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Jan115

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  1. Jan115
    One of the favorite things about cruising is the ports you’ll visit, the sights you’ll see, and the new experiences you’ll gain. To access the ports and all the fun, your ship will either dock right there portside, where guests can walk right off the ship, or it will “tender” passengers to shore in small boats while the ship is anchored off shore. It’s important to know the difference so you can plan ahead, especially if you have something special planned in port. 
    Going ashore from the Dock is preferred because all that’s required is a walk off the ship when the Captain announces you’re clear to go. Quick and simple. Tendering, on the other hand, takes some time, and in most cases, there is a schedule or ticket process so that all passengers aren’t heading to the tender boats at the same time. Some tender operations are wheelchair and disability friendly, some are difficult or impossible. If you fall in one of these categories, it’s important to check your itinerary for any ports that require tendering and whether or not they can accommodate mobility issues. If you are meeting an independent excursion at a set time, be sure you allow time to tender ashore so you’re tour doesn’t take off without you.
    Consult the cruise line or your travel agent for specifics related to your itinerary.
  2. Jan115
    A cruise with most or all of its stops spent in a new port each day can be a rewarding and enriching experience. It can also be an exhausting one. I love cruising Europe and being introduced to new scenery and cultures, but I also like my moments to kick back and relax. How does a cruiser enjoy a port-intensive cruise without burning out? Try one of these 5 remedies:
    1. Instead of filling an entire day with a worldwind tour, focus on one or two particular attractions, or simply park yourself at a streetside cafe and people watch - even better if it’s an ocean view!
    2. Try a half-day tour, especially if you are just looking for an overview of a new destination.
    3. Take a late afternoon snooze. It will be just the boost you need to get you through the evenings festivities after a long day in port.
    4. Hydrate! Drink plenty of water while out and about to prevent that tired feeling from dragging you down - especially important during the hot, summer months.
    5. Go to bed early. Skip the late-night partying if you have an 8:00 am tour in the morning. Your body will thank you!
     
  3. Jan115
    It's Friday - my day off, meaning that I have three full days before the hubby and I fly to Ft. Lauderdale for a CruiseCrazies group cruise leaving for Panama on Tuesday. My packing/to-do list is printed, waiting for items to check off. However, in typical fashion, I am suffering from packing paralysis. I have a lot of loose ends to tie up, laundry to do, and bags to pack, and instead of starting this process, here I sit at the computer writing about it. My middle name begins with "P" - really. But instead of my real middle name, let's call it "Procrastination". My inability to focus on the task at hand involves several factors:
    #1: My husband came down with a mild case of pneumonia, now leaving us with a big Question Mark as to whether he'd be able to go. This started turning the wheels in my scattered brain - what if he can't go? Should I go without him? What if he goes, and he he has a re-bout, thousands of miles from home? How will the rest of the Crazies get along without me? (Very well, I suspect.) Immediately, all the negatives started to outweigh the positives, and after reciting them one by one, he's now convinced I don't want him to go, that if I proceed without him, I'll have less to worry about and, yes, have the whole mini suite to myself. Okay, while there may be a tiny grain of truth in those statements, I would feel really bad leaving without him.  Fortunately, after beginning a round of mega steroids and super strength antibiotics, and the green light from his doctor, he's feeling much better, and we're confident he'll make it to the plane - and the ship! So we're back to go!
    #2: The desktop computer, where I spend too much freaking time. I came here to pay some bills, and got sidetracked with Facebook, Instagram, email, messages and, my CruiseCrazies blog, of course. Before I know it, half of my day will be gone, and I'll have nothing to show for it. 
    #3: Find the stuff to pack. If I don't wash the clothes, I'll have nothing to pack. If I don't dig some warm weather clothing out of storage, I will have nothing to pack. If I don't pull out a piece of luggage, I won't pack. 
    #4: Over-packing vs. Under-packing. I want to pack light, but still have yet to manage this difficult feat. It looks easy on paper, but I always end up with clothing never worn at the end of the trip. My mind is full of "what-ifs" - what if it rains, what if it's cold, what if we're stranded somewhere? I just pack it all. In my "Tuesday Travel Tips" blog, I have told others on how to save room in your bags and pack efficiently. Yet, I have yet to take my own advice.
    #5: Last minute re-packing. This is the worst. I decide that the bag is too heavy, I want a different bag, I need to remove some things, and on and on. So, in essence, I pack twice.
    I think my procrastination comes from having taken too many trips. My mind tells me - Jan, you've done this a hundred times - you've got it down. Just throw things in a bag the night before, and you're good to go. It doesn't work that way, though, because I'm bound to forget something important - like my passport, without which I will go anywhere. 
    Now that I've listed my packing failures, it's time for action, the first step of which is to get off this computer. Soon we'll be on our way to Panama and the Caribbean on board the Coral Princess. Be back in two weeks, no doubt with lots of photos and travel tales to share!
  4. Jan115
    You've no doubt seen them. The optional transfers and pre or post-cruise hotel add-ons, promising the ultimate in convenience. All cruise lines eagerly offer them with your booking. But are they worth it? Purchase transfers, and a cruise rep will meet you at the airport and whisk you and your belongings safely away to your awaiting cruise ship and, likewise, shuttle you back to the airport when you return. Even better - add a hotel to that transfer, and spend a night or three in your port of embarkation. No need to worry about your luggage, either. It will be in expert hands from one point to the next - airport to hotel to cruise ship and back again. All packaged together in a neat, agreeable package, what could be better than that!
    The price, for starters.
    At first glance, you see the nightly rate - $239 - and think, well, that's fairly reasonable for a 4-star hotel in the city - and it includes a ride to the hotel and, later, to the airport with a cruise representative to happily greet you on either end. But, wait - look again. That $239 rate is per person! All of a sudden, that deal doesn't look so sweet.
    Then there's the hotel selection. Cruises generally contract with two or three hotels in a port city, in varying price ranges. One might be close to the ship, and another convenient to the airport. To their credit, the cruise lines do attempt to offer a hotel for varying tastes and budgets. However, with hundreds of competitive hotels in the same city, you could be cheating yourself out of an equally acceptable ... and more affordable ... stay.
    Some cruisers always book hotel packages with the cruiseline, perhaps because it's the easy thing to do and they don't need to watch their pocketbook. They also may be cruising to new, unfamiliar territory and may not be familiar with accommodations in the area and don't have time to research. Then there are people like me. Priceline and Hotwire are my best friends, prominently listed in my web bookmarks. Always looking to save a buck, bidding for a hotel room is one of my favorite pastimes. I don't always succeed, but it's still fun, and I have sometimes saved lots of coin on accommodations in various cities and towns.
    In the case of our upcoming Alaska cruise from San Francisco, I recently suffered a severe case of sticker shock when looking for a three-night pre-cruise hotel. It will be our first time in the City by the Bay, and our must-see list of attractions is a long one. Summer prices for an average 3 or 4 star hotel in SF are averaging around $280 per night - and even higher in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood, popular with the tourists ... and I am a tourist, so this is where I want to be. With only one hotel offered by this particular cruise line in all of San Francisco, in an area of the city we weren't even looking at, we chose to book a much-recommended hotel in Fisherman's Wharf using a 20% AAA discount. Still pricey, but at least we got a discount at a hotel in the location we wanted. Oh ... and don't worry ... I made certain that I can cancel out just in case I am triumphant in my bidding wars!
    Next, we needed a one-night post-cruise stay, this time in the city - perhaps Nob Hill or Union Square, which happens to be where the cruise line's hotel sits. After thoroughly researching said hotel ... an essential task, by the way, before I book any accommodations ... we decided to throw caution to the wind and book the cruise package. It was only slightly more costly than making our own hotel and transfer arrangements, and we wouldn't have to worry about getting from here to there. What the heck - it was only for a night.
    Then the practical, frugal side of me took charge, and I quickly came to my senses. Did we really need to stay downtown again? After all, we will have spent sufficient time seeing the city prior to the cruise. There are four of us - two couples. All we really needed was a comfy place to relax for the night before flying out early the next morning. I did a search of much more affordable accommodations by the airport, and I couldn't believe my luck - a 2-bedroom, 2-bath suite at an all-suite hotel, with free breakfast, free wifi, free airport shuttle and a ride to the BART - if we felt the need to go somewhere - all for a fraction of what that fancy cruise line hotel would have cost for two rooms. Even with a $50 cab ride from the ship, we still come out way ahead. As you can imagine, I just couldn't contain my excitement over such a steal!
    Back to the original question: Cruise line hotel and/or transfer - should you choose it or lose it? I guess it depends on one's personal preference and budget. I have tried to convince myself that there are times when a cruise/transfer package is a good value, but I still have trouble buying it. I am a bargain shopper by nature, and when it's just my husband and I traveling and we don't require anything special, bidding for a hotel remains my preferred method of nabbing a good hotel at an affordable price.
    Of course, there's always exceptions to every rule ... such as in this case, when one is looking for just a transfer to get from airport to ship or vice-versa. While in most cases it's easier, quicker and more economical to get a taxi or airport/hotel shuttle, there are instances where a cruise transfer is the way to go. In fact, this came up for us last summer relating to the two-hour ride from the ship in Dover to London-Heathrow. We chose the transfer, and it went very smoothly - well worth the price. When the journey to and from the airport is long or overly complicated, a ship shuttle makes perfect sense.
  5. Jan115
    The Grand Princess ... our floating paradise for 10 days this summer ... has now been repositioned to it's new home port of San Francisco for it's spring and summer itineraries. It would be so cool to drive there to meet our ship. However, let's be realistic. We live on the East Coast. Since a leisurely cross-country drive to the ship is quite out of the question, we'll have to fly.
    We have two choices - book our preferred flights on our own, independently, or choose a cruise air package with the cruise line.
    At one time, this was a no-brainer. Book our own flights, and we can choose our own seats and otherwise have complete control, most likely at a lower fare. The cruise lines, on the other hand, would traditionally buy seats in bulk very early on, according to their needs, and the airline would assign the tickets 30 days out. Being the one in the family who meticulously maps out each and every vacation detail well in advance, knowing the details of our flight details only mere weeks before we leave causes my heart to race wildly and my blood pressure to skyrocket. That's just way too much uncertainty for me.
    Now, however, cruise lines are becoming more in tune with the needs and preferences of the picky passenger and have re-worked their air & sea programs. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, for example, offer the Choice Air program, while Princess Cruises makes their EZ Air available to their clients. Generally speaking, when you book your cruise and include one of these air add-ons, you have the ability to choose from one of their selected flight times. Likewise, for more money (in most cases), you can choose a cancel-any-time flight, if you think your plans might change.
    In fact, cruise lines recently have been offering attractive package deals which include discounted or free air packages to lure customers. One disadvantage, nevertheless, to cruise air is the noticeable absence of non-stop flights among the choices, an important feature for some travelers. On the other hand, if you have booked your cruise on short notice and are having trouble finding a flight this late in the game, a cruise air package could be your ticket to the ship, perhaps at no greater cost than it would be if you could find a flight on your own. The other nice advantage to cruise air is that your transfers and luggage handling are included in the deal, making for a convenient, carefree trip to the ship.
    Even with cruise air packages however, lengthy airline delays can result in literally missing the boat. A common misconception is that when your airline ticket is purchased through the cruise line that they are responsible for getting you to your ship. While the cruise line will work closely with airlines to re-route passengers to the original or next port of call in case of a disruption, it is ultimately the job of the airline to see you to your ship, most likely at the expense of the passenger. This is where travel insurance can be your friend.
    Three steps to assure a smooth flight to your awaiting cruise ship:
     
