Midnight Wisdom: How a Hot Tub Stranger Changed My Travel Mindset

I've been a cruise person for about five years now. You know the type—I've got my packing list laminated, I know the optimal time to hit the buffet, and I spend the first day mapping out exactly which deck has the quietest corner of the pool. I'm efficient. I'm strategic. I'm honestly kind of boring about it, if I'm being real. This particular cruise on the Emerald Princess was supposed to be like all the others. Seven days in the Mediterranean, a few days at sea, a few days at ports I'd already seen before. I had my itinerary locked down: hit the main dining room for dinner each night, catch a couple shows, do a shore excursion in Barcelona that I'd already done twice, and basically optimize my cruise experience like I was running a military operation. The first few days went exactly as planned. Breakfast at 7:30 AM in the buffet—the one on the Lido Deck is always less crowded than the main dining room. Lunch at noon. I even claimed the same lounge chair by the pool for the sea days, just like I do every cruise. Everything was proceeding with my usual clockwork precision. My friends back home think I'm crazy for how regimented I am about cruising, but hey, it works for me, right?…