GET A ROOM

As we continue to look forward to setting sail (we now have less than 60 days remaining), a new thought for a post occurred to me as I spoke today with someone who had never before been on a cruise.  I am no cruise “expert”, however I have been on enough cruises to have learned a couple of things about getting the right stateroom.   This is not a difficult process, but for a “rookie” cruiser a few helpful hints might make for a much more pleasant first cruise.

Hint #1: Don’t overspend on a stateroom, you probably aren’t going to spend much time there. 

Many years ago, after we returned from out first cruise, Joni and I excitedly recommended to all our friends that they too should go on a cruise.  One couple promptly scheduled their first cruise and booked one of the most luxurious suites available.  They returned very disappointed.  They loudly complained about the “cost” and swore they would never take another cruise.

Remember, everyone eats the same food and sees the same shows.   The couple that is staying in the most luxurious balcony suite will be standing in the same buffet line as everyone else.  The same Room Service that brings a PBnJ to one room will bring a T-bone steak to the room right across the corridor.  Stop and consider what you will be using your stateroom for; showering, sleeping, and changing clothes.

If you plan correctly, only a very small amount of the money you spend on your cruise will be represented by the stateroom you call home during your vacation.  However, you can spend a lot!!! on your cruise and stay in the finest suite offered. In which case, much of the vacation dollars will be represented by your stateroom accommodations.  Keep all things, including your expectations, in perspective.  What can you expect?  No matter what the cost, you can expect your stateroom to be very clean.  You can expect your room to be very well serviced by your stateroom steward.   Just be careful about your expectations about stateroom “size”.

Hint #2   Select the best deck for your stateroom.

Do I mean to suggest that some decks are better than others?  Exactly.  As a matter of fact, your choice of deck may be even more important than which stateroom you select.  How well will you sleep when your stateroom is directly beneath the Disco?  Not well.  In theory the higher the deck the more potential for “roll” movement.  How close are you to the massive engines that propel your 100,000 ton vessel through the water?  These are but a few considerations when selecting a deck.

How do you possibly know which deck would best suit your needs?  If you are booking your cruise through a Travel Agent, let them advise you.  However, you can easily do your own research online.  There are websites that can provide you with very good guidance for each specific ship.  http://cruiseadvice.org/CruiseShips/BestCabins.aspx?ShipName=jewel+of+the+seas

Hint #3   Select the best stateroom.

You are looking for three things when it comes to stateroom selection.  First, you should do your best to be amidships.  This will help reduce felt movement caused by the ship “pitching” up and down.   If you are worried about motion sickness, then book a stateroom as close to the middle (front to back) as possible.

The second thing is a little “trick” that could mean that you will receive the very best stateroom stewards on the ship.  Select an interior room that is directly across the corridor from the “suites”.   Cruise Lines will most likely have their finest stewards working the suites.  If you are directly across from these luxury staterooms, you may very well have the best of the best taking care of your (much less expensive) stateroom as well.

The third thing is to be aware of the proximity to elevators.  Having a room near elevators could be very noisy.  Again, the internet can be your friend.  Deck plans are easily found online.  You can quickly find stateroom locations relative to other ship features.   You can then coordinate your research with your Travel Agent.  

Hint #4  Balcony rooms…  

I have never taken a cruise with an exterior balcony room.   However, Joni’s parents did many times, and they offered me some insight which I will share here. Typically, the amount of actual floor space of a cruise ship stateroom balcony is VERY small.  There are exceptions, but usually a balcony offers only a few square feet of space; normally enough for perhaps 2 small deck chairs.   Can you sit outside and enjoy the wonderful salt air, or watch a beautiful sunrise or sunset?  Yes.  But, don’t expect to be dancing the Foxtrot beneath the stars with your spouse on your own private balcony.

There is a reason, however, that would tempt me to someday pay the price for a balcony room.  What is it, you ask, that would make me willing to pay several hundred dollars more for our stateroom?  I would love to be able to open the balcony door and let the sea breeze come into our stateroom on a hot Caribbean night.