    1) Compare cruise air vs. independent air. Begin monitoring air prices for your cruise several months before your cruise. Calculate the cost and convenience of flights available, as well as cancellation policies and fees, both for for independently flights and those with the cruise line.   2) Consider flying in at least a day before your cruise. Not only will arriving early to your city of embarkation lessen the chances of missing your ship due to flight cancelations or delays, but it will also give you the opportunity to reach your ship in a calm, rested state of mind, instead of all frazzled and disoriented. What's more? You will have the opportunity to extend your vacation by spending some time exploring the port city. After all, they will appreciate your hard-earned money, too!   3) Purchase Travel Insurance! If you encounter added out-of-pocket expenses for flight delays or changes, you will be very grateful. Insurance, including “trip delay” coverage pays for itself if you encounter any of these problems.  
    So what have we decided? In the case of our flight to San Francisco, we booked well in advance and found reasonable non-stop flights from Boston. Since that time, Princess has tempted us with a discounted air promotion, but not tempting enough to beat our less expensive, non-stop flights.
    One way or another, you'll reach your ship. All you need to do is a little homework.
  6. Jan115
    August 2, 2012 ~ Embarkation on the tiny Ocean Princess was the smoothest we’ve ever experienced. We arrived at approximately 1:00 pm to check in. Our luggage was quickly whisked away, and we were warmly welcomed into the cruise terminal with smiling, happy faces. No lines, friendly staff, and all very fast and efficient, yet leisurely. There were even crew members waiting on board to show us the way to our cabin – not that you we needed help – the ship’s not that big. It was like a scene from “The Love Boat.”
    The balcony cabin on Deck 7 was roomy enough, with plenty of storage space. However, the sleeper sofa when opened to the sleeper position, we would soon discover, blocked the way to the balcony. The end of the bed can be folded back – but not so easy if there is someone sleeping in it. So I found myself crawling over Jenn while she slumbered in the rather uncomfortable sleeper sofa, to get to the balcony whenever something interesting caught my eye off the starboard side, much to her dismay. On the other hand, our bed was perfectly comfortable. The bathroom seemed a tad roomier than the other ships we’ve been on and had plenty of storage. The balcony was large enough with a small round table and two reclining-back chairs. Honestly, though, there were several days when it was just too windy, cold or drizzly – or we were just too busy – to spend much time out there. Our cabin steward did a great job refreshing the cabin daily and always greeted us with a warm smile.
    The ship’s interior design contains a lot of wood paneling, mirrors, art and floral designs, giving the feeling of a traditional cruise ship of the past – a classy look, and I loved it! No room portrayed this better than the ship’s library.

    Wood paneled walls, fireplace and a ceiling mural gave this room a warm, intimate look – a great, quiet place to curl up with a book or just sit and relax. The central staircase on decks 4 and 5 is beautiful and reminiscent of the staircase scenes with Jack and Rose on the Titanic, except on a smaller and less grand scale.

    The passenger demographic was much more mature and well-traveled – okay, “older” – than the cruises we’ve taken in the Caribbean on the big ships, though a few kids were spotted around the ship, as well as a number of younger couples. There was certainly no concern over “deck chair hogs” on this tiny ship in this cooler climate. Due to rain, drizzle and chill, the deck was vacant most of the time, and activity took place inside.

    However, I did spot a brave person in the pool on one warmer afternoon, and the hot tubs seemed to be used often. Those who did choose to sit outside were bundled in sweaters, including myself!
    One nice thing about the small size of the ship was that everything we needed was either a deck or two above or below our cabin and never more than a couple of flights of stairs away – very convenient. Due to British maritime law, the casino was closed throughout most of the cruise (woo – saved some money there!) but, otherwise, the activities on sea days were similar to those on the large ships, but definitely not as varied and on a much smaller scale. Some of these included line dancing, trivia, Wii games, ice sculpture viewing, and the art auction. There are in-cabin movies, and I remember seeing one movie showing in the Casino lounge. Afternoon tea, was available every afternoon, and the Lotus Spa and fitness room provided classes, treatments and workout options.


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  7. Jan115
    I had read many tales of missed calls to this port. Because the ship’s need to tender passengers over to the island in sometimes choppy or stormy seas, it is all too common for cruise ships to bypass Guernsey altogether. I am happy to report that the day was mild and sunny, and the ship made it to port, as scheduled. However, some wind and high surf prevailed, making the tender ride a bit choppy.

    We watched the tendering process from our balcony and noticed that the tender and ship had trouble connecting in order to board the passengers. The captain had to reposition the ship throughout the day in order to assist the process to make it easier and safer for boarding, so it all worked out.
    Since we had to be back on board by 2:30 pm, it was a very short day for us in Guernsey. We chose to walk to the next castle on our list: Castle Cornet, a very easy and walkable mile from the ship.

    We paid for admission which included a guide who was very informative and filled us in on the history of Guernsey and the castle (which is a fort, really). As an added bonus, the views are truly spectacular, including a fabulous view of the ship!

    One notable event at the Castle is the firing of the Noon Day Gun, a tradition dating back to the early days of the 19th century. We watched from the roped area surrounding the gun, but a visit timed to be at the level just below the gun at noon may make for a better view.
    Added note about Guernsey: Later on that evening, we learned that the captain had nearly made the decision to cancel the Guernsey port stop due to high seas. Which makes me wonder – what happens when they tender people over to the island but then can’t tender them back because the waves are too high ….?
    Motion on the Ocean! Just as we had earlier in the day, we faced rough seas Friday night once we left Guernsey on our way to Waterford. So rough, in fact, that the Ocean Princess Singers & Dancers production was canceled, replaced by comic, Tom Brisco. There were a lot of seasick passengers that evening, as well as many empty seats in the dining room and show lounges. Those souls who were brave enough donned their formal attire, stumbled around the ship, attended the captain’s welcome party, and dined to the rocking and rolling of the ship. The formal photo shoot was particularly challenging for both the photographer and the subjects. Another consequence of the turbulent waters is that the ship had to reduce speed, which could have affected the arrival time in Waterford the next morning. As it turned out, we made it on schedule.
    Tonight was Jenn’s 25th birthday. OK, not really. It was actually last January, but we never properly celebrated, so we thought this would be a good way to honor such a momentous occasion. Balloons, a happy birthday sign on the door, a card from the Captain, and a cake complete with singing waiters at dinner made it all special.


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  8. Jan115
    This was a two-part day for us. Part one took us on a morning ride through the rural Irish countryside to the little town of Inistioge and a visit to the magnificent Jerpoint Abbey. Following this was part two of our day - a ride from the ship to the City of Waterford.
    The day began overcast, but rain-free. Sitting on the balcony with my morning coffee and the Princess version of an Egg McMuffin, I admired the beautiful Ireland countryside as we pulled into Waterford.

    We did not want to leave Ireland without seeing some of this beautiful land of green and, therefore, booked the ship’s Rural Ireland & Jerpoint Abbey tour. By the time we headed off the ship for the tour, the rain had begun and continued on and off through most of the day. Our guide for the tour was Mary, a very personable and knowledgeable woman, whose charming Irish brogue reminded me of Mrs. Doubtfire.

    The tour took us on a ride through beautiful rolling hills of green and farmland filled with horses, cows and sheep. We arrived at Jerpoint Abbey, some really amazing ruins of a Cistercian abbey founded in the second half of the 12th century, with the tower and cloister dating back to the 15th century.

    We were led by a knowledgeable guide who took us through the old monastery chapels, pointing out interesting tomb sculpture, as well as the sculptured cloister with some very detailed carvings.


    Our next stop on the tour was the little village of Inistioge, along the River Nore, where we spent about 15 minutes photographing the scenery and the remaining 10 minutes in a small Irish pub enjoying a pint of Guinness with David’s new-found Irish friend “Patty” and a few other locals.

