How a Shuffleboard Tournament Changed My Cruise Experience Forever

When I booked my seven-day cruise on Wonder of the Seas with Royal Caribbean, I had a specific plan. I was going to relax by the pool, catch up on reading, maybe enjoy some spa treatments, and generally exist in a state of peaceful solitude. I'd spent the previous six months in a high-stress job, and I was looking forward to zero social interaction beyond the occasional "hello" at dinner. So naturally, I found myself standing on the Lido Deck at 10 AM on Day Two, shuffleboard cue in hand, with absolutely no idea how I'd gotten there. The sign had been innocuous enough: "Shuffleboard Tournament – Day Two at 10 AM – All Skill Levels Welcome – Prize TBD." I'd walked past it three times before a crew member named Jennifer grabbed my arm and said, "You look athletic! You should play!" I am not athletic. I am a person who gets winded walking up stairs. But Jennifer had a smile that could convince people to do almost anything, and before I could explain my complete lack of shuffleboard experience, I was registered. That's how I met Marcus, Claire, and David. Marcus was my first opponent, a retired teacher from Texas with the most aggressively competitive attitude toward a recreational cr…