Summary:  Choose your stateroom and enjoy your cruise.  

Selecting a room is not a burden.  It can actually be a lot of fun.  The more invested you are in the details of your cruise, the more satisfaction you might ultimately enjoy. 

Oh… one more thing.

Don’t trust the pictures you see on the Cruise Line websites.   A skilled photographer and the right camera lens can provide a less than realistic view of what a stateroom might really be.

LUGGAGE

We’ve all heard the adage: “You get what you pay for.”  Nowhere can this truism be more realized than in the matter of travel luggage.  It doesn’t matter whether it is a wheeled upright, a garment bag, or a duffle, you get what you pay for.  It doesn’t matter if it is soft sided or hard bodied.  You can spend less and spend it more often, which will mean you will also suffer the frustration and inconvenience of broken wheels and zippers, and expanding handles that don’t expand.  Or… you can spend more, and spend it less often, and avoid the aforementioned hassles.  

If you suffer from “designer brands” syndrome,  if your style DNA requires you to be seen with the latest “logo” fabrics and attached labels, then much of what you will find in this post will be useless.  My comments will lean toward a more practical understanding of how to transport your belongings from one place to the other.  Additionally, you can expect to pay more than the rest of us, and what you gain from the increased cost will have less to do with performance and more to do with how you “feel” about being “seen” by complete strangers standing next to you at the departure gate.

We travel a lot.  Perhaps not as much as the businessman / salesman who travels daily.  But, we probably are well above average in the amount of miles we log by land, sea, and air.  Over the years Joni and I have spent a lot on luggage.  For many years we followed the path of “spend less”.  I remember many times standing in JC Penny calculating the differences between one “sale” over another… “Wow!  We can get 6 pieces of luggage for $89!!”   And… we have spent $89, or $99, or $129, over, and over, and over again.  

We (and our stuff) have gone to a lot of wonderful destinations and made it safely back home.  Here’s what I’ve learned about “cheap” luggage: It may transport your stuff, but some crucial component WILL AWLAYS break when you need most for it not to do so.

A few years ago, we did something that I am very loathe to do.  We spent a whole bunch of money on an impulse purchase.  On a casual evening out, Joni and I decided to stop at Briarwood Mall.  We were needing to replace broken pieces of our $129 “set of six” for an upcoming trip, although that is not why we went to the Mall.  There we were, standing somewhere between JC Penny and Sears when we looked up and spotted a very small shop; “Ed’s Luggage”.  

What happened over the next 45 minutes would improve our traveling experiences for a very long time to come.  We would end up several hundreds of dollars poorer, but “much more pleasant travels” richer.  What we ended up purchasing were 2 pieces of Briggs and Riley luggage.  Also, I should note that it was great to be dealing with someone who knew their business / products, as opposed to some part-time department store employee that didn't have a clue.

What I have learned is that whether it is a weekend lover’s get-a-way, or several days at sea, “stuff” happens.  You should always expect for any number of things to not go as planned.  If you cannot handle having think on the run… to trouble shoot your way out of an unplanned contingency…  if having to adapt to unplanned inconveniences causes you to get stressed out!!!, then you should probably stay home.   With this in mind, why should you have the very real possibility of “luggage failure” built into your plans when it is quite possible not to do so?  Eliminate known problems beforehand so that you can concentrate on dealing with the unavoidable problems that are naturally inherit in the traveling experience and beyond your ability to prevent.

Briggs and Riley, founded in 1993, is based out of Hauppauge, New York.  Perhaps their best know feature is their “Simple as that” guarantee.  You can learn about it by visiting either their website http://www.briggs-riley.com/ ,or one of their retailers.  Because I had suffered for years from the problems created by poorly made luggage, the Briggs and Riley guarantee was a very important point for me to consider.

I know some that are big fans of carry-on luggage.  I’m not one of them.  It is true that carrying your luggage along with you has its advantages.  However, for the way that we like to travel, I want to “check” as much as possible.

