I Miss Cruising and Can't Wait to Cruise Again!

 

It has been about 2 ½ years since my last cruise. The withdrawal is killing me! I can’t take it much longer….I need to get onboard a ship soon!  We’ve actually started traveling again, and in June spent two weeks driving, hiking and flying around Alaska.  It was absolutely wonderful, however it didn’t quench my desire for an extended stay at sea aboard one of my many favorite cruise ships. For me it’s all about the ship experience.  Here’s what I miss most.

These days I’ve been practicing intermittent fasting, so there’s been no breakfast for me.  But on a cruise vacation I abandon self-denial dieting. I can’t wait to sit down in the dining room each morning to a full breakfast.  Pancakes with warm syrup and crispy bacon, eggs benedict accompanied by golden brown toast and fresh squeezed juice or maybe Belgian waffles topped with blueberries, strawberries and a dollop of fresh whip cream! Cappuccino to replace my usual cup of quickly brewed coffee from my Keurig! Ah….

I want to sit on my balcony, the horizon stretching across my field of vision, listening to the water lapping against the ship.  I never tire of the awe and wonder that comes over me when I realize that I’m just this little blip of nothingness in this vast ocean!  And that crisp, briny smell in the air! Being at sea is just good for my soul. Even in chilly weather it’s so nice to sit out there wrapped in a blanket!

 

Bucket List Cruises: Asia

 

Asia has long been on my travel bucket list. But how do you begin to plan an itinerary that encompasses such a huge area?  One solution is cruising.  There are many options as far as cruise lines to sail with, length of sailing, and of course there are many ports of calls spread out between many countries. Let me share with you why an Asia cruise made my bucket-list.

 Southeast Asia is packed with ancient forts, historic cities, and towering temples. With the wide range of religions in Asia, (Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism & Islam to name a few), there’s impressive architecture all around. Temples and worship sites incorporate the influence of nature, even being carved as tunnels out of mountainsides. Most of Southeast Asia’s great temples were built by the 13th century! There are the pagodas of Bagan in Myanmar, the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and thousands of ancient temples and war relics in Vietnam.

Bucket List Cruises: The Galapagos Islands & Machu Picchu

 

The Galapagos Islands is on my cruise bucket-list destination for good reason: This archipelago 620 miles off Ecuador’s coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site (both land and sea are protected) and served as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. And when I found out Celebrity Cruises had a land extension package to Peru which included Machu Picchu I was doubly excited!

 There is so much to do on a Galapagos Island cruise vacation.  Hiking, bird watching, beach snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba diving immediately come to mind. But I confess, the biggest reason for why I want visit the Galapagos Islands is definitely to see the animals! Most of those animals in the Galapagos Islands can only ever be found on these islands.

 The Galápagos sea lion is a species of sea lion that breeds on the islands. They’re pretty social critters and are often spotted sun-bathing on sandy shores or rock groups or swimming through the surf. I’ve heard them called the unofficial welcoming party of the Galapagos Islands!

Bucket List Cruises; South Africa

 

With travel at an almost standstill since March of 2020, I’ve done a lot of dreaming of faraway lands.

There has been plenty of time for my husband and I to fine tune our travel wish-list, and with cruising being our preferred type of vacation, we came up with our top bucket list cruises.

 Norwegian Cruise Line has made the top of my list with their 12-night Norwegian Jade cruise departing from Cape Town. I love having the opportunity to explore a portion of this exotic continent and still being able to return to the comfort of this beautiful ship. This cruise lets me check-off everything on my South Africa to-do list; wine tasting, safari and beach time. 

The Celebrity Retreat Experience

 

For suite guests aboard a Celebrity Cruise Line ship, the Retreat offers a vacation experience that rivals any high-end resort.

The exclusivity of the Retreat experience becomes apparent as soon as you arrive at the cruise terminal.There is a reserved pre-boarding area for expedited, escorted service onto the ship, and a personal butler waiting for you to do your unpacking. But if you’d rather not have a stranger going through your suitcase, no worries, that’s not all your butler does. He can arrange to have dinner delivered to your suite, will expertly serve it, course by course, and even prepare a complimentary espresso or cappuccino. Now that I like! I’ll have mine on the balcony, please.

