Cruising Musing

By Ray Brasted

This not so much a review as it is a reflection of my random thoughts following a week cruising on the Celebrity Solstice out of Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Departure: A ten minute taxi ride, a fifteen minute boarding process and we were on the ship and soon in our stateroom, followed shortly by our luggage. We embarked through Terminal 18, the largest terminal in the world for a single ship, the Oasis built by Royal Caribbean.

The Food: We started eating as soon after we unpacked and pretty much did not stop until the day we got back off the ship in Fort Lauderdale. The phrase "it's all good" took on a special meaning on this week. It was boring to keep putting down excellent on our comment cards so I threw in a couple of very goods to keep it real.

Entertainment: This is tough because as Cruise Director John Grantham put it, entertainment is subjective. Just go with the flow and you will have a good time because these are professionals who really give it everything they've got. I was giving a standing ovation more often then not.

The Captain's Club. This is a perk for VIP and frequent cruisers and a nice perk it is. Getting your clothes washed and folded and your formal night shirt pressed is special. And then there is the private club where you can sip cocktails before dinner. No additional comments needed here.

Visiting in the ports of call: I will always remember the driver and tour guide of the small bus we took for an hour tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They took four less  passengers so they could fit a mobility scooter on the seat for a passenger who could not walk. They had to dismantle the scooter and put it back together which they did without fanfare.

Arguing: Shouting matches and verbal sparring seems to be part of the island culture in the Caribbean. Don't confuse these sometimes vitriolic exchanges with real fighting. Apparently it is a way to blow off steam and you usually find out the individuals involved are close friends or family. Still it can be off-putting to some travelers who think nothing of engaging with ongoing and more damaging spats with their partners.

Cruise Passengers: We encountered many friendly and helpful folk, many of who were more experienced in this mode of travel then we were. They were eager to give us tips and advice about activities on board and the ports of call. You have to do your own investigation however, because frequent cruisers can become a bit jaded and their assessments tempered with experiences you might be seeing for the first time.

Verandas: If you can afford it get a stateroom with a veranda. To sit there reading a book while the ocean slides away below is one of the most soothing experiences I have had. At night, with the sliding door ajar, I was gently rocked to sleep while the waves swoosh along in rhythm. And after two days in open sea I was in awe that I had not seen land or another ship in all that time.  Great reality check.

Coming Home: Somehow you are ready and not ready at the same time. Watching the cargo hold being loaded with supplies for the turn-around just a few hours away, I realized we had been part of something unique in human culture. A cruise ship is a time machine that travels on waves of fantasy and ultimately we were like the swells rolling beneath the ship. We went to sea, but ultimately it was time to return to the shore.