Planning

We started planning this trip 8 months ago. First it was just going to be the World Cruise 112 days, but we found out the same ship was departing on a 20 day cruise through the Panama Canal, Mexico, and landing in Seattle. Perfect....we don't have to fly home. I really dislike flying. So a back-to back cruise it was. We decided that this was a good way to see parts of the world that we probably wouldn't experience on our own. With the help of Cruise Holidays of Portland, and our TA Beth Levich we were on our way.
This was a huge financial decision for us, it is not cheap. But, we are not getting any younger, are fortunate to have the time, all of our body parts are in working order, and the joints are just a little creaky. We still picked early dining though...it is hard to stay up past 9.
Now we just had to figure out how to pack for 4 months. It will be summer after we cross the equator, but we are going around ' The Horn' and cruising Antartica...so  we had to pack winter wear also. So summer, winter, formal wear, and toiletries to last for the duration all had to go into 4 bags weighing   50 lbs each. We did it though. I am so glad that I am finished monitoring a tube of toothpaste to see how long it lasts. BTW..about a month and a half, depending on the size and how much you use..:) I really don't want to spend my time in port looking for a store. Since we booked early, they Fed-ex 4 bags to and from the port for free. Yea! So now it is just 2 carry-ons for the flight to Ft. Lauderdale.
The cruise line is Holland America and we sail out of Ft Lauderdale Jan. 6th on the Amsterdam. 112 days later we debark in Ft. Lauderdale and on the same day and ship we embark and sail for 20 more days to Seattle where our youngest son will pick us up. If you are interested, the itinerary is posted on their site.
Friends and relatives were asking me if I was going to blog, but I am not very computer literate. I was a little intimidated, so the challenge was on... It took me all day just to figure this much out....Anyway I will try to post when I can, or when I can get service. I think that if I successfully post a picture, that will be cause for celebration. I just hope this works...