Not involving Tom (kinda - more on it later) but our family - on a large boat kind. This one was a six day event that set sail out of San Pedro (just south of Los Angeles) with a trip to dock at the southernmost tip of the Baja peninsula - that part of California which the Mexicans kept.
So it was - LA, California to Cabo San Lucas, MEX (land's end) to Enseneda, MEX (along the west coast) and back to California. Having never attempted this form of travel we were a bit apprehensive of the experience but wanted to check that off for the books so to speak. We have been to Cabo many a year ago and had enjoyed our stay so the destination was somewhat of a known entity.
PROs of sailing on a cruise ship might include -
Endless buffet spreads whilst sailing away provided a degree of solace as traveling with a nine year old tends to involve much deliberation on food - availability, choice and convenience to obtain the same. Having a kitchen open at all times with some form of nutrition is bliss, allowing the parent versions to play brain dead for periods of time and allowing the offspring to fend for themselves to address their hunger.
Access to decent shows/musicals that may typically empty your wallet on Broadway but as a cruiser are at no cost while leaving the child at the on board day care or having him/her join you if it is in the mood and awake - which kids on the ship seemed to be.
Cons of being on a boat - even if it really really big -
Depending on the itinerary of the sailing you can end up spending a night to more than 48 hours on board the ship without getting to land at all. So this first leg from San Pedro to Cabo turns out to be over 36 hours long having to cover about 1,100 miles. It can get very dull. People actually start fasting, the sight of the (food) trough gets to you too.
Each morning you get woken up by the cruise director - in our case a young bald lad from down under with that Aussie accent that seemed to encourage everyone on board to find new ways to part with their money - excursions or spas or casinos. This was his favorite - get drunk while you are at it then you will not realize what you spent I guess. This constant loudspeaker wakup alarm is also annoying for someone trying to gain some weight by sleeping in and not wanting to hit the top deck for a jog.
I thought that all in all the cons tend to outweigh the pros as someone with a desire to not conform to set of rules - what to wear and what to eat when - given the choice of 2 restaurants on board - with the only walking being traveling the length of the ship at various floors - seemed repetitive. Putt putt does not impress me - heck even real golf seemed boring while on land.
Another thing that you will notice is that majority of the public on a boat like this tends to be the dying generation in that they have the money - no one wants them - and they are not inclined to do much - food comes easy - you can make temporary new friends who will lend a ear - these friends too benefit since they have already explored other boring and expensive options and this one is not so bad -its free.
I realized after talking to my significant other on the 5th day that there was a queue to jump off the ship too - since too many did not seem excited by the prospects of sailing - but at the same time like everything else on the ship you have to line up - cannot go all at once for safety reasons - like the time we disembraked in small boats to go ashore to Mexico - they did not build a pier - ya political I think...anyway ended up each person having to get stickered on the top deck - the line was thousand people long - and then having to wait to get your number called to board the little tender (seemed harsh but that is what they call the little connector boats to take us to land).
Mexico offered its usual hospitality and charm and sunshine and smooth sandy beaches amid some wow rock formations that did impress.
All in all not boarding a water vehicle anytime soon but have some good pictures to remember the trip by. Also to close out the 'Tom Cruise' mention earlier - we did spot his excellency's private yacht at the local dock in Cabo complete with 2 helicopters and his kid's and movie names plastered on it in case someone confused it with belonging to me. So much trouble to avoid the paparazzi!
So it was - LA, California to Cabo San Lucas, MEX (land's end) to Enseneda, MEX (along the west coast) and back to California. Having never attempted this form of travel we were a bit apprehensive of the experience but wanted to check that off for the books so to speak. We have been to Cabo many a year ago and had enjoyed our stay so the destination was somewhat of a known entity.
PROs of sailing on a cruise ship might include -
Endless buffet spreads whilst sailing away provided a degree of solace as traveling with a nine year old tends to involve much deliberation on food - availability, choice and convenience to obtain the same. Having a kitchen open at all times with some form of nutrition is bliss, allowing the parent versions to play brain dead for periods of time and allowing the offspring to fend for themselves to address their hunger.
Access to decent shows/musicals that may typically empty your wallet on Broadway but as a cruiser are at no cost while leaving the child at the on board day care or having him/her join you if it is in the mood and awake - which kids on the ship seemed to be.
Cons of being on a boat - even if it really really big -
Depending on the itinerary of the sailing you can end up spending a night to more than 48 hours on board the ship without getting to land at all. So this first leg from San Pedro to Cabo turns out to be over 36 hours long having to cover about 1,100 miles. It can get very dull. People actually start fasting, the sight of the (food) trough gets to you too.
Each morning you get woken up by the cruise director - in our case a young bald lad from down under with that Aussie accent that seemed to encourage everyone on board to find new ways to part with their money - excursions or spas or casinos. This was his favorite - get drunk while you are at it then you will not realize what you spent I guess. This constant loudspeaker wakup alarm is also annoying for someone trying to gain some weight by sleeping in and not wanting to hit the top deck for a jog.
I thought that all in all the cons tend to outweigh the pros as someone with a desire to not conform to set of rules - what to wear and what to eat when - given the choice of 2 restaurants on board - with the only walking being traveling the length of the ship at various floors - seemed repetitive. Putt putt does not impress me - heck even real golf seemed boring while on land.
Another thing that you will notice is that majority of the public on a boat like this tends to be the dying generation in that they have the money - no one wants them - and they are not inclined to do much - food comes easy - you can make temporary new friends who will lend a ear - these friends too benefit since they have already explored other boring and expensive options and this one is not so bad -its free.
I realized after talking to my significant other on the 5th day that there was a queue to jump off the ship too - since too many did not seem excited by the prospects of sailing - but at the same time like everything else on the ship you have to line up - cannot go all at once for safety reasons - like the time we disembraked in small boats to go ashore to Mexico - they did not build a pier - ya political I think...anyway ended up each person having to get stickered on the top deck - the line was thousand people long - and then having to wait to get your number called to board the little tender (seemed harsh but that is what they call the little connector boats to take us to land).
Mexico offered its usual hospitality and charm and sunshine and smooth sandy beaches amid some wow rock formations that did impress.
All in all not boarding a water vehicle anytime soon but have some good pictures to remember the trip by. Also to close out the 'Tom Cruise' mention earlier - we did spot his excellency's private yacht at the local dock in Cabo complete with 2 helicopters and his kid's and movie names plastered on it in case someone confused it with belonging to me. So much trouble to avoid the paparazzi!
My only venture of this kind was a Brindisi to Patras overnighter to get to Athens while on a tour of Europe. It's tolerable if short, I think. Second day onwards, might be a pain of some kind.
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