LESSONS LEARNED: LEAVE YOUR OPTIONS OPEN

Out of curiosity I checked Vacations to Go for last minute deals on cruises leaving from and returning to San Diego. That’s how I found other cruises I have been on, including an affordable 3-week vacation in the Mediterranean four years ago.

The website shows discounts as high as 56%, on a couple of 18-day cruises to Hawaii.  At prices starting at $1900 CDN for an inside stateroom, that’s just $105.00 per day each for travel, limitless food, accommodations, and entertainment.  It will be interesting to see how much lower the price drops before actual departure dates in January.

Of course, travel to Hawaii involves 11 days at sea, and not only am I not a fan of looking out at the ocean for days on end with nothing in view on the horizon, I am also prone to motion sickness on rough water.  Still, someone else would be doing the cooking and cleaning while we enjoy the ship’s amenities.  After the first 5 days at sea, six would be spent in the Hawaiian Islands, followed by 5 more days at sea and one in Mexico before the final day at sea to arrive back to San Diego. 

There are many other time frames and options from which to choose, but at this point the discounts to other destinations are not as high.  However, that can and probably will change, and since there are no flights or other travel to arrange, we truly could wait until the last minute to make a decision.

On the other hand, leaving San Diego for other desirable destinations could be considered too much of a good thing.  We don’t want to be greedy.  As shown below, the Pacific coastline is every bit as beautiful as Hawaii.  I just find it difficult to pass up a travel bargain.

There are other considerations.  We don’t have any luggage with us, and I can’t rationalize adding to the supply I already have at home.  But next year…

We will also need to find out what the RV park’s rules are about leaving the motorhome unattended for any length of time.  If we’re waiting until the last minute to purchase passage on a cruise ship it will be too late to invite family or friends to use the motorhome in our absence.

Of course, we don’t even know if we’ll be blessed with the ability to spend another winter as snowbirds. Still, it might be pragmatic to plan for the possibility of seeing San Diego as a gateway to other experiences and locations.

Aloha!