Crossing Worlds

As the three stepped through the sleek automated doors into the SS Dreamwave’s central atrium, they were instantly greeted by the lively energy of the ship. The atrium was vast, stretching several decks high, with elegant glass elevators zipping up and down. A grand staircase in the corner spiraled upwards, its handrails polished to a gleaming shine. The space was bathed in natural light, thanks to the massive skylights overhead that revealed the bright blue sky above. The decks above them were ringed with shops and stalls, selling everything from duty-free alcohol to the latest in fashion. In the center of the atrium was a sleek, modern bar catering for Amazons and Littles alike, which Hannah found interesting.

Soft, cheerful music played throughout the atrium, adding to the warm, inviting atmosphere. A large fountain at the heart of the space gently bubbled, water cascading down in graceful arcs. Around it, clusters of plush seating areas were filled with families and couples while cruise staff dressed in colorful uniforms bustled about, guiding new arrivals to their destinations. The walls were adorned with playful ocean-themed art, while digital screens flashed welcome messages and updates on activities and events happening throughout the day. The air was filled with the faint scent of fresh ocean breeze and the light perfume of tropical flowers arranged in vases amongst the atrium. 

Daddy guided them through the crowds of people milling about, following signs towards the aft staterooms. They passed through wide, luxurious corridors with soft lighting and carpeted floors. The walls were lined with more ocean-inspired artwork and small decorative touches that gave the ship a sense of elegance and fun. Other guests passed by, some already in swimwear, while others pulled suitcases along, making their way to their cabins. Hannah blushed, seeing more than one Little one clad in only water wings and a swim diaper.

Finally, they reached their section of the ship and stepped into a glass elevator that whisked them up several decks. As the doors slid open, they emerged into a quieter corridor leading to the staterooms. The hallway felt more intimate, with dimmer lighting and soft music playing overhead. The staterooms had polished wood doors with golden numbers, and after passing by several, they arrived at what would be their home for the next few days.

Daddy leaned down, his wristband meeting the door sensor, holding both girls. The door slid open silently as they stepped inside. The space was sleek and modern, with soft pastel tones and light, airy furniture. A large king-sized bed, neatly made with crisp white sheets and a plush duvet, dominated the room. Beside the bed, a crib had been set up with similar sheets and a playful quilt draped over the railing. The cabin felt spacious and cozy, with light flooding in from the floor-to-ceiling glass doors that led to their private balcony.

The room's balcony, the highlight of the stateroom, offered a stunning view of an endless ocean. As Daddy stepped outside, the glass railing gave them a perfect, unobstructed view of the shimmering blue waves stretching to the horizon to their left and the bustling harbor to their right. A pair of cushioned lounge chairs were set up for relaxing, and the gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the sea.

Inside the room was a small sitting area with a couch, perfect for lounging, and a flatscreen TV mounted on the wall. The room was equipped with all the modern amenities, including a mini-fridge stocked with snacks and drinks, a closet for storage, and a sleek bathroom with a rainfall shower and bathtub.

The bathroom walls were lined with a smooth, light-colored tile that reflected the soft glow of recessed lighting overhead. A large mirror hung over the vanity, which was topped with polished white marble and had plenty of counter space for toiletries. A dedicated charging station had been installed on the side of the vanity. A fold-down changing table was pulled from the wall, padded with a soft, wipeable surface. Beneath the table, built-in storage drawers were neatly stacked with everything Daddy would need for his babies: stacked diapers in different sizes, wipes, baby powder, and diapers, all carefully organized. There was even a tiny covered bin for disposing of used diapers. 

Beside the king bed, their luggage had been neatly arranged, waiting for them. Hannah had been honestly not sure she would ever see them again, yet here they were. Daddy gently reposited both girls on the bed, “Well, what do you think?” he asked.

“It’s a bit overwhelming if I’m honest,” Hannah admitted, flashing back to their journey through the ship to their cabin.

“It is beautiful, though,” Emily said with a grin as Daddy began packing the luggage.

Daddy chuckled, unzipping his bag first, “That it is. I was not expecting this when Venli mentioned taking a ferry, but I will take it.” 

Daddy opened the wardrobe, which was empty apart from some hangers, and began unpacking his bag, riffling through to see what he had been given. The bag mainly contained clothes, several outfits of varying formality, swimsuits, socks, underwear, and shoes, and bags of toiletries. Hannah climbed down, kneeling beside her suitcase with curiosity as she pulled open the zipper.

