Travel R

With my laptop, I would be okay. However, my DW would also be "mostly" okay since she will not have access to some applications, although she does go into the office most of the week. My DDs would not be able to work since their jobs require them to be physically present (for my younger DD, it would be the first week of her summer job). So, we are taking a chance - but playing the odds, which are in our favor.

Very interesting. However, for our cruise late next month we are not going to take that chance and will be taking our tests prior to going and coming back to the US (Alaskan itinerary out of Vancouver). With my luck, I will also be the person that gets randomly tested at the CA airport. The comments on this thread are also interesting. Being locked out of coming back to the US will be different for each individual. For instance, myself and my whole family are scheduled to go back to work the day after we get back home. Staying in Vancouver for an extra week locked up in a hotel room is not my idea of a vacation. In addition, none of our jobs would appreciate it (I am planning of brining my laptop, just in case - so myself and DW could still do some work if quarantined). I would have to find a hotel somewhere, which some cannot afford after paying a cruise (not to mention food for the week). However, I knew when I booked last year (and when I made final payment) that there will be required testing), and consequences if any of us test negative. The cautionary title of this thread is not anything new or a vast majority of us are not aware of.

[The final log in my journal.. . .] January 10, 2022 Happy New Year I apologize, this is a boring journal as of late, but my dad’s death and my mom’s health has been on the forefront of my mind, and work has not let up. In my haze of mourning and worry the trip to Alaska seems so far away. Through it all I have still tried doing some reading and a minimal amount of research on the history of the state. We did sign up for the 6-passenger whale watching excursion I had previously mentioned - I put down the deposit. Ketchikan Excursion For Ketchikan, I believe we have decided upon an excursion that everyone in the family can all agree upon. As I have mentioned before, on a family vacation, I believe it is important to do things that the entire family enjoys. Yes, even if mom and dad are paying for it, we want everyone to enjoy. There are dozens of different excursions and things to do on your own in each of these ports. However, everyone in my family are different [this holds true even for my DW and I – complete opposites, which is probably why we have been together for so long]. Everyone has their likes and multiple dislikes. But I think the Canoe and Off-road Adventure is something we may all agree with. It is an excursion that allows for some physical exertion, it gets us on the water via a canoe (myself and my DW usually try to kayak during warmer weather vacations), it is part off-road where we can drive the jeeps off-road ourselves, and it is part nature (and being in Alaska is about being one with the outdoors). Everyone thinks that is may be fun or at least certain aspects of it. The reviews on this excursion look good, although the negatives are that both the canoe trip (20+ people on the canoe) and time to individually drive off-road are very limited. It is also being booked through the cruise ship, so with most ship-sponsored excursions, there will be a number of other people in attendance. Looking at pics of the canoeing, it looks pretty crowded, but at least the off-roading cannot have many people in each car. Interesting note is that RCI was having a 30% off sale on this excursion, which made it around $20 per person less than the third-party vendor was charging themselves for this same excursion (from ~ $190 to ~$170). [I went to the 3P website as part of my research.] Alaskan excursions are not cheap, between this and whale watching, it will be between $1500 - $1600 after tips (which is easier to digest than $1600 for one excursion, but still expensive (in my mind). Even the DIY walk in Sitka will probably cost over $100 with all of the entry fees, and this does not include food and snacks. The Raptor Center alone is $15/pp, Bishop House is $4/pp, Jackson Museum $5/pp, etc. [FYI - if we decide to also fit in Fortress of the Bear, that is also another $15/pp, plus cab fare to and from.] I do know that there are some less expensive excursions at the other ports, but I am fortunate enough to afford these – something we could not afford in our younger days. Travel is expensive, and not everyone is able to do so. According to a survey by Ipsos Public Affairs in 2016, the average American has visited 12 states during their lifetime. 10% of those surveyed have never left the state they were born in. [In a historical context (if I remember the figures correctly), prior to WWI (with the exception of the Civil War), most Americans did not travel more than 10 miles outside of their home town). Alaska is one of the most desired states to visit, and Florida is the state that most people have actually visited. I guess I am not average, I have been fortunate enough to have visited 14 states in the past two years (COVID an all) - and Alaska will be the 45th during my lifetime! We will be docked in Ketchikan for eight hours, the excursion is four hours (from 3 to 7 PM), so we should also have a little time to explore the port as well (according to the schedule, we will still be in port for 3 hours after the excursion has concluded (from 7 to 10), so I am thinking about the possibility of dining in Ketchikan instead of back on the ship. Maybe just myself and my DW. I think the last day in Alaska is shaping up to be quite a nice day. The morning spent on the ship watching the land and water drift by, the afternoon in the wilds of the 49th state doing outdoor “stuff” and then dinner (maybe just myself and my DW) consuming local food while taking in the surroundings. The final day of the cruise is a Sea Day, so I have the entire day to relax before going back to land (although we still have an unplanned day of adventure in Vancouver upon our return). Question: Anyone have any suggestions for dinner in Ketchikan? Toe Warmers Side note: I picked up a box of “toe warmers” – I saw them on sale while I was grocery shopping, so threw them into the wagon. I figured they may come in handy with the outdoor adventure, whale watching, etc. It will probably be overkill, but it will be a nice extra to have. I also double-checked to see if they were allowed on an airplane and/or cruise ship, and yes, they are allowed.

