The Shipwreck Hotel: A Guided Bedtime Story

Snuggle up and unwind with tonight's cozy sleepy story, "The Shipwreck Hotel." Fall asleep with a bedtime story for grown-ups narrated by a female voice set in a luxurious hotel on an island off the coast of Maine. Built-in the 18th Century, the ship traveled the world before meeting a fateful foggy morning crash that left the wreckage untouched for decades. One creative soul salvaged the remains and resurrected the boat to create a legendary hotel. Enjoy a night of oceanside nostalgia and romance aboard the Celestial Maiden. It's time to dream away.

Contains: Ocean Sounds, Nostalgia, History, Food

Transcript

Take a nostalgic maritime journey with tonight's sleepy story.

You are listening to The Shipwreck Hotel,

A magical bedtime tale set along a mystical coastline.

In the 18th century,

A revered wooden ship would overcome pirate attempts and mighty storms only to succumb to a fateful crash on a foggy morning.

Abandoned for decades,

A descendant of the captain salvaged the wreckage along the shore of an island,

Transforming and enhancing it to become a regal hotel.

Spend a night in this historic ship with wooden walls that retain the memories of daring feats and whirlwind adventures on the sea.

Enjoy the glamorous rooms and sweeping ocean views as an elegant night on the Atlantic unfolds.

It's time to dream away.

Welcome to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I am Michelle,

Your gentle guide on this enchanting voyage.

Think of my voice as the voice of a dear friend,

Bringing you the peace and mental vacation you deserve after a long day.

Get comfy and take it easy as we prioritize your earned moments of rest and serenity.

As always,

Approach this story like a dream,

Free of physical limitations and fueled by your imagination.

This is a world where anything can happen.

Customize the details to suit your preferences as you celebrate making it through another day.

And don't worry if sleep comes before the story ends.

Simply surrender to the incoming waves of slumber whenever you desire.

Let your creative side enhance this brief meditation as you take a few deep breaths and tune into your inner world.

As you settle in the sanctuary of your room and mind,

Imagine the air is infused with the salty mist of the sea and the essence of a night voyage beneath the stars.

Hear the sounds of waves lapping against a wooden ship,

Basking in the lunar glow.

Open your mouth and let out a sigh,

Envisioning yourself at the helm,

Taking in the awe-inspiring views of an endless,

Glittering,

Deep blue ocean.

As you inhale,

Feel the cool saltwater air traveling through your nose and becoming warm before it arrives in your lungs.

Breathe in as slowly and deeply as you can,

Savoring the night.

Part your lips and indulge in a yawn or a sigh.

Make a sound as you revel in this time where you may do whatever you want to come down from the day.

At the right pace for you,

Inhale and exhale twice more,

Deepening your breath further if you can.

Easy and graceful as seafaring energy permeates your room,

Preparing you for the story about to unfold.

Feel the gentle rocking of a ship,

Lulling you into a deeper state of relaxation.

As you inhale,

Maybe yawn and then sigh,

Soothed by the timeless beauty of a night at sea.

Notice the changes within you,

Calmer than moments before.

Return your breath to an easy rhythm,

Letting your body take over from here.

It's time for the story to begin.

Herman Melville expressed,

For in tremendous extremities the sea alone remains,

In beauty and terror,

A continual miracle.

Every summer deserves a new adventure,

The chance to escape the mundane,

And feel a renewed sense of curiosity and inspiration that you may have felt as a child and as a teen.

Travel helps feed the soul at a time when life loses its luster,

And old pleasures morph into unfulfilling ruts.

And so you set out on an adventure,

And find yourself aboard a ferry named Blissful Seas,

En route to a small island off the coast of northern Maine,

When the weather is most pleasant.

Like many of the cities and villages along the eastern seaboard,

The small island honors its coastal heritage and nautical mysteries of the past.

Cloudless,

Cornflower blue skies meet the glittering blue-green water and the brilliant honeyed cast of the late afternoon sun.

