Celebrity Millennium cruise preparation continues!

Excursion Update
My excursions are about 75% booked on the Celebrity Millennium.  There is one port that I can’t decide which one is right for me so I’m going to wait until I get on the ship to talk to the excursions staff for more insight.  I’m taking a slight gamble as it means the ones I want might be full. 

To prevent this, I may book the one I like best and I always switch when I get on board.  I can’t wait for kayaking, touring the cloud forest of Monteverde, snorkeling, a city tour of Cartagena, Colombia, and much more.

Logistics & Crucial information to bring

I’ve started printing out important information that I want to bring with me.  Check out my previous blog post on which printed information I recommend you bring with you.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

In addition, since the cruise includes two stops in Mexico, I’m going to call my wireless carrier to see about possible coverage. I always call the credit and debit card companies to tell them when and where I will be traveling.  This prevents the credit card company from accidently putting a hold on my account when a charge comes up from another country.  

This whole process sounds like a lot to do but should only take about 30 minutes and you’ll have peace of mind knowing everything is in order.

FreshCruiser Tip: Get the planning out of the way before you get on board.  That way you can relax rather than trying to figure out what to do in port the next day.

My Parents: Landlubbers turned Cruisers

My parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this fall and to mark the occasion, they are going on a Caribbean cruise.  It will be their 5th cruise and first time taking a Holland America cruise. After years of begging and pleading my case, I’m glad my parents are now cruisers.

Parents have cruised on Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess

My dad admitted to me recently how scared he was before their first cruise.  He didn’t know what to expect and although he saw pictures and heard stories from the cruises I went on, he still couldn’t fully grasp the concept.  I’ll never forget the first phone call I received when they embarked and found their cabin.  The tone was one of shock, trying to take it all in.  An hour or so later, I received my second call from them and they already sounded so relaxed after going to the buffet and walking around the Lido Deck wondering why they didn’t take a cruise before.

New adventure awaits my parents on Holland America Line (Photo Credit: Holland America Line)

A new adventure awaits my parents as they will be visiting new ports and trying a new cruise company.  I wait with a lot of anticipation for their trip to arrive. I enjoy hearing my mom ask open-ended questions about things she’s wondering about the ship that she’ll soon find out for herself.  “What will be on the room service menu?”  “I wonder what the entertainment will be like?” are just a few of her questions.  She keeps saying that she’s going on Holland.  I nicely explained that she can use “HAL Cruise” for short.

ms Eurodam Atruim (Photo Credit: Holland American Line

Listening to her questions is why I enjoy traveling so much, the exploring aspect.  Whether it’s exploring a new hotel or cruise ship to learning about a different culture, there’s so much that awaits them. I love that after 40 years of marriage, they still have a lot of excitement and good times ahead of them.

Are you loyal to one cruise line?  Do you enjoy trying different hotels or cruises?

FreshCruiser Tip: Sometimes people need a nudge to try a new way of vacationing.  If you think a friend or family member would enjoy a cruise, don’t be afraid to give them a little push.  Encourage them to start with a 3-4 day cruise to get their feet wet!

Welcome 2012!

 

2011 was an exciting year for me with the launch of my FreshCruiser website, blog, and twitter feed. I worked hard to define my niche with the goals of writing about something I love, cruising!  Writing about fun, active and healthy cruising has been wonderful and I love these aspects of the cruise industry.  I'm looking forward to the year ahead and hope you'll enjoy reading!

Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year filled with visiting new places and experiencing new cultures!

Click to read more ...