An Exciting Adventure: A Mother-Daughter Getaway in Roatan

“Yeehaw!” I shout with exhilaration as I zip along at approximately 20mph, surrounded by thin, towering trees and vibrant foliage beneath me. Despite my fear of heights, I have opted for a zip-line experience in Roatan, an island located off the coast of Honduras, and I’m feeling the adrenaline surge through my veins, blending terror with excitement.

“Awesome job, Mum!” my 20-year-old daughter, Lara, laughs as I land on the platform where she awaits. Her smile is infectious, and it’s clear she is absolutely enjoying herself. However, there’s little time to savor her compliment as she quickly secures her harness for the next zip line, which leads further into the jungle, and moments later, she jumps into the air, shouting “See ya!” as she takes off.

During our thrilling 90-minute adventure, Lara and I join around 15 fellow passengers from Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady for a course featuring ten zip lines that traverse the tropical rainforest. This exciting outing is definitely worth the price (£80 per person) — Lara and I chatter excitedly about our experience as we ride back to the ship in a minibus. We emerge soaked and covered in mud due to the heavy tropical rain that fell that morning, but the thrill of the zip-lining adventure eclipses any discomfort from the weather.

The purpose of this six-day cruise was to share valuable time with Lara during her university reading week, and I hoped it would provide us with memorable experiences together. It was Lara’s first cruise, and she was eager to explore four destinations: the US, Mexico, Honduras, and the Bahamas. I had a slight concern that she might be out of place among an older crowd.

My worries were unfounded. Compared to my previous cruise experiences, Scarlet Lady’s capacity of 2,770 passengers is quite diverse. The ship caters exclusively to adults, with most passengers being Americans, alongside some Brits and Europeans. Passengers’ ages range from their twenties to sixties, showcasing a wonderful array of ethnicities, sexual orientations, and body types. We weren’t the only parent-child duo aboard.

While zip-lining was Lara’s favorite excursion, I relished our visit to the ancient Mayan ruins of Chacchoben in Mexico, dating from AD700 (£78 per person). Although we faced another downpour during this trip, our knowledgeable guide, Diana Garcia, kept spirits high with her entertaining commentary, joking about performing human sacrifices to appease the gods and encourage sunshine, as per the traditions of the ancient civilization. Her insights into the Mayan pyramids and their historical significance provided a captivating experience.

After we dried off and warmed up on board, Lara and I indulged in a three-hour session in the thermal suite of the Redemption spa (£61 per person). Moving around the salt and steam rooms, sauna, and various hot and cool pools was incredibly relaxing, leading me to drift off on the heated marble hammam bench until Lara shook me awake. She wanted to ensure we wouldn’t miss the final part of our spa experience — coating ourselves with “healing” mud. This 15-minute treatment, although messy, left us feeling refreshed and invigorated after a good wash.

Our visits to the spa didn’t end there. On one of our two sea days, we each indulged in a 75-minute massage in the newly introduced spacious treatment room (£220 per person). The therapists catered to our individual requests — I asked for a strong massage, while Lara preferred a lighter touch. Afterwards, we made our way back to our cabin, completely relaxed and free of tension.

The treatment room is one of several enhancements that Scarlet Lady has acquired since its launch in August 2021. Other additions include 24 new suites, six stylish poolside cabanas, a new menu inspired by Chinese cuisine at Razzle Dazzle restaurant, and an updated coffee shop. The previously featured risqué show, Never Sleep Alone, has also been quietly discontinued.

The party atmosphere on board, however, remains as vibrant as ever. We managed to grab a quick bite from the Pizza Place (which is included in the cruise) before glamorizing ourselves for the highlight of the week: Scarlet Night. We had dressed for the occasion, and upon exiting our cabin, we were greeted by a sea of fellow passengers adorned in red. While it may sound gimmicky, it was delightful to see an entire ship enjoying the same theme, heightening the lively ambiance.

After a couple of excellent espresso martinis at the Grounds Club bar (£11 each), we were ready to hit the dance floor in the aptly named Red Room, dancing for nearly four hours as the DJ played an array of hits spanning four decades. After burning off plenty of energy, I logged an impressive 14,500 steps dancing — much to Lara’s amusement — while also finding other passengers eager to join the fun.

However, the following day, I felt the effects of our energetic night with some muscle soreness, making me question the wisdom of signing up for a bungee fitness class — something neither of us had tried before. Thankfully, bouncing around in a harness while attempting various exercises proved so enjoyable that my dancing-related aches were quickly forgotten. Lara and I even managed to attempt an upside-down position taught by the instructor, which wasn’t the most advisable move considering my hangover, but the class concluded before any real repercussions occurred.

Throughout our voyage, we also participated in spin classes and high-intensity interval training, both of which were comparable to classes back in the UK. The ship’s gym was well-equipped, featuring a variety of machines, which ensured we never encountered a wait.

Our focus wasn’t solely on maintaining fitness during the cruise. Our motivation to exercise stemmed from our love for food, with a myriad of dining options available. Our top picks included Extra Virgin, an Italian restaurant renowned for its authentic pasta, and The Wake, cleverly named for its location at the back of the ship.

The Wake is elegantly designed with cream leather seats, plush carpets, and crisp linen, and its food and service rival that of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Lara enjoyed herb-stuffed chicken, while I savored hanger steak served with delicious sides of brown-butter-roasted wild mushrooms, twice-baked potato with caramelized onions, and asparagus accompanied by guindilla sauce. Although some dishes on the menu had additional costs, such as lobster and oysters, sticking to the included options posed no problem.

A standout experience onboard was the breathtaking show Duel Reality, which featured stunning dance and acrobatic performances inspired by the tale of Romeo and Juliet. The cast received a well-deserved standing ovation, and had time permitted, we would have loved to see it again.

Nevertheless, the only letdown during our week occurred due to unexpected weather, leading to a rather chilly experience at Virgin’s beach club on Bimini, Bahamas. The strong winds forced the cancellation of our planned swimming excursion with stingrays at the last moment (£93).

Despite this, we enjoyed a refreshing dip in the turquoise ocean and played in the waves for a bit. Not encountering any stingrays spared me from some pressure regarding a promise I made to Lara to get matching stingray tattoos at Scarlet Lady’s Squid Ink Tattoo Parlor as a memento of our journey (£155 per person).

This would have been my first tattoo, but I reassured Lara that “It’s always worth saving something for next time,” masking my relief about avoiding what could have been a permanent decision.