Day 10, sea days are delightful…

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A full moon in the night sky partially obscured by clouds
Not our photo. A super moon seen in Vancouver on November 14th, 2016. Credit: Devonyu/Getty Images

From today’s issue of Travel+Leisure online magazine, here.

“Tonight’s Supermoon Is the Largest and Brightest of 2025—and It’s the Closest the Moon Has Come to Earth This Year

The golden-hued Beaver Moon arrives Nov. 5—these US parks offer prime viewing. By Dana Sauchelli, Published on November 4, 2025

This year’s Beaver Moon will make its starry night debut this week as the biggest and brightest golden-hued supermoon of the year.

To catch the dazzling sight, gaze up at the night sky starting Tuesday, Nov. 4, to witness the closest the moon will be to Earth this year, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The moon will actually reach its peak illumination at 8:19 am. ET on Nov. 5, but it will be below the horizon then, so the best time to view it will be during the evenings of Nov. 4 and 5.

As it rises, the supermoon will glow a deep gold, appearing up to 16 percent brighter and 7 percent larger than usual, according to National Geographic. After this, the moon isn’t expected to appear as large and bright again until November 24, 2026.

The November phenomenon got its playful name since this is the time of year beavers typically start to shelter in their lodges for winter, The Old Farmer’s Almanac noted.

For the best moon gazing, head to one of America’s top Dark Sky parks, protected areas with exceptionally low light pollution, where the night sky is the perfect backdrop for a star show. From the Appalachian Mountains to wide Texas plains, these top Dark Sky sanctuaries offer some of the clearest views in the country, according to research shared with Travel + Leisure from Inghams Walking, a travel company specializing in outdoor adventures.

Mayland Earth to Sky Park and Bare Dark Sky Observatory in North Carolina ranked as the top Dark Sky park in the United States, according to the study. The gem allows enthusiasts to peer through the observatory’s telescope for an intimate look at the lunar rise or set up their own scopes on the park’s flat viewing areas.

Texas’ UbarU Camp and Retreat Center came in next on the list. Once run by a Quaker community, the site remains deeply committed to protecting the wildlife that thrives there.

Tennessee’s Pickett CCC Memorial State Park and Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area ranked third in the U.S. First certified as a silver-tier Dark Sky park in 2015, the Pickett CCC Memorial State Park features an astronomy field available year-round.

While the majority of official Dark Sky parks are located in the US, the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in Alberta, Canada, actually came in as the top Dark Sky park in the world. Sitting on the border with the US, the park boasts both alpine and glacial features and is “exceptionally rich in plant and mammal species,” according to UNESCO.”

We continue to enjoy sea days, participating in many trivia games, seminars, and various activities. Each evening at 4:30, we arrive at the Crown Lounge, exclusively for Diamond Pus (us) and Pinnacle members. We may never reach Pinnacle, the top-tier loyalty status, but we already enjoy many of its perks. At 7:00 pm, we head to the Main Dining Room on Deck 3 for dinner.
Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 5, 2015:

Tom explained his haircut preference to Kumar, who listened attentively to ensure he understood it correctly. The cost of the haircut was US $2.78. Tom left a 100% tip. For more photos, please click here.

Day 9, still at sea…What is the tipping situation on this cruise?…

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When we first began cruising many years ago, one of the most confusing aspects was understanding how gratuities worked. Every cruise line has its own policy, and over time, those policies evolve. On Royal Caribbean cruises in 2025, gratuities remain an essential part of the onboard experience, both a gesture of appreciation and a vital source of income for the hardworking crew.

Royal Caribbean automatically adds daily gratuities to each passenger’s account. As of 2025, the rate for this cruise is $18.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $21.00 per person, per day for those in suites. This covers the crew who make our voyage comfortable, the dining staff, stateroom attendants, and behind-the-scenes team members who keep everything running smoothly. The charge is conveniently added to your onboard account, eliminating the need to carry cash or track tips throughout the cruise.

Our total gratuity bill for this 47-night cruise is an additional US $1739 ($18.50 per day x 2 x 47), which is added to our online account and charged to our credit card at the end of the cruise.

While some travelers prefer the old-fashioned way by handing out envelopes of cash at the end of the cruise, the automatic system ensures that every crew member receives their fair share. It’s easy to forget how many invisible hands make a cruise ship feel like a floating home. There are the stewards who quietly tidy our cabins twice a day, the dining room servers who remember our favorite drink, and the countless others who never meet us face-to-face but still play a role in keeping everything spotless and seamless.

Guests can prepay gratuities when booking their cruise, which can simplify budgeting and prevent surprises at the end of the trip. We’ve found this especially helpful when traveling for many weeks at a time. It’s one less line item on the final bill. Prepaying also locks in the current rate, which can be useful if there’s a price increase before your sailing date.

