5 Best Cruise Lines For Retirees

Above, a cruise ship near a Alaska glacier. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To be honest, taking cruises isn't my favorite mode of travel. Yes, I've been on three cruises and enjoyed each one of them. My favorite mode of travel is RVing. If a cruise comes up that is very interesting to me, I may indulge myself and go.

That being said, for seniors who do not have an RV, cruises may be just what one's doctor ordered.  

Above, a view of Skagway, Alaska. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kiplinger has posted the five best cruise lines for seniors. Of the five, I have cruised with one of them, Celebrity Cruises. The cruise I took was to Alaska.

They begin with:

Retirement is the perfect time to set sail. Whether you’re chasing fun, adventure, or bucket-list destinations, cruises offer seniors the comfort, easy access, and unforgettable experiences they deserve after years of work.

According to Shore Excursions Group, seniors make up a significant share of the cruise market, with 32% of passengers being 65-plus.

"Additionally," says Jason R. Margulies, Partner & Maritime Attorney at Lipcon, Marqulies & Winkleman, "since cruises are a mode of transport in and of themselves, seniors don’t have to worry about the chaos of packing and unpacking at each port, moving to different hotels and rooms every night, and the other concerns that come with traveling by land or air to the next destination."

If you’re looking for an experience on ocean waves or river swells, dive into why cruises offer an out-of-this-world adventure for retirees, what to look for in a cruise line, and our top picks for the five best ones suited to active golden agers.

Above, our ship, Celebrity Mercury, docked at Juneau, Alaska. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Ship Superstitions

Above, the Celebrity Mercury was renamed when it was sold.
 Isn't it a no-no to rename a ship? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's something interesting: Cruise ship superstitions. 

Oddly, superstitions do exist and modern cruise lines still keep them in mind.

Cruzely posted an article on cruise ship superstitions.

They begin with:

When it comes to superstitions, there’s arguably nowhere that they play a bigger role than at sea. It makes sense. Back in the old days you needed every bit of luck when you headed out to sea, unsure of when you might be home again.

But while modern ships are much safer than sailing hundreds of years ago, the superstitions still survive in maritime culture. From christening a ship by breaking a bottle on the bow to taking your first step aboard with your right foot to never renaming a boat, there are a number of these quirks that many mariners still continue to follow.

But there’s one superstition you find on cruise ships that might actually make it harder to get around the ship… if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

To read more, go here. 

When Are The Cheapest Months To Take A Cruise?

Above, the Celebrity Mercury at Juneau, Alaska in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When is the cheapest month to take a cruise? 

That is the question and title of an article in USA Today. People who want to take a cruise but want to do so at lower costs will find the article interesting.  

They begin with:

If you’re looking for cruise deals, it pays to pick your sailing dates carefully. Prices can vary based on your cruise line, destination and more – but certain times of year tend to be cheaper than others.

Joanna Kuther, a travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants, said it’s “all based on the demand.”

“And when you're talking about holidays and when schools are out, when families want to travel together, it's always going to be more expensive,” she told USA TODAY.

However, there are bargains out there if you know when to look for them. Here’s what to know.

To read more, go here. 

Avoid Getting Sick On A Cruise

Above, the Celebrity Mercury in Juneau, Alaska. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To date, I've been on two cruises and both times I've gotten some sort of bug.

The first time was in 2000 when we took a cruise to Alaska. I caught a flu bug during the cruise. It could have come from the flight from L.A. to Vancouver, Canada (where we embarked). It subsided after a couple of days.

The second time was during my recent cruise to Cuba. About the third day, I got congestion and a cough to go along with it. It ended about a week after the cruise ended. This one was more of a head cold. Again, I could have caught it during the flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where we embarked.

Above, the Majesty of the Seas in Havana, Cuba. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Getting sick while on a cruise is more common than one may think. It is not surprising since over 2,000 people are crammed into the confines of a ship and passing germs to each other. I got the cold even though I was taking Vitamin C before and during the cruise.

How does one avoid getting sick on a cruise?

Cruise Critic has some tips.

They begin with:

Most cruise travelers sail happily and healthily, but anytime you step out of your daily routine, you let your physical guard down and become susceptible to all sorts of illnesses. From tummy troubles to head colds, seasickness to sunburn and hangovers to jet lag, cruise ship passengers can easily succumb to a number of ailments. 

Have we made you nervous? Don't be. It's relatively easy to stay healthy and not get sick on a cruise ship if you take a few simple precautions. All you really need is a mental checklist and a few minutes a day. 

While we can't guarantee you won't get sick -- for all you know, your germy coworkers may have already infected you before you embark on your trip -- here are our top 10 tips for staying healthy and minimizing your chances of getting sick on your next cruise.

 To read more, go here.

Alaska Airlines To End Los Angeles To Vancouver Route In 2016

Above, the Celebrity Mercury at Juneau, Alaska. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fifteen years ago, my mother treated my daughter Amber and I to a seven-day Alaskan cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises' ship Celebrity Mercury.

The ship departed for its cruise from their port in Vancouver, Canada. Included in the cruise package were round-trip flights to Vancouver aboard Alaska Airlines.

Now it has been reported that Alaska Airlines is ending its non-stop service to Vancouver this coming June.

According to Travel Weekly:

Alaska Airlines will end its nonstop service between Los Angeles and Vancouver, effective June 4, according to AirlineRoute.net.

The route was launched in 1996 by Alaska Airlines. Other airlines will continue the Los Angeles-Vancouver route after Alaska Airlines ends its service.

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Ship "Celebrity Mercury"

Above, the "Celebrity Mercury" at anchor at Juneau, Alaska in 2000.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While perusing the collection of literature I picked up at the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show (yes, I do read the literature I pick up at shows), I was reading Celebrity Cruises's 2013/2014 Cruises and Cruisetours book.

Above, my mom and daughter enjoying the view of Alaska aboard the "Celebrity Mercury."  Photo
by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2000, my mom, daughter Amber and I took a cruise aboard the Celebrity Mercury in Alaska. The book didn't list the ship for any of the company's cruises.

Above, my mom and daughter having lunch aboard the "Celebrity Mercury."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I then Googled Mercury and found in this article that the ship had been retired from Celebrity's fleet in February 2011.  It has been transferred to TUI Cruises and renamed Mein Schiff 2.  Now it sails the waters of Europe with destinations including Arabia, Dubai and Emirates, Eastern Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, Mediterranean, Transatlantic and Western Mediterranean.

At least the good ship is still sailing the seas somewhere.