Seven Days at Sea: How the Viking Sky Brought My Daughter Back to Me

I stood on the dock in Barcelona staring at the Viking Sky, my hands sweating despite the cool Mediterranean breeze. My 16-year-old daughter, Emma, stood three feet away from me—not unusual these days—scrolling through her phone like she'd rather be literally anywhere else. We hadn't had a real conversation in almost two years. Not since the divorce. Not since everything fell apart. "Come on," I said, trying to sound upbeat and probably failing miserably. "This is going to be great." Emma didn't look up. "Sure, Dad." I'd booked this Viking Ocean Cruises voyage six months ago in a moment of desperate hope. Seven days, five ports, the Mediterranean sun—surely that was enough to fix what I'd broken. I'd read the reviews on CruiseDeckLife about how intimate these smaller Viking ships were, how they created moments of connection. I was banking on those moments like my life depended on it. The Viking Sky is sleek and modern in a way that surprised me. I'd expected something that felt stuffy and old-fashioned, but it's elegant without being pretentious. About 930 passengers, which somehow feels both crowded and private at the same time. Our cabin was on Deck 7, a Veranda Suite with floor…