9 January 2020: "And Awa-ay We Go!"
I had been on two small boat cruises before I went on my my Caribbean cruise. There were 65 passengers on the cruise I took through the Panama canal; I probably met and talked to every single person on that trip. Our ship on the Rhone River cruise was several times larger, but still had only one seating at meals which meant I had ample opportunity to introduce myself to others. (I am not shy.)
The Caribbean cruise was a whole 'nother kettle of fish. While the Viking ships are small when compared to Carnival or Norwegian Cruise Lines, they still can carry 900 passengers. I wasn't sure how I would fare in such a crowd of travelers. Would I meet anybody? If I didn't, would I feel isolated, detached, and joyless?
I did meet people once the hostess started seating me at group tables with four to six other people. That didn't start until midway through my trip, but now I know what to ask for right from the get-go. Even in the first half of the cruise, when I didn't know any of the other passengers, I had a fine time. The ship was luxurious, the staff were friendly and out-going, and, in truth, I've always needed a lot of alone time. Sitting on my little veranda, my feet up on another chair, with my Kindle to read and play on: no, I felt anything but joyless.
Initially the Caribbean cruise was not the first ocean cruise I signed up for. I booked a cruise to Norway in January, then had lots of second thoughts and misgivings. I changed my booking to the Caribbean and even saved some money in the process.
Now that I know how the ocean cruises work, I'm going to Norway next month: In Search of the Northern Lights
I leave late on February 2nd and come back even later on February 15th. I'm excited. FanSee
The Caribbean cruise was a whole 'nother kettle of fish. While the Viking ships are small when compared to Carnival or Norwegian Cruise Lines, they still can carry 900 passengers. I wasn't sure how I would fare in such a crowd of travelers. Would I meet anybody? If I didn't, would I feel isolated, detached, and joyless?
I did meet people once the hostess started seating me at group tables with four to six other people. That didn't start until midway through my trip, but now I know what to ask for right from the get-go. Even in the first half of the cruise, when I didn't know any of the other passengers, I had a fine time. The ship was luxurious, the staff were friendly and out-going, and, in truth, I've always needed a lot of alone time. Sitting on my little veranda, my feet up on another chair, with my Kindle to read and play on: no, I felt anything but joyless.
Initially the Caribbean cruise was not the first ocean cruise I signed up for. I booked a cruise to Norway in January, then had lots of second thoughts and misgivings. I changed my booking to the Caribbean and even saved some money in the process.
Now that I know how the ocean cruises work, I'm going to Norway next month: In Search of the Northern Lights
I leave late on February 2nd and come back even later on February 15th. I'm excited. FanSee