As Hannah opened her luggage, her mouth dropped at the assortment of babyish items packed neatly inside. On top, she found a pastel pink blanket embroidered with cute animals. Next were stacks of baby-style outfits, all sized just for her: adorable onesies with pretty patterns like bunnies and stars, frilly dressed with puffed sleeves, and footed sleepers with soft fabrics. She also pulled out a few pacifiers, each attached to a colorful clip to keep them close by, along with empty bottles. Even several bibs with various designs and statements made Hannah blush.

In yet another section of the suitcase, Hannah found diaper-changing supplies. A soft, padded changing mat was folded neatly, along with several thick, soft diapers featuring playful designs and extra wipes, cream, and baby powder. Hannah also discovered a few toys, including a plush stuffed animal, a rabbit with floppy ears, a teething ring, and even a few baby books.

Hannah was beet red as she searched through the case, sitting back as Daddy leaned over, inspecting its contents and chuckling, “You are a baby after all, sweetheart.” he offered gently, helping unpack and stow away the case's contents. 

Emily’s suitcase held much of the same, including outfits that would make them look like twins; her stuffed animal was a cute, orange cat with a silly smile; both were added to the crib as Daddy stowed the now empty cases below the bed. As Daddy unpacked, Hannah and Emily had returned to the bed, clearly embarrassed. He stepped over and checked both girls' diapers; both were wet but would last longer. “What do you girls think? Do you want to explore the ship a bit?” he asked.

Emily and Hannah shared a look, Hannah glancing at the wardrobe, which still hung open. Daddy chuckled, “Ohh, right, I did promise you both something to wear.”

Hannah sighed, relieved, as Daddy pulled out two pairs of shorts. Both were white with colorful prints across the front and back and the slogan “Padded Princess” was printed across the rear. Hannah blushed as Daddy helped pull the shorts into place, but Hannah still preferred these to nothing, even if they were overly tight.

As Daddy was pulling Emily’s pants into place, his wristband lit up, startling him with a simple, holographic screen at his fingertips. Daddy stood up, studying the display, his fingers interacting with the screen. “Huh, fancy that! This can help Daddy find either of you two if you get lost,” he remarked, although it was evident the device did far more. 

Hannah and Emily shared a glance just as the TV screen came to life all on its own, with an exterior view of the ship and a welcome message. The screen continued to play, and a female cruise line employee took the screen and began safety instructions for the ship, a muster drill. It provided essential information on what to do in an emergency, including guidance on life jackets and evacuation protocols. The short movie ended with a message welcoming them aboard and wishing them a fun, safe cruise. 

Daddy turned to the girls, offering a hand to help them down, “Well, want to go explore?” he asked with a smile.

Hannah took his hand, sliding off the bed as Emily joined her, “Sure, is there a map or something?” she asked.

Daddy scratched his head, tapping his menus before grinning and reaching down. He took Hannah’s fingers and showed her how to open the watch’s interface; a few short taps and the same holographic screen popped up before Hannah. It was far more straightforward than what Daddy had and included several cute animals on the main screen. Among the options were to locate Daddy or Emily, schedule for the day, and a map. Opening the map displayed a detailed layout of the ship, including guidance to anywhere she may want to go. “Alright, that’s cool,” Hannah grinned, looking through the different menus.

“How did you do that?!” Emily demanded, looking over Hannah’s shoulder.

Hannah giggled, showing Emily how to activate the device. Emily’s face lit up as she looked through it. “I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to explore those; let’s check out the ship before it gets too crowded.” Daddy said with a smile, “Hold hands, and let’s go.” he added, opening the cabin door and stepping out into the hallway.

Daddy led the girls down the ship’s wide, carpeted hallways, the girls toddling along, hand in hand, eyes wide with wonder as they explored the SS Dreamwave. The ship was filled with incredible sights and activities for families and Littles. Their first stop was a large, brightly colored lounge with oversized plush couches shaped like animals. Many parents were seated here, cuddling Littles or letting them play on the soft- foam-covered floor. Nearby was a bit of a friendly movie theater with padded seats that showed animated films on a large screen. The theater walls were decorated with twinkling stars, creating a peaceful atmosphere perfect for younger passengers.

As they continued exploring, they passed the entrance to a trampoline park, where joyful laughter echoed. Inside, Littles bounced gently on safe, low-set trampolines with cushioned walls to protect them. Next to the park was a massive arcade filled with colorful lights and sounds, but instead of the usual games, many of the machines were baby-themed, with simple, interactive buttons and levers designed for little hands to enjoy. Some machines seemed to dispense small plush toys as prizes, exciting the patrons who milled about.

