In a couple of days’ time, the hubster and I will be jetting off to cruise the Mediterranean, to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary.
This will actually be my fourth cruise, and as I write this I am already wondering what disaster is about to strike …
I don’t mean to sound like a prophet of doom, but would you believe there has literally been a disaster before each of my previous cruise holidays? I kid you not!
Cruise 1 – Swine Flu
In 2009, all four of us went on a 7 night cruise to Vanuatu and New Caledonia – the perfect island getaway.
What we hadn’t counted on was the major swine flu outbreak that coincided with the month of our holiday … everybody was scanned and had to fill out forms declaring if they had any symptoms; many people wore masks in public to try to prevent the spread of germs.
As luck would have it I developed a bit of a sniffle and sore throat on the last night of our cruise. I told the hubster, expecting lots of sympathy, but instead he turned to me with a ferocious look and said just one word: DON’T!
We’ve often joked about it since then, and as soon as one of us complains of experiencing symptoms, the other will sternly order … DON’T! 😉
Cruise 2 – The Ship that Sank
At the beginning of 2012, we took the kids on a 14 night cruise to New Zealand to celebrate our son graduating from high school.
It also just happened to be the week after the Costa Concordia sank in the Mediterranean!
Fortunately there were no such dramas on our cruise 🙂 .
Cruise 3 – Gastro Outbreak
At the end of last year, I returned to Vanuatu and New Caledonia – but this time with my three best girls.
Literally days before our departure, the media reported a gastro outbreak on the Dawn Princess during a cruise to New Zealand – with about 200 passengers quarantined to their cabins. What a miserable experience that would be!
I’m sure the Dawn Princess was thoroughly disinfected before the next voyage … and it wasn’t our ship, but still, stories like this do tend to make you nervous especially when YOU are about to board a cruise ship!
Cruise 4 … ?
Let’s hope that this time, it will be all smooth sailing!
Have you ever been cruising days after disaster – or had any type of near-miss or holiday disaster?!
I haven’t been on a cruise as an adult yet (would love to!) but we did a couple as kids and I absolutely loved them. The Costa Concordia really struck a nerve with me though. It seems so unthinkable in this day and age and would definitely play on my mind a bit. Here’s to smooth sailing, cocktails and a great time! x
Yes, after the rough weather on my last cruise (and getting seasick), I’m telling myself that surely the Mediterranean Sea will be much smoother than the Pacific Ocean … fingers crossed!
Best of luck I’m sure you’ll be fine. I did know of some people trapped on that cruise ship in Sydney last week that was stuck outside the heads and couldn’t get back in due to the terrible weather. That would not have been fun!
I really felt for them Lorelei when I saw it on the news. We had really rough weather the first day of my last cruise and I was so sick, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
I think if you want to find something disastrous or negative it will be there. Tsunami, terrorist attacks, volcano eruptions, or an avalanche in Nepal. Look to the positive every cruise you have been on has been a wonderful experience without drama.
True … there was that cruise ship stuck outside Sydney Heads in the wild weather last week. We have had some awesome holidays!
Hey Janet,
Have a wonderful time, and congratulations for you and hubby on this milestone.
God bless xo
Thanks Liz, we will! xxx
I can totally relate! My first overseas trip I was in New York on 9/11 and was due to fly out 3 days later after postponing my flights – United Airlines, from JFK to LAX. Flew out a week later after rearranging my flights due to the cancellation of mine and got diverted for fog in Auckland and sat on a plane on a military base for 5 hours with no food or water (they’d biffed it before we landed not realising we would be diverted). The same trip on my way to NY they left my luggage in Auckland so I arrived in LA and hello, no bags. Took a week to get them to me.
Second overseas trip, was delayed on the plane coming home at London’s Heathrow this time due to a mega thunderstorm. The pilot then came on the loud speaker after 3 hours sitting on the tarmac to announce we would be departing as it was easier to fly out than to unload everyone and to fasten our seatbelts. Then I got home and 3 days later the London bombing happened and a bus blew up outside the hotel I had just been staying in.
Hope your cruise goes well!
Oh my goodness, I can see I’m not the only one who’s had some “near misses” … actually you just reminded me, we were on the ferry from Melbourne to Tassie when we heard about 9/11 so there’s another cruising days after disaster story for you!
Oh, and visiting from #IBOT 🙂
My daughter flew to Greece just after the plane crash in France. I was a nervous wreck. My in-laws cruise once or twice a year most years. They’ve never had any problems. I’ve never been but I’m guessing when I do, it will be a drama along the lines of the Titanic.
Oh that would have been so scary Raych, I didn’t twig that your daughter was away straight after that. It does tend to make one nervous just before flying or having a loved one taking a plane trip!
When I was 8 we landed at LAX just after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. I think we were one of few planes allowed to land, because of flying from Sydney and the not-muich-fuel-left thing! We went to family friends near the airport in LA and holed up with them for a few days before continuing on the holiday. I was bummed that I didn’t get to go to Disneyland again. I do remember being in a large aftershock, a 5.6 I think? It was unlike anything I can describe to feel the earth moving like that under you. My sister and I were in a bedroom and when we realised what it was we ran to find our parents.
We were in Christchurch not longer after their big quake, they were still getting regular after shocks and my kids were disappointed none happened while we were there. Not me though!!!!! I was thankful!!!
Happy anniversary and happy cruising! Will cross fingers and toes all goes well. Safe (and healthy) travels, Bon Voyage x
Thanks Tonia! x
Ahh you will be fine! I’m so excited for you. Do you think I could fit inside your bag?? I travelled to the UK just after September 11 against my parents’ wishes and I also travelled to New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina. You never can predict what will happen. Stay safe and have a wonderful time xx #teamIBOT
Oh you just reminded me I flew into Manila the day after a typhoon and the ground floor had been flooded only hours before we arrived … travelling makes for some memorable stories!
I’m sure it will all be smooth sailing! Have a wonderful time!
Thanks Ingrid, that’s what I’m hoping!
Well, I hope all goes well this time!!! Better before than during? x
My thoughts exactly!
Can I ask if you had any relatives cruising when the unsinkable titanic left the shoreline??? Maybe you should think of yourself as the captains luck… Like unsinkable Molly …
My disasters tend to strike the days after I have been there – helicopter crash on Franz Josef Glacier in NZ, someone got helivaced from Victoria Falls in Africa, etc etc. I hope nothing happens, though it seems to be your good luck charm because your holidays have been perfectly fine.
At least you’ve gotten away safely!
Well don’t they say things come in threes? 😉
I’m hoping everything will be fine before, during, and after your trip Janet. 25 years is amazing. xx
Which would be fine – but then I remembered when we took the ferry from Melbourne to Tassie in 2001 – yup you guessed it, the day after 9/11!!!! 😉
I’ve just returned from my cruise to NZ. It was my 6th cruise and I loved it so much I’ve booked on the same cruise in October next year. Hoping to talk a few friends to come along as well. Enjoy your holiday and I look forward to reading about your adventures.
It’s a lot of fun with friends, a completely different experience to when I went with the family – not less/more fun, just different 😉
Best of luck, Janet … they say things come in threes so it looks like you’re all done … this time it should be smooth sailing! Can’t wait to hear about your trip when you get back … Bon Voyage!
I have everything crossed for you for cruise number 4! My folks treated all of us kids and our families to a short cruise over the school holidays. I can see why they love cruising so much! My only drama was trying to get the Love Boat theme song out of my head 🙂