You sit on the starboard side of the ferry,

Catching sight of a humpback whale in the distance,

As the vessel seamlessly cuts through the gentle waves.

Saltwater mist lands on your sun-kissed arms to leave tiny droplets and the delicate perfume of the Atlantic.

Seagulls fly overhead,

Some habitually following the ferry according to its seasonal schedule,

From the mainland to Lobster Point and back.

The captain gracefully navigates the ferry into the harbor,

Where a line of day-trippers wait for their return to reality on the mainland.

Your heart wells with gratitude that your adventure is merely beginning,

With a walk through the village to the storied Celestial Maiden,

Now known as the Shipwreck Hotel.

A night of nostalgia and luxury awaits at this charming accommodation at the very tip of the island.

The Celestial Maiden first set sail in the late 18th century,

From Halifax,

Nova Scotia,

On the cusp of summer when the air remained cool along the coast.

It would be the last era of wooden ships made of oak steamed and soaked to soften and bend.

With five grand sails and three levels to the ship,

It was designed by an eccentric young man named Nathaniel,

Who inherited great wealth,

But found little success in securing the love and sense of adventure his heart yearned for.

And so he set sail on the high seas,

Traveling the Atlantic down into the Caribbean,

Surviving close encounters with pirates and tropical storms.

Feeling quite daring,

He planned a trip around the world,

That was treacherous but rewarding,

For a soul desperately in need of excitement and filled with the unrelenting desire to be reminded of his mortality.

A man drawn to the sea,

His intentions seemed pure,

And the rules were rather different back then.

So we may find ourselves judging his character in a different light today.

But in truth,

He was unsettled,

And many thought he never would settle down.

Miraculous recoveries during ominous storms along the Cape of Africa and nights spent standing at the helm of the ship,

With nothing but the white-capped waves and expanse of twinkling stars,

Made this adventurous soul become a bit too confident.

And so,

On a slow return home to Canada,

He insisted the crew navigate the coast of Maine.

On a morning so foggy that even the waves lapping against the wooden vessel remained unseen.

The journey had been long,

And his hubris and impatience amounted to the celestial maiden crashing into the rocky coastline of a small island,

Damaging the ship beyond easy repair.

Everyone survived,

Eventually taking refuge in a harbor town ten miles up the coast of Maine.

Most of the crew found other expeditions in need of their labor,

While the daredevil young man found humility and love at the same time.

He was so shaken by the shipwreck,

And so determined to live a long life with his new wife,

That he stayed close to land for decades to come,

Opting for small lakes over the vast ocean.

He and his beloved brought eight children into the world,

Who went forth and procreated,

All the while the ship continued to decay where it was abandoned on a little-known island.

But many generations later,

A descendant named Charlie,

With the same bold sense of adventure as Nathaniel,

Stumbled upon the decaying hulk of the celestial maiden,

While exploring his family's history.

Captivated by the stories passed down through the years,

Under the glow of fire light,

He spontaneously purchased the land where the ship had run aground on that fateful foggy morning,

Determined to resurrect the vessel.

It was the turn of the 20th century,

An era of burgeoning industrialization and romantic nostalgia,

Determined to honor his ancestor's spirit and the rich maritime past.

Charlie took on a monumental project.

With painstaking dedication,

He set out to not only restore the ship to its former glory,

But also enhance it by creating a one-of-a-kind hotel that would serve as a testament to adventure and exploration.

The restoration project spanned over a decade,

As the young man meticulously repaired the damaged hull,

Replaced weathered timbers with sturdy oak,

And recreated the intricate rigging and grand sails that once billowed in the winds of international waters.

Modern advances meant ships were now made of steel and ran on steam,

And so his efforts required the help of craftsmen and artisans,

Who studied the art of steamboxing wooden planks after foraging northeastern forests for the perfect lumber.

The effort would take every bit of the dwindling inheritance Charlie had to his name to finish this project.

