Having given all sorts of caveat emptor disclaimers to the idea of going on the vacation cruises, I thought I should present something of the other side of the story. So, on the plus side

• You get to visit a lot of places that would be more expensive to go see individually. Yes, it’s true that you’re giving sort of short shrift to each one. We’ve spent one day each on four different Caribbean islands (with one more to go), and even though the islands aren’t big, you’re not seeing all there is to see on them. But sometimes you don’t know what places you’ll like until you visit. And if it turns out you really do want to see more of the place, you’ve got an idea what you want to see and you can make some informed choices about another trip of your own.
• Staff on the ships are uniformly pleasant, conditions are clean and comfortable and fellow passengers are usually friendly. Have to emphasize ‘usually’ with the fellow passengers, because there is a small percentage that turn into griping, surly little swine who complain constantly. We call those ones “cruise crabs” and all I can figure is that the indulgence of these vacations goes right to their heads and makes them into little dictators. All the same, they are in the minority.
• You get to do things you’ve never done before. A couple days ago I went snorkeling again for the first time in 20 years and kayaking for the first time ever. Last night I sung karaoke (another first) and right now I’m sitting here with my hair all fancied up waiting for tonight’s formal night. I should be more adventurous and do things like that without needing a cruise excursion as an excuse. But I do better in a group setting (and one where I know there are a lot of other neophytes). It’s a chance to try something different or maybe just act silly. But it’s not just that it’s fun — it also recharges your battery a little bit, and who doesn’t need that?

So that’s the idea. And BTW, I still think there should be some money to be made for some enterprising Orthodox soul who could put together a cruise or vacation package for Orthodox in places like Alaska or Russia to go tour the Orthodox churches, hear some history and worship in the churches.