Barbara J. Hamby

Observations on a Recent Cruise

Inclement weather and other factors affected our recent cruise to the point that it was not nearly as great as it could have been. We have given our ages a prominent role in deciding whether to cruise again, or even travel very far away. We are not as flexible, physically, mentally or emotionally, as we were even a couple of years ago when we cruised to the Caribbean.

Several times during the trip I thought about recent emails (possibly tongue-in-cheek) claiming that retired seniors could live more reasonably on a cruise ship, year-around, than in an assisted living facility. Not this one, thank you.

For the past several years, I’ve worked diligently to winnow down my possessions, but I still don’t think I could live with what fits in a cruise ship stateroom, or even a suite, for that matter. Also, the thought of mingling with 2,000 or so strangers, who change every week or two, is mind-boggling. Then there’s the ever-helpful, but privacy-invading room stewards, and other crew members. Sure, it’s nice to have your bed made and the room tidied and vacuumed—fresh towels whenever—laundry done for you if you choose, and the huge selection of food and entertainment available 24/7.

There are always medical personnel on board of some sort, also. On this recent cruise, there was a female doctor and some sort of male medic I talked to on the phone.

But it’s not that nice.  We never did find whatever it was that banged around in our cabin when the ship rocked all night. The several-times-a-day announcements from the nauseatingly cheerful Cruise Director, about all the thrilling entertainment games and shows he has to offer, gets tiresome. The captain’s periodic announcements are informational, but it’s not always good news.

I wonder if anyone’s done a comparison of resort residences to assisted living, from a financial standpoint. I haven’t received that email, if they have.

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