That said, gratuities are not carved in stone. If you receive particularly outstanding service, you can always add an additional tip directly to your onboard account or hand cash to the crew member personally. Conversely, if you experience a service issue, you can request adjustments through Guest Services, though most guests rarely need to. We’ve always found Royal Caribbean’s crew to be warm, attentive, and genuinely eager to please.

In specialty restaurants, bars, and lounges, an automatic 18% gratuity is added to all beverage and dining purchases. When we first started cruising, we used to double-check every receipt, but now we sign and smile, knowing the gratuity is already included. Of course, if someone goes above and beyond—a bartender who remembers your name after one visit, or a waiter who anticipates your dietary needs—a few extra dollars or a heartfelt thank-you goes a long way.

Some cruisers wonder where all these gratuities go. Royal Caribbean’s policy states that the funds are shared among the service team, including dining attendants, stateroom staff, and other key crew members who directly impact guest satisfaction. It’s a collective effort, and the crew’s livelihood depends on these contributions.

We’ve always viewed gratuities not as an obligation but as a form of gratitude. When you consider the long hours, the weeks away from family, and the consistently cheerful service that defines life aboard a Royal Caribbean ship, it feels good to know our small daily contribution makes a meaningful difference.

Over the years, we’ve met many crew members who’ve become familiar faces; some we’ve seen on different ships and itineraries. They remember us, ask about our travels, and share stories about their own journeys. It’s those connections that remind us tipping isn’t just about money, it’s about appreciation and acknowledgment of the human touch that makes every voyage memorable.

So, as we sail through 2025, it’s comforting to know the gratuity system continues to support the very people who make cruising so special. Whether it’s the smile of a room steward greeting you in the hallway or the waiter who ensures your meal is just right each evening, those daily tips are a way of saying, “Thank you for making this feel like home at sea.”

On the flip side, if you feel the overall services have been inferior, you can have the automatic gratuities removed from your final bill. But keep in mind that this will impact service staff you do not interact with, such as kitchen and laundry staff.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 4,  2015:

We took this photo of Mount Kilimanjaro from the window of our tiny plane on our way to the Masai Mara for a photo safari, one of many great experiences in our three years of world travel. For more photos, please click here.

Day 8…Sea days continue…

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We don’t gamble and risk losing money, but many cruisers enjoy the challenge.

Some of our readers aren’t receiving our daily emails. It appears there are extensive updates that our web company must complete, and until they are, you may not receive the emails. In the interim, if you can create a bookmark or icon on your phone or device, you will be notified of the new post at about the same time each day.

To bookmark or create a desktop item, please use the usual process on your device by adding:

www.worldwidewaftage.com

Each time I upload a new post, it will automatically appear under the link above.

It is a labor-intensive process to handle all these updates, and the web company will need my help daily. I’d prefer not to spend the entire time we’re cruising to work on this. Once we are settled in New Zealand in mid-December, we’ll begin the process. Our site will remain available each day while I continue to upload new posts with photos.

I will keep you updated on this process as it’s completed through the end of the year. Once completed, those who haven’t been receiving the email will find it in their inbox once again. Otherwise, nothing will change in the interim. Our site is huge with almost 5000 posts. It’s a process. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The past few sea days on the ship have been rather enjoyable. We continue to meet more people and have fun conversations. It’s incredible how most cruisers are frequent travelers — although not necessarily nomads like us — homeowners who travel as often as they can.

We’ve attended several lectures in the Star Lounge during the days and played countless trivia games in various bars and venues throughout the ship. It’s been delightful having busy days and nights, doing precisely what we feel like doing, unrushed and at our own pace.

Finally, I’m getting some decent meals (dinners) in the main dining room. The chef hasn’t been very creative in planning dishes for me as we’ve experienced on past cruises, so now I suggest how they make a dish, and they follow suit. Last night I had spaghetti bolognese with zucchini instead of pasta, along with a crouton-free Caesar salad. It was my first enjoyable meal after a week of plain chicken breasts and dry salmon steaks.

Some days, we have breakfast; on others, we have lunch at the buffet, all based on how hungry we are in the morning. But, we don’t do both breakfast and lunch when that’s too much food, and we don’t want to gain back all the weight we’d lost in Spain. Tom quit eating donuts with his coffee in the mornings and dessert after dinner. We have dinner in the main dining room each evening, with a standing 7:00 pm reservation at a shared table.

Before heading to the dining room for dinner, we spend a few hours socializing in the Crown Lounge, a small, 50-person capacity room for Diamond-Plus and Pinnacle members only. It’s always so crowded, and we have to get there by 4:00 pm to get a seat. On other cruises, they had much larger areas for the early evening cocktail hour, but that’s changed since the pandemic.

