It was Vicky who pointed it out. The cruise ship was remarkably affordable and gave a little bit of everything. They would visit at least one scenic location on every continent, except Antarctica. There would be beaches, skiing, and exotic camping trip, festivals, tours of ancient ruins and cultural hot spots.
Not to mention a myriad of shows available on the ship in-between locations. Live bands, dancers, magicians, comedians, acrobats and animal trainers. Though according to the brochure, it was best to see the shows quick since a lot of them didn't stay for the whole cruise. They would enter at one port and get off at another. Sometimes they'd be on the ship for a few days, sometimes only one night.
Reading it, Al's dad had to ask. "How can you sell tickets for a luxury cruise for so little? Especially when you see so much."
Carla nodded. "I know, I have a hard time believing it isn't a scam. But people still buy food, and souvenirs, they need to buy tickets for the shows and guided tours cost extra. While the ticket is cheap, we make up with all the extra activities. We do get a kick back from some ports for bringing in large groups of tourists at just the right time which helps. Also, considering how long the cruise is to get to every location, there is plenty of time to make up what we lose on tickets." She frowned for a moment. "I would be careful for that one. It's amazing, and our ultimate package, but I've heard of more than one group having to get refunds on their reverse charges to afford food by the end of it."
That made Al nervous. He certainly didn't want to get stuck as a girl. While he was worried, Vicky didn't seem concerned. "Mom, we should be able to afford this." She began counting the reasons in her fingers. "You get a discount for this trip from work, since your company programs the nan-bots they use anyways, you just got a huge raise with a promise of more vacation days for a honeymoon, and as an adult, I'm willing to pitch in for my own ticket."
Al's new step mom Becky thought it over. "I like it, what do you think dear?" She turned towards Al's dad.
Vicky looked at him excitedly. "Come on Larry! Say yes!" Vicky quickly grabbed a brochure with a picture of a happy couple pre and post change. "Say yes to the dress!"
Larry smiled. "Sounds like an experience of a life time, but it is a lot of days."
Carla agreed. "Two whole months. Basically, the entire summer break for your kids."
Becca had an answer to that. "I can work from anywhere so if I have to do some online conferences on our days between ports I can. As an engineer designing our product, we can bill it as you doing field work to get practical experience with the product."
Al blamed his future estrogen levels on the fact the two had met at work and mass produced the stupid machines in the first place.
"Okay, we can make this work. Anything else we need to know about the cruise?"
Carla began pulling up some paper work. "Due to the length of the change, and complications of traveling across internal waters, you will have to change several weeks before the cruise. This gives you time to get two months of wardrobes together, with items necessary for every environment we will be visiting, as well as passports that will be valid for you new selves."
Becca was looking through the calender on her phone. "That doesn't give us a lot of time. There's a couple weeks of school left, Larry and I need to finalize our vacation days with the company which will eat up a lot of time, multiple shopping trips.... is there anyway we could be changed today so we can get started now?"
Carla smiled. "Of course. There is specific time requirements for you to change as long as you have finsihed the paperwork and are changed for the boat. Company policy. The entertainers don't need to change but guest will be escorted off if they haven't been swapped yet."
This was moving faster than Al had anticipated. He knew he was going to be a girl, but didn't expect to go to school like that. He had taken solice in the fact that his friends would only see him as "Allie" (he had already chosen his girl name) in pictures. Al looked at Vicky who just smiled at him.