    It was perfect – we couldn’t get much more authentic Irish than this! We then made our way back to the ship for lunch before heading out, once again, this time to the shuttle for a ride into Waterford.
    The port of Belview, Ireland, is approximately 20 minutes from the City of Waterford. When traveling to Waterford from the ship, cruise passengers are not permitted to walk out of the gated port of Belview. Fortunately, Princess provided a complimentary shuttle to the city. We also saw four or five taxis waiting, it didn’t make sense to pay for a taxi here, when Princess provided a free ride.

    Of all the ports on our itinerary, this was one I was least interested in and did the least amount of research on. After all, my main intent was to see rural Ireland and some monastery ruins. Without any kind of plan in mind, except for mention of a City Square Shopping Center, we headed in that direction, figuring we would pick up some gifts. Well, it was Saturday, there was an outdoor festival going on in Waterford, and the streets were mobbed. Furthermore, the shopping center was literally just a huge, crowded mall with chain stores mixed in with local shops. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic, and since no one else in the family was enjoying this, we headed back toward some other recommended sights, like Reginald’s Tower, the Greyfriars ruins and the House of Waterford Crystal, stopping on the way to pick up a few gifts.

    We prefer the historical aspects of touring and found these places more interesting and enjoyable than trying to maneuver a busy shopping center full of stores that we can find back home. Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland and I am sure has many fine qualities. However, after spending time in quaint Canterbury two days before, it was hard to become excited about Waterford’s traffic, crowded streets and noise. It was my least favorite city on this itinerary.


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  9. Jan115
    The best way to get a feel of a UK or European city when you are only there for a few hours is on the city’s Hop on Hop Off tour (fondly referred to as the HOHO), and most cities here have them. You get a great overview and can get off or on wherever you like, all for one low price. In this case, the green Dublin Bus offered a 15% on-line discount for purchasing in advance, and who am I to refuse a discount – on line, or otherwise. This is a very pleasant and less expensive alternative to the overpriced and sometimes overcrowded ship’s shore excursions.

    For the life of me, though, I can’t understand why cruise ships can’t provide a complimentary shuttle to the city. Like many cruise ports in Europe, the major city on the itinerary can be 20-90 minutes away, or more, requiring cruisers to either pay big bucks for the ship shuttle or find your own transportation. Average Joe Cruiser doesn’t even realize that there are other convenient and less expensive options, and the cruise lines would just as soon keep it that way. Savvy travelers like myself know better, and we will often find a taxi, share a ride, or book a private tour for far less money. So how did we get to Dublin today, you ask? We rode the ship’s shuttle, of course. In this particular case, there were five of us in our group. It would have required two taxis to get us into Dublin, and from what I could tell, there were no larger taxis at the pier which could hold all of us. So the price actually evened out, and the ship shuttle proved to be both pleasant and convenient.

    We arrived safely in Dublin, found the HOHO bus, and rode on the top of this doubledecker vehicle, providing a great view with some awesome photo ops. Unfortunately, as predicted, it began raining pretty steadily requiring the rain gear and then ultimately moving to a covered spot on the bus – definitely not as much fun as being out in the open air.

    When touring in a city for just a few short hours, it’s always a good idea to choose one or two must-see places. For us it was – the Book of Kells at Trinity College in the Old Library, followed by a pint of Guinness at a local pub, of course. We hopped off (ok, we didn’t exactly hop) at stop #3, and queued up at Trinity College for the Book of Kells. For those who aren’t familiar with this attraction, the Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript that contains the four gospels of the New Testament, along with various supporting material. They are famous for their art work, an “insular” form, depicting plants, animals, people and geometric designs, along with calligraphy, flourishes and bold coloring. It was stunning to see! Also of interest was the “Turning Darkness into Light” exhibition which explains the background of the famous gospel manuscripts and other related documents, along with large colorful displays of the artwork.

    After viewing the exhibition and the Books, the line of visitors continues upstairs to the Long Room of the Old Library, filled with marble busts of great philosophers and writers of the western world and also of men connected with Trinity College. You will also find books, of course - over 200,000 of them – the Library's oldest books. If you go, be sure to look for the harp, the oldest of its kind in Ireland and probably dates back to the 15th century. Made of oak and willow with 29 brass strings, it is the model for the emblem of Ireland.
    If you do plan on making the Book of Kells a priority on your next trip to Ireland, be sure to queue up first thing in the morning before it opens, or save it for later in the afternoon. It is one of the most popular attractions in Dublin. Our wait in line was just 30 minutes, but once inside, patience will be your friend as you await your turn to approach the glass to view the Books. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed at the Book of Kells or in the Old Library, so I have no images to display of these areas.
    The skies opened up as we left Trinity College on our way to find a pub. I pulled up my handy TripAdvisor map on my iPhone, which pointed to several restaurants on nearby Grafton Street. We found a pub, rested our weary feet and filled our bellies with a fine bowl of Irish stew and a pint of Guinness, the perfect solution to a cool, rainy day in Dublin.

    Our time in Dublin was over, and it was time to head back to the ship. We stopped at a few shops on the way, one of which was a hat shop, where David viewed a fine collection of woolen caps and hats. He couldn’t decide between two, so he purchased both, which he proudly wore for the rest of the cruise.

    We loved the city of Dublin, and when comparing it to Waterford the day before, Waterford seemed to be more of a typical working class city, whereas the city of Dublin had more of an Irish flavor and character.

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  10. Jan115
    The names Rob Roy, William Wallace and Braveheart always come to mind when I think of Scotland. The beauty of the highlands portrayed in the Hollywood films has always inspired me to visit Scotland, and this was a priority of our day here in Greenock.
    After many months of careful research, I gathered a group of fellow on-line cruise community fans and booked the Luss, Loch Lomond & Sterling Castle tour with Great Scot Tours for 15 eager passengers, a guide highly recommended by many seasoned travelers. We shared the cost of a mini-bus and saved more than half off the cruise line price. This would prove to be by far my favorite day of the entire week!

    We woke up to Greenock with the sound of bagpipers playing below our cabin on the pier and then, once off the ship, were treated to a dram of whisky (my husband got a double!) by a friendly Scottish welcoming party at the port. We were very impressed by the genuine hospitality all over the UK, but particularly here in Scotland.

    Our guide from Great Scot Tours, Gordon Ross, and his able driver, John, were waiting for us at the ship right on schedule and greeted us warmly as we boarded the mini-coach to set out on a full-day tour of the Highlands.

    The village of Luss, our first stop, is a quaint, pretty little town on the banks of Loch Lomond. Gordon refers to it as “Brigadoon” and we wholeheartedly agree. One feels a sense of quiet serenity in this idyllic place, and the view of the distant hills across the lake is one of timeless beauty. It was all very magical!
    Back on board, we arrived in the Highland, at which time Gordon stopped at an overlook and let us sample an assortment of whiskies – just a wee dram … or two or three! This was not in the tour description – just a little extra something that this kind and thoughtful Scotsman adds to his tours.

    With his passengers now all warm and giddy, he took us on a scenic drive, pointing out many sites along the way including all the “white rocks” dotting the countryside. Except they weren’t rocks – they were sheep! Thousands upon thousands. I believe there are more sheep in Scotland than there are people. After sharing his vast knowledge and history of this beautiful country, Gordon brought us to the lovely town of Callender, where we could wander about and have lunch. While many in our tour chose a restaurant pointed out by Gordon, we chose a pub nearby for some fantastic fish & chips and black pudding.

    We then continued on to the final destination of our tour – Sterling Castle. As we came closer, the castle appeared majestic and formidable to us at the top of a rocky hill and was a fearsome sight to behold. There are no words to describe it. A walk through the castle and along the grounds is like a step back in time to the days of Rob Roy, Sir William Wallace and Sir Robert the Bruce.


    While some in our group toured on their own, Gordon led a few of us through the castle and showed us some of his favorite rooms – the jail, the great hall, the queen’s and king’s bedchambers, the kitchen, tapestries, and so much more. The distant views from the castle are spectacular, and it was humbling to look down upon the fields where fierce battles were fought to secure Scotland’s freedom.

    Our tour was now nearly at an end, and it was time to head back to the ship.
    Gordon Ross was an outstanding tour guide, as well as a kind, intelligent and well-traveled man. Did I mention that he travels the world with his Celtic band? He is retiring as a tour guide after this outing, but tours will still be available with other guides from his tour company. Thank you to our fellow tour mates: Violet, Tom, Sharon, Cindy, Jon, Nancy, Dennis, Kathy, Cheryl & Mike. I couldn’t have found a nicer group of people!

    By the way, today was our 35th Anniversary, and our tour of the Scottish highlands was the perfect way to celebrate. Back on the ship that evening, just as with Jenn’s birthday celebration earlier in the cruise, there were balloons, a happy birthday sign on the door, a card from the Captain, and a cake complete with singing waiters at dinner to make it all special!

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  11. Jan115
    As great as it is to be in port and see new cities and places for the first time, it is equally nice to have a day in between to sleep in a bit, with no place to be.
    However, I should point out that my husband and I have very different ideas about sea days. I like to lounge around in my jammies and order breakfast in the room. He likes to be up at the crack of dawn, get some exercise, and stop at the buffet for breakfast. I like to find a quiet place to read, write or just watch the world go by. He likes to be entertained non-stop, 24/7. I simply don’t need all that distraction. We both do agree, however, on the pool, sun deck and promenade deck. A refreshing dip, a lounge chair on deck, an umbrella drink in hand, and a walk around the promenade deck are perfect ways to spend a sea day. Unfortunately, this ship on this particular itinerary did not provide any of that – except for the drinks – they were in abundance. There is no promenade deck on the Ocean Princess, and it was too cold in the British Isles for serious sunning and swimming.