That’s it for today, dear readers. We will be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 3, 2015:

It was easy for us to imagine how much we’ll enjoy time outdoors during our three-month stay in Costa Rica, on our way to South America after visiting family and friends in the US. For more photos, please click here.

Day 3, smooth sailing…Morocco…

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A monkey towel arrangement on our bed last night. Cute.

Today, we’re in Tangier, Morocco, but we don’t plan to get off the ship. After all, we spent 2½ years in Morocco during our early travels and found that Tangiers is not much different from where we stayed in the Big Square and the Medina, living in a riad.

There were no tours available that didn’t include walking on uneven surfaces, up and down stairs, and shopping, none of which we care to do. Most of the passengers we’ve spoken to are disembarking to shop. There’s a huge shopping mall across from the port. At this point, neither of us could fit a toothpick in our luggage.

Many ports of call are about shopping, which undoubtedly benefits the local economy. Many passengers find shopping at ports of call a highlight of their cruising experience. However, many enjoy a variety of historic and scenic sights offered in the area.

Complimentary treats are offered in the Promenade Cafe, where we work on our laptops.

Here’s some information about Tangier.

Dear readers, we realize many of you expect us to participate in many tours at ports of call. But with my walking limitations and lack of desire to shop, we will only disembark the ship when it suits us. As much as we’d like to acquire more content that appeals to all of you, we tend to partake in events that appeal to us the most.

After posting almost 5000 posts over the past 13 years (two days until our 13th travel anniversary), we’ve decided that at this point, we will only seek experiences that are new, most enriching, and appealing. On this 47-night cruise, there will be plenty of those opportunities.

More complimentary treats are offered in the Promenade Cafe.

We love sea days. Yesterday, we attended a fantastic seminar on the history of Motown and have since spent time with the knowledgeable and friendly speaker, David. He’ll be presenting a few more music seminars over the next few days, and we’ll attend them.

Also, yesterday, we played three trivia games with other passengers. Last night was dressy night, and I could kick myself for never asking someone to take our photo. However, there will be several more dressy nights, and we promise to do so then.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner at a shared table in the dining room. The conversation was lively and animated, and it couldn’t have been more fun. Tonight is “white night,” but I don’t have any white pants, only a white shirt, which I’ll wear. Tom has a white shirt and pants.

We love all the socializing and meeting new people, our favorite aspect of cruising.

A classic car, an MG, is on display at the Promenade Cafe.

At noon, we’ll head to the main theatre for a movie we haven’t seen. After that, there are several trivia games to keep us busy for the remainder of the day.

We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 29, 2015:

A friendly man on his horse in Fiji, after a hard morning’s work, took time to say, “Bula!” For more photos, please click here.

Day 2, cruising…Heavenly, amid a few glitches…

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Before sailing away, we took this photo of the world-famous Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to be sailing the seas once again. After months of anticipation, the feeling of stepping onto a ship, hearing the faint hum of the engines, and seeing the endless blue horizon fills us with a familiar joy that never gets old. The gentle roll of the ocean feels like home, a rhythm we’ve grown to love after years of traveling the world, always seeking that perfect balance between adventure and serenity.

Last night, we had our first cocktails in the Crown Lounge, exclusively for Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members.

Still, the boarding process was trickier than we’d hoped. I pride myself on being organized with travel documents, but even the most seasoned travelers have their hiccups. Somehow, I made an error when completing our Namibian e-visa applications, and it wasn’t discovered until check-in. My heart sank when the agent pointed it out with a polite but firm smile. We’ll have to redo them in the next few days before arriving in Namibia. Thankfully, there’s time, and as frustrating as it was, it’s all part of the unpredictable nature of travel. These are the moments that remind me that patience and flexibility are as essential as a passport when living this life.

Tom was in the Crown Lounge last night.

Once we were on board, the mood lightened immediately. The familiar scent of the sea and the sound of cheerful greetings from the crew washed away the minor stress of boarding. The ship, though a bit older than some of the newer Royal Caribbean vessels, has a charm all its own: warm, inviting, and comfortable. After unpacking and settling into our cabin, we decided to get our WiFi working so we could stay connected to the world, post updates, and check emails. That’s when the next little hurdle began.

I was in the Crown Lounge previous evening.

We’d prepaid for the VOOM internet, Royal Caribbean’s Starlink, expecting it to be as seamless as on past cruises. Previously, it was as simple as entering an access code and connecting. But this time, the process was anything but simple. There were multiple instructions depending on the device, confusing login pages, and no clear way to activate our prepaid plan. We each tried our phones and laptops, only to end up in a loop of sign-ins that went nowhere.

Tom’s prime rib dinner in the Main Dining Room last night.

