SLOW TRAVEL
The Up Side Of Building The Wall
My very first thought: “There isn’t one?”
When calls came to build a wall around the southern border of the United States, it surprised me that there was not already some sort of barrier there. Perhaps a fence anyway, like a homeowner might build around their backyard.
“We don’t have some sort of barrier there?”
I understand the concern. Build it. Secure it. Thank you.
But shortly after that initial thought came:
‘But what about our friends around the world?’
‘What about the world of travel?’
Those concerns took a bit longer to get past. Still, after a number of international trips when no one along the way in any country said anything about ‘the wall’, I felt better. Travel endured. At the same time, the continued popularity of cruising brought a bunch of new, instantly popular ships. By most accounts, there has been zero loss of interest in cruises over the last few years.
Why?
A number of reasons but let’s focus on two: value and safety.
Enduring Value
In 2005, nearly 15 years ago, we booked a short Carnival cruise to the Bahamas. Carnival Cruise Line ships still sail that exact same itinerary today, as do other cruise lines. Interestingly, they often do so for a lower price today. Check these details.
Carnival Fantasy
11-06-2005
4-night Bahamas Cruise from Port Canaveral
Mini suite (category 11 at the time)
3 passengers
$1624 total for three
Today, I priced the same itinerary. While on a ship with more features, the result is surprising.
Carnival Liberty
11-09-2020
4-night Bahamas Cruise from Port Canaveral
Mini suite (category JS now)
3 passengers
$1466 total for three
So 15 years later, the price has gone down $158 for the exact same trip. Find me some other travel option where that has happened. But it’s not all about the cost.
It’s Safe
It’s one part of the experience we don’t find cruise lines advertising at all. The fact: Travel by ship is about as safe as it gets. Your secure ship travels only to safe places. Once at those interesting ports of call, people don’t just walk on and off the ship. A protected barrier around the ship prevents that.
When the ship is at sea, pirates are not a concern. Pirates are out there, but not in the seas where cruise ships operate. Giant octopus from the deep: still a concern.
“The More locks you put on your door the less safe you become”-
Unknown
Still, skeptics cry ‘not safe’ like cruise ships have big targets painted on their hulls. They don’t. Still, for those who doubt…
Ok, At Least It’s A Moving Target
Your land vacation at a resort absolutely is not.
