Just kicking back in the Sheraton Gateway hotel on top of Terminal 3 at Toronto airport, prior to zooming off to the sun tomorrow morning. The great advantage of this hotel is that I can pack my heavy winter clothes away now, and walk to the plane tomorrow in shirt sleeves. No need to go outdoors -- even the shuttle train to the other terminal is all indoors, all the way.
Last summer, I had this winter's holiday all planned out. I was going to spend eleven days in Florida, take a week-long Caribbean cruise, and then take a few more days before flying home. The whole plan looked great.
Last summer, I had this winter's holiday all planned out. I was going to spend eleven days in Florida, take a week-long Caribbean cruise, and then take a few more days before flying home. The whole plan looked great.
Then the hurricane season hit.
I watched in dismay as Hurricane Irma trashed St. Maarten and St. Thomas, the two islands highlighted on my cruise, and then roared right up the west coast of Florida, site of my favourite resort there.
It's an ill wind, as the saying is... I cancelled my cruise and began revising my plans. When situations change like this, it's a good thing that -- as my former principal used to say -- I will roll with it. It's kind of ironic, though, that the first time I ever went to Florida in the winter, I had to change my plans after a hurricane pummeled the Fort Lauderdale area, and that was how I got introduced to the Gulf Coast!
As it happens, the islands have recovered their footing fairly quickly and, in spite of the damage, are ready for cruise ships to call again. Fortunately, the damage along the west coast of Florida was also limited, and so I returned to my original plan, but with a change of cruise. Instead of going east from Fort Lauderdale, I will now be sailing southwest on a short 5-day voyage with two ports of call -- in two countries I have not previously visited. Add Honduras and Mexico to my list. Just scratching the surface, but it's a start. Here's a map, with the approximate route of the cancelled cruise marked in as a dotted line:
As it happens, the islands have recovered their footing fairly quickly and, in spite of the damage, are ready for cruise ships to call again. Fortunately, the damage along the west coast of Florida was also limited, and so I returned to my original plan, but with a change of cruise. Instead of going east from Fort Lauderdale, I will now be sailing southwest on a short 5-day voyage with two ports of call -- in two countries I have not previously visited. Add Honduras and Mexico to my list. Just scratching the surface, but it's a start. Here's a map, with the approximate route of the cancelled cruise marked in as a dotted line:
Roatan looks like a pleasant, scenic island with a very laid-back vibe. As for Cozumel, that's a jumping-off spot for a day-long trip to visit the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, something I have been wanting to see for a very long time. So this won't be a long cruise, but it should be a fun one and give a couple of good blog posts.
The ship I'll be sailing on is Crown Princess. This is one of 11 ships of broadly similar size and design, 9 of them operated by Princess Cruises and 2 by the P & O cruise line in Britain. I've been on two other ships of this class before: Caribbean Princess and Ruby Princess. Differences in details here and there will not alter the similarity of the overall layout and décor of the ship. The stateroom will basically be identical to those on the other ships, so no surprises there.
Before going to the ship, I'll be spending 7 days at my favourite resort in North Redington Beach on the Gulf coast, followed by 3 days in Fort Myers. These are areas I've often visited before, and so it'll be easy for me just to kick back, unwinding by and in the pool, walking on the beach, hanging out at all my favourite restaurants -- you get the idea.
The best part at North Redington Beach is falling asleep to the gentle swishing sounds of the waves rolling up the beach after watching a spectacular sunset from the balcony.
The ship I'll be sailing on is Crown Princess. This is one of 11 ships of broadly similar size and design, 9 of them operated by Princess Cruises and 2 by the P & O cruise line in Britain. I've been on two other ships of this class before: Caribbean Princess and Ruby Princess. Differences in details here and there will not alter the similarity of the overall layout and décor of the ship. The stateroom will basically be identical to those on the other ships, so no surprises there.
Before going to the ship, I'll be spending 7 days at my favourite resort in North Redington Beach on the Gulf coast, followed by 3 days in Fort Myers. These are areas I've often visited before, and so it'll be easy for me just to kick back, unwinding by and in the pool, walking on the beach, hanging out at all my favourite restaurants -- you get the idea.
The best part at North Redington Beach is falling asleep to the gentle swishing sounds of the waves rolling up the beach after watching a spectacular sunset from the balcony.
After the cruise, I'll be spending five more days in the Fort Lauderdale area. This will be more layback time, and should all add up to a fun and easy-going few weeks of getting away from winter!
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A FOOTNOTE: If you've been thinking of trying a Caribbean cruise, this is the winter to do it. Almost all of the ports are now open for business again, and the prices are cheap because so many people have been cancelling. Cruise lines are having trouble filling cabins and they are slashing and discounting their prices more than usual. Especially true if you are able to go on short notice and aren't constrained to sticking with school holiday times.
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A FOOTNOTE: If you've been thinking of trying a Caribbean cruise, this is the winter to do it. Almost all of the ports are now open for business again, and the prices are cheap because so many people have been cancelling. Cruise lines are having trouble filling cabins and they are slashing and discounting their prices more than usual. Especially true if you are able to go on short notice and aren't constrained to sticking with school holiday times.
The ins and outs of planning a winter holiday when the hurricane season makes mincemeat out of your original plans.
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