Canceled my dream cruise to avoid potential inconveniences amidst the unknown

I just canceled my dream cruise – ———-a 20-night sailing from Dubai to Cape Town. Even though this part of the world is the only place that has not yet been touched with the coronavirus, I want to avoid all of the potential travel restrictions,  lockdowns, quarantines, or other possible inconvenient complications associated with the reaction to the virus. Also, it is possible the virus could appear in those places, over the next month, when I would be on the trip. I was looking forward to visiting new places such as Oman, Abu Dhabi, Mauritius, The Seychelles, and Cape Town. I had completed lots of research on all 12 ports of call.  I canceled the cruise, both flights (involving 4 international airports), hotels in both Dubai and Cape Town, and unpacked. I will have peace of mind knowing I am safe from all the potential travel hassles by staying home. Better luck next year! Happy I purchased the “cancel-for-any-reason”travel insurance policy!

😢

Norwegian Spirit will undergo a 40-day, $100 million refurbishment

Norwegian Spirit will undergo a 40-day, $100 million refurbishment

written by Sarah Gibson on October 28, 2019

(4:50 p.m. EDT) -- Norwegian Spirit will undergo a 40-day, $100 million refurbishment starting January 2020. It will be the last ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet to undergo the line's Norwegian Edge refurb program. When the ship emerges from dry dock it will have 14 new venues, additional staterooms, an expanded Mandara Spa and new hull art.

"We are excited to reinvigorate Norwegian Spirit so that she continues to provide lasting memories for guests as they sail to some of the most exotic destinations around the world," said Andy Stuart, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Cruisers on Norwegian Spirit after the refurb will find new dining venues, including complimentary options. A third main dining room, Taste, will be added and the Blue Lagoon Cafe will be replaced by the line's 24-hour pub, The Local Bar and Grill. The ship's current buffet, Raffles Court & Raffles Terrace, will be replaced by the line's signature Garden Cafe, which will include Great Outdoors extension (along with Great Outdoors Bar).

The ship's complimentary Asian eatery, Shogun, will be renamed Silk Modern Asian.

Norwegian Spirit will also become the second ship in the fleet to get an Onda by Scarpetta, a new-to-the-line fine dining restaurant debuting on Norwegian Encore in November 2019.

Other new venues will include the Waves Pool Bar, Bliss Ultra Lounge, Spinnaker Lounge and the Humidor Cigar Lounge.

The refurbishment will also see the current Mandara Spa onboard Norwegian Spirit double in size to nearly 7,000 square feet. The new space will include an extra-fee relaxation area with heated loungers, a new Jacuzzi room, a sauna, a steam room and a water therapy experience. Pulse Fitness Center will also be expanded.

The line's popular extra-fee, adults-only daytime lounge, Spice H2O will also be added. It will feature two new whirlpools and a bar, and will replace the kid's water park. At night, Spice H2O is an after-hours entertainment venue.

Norwegian has also said Norwegian Spirit will receive 16 new staterooms: eight with balconies and eight insides. Also, all existing cabins will receive updated decor.

When Norwegian Spirit returns to service in February 2020, it will visit 10 new ports of call across three continents. Its first two voyages after the revitalization will be a 20-night exploration of Europe and Africa, followed by a series of Asian voyages through the end of the year.

Update: of course this ship will no longer go to Asia for the rest of 2020 due to the coronavirus that began in Asia.

Some airports offer free travel when you have a layover!

Here is a January 2020 article that discusses the eight airports, worldwide, that offer free tours for those travelers who have a layover.

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-layover

Dream Cruise from Dubai to Cape Town

I have just booked the cruise of a lifetime!  I will sail for 20 nights from Dubai to Cape Town on a ship that will make stops in such places as Oman, Abu Dhabi, Mauritius, Madagascar, the Seychelles, and more. I am so looking forward to this long cruise that will take me to exotic and interesting destinations. I’m especially excited about finally visiting South Africa – – it’s at the top of my list. (Well, it’s up there with Cambodia, Budapest, Prague, Kraków, and Warsaw.)

I will fly to Dubai and spend three nights there pre-cruise
in my favorite little hotel that has traditional Arabian decor and ambience. This will be my first time in Dubai as a solo woman. Post-cruise, I will spend three nights in Cape Town.

I am enjoying researching the history and culture of each of the ports. What has been most interesting is my study of Oman, a still somewhat mysterious nation, that was largely isolated from the rest of the world until it’s modern Sheik took the reigns in 1970.

I look forward to being pampered, well-fed, entertained 24/7, and taken to 12 wonderful ports of call.