After thirty minutes of fiddling, we finally gave in and stood in line at the tech help desk. The line moved slowly, filled with other puzzled passengers holding their phones aloft, hoping for that magical moment when “Connected” would appear on the screen. Usually, we can figure out these things on our own, but this time it was simply too convoluted. Eventually, a patient crew member guided us through the new system. Within minutes, we were online, relief washing over us like the sea breeze outside.

My dinner last night… chicken breast, poached eggs, and a bit of broccoli.

It’s funny how dependent we’ve all become on connectivity, even when sailing across the ocean, far from the routines of everyday life. For us, it’s not just about posting photos or browsing the news. It’s how we manage our travels, communicate with family, and continue writing about our journey for all of our dear readers. Once the connection was stable, we could finally exhale.

The ship’s security department confiscated my big knife that travels with us. At the end of the cruise, we’ll be able to collect it.

As evening approached, we wandered to the deck to watch the sunset, the horizon glowing in shades of gold and pink. The minor frustrations of the day faded as the ship glided smoothly over the calm sea. Below us, the wake shimmered like a trail of silver, a reminder that each day at sea brings both challenges and beauty. Tomorrow, the ship will be farther from shore, and we’ll settle into the rhythm of cruising life, meals, walks on deck, conversation with fellow travelers, which has already been such fun, and the gentle lull of the ocean, reminding us how lucky we are to be here once again.

Even after all these years, there’s nothing quite like the freedom of being at sea.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 28, 2015:

Cows are always curious, and we laughed when this grazing cow picked up his head to check us out. For more photos, please click here.

Off we go! Interesting facts about our cruises..

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Here is the map of our three back-to-back cruises beginning today and ending on December 13.

Tom looked up some facts about today’s 47-night cruise(s) that surprised us.

  • 10 Countries

  • 4 Continents,

  • 4 Hemispheres,

  • Cross the Equator 3 times 

Wow! We certainly are looking forward to this adventure and will share details with you as we sail on this fun journey.

We’ve taken every possible precaution to avoid getting sick, including taking immune-supporting supplements, taking cold showers, eating healthy food, getting good sleep, and exercising (which I’ve done daily). Tom did the three flights of stairs many times, collecting packages from Amazon, groceries, and Uber Eats.

We’ve both been doing intermittent fasting and have each lost over 16 pounds (7.3 kg) in 6 weeks, averaging 2.63 pounds (1.2 kg) per week. Tom is as light as he’s been since we left the US in 2012, but I still have 11 more pounds (5 kg) to reach my usual weight. I’d gained over 25 pounds from the previous heart medications I had to take for a year.

It will be a challenge to keep losing weight on the cruise, but I will try. It will be too hard to continue intermittent fasting, but since we don’t eat lunch, I’ll be careful with portion control and food choices during breakfast and dinner. Since we didn’t drink any alcohol, except for last Monday when we went to lunch with Linda and Ken, it was easier to lose.

On the ship, as Diamond Plus members, we’re each allowed five complimentary drinks each day. I will only have two glasses of wine each day, so we’ll see how it goes. Hopefully, all the walking we’ll do on the ship and out on tours will offset some of the extra calories we consume from the alcohol.

We are fully packed and ready to go. Soon, Carlos will arrive to help Tom get the bags downstairs. We arranged a larger taxi to take us to the cruise terminal. We have an assigned arrival time of 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. We won’t have any trouble making that time.

We signed up for internet so we each have our own connection on the ship and will still be able to communicate with family using WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

We’ll be back tomorrow, but it may be later than usual since we’ll be having breakfast and unpacking in the morning.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 27, 2015:

This tiny chemist shop has more inventory packed into this tiny space than imaginable. One need only ask for an item, and they happily scrounge around until they find it. The owner, of Muslim heritage, refused to allow interior and staff photos, which we’ve encountered and respected in Morocco and other Muslim countries. For more photos, please click here.

Traveling to Greece?…Euphoria Retreat…Five days and counting…

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Not our photo. Euphoria Retreat in Greece.

Many of our readers are cruising and flying to Greece for their vacations/holidays. Today, we stumbled across this article that may be of interest to those interested in wellness and spas. This article was written in the first person by the author from her personal experience.

From Travel+Leisure online magazine:

“This Might Be the Most Transformative Wellness Retreat in Greece—Where Ancient Philosophy Meets Modern Healing

At Euphoria Retreat in Mystras, timeless philosophy and holistic therapies help guests rediscover balance and purpose. By Janine Di Giovanni Published on October 11, 2025

I’m a strong believer in psychotherapy, but the concept of professional coaching never appealed to me. The one time I tried it, I was unnerved by a trust exercise and gave up almost immediately. Then, a couple of years ago, I became CEO of a nonprofit investigating war crimes in Ukraine. Having spent most of my career as a writer, working alone, I found leading a team to be exhilarating, but I needed a new skill set. So I signed up for a leadership program at Euphoria, a wellness retreat in Greece.

