July 23, 2011: Ignorance, mumbling and beer

Realized my now 6 page planning sheet needs a couple more topics. Tipping and Etiquette. Other than business in Asia, I've never been outside of the Americas. I'm clueless!

I know Americans tip well, and I also know tipping in some places is quite rude. I know nothing about Europe and tipping in restaurants and bars. Well, that turned out to be easy enough. Generally, the service charge is included, and if you get exceptional service you can leave something more, usually rounding up the bill. There some other intricacies, like buying one for the bartender in UK. They'll either have a drink (wish they could do that here...) or take a small amount out of your tab.

Etiquette wise, I know being loud is extremely rude. Fortunately, I'm quite quiet, much to my wife's chagrin. I get accused of mumbling a lot. I'm actually quite clear, just that I have a low frequency voice, and a low volume. I'm not mumbling, I'm just inaudible (sorry, hon). :D  There are however, unintended gestures one might use. Also it's good to know that Norweigians and the Dutch are pretty direct. This can be seen as rudeness, but it's really just openness and honesty. Knowing what to expect of people will keep me from worrying I offended someone.

Just realized another page is needed. Beer. I love beer. I love trying out new beers. I really love finding a great beer. Need to research on what brands to watch for. This is supposed to be a cultural experience, after all. :D  I suppose wines would be a good idea, too. We can bring wine and champagne on the ship for use in the room, but not beer (that makes a lot of sense...). So I'd like to pick up a bottle at each port for relax time in the room. I don't know a lot about wines, but I do like it before or during dinner at times.

My notes are up to 8 pages now, but if it's not 20 by the time I'm done, I'll be shocked. I'm a meticulous planner, and like to have lots of information available. I don't even want to think about the packing list...

July 6, 2011: And so begins pages and pages of notes

Now going into planning overdrive despite the cruise being still a year away. Drawing up simple language cheat sheets, getting currency rates. When does the sun rise? When does it set? Happy to see after 11 PM in some places. Trying to figure out what little extravagances to bring aboard. A radio jumps to the top of the list. Shortwave for Voice of America to keep up at home and to just fiddle around with, and FM to get some local flavor. 

Some genius online suggests “your own pillow” and a nightlight. Brilliant, I love it! Some DVD’s to supplement the onboard options. Have to think up some other stuff. Maybe some pictures of the family and dogs might be nice. Being away 5 weeks from the pups will be tough. One will be 13 years old, so there will be some cause of anxiety there.

Got flummoxed at all the options and requirements for a cell phone while we’re gone to stay in touch from time to time. Cruisecritic.com comes through again with the option of just getting a global phone from Verizon (my current carrier). It’ll work on the US systems, so I just need to replace my old phone and I’m good to go. Easy breezy.

Decided with all this activity and thoughts to create this blog today. Lots to share, even before we set foot on board. Neesh can look at this over the years and hold on to the memories. With my memory, it's not a bad idea, too. :)

July 5, 2011: Planning renews and Catholic guilt

Left the port planning alone for a while, but now back into it. I notice there’s some high hills around Nanortalik in Greenland. I contact the folks at the town's website, and am informed I have plenty of time to do a hike there with a guide for $50. I’d normally balk at guides, but this seems wise and not a bad price for 3 hours. Having some local companionship is only a bonus. 

People ask me where we’re going in December’s 10 day cruise, and I only have a vague idea (other than “away”). Sad. That would be an luxury to a lot of people, and I’m hardly even thinking about that now. I feel guilty. Then again, I feel guilty at most anything.

May-June, 2011: Saving and the planning begins

Socking away cash. Bonus at work doesn’t hurt any. Starting to look in detail at the ports. Cool hiking in Bergen, thanks to a funicular that goes up high. Definitely something that Neesh can do. The fjord in Gerainger looks stunning. This should be easily a favorite.

Our two friends are waiting for certain things to work out before they book, but have confidence they’ll make it. They strike me as the perfect couple to go with, leaving us plenty of our own time, but getting together from time to time to share laughs and experiences.

Apr 6, 2011 - Approved!

Approved. I am completely psyched up now. Nagging worries I’m still pushing my luck, so I talk to the head honcho to make sure all is well, and am more than assured it is. I guess busting your butt and getting things done does get noticed. 

Can’t wait to get home, Neesh and I talk again about if we’re sure about this. Couldn’t be more sure. Off to call the travel agent, and got booked into a Guarantee category Verandah.This means that  this is the minimum category that we’ll get (I like gambling on an upgrade), but you have no choice where you end up on the ship, which matters little to us. 

Crazy. How did we pull this off? Our heads are now swimming. Good stuff.

Mar, 2011 (part 3)

I explain the situation to the boss. Just need to borrow a week of vacation from this year. He will check. I don’t think I’ll get it. I’m fairly senior here, and over a month away from work seems selfish and excessive. Oh well, I asked.

Talking to a couple friends at the tavern, they are interested in this trip. Excellent, it’d be nice to have a couple of familiar faces around for 5 weeks. But, nothing to do without approval.

I wait. And wait. And wait. Maybe 3 weeks. My boss reassures me he hasn’t forgotten me. Sigh, it won’t happen, but it was a nice dream for a while.

Mar, 2011 - The Beginning (part 2)

We go out to dinner. Throw a couple drinks down the gullet and then show her the itinerary. Yep, predictable. “How can we? How can you get the time off? I LOVE IT!”. OK, preliminary approval given. Work out the finances (35 days ain’t cheap), running the cheapest stateroom, and also for my choice a Verandah Suite. Given that it’s a year and a half away, there’s plenty of time. I desperately want the suite because it is 5 weeks, and I want a space that feels like home, not a tight box. Usually I have no qualms about the smallest cabin, this time’s a little different. I expect to spend a fair amount of time hanging in the cabin.

Numbers work. Will take a lot of saving, but do-able. Next step is to convince Neesh to go with the Suite. Takes some doing, but my logic (or insistence, more likely) wins out.

Now for the tough part. Work.

Mar, 2011 - The Beginning (part 1)

It all started much the way it always does. Poking around for a great vacation deal for my wife and I, and was looking for cruises this time, preferably from where I don’t have to fly (which I now hate to do). Hmmm, what’s out of Boston. Ah, here’s some stuff. What’s this? Hmmm, 35 days? Well, I’m a daydreamer, so let the imagination rip. Interesting ports, always wanted to go to Iceland and Greenland. Round trip from Boston? Zero flying? Hmmm.

The itinerary includes Maine, Newfoundland, Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, England, the Faroe Islands, with different stops on the way back across.

Wake up dummy. You can’t take 5 weeks in a row off. Couldn’t shake it out of my head all day though. It then hit me. These are the kinds of cruises people do when they retire. My wife has Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. This isn’t the more common Relapsing-Remitting variety, which comes and goes. This is the kind that affects one all the time, and just when you think you’ve adjusted, gets worse. Repeat. Plateaus and downhills. Pretty sucky.

So I’ve accepted that retirement for us doesn’t mean a whole lot in the fun department. So why shouldn’t I do this now? First thing is to see what Neesh would think.

Of course, much as it starts the way it always does, the outcome is just as predictable.