Soon, I'll be taking the above cruise. It is highly likely that I won't bother to get off the ship at any of these stops, two of them because I am in a gender non-conforming presentation. Strangely enough, I feel almost as at risk getting off at Port Canaveral as I would getting off in Nassau. This is a time where I wish I lived on the West Coast, as I'd feel safe disembarking at all US and Canadian ports there. But this was a cheap cruise booked out of New York.
It's going to be strange traveling without RQS. But it'll be a good thing I do this. I need reasons to get up in the morning, and enjoying a cruise will provide a week's worth of reasons.
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The last time time I took a solo cruise similar to this was shortly after the pandemic cruise stop was ended. On that trip, I got off at Charleston, SC to see Fort Sumter. Before that, it was a cruise with XGFJ, where we got off in both Port Canaveral and in Nassau. (She decided to go snorkeling at the cruise line's private island and was underwhelmed.) My impression of all 3 ports was lackluster at best. Port Canaveral is a refueling stop disguised as a place worth visiting. There is no 'there' there. The only things to do are to visit the nearby Space Center or taking a 90 minute shuttle to the Orlando theme parks for a half day of overpriced rides. Nassau isn't worth stopping at, as there is little that found worth doing or seeing there. And that leaves the cruise line's private island. It's a great way to separate people from their money, as all the special attractions generate money for the cruise line and not independent vendors (as is the case in Nassau).
So, why am I taking this trip?
Simply, I need to get away. I want to see whether the cruise line is worth it for future cruises with RQS, especially for last minute getaways.
Wish me luck.
