urban bohemian, only 8 days until your cruise!

The Carnival website is really cute when you log in to check your reservation, it gives you a message with a days until countdown to your cruise. It hasn’t even felt like it’s really happening until I realized it’s just over a week now. I was on the phone with Michael earlier and we were both online to look at excursions and other details. Our boarding passes have our stateroom number on them, I was able to go online and see the ship’s deck plan and find where our room will be and it still feels real, yet surreal.

I’ve been on big boats before, ferries, aircraft carriers, freighters, but those were just visits or short hops. I think the first time I was on a big moving boat was when Darian and I went to Ocracoke Island. We drove the car up on it and initially I was content to just stay inside the car, I guess I was a bit freaked out by the whole process, but I did head out and take a look around and it was pretty cool. I didn’t get seasick or scared, even though I’m not a fan of heights, so I think I’m set on that front for the trip.

We chose a single excursion for each stop, heading to The Bay of Fundy at Saint John, and taking a tour in Halifax which will leave us time to explore the city and generally enjoy ourselves. It’s starting to sink in that it’s really just one big resort style vacation that happens to be on a ship. Most everything’s inclusive, but I suspect the silliest things will be charge-per-use. Michael already told me that he’s going to buy a soda pass which they call a “Fun Fountain” card because otherwise all guests are offered is iced tea and coffee, possibly not even water as it’s all bottled, and Chris has advised me to send myself some gift drinks as they may be cheaper if I bought them offline and sent them to my room than on-board. Michael’s not that much of a drinker so I don’t know how much I’ll be imbibing, but a buck’s a buck. They’ve said there’s wireless internet available, but I imagine there will be a charge for that too. We’re skipping the formal dinners because on the one hand I’m just not into that sort of things, and more frankly, I’m too fat for my suit. When I come back, I’d love to embark on a campaign to lose some of the weight I’ve packed on in recent years. If anyone wants to be my healthy eating buddy, let me know.

What I could really use input on is any cruise ship advice, what to bring, what to do, what to watch out for. Additionally, I need a recommendation for a good book and other diversions. Tomorrow’s laundry night, but I’ll be out shopping Tuesday for clothes, new pair of shades and reading material. 🙂 And of course there’s the rest of the week to get the things that I’ve surely forgotten.. or think I have.

Clarification: That last paragraph was soliciting input, not comment-whoring. So comment away!!