Q & A WITH A CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER – PART 5

Welcome to the new Sunday feature a ‘Q & A with a Cruise Ship Passenger’. Earlier this year we had ‘The Officer Wife Series Travel & Cruise Tips Q & A’ and I had such great feedback I thought let’s get another cruise perspective and who better to ask than the actual passengers!

Being an officer wife on a cruise ship, I meet some lovely people from all over the world and I found some great volunteers to give you all their cruise tips.

This week we will feature Ms Vicki and she is from Perrysburg, Ohio in the USA. Her first cruise was in 1983 and she been on a cruise every 4-5 years until 2011. Then when her kids were grown, she started cruising more and has been on almost 40 cruises in total.

Let’s see what great cruise tips Ms Vicki has for you.

Our ship docked at Grand Turk with my husband

What is your favourite port in the world?

South Pacific/Hawaii

What is your favourite cruise?

That is a tie between the British Isles Cruise (2014) and the Hawaii/Tahiti Cruise (2017)

Why do you like cruising?

The greatest escape I can think of! Sea days are the best. When the ship docks in a port, I only get off the ship about 50% of the time. 

I also enjoy being able to see so many places without having to pack, unpack, get transport to hotel, unpack, find a restaurant for dinner, find an activity to do near hotel, after a day or 2 repack, get transport to airport, wait for flight, fly to next destination, and start the whole process over again. 

Cruising is about doing what you want to do. You can do all the ship’s activities, or none of them (just curl up with a good novel) and relax.

What cruise tips would you give to a first-time cruiser?

Get on as many Facebook cruising groups as you can because there is so much information to be gained from these sites!

My husband, my Mom and me on the Tahiti cruise last October

Do you have any packing tips?

Pack your suitcase. Now take out 1/2  of your clothes. Pack your wallet. Now put twice as much cash in it.

What type of cabin do you prefer onboard?

Rear balcony is great for views and quietness.

Do you like formal nights?

YES!!! I am an old fudd and I enjoy dressing up. Being with your husband for a night dining and dancing, all dressed up.

My husband and me with some people we met from Canada on a Panama Canal cruise in 2014.

Do you book your cruises far in advance or last minute?

I have booked anywhere from 6 months to 6 weeks ahead.

Is there a lot of planning involved for you when you book a cruise? 

Not for quick get-a-ways. If the cruise is longer than 7 days, it requires more planning. No different than any other vacation. A cruise of any length requires substantially less planning than any other type of vacation as so much of it is planned for you. (Entertainment, dining options, etc)

What is the longest cruise you have been on and would you do it again? 

28 days! I would do it 12 times a year if money were no object!