I always viewed the idea of going away for months on end to be a bit of a non-starter for me. A week or two is one thing, but several months? I never thought that was my thing.

A few years ago, that changed.

Circumstances beyond our control meant that we (my husband and I plus our two-year-old son) had to move out of our house, where we were firmly settled in a peaceful, almost idyllic day-to-day life.

That is, as peaceful as co-existing with a two-year old can possibly be!

After an initial panicky period where we desperately starting searching for another suitable house, we decided to instead put all our stuff in storage, and be “homeless” for a few months.

We decided to look at this unexpected (and unwelcome) turn of events in a different way, and consider it to be an opportunity instead. We would make use of this ‘found time’ without the large monthly expense of rent or a mortgage payment to do some travelling.

At the time, we didn’t have school age kids, and were able to work remotely. The only thing stopping us was our own fear – which was considerable, I may add.

To make a long story short, we ended up spending several months in Mexico, and what I quickly learned is that being away for months at a time is NOT anything like being on vacation.

Gone was the pressure to soak up the sun, and drink as many margaritas as possible before returning to reality a few days later!

Instead, we developed new routines, and in hindsight, it was a period of tremendous growth. We eventually did return to “reality”, but those months away from our home and regular routine changed my outlook, and provided memories to last a lifetime.

Now, I’m contemplating another long trip – this time on a cruise ship.

At first, I was thinking of maybe 3 or 4 weeks, but then a specific cruise caught my eye.

It is six-month itinerary!

As much as I love cruising, a part of me thinks that this might be too long on a ship.

I wondered why I was feeling this way.

I don’t have professional excuses; one of the great things about my job as a travel advisor is that I can work from anywhere.

After a bit of self-examination, I realized that this might simply be another version of the same fear that almost kept me home from Mexico all those years ago… the fear that could have cost me a life-changing experience.

The cruise I’m looking at leaves in early 2019 from New York City on the Oceania Insignia. Before finishing in Florida 180 days later, I can visit the Panama Canal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Japan, Korea, Viet Nam, Thailand, India, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, Ireland, and Canada. And those are just the bigger stops.

That’s a lot of items on my bucket list I could tick off, all on a single trip!

Here’s the cruise I’m looking at: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/180-day-world-cruises/new-york-to-miami-INS190111H

This is just one of FIVE Round-the World cruises offered by Oceania in 2019: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/world-cruises/

One of the things I learned last time I was away for months rather than days is that there are a number large costs that temporarily disappear – such as those required to operate a car.

The price for this cruise starts at around $43,000 per person (double occupancy), which works out to about $250 per day. Admittedly, this is a hefty chunk of change. But when I stop and seriously look at how much I spend at home in 6 months, this looks like pretty good value to me – especially on a line like Oceania where I’ll be subject to great food, entertainment, and service in a casual atmosphere. And yay, cocktails are included too (if I want – which I do)!

All guests on any Oceania Around the World Voyage also get the Exclusive Prestige Package, which includes ALL of the following:

• Free Pre-Paid Gratuities – a value up to $8,200
• Free Onboard Medical Care
• Free Unlimited Internet
• Free Laundry Services
• Free Exclusive Shoreside Events
• Free Visa Package
• Free Luggage Delivery
• Free 1-Night Pre-Cruise Luxury Hotel Stay
• Free Roundtrip Transfers

NOTE: This promotion is subject to change on July 1st, 2017.

It may not be for everyone, but if you’ve ever toyed with the idea of a longer stay on board a ship, then this Oceania promotion is worth considering. Maybe the only thing stopping you is the same fear I experienced (and overcame) a few years ago.

Planning a Cruise?  I’d love to help!  Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Yes, solo cruisers normally pay a 100% ‘single supplement’.

They pay double the base, per-person cruise fare (but the tax is only charged once). As a result, the price for a solo cruiser is almost double what a couple would pay on a per-cabin basis.

I can see it both ways.

From the cruise line’s point of view, a solo cruiser is taking up two beds, which could have been sold separately.

But solo cruisers point out that they only eat half the amount in restaurants, and place half the demand on the ship’s staff.

The mass market cruise lines have started to address the needs of solo cruisers by building ‘studio cabins’, which are designed specifically for solo travellers.