Thank you - I very much appreciate it. Glad that this thread has been of help. Hoping for you to have a wonderful cruise as well.

I have found most ship-sponsored excursions that I have taken over the years to be crowded. Glad you had a great experience. With my luck, I know that if I were to sign up through the ship I would be on a boat with wall-to-wall people.

[Today] Almost at an end to last year's journal, then it will all current info and updates from thereon. Today I will post the penultimate entry, then post the final entry on the morrow. . . . . December 20, 2021 Holidays It is a tough holiday season without my dad, but I am pulling through. I have contacted a third party for the whale watching. They are female-owned and have boats that hold 6 passengers (besides crew). I had previous contacted them with initial questions, now I am contacting them to actually book the excursion. I decided upon them because of reviews of other members that have taken this excursion. I also felt that a small boat would be better to view without continuously knocking into others on a larger crowded ship. The three “downsides” from taking a smaller ship is (1) the do not travel as fast, (2) if the water is very choppy, you feel it, and (3) sometimes being higher up gives you a better view, which we will not have. However, I feel it beats having to fight for a “good” spot on a ship overloaded with other tourists – and a women owned company is something myself and my family supports. Happy holidays, Travel R and family

Thanks - will be using this info for upcoming cruise.

November 18, 2021 Goodbye Dad It’s been a very tough past few weeks. Besides my mom still transferring back and forth between the hospital and rehab, the following is hard to write, but my dad passed away. He was a very good father and very good man. I will miss him dearly. Cruising is one of the furthest things from my mind. [In Hindsight 5/16/2022: Since I had posted the eulogy of my mom I have gone back and forth about posting the one for my dad as well. It’s only been 6 months since his death, so I am still grieving. I have decided that I will post at least part of what I had written not too long ago. My father gave me my sense of adventure, be it hiking to the top of Mount Marcy or taking a cruise to Alaska. As I had mentioned above, I have organized a charity bike ride in his honor to help fight and find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. It may be apropos that we are going to Alaska, and maybe we will see a Grizzly Bear on our travels since the moniker he went by and was called by friends and family was Grizzly or just “Griz.” A EULOGY FOR DAD ON MONDAY MORNING I CRIED. On Monday morning I was half-awakened by the phone ringing followed by my wife exclaiming “oh my G-d.” On Monday morning I cried. I did not shed a tear right away. I was in shock and disbelief. However, a little while later in my daze and confusion the voice of my angel said the sweetest thing: “your dad waited to see you yesterday before he made his final departure from this world.” Unbelievably I smiled. I turned and walked away. Then the emotions began to swirl in like a turret of all the sands of the earth falling through a gigantic hourglass upon me. I then cried. I cried for me. I cried for my mom. I cried for everyone that ever knew my dad. ON MONDAY AFTERNOON I KEPT BUSY. On Monday afternoon I took to the business at hand. There were people to talk to, arrangements to be made, information to be found, and documents to be reviewed. The day seemed to flow forever, like a never-ending river that led to an unknown and distant land. My sister and I spent the entire exhausting day steering this vessel down the mighty river. We paddled and we rowed the mighty oars. We adjusted and readjusted the sails to keep our course steady and true. On Monday afternoon I had no time to think, so I had no time to cry. ON MONDAY EVENING I SLEPT. The day took its toll on my body, mind, and