Cruising- It Has Changed My Life

My first cruise back in 1983 was the vacation of a lifetime. Little did I know that this vacation would make such a huge difference in my life. I returned back to reality and went about my life living in New Hampshire and working in a factory. In a few days my traveling friends called. They wondered if I would be interested in going on a cruise the next year. YES!! YES!! YES!! Then she asked me to do the work of researching and finding a ship for us. Oh yes, perhaps I had other friends that might want to go. That was before I had computer and internet service. I rushed out to the travel agency and brought back a stack of brochures.I spent hours every night after work poring over the brochures.
By this time I had driven all my friends crazy with my endless cruise talk. I invited the original ladies back to my home to discuss the possibilities I had come up with. It was also a chance for the ladies I had already traveled with to meet the other ladies. Suddenly, after being somewhat of a loner I had a social life. As winter became spring and then summer the social whirlwind began. Everyone was planning a gathering so we could discuss the endless details of our up coming cruise. We had settled on The Mardi Gras. We were going to Ocho Rios, Jamaica St Maarten and Cozumel, Mexico. The group had grown from the original 6 to 10. We were never tired of this, the conversarion always turned to cruising. No matter where we were or what we were doing. We planned shopping trips to buy formals and summer clothing. Surprisingly the year went fairly fast and we were sailing again.
From then on it fell to me to research and do the planning. The next year we decided to go go Hawaii. For some reason we did not choose to cruise. We did a 10 day tour. Of course It again fell on me to make the plans. I did so eagerly and soon had a ton of brochures in my home. Again the social whirlwind began and then we were off to Hawaii for another great vacation. The next year the travel agent invited us to go on a group cruise his agency was doing. We decided to do this tour with him. The ship was Home Lines brand new Homeric. We sailed from New York to Bermuda. It was a wonderful 7 day cruise aboard a brand new ship. Bermuda is a gorgeous gem of an island to visit. I was sad when I heard that Home Lines was going out of business. That cruise was wonderful and the service and food were superb. Homeric was sold to Holland America to become the Westerdam. Holland America dry docked her and expanded her size by adding a section to her mid section. A few years ago she was replaced by a brand new Westerdam. I do not know where this ship is now.
For me life went on in NH. I was still working in the factory and still planning trips for myself and friends. I planned a trip in 1989 on Carnivals new ship Celebration. My companions were 2 other ladies I had known for years. the 3 of us had a grand time on this trip. Celebration was brand new at that time. We thought she was huge. By todays standards she of course is not. The next year I was invited by one of my original "cruise buddies" on a cruise on the Celebration. I had enjoyed the Celebration the year before so I did not hesitate to accept the invite. We were a group of 6 by the time we sailed.
Here I was 7 years after my first cruise. I was still enchanted by cruising and still eager to do all the research I could to make the next cruise happen. I went on working in the factory. In the early to mid 90's my Mothers health had failed. I suspended traveling to be with her. The owners of the factory had sold out to one of the major stock holders. They were making life difficult for everyone. I stood the new ownership for about 6 years. One night I decided I had enough of that. After 21 years with this company I left. I had planned to retire from there. Part of the truth was that I longed to try something different. I did, I went to work for a grocery chain. It was work that was very different. Along the way I found an ad for a training school to teach me how to sell cruises. I signed up and took the course. I learned a lot from this agency. I contacted a local agency and went to work with them as an "outside agent" I was doing ok with this and building a modest client base. It was never enough to live on but it was an interesting and fun sideline. In 1997 my Mother had passed away and my life changed drastically. About 18 months after her death I moved away to a larger city. I changed jobs again too. I started wotking with the developmentally disabled. Work that I still love to do. At the time I was not selling cruises. Off and on I worked at cruise sales.
In 2002 I was contacted by a friend who asked if I would like to go on a cruise with her.I accepted. We booked Carnival Spirit for an 8 day cruise from Miami in March of 2003. Shortly after my return from that cruise I discovered a website that is devoted to cruising. I joined and have been an active member since. This website is CruiseMates. CruiseMates website is full of fun and interesting cruise information. It is populated by some very nice people many of whom I have met. Some that I have been on a cruise with. Some of the members of this site meet occasionally for dinner around Florida. I have been to 2 of these dinners and have had a wonderful time both times. Another dinner is coming up very soon. we will be welcoming a member from Amsterdam, Holland. One day on the site there was a posting for an upcoming cruise on Carnival Glory in September of 2005. I decided to go along We sailed out of Port Canaveral. It was so much fun to meet the members of this site.
Early in 2007 I made the decision to move to Florida. Most of my family was gone from New Hampshire. I had family in Florida and decided I wanted to be closer to them. So in June of 2007 I packed my car and drove away from New Hampshire. The trip was ike a small vacation that just eneded in a different place.I found a place to live and a job and have settled in happily. I work again with the developmentally disabled. I also work at home part time selling cruises and travel for an agency in Maitland Florida. Most of my social life centers around the people I have met on the cruising websites.
So from the very beginning cruising has made major changes in my life. I was a factory worker in small town NH. I barely had a social life and just a few friends. I discovered cruising and suddenly I was the "cruise planner". I had a social life with my cruising friends. I was going places and doing things I had never dreamed of. The computer introduced me to a whole new world of cruise people. Now that I live in Florida and I am getting to know many people who are interested in cruising.I just returned from a cruise on Carnival Liberty with some cruise friends. This cruise was a group planned by the people at another cruise site, The Mariners Cabin. For me cruising really is the way to go.