The two pieces we purchased were the 20 in. and the 27 in. Expandable Wide-Body Uprights.  Both are two-wheeled cases, as opposed to the popular “four-wheeled spinners”.  They connect quickly and effortlessly with a well engineered strap, which makes pulling over 85-90 lbs. of stuff through airport terminals a breeze.  The strap remains securely in place until it is easily disconnected and then stowed in one of the front zippered compartments.  

Both pieces also feature a built in tri-fold garment compartment that works very nicely for stowing my tuxes, and Joni’s evening gowns.  I like this feature very much.  It eliminates the need for a separate Garment Bag.  Garment Bags that I have owned previously offered very little protection for expensive clothing, and were notoriously bad about falling apart / open during transit.  These Briggs and Riley bags provide amazing protection when compared to other options.

Let’s face it, luggage is luggage.  Overall it is a pretty simple thing designed to do a difficult but necessary job.  Although any premium luggage maker will boast about its own “exclusive” features, what I learned about owning well made, well designed luggage is that nice features are not really what you are paying for.  What you are getting for the premium price is obvious once you take your first trip.   Briggs and Riley luggage is made to last.  It is very… very… well made.  Premium materials, well built… ready to do the rugged job required.  It is dependable.

One disadvantage should be noted concerning the larger 27 in. Upright.  While packing, it is very easy to rapidly exceed the 50 lb. weight limit which most airlines have as their maximum weight without additional charges.  More than once, I have had to “repack” while checking in at the ticket counter.

Also, while it is possible for me to lift a large 50 lb. bag (I do work out at the local fitness center 3-5 days / week), that doesn’t mean that it can be done effortlessly.  And yes… I suppose that I could pay Porters to do my lifting for me… but, I usually don’t.  All of this is to say that one should be careful when purchasing “large” bags.  Just remember, you may have to pick it up!

While it might seem as though I am a paid spokesman for Briggs and Riley, I most certainly am not.  This post is not a review about a specific brand of premium luggage.  My experience with Briggs and Riley serves only to make a point and to offer a few insights that I hope might be helpful.  You get what you pay for, and sometimes being willing to pay a steeper price brings greater benefits than the sum of the separate parts of a few pieces of luggage.
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HATS

Let’s talk hats….

It has now been over a year ago that my Dermatologist said something that I never wanted to hear a Doctor say, “Cancer.”  Life certainly has a way of surprising a person, and this was without question a “surprise”.   He then went on to explain it in a “I’ve got good new, and bad news” sort of way.  The bad news was that a biopsy had revealed cancer. The good news was that it wasn’t going to kill me!   I’m a BIG fan of good news.

We then had a lengthy conversation with both the Dermatologist and his PA about further procedures and prevention.  They outlined for me some strong recommendations on how to proceed with “living”.  Joni and I have always enjoyed being outside in the sunshine, and now it seemed that sunshine was my enemy.  What about boating at the lake?  What about riding the motorcycle?  What about our love of being at sea?   What about my love for sitting beneath the sun on some beautiful tropical stretch of sand?  Their answer was a very simple 2-fold reply: Wear a hat… and use 100+ SPF sunscreen.

Really?   That’s it?  A hat?...  And sunscreen?   I have cancer and that’s what you’ve got to offer me?  You spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and a decade of your life getting your medical degree so that you could tell me to, “Wear a hat”?????  

You're asking, "Did you really say that?" 

Of course not.  But you have to wonder about it; yes?

So now I’m a bit of a hat expert.   And additionally I now have a bit of experience with sunscreens.  If you are a fan of spending time lounging on the open decks of a modern cruise ship… if you love being at sea… here is what I’ve learned.

I really like “Cov-er” brand hats.  They are exceptionally well made.  I really like this “Hood River Organic Cotton Mesh Hat” http://www.adventurehat.com/p-891-hood-river-organic-cotton-mesh-hat.aspx .  It has a very wide 3.25 inch brim which provides very good shade for the face and ears.   Its full mesh crown provides amazing ventilation.  I have worn this hat in full sun 90 degree weather and it was very comfortable.  It is also packable.  I have on many occasions packed it in the front zipper compartment of our Briggs and Riley luggage (I will post about luggage later).  This is my current favorite “go-to” hat.

