Now before you dismiss spending $40,000 on a cruise, at least give it a little thought. That’s the tab for the new Oceania around-the-world cruise on the Insignia, leaving in January 2017 and returning that July.
Come to think of it, has anybody seen a cruise longer than six months, anywhere? It seems that 180 days is the threshold that must not be broken. Perhaps after that passengers start making plans to do more than exchange Christmas cards. Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice — that sort of thing.
Oh yes, about the 40 grand…
If you’re a couple, that’s 80 grand. And for that price, you get an inside stateroom — the cheapest balcony is $53,000. Included are all taxes, round-trip first-class air fare from North American gateway cities to Miami and unlimited Internet. It doesn’t say gratuities are included but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they are. In visiting 98 cities in 36 countries, you have to figure there will be some additional costs, so maybe a more realistic tab is $45,000 to $50,000.
But about selling the concept to your better half…
From $80,000 for both of you, deduct all your car expenses for six months. If you can arrange to be between homes at the time (Baby Boomers can sometimes do that), or sublet your residence, deduct six months of rent or mortgage payments. Deduct ALL your meals, and wine, for 180 days. Reduce your entertainment budget drastically because there will be more than enough ship entertainment to fit into your busy schedule.
And did we mention that it includes "free medical" (that's what the fine print says)? Obamacare at sea?
You’ll go to six continents. By the time it’s over, there will be far less of the world for you to see, and maybe none that you want to see. it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You do need to make certain that 180 days living our of a cabin without getting cabin fever — we were worried about 19 straight days on a ship but were sorry when we had to disembark.
Even with all of the “savings” from our daily lives, there’s still one more thing most of us should probably do…
Win the lotto.
Do that and you can upgrade. To the owner’s suite. It’s only $125,000 — per person.
And guess what?
There’s already a waiting list.
— Insignia photo by Bahnfrend (Wikimedia Commons)
In the news…
• Norwegian, Princess both leaving Houston by 2016-17 after four-year stay
• American Cruise Lines launches new river cruiser three weeks early
• Breaking Benjamin headlining Carnival Victory cruise in February
Today at portsandbows.com: Norwegian's Asian deployment
Holland America Zaandam
7 nights
September 13, 2015
Anchorage, Glacier Bay National Park, Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver
Inside: $747
Cost per day: $106
www.hollandamerica.com
There’s always color and sunshine on pool decks and this one, on Navigator of the Seas, even includes a grandstand for spectators to watch!
On the Crown Princess, the adults-only area called the Sanctuary features the hot tubs that are capped with thatched roofs, adding to the ambiance of heat.
Decks (and ships) tend to be an oasis on the ocean, or in this case on the Mediterranean Sea on the Oceania Riviera, a ship that caters largely to adults.
The Norwegian Epic has always been famous for being different and as one of our favorite ships it delivers a pool area that is — like the Epic itself — unusual.
When ships are in port, as the Carnival Breeze was here in Miami, the rallying cry of “Everybody in the pool!” is still waiting to be heard.
The Celebrity Eclipse’s top deck was a welcome respite when we crossed the Atlantic on her and nobody was swimming laps in this clearly divided pool.
Pools are welcome even in the ice fields that are the glaciers of Alaska…but it was the “hot” pools on the Coral Princess that were popular with passengers.
