1. Limiting one’s packing to a single reasonably sized suitcase means it’s quicker to pack and even quicker to unpack when one gets home. And there’s less laundry to do. Flight check in is quicker and using 25 inch luggage means it’s almost impossible to exceed 50 pounds.
2. It’s not necessary to take every walking tour otherwise known as a forced march led by someone whose occupation is walking — fast. One can see lots and photograph much more if one is strolling. You miss the fascinating information that guides provide, but it’s a fair exchange.
3. Wearing one’s phone and tracking steps each day means you understand at the end of the day why so many things on your body hurt.
4. Sitting in the Explorer’s lounge each night before dinner watching the world go by through the windows is nearly as nice as my back yard sanctuary.
5. It’s very embarrassing to stumble upon a chair leg at lunch and send your carefully concocted salad across chairs and table. Fortunately, I’ll never see those folks at the table again – or so I hope.
6. Small cruise ships are so much better than monster ones. Elevators come more quickly, lines are shorter, you actually see people you’ve met on previous days, and the staff seems less harried.
7. Spending the money at least once to eat a gourmet dinner with wine pairings for each course is well worth it – particularly if one has ship’s credit to cover it.
8. Husbands who are awakened before 3 a.m. by the ship’s office on the morning of departure informing him that our credit card was denied and we cannot leave the ship until it is resolved AND we are due to offload at 3:30 a.m. will be grumpy for a LOOONNGGG time. A fraud alert informing the credit card folks of the countries we will be in creates a problem when the cruise line office tries to run the charges from their California office. Always carry a second card.
9. It’s a good idea to request assistance in Amsterdam to get from Gate D to Gate F if one has mobility issues. Taking a cart means that you wiz through passport control and then even get early boarding. It’s not physically possible to get from Gate D 64 in Amsterdam to Gate F 6 in less than an hour even if the map makes it look like a gentle walk.
10. No matter how much water one drinks on a transatlantic flight and how many times one gets up to walk and stretch, your body will still hate you the day after you arrive home. However, caffeine from Gene’s jet fuel coffee helps.
PS. The Global Entry card is well worth the cost and time it takes to acquire the fast track number. Flew through passport control and luggage at the Houston airport without stopping for more than a moment.
Susan E L Lake 