The word euphoria is derived from ancient Greek. (Its literal meaning is “to bear” or “to carry well.”) It’s a fitting name for the first—and most acclaimed—wellness center in the country. The property is set in the fortified town of Mystras, about a three-hour drive south of Athens. I arrived just as the sun was going down behind Mount Taygetos, the highest peak in the Peloponnese, and casting a golden light across Euphoria’s stone floors.

The property, which opened in 2018, was designed by Greek architect Natalia Efraimoglou to reflect the area’s Byzantine heritage. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was a key inspiration; elements of that building are reflected in Euphoria’s domes and arches, as well as its palette of gold, blue, red, and yellow. Most of the retreat’s 45 rooms are set in the main building, but I stayed in one of six suites located in the 1830s Leoncini Mansion, which has marble floors and is decorated with Turkish rugs and traditional wooden furniture. My balcony overlooked a sweeping green valley. I didn’t unpack that night—unusual for me—and instead fell into a deep sleep. When I woke to birdsong and a crowing rooster 10 hours later, I realized it was the first time I’d slept without sleeping pills or melatonin in years.

That morning, I began the leadership program, which the property curates for each participant. Euphoria blends ancient Greek and Chinese therapies, as these two great civilizations developed similar well-being philosophies that emphasize inner peace, unity, and holistic balance. In my first session, a therapist explained how the elements of ancient Hellenic medicine (water, fire, earth, air, and a fifth element known as aether) and traditional Chinese medicine (water, fire, earth, wood, and metal) were reflected in my body and personality. My dominant traits were a mix of earth for pragmatism and fire for passion.

On the spa’s top floor, which overlooks a shady evergreen forest, I met my teachers. Marina Efraimoglou, Euphoria’s founder (and the sister of architect Natalia), had, like me, switched careers later in life. A former Wall Street banker who moved to Athens to continue her career, she was diagnosed with cancer in her late twenties. Chemotherapy and recovery prompted her to re-evaluate her life. She stayed in finance for a while, then founded Euphoria to promote physical, mental, and spiritual healing.

Her teaching partner, Mary Vandorou, provided a counterpoint. The daughter of a dancer and an actor, she had been a ballerina and later trained in Zen Buddhist meditation. While Efraimoglou is bold and authoritative, Vandorou is quiet and reflective. The pair divided the classwork, which included discussions and exercises. We began with meditation, then explored how to become an effective messenger. “What are your examples of true leadership?” Efraimoglou asked. “Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi,” I answered. Both led their people through seemingly impossible conflicts with grace and the ethos of nonviolence.

The retreat’s core teachings are based on three levels: leadership of the self, of a small group, and on a broader, global scale. The first is rooted in the phrase “Know thyself”—the Socratic idea that self-development begins by understanding your body, mind, and emotions. To this end, Efraimoglou presented me with a set of handwritten questions, most of which focused on the way I presented myself to the world—at conferences, symposia, and meetings—and whether that reflected my true self. She asked what mattered most to me. Commitment, loyalty, principles? Are there personality types I resonate more with?

One evening, I was asked to talk about and reframe the parts of my life or career that I regretted. I expected to struggle with opening up to strangers, but both women were such good listeners that I found myself revealing things I’d never shared before. “Why are you apologizing?” Efraimoglou asked. “Why don’t you own your path?” Vandorou added. “What does ‘own my path’ mean?” I asked. They both laughed. It means to accept your work, your life, and yourself. To focus on the good things around me. And there are many.

At Euphoria, there’s also a strong focus on female empowerment and leadership that draws not from yang (masculine) energy but from yin: intuition, empathy, care, nurturing, and supportive teamwork. That prompted me to reflect: When was I short-tempered? When did I shut down a good idea? When was I judgmental with my team? After our sessions, I retreated to the forest to walk. I spent a lot of time in the spa, which had an outdoor pool where I lay floating on my back, staring up at pine and cypress branches.

My retreat only lasted five days; I wished it had been longer. Several other women were staying for three weeks, and I was jealous of them. Before leaving for Athens, I took one last walk through the private woodland bordering the property, which Efraimoglou called “the enchanted forest.” There was no rush, no desire to climb the highest peak. Just a simple path to follow around the ancient trees, all stable and firmly rooted. Be like that tree, I thought. Stay on your path. Efraimoglou would have approved.

A version of this story first appeared in the November 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline “Deeply Rooted.”

That’s it for today, folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 22. 2015:

There were no photos posted on this day ten years ago.

