SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2024 - A CRUISING WE GO

 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2024 - A CRUISING WE GO

Many of you have taken cruises. I’ve only taken one—a Rhine River Cruise. On ocean cruises, you have a much larger ship and more amenities.

Here are some suggestions I found online for Cruises

1 Understand what is included.  Rarely will everything be included.  Cruising is fun, but you don’t want to come home with a credit card bill higher than the cost of the cruise.  

2. Packing too much. This is one of my problems - whether on a cruise or any other trip.  I had too many clothes when I went to the Grand Canyon in June.

3. Packing the wrong things. You might need some nice (fancier) clothes for an event, but don’t overdo it.  For the Rhine River cruise, it was better to have good shoes for walking in the Black Forest or touring a castle.  High heels are not needed.

4. Get to the ship early. If you are cruising out of Miami and your flight gets you there three hours before the boat leaves, you might need more time to get from the airport to the dock. Arrive the day before and relax. (Airlines frequently have delays.)

5. Get familiar with the ship. Cruise ships are like towns—with different decks and activities. Plan—know the boat.

6. Plan your shore exhibits. On the Rhine River cruise, the default trip in Amsterdam was to the Ann Frank house.  I opted for the Van Gogh Art Museum, which I enjoyed more.

7. Going at the wrong time: Take an August cruise if you want to go whale-watching in Alaska. Visit the Caribbean in winter to avoid hurricanes and large crowds. 

8. Get out of your comfort zone. Dance, try new foods—you are making memories. Don’t do things you do at home (within reason!!).

9. Don’t overindulge - watch your alcohol and food inputs. Don’t be groggy with a hangover.

10. Take out travel insurance.  Things happen - weather, sickness, etc. 

11.  Take the right cruise.  It might not be a good match for you if you are a senior couple on a Disney Cruise.  

OVERALL - PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.  

*****

CRUISE JOKES

Why couldn’t the cruisers play cards?

Because they were sitting on the deck.

The cruise ship passed by a small island. A bearded man in tattered clothes was jumping, waving, and yelling on the shore. The captain was close by and waving to the man. A passenger asked the captain, “What was that all about?”  

The Captain shrugged and said, “I don’t know. He is there every time we pass, so I wave at him.”

***

What did one ocean say to another ocean?

Nothing, they just waved.

***

A new cruise and scared person asked the captain at the welcoming reception, “Do ships like this sink frequently?:

The captain answered, “No, just once - to the bottom.”

***

(Intellectual joke)

Two passengers were reading books on the deck. One noticed that the other was reading Hitler's Mein Kampf. So he asked the other, “Have you read Marx?”  

The other answered, “It is from sitting on these darn chairs too long.”

(Red marks)

***

An Elderly lady was on a cruise and was in the bar.  She ordered a scotch with two drops of water. She told the bartender it was her 80th birthday that day.  The bartender said, “It's on me”.  The lady to her left said, “I’ll buy you a drink.”  The elderly lady again ordered a scotch with two drops of water.  Then, the man on her right buys her a drink - and again, she orders a scotch with two drops of water.

The bartender asked, “Why only two drops of water?”.  

The old woman replies, “Sonny, when you’re my age, you’ve learned to hold your liquor. Holding your water, however, is a whole other issue!”

***

An elderly lady was on the deck, holding her hat with both hands.
A gentleman approached her and said: “Excuse me. I don’t mean to be rude, but your dress blows up in the wind!”
“Yes, I know,” said the lady, “I need both hands to hold onto my hat.”
“But, madam, you’re also not wearing underwear, and people can see everything!” said the gentleman.
The woman looked down, then back up at the man and replied, “Sir, anything you see down there is 85 years old. I just bought this hat yesterday!”

***
A couple called up the cruise help desk.  “Can you get us out of our cabin?”
What’s wrong asked the clerk.  “Well, we have two doors; one is to the restroom, and the other says” Do not disturb.”.

******
For all who have upcoming cruises, may all of them be great!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

(If you go for a cruise, love all your fellow passengers and crew, including the maids and kitchen help!!!)

Karen Anne White, December 8, 2024