SMOOTH SAILING

A seasoned cruiser’s take on 3 ships and the right voyage for you

Ibegan cruising the high seas in 1985. My greatest fear as I walked the gang plank that first time was seasickness. My second fear — in the era of “The Love Boat” — was sailing with a ship full of “old people.”

After the mandatory safety drill, I returned my life vest to my stateroom and then headed to the deck. I was surprised to see the skyline of Miami disappearing beneath the horizon. I had no idea that we were moving!

The ship was so smooth, seasickness was not a problem.

And, to my delight, the ship wasn’t overrun with senior travelers. There were plenty of young people, couples and families aboard.

Over the past 35 years, I’ve enjoyed more than 20 cruise vacations on eight cruise lines that have taken me to Australia, Russia, Tahiti, South America and many ports in between. My adventures have ranged from eight to 31 days, and all have been memorable.

Accommodations have run the gamut, from a tiny interior cabin with no window to a two-bedroom, two-bath suite complete with wet bar and 24/7 staff and room service. (The latter can be quite economical for friends traveling together and splitting the cost of the suite.) Most often, I opt for a stateroom with a veranda or balcony.

Along with seeing ports of call around STORY + PHOTOGRAPHY HOWARD T. SWAIN JR.

the world, I enjoy the flexible pace of the cruise lifestyle. Shipboard activities are numerous and varied. There are lectures, cooking classes, luxury shopping, spa treatments, art auctions, dance lessons, exercise classes, and yes ... even napkin-folding classes. In port, you have the option of an add-on shore excursion or time on your own.

Shipboard dining ranges from casual to formal, with plenty of opportunities to try new and sometimes exotic fare.

For these reasons and so many more, 2020 will see me sailing to the western Caribbean on a new “Golden Girls”- themed cruise from Miami. I also have

booked a fall foliage cruise from upper Canada to Boston, and a Christmas cruise from Florida to Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras.

Currently, the marketing of cruise vacations seems to be geared toward newer, bigger and more luxurious ships. My advice: Select an itinerary and a level of accommodation that suits your personality and needs; determine a price point that fits your budget; and work with a reputable travel agent to get the best deals.

Remember, you can be as active or as laidback as you like on a cruise. After all, it’s your vacation.

In 2019, I sailed on three relatively new vessels from three cruise compa

nies. While the fares were comparable, the experiences were surprisingly different. Here’s a ship-by-ship comparison. In each case, accommodations were a stateroom with a balcony or veranda.

MSC SEASIDE January 2019

Launched: 2017 Capacity: 5,119 passengers Embarkation/disembarkation: Miami Itinerary: Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Georgetown, Cayman Islands; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico Highlight: Costa Maya Accommodations: Small, tight quarters Service: Average, on such a new ship with so much advertising hype you would think there would be a higher level of customer service. Sadly, this was not the case. Food quality/presentation: Buffet for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks; two main dining rooms and four specialty restaurants for dinner. The Butcher’s Cut was the best of the specialty selections; food, service and presentation, exceptional. Entertainment: The Metropolitan Theatre offers two shows nightly and a different show was presented each night of our cruise. Advance reservations required; live music, karaoke, group activities and games throughout the ship afternoon through late evening; first-run movies under the stars. Extras: Free Voyagers Club membership for daily specials, dedicated events and discounts on future cruises;17 bar locations — however, none were adequately staffed; glamorous Miami Casino; two-story shopping mall; private cabanas; children’s program.