Studio cabins are not on all the ships (yet), but they are becoming more and more common. These cabins are frequently (but not always) tiny, interior cabins without a balcony or even a window.

The upscale and luxury lines (and also river cruise ships) treat their solo clients a little better. They do this by occasionally offering reduced single supplements.

Sometimes they waive the single supplement altogether.

The best part of these ‘reduced single supplement’ offers is that they are not limited to the lowest priced, least desirable cabins. You can travel solo in a balcony or suite if you like.

Oceania currently has a great promotion for solo travellers.

They are offering a reduced single supplement on 17 different sailings (all with 2017 departure dates).

If you’ve never sailed on Oceania before, here’s a bit of information:

• They are considered the best cruise line for “foodies”. They pride themselves on the quality and diversity of the food offerings on their ships.
• Oceania has six ships, and they sail all over the world. The largest ship carries 1250 passengers, and their smallest carries 684.
• Like other upscale lines, the culture onboard is relaxed and informal.
• The onboard experience is more focused on quality, service, and the ports, and less on climbing walls, and ice-skating rinks.
• They pride themselves on being the ‘Best Value in Upscale Cruising’. INCLUDED in your fare, you get free Airfare; Internet; Dining at all specialty restaurants; Unlimited soft drinks, bottled water, cappuccino, espresso, teas and juices; Shuttle service from ship to city center in many ports of call; and Room service dining 24 hours a day.

Here’s a sampling of the 17 sailings with reduced single supplements:

May 10th, 2017 (11 days, San Francisco to Vancouver), from $2445 base price.  BONUS – your choice of:

• 6 FREE Shore Excursions OR
• FREE House Beverage Package OR
• $600 Shipboard Credit per stateroom

May 23rd, 2017 (28 days, Rome to Montreal), from $6681 base price.  BONUS – your choice of:

• 8 FREE Shore Excursions OR
• FREE House Beverage Package OR
• $800 Shipboard Credit

July 7th, 2017 (10 days, Rome to Barcelona), from $2272 base price.  BONUS – your choice of:

• 6 FREE Shore Excursions OR
• FREE House Beverage Package OR
• $600 Shipboard Credit per stateroom

August 31st, 2017 (10 days, New York to New York), from $1559 base price. BONUS – your choice of:

• 6 FREE Shore Excursions OR
• FREE House Beverage Package OR
• $600 Shipboard Credit per stateroom

Remember, this is just a sampling and there are 17 sailings to choose from!

If you’re a solo traveller, then you’ll want to consider Oceania’s current promotion. In my mind, it offers remarkable value.

Planning a Cruise?  I’d love to help!  Click here to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

The latest buzz in the industry has been all about the launching of the Celebrity Edge – even though it’s inaugural voyage is more than a year away (December 2018). The Edge marks a new class of ship for Celebrity, with 3 additional sister-ships on order due in the next several years.

You can discover more about the Edge here: http://www.celebritycruises.com/edge/
The initial sailings are available for booking now, and I already have one client confirmed on the inaugural sailing.

The innovation on the Edge that’s getting all the press is the Magic Carpet. This is a tennis-court sized platform attached to the side of the ship, which can be raised or lowered between the water level and the top deck. In the ‘down’ position it can be used to load tender boats, and in the ‘up’ position it becomes a lounge and observation deck.

This seems to “one-up” the Sea Walk, which extends off the Sun Deck (17 stories above the water) on Princess’ Royal Class vessels.

Royal Caribbean seems to still be in the lead for shipboard amenities, with ice rinks, bumper cars, climbing walls, and a million other things on their vessels.

So… I’m curious. What’s YOUR opinion about these innovative features? The Magic Carpet on the Edge looks really cool, but is it important enough to you that it would it draw you to Celebrity, or to that ship?

For those cruise lines that build bigger, and more innovative ships, what are they missing? What SHOULD be available on these big ships that’s not already?

Conversely, have the mass market cruise lines gone too far already? As the American population ages, will we become less interested in waterslides and zip-lines? Will we graduate to the luxury lines, and willingly give up innovative on-board features and amenities in favour of more interesting ports of call, fewer passengers, and superior quality and service on board the ships?

There are, of course, no correct answers, but I’d love to hear your opinions!

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/1902363933379445