How a Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Changed My Life

How did cruise ship shore excursion change my life?

Well in the most popular cruise ship destination in the world... Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands... a four hour shore excursion with two other couples from the cruise ship exposed us to sailboat living... we went out on a 36 foot sailboat, for some sailing and snorkeling.

As the cruise ship left the harbor that night I toasted several dozen sailboats bobbing at anchor in the harbor below, including the one that we had been on earlier in the day, and pledged that I would retire to my own sailboat and toast the cruise ships as they left the harbor within five years.

I was off a year, we actually did it in four years.

What's the big deal you say?

We had never stepped foot on a sailboat of any kind prior to that day... we went from zero knowledge about boating of any kind... to safe and competent sailboat cruisers.

Of all the frugal retirement living lifestyles we have enjoyed in the last 18 years... our sailboat cruising adventure tops the list for fun.

For eight years, for 6 to 9 months he year, our home floated... safely and securely.

Our cruising grounds were the Virgin Islands in the north... through the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands... with a southern border of Trinidad and Venezuela... up and back we went each year, enjoying every island... many of which we had visited before on cruise ships.

We would laugh when we happened to be in a harbor with a cruise ship in port and remember how we wished we could stay for longer period of time on the laid-back islands we've visited only for a day.

We met some now lifelong friends... never had a bad experience... we are still constantly asked about safety, pirates, and living in the Third World... our answers are always the same... we were safe, comfortable, never ran into a pirate, and loved our lifestyle on each and every island.

I have made a 45 minute PowerPoint presentation with the same title as above... to several local service and travel organizations... and once on a cruise ship on a transatlantic crossing.

Do we miss the lifestyle?... we certainly do, but such an adventure is best undertaken as soon as possible while you are young enough to physically perform the daily maintenance routines required on any boat.

So how did this 4 hour shore excursion change our life?

The life it led to was more fun than anything we had ever done before We went from an "ordinary life" to a life far from ordinary We proved to ourselves we could learn new skills It enabled us to retire early It opened our eyes that nothing was impossible

If we can do this so can you.

How a Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Changed My Life

How did cruise ship shore excursion change my life?

Well in the most popular cruise ship destination in the world... Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands... a four hour shore excursion with two other couples from the cruise ship exposed us to sailboat living... we went out on a 36 foot sailboat, for some sailing and snorkeling.

As the cruise ship left the harbor that night I toasted several dozen sailboats bobbing at anchor in the harbor below, including the one that we had been on earlier in the day, and pledged that I would retire to my own sailboat and toast the cruise ships as they left the harbor within five years.

I was off a year, we actually did it in four years.

What's the big deal you say?

We had never stepped foot on a sailboat of any kind prior to that day... we went from zero knowledge about boating of any kind... to safe and competent sailboat cruisers.

Of all the frugal retirement living lifestyles we have enjoyed in the last 18 years... our sailboat cruising adventure tops the list for fun.

For eight years, for 6 to 9 months he year, our home floated... safely and securely.

Our cruising grounds were the Virgin Islands in the north... through the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands... with a southern border of Trinidad and Venezuela... up and back we went each year, enjoying every island... many of which we had visited before on cruise ships.

We would laugh when we happened to be in a harbor with a cruise ship in port and remember how we wished we could stay for longer period of time on the laid-back islands we've visited only for a day.

We met some now lifelong friends... never had a bad experience... we are still constantly asked about safety, pirates, and living in the Third World... our answers are always the same... we were safe, comfortable, never ran into a pirate, and loved our lifestyle on each and every island.

I have made a 45 minute PowerPoint presentation with the same title as above... to several local service and travel organizations... and once on a cruise ship on a transatlantic crossing.

Do we miss the lifestyle?... we certainly do, but such an adventure is best undertaken as soon as possible while you are young enough to physically perform the daily maintenance routines required on any boat.

So how did this 4 hour shore excursion change our life?

The life it led to was more fun than anything we had ever done before We went from an "ordinary life" to a life far from ordinary We proved to ourselves we could learn new skills It enabled us to retire early It opened our eyes that nothing was impossible

If we can do this so can you.