I also highly recommend www.ADVENTUREHat.com .  Their customer service is fantastic.  They offer free shipping and returns.  They put their money where there mouth is.  When they say 100% satisfaction guaranteed, they mean it.  My size is somewhere between a Large and an Extra-large.  So… because of their help and recommendations, I purchase an XL and they include small strips of adhesive backed felt to place inside the headband for a personalized custom fit.  Their pricing is very reasonable.  And… they feature a huge selection from which to choose.

I picked up a Panama Jack style hat while at the Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach, Florida last summer.  It is a little smaller overall profile for those times when I don’t need a full-coverage hat.  And then there’s the waterproof camo boonie hat for working out in the yard.  This is the one I wear when I don’t want to have to worry about dirt and sweat and such.

So… here’s the skinny on big hats.  In my case, my physician tells me the cancer was caused by a lifetime of accumulated exposure to the sun.  I am now limiting my direct exposure by two very simple and inexpensive methods.  Why not join me in this journey.  Begin to limit your exposure.  Find a hat that suits your style and wear it!  Don't worry for a second about "hats aren't cool".  Let's stop for a moment and put this into perspective.  Answer for yourself where does a hat rate on the "cool scale", and where does cancer rate.  Yeah, that's the same answer I came up with...  

So... sometime, years from now, if you are on a cruise and you see an old guy sitting out on deck on a gorgeous warm and sunny day, his face hidden beneath of shade provided by a wide brimmed hat… say, “Hello”.  It may just be me.

LA PLAZA DE MERCADO DE SANTURCE

The Plaza de Mercado de Santurce looks like a perfect adventure for us to explore while in San Juan.  Fresh local food, more small cafes that I can get to in the few hours that will be available, and... when the sun goes down, sidewalk parties that flow from one to the next.  Local musicians filling the night with some great Salsa music... How could I not include this place in my plans?

The reviews on several online travel sites seem to agree; this is the place to be on Friday nights.  And... guess what?  We will be there on a "Friday" night!  So… I’m kinda gettin’ in the mood for what might best be described as a Puerto Rican Block Party.

Some of the reviews mention "security" issues.  For me, this represents a bit of concern because on a previous stop in San Juan, I too sensed an "street" uneasiness.  As a matter of fact, we didn't spend very long at all in Old San Juan with our daughter's family, until we decided to head back to the ship. It is hard to describe, but it was just a bad situational awareness feeling that I couldn’t shake.  So why then do I think that I will feel differently this time?

Well, number 1, we will be arriving early in the afternoon.  I should have time to get a bit acclimated to my surroundings.  One would think that after having spent the last 2 decades living in the greater Detroit metro area, I would have acquired more than adequate “street” smarts to be able to handle just about anything.  The difference, however, is that I have learned enough about D-town to be able to recognize my surroundings.  I know when I am in a neighborhood where a “white” guy like me doesn’t belong.  Granted, a couple of hours is not a couple of decades worth of experience, but we are going to do everything we can to watch much, learn fast, be careful, and have fun.

Number 2, this place is supposed to be filled with people, both locals and tourists.  This can be both a blessing and a curse.   There should be an abundance of “friendlies”, and that is a blessing.  However, in the midst of those just wanting to have a good time, will be a small number of “undesirables”.  It will be an obvious area for which pickpockets to work, and we will be very much alert for this kind of activity.   

There is another matter that concerns me, and that is the report that taxis are not in abundance.  This again is a concern, but not an unmanageable one.  We have had this to deal with before in other places.  I will make certain that I obtain phone numbers for a couple of cabbies, as well as the front desk of the Hotel.  This should solve the problem.

Number 3, this time I am doing my homework.  I am researching and planning.  I am learning from the mistakes of others, as well as benefiting from the successes.  So... we are planning our work, and looking forward to working our plan.

