I’ve become a big fan of cruising; Deb and I have gone on cruises in the last three years.
The huge plus for cruising is that it allows you to travel to places without flying. Cruising has its dynamic and admittedly, it’s not for everyone.
We prefer smaller cruise ships with 400–1,000 passengers and no children, so we miss the water park experience.
After recently spending twenty-five days cruising Eastern Europe and then transatlantic back to the Caribbean before arriving in Miami, I have made some observations:
The enormity of running a cruise ship is beyond my comprehension: Food, water, laundry, staffing, and waste disposal all while at sea is more than my brain can conceive.
They are fanatical about cleanliness. They clean everything, every day.
I find myself more relaxed on a cruise ship than anyplace else, including my balcony in Hilton Head, which is VERY relaxing. I think it is because I have no other options than to relax. Sure, I still try to write a couple of hours a day, but if I don’t, no big deal.
I am 20 pounds overweight, so I say this with all due respect: the average cruiser has to be 50 pounds overweight. They need help to get to the buffet table and then carry their three plates back to their table. Half of them are in wheelchairs or using a walker. If I make it, no doubt in another ten years, I’ll be one of them.
They have staffing issues. They are all foreigners and speak very little if any, English. They teach them a very limited vocabulary, depending on their job. The servers are taught to understand more coffee, wine, water, spoon, have a nice day. Should you ask them if the steak is broiled or grilled, you’ll get a blank stare as if you asked the meaning of life.
But they sure know how to smile. And let me assure you, cruisers are classic, privileged, Ugly Americans (and Asians and Europeans). They get up in the morning pissed off about something and just waiting to release their venom on the next victim.
They go out to the pool at six in the morning, put their towels on the perfect chairs, and then go about their business, often never returning to these chairs. But should they want them, they have them. They are entitled.
Is getting ugly an inherent part of aging? You would think on a ship of a hundred people, you’d find a half dozen attractive people. Not true. If you are lucky, you could find a half-dozen people you could stand to look at, but that’s a low bar.
But did I mention I love cruising?
Can’t wait for Alaska next summer.