    When standing outside by the pool among all those empty lounge chairs, Ocean Princess looked like a ghost ship. Ordinarily, when all else fails, there is always the casino – except when sailing around the British Isles. British maritime law prohibits ship gambling when in close proximity to shore, so the casino remained closed throughout most of the cruise. While there were production shows, comedians and music to find around the ship in the evening, entertainment during the day was in short supply. Even for me, it was a struggle to find something to do on the two sea days. There is only so much reading and writing I can do, and trivia and line dancing just wasn’t doing it for us. Fortunately, the art auction provided some distraction for David, and loads of free champagne as well!

    Today was the first day of this cruise without a raindrop, and partly sunny skies prevailed, making it possible to actually sit out on the balcony. As we continued our journey from Greenock, rounding the northern coast of Scotland to the next port of Edinburgh, we could step out and admire the majestic rocky cliffs and the most beautiful sights we’ve ever seen. I had no idea the Scotland coastline would be so magnificent, and I could have sit on the balcony and stared at this beautiful scene all day. Who needs trivia and line dancing when beautiful Mother Nature beckons just a glance away!

    By the way, today was my husband’s birthday. More balloon, cake and singing waiters!

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  12. Jan115
    August 2, 2012 ~ Before leaving the lovely House of Agnes for the 20-minute ride to Dover to meet our cruise ship which would carry us around Ireland & Scotland for the next 8 nights , we took a walk through the old town of Canterbury to Canterbury Cathedral.

    If you only have a short time in this beautiful Dickens-like town, this magnificent medieval holy place is truly breathtaking and is a must-see. Dating back to somewhere around 597AD, the cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and still very much a working, living church and is probably most notorious for the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. We spent a couple of hours here, but could easily have spent all day. The cathedral is enormous, and only when I got home after the cruise did I find the guide book we purchased for a mere 2.50 pounds which would have made our self-guided tour much more informative and efficient.
    Note: For earlier posts, including our view of the quaint town of Canterbury, the Agnes Inn, and all the planning that went into this fantastic cruise vacation, please visit http://sevenseajourneys.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/cruising-around-ireland-scotland-part-i-canterbury/


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  13. Jan115
    Today we were given a gift – a warm, sunny day in Edinburgh. Unlike the mixed bag of weather conditions the previous days, blue skies prevailed – certainly not the dreadful weather picture I described in my earlier post where Sir William Wallace is drenched in the Highlands (see British Weather-Hollywood Style).
    We were lucky with the weather, but not so sure about our luck of getting into Edinburgh this morning.
    As we headed into the Port of Rosyth, the Captain came on over the loud speaker with an announcement that (1) a barge was blocking our way into port and (2) a cargo ship was parked in our spot, and he did not know if or when we would be able to dock. Well, you can imagine the rumbling which began to arise among the passengers. This was the highlight of the tour for some folks, especially those who spent big bucks on Edinburgh Tattoo tickets. Fortunately, the ship did manage to pull alongside the dock a short time later, and we were soon on our way into the city, so it all worked out. Whew!
    Our must-see attraction for Edinburgh was Edinburgh Castle followed by a walk down the Royal Mile. We did not choose an excursion or organized tour for this port, but simply found 2 taxis for the 5 of us to Edinburgh Castle at a flat rate of £35 each. There were taxis lined up at the port terminal building, and we could see them clearly from our balcony cabin. In order to get to the taxis, you might think – ok, it’s just a short walk from the ship to the terminal along the perimeter of this cargo port. No, not a chance. Due to insurance reasons, most likely, everyone on the ship was required take the free shuttle from the gangway to the terminal, just a stone’s throw away. Silly, really. It was essentially the same as walking to my neighbor’s house, three doors down.
    Once in Edinburgh, the taxis dropped us off just a short distance downhill from the castle on the Royal Mile. We had purchased the Explorer passes from Discover Scotland in advance of the cruise and simply walked in through the Fast Pass gate. Not a big deal with the small crowd when we arrived early in the morning, but a real timesaver if arriving later when the queues become large. We joined a guided tour through a portion of the castle and explored the rest on our own. The views over the city and distant hills are absolutely stunning!
    Once we had our fill of the castle, we continued downhill along the Royal Mile toward the Palace of Holyroodhouse, stopping for lunch at a Scottish tavern, Deacon Brodie’s Tavern. We were seated upstairs, which was fortunate because the downstairs was crowded and very warm & stuffy. There was a nice breeze and a roomy feel upstairs, and it was a great place to refuel with local favorites, like chicken pie, vegetable tort, bangers & mash, and we shared a plate of Haggis, which was actually quite tasty considering the contents of the dish and the manner in which it is prepared – minced meat and oatmeal cooked in sheep’s bladder. Yikes!
    Sir William and Me
    We had our fill, left the restaurant and found ourselves in a large crowd of festival goers outside. It was the week in which “The Fringe” was happening, and the streets were mobbed with performers, photo ops, including Sir William Wallace (my personal favorite), Yoda, and lots of people passing out ads of the fun things going on around town.
    We made our way down the Mile to the very end, where we finally arrived at Holyroodhouse.
    We didn’t go into the palace, but simply peeked through the gate and took photos of this stately retreat for the Queen. We turned around and started back up the hill, bought a few gifts, and when our legs couldn’t take another step, grabbed a 5-person taxi parked at a hotel and went directly back to the ship. The cost was £35 – a very economical and convenient ride when split among the five of us. We loved the picturesque streets and beauty of Edinburgh, and the Castle was magnificent. Next time, though, I might consider taking a HoHo bus tour around the city, similar to what we did in Dublin, in order to see more in a short amount of time.
    The reader is probably wondering – did we see the big annual Scotland military extravaganza: The Edinburgh Tattoo? No, we did not. Even though it is a must-see event recommended by many, we chose not to attend. At $199 per person for the ship excursion, it was more than we wanted to spend. Even though we could have easily saved a lot of money by purchasing tickets to the show on our own, stories of cold, torrential downpours during the performances were deal breakers for us, as well as the late night crowds and transportation issues if we were to go on our own. Of course, if we had known the weather would be as pleasant as it actually turned out, we may have re-considered.

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  14. Jan115
    You are probably wondering what happen to Day 8 – Sea Day. See previous Day 6. It was exactly the same with one added feature – re-packing, which is always a little sad and a little challenging – how to squeeze your all your stuff and the added souvenirs into your bags – but we made it work. As is the case with just about every vacation I take, my camera seems to take a holiday on the final day, and I return with basically no pictures of the final hours of our time away. Such was the case here. No pictures of the ship, no images of us packing, nothing at disembarkation, and nothing of the plane ride home. At the same time my camera disappears, I start thinking of home and all the tasks awaiting my return. The two seem to go hand in hand. Go figure.
    As with embarkation 8 days earlier, disembarkation in Dover was a breeze. We had breakfast in the buffet, vacated the cabin, and waited at the appropriate time and venue according to color code. In our case, we waited in the Cabaret Lounge for just a short time while Princess showed a video of the new Royal Princess features. We had already seen most of it, but the review was nice, as we are booked on Royal for next summer. Our group was called, we exited the ship, grabbed our luggage, and climbed directly aboard the Princess shuttle for the 2-hour ride to Heathrow, but not before one long, last look at the Ocean Princess as she awaited her next group of soon-to-arrive excited passengers. The process was all very well quick and well-organized. We have never used a Princess transfer before and would definitely consider it again, especially for a long or complicated journey from ship to airport or hotel. We arrived safely at the airport, with plenty of time to kill. Airline check-in, security, the flight and customs all went smoothly.
    A few final observations ~
    This was a fantastic itinerary for an 8-day cruise, and we thoroughly enjoyed all the ports, except maybe for Waterford, which was our least favorite city on this sailing. I particularly thought the cooler climate was a nice change to the tropical waters of the Caribbean. The Ocean Princess is a very pretty ship, and the smaller size makes it easy to get to know the crew and fellow passengers. On more than one occasion, crew members addressed us by name, a pleasant personal touch not found on a ship of 3,000 passengers. With that said, however, we did sorely miss several big-ship features, particularly a real, wrap-around promenade deck and the International Cafe, found on the large Princess ships. The most wished-for item missing from the dining room menu was French Onion Soup. For the most part, the pool deck was unusable due to the climate, and I wish there had been a covered pool like that of some ships cruising colder waters. We are happy that the cabins and balconies are now smoke-free, but disappointed that the prettiest lounge on the ship, the Tahitian Lounge, allows smoking on one side of the room, making the room reek of tobacco at any time of day.
    Would we cruise Ocean Princess again? If it were me, absolutely! However, given that my husband still prefers the large ship experience and since he contributes the most money to the cruise piggy bank, I would have to give him a say. So the answer to whether or not we would cruise Ocean Princess again is probably more of a definite maybe!
    Alas, another summer vacation had come to an end. No fear, though, as I have already have my eyes set and my blog ready and awaiting next year’s vacations, as we have two more cruises in the pipeline: The new Royal Princess sailing the Mediterannean next July, and a short 4-day Caribbean cruise on Ruby Princess during Christmas break 2013. My pen won’t rest long. Stay tuned!
     

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  15. Jan115
    When one cruise ends, another begins … that’s my motto!
    Our Ireland & Scotland Interlude was not yet complete, when we were already thinking of our next cruise. Actually, we were not yet sure of the destination, we just knew it would be a cruise on Princess. Therefore, as is the custom, we took advantage of the Future Cruise Desk while on board the Ocean Princess and earned future cruise credits and on-board credits by booking a future cruise, to be taken on any ship at any time within the next four years. Hey, why waste time! Immediately, on returning home, we booked our next cruise, a 12-day cruise to the Mediterranean.
    Ahhh … but as is typical with me, our next summer cruise booking is never written in stone. In the next weeks and months, it can transform into a different ship, a different destination, a land vacation or … horrors! … no vacation at all. We realized our one-way voyage from Venice to Barcelona was not going to be a cheap one, and the more I looked into hotels, excursions and air fare, the further and further the ship sailed away from us until it was just a black speck on the horizon. That's when my dear husband uttered the words I have so longed to hear ... "what about Alaska?"

