Last year, I took my first Norwegian Cruise, on the NCL Bliss. That trip took me back to Alaska. From August 2020 through May 2022, I served as an AmeriCorps member, in Sitka. The June 2024 cruise sailed from Seattle and included ports of call in Sitka, Juneau, Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan. There was also a six hour stop in Victoria, British Columbia, due to a U.S. law requiring foreign-flagged ships (sailing between U.S. ports) to make a stop in a foreign country before returning to the USA.

After spending September on a NCL Star Northern European cruise, I flew back to the USA, late October, in time to vote in the November presidential election. After casting my vote, I flew to Chicago. I headed from the airport to Central Station and hopped on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief. The 43 hour train trip (if there are no delays) covers 2,265 miles, between Chicago and Los Angeles. Once in LA, I was back on the Bliss, this time on a Mexican Riviera cruise. The ship sailed from the port terminal in San Pedro, (near Los Angeles) and included stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas.

After debarking from the cruise, I took the NCL airport transfer shuttle to LAX and flew to Mexico City. I booked an AirBnB, for three weeks, then flew to London. From there, I took the train to Cardiff and spent Christmas and New Years in Wales. While up north, I finally made it to Liverpool! But … the International Slavery Museum closed three days before I arrived! It’s being remodeled and won’t open again for another three years! I quickly booked back to back Northern European cruises, on the MSC Preziosa and caught the train down to Southhampton. While walking from the train station, to my hotel, I spotted the NCL Bliss docked next to the MSC Preziosa.

The NCL Bliss had just arrived, after a thirteen day transatlantic voyage, and would now dry dock in England, (going through repairs), for two weeks. Around 400 passengers from the Bliss also booked the back to back Northern European cruises, on the MSC. They would join me on the 14 day journey, around Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge (Bruges), and Le Havre. Other NCL Bliss passengers took private trips, around other parts of Europe, while waiting to return home on the transatlantic crossing.

There was a two day break between the end of the second MSC cruise and the start of the NCL Bliss transatlantic journey, back to the USA. During that time, we flooded all the hotels, in Southampton. There were Americans everywhere. The TGI Fridays (only opened for dinner) was packed for the next two nights. We took over the nearby IKEA and the shopping mall directly across from it. And, do not get me started about McDonalds.

Although I booked NCL Bliss cruise really late, I was able to get one of the solo studio cabins, avoiding paying double occupancy. NCL offers Solo Balcony, Oceanview, Inside rooms and Studios priced for one. They also have a Cruise Director just for Solo Travelers. Their job is helping with group reservations (for restaurants or musical performances) and hosting the daily scheduled meeting for solo guests. I avoided all that. I travel solo for a reason! But, I did attend the NCL military appreciation event.

I spent the bulk of my time in the Thermal Suite at the Spa. The area has heated ceramic lounge chairs, a Thalasso Therapy Pool, hot tub, steam rooms, a snow room, sauna, and a tropical rain showers. The Vitality Pool had an area where a waterfall cascaded down your shoulders. I was way too short for that and the water pressure just pushed me away. It was pretty funny.

After stops in Le Havre, Vigo, Lisbon, and Ponta Delgada (Azores), we began the final six sea days to Miami. I was looking forward to spending that much time at sea. It was a nice to test how I would do, as I prepare for longer cruises. I’m not quite ready for that 180 day cruise. But, I’m getting there! After arriving back in the US, I did the NCL Miami two hour tour, with airport dropout. Then, I flew home to visit friends and do my taxes. Last week, I headed back to London.

After all this flying and cruising, I’m ready for something different. So, I’ve booked London to Paris on the EuroStar. My first trip on the high-speed train was shortly after the service started in 1994. I can’t wait to be back on the rails! XOXO—GGT