soul. Like a zombie, I took care of whatever needed to be done. In a stupor I tried to attend to the needs of my family, but they lovingly took care of me instead. It was not long after the last rays of sun faded from the horizon that sleep greeted me like an old acquaintance. I cannot call sleep a friend, since she cruelly left me in a lurch not long after the strike of two. On Monday evening I slept, but it was not a comfort for long. ON TUESDAY MORNING I REMEMBERED. I opened my eyes to stare at the darkness and the blackness of the early hours stared back at me. My ears only sensed but a mere suggestion of the world outside. With sleep no longer in my eyes, and the deafening sounds of silence in my ears, it was the now unrestrained inner thoughts of my subconsciousness that took control. First there was disbelief. Is this real? Did my father really die? Next there was bitterness and anger. How can my father leave me? Third came acceptance. I know that he is in a better place now. Finally came the memories. A flood of happy memories I have of my father. These were the memories of the big strong father that I remember from my youth and looked up to. I REMEMBER THE ADVENTURER. [deleted] I REMEMBER THE LEADER, TEACHER, AND OUTDOORSMAN. [deleted] I REMEMBER OUR TIMES TOGETHER. [deleted] I REMEMBER THE FAMILY TRIPS. [deleted] I REMEMBER THE PEOPLE PERSON (AND ANIMAL LOVER). [deleted] I REMEMBER THE ARTIST. [deleted] I REMEMBER MY DAD. I am going to address the 600-pound gorilla in the room right now; well, this may not exactly be a room, but you get the idea. Sadly, my dad mentally and spiritually, left us years ago. It is hard to say that, but it is true. What lies in this box before us is only the shell of the man we once knew. But that is NOT who I remember. It is NOT who you should remember. The man I remember is the person I have described above. He is the outdoorsman, adventurer, artist, leader, teacher, people person, animal lover, family man, and great father. I believe that he is now up in heaven backpacking, fishing, horseback riding, or maybe just sitting back enjoying a cigar with grandpa XXX looking down on us and smiling. It was also on Tuesday morning that I cried. ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON I WROTE A EULOGY FOR MY DAD. It was also on Tuesday afternoon that I cried. And to be honest, I cried multiple times while setting down the words upon this page. ON WEDNESDAY I SAID FAREWELL. And today we all cry together. But our sorrow should not last for very long. We should soon begin remembering only the good things. The happy things. Besides, my dad would not want us to be sad for long. Although I say it now, I cannot make it a promise; but tomorrow I will try NOT to cry. I am not saying goodbye, it’s only a farewell. As long as my dad is in our minds and hearts, he will be with us . . . always.

Congratulations!! Yes, it was the same at my daughter's school. Each discipline had their own separate ceremony. They were spread over 3 days with either 2 or 3 a day.

Young Adults and Singles Get-Together I figured, while in Rome . . . . . so since I am on these boards, I might as our resident experts about this event. The thread is located at (see below), but the take aways' are: that at least some cruises/ships do have at least a meet-up for 18-20 and 21-25 groups, but not all. The Singles Get Togethers usually draw an older crowd of mostly women By the looks of the Compass, there are no specific activities of events for those 18+ [Thanks to all that This topic is not a new one. I found this old thread which covers the need for such activities . . . . https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/1796800-18-20-year-old-group/

I know she went out with her friends to bars/clubs/parties while at school. Although she is not a drinker, she goes to socialize with her friends. It will be interesting to see if she would go to the club (Vortex) for the purposes of meeting people.