Playing the Waiting Game until My Next Cruise

 

It has been well over a year since I boarded a cruise ship to sail away on vacation! Gosh I miss it! Waking up every morning in a different city or island, gourmet dining, an evening show…I know, I know, you’re feeling it too! Aside from scrolling through the Direct Line Cruises website for future itineraries, here’s what I’ve been up to while playing the waiting game.   

I have become an armchair travel.  I’ve always been a voracious reader and now I let every book I read whisk me away to some wonderful foreign destination.  Within the last months I’ve been to Barbados, (“The Summer Country” by Lauren Willig), an island off the coast of Ireland (“The Guest List” by Lucy Foley), Australia (“ Exiles” by Christina Baker Kline), India (“Mother Land” by Leah Franqui) and Cuba (“When we Left Cuba” by Chanel Cleeton). That is just a sampling of a very long list. Not quite the same as being there, but almost as enjoyable, though in quite a different way.

Ready to Cruise?

 

I don’t know about you but I’m sick and tired of mourning the vacations I had planned but never happened in 2020. The two weeks in June that were to be spent wandering through the small towns in France and the fall cruise to the Mediterranean that was not to be,  left me with travel funds that are itching to be spent!

 Then I caught the new commercial released by NorwegianCruise Line that uses the song by Queen, “I Want to Break Free,” (so apropos…if you haven’t seen it you can check it out on YouTube). The spot acknowledges some of the realities that COVID inflicted on our lives, but then looks ahead, raising hopes of cruising in 2021.

 That was the push I needed. I was on my computer almost immediately booking cruises for the new year! I now have a trip to Alaska planned for June as well as a cruise to Norway, and another to the British Isles in the fall.  And I am not the only one who was ready to take action.  In the office this weekend the phone was ringing literally non-stop! It was a pleasure listening to our sales agents chat about their favorite destinations as clients planned their future cruise vacations.

 So what about you?  Are you ready to turn the page on 2020 and plan your next cruise vacation? 

The Newly Renovated Norwegian Spirit

The Norwegian Spirit has undergone a $100 million renovation as part of The Norwegian Edge program, designed to update and elevate the standard of the fleet.

I love the variety of restaurants on a Norwegian ship but the Spirit was definitely lacking in this area.  It’s good to hear they added additional complimentary dining venues such as another main dining room, Taste; the 24-hour eatery, The Local Bar and Grill; the all-day dining outlet, Garden Café; the Great Outdoors Bar; and Waves Pool Bar. I was particularly excited to see the addition of the specialty restaurant Onda by Scarpetta (Onda, which is Italian for “wave,” will combine a classic approach to old-world fare, including using in-house-made pasta, with its own signature seafood dishes, to offer a new take on Italian cuisine).

Why Reef-Safe Sunscreen Is Important

Reef-safe sunscreen…I keep hearing about these products but I admit, until I started to get ready for my upcoming Caribbean vacation, I never really gave it my full attention. So I started Googling the term and what I discovered was a bit alarming!

I read that up to 6,000 tons of sunscreen (the equivalent of 25 million bottles) are estimated to wash off human bodies and into coral reefs around the globe each year.  And yes, that’s a big problem!  It seems that some of the ingredients in sunscreen may damage the world’s coral reef systems and other more!

Azamara... When Luxury Does Not Mean Stuffy

I had begun to plan a cruise with a friend of mine and we were discussing the cruise lines that offered a particular itinerary we were interested in. I recommended Azamara, a favorite of mine.  Her response made me chuckle when she said her husband wouldn’t be comfortable on a luxury cruise line. It was funny because the reality of it was that her and her husband couldn’t be a better match for an Azamara cruise!  It’s all about how you define luxury.