The girls wandered further, climbing and descending decks to see it all, finding a stretch of restaurants and shops. One restaurant seemed to cater exclusively to Little’s, each table set with high chairs and a menu full of baby-friendly foods, pureed fruits, soft vegetables, and even bottles of milk or formula. Hannah hoped she would never find herself dining there. Next door was a sweets shop, with pastel-colored shelves stocked with bottles of flavored milk and jars willed with soft baby treats like teething biscuits or yogurt melts. A few doors down, a toy shop’s windows were lined with giant plush animals, rattles, and baby dolls. 

They found one of several pool areas near the upper decks, open to the bright sun above. There were shallow splash zones for Littles, complete with miniature slides and fountains shaped like sea creatures. The water parks were equally thrilling, with gentle waterfalls, safe shallow pools, and rubbery play mats to prevent slippage. Daddy led the girls through the loud, bustling park to an open-air theater where performers were rehearsing a show designed especially for Little, complete with bright costumes and simple, catchy songs that made Little ones giggle and clap along. Alongside the main theater was a library with padded floors and shelves of picture books, board games, and nursery rhymes. 

Down one corridor, they passed a set of double doors leading to the daycare facility, where staff tended to Littles. The space was filled with safe play areas, nap zones, and changing stations. A toddler area, small slides, climbing structures, and other more advanced toys occupied the gated area. Soon, the trio reached the massive buffet area, occupying nearly an entire ship deck. Long tables were set with high chairs and booster seats, and the buffet itself was filled with trays of baby-friendly food, small cut-up fruits, mashed veggies, yogurt, and more. One section was dedicated entirely to bottles, offering different formula, milk, and juice flavors. There was even a dessert station with tiny portions of pudding and soft cookies. 

As they continued to explore, they came across a lounge dedicated to diaper changes and nursing, offering comfortable, private spaces for parents to change their little ones, with attendants on hand to help if needed. There was even a quiet, dimly lit sensory room filled with soft music and gentle lighting. The entire ship thrummed with energy, and while they had been exploring for some time, around every corner appeared something new. 

Interestingly, as they continued to explore, Hannah noticed something odd. While many Littles were attended by their parents nearby, Hannah saw nearly as many wandering around without parental guidance. The ship was also filled with bars, offering high chairs to a younger clientele, and even these were filled with Littles. “What on Earth is going on?” Hannah asked Daddy as they passed one particular bar, nearly fully occupied with Little’s.

Daddy shrugged, wholly baffled, stopping an employee who was passing by. “Miss?” he asked politely.

The woman stopped, smiling, “Yes? How can I help you?”

“I, uh, couldn’t help but notice they don’t have parents with them, and are they drinking?” Daddy asked, presenting the face of a concerned parent.

The woman chuckled, “First cruise?” to which Daddy nodded. The woman motioned to Daddy’s wristband, “Every person aboard has one. You can’t get on or off the ship without one, and Little must have their assigned parents with them to disembark. It’s about as safe a place as you imagine for Littles to explore. Many parents enjoy the freedom it gives them, although many still prefer to have them close by or leave them in the daycare while they have fun. There are lots of activities for adults only onboard. As for drinking, well, if you choose to, you can allow your Littles to order alcohol. Many parents find it allows their Littles to relax and act more appropriately for their age. You can also adjust meal availability and what areas of the ship your Littles can access.”

Daddy seemed flabbergasted, trying to regain composure at the onslaught of information, “I, umm, see, thank you.” he responded, earning a curt nod.

“Of course, we are more than happy to help if you need anything else.” the woman remarked, turning and leaving them.

Hannah and Emily seemed just as shocked as Daddy, a little drinking. Are littles allowed to wander around without any Amazon oversight? It seemed surreal, and Hannah found herself glancing around, waiting for some Amazon to step in and swoop up each Little from their highchairs and carry them off, screaming. Yet, no one did. A worker helped down a little who had finished his drink, toddling off in a thick diaper, but outside that, littles seemed free to do as they pleased. 

Daddy cleared his throat, shaking off the stupor, just as speakers crackled to life and a voice was heard over the intercom, the music quieting, “Attention, diapered adventures, this is your cruise director, Marty speaking, I’d like to welcome you all aboard this lovely vessel. The last of the passengers are boarding, and we are getting ready for the big, massive sailaway party up on the Lido deck, a party for all ages. It’s time to fill those diapers with excitement; I hope to see each of you up there in ten minutes. Whether you join us or not, I hope you all have a fantastic cruise, and I look forward to meeting you.” 

The PA system clicked off, and the music returned to its average volume. Hannah found herself rolling her eyes at the cheesy comments aimed at Littles. Daddy grinned, “Well, it sounds like we have a party to attend. Do you want to go, girls?” 

Emily glanced at Hannah, who shrugged, “Why not? Let’s go party.” she grinned as they turned towards the glass elevators that would take them up to the Lido deck. 

End of Chapter 36