He was the black sheep of the family,

Teased for his lofty ideas,

But fate's hand would be in his favor.

As the shipwrecked hotel was completed in the same year,

The island saw a surge in traffic,

Thanks to being featured in travel publications and the advent of a reliable ferry service from the mainland.

With the last of his resources,

Charlie adorned the ship with an eclectic mix of antiques collected from around the world,

Exotic treasures that Nathaniel himself encountered on his daring whirlwind adventures.

Elegant textiles,

Rich tapestries,

And fine furnishings graced the cabins and common areas,

Evoking the opulence and charm of a bygone era,

Showcasing the riches pirates once sought.

Each room was designed to reflect a different corner of the globe,

Paying homage to the cultures and landscapes that had captivated Nathaniel's adventurous spirit.

The shipwrecked hotel became a beacon for travelers,

Seeking an extraordinary experience with a sense of safety in an oasis with sweeping views of the Atlantic.

Guests immersed themselves in the romance of the exploration age in the common room,

Where nautical oil paintings in ornate antique frames told stories of bravery and exploration.

From the panoramic views of the main coastline to the intimate corners and cozy nooks adorned with velvet settees and piles of silk throw pillows,

Every detail of the hotel spoke of the adventurous soul of its founder and the legacy of the Celestial Maiden.

But as nostalgia has a way of doing,

This fictional replication was softer,

Kinder,

And more alluring than its original incarnation.

It created just the kind of atmosphere that would have delighted Nathaniel and many guests would proclaim they could sense his spirit within the wood-paneled walls and at the ship's helm,

Which now featured cafe tables for alfresco dining.

Today,

Over a century since the hotel first opened,

You come upon the beautifully landscaped path that winds around sand dunes and susurrating feathery beach grass.

Taken on a dance with the tepid Atlantic breeze,

As you step onto the weathered ramp that leads to the main lobby of the shipwreck hotel,

You are immediately enveloped in an atmosphere of nautical elegance and historic charm.

The walls are paneled in rich dark wood and brass fittings gleam softly in the ambient light.

Above you hangs a magnificent crystal chandelier in the heart of the room,

An heirloom passed down and brought back to life.

Colorful hurricane lamp sconces,

Crafted from hand-blown glass,

Illuminate the wood-paneled walls in a rainbow palette of rich hues.

Inside the lobby,

A grand parlor unfolds before you.

Centered around an ebony grand piano,

Where a skilled piano player fills the air with old lively tunes that match the ragtime spirit of the hotel's earliest days.

The room is alive with a clinking of antique crystal glasses,

Each filled with old-fashioned specialty drinks that conjure the flavors of an era gone by.

As the day transitions into the evening,

The piano music will shift seamlessly to soothing jazz ballads,

Setting a relaxed tone as twilight descends upon the ship.

You are greeted by the manager,

Dressed in a three-piece velvet suit and frilly white shirt,

Reminiscent of the Victorian era.

His welcoming smile and polished demeanor reflect the hotel's commitment to timeless hospitality,

With a courteous greeting and a baritone voice rich with a New England accent.

He leads you through a passageway.

You walk down a navy blue runner rug embellished with ivory anchors atop cherry wood floors that echo softly beneath your steps.

Cast iron lanterns,

Resembling lighthouses,

Illuminate the corridor,

Their warm light casting gentle shadows on the vintage sunset photos taken over the decades at the Shipwreck Hotel.

A gold tassel keychain is placed in your hand as you approach the door.

To a themed cabin named the Royal Suite.

You insert the key into the brass lock,

And it clicks open with a delightful sound.

He insists you give him a ring from an antique rotary phone on the desk,

Should you need anything at all,

And gives a reminder that dinner begins at seven.

You enter the luxurious cabin,

To be transported back to the early 20th century,

Where every detail pays homage to the golden age of travel and adventure.

