As the 7 piece orchestra trumpeted the famous Kool & the Gang song “Celebration”, the staff and crew parade kicked off the signature White Night party onboard Azamara Journey. It truly was a celebration, as we were departing our final Norwegian port of Stavanger after an intensive 2 week cruise exploring this Scandinavian country from south to north and back again.
It was with a little trepidation that I embarked on this journey. When I originally booked it, I was intending to sail with my husband, and any qualms I might have had over the location and itinerary were assuaged by friends who loved the region and the comfort factor of traveling with my spouse. However, his untimely death several months before left me wondering if this was the wisest trip to undertake by myself. Since close friends were booked on the same cruise, I decided to throw caution to the wind and just go.
One of the hottest trends in travel right now is the “Skip-Gen” trip, a different take on multi-generational travel. It’s a trip involving grandparents and grandchildren, leaving the parents at home, and alllowing quality time between the older and younger generation, and at the same time giving mom and dad a bit of a break.
As a travel agent, I hear the excuses all the time. “No, thanks, I’ll decline the insurance. There is no way I am cancelling this trip!” Or, “I already have coverage through my medical insurance.” Or, “I’ll roll the dice; I’m young and healthy.” Or, “It’s just too expensive.”
We have all been there. Rushing to finish packing for that trip we've been anticipating for months. The Uber driver is 2 minutes away, the plane leaves in 2 hours. But you can't zip the damn suitcase. Telltale sleeves, socks or even the heel of a shoe are peeking through the suitcase seams, trying to escape. By the time you sit on the luggage, pulling, tucking and cramming, you have worked up a sweat and want to take a nap. Sound familiar? Well, here are some tips to avoid that scenario next time around.
The only problem with flying to Singapore to join a 14 day cruise is having to fly to Singapore......