Some people equate luxury with glitz, caviar champagne and a butler!  But each luxury cruise line will have a distinctive personality, and while this may define some cruise lines, it certainly does not represent all them all! Most cruise lines, including Azamara, will share other characteristics that define them as luxury cruises without all the over-the-top amenities. Luxury can mean a smaller ship with a greater staff to passenger ratio and therefore a more personalized onboard experience. Taking the onboard experience a bit further, the entertainment may be more sophisticated with more guest lecturers, learning experiences and seminars. Luxury lines give a more inclusive experience generally including gratuities, beverage packages and sometimes shore excursions.  The cruise itineraries tend to offer longer stays in ports that the larger ships don’t even visit. 

2 Scoops of Oceania's "Regatta Royale" Please

You scream, I scream…we all scream for ice cream!  Especially when it’s the handmade, unique flavors of Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream, and served onboard your Oceania cruise!

Oceania is partnering with California-based, small-batch brand Ice Cream Humphry Slocombe,a leader in cutting-edge flavors and uncompromising quality. And what flavors!!!! There’s "Secret Breakfast" (bourbon ice cream and cornflake cookies); "Toast & Jam" (brown-butter ice cream, jam swirl and pieces of brioche); and "Harvey Milk & Honey Graham" (raw Pacific Northwest blackberry honey and house-made graham crackers). In addition, the offerings will include a custom flavor collaboration inspired by the sea… “Regatta Royale” (bittersweet dark fruity chocolate with orange zest and smoked sea salt).

All of the Humphry Slocombe's ice cream flavors available at sea will be made fresh daily. The new ice cream debuts in February aboard Oceania's Marina and Riviera, and will roll out fleetwide by May.

Celebrity Cruises Let’s You Extend Your Stay

Would you pay to extend your stay aboard a Celebrity ship for half a day? Well, it’s now an option on cruises from Port Everglades as well as select European sailings.

 

Guests still have to disembark (as late as 9 AM), go through customs, and move their luggage to a holding area.   A Celebrity representative will then escort them back on board to enjoy some extra hours in the public areas.  The guests will no longer have access to a cabin but they can lounge at the pool with a Bloody Mary or mimosa, as the classic beverage package is included in the extension price!

This option is a wonderful alternative to hanging out at the airport all day when you have a late flight. The price of the Celebrity “Extend Your Stay” package is $79 per adult (but remember, that price includes the classic beverage package) and $39 per child. So what do you say, would you pay to extend your stay?

New Cruise Ships Debuting in 2020

Looking to book on the newest ship cruising the deep blue sea? Here are your choices for 2020 and some of what makes them special.

Carnival CruiseLine: Mardi Gras    Coming in November (5,280-passengers)

·         First-at-sea roller coaster that zooms around 800 feet of track at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour on the ship's top deck -- including a hairpin turn that whips around the vessel's funnel

·         Suites-only enclave (dubbed "Excel")

Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Apex   Coming in April (2,910-passenger)

·         First-for-the-line solo cabins

·         Bi-level villas with their own outdoor plunge pools

Crystal Cruises: Crystal Endeavor     Coming in August (200-passengers)

·         A one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio

·         A fleet of zodiacs, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards

Princess Cruises Wants to Break Record for Largest Vow-Renewal Ceremony

I post this because I am a hopeless romantic. I believe in love at first sight. I am known to cry at movies, at songs, and yes, even at commercials. I believe in “happily ever after.” The Love Boat was my favorite television show during my “coming of age” years. And that is why I’m so excited about

this….

Some time ago Princess Cruises announced that it will host the largest renewal of vows ceremony at sea, in hopes to set a world record onboard a Valentine’s Day cruise. Gavin MacLeod, who portrayed Captain Stubing, will officiate and Jill Whelan, his television daughter Vicki, will serve as matron of honor,  hosting the ceremony onboard Regal Princess, setting sail February 9-16, 2020.

Azamara Expands World Wildlife Fund Partnership

Azamara has announce an expanded partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, the world's leading conservation organization, through a program called People to Planet Voyages and Excursions.  Both are such exciting additions I can only hope I will have the chance to experience them for myself!

