“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much fun as simply messing about in boats.” The Wind in the Willows.
There are many ways to travel. In my youth, travel meant running around to “see it all” – my favorite Renoir at the Jeu de Paume museum, the lights of Garnier Opera House at sunset, the view of the Eiffel Tower from the Seine. I mentally checked off each adventure and eventually ran out of days. By the time I got home I was exhausted. I needed a vacation! Eventually I learned not seeing it all was an exercise in futility but also an excuse to return.
It took me quite a few years before I learned that it is possible to have a relaxing as well as an educational trip. I took my first cruise! A friend and I stayed in a beach resort outside Athens for a week, then boarded a small ship to cruise from Piraeus to Istanbul. There were no frills as compared to today’s grand voyages: no rock wall, no mini mall, no multiple dining venues. A local band played nightly and we danced. There was a shipboard male and female beauty contest. We ate fantastic food at leisurely dinners with a mix of European, Canadian and American passengers as we chatted long into the night. I was able to serve as translator for the many French passengers with conversations on a wide range of topics. We left the ship daily to explore a new island. We strolled through the shops in Mykonos, marveled at the ruins of Ephesus, rented motorcycles to explore Rhodes, rode a mule to the top of Santorini, sailed through the straits of Dardanelles and got lost in the wonders of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. My traveling companion was a Greek-American, fluent in the language, who’d lived and taught English in Athens for a time. He was the one who arranged the deals on the motorcycles and mule, and bargained with us for the perfect hand made tile or vase at local crafts markets. I could read, relax, lie on the deck and enjoy sunbathing on the beaches. I also soaked in the local culture. I saw what I wanted to see yet wasn’t exhausted at the end of the day. It was a real vacation!
I was hooked on cruising!
Since then I’ve taken ocean cruises on medium-size ships to the East Coast, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe. I’ve cruised the Mediterranean and the Baltic. I’ve seen cities from Sitka to St. Petersburg, only unpacking once. I’ve been wined, dined, and entertained in style. Ocean cruises offer tons of choices for activities and dining for all ages for a reasonable price. The cruise industry has taken off and for good reason. Touring is now available for those who have neither the time or energy to”run around to see it all” as I did in my youth. There is something for everyone to do regardless of age or interests. Families find it an ideal way to travel, and cruise ships are packed during summer and the holidays.
River cruising has also gained in popularity in recent years. The pace is slower, the activities aren’t as varied, yet there is usually a stop each day, with excursions. I’ve been on a Seine river cruise, and highlights included seeing Honfleur and Monet’s gardens at Giverny. For me, the pièce de résistance was docking in Paris, with a view of the Eiffel Tower. I mean, how cool is that?! My most recent river cruise was down the Mississippi to New Orleans from St. Louis, designed not only to see the sights but to treasure time sailing slowly, watching the river as it meandered through towns and listening to lectures by the riverloreans, who discussed the river’s history, flora and fauna. Wonderful entertainment was brought in from shore: a jazz group from Memphis and the Liberty Belles, three lady singers in period clothing from the D-Day Museum in New Orleans performing songs from the 40s were two memorable ones. Passengers enjoyed the leisurely transit gazing at the changing vistas from the comfort of the spacious veranda of their staterooms or on the outside decks.
Are there downsides to cruising? Oh, sure. Some people don’t like being cooped up on a ship during sea days especially during transatlantic and transpacific cruises. I’ve been on both, and have never had that feeling. Others feel the days are too programmed. When multiple cruise ships are in port, it can get crowded, impossible to see that special painting in the museum as you’re being herded about like sheep. There’s no in-depth study, just an snapshot of a city or area, with a hope to return or a resolve never to go back to THAT place again!
For me, nothing beats being on a ship at the beginning of the day, watching the sun rise as we pull into a port at dawn: we greet a new day, with a new city to explore.
And at the end of the day, we can watch the sunset, as the brilliant colors paint the merging of sky and sea.
Have you tried messing about in boats? Maybe you should!