FORMAL NIGHT ATTIRE

I have many pursuits... many pleasures... many passions in life.  I believe that a person should "live" life.  I have had the opportunity to spend lots of time with people approaching the end of life, and I have never heard anyone spend a lot of time lamenting the activities they enjoyed.  What I have sensed, however, is the sadness of dreams unfulfilled.   The deliciousness of life un-tasted.  The risks not taken... the rewards un-obtained. 

I have learned that one should live while we can... fully... work hard, play hard, love, dance, sing, forgive... move on to the next adventure.  I have also learned that one should dress for the occasion.  When I ride my motorcycle, I wear leather.  Yes, I do.  Heavy black "biker" leather.  I don't ever plan for my body to leave the saddle and hit the hard dark pavement beneath me, but in the unlikely event that I do... I want to have some nasty, thick cowhide, between my tender flesh and the rock hard concrete roadbed. 

There truly are many "uniforms" that we wear in life; each one suited to the particular endeavor in which we pursue.  Cruising is no different.  Cruising has its necessary attire.  There is casual wear for strolling about the Ports.  There is beach wear for while sitting around the ship's pool, or beneath an umbrella on some beautiful sandy beach.  Perhaps I will take time in a subsequent post to talk about "hats".  But... for now... I want to talk about "Formal Night" attire.

Continuing my preparations for this upcoming Cruise, I wanted to obtain a new off-white Dinner Jacket.  This past week (Black Friday) I found one at a very good price at Jos. A. Bank.   When I ordered it, I was told that it would probably be a month before it would arrive.  "No problem", I confidently replied.  There are advantages to preparing early.  So... I was pleasantly surprised when I got call early this week that the jacket had arrived.

A Dinner Jacket is not a necessity for Formal Night.  Most Cruises do not "enforce" a dress code for Formal Nights.  They typically offer "suggestions" for how to dress for usually two Formal Nights.  Most ladies will be wearing tea-length evening dresses or long gowns.  Many men will be wearing "jacket -n- tie".  Sadly, a few will be wearing Cruise Casual on Formal Nights.  However... I found long ago that I enjoy showing up as if I know what Formal Night really is.  Maybe it is a ZZ Top, "Cause every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man" sort of thing.

Some years ago, as we were nearing a departure date for an upcoming cruise, I had dropped Joni off at the Salon for her routine "whatever".  I decided that I would use the few minutes available to go out to our local Mall.  When I picked Joni up about an hour later, she noticed something hanging from the hook behind the driver's seat. 

"What is that?", she asked. 

"Oh, nothing..." I responded.  "I just bought a Tux." 

"A what?!?!"

If you're going to a party, you should dress for the occasion; right?   Sure you should.  And that purchase has served me very well over the last several years.  But, this year I wanted to add to my Formal Night wardrobe.  And... I think that a white Dinner Jacket will be a very nice addition.  I also think that it will look very good as Joni and I Foxtrot our way over the hardwood dance floor on the Jewel of the Seas.  Yes?

VACATION PREPPERS

Preparations continue... 

Sony NEX-3N w/ Zoom lens

The new camera has been purchased.  It is a Sony NEX-3N.  We purchased a "package" which includes a 55-210 zoom lens.  We added a UV filter to our pile of goodies.  A UV filter is great for reducing haze, but more importantly it is a very inexpensive way to protect a lens worth hundreds.  I also picked up a polarizing filter.  This is, IMHO, an absolute necessity for taking quality outdoor shots.  By the time I was finished, my wallet was significantly lighter, and the "package" was ultimately heavier / larger than I would have wished for.  However, it does a lot more than the ol' point-n-shoot Panasonic Lumix which it is replacing.  And... it is indeed a fraction of the weight / size of the 35mm Olympus OM-10 that I took on our first Cruise.

Test photos so far have been great, and although I haven't even begun to explore the massive capabilities of this little technological miracle, I am very impressed with the ease of use.  I am looking forward to posting some great pics and videos here in just a few more months.