Finding Magic in the Storm: My Unforgettable Night on the Wish

I've been on five cruises in my life, but I've never actually sat through a storm while awake. Usually, I'm that person who takes a Dramamine, crawls into bed, and emerges twelve hours later when everything's calm. Not this time. This time, I was about to experience something that would change how I think about the ocean forever. It was our third night on the Disney Wish, and my family and I had spent the day island-hopping in the Caribbean. We'd had an amazing time in Castaway Cay, and honestly, I was exhausted. My teenage daughter had other plans, though. She wanted to stay up late for the deck party they were having near the Skyline Lounge, and my husband was determined to catch the late-night movie in one of the theaters. So I told them I was heading to our balcony cabin to read for a bit, maybe enjoy some quiet time. Our cabin was on Deck 8, Starboard side—a gorgeous verandah that overlooked the ocean. I changed into my comfiest clothes, grabbed my current read, and settled into one of the lounge chairs with a glass of white wine from the mini-fridge. The sky was already looking a little ominous, with these dark gray clouds rolling in from the distance, but the Disney Wish wa…