Two months ago I booked two cruises for us in November and December. I don’t care much for being on a ship but it’s the least expensive way to visit so many destinations in one trip. My criteria for which cruise to book has to check several boxes: 1) less than $100 a day each for a balcony room 2) Minimum two weeks cruise length, 3) Above average number of port stops, 4) And that that we have not previously been to most destinations.
The two cruises would take us to some us eastern Caribbean islands, then to Madeira and Lisbon, several stops in Spain, Italy, Sardinia, Morocco, Canary islands, and then Cape Verde would be a new continent for us. I put a deposit down on both cruises and then made plane and hotel reservations and also planned to leave our dog in Colorado until our return close to Christmas.
Then today I took a look at the cruise paperwork and noticed the November cruise with MSC has to be paid in full 8 days from now. My gastro doctor appointment is in 10 days when I hope to find out that I do not need surgery as my Mazatlan doctor insists I must have. I called MSC cruises and asked for a two day extension on the balance owed. Nope. No exceptions. I had bought travel insurance but these days I don’t trust the word of any company. For example, our neighbor in Mazatlan booked a flight to Japan through Travelocity this spring and bought travel insurance. Then she found out she has a serious cancer and needed surgery and chemo. Last I heard she still hasn’t received a refund and has been given a frustrating run around.
The second cruise is with Princess and they don’t require the balance until in September so I will let that one be for now. That is the nicer cruise and didn’t fee us to death for every add on like MSC did. I hope to somehow still go on that one and we will surely know more by September.
In the meantime I am staying with my daughter in her one bedroom air conditioned apartment. She leaves tomorrow for a two week business trip and hopefully by the time she returns we will not be in limbo any longer and can return to Mazatlan. Temperatures here have been in the high 90’s and so poor Steve is sweltering at my mother’s house with no AC and doors and windows usually closed.
The past few months it has crossed my mind to move back to Colorado or somewhere in the US. All it takes is a once a year trip up here to bring me to my senses. The dry heat is so uncomfortable as well as the dry cold in winter, the pollen infused wind, and oh my gawd the prices of everything! The house we sold in 2016 has doubled in value. We couldn’t afford to buy it back if we wanted to.
It looks like we will be stuck in Mazatlan😎
Wanderlets 