Hi friends, family and travellers!!!!

I can’t express really in words how delightful the cruise was!!  But I will try to describe some of the highlights for you ……………. 

For anyone who takes a cruise from Vancouver (or San Diego, Los Angeles or just sails around the Hawaiian islands on a cruise ship) you won’t be disappointed.  Whether you take the trip with an inside cabin (which I did once) or a beautiful balcony (this last trip) the cruise stateroom is only one part of this journey.   Let’s face it, all staterooms are like very nice hotel rooms, with someone providing personal service several times a day – bringing ice, making your bed, cleaning up towels in the bathroom, leaving towel animals and chocolates on your pillow.  I don’t know about you, but this is NOT how I live at home!!!!!

With a balcony, I loved the sun shining in the morning to wake me up.  I loved the sound of the ocean.  I enjoyed sitting out with a cup of tea and reading a book or checking email on my little net book lap top.  I even got to chat with my sweetie with Skype!  I loved to watch the ship go into port – I loved the sea days, feeling the air get warmer and warmer as we gained further distance from Canada in the fall.  Wherever you sleep on the ship,  you can always go up on deck and grab a coffee and hang out with the sun!!  You are always welcome to walk around the deck and enjoy the salty sea air and watch the flying fish!  The air is so clean and the water never tires.  The waves, the sun rises and sets.  It is all so beautiful and provides a lovely back drop to whatever the day has in store.

Activities, food, tea and coffee,  unlimited ice cream any time of the day or night, drinks with little umbrellas, food, meeting new and interesting people, getting your picture taken and taking as many as you can, food, checking your email, attending talks on nature topics and activities you want to enjoy when we reach the islands, food, dressing up for theme evenings, attending an art auction (even if only for the free champagne!!), finding your way around the deck, checking out the shopping on board ………… and let’s not forget the food!!  Meal times, between meals and late night buffets.  This trip is about wearing comfy clothes that adjust as you “grow”.  Oh sure, you can go to the gym and walk the stairs, that helps too!!

If you are travelling to Hawaii on a cruise ship, make sure you take something “Hawaiian” to wear on theme nights in the dining room and or for photo opportunities with great  back drops – to show all your friends when you get home, and to keep as special memories of those wonderful sea days.  Remember to limit your time in the sun each time, and keep in the shade when falling asleep or enjoying a good book. 

The time zones are gentle, just one hour at a time, on the ship as you sail further and further from land.  You get to sleep in with “extra hours of sleep” 3 times on a cruise from Vancouver.  And with all the food and fabulous service, I just can’t see how life gets any better than that <smile>.  It is decadent, it is restful, it is away from everything you wanted to get away from.  You (and however many hundreds of people on board) are together.  Like it or not.  You dress up just to entertain and please yourself.  You have time to read those books you have been waiting to read.  You can write travel journals, like me!  And most importantly, in my opinion, you get to meet the most wonderful people.  You meet them mostly while eating, but also when you sit to watch a trivia game or enjoy the festivities in the evenings, sticking around to see who wins the “big one” at Bingo.  Seeing a familiar face as you wander through the casino or on the Lido deck.  People on cruise ships are happy people.  People on holidays are happy people.  At home you would not just sit down to dinner with total strangers and strike up a conversation ……. on cruise ships that is a daily event and one to enjoy and reflect on.  I met some wonderful people and some will be in my life and hearts forever.  (especially my dining companions Donna and Linda — and in particular my new good friends Joan and Patti).  

 
Having sit down breakfast and lunch on sea days in the dining room is great – you will meet all kinds of wonderful people and if they are less than cheerful, you won’t ever have to see them again <smile> but if you have a great conversation, you may make life time friends!  It is so much more relaxed than the lido.  The lido deck is great for those shore days when you want to get out there in a hurry …….. and maybe come back on the ship for a late lunch … and then a rest before dinner <grin>  After all, it is ALL about the food!!!!