We've finally decided on what we’re doing for our BIG holiday in the New Year (2024). We have over 3 weeks of holiday to play with, a very rare thing when you work in retail. Its going from the end of January into February and for once we'll actually be away for my birthday! Customarily this has always been a very shit time of year for us but we are hoping to buck the trend with this holiday.
So without further prevarication... we are going on a cruise (yawn) with Marella (double yawn) for 2 weeks (bit more interesting) doing the Caribbean and Central America (a smattering of applause for the Central America bit).
We’ve discounted a few options like a Nile River Cruise as apparently this might not be the best way to see the sights (If you're interested have a look at this Video.) We also looked at a cruise around Asia which could have cost another couple of grand on top of the substantial amount we’re already paying. A Safari was also looked at and again discounted because there seemed to be a lot of ‘slumming it’ in our price range.
We and in particular I, want to do and see as many new things while I still can and this particular trip ticks a lot of new boxes.
We’ll be travelling first class, or at least as first class as TUI gets, on this trip. It's a long flight (10ish hours) and I'm fat and crippled so I want to give myself the best chance of walking off the plane instead of being wheeled off.
This will be our first 2 week cruise (and possibly our last ever?). Basically we always said if we were flying long haul again we'd have to stay for a minimum of a couple of weeks and on this cruise we're doing 2 itineraries.
Where are we going:
The cruise is called, Flavours Of The Caribbean Followed By Pride Of Panama
Day 1: Montego Bay, Jamaica (yeah man! Any accent you may have put on those words is down to you)
Day 2: George Town, Cayman Islands. (Where all the corrupt Tories keep their money so they don't have to pay tax)
Day 3: Sea day (unfortunately there's a few on this trip)
Day 4&5: Havana, Cuba. This is a BIG tick on my bucket list and we have an over night here so I shall be busting out my salsa moves.
Day 6: Cozumel, Mexico: Never heard of it but it is nearish Chichen Itza which is one of the modern 7 Wonders of the World and means we'll have seen 2 of them. 5 to go.
Day 7: Sea Day (boo!)
Day 8: Montego Bay, Jamaica (No she went of her own accord!) While all the people who only booked one week will be arriving or leaving we’ll be exploring and possibly riding some horses in the sea if Lyn gets her way… which, lets be honest, she will.
Day 9: Port Royal, Jamaica. PIRATES! ARRRAGH!
Day 10: Sea day (FFS)
Day 11: Cartagena, Colombia. This looks like a cool place and defiantly passes ‘fish finger test’. Matthew’s only advice when we said we were going to Colombia was not to come back with a cocaine filled hippo which shows his knowledge of the country comes exclusively from Netflix shows.
Day 12: Colon, Panama. Unfortunate name… however we won’t be staying as we’ll be getting on the Panama Canal Railway. We’ve already booked and paid for this and I’m VERY excited (Toot! Toot!)
Day 13: Puerto Limón, Costa Rica. Animals! Lyn is VERY excited about this stop as apparently she is desperate to see a sloth… my impression doesn’t cut it.
Day 14: Sea Day (To be fair we’ll probably need the rest)
Day 15: Montego Bay, Jamaica. This time it’ll be our turn to be going home.
In total we will visit 7 new countries, 2 new seas (I think?), a world wonder and a new continent! As I said a lot of boxes ticked.
Our next adventure, 3 nights in Vienna, is only a couple of months away so its something to keep us going through a terrible summer.
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