I've always wanted to go on an ocean cruise, but, alas, I get terribly motion sick. So I did the next best thing - I wrote a book set on a cruise ship. :)And if I was to cruise-by-proxy, where would I go? The South Pacific, of course! I've already been to many places the south pacific cruise ships dock, such as New Zealand, New Caledonia and the east coast of Australia, and I love this region. It's the perfect place to set a romance.
I visited travel agents and was given armfuls of brochures, I surfed the web, I visited some big ships down at the docks, and I went through my holiday snaps. I also grilled my other half, who spent many years on ships, and the gorgeous and generous Anna Campbell went on a cruise armed with a list of my questions for the ship's doctor (my heroine's profession).
In fact, I started to feel as if I *had* been on a cruise. The tropical islands surrounded by powder fine white sand. The vast expanses of indigo blue water. The feel of the sea breeze in my hair. Mission accomplished.Though, now my interest in cruising has been piqued. I've also been checking out cruises to Alaska and down the Rhine. And I'm sure I could write books on a round-the-world cruise ship just as easily as from my little office.
Oh, except for that chronic motion sickness thing...So, indulge me please. Help me live vicariously. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so, where was it and what was your favourite part? Is there a cruise you've always longed to do? Or do you hate the idea of floating in a big boat?
My cruise ship book, Countering His Claim, is out in October in the US, Aust & NZ and can be preordered now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia, Book Depository, or eHarlequin.
I've never been on a cruise ship but I've been on some fairly long ferry trips.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd love to cruise around the Mediterranean with lots of stops as I think just being on a cruise ship for days would get a bit boring.
Oh, Kaelee, the Mediterranean! I've always dreamed of going there and a cruise would be the perfect way to dip your toe in to lots of places. Great suggestion!
ReplyDeleteI have been on a cruise, it was a 7 Night 8 Day Western Caribbean cruise on what was the largest cruise ship in the world at the time (Freedom of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International)Here is the cruise ports that it takes when it does the Western Caribbean:Port Canaveral, Florida; Labadee, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; Port Canaveral, Florida --- I didn't get to go to Cozumel because of Swine Flu/H1N1 happening about that time
ReplyDeleteI will be going on a shorter cruise for the New Year (Bahamas this time 5 Days 4 Nights -- ports are: Port Canaveral, Florida; CocoCay, Bahamas; Nassau, Bahamas; Port Canaveral, Florida)
Cruises are fun but you should have motion-sickness medicine with you if you get sick due to motion.
Rachel, I was about to write "Nope, no cruises for me" when I remembered that we did a river cruise many years ago. On the Murray River on a grand old paddle-wheel style boat. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat I remember best, apart from the glorious scenery, was the restfulness of being on the water. And the food -- cruises really look after you in that regard.
I would *love* to cruise the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. They're on the bucket list.
PS: I adore the cover of Countering His Claim. Captures the setting beautifully.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I'm swooning with envy at your list of ports - both on the trip you did and the one you have coming up. One day I plan to fly over (I still get motion sick on planes, but it's over quicker), and visit those places. My bucket list is long!
ReplyDeleteBronwyn, I think that would be one of the nicest things - the restfulness of being on the water. When I was a kid, we had a catamaran that we all learnt to sail. None of us got motion sick on it because there was no engine and the movement was more gentle. I loved taking it out and just sitting. Happy sigh. The water has an amazing effect.
ReplyDeleteI love that cover too! One of my favourites ever. :)
Hi Rachel
ReplyDeleteI have been on 2 cruises and I loved them they are the best holidays you could ever go one the first one was around the south pacific Noumea Vila Lifou Lamans Bay and Mystery Island :) then the 2nd one last year we went to Fiji as well as Villa Maree although becuae of bad weather we did miss out on a couple of stops but it no way affected the holiday we had a ball and I have never felt sick on either cruises although i have been known to be sick on the Manyly ferry and I do get sick in cars often I did take travel clam tablets both time but never used them. the gentle rocking helps me relax and the cocktails are awesome as well as the food and activities on board and there is nothing better than lying on a deck chair with a good book and a waiter there for the drinks. I love the sound of the new book I need to pre order this one
Have Fun
Helen
Helen, I've been to Noumea - isn't it pretty? But I've never been to Fiji - another one for the bucket list!