    What? Did I hear you correctly or is that wax buildup in my ear? Did he just say “Alaska” or was that “I’ll ask her”? He’s never wanted to see Alaska. Oh, joy … oh rapture! He DID say Alaska! Well, I wonder what brought this on, I immediately thought to myself, as I would not dare utter these words out loud in fear of his changing his mind. Two words – Grand Princess.

    You see, the Grand Princess was the ship which carried us on our first cruise 10 years ago to the Caribbean, so it holds fond memories for us. Two more words: San Francisco – sealed the deal. A round trip, 10-day cruise from a city we’ve always thought about visiting, 4 full days at sea on a ship which has been re-fitted with a covered dome over the pool, a sailing up the inside passage of America’s Last Frontier to Glacier Bay National Park … what’s not to like? If he was going to cruise to Alaska, he said, this was the only way. After all, he has always been drawn to tropical heat and oppressive humidity over the “ice and cold” of Alaska, and it would take something really awesome to swing him around. Okay, I said, let’s do it – before he re-thinks the idea. I immediately fired up the computer and changed that cruise from the Mediterranean to Alaska faster than you can say “my Alaska dream cruise”.
    I am now on a new mission and have new purpose in my life! With a plan to spend three days pre-cruise in San Francisco, I am exploring the city, hotels, the sites and Alcatraz, of course! Air fare to San Francisco is refreshingly more reasonable than flying to Europe, and I have fare alerts arriving in my mailbox daily in the hopes of finding that perfect rate. What’s more, David has been researching the ports and has even made suggestions about excursions – which means, yes, he IS excited about Alaska. Shhh ... don't tell anyone!
     
  16. Jan115
    In previous posts, I spoke of the personality differences between my husband and myself. David likes to fill every moment of his vacation with all manner of entertainment, where I like to curl up in a quiet corner with a good book or simply sit and watch the world go by. He likes to arise well before dawn, eager and ready to face the day, where I would just as soon roll over and catch a few more hours of precious slumber, maybe have a leisurely breakfast on the balcony – when we’re lucky enough to have a balcony. For the most part, it works. He goes out at 5:00 a.m. to conquer the world, and I happily go back to sleep or relax with a Folger’s moment, mesmerized by the sea. He goes to the ship’s art auction, swigs the free cheap bubbly, and lays down money for some piece of art I probably won’t like, while I relocate myself to a poolside deck chair and continue what I came on a cruise to do in the first place – absolutely nothing! For the most part, this arrangement works very well – content to go off and do our own thing for a time and come together later over a drink, when he talks about the money he lost in the casino, and I discuss the variety of swimwear, the movie showing on the big screen, or the overabundance of chair hogs.
    However, when it comes to picking a seat to watch an onboard show, there’s no sucharrangement. He wants to be where the actions is. I want to watch from a safe, comfortable distance away. We can’t exactly part ways at a show, so we enter the lounge or theater, and to my horror, he makes a beeline for the front row. I hate the front row! I prefer to remain anonymous and blend in with the crowd. I don’t want to risk becoming volunteer fodder to amuse an audience – no, thank you. I suppose I could move a few rows back and pretend to not know him, but that would be just plain mean. So I trail reluctantly behind him and shrink down as far as I am able in my seat in the hopes that I won’t be noticed. I plead with him one last time … really, we can see the show just fine back there, a safe distance away. Nope, not good enough. Only the front row will do. Doesn’t he realize that he’s going to be picked? Yes, of course he does – that’s the plan. My husband is a target. Some people wave and shout “pick me … Oh, please pick me!” David doesn’t have to. Maybe it’s his larger-than-life persona. Maybe it’s his fearless, confident demeanor or the way he stands out in a crowd. Maybe it’s the beard or the large balding head. Or a combination of the above. Whatever it is, it’s going to get him up on that stage. I guaranty if there is a shortage of hands, he’s going to be the guy to save the moment, and there goes my anonymity.
    One memorable performance was the time he volunteered – yes, volunteered – to be the subject of a hypnotist, whose name escapes me, on board a Princess ship 10 years ago. I wish I still had the video, because it was a sight to behold. There was my husband, on stage, in a trance under the belief that he was none other than … Garth Brooks! I couldn’t believe my eyes … or my ears. He was in a trance of sorts, belting out some off-the-cuff country song, making it up as he went. The audience went wild. Little did they know that not only is David not a fan of country music, he had never even heard of Garth Brooks.
    If that weren’t entertaining enough, there was the time when my darling husband was crowned “Mr. Grand Princess”. Oh my. Let me stress that this was not a volunteer gig. This time, he was the guy who stood out in the crowd. Oh, God, I thought … here comes the assistant cruise director … she’s coming for him. Oh no, not again. It was a cheesy guy version of a Miss America pageant, and the contestants were a wide assortment of age, shapes and sizes, ranging from young, lean and buff to old, chunky and flabby. Let me just say that the winner was not young, lean or very buff – but he was a good sport, and I wouldn’t trade him for any other Mr. Princess, grand or otherwise. It’s all very fuzzy now, but I think I remember a parade, a cardboard crown, and a lot of wild, inebriated people. It was all good fun – 10 years ago, anyway.
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  17. Jan115
    As I was making travel plans for an upcoming winter week in the Grand Canyon, and wondering why the blazes we would choose the month of February and risk icy roads and snow to get a glimpse of this natural wonder, my thoughts took me back to one frightening wintry drive on a snow-packed highway in the stately Green Mountains of Vermont.
    Our daughter, Jenn, was attending a four-year E-game design program at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. I had made my semi-annual four-hour drive north to fetch her and her things for the semester break. I always looked forward to the December ride up. It was like a little mini-vacation, with a night or two at the Holiday Inn Express, Christmas shopping at the festive Church Street Marketplace, and perhaps a stroll by beautiful Lake Champlain.
    It was a very cozy, small-town New England Christmas experience, indeed, including snow-covered hills, crispy cold air and holiday lights illuminating the darkness. For the most part, the weather cooperated on those December trips. Not to say that the weather was perfect. After all, I live in New England, where the saying around here is “If you don’t like the weather now, just wait a minute … .” It was not uncommon on the drive up north to experience a few snow squalls, periods of driving rain or fog in the span of an hour, which would make for some challenging driving, especially through the mountains after dark, but was nothing that my little Hyundai Santa Fe couldn’t handle. Little did I know how badly I would underestimate Mother Nature on the return trip home this particular December weekend.
    It’s not like I didn’t know snow was predicted. I saw the forecast prior to leaving home and even made a reservation for another night at a hotel just in case we couldn’t make the trip home. On the morning of our scheduled ride home, I watched the local news and weather. Schools were canceled, but the timing of the storm was such that we might beat most of it if we left early. So “Jenn, what do you want to do?”, I asked. She replied, as I knew she would. “I want to go home.” I called my husband at home in Rhode Island. “David, what should I do?” I already knew what his answer would be. “Don’t risk it – stay another night“. I am an indecisive person, and I was torn. Should I listen to my all-knowing and wise husband of 35 years and play it safe, or should I make my daughter happy and take the risk? Jenn and I pondered the question further over breakfast and, for better or worse, decided to make a run for it.
    Anyone who has traveled I-89 through Vermont knows that it is a long, lonely road, and the exits are few and far between. The plan was to drive from the college and head down I-89 south to the next exit, a fairly short span. From that point, there would be no looking back. If conditions looked too risky by the time we got to the next exit, we’d simply stop and get a room for the night and ride out the storm. We reached the next exit, and although the snow was falling steadily, it didn’t seem too bad. “Hey, we can do this,” I attempted to convince myself, and armed with our trusted cell phones, off we went on our merry way home. We didn’t have to proceed very far to realize we’d made the wrong choice, and by that time we were well past the point of no return.
    By the time we traveled the long stretch to the next exit for the town of Stowe, the conditions were white-out. There was no one on the road except for enormous SUVs which flew past us like it was just another day, not even batting an eye, I suppose. For me, it was a different story. I was crawling along the snowy, untreated roadway, my knuckles turning white from the death grip of the steering wheel. Oh, why didn’t I buy a four-wheel drive vehicle! To make matters worse, my wipers were caked with ice and snow, making it difficult to navigate. I was driving blindly.
    Unable to see anything through the windshield, I exited the highway at Stowe, parked on the side of the road and cleaned the wipers and windshield, grateful for the can of de-icer I brought with me. The road was desolate and snow covered, surrounding us with nothing but white. I did not want myself and second-born child stranded here, and I was anxious to hurry up, clean the window and get out of there. Cell phone service was spotty at best. Safely back in the car, we stalled, slipped and slid our way back to the highway and continued on the long, slow mountain trek through the heavy snow, stopping to clean the wipers and windshield several times along the way. Even if we wanted to stop and hunker down in a roadside motor inn, it would require miles of driving down a snowy mountain road to find one, and I wasn’t willing to risk that. To ease our nerves, we loaded the CD player with our favorite tunes and sang along, hoping the time would pass more quickly … or at least I did. I think I recall Jenn sleeping part of the way. It wasn’t until about six hours later, when we reached the Massachusetts border, that we finally got some relief in the form of sleet and rain. I had never been so glad to see road slush in my life!
    We arrived home safely that evening, at which time my husband gave me a good tongue lashing for putting our lives in such jeopardy, as I expected he would. Looking back, I realized that what we drove through was just normal New England winter weather. It wasn’t even that huge of a snow storm by Vermont standards. We didn’t get hurt, we didn’t get stranded, and we didn’t even drive into a snowbank. The only thing wounded were our nerves. It my not have been a blizzard, but as far as we were concerned, it may as well have been the storm of the century. It was simply the worst stuff I’ve ever had to drive through.
    Grand Canyon in February? Absolutely! The flights and hotels are booked, and the road-hugging, safe SUV reserved. More importantly, I will have a back-up plan and the company of my husband who is far wiser than me.
     
