World Cruise, Part III: How Will We Do It?

Yep, we're going on a four-month cruise around the world, starting in January 2020. Parts I and II have told you more about that. But our income's very modest: we live on the Brick's pension, his Social Security and what I bring in for my work.

     How can we do it?

*From the beginning, we set aside money from the sale of the house. (I have nineteen bazillion lists scribbled in the notebook, listing and calculating various expenses.)

*We've been cutting expenses everywhere we can on secondary expenses -- like roundtrip plane tickets to London. We also planned a budget  (you have to get there somehow), plus accommodations for extra days, so we could explore. (In spite of our European experience, neither of us has ever visited there.) I want to see my buddy Charley's Dickens House Museum, as well as that bastion of creepiness, the Tower of London. ("Look for Sir Walter Raleigh's inscription," a visitor to my talk said recently.)

Here's his cell, at least -- thanks to Wikipedia

      I remember my ticket to Austria costing an astonishing $400 -- back in 1979 college days. These tickets were a few hundred more, but included an extra checked suitcase, something that usually costs $120-150 roundtrip.  Like the cruise, we spent a lot of time -- months, really -- comparing and looking for the best ticket buys, and a room with free breakfast, as well.

*We'll book excursions as we go, some of them straight off the boat. Booking via the cruiseline can REALLY be expensive, and the offshore outfits have been great -- something we've learned on past cruises. The cruiseline will issue veiled threats ('they won't get you back on time'), but we have NEVER had this problem. Ever. Besides, we like the idea of supporting the locals, who often show you far more interesting places, and tell fascinating stories. (I will never forget our van tour of Grenada, with the guide taking us to a lake where his grandparents picnicked annually "to feed the mermaids.")




*That's another reason we can go on this trip -- careful research. You really can save money this way -- sometimes a little, but more often a lot.
     And every bit of those savings can go toward other things we'd like to do or get, including presents; lattes, leisurely sipped while listening to string music -- and more.

     What we didn't realize were some of the unforeseen expenses:

*Storing the trailer -- and the dogs. We lucked out on these. Our friend will let us park the fifth-wheel on his property. (We'll drain and winterize it, of course, before leaving.) Daughter #2 and Son #1 have generously agreed to take Charley and Ruby; we've often taken care of their dog Karma, and the three get along with each other. (Thanks, Dears -- we REALLY appreciate it.)

Whew....

*Losing out on a gig. That's what I get, for having to schedule these years ahead of time. At least I only had to cancel one -- and could do it in plenty of time.

*Paying bills -- and getting an extension on taxes. We can take care of this on the ship -- but I'm pretty sure we'll have to pay for internet use. We'll try to use our phone 'hotspots,' or stop at an internet cafe while in port.

*Vaccinations. I should have known this was coming. We can't get on the ship without a yellow fever shot. Several others are recommended, as well.

and the big ones:

*Renewing our passports and getting visas.
     Our passports don't expire for six more years. The cruise line doesn't care about that, but requires that passports hold a minimum of more than 50 blank pages. Not only did we have the smaller version -- some of those pages were stamped from previous trips. Ironically, the increased-page passport doesn't cost a cent extra -- but the renewal does, to the tune of $220. And it takes 6-8 weeks to get it back. Fortunately, we found out in time.
     You want to know the other irony? The absolute largest passport for Americans still is a couple of pages short for what's 'required' by the cruiseline. (Guess they'll just have to get used to the idea.)

     Visas were the other bugaboo. Naively, this American just assumed that our passports would get us into all the countries listed on the itinerary. After all, we were guests of the cruise ship -- and only staying for a day or so in port. No problem, right?
      For most of the countries, that is indeed true. And some would let us visit, as long as we paid for a 'temporary' card. (Which price will be helpfully charged to our acount by the cruiseline.)
     However, five stops require visas. Who they were surprised us just as much as what they charged:

New Zealand   (did that weird British slumming family have something to do with this?)
Australia
China
Sri Lanka
India

(A list of countries that require visas is here. If you're planning to head to any of them, make sure you apply in good time.)

     Visas for Australia and New Zealand can be applied for electronically and get approved within a few days. Their fees, though irksome, aren't too bad. But the other three? Lots of time, paperwork and high fees, and all needing our current passports. Yes, those passports we had to renew. (Every renewal changes your passport number.)

But wait! A helpful firm will plow through all that red tape and pick up our visas. (The Chinese visa must be picked up -- they don't deliver. 'Our' office, by the way, is in L.A.) And they'll do it in a timely manner, as well, for roughly double the fee.
     Need I mention that this company has the full endorsement, and apparently blessing, of our cruise line? (I'm betting they get some kickbacks, as well.)

Yep, we're going to get soaked.

There is a way to get around this hassle. We could stay on the boat, and not get off for those countries. That doesn't make sense. Travel all around the world...so we could look at the gangplank?
     I don't think so.

So we'll get the shots, and pay the fees -- which are adding up to roughly $1000: a nice chunk of change for a few certificates and pieces of paper.

Maybe we can eat enough to make up for the extra $$ spent.

     The good news is, of course, that our monthly expenses at home, with the exception of insurance, will drop to a whisper while we're gone. I have plans for drumming up income, as well. The ship mentions craft teachers during the cruise. I've done that before on a Hawaiian cruise; why couldn't I do it now? Also, I hope/plan to blog for a travel company or two for extra cash. The Brick takes wonderful photos, and I'll write text to go with.
     Ooh, this is going to be fun.