Ports of Call: Top 5 Cruise Bucket-List

Kick the Bucket-List

Merriam-Webster.com defines a bucket-list as a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying.

I wasn’t expecting that blunt and to the point definition.

The origin of the term bucket-list is disputed but all revolve around death.

For a minute there, I had forgotten the real definition.

I know we all have an expiration date but I just looked at bucket-lists in terms of travel goals.

You made a list and set a timeframe to accomplish it by.

I saw a quote the other day that said:

We’re all just walking each other home.

Ram Dass

Isn’t that the truth?

Tender Feelings

At least Dictionary.com softened the blow: A list of things a person wants to achieve or experience before reaching a certain age or dying.

Though I’ve always looked at the “fun” side of bucket-lists, its good to be reminded of the true meaning.

It reinforces the fact that we don’t know when we’re going to die.

In the meantime, we shouldn’t procrastinate about traveling or any other goals we may have!

If you’re “waiting on people”, you may see death before they make their minds up!

Most of my earlier blogs focused on inviting others to travel and going whether they did or not!

In a sports blog, I mentioned wanting to visit every NBA arena. Now, I would like to add as many cruise ports as possible to my bucket-list.

I know everyone is not a fan of cruising.

Some say you don’t get enough time in port. There are health reasons that stop others.

Then there’s the “environment-conscious” who are against pollution.

I don’t think pollution is going anywhere. I’m all for finding ways to minimize it but it doesn’t take away my love for cruising.

So far, I’ve traveled out of 5 cruise ports (Miami, Fort-Lauderdale, Tampa, Freeport, Bahamas, and Puerto Rico).

I’ve cruised to over 10 Caribbean ports.

Muster the Courage

For my upcoming travels, I’d like to take my cruising up a notch.

Though I love to share my trips on social media, I don’t announce them ahead of time.

This blog is definitely out of my comfort zone. Even though none of the cruises I list are booked, it still feels weird.

How can I be a travel blogger without at least one bucket-list type post?

I usually cruise with Carnival. 2019 was their year!

They won several awards including the best cruise line.

The website I primarily book for cruises is Priceline.  

The bucket-list is in no certain order.

1. New York, New York

7 Night Canada & New England

The Big Apple is not just the Statue of Liberty and thin crust pizza. You can add taking a cruise to all of the fun!

Itinerary: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick, Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts.

Price: Interior cabins start at $459 per person based on double occupancy.

Dates: September

Ship: Carnival Radiance (Previously Carnival Victory). Future renovations planned from March to April 2020.

I was intrigued by this port/itinerary. Other than New York, every stop would be new to me.

I’ve already begun looking at each port’s excursions and they’re perfect. Most are culture-based with minimal exertion.

I’ve never gotten a chance to do the “touristy stuff” in New York.

I would come a few days early. Or stay later to see the city.

2. San Francisco, California

10 Night Alaska

Alaska has always been on my bucket-list. I’ve already researched excursions and cost years ago.

Back then, my port options were either Seattle, Washington or Canada. I found the airline tickets to be quite pricey.

As of March 2019, Carnival has added San Fran to its ports that service Alaska. Guess what? I haven’t been to San Francisco either.

It’s a better financial and efficient option than Seattle.

Again, this is an opportunity to tour San Francisco pre or post-cruise.

Another change is these are 10-11 nights cruises compared to 7-nights.

According to Nerd Wallet, there are more balconies than usual so that lowers their cost.

Cost: Interior cabins start at $769 (pp). Balconies start at $1049 (pp).

I hear a balcony cabin is a must for any Alaskan cruise!

Dates: May-August

Ship: Carnival Miracle (Renovated March 2015)

3. Tampa, Florida

15 Night Transatlantic

This port deserves an encore visit. I wasn’t aware of this cruise until I started researching.

It’s double the time I’ve ever been at sea but I don’t have to travel far to take a transatlantic cruise. The price tag makes it more of a bargain!

TIP: Factor in the cost of a one-way trip to Tampa and one-way return from Barcelona.

One con is 4 back to back sea days. Maybe that would force me to actually relax!

I’m known to plan an excursion at every new port!

Itinerary: Nassau, Bahamas, King’s Wharf, Bermuda, Portugal, Malaga, Valencia, and Barcelona Spain

Cost: Interior starts at 759 (pp).

Ship: Carnival Legend (refurbished 2/14)

Dates: March 2021

4. Seattle, Washington

17 Night Panama Canal

New York had a similar itinerary but I had already visited most of the ports.

Since I won’t be using Seattle for Alaska, I get to visit on a one-way flight.

As a bonus, the cruise ends in Fort-Lauderdale.

Itinerary: Cabo San Lucas and Huatulco, Mexico, Puerto Questzal, Guatemala, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, the full Panama Canal, Cartagena, Colombia, and Fort-Lauderdale.

Though I’ve visited Mexico twice, I haven’t been to either of the cities listed.

Cartagena is the only port I’ve visited (not counting Fort-Lauderdale) and I have unfinished business there.

Cost: Interior from $1129 (pp)

Ship: Carnival Freedom (Renovated March 2019)

Dates: September 2021

5. Barcelona, Spain

12 Night Mediterranean

I will travel just to board a cruise ship!

A perk of cruising is if you don’t like a destination, you’re not stuck there for days on end.

If you love a place and don’t want to leave, you can always return.

Itinerary: Florence, Pisa, Rome, and Naples, Italy, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Kotor, Montenegro, Corfu, Greece, Messina/Sicily, Italy and Provence, France.

Cost: Interior from $1419 (pp)

Ship: Carnival Legend (Refurbished February 2014)

Dates: July 2020

*Carnival Legend is the only ship listed twice (Tampa and Spain).

There is no time limit for this bucket-list. I would like to start tackling it in the next two years or less.

This would make great preparation for a world cruise.

World cruises start from 50-250 days.

The lowest (sold-out) price tag on Worldcruises.com was $5959. Its a 54 night on MSC departing from Shanghai to Germany.

Carnival owns several cruise lines that have world itineraries such as Costa Cruises and Holland America.

Long gone are the days when cruising was primarily for the elderly.

Don’t get it twisted though! There’s still a bunch of spunky ones on Carnival.

I’ll be right with them into retirement!

Have you considered a world cruise? How frequently do you cruise?

~Poof…Bee Gone

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