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  18. Jan115
    I couldn't move ahead to a new year of travel adventures without first looking back on my trip experiences of 2012. Most destinations were new to us, and some were old favorites. All were special and memorable. Therefore, in the tradition of David Letterman, I thought I would take this opportunity to count down my own Top Ten travel moments of the year. Wishing you happy and safe travels in 2013!
    So here goes - my top 10 favorites of 2012:
    #10. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - Harry Potter's Wizarding World, Universal, Orlando

    Speeding through the air high above Hogwarts Castle on a broomstick without ever leaving the ground. Now, that's my idea of a thrill ride!
    #9. Introducing my Russian friends to New England clam cakes and chowder in Newport, Rhode Island

    Friends were in town for the day while aboard the Caribbean Princess and, as a native to Little Rhody, I was proud to give them my personalized 5-cent tour of Newport, including a visit to three of the city's famous stately mansions followed by lunch at Flo's clam shack. Thanks for the memories, Olga & Pavel!
    #8. The look of unbridled excitement on my sister-in-law's face as she and my brother embarked on their first-ever cruise aboard the Ocean Princess!

    Need I say more!
    #7. Being greeted by bagpipers and a wee dram of whiskey (or two!) to Edinburgh, Scotland

    Yes - whiskey - at 8 o'clock in the morning. When David asked for another, they were more than happy to oblige. Those Scots are so warm and friendly!
    #6. Sunset over Cape Cod Bay - Truro, Massachusetts

    As a frequent visitor to the outer Cape, I can honestly say there is no finer place to see the setting sun - or rising sun, for that matter. It's the closest thing to heaven on earth!
    #5. A pint of Guinness in a small town Irish pub - Inistioge, Ireland

    Who can forget this image of my husband, David, drinking a pint of Guinness in a local pub with his newfound friend, Patty.
    #4. Cruising up the coastline of Ireland and Scotland

    I'll never forget the rolling green hills of Ireland and the rugged beauty of Scotland as we sailed up and around the Isles. Literally took my breath away!
    #3. Canterbury Cathedral - Canterbury, England

    A magnificent, medieval holy place, famous for the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. The cathedral is enormous and stunning, and I could have easily spent the whole day taking in all its glory.
    #2. A night at The Agnes Inn, Canterbury
    A cozy and friendly traditional English inn. For even more charm, choose a room in the renovated stables. If you only have one night in England, let it be a charming B&B in a quaint, Dickens-like town.
    AND .... my Number 1 travel moment of 2012:
    A personalized tour with 14 fellow cruise passengers of the Scottish Highlands including the Village of Luss, Loch Lomond, and Stirling Castle by Gordon Ross of Great Scot Tours.
    It doesn't get much better than this! Those big cruise line tours would be hard pressed to provide the type of personalized service we received from our private tour guide through the Scottish Highlands. This was by far our favorite day of the entire cruise around Ireland and Scotland on the Ocean Princess. It was impossible to rank one feature of the tour over another for this list, so the whole tour gets the #1 spot!
    Here were the highlights from the Highlands tour:
    A surprise stop to sample some whiskey on a Highlands hillside. Here's to you, Gordon Mist over a beautiful peaceful lake, surrounded by rolling hills and mountains, in a storybook village setting. It was a page from a fairy tale! A stop in the town of Callander for a quick lunch. The magnificent Stirling Castle and surrounding battle grounds where famous Scots like Rob Roy, William Wallace, and Robert the Bruce fought for their freedom. There you have it - the Seven Sea Journey experiences of 2012. Safe and happy travels to all my readers in the new year!
    For additional photos, please visit:
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  19. Jan115
    The dream Alaska cruise is booked, air fare reserved and pre and post-cruise hotel stays arranged. Now comes the hard part - deciding what to see and do when we get to the Last American Frontier. With only a day in Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau, the choices won't be easy.
    While I enjoy touring famous cities and landmarks from the comfort and safety of a vehicle, as I grow older and cruise more, I find myself wanting to experience sightseeing in a more active and thrilling way. This is a big leap for an indoor girl with a fairly sedentary lifestyle. Since my travel bucket list has grown longer than my life expectancy, I want to make certain each tour is special and an event to remember. It must be the kind of activity that rises above and beyond my comfort zone, which currently sits on a pretty low threshold. Just as I fear being in the limelight (see my previous post "No, I don't want to be a volunteer ..."), I am a huge whimp when it comes to trying new things - especially when they invite potential injury. However, with the encouragement of my husband David, who is not at all afraid to venture into new territory, I am learning to spread my wings.
     
    I could plan a cruise excursion the easy way, by simply viewing the line's glossy tour booklet, choosing and booking a pre-planned excursion. All neatly packaged, wrapped and available for every cruise passenger, they are the ultimate in convenience. But what fun is that? After all, last year I planned a small private group tour of the Scottish Highlands with 14 fellow passengers, and it turned out to be the highlight of our cruise. So you see, I have discovered alternative ways, albeit involving many hours of research and, in my case, obsessive rumination over very detail of the tour.
    This is not to belittle cruise lines for providing a valuable service. I have taken advantage of several cruiseline excursions, and they have more than satisfied my growing thirst for adventure. The first such cruise excursion we took part in was Swimming with Stingrays in Grand Cayman over 10 years ago. This sounded like just the adventure David and I were looking for, so I promptly reserved the boat to Stingray City the minute it opened for booking on the web. The booking process was simple alright, but it still left me with lots of questions about stingrays, in general. I spent every spare moment for months reading everything I could get my hands on to find the answers to my most pressing questions: "What if I step on one? Will it bite me? Will it stab me to death with that stinger?". Keep in mind, this was before the famous Steve Irwin a/k/a Crocodile Hunter incident. As a result, I spent months perfecting the "stingray shuffle" in my living room.

    If that weren't enough, to fully appreciate these mysterious, graceful aquatic creatures, I needed to learn how to snorkel. All summer long, I practiced in our backyard pool until I could breathe through that tube without drowning myself, a hurdle I am proud to say I soon overcame. All my anxiety over stingrays, I am happy to say, was for naught. The experience was very cool and I survived unharmed. On a second trip to Stingray City with my daughters on a later cruise, I even did the obligatory stingray-kissing photo op - how touristy!

    The second must-do-before-I-die adventure would be horseback riding. Not that I knew how to ride a horse. Everything I knew about horses I learned from TV's "Mr. Ed." Oh, I had been on small ponies as a child - you know, the country fair type ride, where someone leads you and your little pony around a circle the size of a hula hoop. I always wanted a horse (didn't every little girl?) and remember begging my dad to dig up his prize vegetable garden to build a horse barn. Of, course he didn't, but I could dream! I was overjoyed to see the excursion listed as available through the ship while docked in St. Maarten. However, I was not feeling the love when I read of disappointing experiences through the ship. I decided that this was one I was going to plan on my own for myself and two daughters. So, once again, I was on a mission to find the best stables on the island with the grandest of horses and the friendliest of guides - one with a lot of patience for a novice like myself.
    After months of research, I found a highly recommended stable outfit on the French side of the island. Our family rented a minivan and headed off to the stables. My husband who is highly allergic to most animals watched from a distance as we were fitted for head gear and a horse suited to our weight and size. My horse was huge! Funny how they don't look that big in the movies. How do those guys in the westerns leap on and off their horse with so little effort? I couldn't even reach my foot high enough for the stirrup - my arthritic knees don't bend that way! "Ummm ... Excuse me," I timidly said. "I am going to need some help here." After some initial shock, the young stable hand lead my gallant animal and I over to the big stepladder, and I climbed up to the saddle. I felt more than a little foolish while the other few people in our party simply saddled up with very little assistance. Even my girls, who had never been within a mile of a horse in their lives, made it look so easy. With some brief instruction on how to maneuver the animal, off we went on our equine adventure. The horse was very gentle and knew the trail well, so thankfully I didn't have to do much with the reins. Slowly riding along wooded trails and gorgeous beaches - nudist beaches, I might add - it turned out to be one of the most thrilling things I had ever done!

    This brings me to our third planned outdoorsy thing on the list: Bears - or observing them in their natural habitat as they fish for salmon in Alaska water. And because the only way to get to the rainforest creek to see the bears is by air, we will need to fly in a floatplane to get there! A double feature - two brand new exciting and thrilling experiences in one shot! Are you sensing a theme here? Yes, animals and wilderness. This indoor girl is getting off the couch and into the wide open world!
    ... And now the search for bear and flight begins! Stay tuned ...

  20. Jan115

    A Belize Blunder

    By Jan115,

    It was August of 2003. We were joyfully embarking on our second cruise, this time a 5-day voyage on the cruise ship Imagination, one of Carnival's smaller vessels. After our rookie sailing the previous summer on the Grand Princess, we simply couldn't wait to share our newfound love of the cruise experience with our two daughters, ages 16 and 11, and hoped they would be as thrilled as we were.

    Our destination would be the Western Caribbean, the ports of Belize and Key West, and two relaxing days at sea. We happily crammed our family of four into a 160-square-foot inside cabin, and off we sailed to paradise!
    Look at all that space - very cozy, wouldn't you say?

