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!

 

Cruising is the only excuse I ever have for “dressing up” (although I can’t help but notice how casual cruising is becoming). Particularly after the past year, I am more than willing to put aside my jeans and joggers for a sundress and strappy sandals. I still enjoy a night or two in a pretty cocktail dress and a pair of heels, alongside my husband looking so handsome in his sports jacket. 

I can't wait for a week of leisurely dining, trying new foods and new flavors.  Isn't it amazing how we can enjoy our "Americanized" version of a country's food, but then eat it when it's prepared by a  native chef from that country, it tastes totally different! Afterwards there is the evening's live entertainment.  Maybe a big production shows, a pianist in a lounge, a vocalist singing the standards or pop music… Is there anything better than a 3-course dinner and a show!  Oh, how I miss that!

 Lastly, I miss cruising because I miss my fellow-travelers! Our last cruise was on Azamara and we met the most wonderful people! People that were so well-traveled and so interesting to talk with! Just good conversation swapping travel stories and reflections from the day in port, told over a glass of wine in one of the many cozy corners of a ship lounge. Tales that have made us laugh or made us cry, recommendations that have caused us to reorder our bucket list…An evening with like-minded travelers, many that become life-long friends.

 Oh, how I miss cruising! I can’t wait to cruise again.