We’ve Cruised 31 Times, These Are Our 3 Favorite Experiences And Places We’ve Been

Cruising world wide feels like a dream. New ports, new cities, new experiences every time you set sail. Yvette Hachtel and her husband Edward Presnar have made that dream a actuality. They’ve taken 31 cruises, with six deliberate for this 12 months and one other three booked in 2023. 

Ships have taken them in every single place from the Bahamas to Scotland to New Zealand to Hawaii and Alaska, with many nations and cities in between. They’ve sailed totally on Norwegian Cruise Line, but additionally Holland America, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. 

Comfort was key for the couple once they retired. Unpacking as soon as and crusing the seas was how they determined to spend their retirement years. Yvette retired as a Professor of Occupational Remedy in 2017. Edward, a welder, retired in 2013. He likes the thought of selecting a cruise with little or no further planning concerned and no worries about which resort to make use of, the place to eat, and tips on how to get there. 

Yvette and Edward shared their secrets and techniques of crusing with us on our Retirement Awaits Fb group. So we determined to choose their brains about their favourite locations to go to.

1. Bermuda

Yvette has been going to Bermuda by air or ship since she was 13. 

“Bermuda (not like some Caribbean islands) may be very secure. Your complete island may be very clear. It tends to not be a “get together” island. Vacationers aren’t allowed to lease vehicles. They’re restricted to renting scooters, utilizing buses, taking ferries, or cabs. Additionally, as a result of it isn’t a Caribbean island, the season may be very quick. The water is de facto solely heat from June to September. The water is crystal clear,” the couple noticed.

They like cruising to Bermuda as a result of it’s extra reasonably priced than in the event that they flew in and stayed at a resort. Meals is pricey and the island doesn’t permit chain eating places, aside from Kentucky Fried Hen in Hamilton, which was allowed to accommodate natives. 

Snorkeling is certainly one of their favourite actions, particularly in Bermuda. They’ve carried out excursions with and with out the cruise line. They’ve change into associates with a pair that owns and operates a trimaran (a multi-hull boat) that takes small teams six miles into the open water to snorkel. 

“The opposite crusing/snorkeling journeys don’t do this, for legal responsibility causes, they have an inclination to go to coves the place the ocean is extra protected. From the reef the place they take us, you may actually see each doable tropical fish,” the couple acknowledged.

The couple additionally likes to go to the gorgeous botanical backyard and aquarium by public bus, which aren’t essentially excursions by way of the ships. They advocate visiting Hamilton, the capital metropolis of Bermuda, the place you will discover native outlets, malls, and memento shops. St. George is within the different a part of the island and is extra historic. You will get there by ferry from the Dockyard. 

However since most ships dock within the Royal Native Dockyard they advocate a fort you may tour, which is inside strolling distance from the ships, a small indoor mall, a craft middle, and a seaside. Try my earlier article on a cruise from New York to Bermuda.

2. Tortola

Since Yvette and Edward love snorkeling a lot, that’s the place you’ll discover them once they journey to Tortola. It’s additionally a British territory, however they are saying it’s very completely different from Bermuda. 

“The explanation we love Tortola is as a result of in addition they have a wonderful snorkeling spot known as Treasure Island aka Norman island. Not like the place we go in Bermuda, it is a extra protected space however there are tons of tropical fish,” the couple acknowledged.

Tortola is the most important and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, with a number of white-sand seashores. Excursions take you to Highway City, the capital of the British Virgin Islands, which has a harbor dotted with crusing boats and is called a yachting hub.

There’s a brand new cruise complicated being constructed on the foot of the pier the place ships dock known as “Tortola Pier Park.” It is going to be 80,000 sq. ft with 50 outlets and eating places. A lot of it’s already open and there’s a spot for land excursions to collect and a separate pier for boat excursions.

3. Alaska

Yvette and Edward have been to Alaska a dozen occasions and say it by no means will get outdated. They’ve explored the glaciers and fjords, taken helicopter rides and gone canine sledding, flown on float planes, and brought land excursions to Denali. One in all their favourite excursions is whale watching. 

“Juneau is the first place to go whale watching. Should you’re going, make sure you take the tour known as The Photograph Safari, their boats solely maintain about 20 individuals. The boat is designed particularly for whale watching, all of the home windows raise in order that there are unobstructed views of the whales with out having to be exterior. Different excursions could have 50 or extra individuals with everybody pushing and shoving attempting to get to the rails to identify a whale. In Alaska, we’ve seen each humpback and orca whales, although orcas are much less frequent. You’ll additionally see sea lions and otters. We’ve seen each doable whale conduct through the years: diving, breaching, and one thing known as bubble internet fishing,” the couple famous.

In Skagway, they took the White Pass Railroad that follows the path the miners took. “It’s a spectacular expertise,” they advised me. “The views are superb and the journey is narrated by a stay information.” Additional south in Ketchikan, they noticed eagles in every single place and acquired to see salmon and a local Indian middle with lovely totem poles. 

Whereas they don’t advocate reserving a balcony or veranda cabin on cruise ships (they are saying you spend so little time in it) they do advocate it when you’re crusing in Alaska. The within passage has spectacular views you may catch out of your room.

Cruising Professional Ideas

Because it appears Yvette and Edward are execs in relation to crusing the seas, we requested for just a few professional ideas. Right here’s what they shared:

• E book your excursions earlier than you cruise otherwise you run the danger of them being bought out. Some individuals say they get monetary savings reserving their excursions, however they by no means do. One good half about not doing it by yourself is that cruise line bookings assure you received’t be left behind if the tour will get again late. 
• Search for cruise specials. Some like NCL provide BOGO airfares, which they are saying is usually a enormous saving and so they’ll deal with air delays or cancellations and do their greatest to get you to the ship. 
• Lower your expenses by eating within the complimentary eating places. Yvette and Edward don’t hassle with paying to dine within the specialty eating places since you may get the identical or comparable meals within the complimentary eating rooms. They mentioned the salmon on their Holland America cruise was significantly better within the buffet.

Yvette and Edward shared their story on our Fb web page. We’d love you to affix our group, Retirement Awaits, and share a few of your professional ideas as nicely! It’s a personal group the place we will share retirement collectively. You possibly can interact with others, ask and reply questions on your retirement expertise and speak about stuff you need to know.