Royal Caribbean has embraced the quince market

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For Nicole Lora’s parents, opting for a destination quince seemed less daunting than orchestrating a landlocked celebration.

”She wanted to go all out with a party, like they do on My Super Sweet 16,” said Beth Lora, who works part time as a teacher’s aide and whose husband, José, owns a transportation and logistics company.

”This is so much easier,” she said.

The family’s trip aboard the Liberty of the Seas costs about $1,000 a person and was organized by West Miami-Dade’s Happy Holidays Travel. Relatives are flying in from Michigan, as are friends from José Lora’s native Puerto Rico, to join the cruise.

”I could have had just the regular party, but it would be over in four hours,” said Nicole, who is starting 10th grade at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

”This would be seven days to spend with my friends and family,” she said.

She and two dozen other quinceañeras left Saturday from the Port of Miami, following a final, last-minute rehearsal of the elaborately choreographed dance performance — a staple of traditional quinces. Some modern touches appear on the itinerary as well, such as a party on a Mexican beach, a tropical luau and a professionally made video of the girls frolicking aboard the Liberty of the Seas’ various attractions, such as the wave pool and ice-skating rink.