OK, it's a weird title for a post. But it makes sense given that I am noticeably risk adverse. I like safety, especially when I'm going out into the unknown. That's why I found cruising to be so attractive - one goes to new places, and has a curated and safe experience when in those places.
- - - - - -
Traveling in the United States is easy for me. We have a shared culture, and almost everyone knows the rituals and what they should expect when traveling. I can't say the same about foreign travel, especially when people don't speak the same languages that I do. (I don't need fluency in a foreign language, but I do need the ability to ask for directions, etc. when needed.) So, I felt comfortable going to Norway on my first overseas cruise, as many people speak English as a second language, and just as many also know German in addition to their national languages. In short, I can feel safe, and yet still get a taste of the places I visit.
It's nice to let someone else handle the logistics of getting me from point A to point B. I can do this within the USA, but that's because I know the rules (both written and unwritten) to set up my own travel arrangements. Yet, if I'm going on a cruise, I'll let the cruise line handle the logistics outside of New York, because it is easier for me to do so. Even so, I know what to do when traveling to cruise ports in Seattle, California (SF, LA, & SD), Texas (Galveston), Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa), Philadelphia, and Boston. Outside the US, it's something else altogether. Could I do this in London? Maybe so, but I wouldn't want the hassle. The less I know about a place, the more I want others to handle the logistics.
Last night (as I write this), RQS decided to add a shore excursion to our cruise at 11:30 pm. I got a little nervous, as I know that most people make mistakes after a long day, when they are running out of energy. Since I just paid roughly $3,000 for the cruise, the last thing I wanted was a check-out problem that could cost us the cruise. (This happens on some cruise lines when payment for incidentals has not been completed.) Luckily, RQS got everything right. But if something went wrong, there was no one I could call at that time of night.
As you can see, I am a "Belt and Suspenders" kind of person. Although I can "wing it" much of the time, I always want good options for the times things go wrong. That's why I was nervous about going out as Marian for the first time. Now, I have confidence in my presentation, and it shows. And yet, I still needed help until I had the experience and associated knowledge to do things myself.
.png)