    Everything was going great. The girls were having a blast, reveling in this great new way to vacation. "What? We CAN eat all day and all night?" They spent the first two days joyfully grazing the culinary treats that awaited them - the buffet, ice cream, pizza, sushi, and every other delectable delight. After all, where else could they eat anything they wanted and not have to empty their pocket change! David and I, in turn, spent time immersing ourselves in all manner of onboard activity and otherwise getting to know the both the ship and the world of Carnival.
    Two days after embarkation we arrived at our our first port of call - the country of Belize on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize was a fairly new cruise port at the time, if I recall, featuring not much else besides tacky tourist shops. Today, if I were to return to Belize, Mayan ruins would be at the top of my list of things to see, but 10 years ago, ancient artifacts were not at the top of must-see attractions for our family.
    As this was their first time at sea, we wanted to do something the kids would enjoy, so we chose a snorkeling trip. I was determined to save our family lots of money, avoid the overpriced ship excursion, and spent many months prior researching various independent tours. We finally settled on a well-recommended vendor in the cruise community. We communicated with the company back and forth, being certain that the timing would work with the ship schedule. It was a well-thought-out plan, and we were ready for snorkeling. I patted myself on the back for my incredible tour-planning skills. However, as sometimes happens in life, things don't always go according to plan.
    For starters, Belize was a tender port. Our meeting up with the tour at the appointed time would depend on the arrival of the ship into port on time and the ability to be on the first tender. Carnival had a seemingly organized method of issuing tender tickets, and an announcement was made to head to an appointed area to pick up tickets, specifically at 9:00 a.m. and, as they firmly stated, not a moment before. No Ma'am, they would not jump the gun and play unfair. How noble, I thought.
    We arrived at 8:40 a.m. expecting a line of eager tender passengers. What we found were many people with tickets already in hand well before we arrived. So much for fair play! Needless to say, we only landed tickets for the second tender. We arrived to the dock just after 10:30 a.m., and our snorkel boat was nowhere in sight.
    After asking around at the pier, we sadly discovered that the snorkel trip had left just minutes before we arrived. The boat was gone!

    My heart sank, and I felt as small as a mouse. David and the girls knew how bad I felt and bravely tried to cheer me up, my two patient girls bravely hiding their disappointment. Sure, there were other vendors pedaling their tours. However, I was in a strange new land and a bummed-out state of mind, and was not ready to risk another bad decision. We walked around the ports - and, yes, much moping on my part was involved. We checked out a few shops, discovered we really weren't having much fun, and then headed back to the ship.
    Yeah, this is about all I remember from Belize ~

    On the upside, the ship was very enjoyable without the crowds, and we had the pool to ourselves.
    Why, you might ask, didn't we just call the snorkel boat when we knew we would be late?
    I have no answer. I suspect we had no cell phones at the time. I did call the company upon return home to find out what happened, and they apologized, saying they had other people on the boat and, unfortunately couldn't wait any longer. They were nice enough to refund our deposit, even though it was not their policy to do so. Absolutely no complaints there.
    So - Belize was a bust - at least for us in that moment of time. I immediately vowed never to book another independent cruise tour ever again, especially one with a tender port. Of course, I didn't listen to me and, in fact, went on to book several fine local tours in the years ahead with smooth sailing and no issues.
    By the way, our interest in ancient ruins has blossomed since then, having seen the magnificent structures by the sea at Tulum, and we hope to one day return to Belize for another more interesting look at what the country has to offer.
  21. Jan115
    What's my motto? If I can't get there by cruise ship, then I don't want to go. That's not entirely true, though, because Grand Canyon has long been high on our trip bucket list. Obviously, land travel will have to be involved.
    A trip to Vegas nearly brought us to the Canyon several years ago. As a side trip from the city glitter and hypnotic slots machines, we pondered over a day trip to either Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon's west rim. Since we felt that traveling all that way to catch just a brief glimpse of this powerful and inspiring landscape would be inadequate and totally unsatisfying, Hoover Dam won out. After all, who can forget Clark Griswold's family vacation from Chicago to Wally World, complete with an all-too-brief stop at the "biggest G-damn hole in the world", as so eloquently described by Griswold in National Lampoon's Family Vacation. I envisioned our view of the Canyon to last a bit longer than Clark and wife Ellen's hasty double-take at the rim before jumping back into their beat-up old station wagon and their crazy road trip.
    We have chosen February school break for our Canyon crusade for a number of reasons. Our 2013 annual summer vacation block is occupied by our longed-for Alaska cruise. As my husband is an educator, that leaves school breaks. We felt February was the better choice over April, as the crowds would be thinner. We also hear that the natural light and sun position over Canyon in winter provides some of the most spectacular views. Oh, and yes, snow adds dramatic effect, as well. With any luck, there will be no blizzard or major weather event to impede our way. However, as fate would have it, at the time of this writing, the South Rim is expecting a storm to dump a foot of snow. With a week to go until our trip, we are now both a bit nervous about this trip and now wondering if we should develop a backup plan in case Mother Nature doesn't cooperate.
    Inexpensive flights to Phoenix were a consideration, as well, in our decision to visit Grand Canyon. We had racked up enough Southwest points between the two of us to fly free and couldn't pass up the opportunity to scratch another item off the travel bucket list.
    So it was decided. A five-day trip to the South Rim over winter break would give us the Grand Canyon experience we longed for. The flights were booked, and now we needed a place to stay. All the reviews suggested that a hotel in Flagstaff or Williams would be a convenient and affordable option. We were renting an SUV, after all, and had freedom to choose. Then I found it - the Grand Canyon hotel of my dreams - El Tovar Hotel, perched right there on the Canyon rim directly in in the national park. Can't get much closer than that! Grand, old-fashioned, a little rustic, and obscenely expensive, it was perfect. By flying free and doing one night at a cheap Priceline room for a night in Sedona at the end of the trip, we could definitely swing it!
    So, in just a week's time, if the weather gods are kind, we will be on our way to Phoenix.
    Stay tuned for my review when we return.
    Photo courtesy of Grand Canyon National Park
  22. Jan115
    y
    An engine fire ... a cruise ship dead in the sea without the power to provide the basic of needs. A pleasant ocean escape to the Caribbean becomes a bad cruise to nowhere. Such was the picture on board the Carnival Triumph on its 4-day sailing last week.
    The unpleasant details of life on board that cruise need not be repeated here. We've all seen the video footage and heard the news reports. When the disabled ship finally reached the dock in Mobile, Alabama, greeted by 200 Carnival personnel who would assist in getting the tired passengers home, TV cameras were on hand to fill us in with more images and interviews of anyone willing to talk, providing sensationalized news coverage at its best - playing off other people's misery. The sorry thing is that the general public sitting at home on their couch eats this stuff up, only encouraging more of this. Such is journalism, I guess.
    Who do I feel sorry for the most? The first-time cruiser. Imagine you're embarking on your first cruise. You've been on the fence for a long time about cruise travel, but you decide to make the leap, choosing a nice, short 4-day Caribbean cruise to get your feet wet, so to speak. You're all relaxed, you've found your way around the ship, having a great time, thinking - yeah- this is pretty nice. Suddenly, you learn that a small fire has broken out in the ship's engine room. Although it has been quickly contained, the fire has knocked out most of the electrical power to the ship. The vessel has crawled to a halt, aimlessly adrift, and you soon discover that there is no air conditioning, no running water, no working toilets, and no hot food. The ship is slowly being towed to dock in Mobile. It's an agonizingly slow process, with wind, sea currents and a busted tow line impeding the way. You are told it will take days to reach land. Gone is your dream cruise vacation. Instead, you find yourself on a floating sewage barge. Some first cruise. You tell yourself you should have trusted your instincts and picked that all-inclusive resort. Here, on this ship, there's no escape.
    Despite what some passengers have said to the contrary, Carnival seems to have fairly and adequately compensated its passengers. Each passenger was given a full refund, paid transportation home, and a future cruise credit. I don't know what else they could have done to satisfy their passengers, short of giving them a fully-paid cruise - on Carnival or any other line the customer chooses.
    The real shining stars of this cruise are the crew of Triumph. Stories abound of crew members who never ceased to smile, offered words of comfort, remained professional, and otherwise made the best of a bad situation. They are to be commended and, I hope, appropriately compensated for their efforts.
    The same cannot be said for Carnival. Assuring the safety and comfort of its paying customers is, or should be, the cruise line's #1 priority. Regrettably, Carnival dropped the ball on this one. It was unnecessary and inexcusable for cruise passengers to be exposed to the foul conditions caused by the power failure. It was reported at one point that there were five working toilets for 4,000 souls on board - far from comfortable.
    What could Carnival have done to better assist its passengers during this unfortunate journey, and what steps could the line take to prevent another incident like this in the future? Dare I say that some of the following suggestions may seem elementary and overly simplistic, but I can't help myself.
    Perhaps the cruise line should have reconsidered evacuation of passengers, even if some risk was involved. Surely, somewhere a ship could be found to make the transfer, at least giving passengers the option of getting away.
    Portable toilets. It sounds like a ridiculous idea onboard a mega ship, but I have to ask. Why don't cruise ships have a supply of porta potties stored away on board for emergencies such as this? Not possible? Drop 'em in by helicopter.
    Portable generators - huge ones. I don't pretend to know the inner workings of getting electrical power to all areas of the ship. I only know that when average Joe Homeowner has a power outage, he powers up his portable generator. There must be a large-scale way to do the same on a super-sized cruise ship.
    Lifeboats. Why are they there, if not for evacuation of cruise ship passengers. Bobbing at sea in a lifeboat at sea might be preferable to conditions on the ship - at least to some folks - no matter how risky it might be.
    Above all, an emergency back-up plan. With each new ship comes bigger sights, bigger sounds, bigger everything - requiring big power. It would seem that cruise lines would have in place adequate back-up power relative to the size of the ship it is selling to its customers.
    In the meantime, while the potential for litigation brews, investigation of Triumph's engines are under way. Reports of past engine problems have prompted discussions of whether or not the ship should have sailed in the first place. Time will tell. Just as the Costa Concordia forced changes to safety and security all throughout the cruise industry, so may Carnival re-examine its response to shipboard emergencies as relates to passenger safety and comfort. At least I would hope so.
    What about that first-time cruiser? Will he choose to cruise again, or has this hellish five-day cruise to nowhere turned him off to cruise vacations forever? If you were to pole the veteran cruisers on board that cruise, asking if they would continue to cruise, I would bet the majority would say "hell, yeah!" Hundreds of ships sail every year without a single major incident. Nevertheless, just like any other form of travel, incidents and accidents sometimes occur. Some of them may be simple annoyances, some may be terrible ordeals, and every now and then one may even result in fatality. Each one can be a learning experience for all involved. For the cruise line, it is a way to change, improve and correct that which is faulty.
    Just as the old hippy expression says: ***t happens. There is an abundance of seaworthy ships, and there are fascinating places to explore. Opportunities for new discoveries are as endless as the sea. So get back out there, trump the Triumph travesty, and choose to cruise!
    To read more of my personal cruise and travel stories, visit my blog: Seven Sea Journeys at CruiseCrazies.com
  23. Jan115
    Many of the places on our newly created bucket list involve land destinations, and I recently came to realize this could have serious implications on our quest to see the world before we die from the deck of a cruise ship. We may have to choose one or the other from time to time, dividing our time between land and sea, in order to fit everything in.
    So I thought I would use this opportunity to stage a different kind of comparison of cruise vacation vs. land vacation - a boxing match of sorts.
    I used to think I would be happy just traveling the world by cruise ship. After all, what could be better than sitting on my balcony as our floating chariot leads us to far away places. Then, in 2011, we gathered the entire family together and ventured to Portugal, the land of my husband's ancestors. His parents spent time there as children, and we thought it was far past time we made the journey. It was an incredible experience, renting a car and traveling all over the place, visiting the tiny rural village where his father was born, as well as the home where his mother spent her girlhood, its facade long abandoned and somewhat broken, but still standing.
    This made me think about other destinations in the world we have yet to see, particularly in our own country. Several days ago we returned from a week in Arizona, visiting Grand Canyon and Sedona, just a sampling of places we would like to see in this country before we're too old to enjoy them.
    The contenders in the ring will be my Ireland/Scotland cruise last summer ("Cruise") and a theoretical similar land tour of the same area ("Land"). The tourists in this bout will be a family of six in a rental vehicle - I call the family "ours", but it could be anybody's.

