Epilogue

So how did we enjoy our vacation? Is cruising a good option for European travel?

We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation but won't likely opt to take a cruise to European ports until we're at an age where mobility is an issue. The happiest times were spent far away from the ship where we felt isolated from anything remotely reminding us of home. We have no idea what nightlife is like in Stockholm or what it might be like to truly experience local cuisine. We had to leave a different country every night to be transported back to a ship of tourists. The only sight that had to be seen by water was the Stockholm Archipelago and this could have easily been viewed from a local ferry. Granted there's the stress free factor of knowing we always had a nice bed to come back to, we still would have preferred a tad more adventure and danger. If we could do this trip over again, we would choose to do it by land and in a cooler month when we believe the Baltic mystique would truly come alive.

Holland America, the only mainstream cruise line claiming 5 star service, suited us in many ways but missed the boat in others (ba dup boom). We loved the cabins, the hors d'oeuvres before dinner, the attention to service and the new efforts made with the Signature of Excellence agenda but we feel that the line is caught behind the times and needs to make a stronger effort to define itself. "Poor man's Celebrity", we overheard from a couple of passengers. We understood that the ships were geared to an older clientele but the age range didn't bother us on our Noordam Mediterranean cruise, as they were a livelier, more festive bunch.

In conclusion, we've decided that we will only take a cruise to ports, which require a day at most such as to the islands of the Caribbean, Hawaii or Greece and possibly the Norwegian Fjords. We also need to separate a "party" vacation from an "exploration" vacation. Baltic cruising is intense and exhausting and cannot be combined with a "party" vacation. I never thought I'd say it but I just might grow a mullet, buy a 6 pack of Bud and book a cruise on the Carnival Liberty.

The End.