Family Cruising - Risk & Reward

Family Cruising - Risk & Reward

by Sherri Caldwell - The Rebel Housewife® - All Rights Reserved.

For more information, contact sherri@rebelhousewife.com.




It happens every time?!?!



December 2011: We got back home on Christmas Day from a fantastic five-night family cruise adventure on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Haiti and Jamaica. Three weeks later, we were horrified to see twenty-four hour news coverage of the Carnival (parent company) Costa Concordia disaster -- the huge luxury liner (so similar to the one we had just been on) ran aground, fell over and partially sank off the coast of Italy. Captain’s error was ultimately found responsible, compounded by uncoordinated and chaotic emergency response and rescue procedures. With 4,200 lives aboard, 32 were lost.

In spite of the risks and dangers brought home by that cruise disaster, the success of our first family cruise led to our second cruise, one year later. We cruised again, because, as it turns out, cruising is, for our family of five, the perfect family vacation with teenagers. And, as my husband points out, it is still safer than the results of an airplane mishap 30,000 feet in the air.

December 2012: We enjoyed an incredible seven-night cruise on the Norwegian Star: New Orleans to Costa Maya, Mexico; to Belize; to Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel. Our second cruise was near-perfect, with the exception of bad weather, severe wind and high waves in Cozumel, forcing cancellation of all water excursions, including our underwater mini-sub adventure. It seemed like a disaster at the time, albeit a small one, quickly remedied by riding out the storm in port at Señor Frog’s Cozumel, drinking (sodas)(of course)(for the kids, anyway), noshing chips & salsa and playing UNO™.

Perhaps we tempted fate, as we landed in Cozumel on 12/21/12 -- the last day of the Mayan calendar and, some believed, maybe the “End of The World.” All was well, even with big ocean swells all the way back from Cozumel. On the Norwegian Star, cruise staff were well-prepared and took care of sea-sick passengers, dispensing free Dramamine at Guest Services and strategically placing barf-bags throughout the ship. They closed off access to the pool deck and the exterior walkways to prevent mishap. All was well.

We got back December 23rd, to be home in time for Christmas 2012. Eight weeks later, a new cruise disaster captivated the media’s attention and airtime, after an engine room fire on the Carnival Triumph disabled the ship 175 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula. Ultimately, the ship was pushed (slowly) by tug boats into port in Mobile, Alabama. The 4,000 cruise passengers and employees suffered 5 long days of horror without power, in the heat and darkness, low on food and with deplorable sanitary conditions, as toilets overflowed. No one died, but no one would argue this would have been a truly miserable vacation.

Will this stop us from cruising?

No one died. People have survived much worse, for much longer: in captivity, hijackings, pirates, surviving the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the Super Dome in New Orleans. All of the cruise ship passengers will be compensated for their Vacation From Hell.

It helps to know the realistic risks and what you might do to avoid or survive in a similar set of circumstances. Believe me, it’s something we have talked about, more than two times.

What could you do? What do we do?

Family Cruising: SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. Reserve outside cabins above -- well above -- the water level.
   
   
2. Take the first-day lifeboat drill and emergency instruction seriously, as a family.
   
   
3. Know where you are supposed to go, in the event of an emergency, and know where everybody is onboard the ship and how to find each other. (Your particular “Muster Station” is indicated on your key card, which you carry with you at all times, even the kids.)
   
   
4. Stay calm and do the best you can. Help others. Make a bad situation better.
   
   
5. Never cruise on Carnival? (I have, but it was 25 years ago, on a very old ship -- never again, since.)

Easier said than done, maybe. But yes, we’ll cruise again. We are already making plans for December 2013. Our biggest concern is choosing between Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines...in our experience, we felt completely safe and prepared for emergencies (as much as you can be), on both of our family cruise adventures. We can hardly wait to cruise again.

Royal Caribbean Cruise: Family Vacation With Teenagers

EXPLORE Cruise & Travel Magazine: Winter 2013

Home Again, Home Again -- New Year Ahead

Home again, home again...

It is December 27th, and I am trying to come up with something profound and thought-provoking, optimistic and reassuring for the New Year. Only 4 days to go, and 467 words for this year-ending missive.

Another brand-new year, 2012...so many challenges, so many new possibilities: where to start? I almost wish we were moving – I like to move – the chance to re-organize, deep-clean and de-clutter. But we’re not, and that’s okay, too. There are plenty of good things about NOT moving, like loving our location and community, stability, not having to go through all those address changes for utilities, driver’s licenses, schools, checks, address labels, etc. I like where we are, I just wish we could re-organize, deep clean and de-clutter, get rid of the old big-screen TV (who knew it would be so hard to get rid of what was, a decade ago, the latest in modern technology and home entertainment – and now doesn’t work anymore?!) and buy a new couch.

