Wednesday, November 11, 2009…My Equinox diary Today is Veteran’s Day (celebrated as Remembrance Day in the UK). There were a few observances on board the Celebrity Equinox. There was a memorial service in the morning which about 300 passengers attended, followed by a reception for veterans and then a moment of silence for the entire ship. It was nice to see that the special day did not go by unnoticed. I took some time off for myself …
Tuesday, November 10, 2009…My Equinox diary Today was our first full day at sea and it was lovely not to have to go anywhere or be anywhere. Almost everyone we talked with said they really had taken it easy today, resting, reading, napping or whatever. There was a huge roster of activities offered but Chet and I did only one of them. We played Jackpot Bingo, which we find to be fun and often we win something. …
Monday, November 9, 2009…My Equinox diary (I was unable to post this yesterday because the internet connection was down so I am catching up today.) So what happens when a shore excursion goes awry? Today we were in Cartegena, Spain. I didn’t know much about this port on the Costa del Sol and only three shore excursions were offered (not enough for 2,800 passengers). So we chose the trip to Elche and the Palm Tree Park ($57 …
Sunday, November 8, 2009…My Equinox diary On every cruise we have ever taken, especially when we go by ourselves, there always seems to be some serendipity…that special unexpected surprise that is ever so pleasant. And so it was on the very first night of this cruise that Chet and I were having a drink at the bar before dinner when we struck up a conversation with the couple sitting next to us. He was wearing a University …
Saturday, November 7, 2009…My Equinox diary Today was spent in Barcelona, one of my favorite cities in Europe. The weather was mild and the sun shone all day. (One thing we heard from the 300 or so folks who were on the Equinox for the past two weeks for its last regular Med sailing was that it was a gray and dreary trip, raining almost every day. These folks are called back-to-backers and will have been on …
Friday, November 6, 2009…My Equinox diary We have been very busy since we boarded the ship yesterday. We began at the Hilton Garden Inn at the Rome Airport where we almost joined another group from Kentucky who were taking a bus from the hotel to the pier. We had made our own plans to return to the airport (10 minutes) and then catch the Celebrity bus transfer to Civitavecchia from there. We decided it make sense to …
Finally, the journey begins. In the months prior to any major cruise, there is lots of planning and anticipation. The flights must be scheduled. The shore excursions discussed. You need to decide which dining plan to go with… And, for every guy, do I bring the tuxedo or not? Then it all comes to fruition and the trip begins. Our trip began yesterday morning when we boarded a flight in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., bound for Atlanta, Ga., …
Many folks know that I love small ships. And one I have always been fascinated by is the Aranui. For years the Aranui has been making 13-night round-trip voyages from Papeete, Tahiti, to the Marquesas and Tuamou Islands. Its primary function is as a cargo ship carrying essential items to those who live on those remote islands. However, the Aranui has always carried passengers as well and if you are one of those who likes the offbeat …
“I’m looking for advice on how to get the best deal on cruises when you don’t have a cruisemate to share occupancy, paying double doesn’t seem right. Any suggestions?”
For years, cruising’s odious single supplements have been a problem for single cruisers but I suspect things are a bit better right now with many cruise lines practically giving their cabins away. Here are some strategies to consider:
1. Look for cruise lines that offer single cabins. In the US-Caribbean market, these are almost non-existent but in Europe there are still some lines that have single occupancy cabins.
2. Search for “no single supplement” special deals. I am seeing more and more of these offers. Hook up with a good travel agent and let he or she know that you are serious about cruising if they can find a good deal for you. But be sure to be loyal and book through that person and refer them to others. A good travel agent is a treasure.
Set sail this winter for Star Clippers’ Caribbean and save up to 50 percent off brochure rates on seven-night sailings. You will sail on its flagship, the Royal Clipper, and enjoy all the amenities and activities that you would expect on a private sailing yacht. And with only 227 guests, you won’t be part of the crowd. I was so impressed with this deal when it was first announced that we signed up immediately for the Jan. …
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