Thank you to everyone for your input so far. I figured the Singles Get Togethers are more for an older demographic. Although figured the proportion of men to women would be reversed. Not sure if it matters, but this is for an Alaskan itinerary on the Serenade. I have read through the Compass for the same itinerary (two weeks ago) and there was no mention of any meet-ups for any age groups 18-20 or the 21 and over crowd. I do remember seeing a 21+ meet-up on an NCL ship when I was researching this vacation, but as mentioned, nothing on this ship for this itinerary. I will give her the info and let her do with it as she wishes. What is funny is that I am the one that is more interested in this info than my daughter, who does have some interest in what I find out, but is one that will just go with the flow. Although not very extroverted, she is the kind of person that will strike up a conversation with someone about her age while on line or sitting at the buffet or something similar. Thanks again, Travel R

Asking for my DD22 . . . . . For those of you that have attended these events, there is a "Singles Get-Together" scheduled for the first day of our cruise. She is wondering if, as a 22-year-old, is it worth her while to attend? What is the general crowd like (ages, etc.)? Thanks, Travel R

Correction - it is listed as the Singles Get-Together. But I would still like to be able to tell my DD22 if it is worth her going to meet other passengers her age, if the crowd will be a lot older, or if it will be a meat market.

[Today] I have only been on CC once the past few days. My amazing DD22 just graduated from her university. We spent the time travelling down below the Mason-Dixon line celebrating and enjoying the moment - of course a lot of eating (and no historical side-tours). In the prior post I had spoken of graduation ceremonies. First of all, out of the 5-6 thousand people there, very very few wore masks (no I did not). I will not comment further. What I will talk about (again) is dress code. Obviously, there is no dress code provided for a college graduation ceremony for those that are attending as guests. I was actually surprised at how casual some people were dressed. I was one of the very, very few people wearing a full suit and tie (that was not working there) - if anyone wore a suit, it was sans the tie. Of those even fewer that were wearing a tie, I was probably the only one to wear a Beatles tie. Is getting dressed an old-fashioned idea or am I just old fashioned when it comes to dress. However, I do not care. Even knowing and seeing this, I am going to be wearing a suit and tie for their subsequent graduation ceremonies. I do not care what people think of what I wear, and I really did not care what everyone else wore. Did I notice how people are dressed? Of course, I have eyes. But as I said, I do not care. [I have never, ever been interested in the red carpet or post-reviews, since I really do not care what celebrities are wearing either.] The only clothing item I though was inappropriate was being worn by a teen (maybe college age) who was donning a hat from a different university (no, not a rival university, which would have been worse). It was a nice, but very long ceremony (hundreds of names being read off one-by-one as they went across the stage), and a great weekend. This experience has caused me to think about the dress codes on cruise ships. The world is getting more casual. Many years ago when I graduated with the dinosaurs roaming outside my college, all the parents were wearing suits (from what I remember). I am wondering if there is a difference in graduations that occur further north. The historian in me is also wondering why this shift has occurred. Is it a symptom of a degradation of society, or an evolution in the empowerment of the people?

One of the reasons we waited to get the booster until now (next week) is because I believe that it will be most effective within the first two moths (I do not know if there is any scientific data to back it up). As you stated, "I won't let Covid take this trip from me!" Although myself and my family will also try to avoid contact with others the two or three weeks prior to travel, it is almost impossible. My DW commutes into NYC for work passing by thousands of people on the train and walking to her building, my DD goes to school with hundreds of other kids (although they have begun masking up again this week), I go shopping, and the day before we cruise we will be at my DD's graduation with hundreds of other people. The graduation is outdoors, in the blazing sun, and wearing a mask is going to be very uncomfortable. Wishing everyone a healthy cruise!

