A Somewhat Belated Report on My Trip
I have been home eleven days now but a raft of issues, and other more urgent posts 🤣, have prevented me from getting around to mentioning this subject.
The trip was by car to Florida for a small boat coastal cruise. The reason for going by car. and not flying, was to stop and visit in Florida and Alabama on the return.
The trip went well. Gone 20 days overall – just over 3,000 miles driven in about 7 days of driving. Eight days were on the boat and 5 days were spent visiting. Since I had a definite date I had to arrive for the cruise departure, I was EXTREMELY concerned about possible winter weather impacts on the first part of the trip. I had a plan to leave early if the weather dictated. Ultimately it did not.
Having lived in Florida for 13 years, the cruise did not go anywhere new. I have just fallen in love with small boat cruises and wanted to try this other company. Roughly 200 passengers on the ship. Large rooms (by cruise standards, 300 square feet), all with verandas. It was an all inclusive deal - no tipping, no drink packages, no hidden fees, no picture sales, no casinos, nightly entertainment, and even an included excursion (or two) at each port. (Though they did offer premium ones as well.) I liked it, but it WAS a bit pricey!
One particularly funny story from cruise:
It occurred on evening of Friday the 13th (OF COURSE). The young blond cruise director, Shelly, was giving her nightly briefing on events for the next day. To say she was relentlessly perky would be an understatement – she must have been on drugs! Anyway, in the course of her briefing she says “And of course tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. In case you overlooked this, I will have a love making area set up in the Deck 1 kiosk for you to use.â€
DEAD SILENCE from the crowd. Then she realizes what she said. Attempting to regain her composure she eventually gets out “I meant a love NOTE making kiosk!†🤣 The next evening they had some else making the announcements. He reported that Shelly was suspended pending review of her actions the previous day. (NOT true, just continuing on with the joke.)
What percentage additional are you willing to pay for a no hassle experience?
Got any other small boat cruise itineraries for me? (Done the Mississippi and Alaska Inner Passage, and the Columbia River area, though that was by car.)
What is the most embarrassing thing you have witnessed of late?
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I think all cruises should be all inclusive. Not that I have ever been on any cruise, LOL.
Embarrassing - I went head down, feets up at my eyelash appt. Funny and terrifying all at once, LOL.
Hugs!!
You'd make an ideal travel partner.
WTF? I think you need a post to explain that last part!
Drink packages on cruises are outrageously expensive. I really did enjoy the lifestyle cruise I went on a few years ago.
Oh dang, an all inclusive, small boat lifestyle / clothing optional, cruise would be my ultimate life experience for sure! Care to search for one of US?
I had not heard of these small boat cruises. I think I would like that, and with everything all inclusive, that's my kind of trip. I may look into one of these, especially the Alaska one. Hmmm...and the retirement planning is moving right along.
Sound like your trip was a good one...both on and off the boat.
OMG the Alaska one was so great! Inner Passage - Sitka to Vancouver. Technically it was an "expedition" cruise, as opposed to a "leisure" one, so had LOTS of Zodiac and kayaking trips, all included of course.
I've never experienced hassles when traveling so ... I'd pay nothing additional.
You could try a Great Lakes cruise or New England.
I saw a St. Lawrence / NE trip that I REALLY liked, but holy crap is made this one look cheap. 😮
As I get older (and my retirement savings continue to grow haha!) I've discovered I'm willing to pay quite a bit for comfort and convenience. I think most people would gasp at what I paid for plane tickets to Africa in August (not going to say, just like you didn't reveal the price of your cruise).
I've been on a couple of small ship cruises and really enjoyed them - 90 person ship and 50 person ship. Although on the latter, I was in one of the "single" cabins and it was pretty subpar. Anyway, Grand Circle / Overseas Adventure travel have a number of small ship cruises; you might want to check out their site. I particularly enjoyed one that started in Barcelona and circled Spain to Lisbon.
You and me both on the "no hassles" girlie! Though the accounts probably are not growing after this week. 🤣 (I didn't look, and never do, except once a month when the statements come in).
OOHHH, thanks for the small boat company tips!
How about a Caribbean cruise? I've never been on a cruise.
Flown several times to some of the islands for a week or so stay. Did a multi-island cruise on a big ship too - and that is how I know I like the smaller ones!! 😀 A small ship cruise to some of the lesser-known islands might be fun though.