How a Type-A Planner Plans a Last-Minute Trip
I learned something new about myself this week–I can go from zero to totally-trip-planned in under eight days.
Last Friday I found a really (REALLY) low fare on a cruise (yes, a cruise) out of New York City–sailing to Bermuda. It was so very low that I only hesitated for a few seconds over the ‘book now’ button before clicking it. And then suddenly I was going to Bermuda–in eight days. The ship sails tomorrow afternoon, and I am going to be on it.
Does the spur-of-the-moment nature of this trip mean that I’m just going to sort of ‘wing it’? Of course not! In the last eight days I’ve managed to read an entire Bermuda guide book (and highlight it), order and receive a tourism guide (with pocket map) from the Bermuda Tourism board, seriously weigh my transportation options, and research pointers for solo cruisers. I returned to a popular online cruise forum, posted questions, participated in discussions, and joined a group for a meet-and-greet the morning of my first day at sea. I even found someone who offered to join me for dinner on Sunday night (dear, if you’re reading this–it is a woman and her sister!) I took all of the information from the guide books, from the forums, and from the internet as a whole and condensed it into three different itinerary options for myself. I combined that information with summaries of the ferry and bus schedules and then printed it out and added it to the folder you see pictured above. I packed my suitcase (yes, I’m taking a whole suitcase) and now I’m just kind of sitting here waiting for it to be tomorrow!
What I did not do was finish writing the last two overview posts from my summer road trip (nevermind the many detail posts I have planned) or even begin writing about my 15 days in Walt Disney World (even though I have an actual list of ‘things to post about in relation to my 15 days in Walt Disney World!) And now I’m leaving again–to spend seven days on a ship without internet access (dum dum DUM!) Well, I suppose internet access is available–I’m just not paying a dollar per minute for what I’ve been told is really slow service. So I’m accruing a fairly serious travel blog backlog. But oh well! I’m sailing to Bermuda–tomorrow!!!
You have the priorities straight- travel first then blogging as you can (and feel like it).
Sweet! I’m jealous 🙂
You are my hero. I am cruising solo this Saturday to the Bermuda. I am excited and at the same time a tat bit freaked out. How safe is it to travel solo in Bermuda? And what kind of activities did you do solo?
Thanks
Do not be freaked out! I had an amazing time! In fact, the only thing keeping me from going right back again THIS Sunday is knowing that I’m not independently wealthy! Bermuda is VERY safe. I didn’t do any of the ship excursions–I explored on my own using the bus and ferry system. All you really need is a transportation pass–I got a three-day one for $28, as we were in port for three days. While there will be many future posts on this trip, the short version of what I did is: explored St. George, walked to Tobacco Bay Beach, explored Hamilton (which is an actual little city), took a bus to the Botanical Gardens, Horseshoe Bay Beach, and then Back to the Dockyard, hung out at the Frog and Onion Pub and made friends and drank rum, and did a last-second snorkel cruise (not through the ship–there’s a little booth selling tours right in the Dockyard. I showed up 15 minutes before a tour was leaving and signed up!) You will be safe, you will have a great time–and I will be jealous!