I am glad that I was able to be of help. I have received incredible help from other members and feel that it is only right to return the favor to others. It will be interesting to watch my DD22 on this cruise. During our past few cruises we have had our combination of all-family time and time where we spent apart. Both of my DD's had always gone to the kid/teen clubs, met up with a group of friends, and had companionship when not with good ole' mom and dad. There is no club for the young adults, but wondering if anyone knows what the Singles Meet-up is about (it is listed in the Compass)? More specifically - what is the general age group for this meet-up. Is it for the younger crowd (21-25) or the "older" single and solo cruisers in their 30s to ???? Cruising is a wonderful venue for those that are either introverted or extroverted - especially since every table is not a top-8 or top-10. As you have probably figured out from this thread I am the later. I enjoy sitting at a table with random people at a venue and just talking.

Very wise advice. But is that possible?

We cruised the Baltics a few years ago. Copenhagen is an amazing city - we spent a few days pre-cruise. Very walkable, so wear comfortable shoes. The week we went to the Baltics was unseasonably cool (early July). The nights would get down into the 40s and most days did not get above the mid to high 60s. It also rained quite a bit. I was talking to a friend from Germany and he said that is usually at least 10 degree warmer. Hopefully the weather will behave itself for you. But has been mentioned, dress in layers so as the day warms up you can shed your "skin" and adapt to the weather. A light rain jacket (or slicker) came in handy. My packing list for the Baltics is actually very similar to how we will be packing for Alaska. The modified packing list is attached (I probably do have the original packing list on the review for that cruise - the link is in my signature). I hope the above and the packing list helps . . . . PACKING LIST FOR LAND.pdf

[Today] Oh no!!!! Municipalities in NJ beginning to reinstate mask mandates for certain locations (e.g., schools). There is also an uptick in various areas throughout the country. One of the hottest topics on the RCI boards are the thread where people are providing posts about their daily activities onboard after testing negative. A hot topic because we are all very interested, anxious, and even a bit worried. The room looks nice (at least it is an oceanview so you can see outside). Free WiFi (which does not mean much if you already have the perk), Free movies (which is good to pass the time - although does not balance out not being able to go ashore), Free room service or MDR food (at least you will eat. I wonder if you can order double entrees, appetizers, or desserts?). It is not the most horrible thing, but, like me, I am sure none of us want to be in that situation or have one a member of our party in that situation - or even people we do not know in that situation. Still a month and a half to go until our cruise. What, if anything will this all mean to me? Signed, Worried in New Jersey

