THE CRUISING LIFE | DREAM TRIP PART II

In 2013, we embarked on an incredible journey to mark our 40th anniversary.
Five years later, wanderlust struck again!
This is a continuing series. Come along for the ride, will you?

Sept. 9 to Oct. 3, 2018

Can you believe this itinerary? Twenty-four days, nine countries, 19 ports (three of them twice),
FIVE bucket list cross-offs (Barcelona, Pisa/Florence, Corfu, Venice and Malta)!

Spain/France/Monaco/Italy/Malta/Greece/Albania/Montenegro/Croatia

I had been researching various cruises and stumbled upon this Mediterranean/Adriatic one by Holland America. After drooling over the prospect, common-sense took hold and I rejected it, fearing it was way out of our price range. And yet, I saved the link, going back to it, over and over.

Finally showing it to hubby, I said: “There’s no way we can afford this, but just look at all the places they will be docking. It would be a dream come true!” Then I told him the price. He flinched, as did I, knowing full well there would be many expenses on top of the cruise price (flights, shore excursions, taxes, etc.) We decided to make a list, estimating all possible costs.

We kept going back and forth, weighing the pros and cons. On the one hand, we weren’t getting any younger and life is short. “Carpe Diem” (Latin for Seize the Day) and all that. On the other, our savings were earmarked for old age, since we have no children to take care of us in our dotage.

There’s a third hand here. We are both working still, and could hopefully replenish the nest egg, at least partially, before retirement. And lastly, our mortgage is paid off and there’s a stash of inherited valuables that could be liquidated if necessary.

Still, I was nervous. Hubby finally talked me into it, saying: “The time to do this is now, while we still can. Who knows how things will be in the future?” That sealed it! And there we were, standing at the dock in Barcelona on Sept. 9, waiting to board.

Cruise ship, the cruising life — The “Oosterdam” capacity 1848 passengers, 812 crew

Do you know, some people spend more time cruising than they do on dry land; a veritable way of life? These ships have all the amenities and treat their passengers well! The Oosterdam has five restaurants, numerous bars, two swimming pools, a concert hall, theatre, spa, gym, hairdresser and a casino, all beautifully decorated. Click on images to open in a separate window.

Holland America Oosterdam

The Atrium

The Lido Pool

The Lido Bar with “Fishy” stools

Luxurious Decor

Interesting Artifacts

Entrance to Pinnacle Grill Steakhouse

Seaview Pool with Monte Carlo in the background

We often took advantage of the no-charge room service for breakfast, as most days started early to catch the shore tours. Not what you would call a “restful” vacation, but that’s the way we like it. Others opted to lounge by the pools, or rent a private cabana, or book a session at the spa. There were a couple of sea days in between when we had a chance to relax and re-energize.

The cabin stewards took great care of us as well, providing daily turndown service and delighting us with their towel art. Every evening, a different animal was sitting on the bed. One day, we found one hanging from the rafters. Some might consider it “creepy,” but we thought it was hilarious, especially when the ship hit a wave and it swayed to and fro!

Laundry services were excellent and reasonably priced, usually with a one-day turnaround. Not so great was the satellite internet which was unreliable and ridiculously expensive. Most ports of call did provide some form of free internet, at least.

If you like wine with dinner or the occasional cocktail, expect to pay restaurant prices. They did have a daily “Happy Hour” at a couple of bars, where you could get a second drink for half price.

There are stocked mini-fridges in the cabins, but again, very expensive. We asked the steward to empty ours, so we could store our bottled water and soft drinks, which, yes, do cost extra. Tap water (filtered), milk, juices, American-style coffee and tea are included in the fare.

My espresso-loving Italian hubby was not thrilled about paying extra for his daily brew! You can also buy “Starbucks” type coffee drinks.

As far as I know, there were no major incidents of illness on board the ship. Hand sanitizer is available everywhere and reminders are posted in strategic areas, like bathrooms and gangplanks.

This goes a long way in preventing the spread of colds and flu. If you do get sick, there is a doctor and clinic available, for a fee. I highly recommend getting travel insurance, including provisions for medical care.

Other “must-have” items would include something for seasickness, like Dramamine or Gravol. I was using some of that when we suffered rough seas for a couple of days, thanks to a nasty Mediterranean storm. Also, bring your toiletries with you, because the ship’s stores have limited supplies and charge too much.

To sum up, this was the most expensive vacation we’ve ever taken, but it was also the most amazing. We “seized the day” like there was no tomorrow and will cherish those precious memories forever!

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Except where noted, photos ©Debbie D. & thedogladysden.com
Cartoons are from the Bitmoji app,

Have you ever been on a cruise?
If so, where to? Did you enjoy it? What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?
Looking forward to your comments!