The Dream Travel Experience: Not Just for One, But for Everyone!

I know a lot of people who would like to travel to different destinations around the world. It is anticipated that with different people come different interests. For example there are those who want to travel to go sightseeing and widen their circle of friends, and there are others who do so simply because they want to explore different mouth-watering cuisines on different settings. However, there always seems to be a concern. One would love to have the privilege of pursuing this interest at a very convenient price, yet they may not have ideas in mind.

Well, let me give you some options that you may find interesting - destinations that will give you a journey that you and your folks would never forget. Let me start with the Disney Cruise Line. This would give you the chance to enjoy a delightful dining experience in any of the ship's grand restaurants such as Remy and Palo if you are into adult exclusive dining, Pinocchio's Pizzeria if you love eating pizza, and Beach Blanket Buffet for those who want to munch on hamburgers, wraps, and grilled chicken and a whole lot more.

If you are looking for another option, say you want to avail of beverage packages, you may want to consider a Royal Caribbean Cruise. You can take advantage of the wine packages where you can save up to twenty five per cent off on multi-bottle Diamond, Platinum, or Gold Wine Package. For those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, you may consider juice packages where you can have up to twenty five per cent discount on Minute Maid bottled juice packages. For soda lovers, you can have unlimited refills on a particular branded fountain product in venues such as the Windjammer Café and the Main Dining Room. You won't regret availing of this package since this includes getting a souvenir cup worth keeping!

What about if we give you another excellent suggestion, say the Princess Cruises? Here you have quite a handful of choices like ultimate balcony dining if you want to be surrounded by spectacular views while taking pleasure in a romantic meal, casual dining options if you like sipping an afternoon tea with cookies, pastries, and white-glove service, or you may consider poolside options if you want to take pleasure in eating cooked-to-order hamburgers, hot dog from the grill, or hand-tossed pizza.

Now that you have information on choices that are available and convenient, you may now want to search for and gather helpful information regarding a wide selection of travel agencies, and talk with one that would provide you with not just one, two or three options but can also offer you a wide variety of dining options to choose from. Once you have finalized your travel plans, you may now be on your way to having a fine drink and dine experience. So who says traveling is very expensive? Travel nowadays need not be a burden but instead of a memorable and awe-inspiring experience. Lush travelling can now be accessible to all!

A Guide to Charter Vacations

Once you have made a decision to go on a cruise vacation, the next step is to make the necessary bookings. It is important to finalize your reservations with the boat charter firm. You may not know what to expect if this is your very first experience with charter vacations. Thus, it is necessary to conduct a research on destinations, type of vessel, costs, amenities, terms and conditions, and other miscellaneous items. Review the charter contract to understand all the details before getting back at the reservations agent.

Think big so opt for the bigger and more reputable charter cruises that operate several vessels worldwide. This means bigger sea craft with hulls of more than 50 feet. You can also opt for small companies and vessels depending on the number of passengers as well as the preferred destination. Understand the payment policies carefully. The fundamental rule is boat rental companies normally require 50 percent down payment upon signing of contract. The balance should be settled at least one month before the actual voyage. Clients have the responsibility of providing finances for Advance Provisioning Allowance for food, beverages, medical requirements, and other supplemental expenses. Inquire regarding accident, cancellation and travel. A number of firms require procurement of travel insurance for passengers before boarding the vessel. Come up with a budget for the whole cruise so it is essential to map out your itinerary in collaboration with the booking agent. Try to include all expense categories in the financial plan that you will prepare. It is important to decide if you need a skipper and crew or you will be in charges of the entire trip. This is supposed to be a holiday for you and your loved ones so take into account amenities, weather conditions and special equipment. Decide on the number of passengers. You have to ascertain the actual number of your party (adults and children) so you will know room and bed requirements, amenities, type of meals to be cooked and relevant leisure pursuits. You need to find out the needs of kids such as toys or any other special considerations.

Be mindful of safety precautions and risks during travel. Coordinate with the Charter Company and crew to ensure that it will be a pleasant and safe journey for all of you. Do not sign any contract unless all details have been cleared and explained to you by the charter agent.

