In less than 2 weeks I’ll be embarking on my very first cruise!!

A few weeks ago the American Heart Association asked if I was interested and able to cruise with them in February on the Ruby Princess.

Happy new year to you! So this opportunity came up today, and I wanted to see if it was something you might be interested in. We are working with Princess Cruises on “Cruise for Heart” a heart-health themed Caribbean cruise that takes place Feb. 10-15. It departs from Fort Lauderdale and stops in Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Click here for additional details. We’ve been working with Princess to develop the programming, and we think it is going to be a great experience.

I had to re-read the email 5 times before I believed it.

Coincidently I received the invitation while researching spa resorts I could take Mom on our Mother-Daughter trip this year.

I called her to see if we could make it work and before I knew it, I was agreeing to cruise in February!

I love this idea of Cruising for a Cause. Princess Cruises dedicates an entire sailing to support a charitable cause. The first fundraising cruise in 2012 raised $600,000 for two U.S. veterans charities.

To raise the money, a portion of the cruise fare per person, depending on stateroom category, is donated on behalf each passenger. The donation is tax deductible and Princess Cruises matches every dollar donated, up to $500,000 for the sailing.

It’s not quite Voluntourism but it is a great way to support a charity while pampering yourself!

“Cruise for Heart” has a goal of raising $1 million for the AHA’s heart health programs and educational outreach. The cruise sales from February 10-15  aboard the Ruby Princess on a Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale, the five-day voyage will offer passengers a heart-themed experience, focused not only on “affairs of the heart,” but also a variety of on-board features themed around healthy living and heart health awareness.

If you are interested in learning more about the cruise, click here.  If you are looking for a last-minute winter getaway it’s on sale right now (as low as $299!)

Mom and I are flying down to Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 9 for our heart-healthy vacation. I can’t wait to spend a week with her and share all the details with you!

Note: In case you are interested, last year we went to Italy! I’m doing my best to make Daughter trips a yearly tradition.

Disclaimer: Princess Cruises and The American Heart Association are covering our expenses for this trip. I am not being compensated any other way. All opinions are my own.

Image Credit