Thread: Dia's Den - Online articles about cruising and travel

We've arrived in Astoria just a tad late due to headwinds and heavy (ish) seas. We had some 45 knots of wind, plus the ship's speed, making 60 knots for those out on deck. The Captain closed the outer decks for much of yesterday, but for me, it was glorious! When I can't walk a straight line in the Crow's Nest anymore is when it starts getting fun!

It's been a lovely cruise so far, though I confess that I've never been on one that wasn't. We'll be disembarking tomorrow for two nights at the Fairmont Empress, which is about the only property I know of that could induce me to leave a cruise early - even if just by 12 hours.

First Person: Why Cruising is My Vacation of Choice

Some Thoughts on Why We Travel



It's Thursday morning, and I'm at my desk, writing. On Sunday, I will embark on my twice-yearly cruise up and down the West Coast. Each spring, a friend and I sail from San Diego to Vancouver. In fall, we take the reverse trip. Though I am still at my desk, my brain has long since departed.

As I am fond of saying, these short cruises keep me sane. My job as a writer isn't particularly stressful, and my son is an only child, so motherhood isn't burdensome, either. Why, then, do I feel the urge to jump ship twice a year?

Cruising takes me out of my environment

I live in a beautiful place, but I still get bitten by a bug that calls out for something new, something completely different from my day-to-day life. Cruising gives me that in a way nothing else does.

No phone. No email. No text messages. No deadlines. Even at Disneyland, these things have a way of finding me - but not on a cruise. Onboard, I can be completely unplugged, and that's why I go.

The internet is there if I want to pay for it. But for me, cruising is about being out of touch with the rest of the world so I can get back in touch with me.

More...

Without fail there is someone who just has to go out on deck when the winds are high but before a total ban on going outside is placed. We had two girls on our TA who tried to brave the winds. They came back in about a minute later. Their hair was a mess....

Glad you are having a great time.

Originally Posted by nealberk

Without fail there is someone who just has to go out on deck when the winds are high but before a total ban on going outside is placed. We had two girls on our TA who tried to brave the winds. They came back in about a minute later. Their hair was a mess....

Glad you are having a great time.

On a previous cruise, I ventured out on the top deck wearing a long, gauzy skirt, a cute black top and a straw hat. For the sake of HAL fans, I will note that this was right outside the big floor to ceiling windows in the Crow's Nest, and it was during the very popular cruise director's trivia contest. Before I knew it, the wind had taken my hat and whipped my skirt up around my ears.

The hat was recoverable; my composure was not.

When I finally made it back inside (laughing hysterically, I might add), the CD picked up the mic and casually announced that Holland America Line was pleased to welcome Ms. Marilyn Monroe. And for the rest of the cruise, fellow guests called out, "Hi, Marilyn!" when they saw me in the hallways...

Me, well, I guess I'm just glad that my foundation garments were A) present, B) in good repair, and C) matched my blouse. After all, one shouldn't leave fashion at the dock when boarding, and this is just one more reason why.

Great story! And great recovery.