Cruise Baddies 2025: How Sixteen Women From the Internet Became a Sisterhood at Sea
- shalondawright26
- Nov 7
- 7 min read
There are moments in life that shift something inside you—moments where you step into an unfamiliar space, unsure of what you’ll find, and walk out changed in ways you didn’t even know you needed. Cruise Baddies 2025 was exactly that. What started as a simple three-day Bahamas cruise with women who met through a Facebook group transformed into a healing, hilarious, empowering, unforgettable experience. Sixteen women. Sixteen stories. Sixteen personalities. All different ethnicities, body types, professions, and walks of life. Yet somehow, on that ship, under the sun, with music in the background and ocean in every direction, we found ourselves flowing in the same current.
This wasn’t just a trip.
It was a rebirth.
A reset.
A reminder that women can create magic when we choose connection over fear.
And for me personally, this trip meant even more than that. It forced me to confront something I had avoided for years: the fear of new friendships.
How It All Started: A Group Chat, A Wild Idea, and A Need for Escape
Like many modern friendships, this one started behind screens. Facebook groups have a funny way of bringing strangers together—women bonding over memes, stories, experiences, advice, and chaos. Someone threw out the idea: “Let’s do a trip. A real one. Girls only. Something fun.”
Most online ideas die in the comments.
This one gained momentum.
Within weeks, sixteen of us locked in, paid deposits, bought swimsuits, and turned a casual suggestion into a three-day Bahamas cruise on a floating party ship. Some of us had never met in person. Others had only shared a comment or two in passing. But somehow, the vibes were right. The energy was right. And the timing—well, the timing was divine.
But life, in its usual way, delivered one little twist for me.
My sister—my original roommate—could no longer attend.
Last minute.
Out of nowhere.
And suddenly, I was rooming with a complete stranger.
On the outside, I played it cool.
On the inside? I was spiraling.
The Backstory: Why New Friendships Scared Me
Most people assume adults are perfectly capable of making new friends—but the truth is, many of us struggle. Friendship trauma is real. Betrayal, abandonment, conflict, miscommunication, or simply growing apart from people you once loved can leave wounds that make you guarded.
I won’t lie—I’ve been through things that made me distrustful of letting new women get too close. I’ve lost friendships I thought would last forever. I’ve experienced being judged, talked about, or treated unfairly. And as I grew older, I found it harder and harder to open up. Easier to stay in my bubble. Easier to keep everything “surface level.”
So when I learned I’d have a new roommate at the last minute—a woman I had never met, never spoken to, didn’t know anything about—I panicked. My mind immediately went to the worst-case scenarios:
What if we clash?
What if she’s messy?
What if she’s judgmental?
What if she doesn’t like me?
What if this ruins the whole trip?
But something deeper whispered back:
This is why you’re going.
To break this cycle.
To trust again.
To experience connection without fear.
And so, I packed my bags, took a breath, and stepped onto that ship.
Day 1: The Energy Was Electric From the Moment We Boarded
The minute we arrived at the port, something shifted. Every woman showed up with the intention to have a good time. Suitcases rolling. Lashes done. Nails fresh. Edges laid. Drinks in hand. Laughs already bubbling in the crowd.
There was no weird tension. No awkwardness. No “mean girl energy.”
Just vibes.
Pure, lighthearted, contagious energy.
We boarded the ship to music blasting, people dancing, announcements echoing, and the kind of excitement you can feel in your bones. The sun was glowing. The ocean breeze was warm. And suddenly, the whole “16 strangers” thing didn’t feel strange at all.
Everyone was introducing themselves, hugging like we’d known each other for years, complimenting outfits, planning which restaurants to hit, which clubs to visit, and which activities were a must. We took pictures before we even reached our rooms.
And then came the moment I had been anxious about—meeting my roommate.
Meeting My Roommate: The Universe Has Jokes
Sis walked into the room with this bright smile and warm spirit like we had been assigned by the ancestors themselves. The vibe was instantly calm, grounding, and safe.
We talked. We laughed. We unpacked.
And the nervous energy I carried for days? Completely gone.
Sometimes the universe snatches away your comfort zone to give you what you actually need.
My roommate turned out to be kind, considerate, funny, and easy to be around. She didn’t judge. She didn’t pry. She didn’t come with weird energy or attitude. Instead, she gave space. She gave understanding. She gave a genuine openness.
By the end of the first night, we were talking like old friends.
And by the end of the trip? That stranger had become one of my closest connections.
The First Night: Drinks, Dancing, and the Beginning of the Bond
Our first night on the ship was exactly what you’d expect from a group called Cruise Baddies. We started with a group dinner—dressed, glowing, heels clicking, heads turning as we walked through the ship like a squad straight off a reality show.
