Cruising is my addiction

Reaching the age of 52 might not seem like much of a milestone. but in my family, its like making it to the top of the mountain. Mum was sick for as long as I can remember, and the 3 of us, kind of had this thing in the back of our minds, that we needed to make it past 51, (the age that mum left us).

So here I am today, typing that I made it to 52, and as the youngest, I have passed the test. Now the adventure really begins.

I have COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, Emphysema.

But I also have dreams. Travel dreams.

I LOVE to cruise, but we all know there is a little thing called Covid making that impossible at the moment, so road trips and the occasional domestic flight it is.

I LOVE to cruise.

This is something that anyone who knows me, is aware of. Not much will stop me from walking the gangway and heading off through Sydney heads.

But we all know there is a little thing called Covid making that impossible.

Back in February 2020, we were supposed to fly to Singapore, and cruise back on Pacific Explorer, or Dora as she is affectionally known, on the trip of a lifetime. We had the ultimate sailing package, free drinks all cruise, $3000 worth of photographs as a past passenger gift, and the tours… Komodo Island, Bali, Elephants, not to mention the 4 days in Singapore. We were SO excited.

We were due to fly out on the 24th, for a 29th sail date. Plenty of time to explore.

I knew this Covid thing was happening. I knew people that were stuck on the Diamond Princess off Japan, who at first were just quarantined, but later, both contracted the virus.

Yes, it seemed scary, but we were not worried. We would go with the flow and no way we were cancelling.

On the 20th of Feb, late in the evening, I was on our cruise events Facebook page, and the first post came.

CHECK YOUR EMAILS

ITS BEEN CANCELLED.

No way!

But they were right, a flourish of posts from fellow travellers, emails from the cruise line, all pretty much said the same thing.

Due to the growing concern with the virus, we have chosen to cancel the repositioning trip.

GUTTED. ☹

We did know this could happen, and we had the choice of still flying to Singapore, after all the airfares were non-refundable, or we could regroup and figure something else out.

We chose to cancel the trip. And I must commend P and O Australia on their swift action. This was the first Australian cruise cancelled in line with Covid. Little did we know what was to follow in a sickening domino effect.

Out little family jumped on the next ship we could get onto, 14 glorious days around New Zealand. We did after all, already have holidays from work, etc, so we decided to make the most of it.

Our trip was completely uneventful and amazing. Milford Sound, Auckland, Tauranga, we missed Picton due to bad weather, but we had a ball.

We arrived back in Sydney Harbour on March 12th, 2020. The day the world declared a global pandemic.

Do we regret going, no way, would we go again?

In a heartbeat.

We have 3 cruises booked at this moment and although there is a rolling postponement on all Australian cruises now, there will come a day in the near future when the ships will be sailing back to our shores, and we will happily be amongst the first ones on them.

I, myself and eagerly awaiting my turn fort the vaccination. It will be a must for travel, and ships will defiantly have the policy of no jab, no sail. I am also quite happy to wear a mask also. we are not worried about "floating petri dishes”, the medias favourite line when speaking about cruises, which, in our opinion, is the greatest way to holiday. We have been onboard enough to know that once we can sail, we will be as safe as in a shopping centre out there.

I do not expect everyone to be as happy about their return, especially after the Princess debacle. But let’s face it, we all have our own ideas as to what happened there, and we may never know the full story. But with all the new measures being put in place to get the multi billion $$ tourism industry back up and running, I am more than happy to do my bit.

Come along on our journey if you dare.