What is a guarantee cabin on a cruise ship?…We’ve tried it for the first time…

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This is the layout of our balcony cabin (it may be reversed) on the upcoming Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas: 203 sq. ft., with a 47 sq. ft. balcony.

When booking a cruise, one of the most mysterious and often misunderstood options a traveler encounters is the guarantee cabin (sometimes spelled guaranty cabin). It’s a term that sounds both promising and uncertain at the same time, as though you’re guaranteed something but also taking a gamble. Over the years, as we’ve sailed across oceans on various cruise lines, we’ve learned that a guarantee cabin can be a blessing or a mild disappointment, depending on your expectations and how flexible you are as a traveler.

A guaranteed cabin means you’re booking a specific room category— for example, inside, oceanview, balcony, or suite —but not choosing the exact location or cabin number. In other words, you guarantee that you’ll have at least that type of accommodation. Still, the cruise line has the right to assign you any available cabin within that category or even upgrade you to a higher one. The idea is simple: you’re trading control for value.

Cruise lines love guaranteed bookings because they give them more flexibility to manage their inventory. For instance, if certain sections of the ship need balancing for safety or operational reasons, or if they’re trying to sell more desirable cabins later at a higher price, they can shuffle guarantee guests around to fill the gaps. For passengers, the allure of a guarantee cabin usually comes down to price. These rooms are often cheaper than picking a specific cabin yourself, which appeals to those of us who prefer to save a bit for shore excursions, specialty dining, or perhaps a cocktail at sunset.

However, there’s always a catch. When you book a guarantee cabin, you won’t know your cabin number until closer to your sailing date, sometimes weeks before, sometimes even a few days. For travelers who like to plan down to the smallest detail, this uncertainty can be unsettling. We’ve known fellow cruisers who were assigned cabins in less-than-ideal locations: near elevators where late-night conversations echo through the corridor, under the pool deck where early-morning deck chairs scrape across the floor, or close to a crew service area where there’s a constant hum of activity.

But we’ve also met passengers who lucked out, getting unexpected upgrades to higher categories at no additional cost—say, from an interior to a balcony. Those moments feel like winning a little cruise lottery, and they do happen more often than one might think. Cruise lines prefer happy passengers, and if filling a better cabin makes sense logistically, it’s an easy gesture for them to make.

From a psychological standpoint, booking a guarantee cabin tests your comfort with uncertainty. As full-time travelers, Tom and I have learned to adapt to the unexpected—different cultures, languages, currencies, and accommodations, so a little unpredictability on a cruise ship doesn’t rattle us much anymore. In fact, there’s something oddly exciting about not knowing exactly where you’ll end up on board. It adds a layer of surprise, a small adventure before the bigger one begins. When the cabin assignment finally appears on your cruise app or booking page, it feels like unwrapping a gift.

That said, there are some practical considerations. If you’re particular about cabin location—say, you get seasick easily and prefer the middle of the ship on a lower deck where motion is minimal—then a guarantee cabin may not be wise. Likewise, if you’re a light sleeper or sensitive to noise, you might not want to risk being near high-traffic areas. In those cases, it’s better to pay a bit more and handpick your cabin.

On the other hand, if you’re simply thrilled to be sailing and aren’t fussy about where you lay your head at night, then the savings of a guarantee cabin might be worth it. After all, much of cruise life takes place outside the stateroom—on the decks, at shows, in restaurants, or exploring exotic ports of call. For some, the cabin is just a place to sleep between adventures.

On these three upcoming back-to-back cruises, for the first time, we booked a guarantee balcony cabin, not knowing where on the ship we’d be or whether we’d have to move twice. I hesitated when Tom suggested this during the cruise booking process a year ago, even with the over US $1000 in cost savings. But, I relented and said, “Let’s give it a try.”

Now, with only 12 days until boarding, we’ve been informed of our balcony cabin number and that we’ll be able to stay in the same cabin for the first and second legs of the back-to-back. We won’t be informed about the third leg for weeks, but if we have to move, it won’t be so bad, since we’ll be able to stay in the first cabin for the first 35 nights (out of 47). We are thrilled.

All in all, the unpredictability keeps travel from becoming routine. Much like flying standby or choosing a mystery hotel, the guarantee cabin is for those who can embrace a little chaos in exchange for potential reward. It’s about trusting the process and remembering that every cabin, whether inside or out, shares the same destination, the same ocean breezes, and the same star-filled nights.

If you decide to try a guarantee booking, it helps to understand the fine print. You can’t change your cabin once it’s assigned, and you can’t request a particular location in advance. The assignment is final, and that’s the trade-off for the lower fare. Some cruise lines assign guarantee cabins weeks before departure, while others wait until the last moment as they juggle cancellations and upgrades. Patience is key, and a positive mindset goes a long way.

