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Reconsidering the Pearl…

Jan 26th, 2010 by

A few days ago I posted about booking a 7-day cruise in November aboard the Norwegian Pearl. After some reflection, I’m starting to have “buyer’s remorse.” It’s not that we don’t like the Pearl (we’ve been on her and her like well). It’s not that we have no interest in Belize and Honduras (I’ve heard good things, but if nothing else they’re at least 2 out of 100). It’s just that I think it might be the ‘right cruise’ at the ‘wrong time’ for us.

What do I mean?

I’m just not sure that the ports, aside from Key West, are especially baby and/or elderly friendly. I believe some ports involve tendering (i.e., transferring from the big boat to land via a smaller boat). To do things as a family, I also think it might be too difficult to schlep an infant and an octogenarian (who’s not in the best of physical shape anymore) over Mayan ruins or through the wilds of Central America on eco-tours. No, I think we need more stroller and/or wheelchair friendly ports in places where the ship docks.

I’m also only semi-excited about the Pearl. As I said, she’s a nice ship. But, she’s not a ‘great’ ship… and certainly not a new experience. In a place like Europe, we don’t care as much. We cruise for the itinerary, not the ship. Thus, the Pearl and her NCL sister ships are terrific for those itineraries.

The Caribbean, however, is a different story. We don’t love fun ‘n sun destinations. It’s mostly: 1) a cheaper, closer-to-home getaway, 2) more about relaxing than sightseeing, and 3) a nice way (now) to add additional countries on the cheap.

So, we’re thinking about three 7-day alternatives:

NCL Epic – Eastern Caribbean (St. Thomas, St. Marteen, Nassau)
RCI Freedom of the Seas – Eastern Caribbean (same, Coco Cay instead of Nassau)
Ruby Princess – Eastern Caribbean (same, Grand Turk instead of Nassau).

Now, it’s decision making time. Which to (re)book? Any comments or suggestions?

Posted in Caribbean, Cruise Ship | 3 Comments »

Going to the dogs in Moscow…

Jan 24th, 2010 by

For my “virtual travel” of the week, I enjoyed an interesting article on the stray dog population in Moscow (yet another city and country we have yet to visit).

It reminded me of the vast number of canines that we saw all over Athens:

Dog in Athens

I wonder which city has more strays: Moscow or Athens?

I consulted “The Google” but found no quick and conclusive answer.

Posted in Russia, Virtual Travel | No Comments »

The ethics of cruising to Haiti

Jan 23rd, 2010 by

In my post on Haiti’s earthquake, I mentioned that Royal Caribbean was planning on returning ships to the company’s private beach in Labadee. This move has touched off something of a firestorm of controversy with customers and pundits alike claiming that the cruise line is “returning too soon.”

Gwyn Topham at The Guardian cited it as but one example of how “tourism provides a microcosm of modern globalised inequality, with all the advantages or injustices it bestows on those on different sides of the divide.” Making the argument a bit more pointedly anti-American, Dave Thier on Sphere.com noted that Royal Caribbean’s decision to return to Haiti demonstrated that “nothing, not even a devastating earthquake that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, can deter the American vacationer’s drive to unwind.”

For now, I’ll put “globalized injustice” aside. Let’s just talk about Haiti.

I agree that quickly returning to Labadee might seem callous at first. The idea of vacationers frolicking in the sand and sipping frozen cocktails while nearby tens or hundreds of thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or stacked in the streets seems repulsive. If these folks aren’t vacationing in Hell, they’re certainly right next door.

Yet, I’m not sure by what ethical standard we could or should say that the return to Labadee is morally wrong. Indeed, on closer examination, it seems morally neutral at worst and is in all likelihood—on balance—the right thing to do.

Are the visits causing harm to Haiti? No. There are no claims that the presence of these cruise ships has in anyway hampered relief efforts to Haiti.

Are the visits helping Haiti? Yes. The cruise ships have been bringing relief supplies to Haiti, as well as donating the net revenue generated by these visits to relief organizations.

Could the cruise lines do more? Absolutely. And, maybe they should. However, they are for-profit companies and not non-profit relief agencies.

The cruises—to Haiti or not—will go on.

In the end, I don’t see how abandoning trips to Haiti and going to the Dominican Republic (which is part of the same island) or Key West or wherever else would make the situation any better. Not returning to Haiti quickly, if only in a small way, would only make the situation marginally worse.

Whatever other faults Royal Caribbean might have, they made the right call this time.

If you’d like to help, please donate to Haiti’s relief efforts.

Posted in Cruise Ship, Haiti | No Comments »

Pigging out in Spain, part deux

Jan 22nd, 2010 by

As a follow-up to my recent post about a New York Times writer traveling to Spain to enjoy pork, I thought I should mention that a number of news outlets reported this week of “The World’s Most Expensive Ham” going on sale in London at Selfridge’s (here’s the BBC’s article). Now when we’re in London, I can enjoy the highest quality Iberico ham for only a little less than $200/lb. 😉

Posted in Food, London, Spain, Virtual Travel | 1 Comment »

More 2010 travel plans…

Jan 19th, 2010 by

I just finished booking a family cruise for November 21, 2010 on the NCL Pearl from Miami. Libby, Emerson, and I will be enjoying an aft “mini suite” (really more of a “deluxe balcony” in my book). I’ve also booked a nearby cabin for my mother and grandfather. Libby’s parents have opted to sit this Thanksgiving cruise out.

The 7 day cruise is to the Western Caribbean and visits Mexio, Belize, and Honduras, as well as Key West. That will add +2 countries for us — making our projected total a net gain of +7 in 2010 (including our trip on the Nieuw Amsterdam in July — not bad, all things considered). :-)

Here’s a photo of the Pearl (taken on a weekend cruise in October, 2008):

NCL Pearl

Posted in Belize, Florida, Honduras, Mexico, Pearl | 3 Comments »

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