But that in itself won't necessarily save you from one of the very worst things about a cruise holiday and that is, quite simply, the ending of it.
We Hate Disembarkation…
It has to be said that some cruise lines are getting good at making the disembarkation process less miserable, but nevertheless the chances are still high that you will feel like Adam or Eve being expelled from Eden. And that's because the contrast between the two experiences is so (seemingly) unavoidable. You go from being well-looked after to having to look for your suitcases in a cavernous port terminal; you go from enjoying the best of personal services to having to endure the coach service to the airport; and you go from taking pleasure in fine company and wines pre-dinner to taking indifferent food and dubious coffee pre-flight.
It's the difference between personal attention and mass-market travel and it can all bring you down to earth with a terrible bump, and make that superb holiday you have just enjoyed seem a little distant.
…But We Know The Answer!
At its simplest, the answer to all of the above woes is simply to ensure that your holiday does not end when you get off the ship; that your journey down the gangway is actually the beginning of another adventure, however brief that may be. This is an important point - we are not saying have another holiday, but just to take some time out rather than going straight from luxury ship to less-than-luxury airport.
Two examples of what we mean. When we were in Barbados, we had to leave the ship in the morning, but our flight back home was not until late in the evening. A bit of pre-planning ensured that we were met at the ship by a limousine which whisked us to a day room in a luxury hotel, where we were able to enjoy a fine lunch by the sea, and some relaxing hours reading in the afternoon sun. And then, suitably relaxed, the journey to the airport did not seem nearly so grim.
On another trip, we disembarked in the morning in Athens, took a short taxi drive to a hotel for the night, and spent the afternoon sightseeing. A fine dinner, overlooking the Acropolis, followed by a lazy morning and then a relaxed trip to the airport made an excellent ending to what had been an excellent cruise.
It's All About The Detail
It's little treats like this that can make a world of difference to how you feel when you get back from your holiday. And it's in little treats like this that we specialise. So when you book a cruise holiday, never automatically assume that your holiday should begin and end when the cruise does: just a little pre-planning can make a big difference.
And of course if you book that holiday with Mundy Cruising, then we will be able to help you get every detail right.