A Victrola stands proudly in one corner,

Opposing an antique bookshelf,

Overflowing with the works of Melville,

Hemingway,

The Bronte sisters,

And other great writers of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The old wood and books lend a pleasant,

Sweet smell that joins the saltwater breeze filtering through the cracked windows.

A king-sized canopy bed stands as a centerpiece,

With its strapes drawn back to reveal sumptuous burgundy and gold linens that invite relaxation and repose.

The gleaming,

Intricately carved wood panel ceiling reflects the last afternoon light,

Pouring in through the windows.

Stepping towards the updated windows,

You are greeted by a breathtaking view overlooking the ocean and a secluded cove to the east of the island,

A promise of the delightful morning sunrise that awaits you.

An ensuite bathroom features marine blue tiles hand-painted with gold nautical embellishments,

As well as a clawfoot soaking tub and glass-paneled shower.

You turn on the gold faucet in the shower,

And water cascades in dozens of streams from a rainfall showerhead.

You change out of your travel attire to freshen up for dinner,

As both the shower water and warm,

Shimmering sunlight pour over you.

With time to spare,

You luxuriate in the shower.

Taken on an olfactory journey through time with a fragrant jasmine sandalwood soap,

Your muscles are soothed by the water,

And your body feels refreshed as you step onto the bath mat and towel off.

Having packed appropriately to dress for the theme of the ship,

You prepare for the evening ahead.

Dressing in elegant attire,

You feel both playful and your best as you don a look from another era.

With one last glance in an oval antique mirror hanging over a vanity table,

You recognize a sparkle in your eyes,

And the luminous glow when once cast in the light of golden hour.

Feeling equal parts curious and hungry,

You leave the cabin and proceed down the hall to a spiral staircase that ascends to the main deck.

You join other guests who have gathered to witness the spectacle of the sunset.

The sky above stretches vast and expansive,

Its hues of crimson,

Gold,

And indigo reflecting the changing moods of the sea.

You cannot help but imagine the many eras between the ship's first sail and today.

And all the sunrises and sunsets in between.

Small intimate tables are spread throughout the deck,

Catering to both guests and locals who cherish this season.

Many like you have traveled solo to this ship,

And it's a welcome space to make new friends or enjoy solitude without pressure.

Something about the ship inspires you to act differently and in ways you hadn't anticipated.

You are led by a feeling of openness and wonder,

Happy to try new things,

All the while remaining comfortable in your skin.

The maitre d' leads you to a table on the starboard side,

Draped in a delicate lace tablecloth that billows softly in the open air restaurant.

The table is set with ivory and gold china.

The candle flickers softly in a mason jar lantern,

A simple yet evocative touch.

You are handed a menu on vintage parchment that features tastes from another time,

Crafted from handwritten recipes passed down through generations of Nathaniel's descendants.

These original recipes are printed on the menu and ornate cursive handwriting.

Each dish tells a story,

A culinary journey through the flavors of the Atlantic seaboard.

The sails of the forever docked vessel flutter gently in the evening breeze,

Their canvas catching the rich clover honey light of sunset.

A band begins to play from an elevated wooden stage,

Their slow tempo music mingling with the salty sea air as dinner is served and followed by dessert.

As the sunset hues give way to dusty blues and wispy clouds,

The tables are cleared to make room for dancing.

The atmosphere changes as lanterns strung around the deck turn on and the music becomes livelier.

You move to the rhythm as other guests take to the dance floor.

The shipwreck hotel seems to swallow inhibitions,

Making way for a sense of infectious fun and adventure,

All in the spirit of Nathaniel.

Collectively,

You revel in a sense of feeling alive,

Thriving,

And full of possibility.

Under the canopy of stars,

The island is far enough away from the coast that it's easy to imagine yourself far out at sea.

Amidst the laughter and music,

You abandon self-consciousness for pure enjoyment,

Embracing the romance and spirit of adventure that defines this extraordinary place.

As the night unfolds,

You sense the presence of Nathaniel's bold spirit and wonder how he would have felt if he were transported through time to encounter his ship reimagined.