For travelers like us, who’ve lived out of suitcases for years and learned to find comfort wherever we are, the guarantee cabin fits our philosophy: make the best of every situation. What matters most is the experience itself, the laughter shared at dinner at shared tables, the sound of the sea against the hull, the feeling of waking up in a new port with the world waiting just outside your door.

So if you’re planning your next cruise and debating whether to book a guarantee cabin, ask yourself this: Are you more excited by certainty or by surprise? Either choice can lead to wonderful memories. But for those who crave a touch of adventure even before stepping on board, a guarantee cabin might just be the perfect way to begin the voyage.

We’ll let you know what transpires for our third leg of the back-to-back cruise when we know sometime in the next several weeks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 15, 2015:

In Fiji, the tiny freezer contains meat for the week, streaky bacon, bagged portions of Tom’s daily egg dish, homemade low-carb flax-and-almond-meal lemon poppyseed muffins, and low-carb coconut cookies. Also, ice, lots of ice. We Americans like ice with our cold tea. For more photos, please click here.

Theme parks on cruise ships…

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Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship with the most extensive amusement and water park.

Theme and Amusement Parks on Cruise Ships: The Floating Fun Revolution

Cruise ships are no longer just about shuffleboard, sun decks, and midnight buffets. Over the past decade, they’ve evolved into floating cities offering increasingly wild and whimsical attractions—none more jaw-dropping than the rise of full-blown theme and amusement parks at sea. The concept may seem far-fetched to some, but for the modern traveler, especially families and thrill-seekers, these onboard playgrounds are becoming a major draw.

What once began with a simple rock-climbing wall or a waterslide has exploded into a seafaring spectacle of roller coasters, surf simulators, go-kart tracks, and immersive themed zones. These floating theme parks redefine what it means to vacation on the ocean, blurring the lines between cruise ship and amusement resort.

Royal Caribbean: Pioneers of Onboard Adventure

When it comes to pushing the envelope, Royal Caribbean International leads the charge. Its Oasis Class ships, such as Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, are not just among the largest passenger vessels in the world—they’re virtual amusement parks.

Royal Caribbean was the first to introduce neighborhood-style layouts on its ships, including areas like the Boardwalk, complete with carousel rides, hot dog stands, and outdoor amphitheaters. The Ultimate Abyss, a 10-deck dry slide twisting down the back of the ship, became an iconic thrill.

But the innovation didn’t stop there. Their Quantum Class ships introduced RipCord by iFLY, a skydiving simulator, and the North Star, a glass observation pod rising 300 feet above sea level. The SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at sea, features bumper cars, roller skating, and even a circus school.

Carnival: Water Slides and Thrill Zones

Carnival Cruise Line leans into fun with its Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, which feature BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. Riders strap into motorcycle-style seats on a track that twists and turns around the upper deck—while reaching speeds of up to 40 mph. That’s right: a real, electric-powered roller coaster circling the top of a ship.

Water parks have long been part of Carnival’s DNA, but they’ve upped the ante in recent years. Their WaterWorks park includes spiraling slides, splash zones, and racing tubes—all perched several decks above the ocean. Combined with the high-energy SportSquare (ropes course, mini-golf, and outdoor gym equipment), it’s a full-scale amusement experience.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Go-Karts and VR Worlds

Norwegian’s Prima and Encore ships are designed with adrenaline junkies in mind. They offer multi-level racetracks with electric go-karts zipping along the ship’s upper decks—where guests can race each other with an ocean view flying by. The track even extends slightly over the side of the ship for added drama.

The Galaxy Pavilion adds a high-tech edge, delivering an entire deck of immersive virtual reality games and rides. Passengers can pilot fighter jets, explore haunted houses, or simulate high-speed racing in a hyper-realistic environment. It’s ideal for families and tech lovers who want more than sunbathing and swimming.

MSC Cruises: European Elegance Meets Family Fun

The MSC World Europa and MSC Seascape have brought the brand into the amusement space, particularly for European travelers. The Robotron, a robotic arm ride that lifts and flips passengers while synchronizing to music and LED lights, is something you’d expect at a land-based theme park, not cruising through the Mediterranean.

MSC also offers dedicated aquaparks, adventure trails, zip lines, and 5D cinemas. Their approach blends European-style luxury with the playfulness of a resort-style family vacation.

Disney Cruise Line: Where Magic Meets the Sea

Disney Cruise Line blends its signature storytelling with cruise ship innovation. Their newest ship, the Disney Wish, offers a “water coaster” called AquaMouse, which combines water ride thrills with immersive animation, sound, and story scenes featuring Mickey and friends. It’s not just a water slide—it’s a narrative ride experience, complete with sudden drops and twists.