People to Planet Voyages: Launching in early 2021, the cruise line will offer six conservation-themed voyages in South Africa. With the intention of inspiring personal commitment and environmental conservation, onboard programming will feature WWF experts discussing topics such as sustainable agriculture, conservation champion wine farms, water resources, food elements, sustainability and wildlife. In addition, professionals will be integrated into a multitude of activities onboard, which range from hosting an interactive Chef's table – where guests can savor the intimate unforgettable journey through five beautifully presented South Africa themed dishes, to conducting WWF-themed trivia sessions throughout the voyage. Paying homage to Azamara's dedication to Destination Immersion® experiences, guests can indulge in the daily "South African dish of the day" at one of the onboard restaurants.

Stocking Stuffers for the Cruiser

I love shopping for and opening up stocking stuffers!  And when they're something useful, all the better! This list of suggested gifts is the result of a poll of Direct Line Cruises staffers.

Luggage Tag Holder

Plastic luggage tag holders come in different shapes and sizes depending on the cruise line.  Amazon has a great selection.

Sunblock

Sold year round in the supermarket or neighborhood drug store it’s quick and easy to pick up. Might as well throw in a SPF 30 lip balm while you’re at it.

Portable Charger

Good to have when you’re in port all day taking pics with your phone or using google maps.  Nobody wants their cell phone to die halfway through the day.

Lounge Chair Clips

Either poolside or at the beach these colorful clips keep your towel from blowing away, plus, they make your lounge chair easy to identify.

MSC Cruises Announces an Accessible Tours Program

MSC Cruises announced that they will roll out an accessible shore excursions program with tours available in 20 destinations across the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

These MSC  tours and excursions have been created with careful consideration for safety and accessibility, allowing all guests to explore each destination in total comfort, guaranteeing that:

• Tour routes are completely step-free

• Accessible to wheelchairs wherever possible

• Only short distances are covered

• Timings are run at a slower pace

• Accessible restrooms with wide doors are planned along the route

What’s Cookin’ in Carnival’s Kitchen?

Carnival Cruise Line has announced plans to debut a new hands-on culinary experience called Carnival Kitchen on the new Carnival Panorama when she launches in December. I have to be honest, I was a bit surprised! Cooking classes are an activity I equate with other cruise lines …like Holland America… not Carnival. But after thinking about it a bit longer I'm now thinking, wow I love that idea!  Why not?

The Carnival Kitchen program will offer more than 15 classes, mostly during sea days. Each class can hold up to 18 guests, and the price will range between $30 and $59. Sample Carnival Kitchen offerings will include:

Reasons to Arrive to Your Cruise a Day Early

Maybe I’m just a Nervous Nellie, but the thought of flying to my cruise embarkation port on the day of the cruise causes me to break into a cold sweat! I think all the agents here at Direct Line Cruises will always advise their clients to do the same thing. Here’s why…

Flight Delays

Possible flight delays are probably the number one reason to always try to arrive to your cruise port city early, preferable the day before.  I know it’s not my imagination in thinking that these days that flight delays are more prevalent than ever before. My husband flies domestically every week and I have become accustomed to text alerts from the airlines notifying me that his flight has been delayed…or worse, canceled. Best solution is to book your flight for a day earlier than your cruise. Then you are essentially building a buffer against the chaos flight postponements or cancellations can cause.

Family Reunions at Sea

You can’t flip your calendar over to November without thinking about the family gatherings ahead. Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends! There’s no better time to suggest a family reunion and no better place to hold a family reunion than on a cruise ship. There are so many reasons why multigenerational cruising has never been more popular!

Economically speaking, cruising is a good fit for all budgets because there are so many variables that allow you to tailor the pricing to your group, allowing more people to attend. Since your choice of cruise line, departure port and cruise length will all affect pricing you can adjust these variables to find the perfect itinerary that everyone can afford. Plus, the inclusive nature of a cruise helps keep everyone on budget. There are no worries about who is going to pay for this dinner or that activity, given that almost all meals, entertainment and activities are included in the basic fare.