In this age of jets I, strangely, take a lot of cruise ships. Since May 2002, I have sailed about nine times on one of Carnival Lines' ships, the M/S Fascination and once on the M/S Imagination. Why? I have a serious heart condition and cannot take airliners which pressurize cabins at 5-8000 feet, no longer have energy for long Bronco excursions.
For four years I was unable to return to the States from Mexico. Then I went by air ambulance to Miami. When we were ready to return to Mexico; I called International Reservations at Carnival and they said, "Sure. You will have to pay for the whole voyage but there is no reason you cannot disembark in Cozumel".
Since then I often catch the ship at Cozumel and arrive in Miami in two days or the reverse. Except for some private would-be security people this last trip embarking from Miami there have been no problems. Quite the reverse. Rosa Llopiz at International Reservations (rllopiz@carnival.com) has been great and always found me a ship, accepted doctors' notes that I was ready to travel and gotten me refunds (medical) when surgeries were postponed. The website is at Carnival.
There are also about 1800 people who come to eat and drink and take a very quick glimpse of another culture; Carnival is an inexpensive journey by ship to a foreign land. Off season cabins are very affordable and, if there is a hurricane they merely steam out to sea away from it and return when (pardon the pun) the coast is clear. You might miss a port of call but not your long awaited vacation.
During the trip the passengers eat and drink; some, I think, 24 hours a day. The food is part of your fare; only alcoholic drinks are extra. Some gamble when the casino is open.. It is, as I assume casinos to be; lighted, noisy, frenetic,overwhelmed with concentration.. There are dozens of slot machines, roulette, blackjack. All manner of ways to make your money disappear. I tried it once. After getting tired and mesmerized by lights and twirling slot pictures with a carton of quarters growing larger, smaller, larger — I finally quit a few dollars ahead and returned exhausted to my cabin — a comfortable and remarkably roomy place with a nice bathroom with shower.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Nice article - different perspective on cruises.
Fixed some spelling/grammar and removed an email you had put - the format was incorrect, and the email not valid. Please put the correct email address in parentheses as a@b.c
2 - alpha
I always miss a few words, a comma in the wrong place. Email address format eludes me so you were right; people can cut and paste. Besides, International Reservations is for those of us from foreign countries or living in one. Everyone else can go to the website.
Thanks for making the post more readable.
3 - Natalie Davis
Whether a cruise is inexpensive or not is relative. I took a short cruise years ago and enjoyed it, but would be reluctant to do so again because of a fear of communicable illnesses such as Legionnaire's disease.
4 - Phillip Winn
I took a Carnival cruise for my tenth wedding anniversary, and enjoyed it a great deal. There was a bit of security when disembarking at various ports of call. It seemed that they were matching up disembarkers with reembarkers, so if you left the ship and didn't return, they'd be alarmed. I assume you have to let them know you're not getting back on board, yes?
5 - alpha
Natalie: Living in Mexico and using ships I am always very careful of food, especially buffet style anywhere. And, yes, any closed in environmental system - ship, plane, all-inclusive hotel - have potential for contagion. After the last big outbreak it was suggested that not touching others and handwashing often helps. It is a valid worry but less so than one of the fast food chains.
Phillip: security was the last and major problem we had but it is not usual. The "jumping ship" part is always preceded by lots of discussion and forms with the purser and a separate interview with the Mexican Immigration people. Returning I go to the 6:30 AM meeting of "people who are not US citizens or entered in foreign ports. All annoying but less than I gather the normal airport these days.
6 - Natalie Davis
Well, Mr./Ms. Alpha, I don't do fast food restaurants or salad bars or anything. I will fly, but the risk involved is worth it IMO. And I am near pathological about handwashing and not touching people anyway.
7 - alpha
Natalie: My response was general, based on the food-borne dangers here in Mexico. It was never meant to be a reflection on your cleanliness nor valid fears. I thought your worries quite appropriate.
By the way,What does IMO mean? And don't forget I prefaced the post with the problem that not being able to fly, cruise ships are my only way back to the States; so, for me, the risk is also worth it.