Planning a Cruise and Vacations can be taxing. If you have never been on a cruise, Good luck. The choices are endless. The prices go from high to low. The destinations are almost totally unlimited. And advice is also unlimited.
I will try to keep my advice here to factual, although I am partial to cruises. I’ll say that right upfront. And why not? It is so all-inclusive. You have a hotel with a fine bed, a very fine restaurant, and buffets with almost 24-hour food service. You also have nightly entertainment and daytime ports for sightseeing, with transportation provided. And shopping right on board at your fingertips. There are gyms and swimming pools onboard and beaches at the ports of call. What is missing???
Missing is the endless hours of driving from place to place on a road trip. Missing is the time spent looking for lodging for the night. Missing is the search for an edible meal at unknown restaurants. Missing is the hours you spend looking for an attraction listed in the guidebook only to find it closed or sold out.
Am I sounding bias? I admit I am. I’ve done my share of road trips and I’ve done 22 cruises. With the cruises, I can put my feet up and leave everything else to the staff on the gorgeous cruise liner. I leave the “driving” to them. And I promise you, the staff will spoil you 100%.
CRUISES
Choosing a Cruise Line
The choices are endless, so you need to take a deep breath and first decide on a Cruise Line. They tend to run from elegant to casual. So what is the difference? On an elegant line, there are more formal (tuxedo and long gown) affairs. The restaurant will be 5-star equivalent although I have never had a bad mean on any ship. The nighttime entertainers and entertainment will be more sophisticated – maybe even down to pianists and violinists. Like going 5-star to in New York City or London. Holland America is one of the more formal lines.
On the more casual lines, suits and ties will not be required for every meal, although you may have a more formal night or two. Think of them as beach cottages on the sea. Things will be much more relaxed. Onboard activities may include water slides and pool activities. There will be discos for nighttime drinking and dancing. Carnival is a very relaxed line.
Also, the ages of the ship can warrant a look. Some of the really old ones are still very beautiful with their traditional maritime decor and furnishings. And the older ones tend to be smaller, ie fewer passengers.
My first cruise was on Holland America on a mid-size ship. I stayed with HAL for most of my cruises although I did try some others only to come back to HAL. However, as the years passed, their ships got larger and the number of passengers increased. I really liked the smaller ones better.
Chosing a Destination
I don’t think there is a bad destination as far as cruising goes, however, there is a whole array of destinations to consider. There is the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, New England, and Canada, Hawaii, and also European Destination. Do you want sightseeing or swimming and beach time? What time of year do you want to go? Alaska in the summer, the Caribbean in summer. I did New England and Canada one fall, but weather tended to interfere with our ports, so there is that to consider.
And of Course Price is always part of the Decision
One thing to remember with the price is that the cost of the port excursions is usually not usually included in the price of the cruise. Also, the cost of beverages (alcohol and soft drinks) is not included in the basic cruise price and can add up quickly. Even soft drinks can add up quickly. Just beware. Also, consider the season when looking at the lowest prices. You don’t want to save a few dollars and spend your whole trip onboard with rain and bad weather. An occasional rainy day is unavoidable, but not the whole week.
LAND TRIPS
Length and Destination
When planning this type of trip, you have several choices. Do you want to drive or fly to a destination and then stay there for several days? Or do you want to drive several days to and thru National Parks etc? Or are you just looking for Day trips? Day trips are my favorite here in Arizona and I have written several pages about trips and destinations here in this state. And also about fishing here in Arizona. Longer driving trips in CA were also enjoyable, where we drove a day to Yosemite, stayed a night, saw the sights, and then returned home. I also once did one from Northern CA through Yosemite and then south to Los Angeles for Disneyland and then back up the coast over the 17-mile drive in Monterey before getting home.
Cost of Land Trips
Determining the cost of land trips can be difficult because there are so many unknowns. The price of gasoline may vary from one location to another. The price of lodging will vary depending upon availability. And the price of meals will always be a large variable.
Conclusion Cruise and Vacations
So wherever your travels take you, I hope you enjoy the planning as much as the trip itself. I wish you a very happy, relaxing time away from home and wish you a safe return.