Themed zones, such as Marvel Super Hero Academy, Star Wars: Cargo Bay, and Frozen-themed dining experiences, elevate the family cruise into a full-blown magical adventure. It’s no surprise Disney would ace the art of combining theme parks with cruising—they’ve simply shifted their magic from land to sea.

Why the Shift Toward Theme Parks at Sea?

Cruise lines are in fierce competition for younger audiences, multigenerational families, and thrill-seeking vacationers who once might have opted for Disneyland or Universal Studios. Today’s cruise passengers expect more than relaxation. They want Instagrammable moments, adrenaline-pumping experiences, and interactive entertainment.

Moreover, cruise vacations are increasingly seen as cost-effective family trips. Instead of paying for flights, hotels, meals, and admission to a theme park separately, a cruise offers all-inclusive pricing with amusement-level attractions included.

Challenges and Future of Floating Fun

There are unique challenges to building amusement rides on a moving vessel. Engineers must account for weight distribution, ocean motion, and safety standards. Every roller coaster loop and splash zone must be tested for stability, especially during rough seas.

Still, with technology advancing and cruise ships growing larger, we can only expect more innovation. Rumors suggest concepts like indoor ski slopes, escape rooms, AI-driven attractions, and augmented reality parks could be next on the horizon.

Today’s cruise ships are no longer just transportation…they’re destinations in their own right. Theme and amusement parks at sea have reshaped the cruising experience, offering something for everyone: thrill rides, splash zones, family fun, and tech-powered escapes. Whether you’re riding a coaster above the Atlantic or ziplining across a Caribbean sunset, one thing’s for sure: cruising has never been more exhilarating.

On another note, last night, we had a fun evening with friends Carol and Colin and Carol’s two nieces, Ursula and Anita from Pretoria, at Ngwenya for their Thursday night buffet. The conversation was as delightful as ever and left us all with smiles on our faces. Tonight, we’re off to Jabula for more entertainment. We love to be busy socializing on all these evenings!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 1, 2015:

As shown in this photo, few swimmers in parts of Australia are in the water, many fearing sharks and stingers. For more photos, please click here.

Part 3…We booked 4 cruises!…Here are prices, itinerary and details…Excitement for the future..

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Sadly, the formerly beautiful Whaler’s Village in Lahaina is no longer operational after the 2023 fires.

The days are flying by. In only 18 days, we’ll be on our way to Nevada, arriving on December 18. It will be Tom’s birthday only five days later, which we’ll celebrate by heading out to dinner. A few days later, it will be Christmas, which we won’t do much to celebrate. We don’t mind at all.

This will be our 13th Christmas since we left Minnesota in 2012. We don’t put up a tree or decorations since it’s neither practical nor necessary in our unusual lifestyle. The meaning of Christmas is always in our minds, and we have been able to observe the holiday season in our hearts.

Following is the information on the third cruise we booked:

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Royal Caribbean_map

12 Night Cruise from Singapore to BNE

Royal Caribbean
Voyager of the Seas

12 Night Cruise

Departure Date: Mon, Dec 01, 2025

Embarkation Port: Singapore

Return Date: Sat, Dec 13, 2025

Disembarkation Port: BNE

Non-Refundable Deposit
Date Port Arrive Depart
Monday, December 1 Singapore 4:30 pm
Tuesday, December 2 At Sea
Wednesday, December 3 At Sea
Thursday, December 4 Benoa, Bali, Indonesia 7:00 am 10:00 pm
Friday, December 5 At Sea
Saturday, December 6 At Sea
Sunday, December 7 Darwin, Australia 9:00 am 5:00 pm
Monday, December 8 At Sea
Tuesday, December 9 At Sea
Wednesday, December 10 Cairns, Australia 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Thursday, December 11 Airlie Beach, Australia 9:00 am 6:30 pm
Friday, December 12 At Sea
Saturday, December 13 Brisbane, Australia 6:30 am

There’s not much on the agenda for today. The workout is going well. Each day, I increase either the time on the treadmill or the elevation. Today, I did 17 minutes on the treadmill with 7 minutes of elevation. Once I get to 20 minutes, I’ll focus more on time and elevation rather than increasing the time.

I’ll miss five days while we travel to Nevada, but once we’re situated in the condo in Lake Las Vegas, the next day, I’ll start up again, hoping to pick up where I left off. If not, it should only take a day or two to return to my previous level. I keep track of each day’s workout stats on my phone’s calendar app, attempting to improve daily.

Thanks for staying with us through this long and less exciting period.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 26, 2014:

At the Whalers Village Museum, destroyed in the horrific Lahaina fires, ship masthead rings held the sailors to the mast. For more photos, please click here.