Sixty Days and Counting….

                        Depending on when you read this, we have sixty days until our ‘Round South America Voyage on the Majestic Princess embarks. This means that there are a few things you need to get in order so that you don’t hold up the ship’s departure from Los Angeles and have all of the other passengers be mad at you!

                        But, no worries, they won’t get mad because the ship WILL NOT WAIT FOR YOU!

                        For those of you that have joined the Blog since our last big cruise, the World Cruise of 2023, we will be going over some of the requirements and customs of these extended voyages. For those of you that were on board with us for the 111-Day Cruise, relax because this one is a mere 51-days, so a little less of everything will be needed.

                        Back to that statement of Non-Waiting by the ship.

It’s true.

Everything that you’ve heard or read about passengers being left behind in strange ports by cruise lines is 100% true. (You will find that upon further investigation that the fault lies with those dawdling passengers) So, the Pre-Dinner Entertainment of lining the rails with our umbrella beverages in hand, waiting to cheer on the desperately late-running passengers will still be a highlight of our everyday routine!             

Except Sea Days for the obvious reasons! On those days we will be entering the Passenger Pool of Betting on which “Fell Asleep in the Sun” sunburn is the best (?)                  

  (Stop in the Casino for entry forms.)

            As for what to pack…..

                                                Fortunately, we have gained Elite Level status with Princess Cruise Lines which entitles us to (among other benefits) free laundry services! So, depending on how many other passengers on this voyage have this status, will determine how many days of clothes we need to bring along.

                                                Explanation.

                        Let’s take the average 7-to-14-day cruise for example. The percentage of Elite passengers compared to the rest of the passengers is quite low so the staff that handles this particular Laundry Service has less to do on any given day, therefore ensuring that the turn-around time for your undies is no more than one or two days.

                        Now let’s go on one of these longer voyages where everyone is old and retired and has been cruising since Columbus started this rage back in ’92. Lots of folks are in the Elite Level making that workload down in the laundry room just a tad more intense. What do you think that LDF (Laundry Delay Factor) is now? Rumor has it that on the World Cruise the wait-time for returning garments hovered around four days!

Heavens! What’s a person to do?

You can always wash a few things out in the sink, but they frown on you drying stuff out on your balcony….. you know, unsightly privates being blown about the other decks is not what people signed up for. So, packing enough of everything, whilst balancing your specific wardrobe needs will be the Computation Task of Maximum Proportions before you set sail. I usually like to take a few different shawls with me to add some variety to my basic ensembles… Oh wait… that’s Paula! Not me!

            I, on the other hand, would like nothing better than having several different style tuxedos for evening attire.      

            With matching vests of course.

This course of Wardrobe Management was immediately vetoed not because there was no room on board for such things (there’s tons of storage). Nay, this idea was jettisoned because there was no room in the budget not only for the procurement of several Tuxedos but also because (for example) on the World Cruise it would have cost us over $400.00 to ship one large suitcase back home if Harold and Sherry had not agreed to transport it from one side of Florida to the other and have it wait for us to pick it up in the future when we visited.  

            So, few khakis and polo shirts will suffice nicely.

Let’s move on to the next best thing about these Cruises (other than the Chocolate Desserts every night!) that being the Excursions in each Port. While it’s fun to just be on the ship every day scanning the horizon for whales and Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl, finding our way ashore and exploring foreign ports is just as exciting.

After gaining experience on the World Cruise with the negatives (all those old folks with Mobility Devices clogging up the gangway) and figuring out that the best way to experience a port may very well be on a tour with just a few members (rather than a busload of forty of your new best friends) we have opted for quite a few ports being booked with Tours By Locals. So, get ready for some really fine adventures as you all will be accompanying us on these Tours. With any luck there will be ample availability of Photographic Opportunities as I have an additional year of experience under my belt (or camera strap). This will hopefully provide you with that Armchair Travel Experience that you signed up for!  

So, please send photocopies of your passports, (no visas required on this trip) and also proof of your rabies and distemper vaccinations and we’ll be sure to file them with the authorities as soon as we stow away on board, er, I mean, check in with the Slave Galley staff.

            Someone has to row!

Sixty Days and counting……..