A Guide to Charter Vacations

Once you have made a decision to go on a cruise vacation, the next step is to make the necessary bookings. It is important to finalize your reservations with the boat charter firm. You may not know what to expect if this is your very first experience with charter vacations. Thus, it is necessary to conduct a research on destinations, type of vessel, costs, amenities, terms and conditions, and other miscellaneous items. Review the charter contract to understand all the details before getting back at the reservations agent.

Think big so opt for the bigger and more reputable charter cruises that operate several vessels worldwide. This means bigger sea craft with hulls of more than 50 feet. You can also opt for small companies and vessels depending on the number of passengers as well as the preferred destination. Understand the payment policies carefully. The fundamental rule is boat rental companies normally require 50 percent down payment upon signing of contract. The balance should be settled at least one month before the actual voyage. Clients have the responsibility of providing finances for Advance Provisioning Allowance for food, beverages, medical requirements, and other supplemental expenses. Inquire regarding accident, cancellation and travel. A number of firms require procurement of travel insurance for passengers before boarding the vessel. Come up with a budget for the whole cruise so it is essential to map out your itinerary in collaboration with the booking agent. Try to include all expense categories in the financial plan that you will prepare. It is important to decide if you need a skipper and crew or you will be in charges of the entire trip. This is supposed to be a holiday for you and your loved ones so take into account amenities, weather conditions and special equipment. Decide on the number of passengers. You have to ascertain the actual number of your party (adults and children) so you will know room and bed requirements, amenities, type of meals to be cooked and relevant leisure pursuits. You need to find out the needs of kids such as toys or any other special considerations.

Be mindful of safety precautions and risks during travel. Coordinate with the Charter Company and crew to ensure that it will be a pleasant and safe journey for all of you. Do not sign any contract unless all details have been cleared and explained to you by the charter agent.

The Dream Travel Experience: Not Just for One, But for Everyone!

I know a lot of people who would like to travel to different destinations around the world. It is anticipated that with different people come different interests. For example there are those who want to travel to go sightseeing and widen their circle of friends, and there are others who do so simply because they want to explore different mouth-watering cuisines on different settings. However, there always seems to be a concern. One would love to have the privilege of pursuing this interest at a very convenient price, yet they may not have ideas in mind.

Well, let me give you some options that you may find interesting - destinations that will give you a journey that you and your folks would never forget. Let me start with the Disney Cruise Line. This would give you the chance to enjoy a delightful dining experience in any of the ship's grand restaurants such as Remy and Palo if you are into adult exclusive dining, Pinocchio's Pizzeria if you love eating pizza, and Beach Blanket Buffet for those who want to munch on hamburgers, wraps, and grilled chicken and a whole lot more.

If you are looking for another option, say you want to avail of beverage packages, you may want to consider a Royal Caribbean Cruise. You can take advantage of the wine packages where you can save up to twenty five per cent off on multi-bottle Diamond, Platinum, or Gold Wine Package. For those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, you may consider juice packages where you can have up to twenty five per cent discount on Minute Maid bottled juice packages. For soda lovers, you can have unlimited refills on a particular branded fountain product in venues such as the Windjammer Café and the Main Dining Room. You won't regret availing of this package since this includes getting a souvenir cup worth keeping!

What about if we give you another excellent suggestion, say the Princess Cruises? Here you have quite a handful of choices like ultimate balcony dining if you want to be surrounded by spectacular views while taking pleasure in a romantic meal, casual dining options if you like sipping an afternoon tea with cookies, pastries, and white-glove service, or you may consider poolside options if you want to take pleasure in eating cooked-to-order hamburgers, hot dog from the grill, or hand-tossed pizza.

Now that you have information on choices that are available and convenient, you may now want to search for and gather helpful information regarding a wide selection of travel agencies, and talk with one that would provide you with not just one, two or three options but can also offer you a wide variety of dining options to choose from. Once you have finalized your travel plans, you may now be on your way to having a fine drink and dine experience. So who says traveling is very expensive? Travel nowadays need not be a burden but instead of a memorable and awe-inspiring experience. Lush travelling can now be accessible to all!