By Sharon Whitley Larsen
"It forces you to relax."
That's how Ron James sums up cruising — especially cruises with several consecutive sea days or trans-Atlantic crossings. And he should know. He and his wife, Mary — publishers and editors of Wine, Dine and Travel and contributors to Fodor's and Cruise Critic — take several cruises a year. Based in Escondido, California, they have cruised the world and have been on five TA cruises.
Recently my husband, Carl, and I joined our cruise buddies, the Jameses, for another TA crossing, this time on the Celebrity Silhouette from Rome to Florida, including stops in France and Spain. Of 2,735 passengers, 2,285 were from the United States, and six passengers were 100 years old!
No matter what age or whether passengers travel with families, friends or solo, cruises offer something for everyone. Kitty Morse, a cookbook author from Vista, California, who recently took her first cruise, agrees.
"My 92-year-old mother wanted just one thing," she said: "to take a cruise. I had my doubts as to the 'fun' quotient of such a trip, but I relented for my mother's sake. What a pleasant surprise! Our seven-day Alaska cruise was a delight for me and for her. This was not a cruise for 'old people' but for travelers of all ages, from babies to nonagenarians. The activities on board were geared to all age groups, the food was very good, the staff extremely solicitous and the sights extraordinary. My mother wants to go on another sea voyage. So off we go leafing through new cruise brochures!"
Carl and I have also cruised gorgeous Alaska waters, as well as the Arctic Circle, Australia's Gold Coast, Norway's fjords, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean. We also went through the Panama Canal and went round-trip from San Diego to Hawaii. Our cruises have ranged from five nights to 27. We'll soon be on our 16th cruise, on the Celebrity Solstice for 18 nights from Auckland, New Zealand, to Perth, Australia.
Some 11 million U.S. passengers cruised in 2014. To me it's magical to step on board a ship and be handed a glass of welcoming champagne. After Carl and I toast this new sea adventure, we head to the library to grab any good books. We always carry our own, as well, to read and leave behind for other passengers. Many passengers still carry books even though others prefer Kindles. We also like to schedule a spa treatment (discounted on port days). I love massages and facials, especially while gazing at the calm, blue ocean.
These days there are some good cruise deals — especially repositioning cruises — found via travel agents, Crucon.com, TravelZoo.com, etc. We figure if you can book a cabin for about $100 per person per day, that is a great deal. Where else, for that price, can you have room and board, all the wonderful food you can eat, twice-daily housekeeping service, nightly Vegas-style entertainment and transportation to enchanting ports of call — and with no luggage fees or weight limitations? There are also children's and teens' centers for daily activities.
We also enjoy the onboard lectures, which have included Behind-the-Scenes of the White House, Popular Hollywood Films, entertaining talks by the captain — even standing-room-only in the theater to learn more about the Titanic. We've loved touring the bridge, massive galley and theater backstage. And we have been blown away by the musical entertainment.
"If you're bored on a cruise, then it's your own fault," I once overheard someone say. And how true that is. You can do as much or as little as you like, including taking classes on various topics. Activities are listed in the newsletter left in your cabin each evening.
For lunch Carl and I like to have a cheeseburger or turkey burger from the barbecue grill near the pool deck — or eat a healthy lunch at the nearby spa — then head to a lounge chair to read and relax or sit in the hot tub.
Normally we have had early or late-seating dinners (we like to bond with our table mates and make new friends), but lately we've been signing up for Select Dining, when we can choose any time between 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. That has worked out well, too, so we don't feel rushed to get ready for dinner after a shore excursion or can choose to see the early or late theater show. And we can arrange to sit with the same friends if we like. Specialty Dining is also nice for a nominal fee (about $25 to $40 per person) in one of the restaurants, which range from Italian to steakhouse, to celebrate a special occasion or just to have a more private experience.
We love the nightly Captain's Club — a great place to meet other veteran cruisers and to swap stories. This is a perk on many cruise lines for loyal cruisers, with free drinks and appetizers.
"It doesn't get better than this," I said to Carl one evening as we clinked our wine glasses to toast and gazed at the gorgeous orange sunset on the horizon.
We prefer having a balcony, especially on the sunny side of the ship. Until our most recent cruise, we used room service only on mornings when we had to arise early for a shore excursion. But on our last TA cruise, with seven sea days, we ordered room service a few times for lunch and dinner to enjoy our balcony more. There's nothing I like better than sitting on the balcony, listening to the roar of the ocean as it laps against the ship. I love to read, watch for dolphins and sunbathe. It's my own little piece of paradise.
And we've met many friends from other countries, including Australia, England and South Africa, with whom we still keep in touch. Margaret and Bob Matvejev from Sydney, Australia, were our dining table mates during our 12-night Australian Gold Coast cruise. They have taken one or two cruises a year over the past decade.
"We love it," Margaret said, noting that after their first two Mediterranean cruises, "we caught the bug, becoming confirmed cruisers." The cruising couple has also taken trans-Atlantic cruises, as well as cruises including the Baltic, the Bahamas, Panama Canal, Middle East, the Norwegian fjords and Alaska. Their Alaska cruise remains one of their favorites.
"Visions of glaciers, bears, otters, riding the White Pass Rail from Skagway up the mountain to the Canadian border — the quaint towns of Juneau and Ketchikan were just so different from our Australian scenery.
"More and more cruise liners are making their way to Australia now," Margaret added. "Australians are discovering the joys of cruising and all its benefits."
Some cruise ships, she pointed out, "have been converted to Australian electrical voltage on board to accommodate us Aussies and our gadgets."
The Matvejevs' next cruise will be with their sons' families and grandchildren around the South Pacific.
Above all, Margaret emphasized the positive aspects of cruising.
"You only need to unpack once, everything is done for you by wonderful people working on board, no housework, no cooking. The entertainment is first-class; meals are delicious, with multiple dining choices; bars and lounges are great places to relax; and planned shore excursions are excellent ways to see the sights of the places visited. "What more would you want or need?"
WHEN YOU GO
Celebrity Cruises: www.celebritycruises.com
Cruise Critic: www.cruisecritic.com
TravelZoo: www.travelzoo.com
Wine, Dine and Travel: www.winedineandtravel.com
Sharon Whitley Larsen is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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