Princess Cruises and the NFL’s Houston Texans hosted a group of local Boys & Girls Club youth for a first-ever Jr. Training Camp@Sea aboard Emerald Princess in Houston over the weekend.

This special event offered 20 local kids the chance to meet Houston Texans two-time Pro Bowl player Chris Myers and experience what it’s like aboard a cruise ship.

The kids enjoyed an autograph and Q&A session with Myers and Texans mascot Toro, and took a tour of the cruise ship’s signature spaces, including the Movies Under the Stars outdoor movie screen, where football games are shown during the season. They enjoyed lunch, topped off with cupcakes they decorated along with Myers.

To participate in the excursion the children, ages 10-14, submitted essays describing where in the world they would like to visit on a cruise vacation. Among the responses were dreams of discovering new places and seeing landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, and the tropical flowers and water falls of the Caribbean, Hawaii cruises and cruises to Mexico. The children also expressed curiosity in the various language, food and cultures of the destinations, as well as excitement for making new memories with their families.

“We were truly inspired by the stories submitted by the children from the local Houston Boys & Girls Club and thrilled to host them onboard for a day of learning and exploration,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “In turn, we hope our Jr. Training Camp@Sea fuels a lifelong passion for exploring the world around them and an increased desire to work hard at school to help them make their dreams come true.”

“It was wonderful to be able to give the kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Houston the opportunity to come aboard the Emerald Princess,” said Chris Myers, Pro Bowl Center for the Houston Texans. “It was my first time on a cruise ship as well so it was cool to get to experience it together. I always emphasize to kids that they can do anything they want to do in life as long as they work hard and make education a priority.”