| Sea
Fever: Caution! It's Contagious |
| "I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea
and the sky, |
| And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her
by." |
| |
| My love of the sea started when I was about six or seven
years old. My parents gave me a sailor suit and I was hooked
forever after. Over the years, I've gone from launching a
foot-long sailboat in a nearby pond, hitching tugboat rides
with my big brother who was a pilot in the New York harbor,
paddling a pau pau (outrigger log canoe) in Pago Pago bay,
to being the unofficial commodore of Reston's Lake Anne, where
my fleet consisted of a Sunfish sailboat, canoe and rowboat. |
| Probably my most exciting sea adventure was a week aboard
a three-masted schooner named appropriately, "Adventure,"
sailing the Maine waters, where passengers hauled the lines
to raise the sails and took turns at the wheel. |
| Everybody helped out in the galley and we were rewarded
with fresh-cooked bounties of the sea. Nights were spent singing
sea chanties under a fabulous star-studded sky. |
| Finally, exhausted at day's end, we were lulled to sleep
by the waves' action against the wooden hull. |
| But that was then, and this is now. As an old salt mused,
"When your wench can no longer work the winch, it's time
to face reality and give up sailing." Happily, this didn't
mean forsaking the sea. My wife and I took to cruising. I
admit sailing isn't the same as cruising, especially on an
80,000 ton megaship of today. |
| But cruise ships have a lot to offer, especially for seniors,
whose sea legs have become a bit wobbly and who have come
of age for retirement. Oldsters are deserving of luxury and
a bit of pampering. |
| |
| "I must down to the seas again, for the call of
the running tide |
| Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied" |
| |
| Before you make a reservation to ship out on the next high
tide, let's explore what cruising's "clear call that
may not be denied" is all about. Put aside any stereotypes
you may have about old fogeys dozing off in deck chairs. Keep
in mind that a cruise, is a cruise, is a cruise. Like Gertrude
Stein's rose, there are many variations in cruises and it's
possible to satisfy almost anybody's desires. |
| Think of a cruise ship as a floating resort that offers
a wide array of onboard activities, such as a swimming pool;
gym; casino; beauty salon; volleyball; skeet shooting; night
club shows; first-run movies; mind-challenging lectures on
literature, the environment, etc., and of course, world-class
dining. |
| For those who prefer a quiet escape to read a good book,
there's often a library with big soft chairs, and some ships
offer evening musical recitals. This is a sampling that varies
by ship, but the choices are many to enjoy...or to do your
own thing. |
| Just as the array of activities differ, so do the passengers
and their reasons for cruising. Come meet some of the passengers
from our last cruise in February aboard the M.S. Noordam of
the Holland America line. |
| Stanley Ayres is a manufacturer from Wales. He's a self-confessed
workaholic who finds, "Cruising helps me unwind and reevaluate
life." |
| In contrast, Nolan Crane, in the construction business in
Bermuda, is more laid back. He was Mr. Bermuda in 1968, and
now, at age 58, is still impressive. He's a heavy-duty health
enthusiast and "especially appreciates the ship-board
gym and taking a morning walk on the wood decks." Unlike
me, he was one of the few people I observed who had the willpower
to pass up seconds on desserts. Before the cruise was over,
everybody knew the good-will ambassador from Bermuda with
his big smile, jovial greeting and 21-inch biceps. |
| Gloria and Jim Staveski from Buffalo were tablemates of
ours. Their reason for cruising? He recently retired and they
were escaping the region's famous snowstorms. They especially
enjoyed the shore excursions, because they gave them "a
close-up view of the native island cultures." |
| In today's world, it's possible to book a cruise to almost
anyplace that has a seaport. When planning your cruise, decide
where and when you want to go. Some ports, like the Caribbean,
are open all year round, while others, like Alaska, are seasonal.
Obviously, there's not much demand to cruise to Juneau in
December§unless you want to crew on an ice breaker. |
| Cruise lines follow the rules of supply and demand. Ships
go where their customers want to visit, so the biggest selection
of sailings is available in tourist season. The down side
of this is that fares are in direct relation to demand. |
| High season means higher fares; off-season features reduced
fared. Here, seniors have an advantage of lower fares. Our
timing can usually be more flexible because we don't have
to accommodate to school schedules or fixed vacation periods.
Also, we can grab a super low fare for last minute sailings
with open cabin space. |
| The bottom line is that few people pay full price. But bear
in mind, regardless of what fare you pay, and whether you're
down in steerage on a lower deck without a port hole, you
enjoy all the same amenities and dining as those who pay considerably
more. And, here's another tip: I've found that you're less
likely to get sea sick on lower decks, because there's less
roll. But, not to worry. Almost all ships today have stabilizers.
And, if all else fails, there's always Dramamine or a patch
available in the sick bay to help avoid the heaves. |
| The "how" you want to cruise is a bit more complicated,
because there are so many options to consider. Ships come
in all sizes, shapes and features. Mega ships may have more
glitz, but Jack Chambers, cruise director on the Noordam,
the oldest ship in the Holland America line, is proud of its
unique personality. |
| In addition to all of the popular onboard activities, it
has little touches of old-world elegance, such as first-class
dining service with a quartet playing; the maitre d' welcoming
you into the dining room; leaving satiated only to find an
array of dates, figs and candied ginger for your after dinner
sweets. At bedtime, the sheets are folded back with a chocolate
on your pillow. Everything but someone to tuck you in. |
| Sea fever is a contagion you'll enjoy, so give cruising
a try. If you've never tried it, consult an experienced travel
agent who has sailed on many different ships. Another good
source to help you sort out choices is the paperback, "Cruise
Vacations for Dummies§Tips and Recommendations from the Experts
at Frommer's." It costs about $20 and is well worth it.
Be sure to buy trip insurance. There's nothing that will bring
tears to your eyes like standing on the dock watching your
ship sail over the horizon§without you. Believe me. |
| In closing, I'd like to pay tribute to the poet, John Masefield,
whose classic poem, Sea-Fever, thrilled me as a teenager and
still gives me goosebumps when I read it today. It served
as this column's title and the excerpted quotes. Here's the
last stanza: |
| |
| "I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy
life, |
| To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's
like a whetted knife; |
| And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, |
| And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's
over." |
| |
| Bon Voyage! |
| |
| SENIOR MOMENTS: ATTENTION ALL FITNESS WANNABES. |
| Whether you're fit or just want to get fit, strength training
classes are being offered at the Reston-Herndon Senior Center,
with professional instructors from Gold's Gym. These exercises
are designed to increase your bone density and metabolism. |
| Classes start June 8th. They're a bargain at only $5.00
for eight weekly one-hour sessions, from 11 AM to 12 noon.
You won't get 21-inch biceps, but you'll likely have an enhanced
self-image. Especially when your clothes fit you better! |
| Phone Tara Fitzpatric at 703-481-4224 for more information. |