If you are competing at this level (ITU World Championships - very nice, congrats on qualifying to get there) you are probably already familiar with whatever I am going to write below, but for everyone else out there . . .. Competing in athletic events (even non-competitive) is a little like cruising. [Trying to make the cruising connection to keep this conversation semi-related.] It takes a bit of research and planning (besides the hours and hours of training). Planning what you eat and drink before and during the event is just as important as training correctly. First of all - have you talked to your doctor? Let them know how you are fueling and hydration both before and during exercising, which (in my non-medical opinion) may be a factor. I have had Runner's Stomach in the past (yes, it's a fairly common thing), and had adjusted my fueling through trial and error to compensate. I have not experienced any dizziness while running, so that is a concern, especially when cycling. [I have lay opinions as to why, but you are better off asking a professional.] As a perpetual over-planner, I carefully plan and strategize what I am going to eat - and usually where. My usual strategy for a big race (longer than a 10K) has evolved into the following: High Carb meal the nigh before while avoiding anything oily or spicy the entire day before; Milk, apple sauce, small banana, and plain bagel (or bread) 2 hours prior to the race; 1/2 bottle of water and 1/2 Protein Bar 30 minutes prior to race; 1/2 Protein Bar a few moments before the race. During race - alternate between water and Gatorade every other fueling station (which are usually spaced between 1 and 1.5 miles apart) If 10K run or 25 miles cycling or longer I will also take an energy gel (or two) at -pre-determined distances depending on length and type of activity (with energy gels to coincide with the water refueling). For 5Ks and 10Ks, I usually do not worry about what I eat the day before (but usually will have some type of carb-loaded meal). I will drink water prior to the race, and have the half a protein bar 30 minutes and again just prior to shotgun. I will hydrate at the fueling stations - but will tend to stick with water instead of Gatorade (unless it is an OCR). The above is a strategy that works for me (the result of many tweaks over the years). Everyone I know has their own strategy. I run with a woman who hydrates similarly, but very different in her fuel consumption. Your doctor may have other suggestions knowing you best. I had read about a shuttle running years ago all the way to the Fortress, but thought it was discontinued - I could be very wrong on that. If you find out any additional information on it, please share. That is why CruiseCritic is here - so we can help each other to discover these things. Just a note - if you want to do the check-in when it opens, it does so at 12:00 AM PST, so adjust accordingly. As mentioned I logged in about 6:30 AM EST (3:30 PST), and it looked like all of the entry times were available for my sailing. I am up and out by 6 AM every morning to walk my dog, so for me it was not so bad, if I were on the West Coast, I may have set my alarm to wake up earlier - just in case. Also note - I does not look like the photo is required for initial check-in. I uploaded them just in case. If wondering, the check-in does not require you to enter your vaccination or booster information (at this time).

Yup.

[Today] 45 Days to go and you know that that means - Check-in!!! I did not get up at 3 AM (EST) to complete the form when it first went live; but woke at my regular time had the forms completed by 7 am and got my pick of check-in times. I was able to enter the information for my entire family. It was a fairly easy process, except trying to find digital photos of everyone. If RCI does not like them, I am guessing they will re-take the photos during the check-in? One step closer to Alaska!!!

