This mantra got here throughout my Fb feed, on one of many final days of 2023, and it caught my consideration. I don’t essentially agree that each one journey objectives must be targeted on completely new locations as a result of there’s so much to be mentioned for re-engaging with locations you’ve already seen, whether or not it’s in a brand new gentle or within the consolation of favourite discoveries (due to Tradition Journey first, and Patricia Shultz (writer of the long-lasting 1,000 Locations to See Earlier than You Die), subsequent, for sharing it.
Nonetheless: There’s nothing like discovering a brand new place, both.
This graphic impressed me to publish a query on Fb’s vibrant Windstar Passengers-Yacht Membership group. And that query is and was: Do you’ve got a journey decision (or resolutions) for 2024 and can you share it with us?
For me, my massive decision within the new 12 months is to journey extra slowly, be current for extra moments, and survive journey mishaps with some state of grace. Vacation spot-wise, I positively need to sneak in a winter cruise within the Mediterranean. I really like Europe throughout that season for its tradition and native vibes. I’d positively return to Tahiti and, within the gradual journey mantra, need to sail on a longer-than-a-week itinerary. 2023’s journey to Korea for the primary time evokes me to return to Asia. And the Panama Canal is an excellent winter getaway that’s as a lot about Costa Rica, rainforests, watersports and jungles as it’s in regards to the development of the storied canal.
This 12 months, the journey experiences that mattered most – and possibly that’s as a result of I wasn’t as insanely pressed for time as in earlier years (we adopted a canine with well being points so our journey was super-thoughtfully deliberate) – had been to locations outdoors of my consolation zone. I beloved visiting Korea and Poland at the same time as I returned for repeat visits to favourite destos like London, Zurich, Singapore and Helsinki. And so this touch upon Fb resonated:
“Our journey decision is to see extra locations we haven’t seen but.” Thanks, Ellen McAuliffe!
What about you? I’m loving the dialog on Fb, and encourage you to proceed to share it there (or under within the feedback). Within the meantime, listed here are some particular responses. I hope they encourage you, too.
Why journey issues a lot to us
Karla and I’ve a saying “adventures, not issues.” The issues we do get matter to our long run … our automobiles will final us a decade, solar energy reduces our invoice and reduces the fossil fuels burned in our behalf, double glazing our home windows lowers our power invoice as nicely.
Our adventures? Issues we’ve not seen. We found Windstar by way of our journey agent. We did Treasures of the Greek Isles for our honeymoon in 2017. Captain Belinda Bennett helped promote the road, and we met now quick buddies Alison and Niki Malkin. In early 2018 we took our first journey to Costa Rica.
Then the pandemic hit, and we had been benched for almost two years. We cruised once more on Wind Star, from Barbados to Costa Rica, and met Colin Dickson from workers and Brian Lacy and Lisa Kopas.
2022 was our first journey to Tahiti, and we met Clare Bear Sailor Taylor, one of many resort normal managers of Windstar. This 12 months was Italy, and we met PJ of the leisure staff, Elise and Marie from Los Angeles as nicely.
So, half of our adventures are assembly different fantastic individuals, generally of Windstar, generally passengers! –John Perkowski
Why touring in another way issues a lot
My decision is to essentially immerse myself right into a vacation spot reasonably than taking method too many journeys. I do know that sounds loopy, however I used to be really grateful when one in every of our journeys was canceled final 12 months. Going to the Holy Land for 12 days and Istanbul for 3 was the spotlight of final 12 months. If I’d waited one other 12 months, it simply wouldn’t have occurred. This 12 months I’ve a three-week journey to Hawaii (Maui, Kauai, and Oahu). I’m considering this shall be my final time to journey there, so I actually need to soak it in. I solely have a few shorter “women” journeys deliberate for the remainder of the 12 months. I went to Tahiti throughout Covid and plan to return in 2025 with a 17-day Windstar cruise. This time we’ll convey a couple of buddies with us. Will probably be good to not put on masks and fear about all of the testing. As a result of being in my mid 70’s now, it’s time for me and my husband to decelerate. I’m getting uninterested in all of the planning and related stress concerned. I’ve been blessed with many journeys all around the world (or a minimum of the components I’m all in favour of) and can benefit from the reminiscences and don’t have any regrets.—Barbara Ann Fuller Crisler
Seeking to the previous to maneuver ahead to the future
I used to sail tall ships within the Caribbean (anybody bear in mind Barefoot Windjammer?) the place I met Meivon Clement on his first journey as a purser. When Meivon moved as much as Windstar, I sailed per week out of Puerto Rico (I had been to the airport, however not the island), and found the fantastic crew of Windstar. Since then I’ve solely sailed on Windstar, and have been to most of the locations on my “life record,” together with Iceland, Alaska, Australia, Singapore….some I beloved and need to revisit (Australia), and a few not a lot (Monaco). The pandemic shut down my long-planned and prime life record journey to Amsterdam for SAIL Amsterdam and the British Isles. Sadly, Windstar isn’t doing SAIL Amsterdam in 2025, so I’ve figured a option to cruise Nice Britain to Amsterdam simply earlier than SAIL Amsterdam, after which will keep ashore. Windstar lets me journey safely and comfortably as a 74 12 months outdated solo girl traveler. –Patricia Jackson
When life weighs in additional closely than traditional
After being identified with aggressive a number of myeloma early in 2023 and having a stem cell transplant in June, I made a decision to deal with myself to a bucket record vacation spot every year. I’m beginning with a Panama Canal cruise on Star Satisfaction in March 2024, my first publish transplant journey. Life is brief—time to make issues occur! –Carlye Lehne
Wanting on the world’s massive image
On the danger of sounding tacky/a bit Miss Universe-ish, my decision is to do my greatest for world peace by way of cruising. Has a warfare ever damaged out on one of many world’s nice cruising vessels? Has there ever been a misunderstanding that hasn’t been repaired? Has there ever been a cruise the place we haven’t learnt one thing new – about others and about ourselves? Has there ever been a cruise the place you haven’t made a brand new buddy from one other nation or a completely totally different background? If solely the world could possibly be a cruise ship. –Wendy London
Right here’s the place we’re going subsequent
My spouse of fifty years and I took our first cruise ever this 12 months on Windstar within the Greek Islands. It was fabulous and we are actually dedicated to a Windstar Cruise yearly and possibly two! A repositioning cruise, Tahiti and the Panama Canal are on the Bucket Record by the top of 2025! –Kris W. Anderson
I problem myself in terms of journey
My decision is to keep up my private journey aim: “The variety of international locations visited should all the time exceed my age.” I’ve met that aim yearly since I used to be in faculty, 50 years in the past. I’m presently 10 international locations forward of my age. –Kim Hackett
And from the “you possibly can’t presumably argue with this” viewpoint
My 2024 decision is to spend as a lot time in, on, and close to the ocean as doable. It’s the blissful treatment for nearly every little thing. –Melinda Crow
Share your journey decision with us under, within the feedback! And happiest of New 12 months’s to you.
