Just 3 days before taking off on a family vacation to celebrate Lon & Paula's 39th wedding anniversary, we got an email we thought was a joke...

Our tropical cruise to Bermuda had been rerouted....

to New Brunswick, CANADA

Not only would months of planning, saving, excitement and prep go to waste, but this change meant that the bucket list destination of Bermuda would not be happening.

The cruise line Virgin Voyages said the change was necessary because of bad weather, and while we respect them trying to keep us safe, the extreme difference of climate (from TROPICAL—which was promised—to freezing winter conditions) feels dishonest and completely insulting.

To make matters worse, Virgin did not offer to refund the trip. We were given the option to either reschedule (which had they told us more than 3 days in advance, we would've) or go with the new destination change.

It was Good Friday when we received the email, and half of our party had already traveled to the area the cruise was departing from, with their bags packed for the beach! Because of the holiday weekend and the dramatic change, they had to buy new wardrobe just for the trip, and it was too late to cancel hotel rooms, prepaid parking passes, flights, and other accommodations ahead of the cruise.

So we went, to freezing cold Canada.

While will be a trip we won't ever forget, it was extremely limiting and extremely disappointing to witness the cruisline's lack of empathy and unwillingness to make things right.

We invested thousands of dollars that won't be returned and wasted time trying to make a once in a lifetime memory with our loved ones who work so hard for everyone.

Lon is my father in law, a retired school psychologist and just celebrated his 75th birthday! Paula is my mother in law, a kindergarten teacher and a big fan of the beach.

They are hard working loving parents and grandparents and we want to offer a chance to surprise them with the Bermuda vacation of their dreams.

There is NO obligation to give, but if you choose to do so, we will take them on the beachy trip they deserve.