Question: What suggestions/recommendations/warnings might you have for those considering this cruise?
I would first like to say that I would highly recommend this experience! It was a grand adventure. We learned a lot, met many interesting people and enjoyed being pampered for 4 glorious months. The choice of cruise line is a very personal thing. There are a number of cruise lines now offering a World Cruise, each with their own inclusions, suite options, ports and price points. It is the experience that I am recommending.
If the cruise sails across the Pacific Ocean you have to enjoy sea days. I was initially unsure about the prospect of so many days between ports. On previous cruises we had at most 2 or 3 sea days in a row. On this cruise we had 10 or so and I grew to savour them. The pace of life was slower and the options for filling the days were plentiful. Some passengers did get restive however. This is something to consider.
If you are prone to sea sickness you will want to choose a cabin/suite/stateroom on a lower deck and as close as possible to midship. The movement there is less disruptive. To be sure, rough seas are rough seas and there may be no place on the ship without some movement. We were very lucky with the sea conditions! The Pacific Ocean was relatively calm and the Tasman Sea was very calm. These waters can get unruly.
Be prepared for missed ports. On our cruise we did not get to go ashore on Easter Island, Pitcairn Island or Rarotanga in the Cook Islands. These were to be anchor ports with passengers going ashore by tender. Unfortunately the swells were too high for the tenders and were not safe for the transport of passengers. Disappointing but understandable. Some passengers were extremely upset about the missed ports. However, this is part of the nature of cruising. Regardless of the planned itinerary, the Captain is the one who decides.
Pack your own over-the-counter medications and medical supplies. I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful friend, who is a nurse, provide me with a list of items to bring. Thankfully, we did not have to use many of them and it was very helpful to have them on hand. It would have been very difficult to find a pharmacy in some of the ports we visited. There is a ship doctor and nursing staff on board. Be advised that there is a charge for their services which can be quite expensive.
Do your research before you go! Find out about the climate, currency and sites to see in each port. This will help determine what you pack in terms of appropriate clothing, what you will need in terms of foreign currency and which shore excursions (ship or private tours) will be of interest. At some of the sites we visited shorts, sleeveless tops and socks and shoes were not allowed. Some of the sites were in the rain forest where insects were an issue. We had treated an outfit (top, pants, socks) apiece with Permethrin which is effective for 6 weeks or 6 launderings. This worked very well for us. The USD was accepted in a number of ports on our cruise. However, there were definitely ports where only the local currency was accepted. It helps to know that in advance. We took a mix of ship-sponsored shore excursions, privately-operated excursions and explore-on-our-own excursions. For each port we were visiting I compiled a list of "places to see". Some ports were easy to explore on our own and some ports in countries we had never visited before were a little more daunting. In those ports we booked excursions.
Buy travel insurance. Yes, it is an additional expense! However it is really a necessary one. We bought medical coverage and trip cancellation/interruption insurance for this cruise. We also purchased emergency medical transport with a one year membership plan. Thankfully we did not have to use any of it. Some passengers on our cruise did!
If I think of more suggestions/recommendations/warnings I will add another post on the topic. The next post will contain pictures from the last port in segment 4 - Sydney to Hong Kong...
