|
Cruise II:
Korea. The Land of the Morning Calm (which was good
after fighting all night.)
This was on the
Japanese luxury liner the Congo Maru. (The ship sunk on a latter crossing
but was salvaged.) The cruise featured an overnight steam from Sasebo, Japan
to Pusan Korea, bamboo mats on the deck to sleep on out under the stars,
choppy seas that make everybody want to puke, intimate contact with fellow
travelers featuring a bayonet in one ear and a boot in the other. This
cruise also featured a train ride in box cars with boards to sleep on and
one stop to grab a couple of apples from quaint along-the-track vendors.
Cruise III:
Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun
This was like Cruise
II but in a more favorable direction.
Cruise III Leg
I: Hawaii. Trade winds and tropics set a romantic
mood in the Hawaiian Islands and South Pacific.
This trip featured
fog for 23 days. We saw the sun only on the day we spent in Hawaii as we
unloaded the coffins of dead GIs to no fanfare.
I was sergeant of the
guard so I did not see the Island at that time, but I did see how drunk the
GIs could get in Hawaii and that not one of them had taken time to see what
I wanted to see, the island.
Cruise III Leg
II: Seattle. Sail across Puget Sound in the fog.
This cruise featured
a bus ride to Fort Lewis which terrorized all the GIs because the driver was
going almost 30 miles an hour. That was way too fast for a bunch of ground-pounders
who had walked the hills and fields of Korea.
At Fort Lewis we were
given a steak that was so tough that not even we fighting men could chew it.
Let’s Prepare for
that Luxury Cruise
Ah, yes! Cruising the
seven seas and the zillion food tables on a luxury liner will be a blast.
But wait! We have an
alternative. We can cruise the world or any part of it by freighter. You can
cruise for $90 to $130 a day which includes three meals, walks on the deck,
visits to the bridge, chats with officers and crew members, video movies,
swimming if you are fast and can keep up with the ship (I’m only kidding;
they have swimming pools–at least some of them), studying wildlife (but no
night life), and talking to your navel (belly button). You won’t need your
tux on a freighter cruise. You also won’t be shoulder to shoulder with a
zillion other passengers. Take a copy of War and Peace. Learn more at
http://www.freighterworld.com
What, you are ready
to face the crowds on a Luxury ship?
For general
information on luxury cruises including accommodations and activities try:
http://tinyurl.com/ots5g and http://www.freetraveltips.com/Cruises/
Documents
You many need a
passport or other documentation for your cruise. For information go to: http://www.freetraveltips.com/Cruises/Cruises13.htm#70
Insurance
If you are taking a
cruise, you will need insurance.
What if you can’t go
because of an illness or a family problem? Don’t think you will get your
money back.
What if you get sick
on the ship? Don’t think your regular insurance will pay the medical bills.
What if you have your
wallet stolen in port? Don’t think you will get it back.
No, you must have
insurance. You can get it from a reliable firm like CSA Travel online and
you will be able to chat with an agent. Go to: http://www.csatravelprotection.com/
What do I need to
pack?
That depends on how
and to where you are traveling. For complete information go to: http://www.freetraveltips.com/Cruises/Cruises14.htm#00top
and to the site of your cruise line.
Health
Considerations
Plan ahead for the
area you plan to visit. A good place to do this is at: http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/departments/travelwell/patient_info/patient_guide.html
Possible Hazards
The probability of a
something unfortunate happening on your cruise are about the same as if you
stayed at home in a big city. Crimes occur, fires occur, and accidents occur.
Before you go, see what the Department of State says about safety abroad:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html
With good planning,
you can have a great trip to that place you’ve always wanted to visit. You
will gain new friends and fond memories.
Have fun!
Watch for me!
I’ll be on the
fantail looking at the garbage-eating fish.
The End
Cruise, freighter,
vacation, travel, information, packing, documents, insurance, ships, liners,
luxury, hazards, fish, State Department, health, activities
copyright©2006 John
T. Jones, Ph.D.
John T. Jones, Ph.D.
(tjbooks@hotmail.com, a retired VP of R&D for Lenox China, is author of
detective & western novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering,
humor), poetry, etc. Former editor of Ceramic Industry Magazine. He is
Executive Representative of IWS sellers of Tyler Hicks wealth-success books
and kits. He also sells TopFlight flagpoles. He calls himself "Taylor Jones,
the hack writer."
More info:
http://www.tjbooks.com
Business web site:
http://www.aaaflagpoles.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_T_Jones,_Ph.D.
|