CELEBRITY EDGE March 2019

Launched: 2018 Capacity: 2,918 passengers Embarkation/disembarkation: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Itinerary: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten Highlight: San Juan The Celebrity Edge, docked in Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Accommodations: Innovative Infinite Veranda design; spacious, stylish. Service: Outstanding. Celebrity chose many of the best staff members from its entire fleet of 10 ships and assigned them to The Edge. We ran into crew members we remembered and knew from past cruises, and they called us by name. Food quality/presentation: Buffet for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks; four main dining rooms for dinner, each with a specific decor theme. Book early and try all four: The Cosmopolitan, The Normandie, The Tuscan and The Cyprus; Le Petit Chef & Friends at Le Grand Bistro is a dining and interactive entertainment experience of a lifetime; food, service and presentation, exceptional. Entertainment: Two shows nightly and different shows each night in the theater. We enjoyed Marcus Terell & The Serenades (from Season 4 of “America’s Got Talent”), comedians, impressionists, Bandaoke (live band karaoke). Extras: Original artwork in public areas; two-story shopping mall with Tiffany & Co.,

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Bvlgari, other luxury European brands; Revelation at Eden, an unforgettable immersive entertainment experience; late-night rooftop garden parties; threestory martini bar with an incredible chandelier and bartenders who dance and juggle; The Magic Carpet, a huge moving platform on the side of the ship that serves as a bar by day and a thrilling dining location by night with tables literally suspended mid-air over the ocean; full-service luggage valet service, from stateroom to airport check-in counter. Talk about convenience! As noted by Architectural Digest, “this new $5 billion class of cruise ships exceeds the boundaries of innovation.”

VIKING STAR May 2019

Launched: 2015 Capacity: 930 passengers Embarkation/disembarkation: Venice Itinerary: Koper, Slovenia; Zadar and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu/Olympia/Santorini and Athens, Greece Highlight: Kotor Accommodations: Efficient, wellappointed. Service: Excellent in all dining locations and bars; first-rate cabin attendants. Food quality/presentation: Smaller food selection than larger ships but wonderful nonetheless. Three main restaurants, plus a pool grill and World Cafe; two specialty restaurants available at no additional charge. Manfredi’s was our favorite. However, The Chef’s Table was a gastronomic treat. Free room service. Entertainment: The Star Theater offers variety acts almost nightly. The Viking Band with its two vocalists was the highlight of the nighttime entertainment; The Living Room has rotating musicians and singers nightly. Extras: Complimentary, professionally guided tours at each port of call; formal afternoon tea daily featuring live classical music; flight check-in available onboard prior to disembarkation.

The writer is twice retired from careers in telecommunications and online retail sales. He currently works part time as a travel professional and senior sales associate for Landmark Luggage at One Pacific Place. His passion for cruising has taken him around the world.

The Doge’s Palace from a water taxi on the Grand Canal in Venice. The Viking Star departed from this port city.

CRUISING: FOUR REALMS OF ENJOYMENT

“A cruise ship can be a destination in itself or the boutique hotel that takes you from one destination to another,” says Elisa Aust of Custom Cruises & Travel in Omaha.

“If you took a cruise and didn’t like it, you probably weren’t on the right ship,” she says.

She breaks the cruising experience into four realms:

CONTEMPORARY Royal Caribbean, NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line), Carnival

These ships embrace families, multigenerational travel groups and active 30- to 60-year-olds with amusement park or resort-like atmospheres.

PREMIUM Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, Oceania

This category doesn’t necessarily indicate a boost in price; it’s just a different atmosphere. “These lines are very much open to families and multigenerational groups but they don’t have above-and-beyond extras.” You will find special attractions, however. Celebrity, for example, has the largest wine cellar at sea. “That doesn’t mean it’s a boozy weekend cruise,” Aust says. Think wine experience, martini bars and live entertainment. Holland America is known for its original art; Oceania is foodieoriented.

SMALLER LUXURY LINES Seabourn, Silversea, Regent, Crystal Cruises

These typically are all-inclusive, five-star experiences. Pricing includes businessclass airfare, gratuities, shore excursions, gourmet food and wine, and other finer amenities.

RIVER CRUISING, YACHTING, EXPEDITION CRUISING

“Within river cruising you have step-up categories,” Aust says. “There are just so many options out there. And unless you are including a pricing caveat, they’re not comparable.”

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