Could he even have dreamed of such a festive gathering when wandering the globe,

Navigating storms,

Or stargazing without a hint of land in sight?

Feeling your heart pounding with vitality,

You yearn to slow down,

To enjoy some of the evening in solitude and step away from the festivities.

You wander the deck to find a secluded spot at the stern of the ship.

In a hidden nook,

A swing chair sways gently in the evening ocean breeze,

Positioned perfectly to overlook the tranquil expanse of the ocean and the rolling moonlit dunes beyond.

You settle onto the chair and gaze up at the stars that sprinkle the night sky like scattered diamonds.

The rising moon casts a silvery path across the deep blue water,

Reflecting on the lacy white crests of crashing waves.

The night's festivities gradually wind down and the music softly fades into the background.

As you are lost in the moment,

A deep sense of peace pervades you,

Pervades you,

Curated by the intoxicating Atlantic air,

The songs of the surf,

And the occasional silver flashes of fish darting through the glittering waves below.

You continue to rock back and forth,

Imagining all the stories the wood panels of the ship could whisper to the sea,

And wonder what the sea would say in return in all its majesty and power.

Your eyes become heavy as a pleasant tiredness settles over you.

Your eyes from the swing chair and stretch,

Reaching and grasping the smooth wood railing around the deck as you bathe in the moonlight.

You relish the quiet of this late hour,

Fighting the urge to sleep,

For you don't wish to miss a single moment of magic aboard the shipwreck hotel.

You take another stairwell to make your way back through the corridors to the main parlor.

The pianist is long gone,

But a few guests linger,

Enjoying nightcaps and sleepy conversations.

When you take a seat at the bar,

You opt for a cup of tea with the sleep-enhancing ingredients mint and chamomile,

Delivered to you on a silver tray and served in delicate colonial china.

Flickering candlelight casts soft dancing shadows on the walls as you sip your tea.

Through the windows,

The rhythmic ebb and flow of the waves lull you into a state of contentment as the tea spreads its warmth throughout your body and works its gentle magic.

You finish the last bit of the drink as a few mint leaves remain when the cup makes its final clink on the saucer when you set it down.

You rise and wander through the halls as if floating through a dream.

Happy and grateful for the comfortable cabin that awaits.

Once inside,

You change into cozy pajamas and crack open the window a bit more to invite in the cool,

Salty breeze.

The sound of the waves becomes a soothing lullaby as their gentle rhythm fills the room.

Climbing into the canopy bed,

You sink atop the supportive mattress and bring the cool sateen sheets up below your chin.

You rub your cheeks against the delightfully cool pillowcases as you make yourself comfortable.

The day's adventures linger in your body as you still feel the rocking of the fairy and swaying to the music,

Leaving a trace of enchantment.

As you drift to sleep,

With each healing breath of the saltwater air,

You feel lighter and more serene.

And in this luxurious hideaway in the shipwreck hotel,

You can no longer fight the beckoning of slumber,

And so you simply surrender.

Finding rest,

Finding comfort,

Finding bliss,

Finding sleep,

It's time to dream away.

Good night.

Reviews

I could feel & see the ocean adventures that Nathaniel experienced through the details of the story. What a great place to stay and wish it really existed. Thank you, Michelle, for another wonderful story.

Great story idea Michelle ! Fell asleep every time I played it. Loving your stories from the past.
Thank you kindly for this unique bedtime story! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Thank you, Michelle🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻For the last couple of nights, I have enjoyed falling asleep over and over to the same parts of this story. Now, in the early morning hours, while hurricane Beryl is raging around, I might have heard most of it. Loved it. The huge diversity of your stories keeps on amazing me…🙏🏻🌟💫🌟✨🌟🙏🏻(07/08/24)

Thank you! I enjoyed the little bit that I heard! 😊😊

Would love to vicat the shipwreck hotel and experience the spirit of Nathaniel. This was such a soothing story thank you x