Since we knew we were not moving this year (our lease was up, we extended), and with our oldest kid a senior in high school next year, knowing we will be losing him so soon to college and beyond, we decided to Go BIG this year for Christmas. Instead of presents and all the usual routine, we took the kids on a fabulous Road Trip & Caribbean Cruise Adventure. We were gone nine days (six onboard) and it was amazing. I can’t write about that, yet, though, in case the major women’s magazine to which I pitched the article responds affirmatively (fingers crossed, everybody!). So...

I can’t think of any New Year’s Resolutions, either. Well, other than to land another article in a major magazine, I’d like to get back to that. And to update and revitalize The Rebel Housewife – it’s definitely time, but that is so overwhelming, I don’t even know where to start. With the 10th Anniversary of the Rebel Blog & Rebel Reviews coming up this year, I feel like a dinosaur. Apparently, I need to make the move to Wordpress! Update my logo design! Figure out what to do with all those archives! Develop my Facebook presence – make a landing page! Twitter! Google+! LinkedIn!

Arrrggghhhh! I just did figure out how to add pictures to my blog posts – and how to announce the updates on Facebook & Twitter – let's celebrate!

As I work my way through the post-vacation laundry, trying to get everything put away, I have decided to clean out my closet, which is certainly a resolution-worthy intention. If only it were as easy as cleaning out my email inboxes, which I did earlier today: from hundreds of messages to about a dozen. The To Do List is calling, including two new Rebel Reviews to close out the year. Perhaps I will come up with another couple of New Year’s Resolutions in that mess...or maybe not.

Happy New Year --
Live, Love & Laugh in 2012!

www.facebook.com/TheRebelHousewife

Myrtle Beach Family Vacation on Twitter

We had a great time on our quickie Family Vacation to Myrtle Beach - for close to less than $1000, family of five. Of course, we stayed in a very "retro" motel with kitchenette; only three nights (that's all we thought we could handle - we were right!); packed most of our food: breakfasts, lunches and snacks; and, since we didn't find great food and dining options until the last night of our adventure (unwilling to stray too far from the beach/water park), we only had one nice meal out at a restaurant (not counting Burger King)!

We've lived 15 years in Atlanta, but this was our first trip to the South Carolina beach resort of legend. It was FUN, if a bit overwhelming: our favorite beach is still nice, quiet, remote Navarre Beach in northwest Florida, and Pensacola Beach for a big night out at Flounders. Of course, we ventured to Myrtle Beach for the anti-quiet family fun & activity: the resort water park, with water slide and lazy river; the dozen pools on-site; beachfront 'luxury'; world-class miniature golf; and, at the Sea Mist Resort, free passes to nearby Family Kingdom Amusement Park and Family Kingdom Water Park. We packed a ton of fun into 3 nights/4 days:

Saturday, July 11th:
1) On our way 2 Myrtle Beach in the family truckster...so far, so good. Remains 2B seen if possible 14yo Puberty Angst Boy to have fun w/family
2) Gorgeous day to be on a Road Trip!
1:17 PM Jul 11th from Twitterrific:
3) Picnic lunch at I20 rest area, SC Welcome Center. Caged monkeys getting restless & bickery - good food & stretch help (esp me). Near 1/2way.
4) En route to Myrtle Beach from Atlanta - Darlington?! Off the right track to detour, #NASCAR obsessed: Rebel@Darlington
4:34 PM Jul 11th from Twitterrific
5) We are so far off designated route, no idea where we are...ah, to be lost in SC...oh, I20 just ends, apparently...Jeep GPS so bad, TG iPhone

6) Arrived Myrtle Beach: wow. Still settling in, waiting for pizza delivery while everyone else down at pool - 10pm. Beach is beautiful at nite
7) Night beach tip: neon glow bracelets(Target) keep track of your kids.
Also fun:anything that glows/flashes to throw in & comes back in surf!
8) Arrived 7pm - already: arcade, comp drink 4 mom&dad, resort grocery, mini golf/waterpark (2mrw), beach & pool...starving, waiting 4 pizza!

Sunday, July 12th:
End of very long day, but fun. 3 kids buzzin@midnite, 2 tired parents. Resort water park-awesome; beach-also; old school amusement park;-)

Monday, July 13th:
Last night in Myrtle Beach: afternoon thundershowers - big Hibachi dinner @ Kono Asian Grill. Big-time mini golf tourney @ pirate joint!