    Besides the obvious - the inability for a cruise ship to go far enough inland for, say, the Grand Canyon, here are some differences I've noticed in my own limited travel experience.
    We'll go five rounds.
    Round 1: The Journey
    Cruise: It's a very relaxing, picturesque ride around the Isles when the driving is left to our brave and noble captain. We lounge on our balcony watching the world go by. Family members are having fun exploring the ship.
    Land: Driving long distances can be tiring, not only for the driver but for weary passengers, as well, when confined to a car loaded with an excessive amount of luggage - not to mention the backseat driver who wants to control the driver and the kids whining "Are we there yet?"
    And the The Winner of Round 1 is: Cruise
    Round 2: Convenience
    Cruise: Our bags appear as if by magic at our cabin door on the first day. We unpack, lay our stuff out neatly in the drawers, making it a painless process to get dressed every day, and don't think about luggage until the end of our time at sea.
    Land: Each family member hauls their own over-stuffed bags into the rental car, where it is soon discovered there is not enough room for all this luggage in the trunk. Holy crap! Mom (yours truly) decides the only way to solve the problem is to toss out some of her least favorite articles of clothing, merge the rest with everyone else's stuff, and leave the excess bag behind, asking the hotel clerk to kindly do what they will with it. We schlepp our luggage in and out of each hotel along the way. Certain members of the family have organized each day's outfit into plastic baggies for easy management. The rest of us go on a daily fishing expedition.
    And the Winner of Round 2 is: Cruise
    Round 3: Bang for our Buck
    Cruise: For one price, we get our transportation, meals, entertainment, on-board activity, recreation, atmosphere, fresh air, a daily change of scenery, a new place to land our feet every day, and a room with a view (a window at the very least will be required for that last one). The best part? Everybody in our party can pretty much do and eat where they want, choosing from the obscene number of dining and entertainment options on board.
    Land: The package put together by the travel agent might include air, hotels and a rental car, but that's about it. Or you might try to be creative and piece your own vacation puzzle together. Either way, be prepared to dish out lots of British pounds or Euros for bangers & mash, haggis, Irish stew, fish & chips, and all that Guinness you'll drink. And don't forget the park and castle entrance fees. Oh, and that part in the cruise where everyone goes there own way? No way. Since there is only the one car, we are all forced to stick together like glue, and we all must mutually decide on a place to eat, which can be a bit challenging when Dad wants a big juicy steak, and Junior wants a Happy Meal.
    And the Winner of Round 3 is: Cruise
    Round 4: The Sites
    Cruise: The ship will take us to different fabulous ports throughout the sea journey, where we can get a brief look at the city or town it covers, from several hours to a full day - and occasionally an overnight in each port. Planning ahead is important in order to make the best of the limited time in port. A couple of hours may be fine for one port, and not nearly enough for another.
    Land: Freedom is the word here. It's our itinerary, created by us, and we can plan it any way we want. We're not on someone else's schedule (unless, of course, your husband runs a tight ship with everyone on his schedule). We can choose to spend three days in a city to get a real flavor of it, an overnight in another, an hour or two at an Irish pub, or simply pass through town. With a car, we can go anywhere, whenever we want. This is very important when visiting a destination with a particular purpose in mind, i.e. family heritage.
    And the Winner of Round 4 is: Land
    Round 5: Freedom
    Cruise: There is nothing that says we need to get off the ship when it docks in a port in the itinerary. If we feel like staying on board, we may even have the pool to ourselves. If we prefer to do nothing, we can take comfort in the fact that no one will think less of us. We are are on a cruise, and that's what we paid for. Have we ever stayed on board in lieu of visiting a port? No. The world is too big and time is too short to ignore a destination. But it's still an option.
    Land: The whole family is packed into the car, we've paid good money to see SOMETHING and are going to have to drive to get to the places we came to see. No, there will be no "doing nothing" on this land tour. We're on a mission. We have a lot to see and limited time to see it.
    And the Winner of Round 5 is: Cruise
    There you have it. The Cruise has taken the championship title, just as I knew it would.
    Will this stop us from vacationing by land? No, of course not. Land vacations still have their special place in the world of travel, especially since the kids are grown, and it's just the two of us now. It just means that we now make sure the rental car is the right size for our luggage!
    Do I still prefer cruising? Absolutely!
    To read more of my personal cruise and travel stories, visit my blog: Seven Sea Journeys at CruiseCrazies.com
  24. Jan115
    First of all, welcome! Over the past years of cruise and land travel, I have had many "if-only" moments. If only I had reserved that excursion ahead of time, or if only I remembered to pack my water shoes. I have also gathered many helpful hints and much welcomed advice from experienced cruisers I've met over the years. I thought it would be great to have a blog or column just to share some of these morsels of knowledge with my fellow travelers.
    Some of the travel tips I share here will seem obvious to seasoned travelers, who will be thinking - "yeah, no kidding - I knew that already." Please be patient. My goal is to offer advice to young people just beginning their traveling adventures or new cruisers embarking on an ocean journey for the first time. If my well-traveled friends learn something new in the process, or perhaps a refresher of something old and familiar, all the better!
    Feel free to respond or offer feedback. This is a community - that's why we're here!
    And so ... my first and probably best tip to begin this blog:
    Have a Great Cruise - But Don't Expect Perfection.
    Stuff happens. No vacation is perfect. Sometimes a meal might not be cooked to perfection. Or an evening show proves to be less than entertaining. Or your toilet clogs up. When I read poor or scathing passenger reviews of cruises, they are more often than not from first-time cruisers with unreasonably high expectations and ill prepared. Other times they seem to have been voiced by chronically picky people or folks who just like to hear themselves complain. Do your homework, learn about the cruise line, the ship and the destination. When choosing your cruise, make sure you and your ship are a good match. If you don't like crowds, long lines and belly-flop contests, pick a smaller ship with a more sedate crowd. Likewise, if you find sitting in a chair and staring out at the sea beyond boring (is that even possible?), pick a super mega-ship with non-stop entertainment. Most of all, be prepared for anything, and approach any mishaps with a positive attitude and calm demeanor. You and everyone around you will be much happier, resulting in a better cruise experience.
  25. Jan115
    Don't pay $4.00 for that bottle of water the crew will try to sell you at the gangway to your awaiting excursion. Even worse, don't be an environmental hog and bring a huge case of water from home, like I've seen some people do. It's wasteful, and those bottles are bad for the environment. Instead, go green! Pack a reusable water bottle and fill it in your stateroom sink before you head out for the day. Don't worry. The ship's water supply is purified, perfectly safe to drink, and tastes as good as any bottled water. For some occasional variety and flavor, mix in a travel packet of Crystal Light. It's much easier and less expensive than packing cases of soda - and less environmentally wasteful, too!
    For more ways to save money on your cruise, visit my article: 10 Ways to Avoid Getting Nickel & Dimed on Your Cruise
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