ReplyDeleteInteresting about you getting sick on the ferry and in cars but not the ships. What about planes - do you get sick in them?
My other half has tried to convince me to take a cruise and thinks I might be fine on a great big huge ship, but part of me thinks, if I do get sick, I'm kinda stuck. Maybe one time I need to take the risk and try it...
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant excuse for armchair travel! The book sounds terrific and looks good enough to eat.
I've never been on a big ocean liner but I did cruise up the Nile years ago. I loved it. You could lie in bed and watch the little villages go by and then go ashore to see all sorts of fascinating sites. I was astounded though at the number of people who opted to stay ashore with cold drinks... I'd definitely do it again. I wonder if river cruising has a different feel to ocean cruising. I've been on a number of Greek ferries on overnight or shorter trips but I have to say they weren't quite as much fun.
Annie, you cruised down the Nile? Wow. What great memories.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet river cruising does have a different feel to ocean cruising. But just to be sure, you should do an ocean cruise and compare. :)
Rachel, I still remember the doctor's reaction to me wanting to quiz her about life on the ship. The boat had been hit by an attack of giardia and she'd been dealing with miserable people all day - she was absolutely overjoyed when I just wanted to ask her questions not ask how to control a difficult tummy! Congratulations on the release of Countering His Claim! I can't wait to read about YOUR ship's doctor!
ReplyDeleteRachel
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of short cruises you can take that are really cheap they last about 3 days and just up and down the coast and they have themes like food and wine and comedy ones that might be they way to go first. Thes big ships have a lot of balste on them and that helps with the rocking and they say ginger is very good for motion sickness and you can get wrist bands that you press when you feel a bit sick and they are supposed to be great as well as for flying I ave only flown a few times and ver short trips and I was OK on them. Give a short one a go first I am sure you will love it
Have Fun
Helen
Hey Rach
ReplyDeleteA river cruise might be a good place to start you off as there is no rolling motion like there is on an ocean one. I'm just saying...
We did a boutique cruise in Fiji on a smaller ship that only catered for about 50 people - it was delightful - and both of us want to go again. The dive instructor loved having the 'younger' crowd and he was really good - he got me under the water with tanks... an amazing feat in itself!!!!!
Shaun was not motion sick at all that trip - and you know how sick he gets if there is a ripple in the water between here and Moreton Bay when I take the boat over there... so thats your second option to start the addiction for real.
I would love to take a larger cruise through Alaska, do the Antarctic too and another through the Caribbean but think I'd like to take a catamaran into the Mediterranean and do that one more on a smaller scale....
Ahhh cruising... its addictive... can't wait to read the book!
Congrats on your new release, Rachel. Sounds like a great story!
ReplyDeleteMy parents have done the Rhine cruise and loved it.
Cruising doesn't appeal to me as I would just dream Titanic nightmares the whole time. However, I did have to catch a ferry from Italy to Greece when I backpacked around Europe. Unfortunately my friend and I only had Italian money and it was a Greek boat and they only accepted drachma. We had no food or water, but we did have a pack of cards. We traded card games for sustenance! Quite a fun way to meet people.
Congrats on the release Rachel. I've never been on a cruise of any kind. I'm still working on my list of where I want to go when I have an opportunity to travel, but haven't even thought about where I might want to go on cruises.
