Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

When you're on vacation, it's easy to like almost any excursion - or talk yourself into liking it. But infatuation is a different matter entirely. Falling into lust with zip lining wasn't something my family and I planned, it just sort of happened.

We were on a cruise ... Sailing through the Southern Caribbean sea ... Enjoying mild-mannered excursions on a variety of islands.

Until we landed in St. Lucia ...

In all honesty, any apprehension we felt about zip lining faded away the moment we arrived at Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia. Well most of them - the rest we let loose in our screams as we soared across the canopy.

How to zip line - no cape required

The thing I love most about ziplining is that anyone can do it. A 16 year old male, hopped up on testosterone, gets as much fun out of it as a 70 year old who thinks mowing the lawn too soon after a storm is in adventure. As for 15 year old girls, they're just not having fun zip lining unless they're screaming. If you're not sure how to zip line, ask my family. They have it all figured out.

As much as we loved zip lining, it isn't for everyone. If you have medical concerns, check with your cruise line staff or call Rainforest Adventures before booking your ticket.

Rainforest Adventures St. Lucia offers a slew of choices from lung-busting climbs through the forest to floating stairs that lead to a Tarzan swing. There's also a bird watching aerial tram tour (this falls into the mild-mannered category though). For a real thrill, consider zip lining at night - unless you have a cruise ship to catch.

Zip line safety

Rainforest Adventures is endorsed by a number of cruise lines and if you've ever cruised, you know that means something. Companies that serve cruise lines are closely and regularly audited for safety as well as cleanliness, helpfulness and, of course, fun.

For many people, zip lining is a monstrous leap of faith but the guides at Rainforest Adventures follow safety regulations religiously. Double-securing each rider to the wire and tethering you to the post at each platform are just a few of their guidelines that helped me quell the inner hysteria. But simple things like mandatory gloves, hairnets and helmets ensure complete and utter safety.

Fun things to do in St. Lucia, Costa Rica, Dominca..

We'd be remiss if we didn't tell you Rainforest Adventures also has outposts on Jamaica, Dominica, St. Maarten, Panama and two locations in Costa Rica. We've only enjoyed the ziplining on St Lucia, but if you've tried one of the others, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

And if you find yourself on a mild-mannered cruise and you're wondering where to find your next adventure, check out all the fun things to do in St. Lucia at Rainforest Adventures. Tell them GoGirlfriend sent you.

Explore Rainforest Adventures on Tripadvisor. To book an excursion, visit Rainforest Adventures or join in their community on Facebook and Twitter.