Overview
- Kate Loweth long planned to see Norway and chose a birthday-timed cruise after her husband's limited time off and her teens' jobs made a family trip unworkable.
- She began the journey with several solo days in Amsterdam, booking a food tour and a canal cruise and setting her own pace.
- On board, she picked excursions she wanted, including a rigid-hull boat ride through the fjords at Skjolden and a floating sauna session in Leirvik.
- Daily time in a quiet, adults-only hydrotherapy lounge helped her unwind and step out of the constant caregiving role she has at home.
- She returned saying the experience was self-care and a message to her children that it is never too late to try new things or visit bucket-list destinations.