Cruise Reviews

  We are a family that loves to cruise. To date, we have completed eleven with one more booked and ready for the new year. Needless to say, we are excited to hear about new ships being added to cruise lines and the adventures we can look forward to. I've been following the reviews and comments on these new ships and their services and I must say I'm disappointed. Not in the ships themselves but in the way they are being showcased. Let me explain.

  I've read many posts on Captain's Suites, 2 bedroom suites, exclusive access to pools, restaurants, dinners with the Captain and freebies. Concierge service, private butlers and preferred seatings and reservations have all been explained and promoted. Everything looks marvelous and luxurious. A true example of decadence on the high seas. 

  But here's the thing, one such new vessel has 80 of these luxury suites and 284 mini-suites. Compare that to 1112 balcony rooms and 567 ocean view and inside cabins. Why are all the reviews about 18% of the rooms? The ones the average customer will not be booking? Does that make sense?

  Let's look at a family of 4, seven day Caribbean cruise with a balcony cabin on this newest ship. With all the "freebies" it comes to almost 7K Canadian. One of the 2 bedroom villas slides in at a whopping $23,700....three times the amount! My family could do the same cruise three times in a balcony cabin for the price of one luxurious suite. Is it just me or does that make sense to everyone?

  So why am I not hearing anything about the places the average traveler will be booking? Are we not as important? Do these travel bloggers and agents believe their glowing reviews will miraculously increase our vacation budgets because they tell us about our kids having their own room? Do they honestly think we don't want that already? Cause we do. We really do.

  Look I know these companies want their premium rooms filled....in my example above it's $12 million in "regular" cabins as compared to $4 million in the suites. That's a huge incentive to fill those pricier rooms. But travel agents probably book a lot more of the cheaper rooms than the expensive ones so perhaps they should focus a little bit on those. 

  Travel bloggers need to be a bit more realistic too. If they weren't being comped the suites how many would actually be traveling that way? My guess is not very many. Even someone I know who won the lottery didn't get the Captain's suite. We can all dream but when it comes to vacations we need a healthy dose of reality too.

  But hey Royal Carribean if you want to upgrade me and my family on our spring getaway I'll talk about whatever you want! Did I mention we would really like our kids to have their own room?

  Ang

Remembrance Day 2019

  

Thank you for your service.

Lest we forget.

Being Responsible Sucks

  In my ongoing attempt to be a responsible adult I did not give in to an overwhelming urge to go Christmas vacation hunting when I saw the first snowflakes last weekend. I fought through the craving to rent a condo in Florida for the two-week break when I woke up to snow on the ground. I even managed to control myself when that snow didn't melt and is still clinging to the earth this morning. But I wonder if my will power will hold out on this -13 morning.

  I know if we want to finish the never-ending home renos we cannot go south. Not to an island resort, a cheap condo, or even a tent in the Everglades. I know that. But my dislike of being cold has more control over me than I care to admit. A small part of my brain is already saying we don't really need a sectional or a fridge for the basement. That would get us close to a week in the heat, wouldn't it?

  Now two days later with said snow still there and my house being a whopping 13.5 degrees when I came downstairs, my resolve is almost completely gone. I can hear the waves hitting the shoreline. I can feel the sand between my toes. Can you hear the hiss of the sunscreen as I spray my arms? I can. But I can also hear John whispering in my ear "Snap out of it!" And that is louder than the waves and the can. Even the sand is dissolving into popcorn on the kitchen floor. Right now I'm hating the sound of his voice!

  Oh to be young and carefree again. With no responsibilities and extra money for impromptu getaways. No kids sports to pay for or university costs to think about. No braces or orthotics to drain our bank account. Ahhhh the good old days when we could be self-centered and selfish.

  That's the thing about being responsible...sometimes it sucks. Doing what's best for our family comes first. But a condo on the beach for two weeks comes a very close second!

  Ang

  

  

  

Monday Morning Rant

  If every single person who whined and complained about Christmas decorations before Remembrance Day went to a cenotaph on November 11 imagine the crowds. Instead, they are pretending to be so indignant about whether someone puts up a tree in October. Hypocrites. You are all hypocrites.

  Those of you who find my decorations or lights offensive....stop talking to me. Unfriend me on Facebook. Don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram. Don't come to my house or call my phone. Until you fight for veterans' rights 365 days out of the year instead of showing false indignation for one, pretend like I no longer exist.

  Sounds harsh, doesn't it? I can tell you I know first hand the sacrifices soldiers have made and continue to make. I know well the nightmares and horrors that never went away for my uncle after returning from WW2. The stories he couldn't speak about because the human mind is not capable of processing such atrocities. Did he go through all of that so we could have the freedom to play Jingle Bells on November 3? Absolutely.

  I've heard the stories of ships being bombed and my father-in-law losing friends to the cold North Atlantic. He was lucky to survive. Yet I'm sure the screams and smells still are fresh in his mind. Again, experiencing unimaginable horrors that live in your soul forever. Did he go through all that so my kids could decorate a tree with their Grandmother in October? You betcha.

  In my own life, I have said goodbye to my husband on too many occasions to count. He's missed birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, holidays...you name it he's been gone when it's happened. Not to mention spending days looking for a missing hiker who is found frozen to death or spending weeks taking what's left of a plane crash out of the ocean. He spent months watching children starve to death during a drought and those faces are still fresh in his memory years later.

  So when you are criticizing people for being excited about the upcoming holiday season ask yourself these questions... Am I honoring Veterans and their service every day of the year or just this particular day? Am I contacting my MP's to increase funding for VA and their programs? Am I compassionate and supportive of serving military members and their families throughout the year? 

  If the answer to any of these is no then do yourself a favor and stop being so judgemental towards others. Don't forget these brave men and women fought, and are fighting, for your freedom to live your life as you want. Without restrictions. You complaining and me decorating is exactly what they lost their lives over. Remember that. 

  And if you still are offended...ask a veteran. See what they say.

  Ang