THEY SAY THAT WE MAKE PLANS AND GOD LAUGHS.
Well, God must have been doubled over in knee-slapping hysterics when last year’s lockdown coincided exactly with my retirement date.
Gone were my lavish retirement party and, even more heartbreaking, two Caribbean cruises along with my ideal post-retirement part-time job: a two-day-per-week greeter position at the New York Cruise Ship Terminal.
If my calculations are correct, COVID-19 robbed me of about 40 days at sea … and now it’s time to make up for it (and then some) using the money I saved during a year in relative quarantine together with the freedom of my retirement.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I’m talking about a world cruise or grand voyage. As a freelance cruise writer with 45 years of sailings under her belt, there’s little in the nautical world that intimidates me, but swapping my typical 7, 10-, or 14-day jaunts for a sailing that is measured not in days or weeks but in months sent me scurrying for advice and first-hand accounts we could all use.
World Cruise … or a Grand Voyage?
A world cruise is just that: a circumnavigation of the globe that can last nearly 200 days! Some world cruises, like the 180-day one aboard Oceania Insignia in January 2023, are port-intensive, while others offer a tremendous amount of sea days as they navigate from one area of the world to another. In fact, more than half of Queen Victoria’s 108-day world cruise in January 2022 is sea days!
Esta historia es de la edición July/August 2021 de Porthole Cruise and Travel.
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Esta historia es de la edición July/August 2021 de Porthole Cruise and Travel.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
GALAPAGOS OF THE EAST
Koalas are just the beginning on Australia’s fauna-rich Kangaroo Island.
PLUG IN AND POWER UP!
More and more, ports and cruise lines are working together to keep the lights on and keep the pollution down
Making Up For Lost Time
After everything we’ve been through, who’s saying no to a postpandemic world cruise or grand voyage offering months at sea?
MEXICO'S COASTAL ESCAPES
With Mexico rolling out the red carpet and opening flight borders to Americans, now is the time to redeem the pent-up wanderlust of the last year.
Countess In!
Porthole Cruise and Travel enjoys slice after slice of Americana while sailing the new American Countess.
The Joy of St. Croix
Of all the Caribbean vibes, St. Croix’s is unique.
Unique Hotel Boutiques
Gone are the days of sad hotel gift shops that sold little but after thoughts. Today’s hotel shopping is varied and eclectic, offering status items and one-of-a-kind finds alike.
Sipping on the Sand
The unique beach bars near South Florida’s cruise ports are a perfect reflection of the shorelines they represent.
St. Thomas, Sophisticated
A former cruise director revisits the tiny, charming paradise he adored...only to find even more to love.
Traditional Tlingit Tastes
In Hoonah, Alaska, food is about much more than just what's on the plate.