Sixteen women of different ethnicities, sizes, and professions: nurses, IT specialists, entrepreneurs, teachers, creatives, corporate girlies, and everything in between. We represented literally every background, yet somehow, the energy was seamless.
We ordered drinks.
We shared plates.
We took a million photos.
We toasted to the trip.
We toasted to ourselves.
We toasted to healing and joy and femininity and freedom.
After dinner, we hit the deck party. The music was shaking the whole ship, bodies were moving, and everyone was already lit off the adrenaline and excitement. We danced under the night sky, hair blowing in the wind, forgetting about our 9-to-5 stress, forgetting about home, forgetting about responsibilities.
We were simply present.
Not mothers.
Not employees.
Not partners.
Not caretakers.
Not overthinkers.
Not protectors.
Just women.
Just joy.
Just vibes.
Day 2: Bahamas Bliss—Sun, Sea, Sisterhood
When we woke up the next morning and saw the Bahamas stretching out in front of us—vibrant water, colorful buildings, the sounds of laughter and music floating from the port—it felt surreal.
We got dressed in our swimsuits, coverups, and sunglasses, ready for a full day of sun and laughter. Every woman looked beautiful—different shapes, different skin tones, different styles. The diversity was stunning. And for once, it didn’t matter who had the “perfect” body. Everyone was hyping each other up. No competition. No insecurity. Just support.
One thing about women?
We can make someone feel like a supermodel with just one:
“Yessss, you look GOOD!”
We explored the island.
We drank on the beach.
We danced to Caribbean music.
We waded into the perfect blue water.
We ate good food.
We shopped.
We laughed until our stomachs hurt.
And we created memories that still make me smile weeks later.
That Unexpected Moment of Healing
There was a moment—quiet, simple, but powerful—that shifted something in me.
We were all sitting on the beach, talking about relationships, boundaries, confidence, and life. And for the first time in a long time, I felt safe opening up. I felt seen. I felt understood.
These women, who were strangers two days ago, created a space where I could breathe. Where I didn’t have to be guarded. Where I didn’t have to pretend everything was fine. Where I could simply exist.
Sometimes healing doesn’t come through therapy or journaling or deep self-help books. Sometimes healing is:
• sunlight on your skin
• ocean in your ears
• women laughing beside you
• the realization that connection is still possible
And in that moment, something heavy in me released.
Something hardened in me softened.
Something closed in me opened.
Night Two: The Turn Up of All Turn Ups
After returning to the ship and freshening up, we came together for the second night’s festivities. And baby—when I say we TURNED UP—I mean we turned up.
We hit every party the ship had to offer.
We danced until our legs shook.
We sang to the top of our lungs.
We took shots we probably didn’t need.
We stumbled back to our rooms laughing until tears rolled.
The energy was unmatched.
Nobody was left out.
Nobody was isolated.
Nobody felt forgotten.
Every woman was included.
Every woman was loved on.
Every woman was celebrated.
This night sealed the bond.
Day 3: The Final Hours & The Unexpected Sisterhood
On the last day, the ship felt different. Slower. Calmer. More sentimental. We ate breakfast together, lounged around, and soaked up the last bits of sun. Some of us slept in. Some of us took photos. Some of us reflected on the experience.
And somewhere between the pancakes and the ocean breeze, we made a decision:
Cruise Baddies is now a tradition.
Not a one-time thing.
Not a random spontaneous trip.
But an annual sisterhood experience.
2025 was only the beginning.
The Aftermath: The Healing I Didn’t Know I Needed
When I got home, I realized how much lighter I felt.
How much softer.
How much more hopeful.
I didn’t just gain a roommate-turned-friend.
I gained a community.
A tribe.
A circle of women who reminded me that connection is safe.
That friendship can still be pure.
That joy is a form of healing.
That vulnerability doesn’t have to be terrifying.
That I am capable of opening up again.
Cruise Baddies 2025 wasn’t perfect because everything went right.
It was perfect because everything was real.
We laughed.
We drank.
We danced.
We talked.
We connected.
We healed.
We grew.
And through that, we created something powerful—an experience that none of us will ever forget.
Why This Trip Matters
This blog isn’t just a recap.
It’s a reminder.
A reminder that women can come together without competition.
A reminder that healing can happen in the most unexpected places.
A reminder that new friendships can be beautiful despite past trauma.
A reminder that joy is medicine.
A reminder that letting your guard down can lead to blessings.
A reminder that the world is filled with good people—you just have to give them a chance.
And most importantly:
You are allowed to have fun.
You are allowed to trust again.
You are allowed to let new people in.
You are allowed to experience softness.
Cruise Baddies 2025 was the beginning of something new—for all of us.
But especially for me.
I came looking for a vacation.
I left with a sisterhood.
And next year?
We’re running it back—bigger, better, and even more beautiful.
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