Tuesday, July 14th:
1) Myrtle Beach to home: Atlanta. 4hrs to go, I can hardly wait! Miss my bed, condo, Piedmont Park & Mocha the Dog (her dog-vacation@Dogaroo).
2) Of course, hubby & I are exhausted from vacation w/kids - broke, too! Good time had by all...no place like home, no place like home!!
4:26 PM Jul 14th from Twitterrific:
3) Home again, home again, jiggity jig! I will never go on another family vacation w/ 14yo,12yo&9yo again! (I always say that.) Unpack begins.
4) We did not bring home any beach creatures (learned that lesson long ago!) - empty shells only. We did have that tantrum though - required?!

Recession Family Travel Tips

As we search and re-search to find a fun, unique, AFFORDABLE family-of-five vacation plan for July 4th, preferably on a nice, quiet beach somewhere within a six- to eight-hour drive from Atlanta...[June 24th: no luck yet]

Recession Family Travel Tips

from our trip to Concord/Charlotte, NC - May 2009

1) Hotels.com & the iPhone - Awesome!

We'd never been to the Charlotte area to stay overnight, so we didn't know what our options were, as far as accommodations. We were traveling last-minute (as usual), and we didn't want to risk an online reservation commitment sight-unseen and drive up to find a better option right next door, or down the street - closer to where we might want to be, if we knew where we wanted to be, ya know?

Hotels.com was the trip saver this time, since we were able to research online ahead of time and then compare prices and hotel information on the iPhone as we were driving around. When we decided upon the Wingate Inn by Wyndham, we walked in to inquire about the rate, but it turns out they couldn't offer the low rate and special advertised sale on Hotels.com. We sat down on the couch in the lobby to make the reservation on the iPhone, and the desk attendant called us over within three minutes, as soon as the reservation popped up on his computer. Great savings and convenience!

2) Gem Mining v. Amusement Park - Nature is Best!

We spent an amazing afternoon somewhere in the outback of North Carolina, an hour north of Charlotte, mining for gems at The Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, NC. It was an offbeat tourist-trap kind of operation out in the woods, but it was an afternoon spent with the kids wading down a winding creek through the forest, screening for gems and interesting rocks, and then panning for treasure from buckets of dirt ("ore") in the sluiceway.

It was absolutely gorgeous and peaceful, easy and (relatively) cheap, too - a whole bucket of souvenirs included! The entire family had a great time. When we were at the amusement park the next day, standing in long lines, getting sun burns, losing children and emptying our pockets ($$$) at every opportunity, Dear Hubby and I reflected on the wonderful day spent at the creek. In comparison...we would have rather mined again!

3) Amusement Parks after 4pm - The only way to go!

When we were there in May, the Regular General Admission price (ages 3 - 61) at CaroWinds Amusement & Water Park was almost $50 per ticket: $250 for a family of five. The Twilight Ticket - valid after 4pm - was half that, and the park was open until 10pm. We decided, given the heat during the day, our family vacation budget (limited) and our capacity as a family to endure 12 hours straight in the heat and crowds of an amusement park - not to mention the expense of a full day of meals and snacks - we went after 4pm.

It was fun and we did enjoy our time there, in spite of losing children, incredibly long lines right up until closing and a really, really gross dinner of old hamburgers and pizza...still, we did have that conversation about our gem mining experience in the cool mountains the day before.

4) Downtime Entertainment - Camp Mommy Tip #1

Always, always carry a deck of cards or a game of UNO (UNO H2O is perfect, wet or dry conditions) for waiting with kids - perfect in restaurants while you are waiting for the food to arrive and at Rest Stops and other occasions when it's too hot or inappropriate to run around like wild animals let loose on the unsuspecting public...

5) Auto Travel & Fast Food Options

I don't know why we didn't figure this out sooner, after 15 years as parents, but it is far better to pack a picnic basket and a cooler with healthy snacks and drinks for the trip, and stop at Rest Areas along the way than smorgasbord along with Fast Food and gas station Quicki Marts.

Admittedly, when the kids were younger, we'd map our route from McDonald's Playland to the next McD's Play Place along the route, but now that they are older, picnic and potty stops at the Rest Areas are the way to go, to limit calories and sugar intake, as well as the chance to get everybody out of the car to stretch, run around, geocache and gather travel brochures, discount coupons and maps in the Welcome Center. Plus, the potties tend to be a whole lot cleaner.