discovery with my children. No matter what type of family vacation you prefer, traveling with your children strengthens the ties of the family unit.

Thank you to Nickelodeon at Sea Cruises for hosting this fun family cruise vacation.