ReplyDeleteHey Rachel, gorgeous cover! I went on a 1 night cruise! It was a fund raiser for the RFDS and left Sydney at lunchtime, cruised out somewhere in the ocean, turned around and docked in Sydney the next morning! Kind of a pretend cruise but I wasn't sure I'd like it. I hate feeling confined and not real good with motion sickness. Anyway, the confining wasn't toooooo bad. And although I wasn't sick, there was some movement and these cracker huge waves that night. I was all, "never doing this again, what if there's a storm or rough seas." Got back to shore to find out there had been a storm and it was the roughest night to be out on the seas - which I guess was a relief. My hubby and dad would go again, me...not so sure. I prefer the beach!
ReplyDeleteCath xo
Anna, I was so thrilled that your cruise came at a time when I needed a few niggly questions answered. There's a copy of the book here with your name on it as thanks. And maybe some chocolate chip cookies. :)
ReplyDeleteHelen, I was hoping you were going to say you're normally sick on planes but the ship was okay. I get sick on planes as well, unfortunately. I've tried the ginger and the pressure points, but lately I've found salt to work really well. It's interesting, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteTina, that's interesting about Shaun, because I knew he got motion sick as well. The reason I'd consider an ocean cruise before a river one is the size of the ship - I've been told that the bigger the ship, the less the movement. I get terribly sick on ferries, so I reckon a river cruise would be the same. Oh, yes, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Alaska and the Antarctic. Great list!
ReplyDeleteJen, funny about you dreaming Titanic nightmares the whole time. I'd rather be on the water than on a bridge over the top of it. I figure the fall will kill me, but I have a fighting chance on a ship. :)
ReplyDeleteRe: the card games on the ferry from Italy --> Greece, you're so resourceful! If I'm ever stuck somewhere, I want you with me. :)
Rachel, love your post. If I ever go on a cruise it will be to Alaska. When I lived in Vancouver Iused to watch the liners leaving port every day over summer and longed to be onboard.
ReplyDeleteThe upcoming cruise that I will be going on is one of the second smallest class of ships (Vision Class -- Enchantment of the Seas) for Royal but it is a bigger ship than I thought it would be -- I saw it one day when I was at the beach and it was leaving the local port (Port Canaveral,Florida)
ReplyDeleteI will be going on another cruise in late 2014 (around American Thanksgiving) which will be 10 Days 9 Nights -- Port Canaveral, Florida; Oranjestad, Aruba; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Willemstad, Curacao; Labadee, Haiti; Port Canaveral, Florida -- it will be on one of the 3rd largest class of ships for Royal until Quantum of the Seas sails full time in December 2014.
The cruise people take really good care of you, lots of food to eat (you can try new food without any problems), beverage packages which can be pretty expensive depending on which one you go with.
Lyn, I'm still working on my list of where I want to go when I travel too! There are so many options, so many fabulous places that it's hard to decide, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteCath, that's really interesting. I guess if you survived the rough night, then a normal cruise would be easy for you. But yes, I quite like flying somewhere then enjoying the beach too. :)
ReplyDeleteSue, those cruises to Alaska look amazing! I'd love to do one as well.
ReplyDeleteYou lived in Vancouver? You should do a post about that sometime - I'd love to hear about your time there!
Amanda, that list of ports is amazing. I'm jealous already. :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard about how well the staff take care of you and the food - definitely one of the draw cards!
Rachel,I haven't been on a cruise as such but I have been on a few large ferries - both the Cook Strait ferry and the overnight ferry across to Tasmania on several occasions. And as a child, when they used to run an overnight ferry from Wellington to Lyttleton.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that having been on a few very, *very* rough trips and been so, so awfully close to being sick, that I'm not sure how I'd go if I had days and days of rough weather on a longer cruise. But I do love the *thought* of going on a cruise! So I think I might be a vicarious long-cruise traveller, too!
I've loved reading some of your comments here - and especially Amanda's plans for cruises! I think she needs to comeback and give us the low-down!
Sharon, you've been on the Cook Strait ferry? You are such a worldly Cat! I'd love to travel that region.
ReplyDeleteYep, I agree about the vicarious long-cruise traveling. But if we could make it, wouldn't it be fun...?