September 9, 2021 Not good news to begin with. Mom and dad are still both in hospitals/rehabs and I have been travelling going back from NJ to Brooklyn to see both (which, of course are in different end of Brooklyn). I had a few minutes while waiting for some something from a colleague, so I figured I would add an update to this journal, which I have not so for a few weeks. Obviously, research is going very slowly (almost non-existent). Although thoughts of the cruise do provide me some solace, the reality that I am faced with provides little time for respite and when I do have it, it is consumed by exhaustion and sleep. Dress Code (again) Being in my current mood, of course I easily got upset about some posts about the interpretation of the dress code, people giving their own interpretation of the dress code, and telling everyone not to follow them. So I write as follows . . . . [Update 5/9/22: Reading this over, due to everything going on with my parents, I must have been really in a bad mood when I wrote this. I have removed my long ranting and raving sand have replaced it with following summarization which has been organized in more docile bullet points (which still may get others upset, but hey, these are my thoughts): No need to tell people what you think the rules are, this is what the actual RCI rules are . . . . Q&A for dress code on RCI ships The Q&A Does Not state that Formal Nights are “Suggested” – in fact it lists the three different types of dress for the cruise What is “suggested” is what they recommend you to wear, in case you wanted a gauge to go by. They provide this in order to define what they mean by each night’s designation. It does not mean that a person can interpret it any way they want and wear what they want. It specifically states that “Shorts are welcomed for breakfast and lunch,” – I am not sure how people can interpret that as being able to wear shorts for dinner. People, consciously or subconsciously, are judged by how they look, what they wear, and how they act. This is backed up by psychological studies . . . Psychology Today May 24, 2020. We all get it, and understand, it is your vacation, and you want to dress anyway you want. But this is not just a vacation, it is a cruise vacation, and on many cruises there is a formal night. Luckily, there is always an alternative venue to dine in on those evenings. In addition, there are also cruise ships/lines that do not have a formal night. Are there loopholes around the dress and are cruise lines not enforcing their rules, and do people try to push them? Yes. Hey, they are not my rules, so all the power to you. At one time it was formal night every night, one or two nights over a week is not a huge compromise. What I do not like is when people post that people do not or should not follow these rules, and/or misinterpret what the rules actually are. Yes, they are rules, even if you want to call then guidelines, they can still be broken. As I have mentioned before, I do not care what you wear. However, please be respectful. This is not a casual night where passengers are attempting to make it more formal, is an actual designated evening(s) on a cruise, which has been a practice for years. Alaskan Planning and Research Speaking of Alaska . . . . As I have already stated, I have not been performing much research on Alaska these days. I’ve been crazy busy with work, running to see different schools most weekends with my daughter (and many are 5-6+ hours from where I live), trying to keep up with my blog, and as mentioned, I have been going back and forth to help take care of my parents (not to mention the “almost” flood last week which had us removing and carrying upstairs almost everything up from our basement (some seepage through the walls, but luckily very little water and no damage, and subsequently having to spend time taking everything back down and putting it away neatly and orderly, which took a lot longer). So there has not been much progress made in my research although I am trying to read the book on Alaskan trivia and the Alaskan cruise guidebook when I get a chance. So far, the cruise book has a lot of information I have gathered on CC and elsewhere, but the trivia book has been interesting with a lot of facts about the state I had not read elsewhere. Although most cruise passengers do not go on Cruise Critic (Some figures I have seen site that only 5 to 10% of all cruisers are on CC), and even a smaller percentage ever go on the Roll Calls, it is interesting that there are very few people on the Roll Call for my cruise. Most of the members are not very active either. From experience, I know that some Roll Calls are very active, and some are not (even popping my head into earlier sailings of the Serenade, comparatively we are much more active than most). What I am wondering is: if this also has to do with the capacity restrictions on the # of passengers and whether they have released all the cabin inventory for the cruise. For instance, if the ships are currently sailing at 50%, are they only releasing 50% of the cabins for future cruises? If we are not sailing at full capacity, I would not mind. No, not at all. [Update 5/11: Since my next journal entry is not very long, I am going to post it today as well. I apologize for all of the emotional stuff in these posts. When I began writing this journal, it was intended to be solely about cruising, but I guess one's personal life is intertwined in everything we do, especially something like planning a cruise.] October 12, 2021 It’s been about a month since I last posted. Still not much going on in regard to the upcoming cruise. I am still spending a lot of my free time driving back and forth to Brooklyn to see mom in the hospital or rehab, and dad at their home. When I can, I am trying to spend time with my wife and daughters (and unfortunately work is getting even busier). I have been keeping a partial eye on the cruise industry and the desire for it to come back to normal. Like many of us, a cruise ship is one of our “happy places” and I wish I was on one right now.

I've been in Denver on business, and Colorado, travelling through on vacation and for recreation (a good friend lives not far from Aspen). Off the top of my head there are a number of things to do within Colorado (semi-close to Denver). For instance, a lot of nice towns to visit, such as Glenwood Springs (go into the Springs; Doc Holiday stayed there and used these springs while trying to recover from his illness - also a lot less touristy than Colorado Springs); Breckinridge is also a beautiful town, which is not too far off; while in the Rockies, find a nice (safe) trail to go hiking; Denver itself is a nice town (if you can, catch a ballgame at Coors - I saw Sammy Sosa hit a long home run there in '98 when in the HR race against McGwire). If you want to travel further: If you want to go southward, stop at Great Sand Dunes on your way to Mesa Verde (continue going further south and you are in New Mexico - Sante Fe is a nice city (especially Old Town), along the way you can also visit some ghost towns). Just driving along the Rockies is just amazing - beautiful landscapes at every turn. As you stated, heading west Utah also has some of the most amazing National Parks. If you want to take a long trip north up to Wyoming, there is Yellowstone, Cody, and Jackson's Hole I have only been there a few times, but I am sure that there are others from the great state of Colorado that might have better suggestions. I am sure there a few things that I am forgetting. I hope this helps.