Try back-to-back-to-back cruising - Letters - Letter to the Editor

The "Cruise Guide: Sailing Back-To-Back" by Karen Wormald in the December 2003 Cruise Travel was of very special interest to us since we have been cruising that way for several years. To make it even more fun and challenging, we have always involved changing ships instead of simply staying aboard for a second voyage on the same ship. In 2001 we extended the concept to three ships in a row, each one sailing from Fort Lauderdale.

Upon leaving our first vessel, Holland America Line's Volendam, we were allowed to almost instantly board that line's Maasdam ahead of the new passengers, since our cabin was one of the first made ready for occupancy. Upon leaving the Maasdam, all we had to do was load our bags into a taxi for a one-block ride to another dock, where we were early boarders on Celebrity Cruises' Millennium.

It took some effort to find these very fine ships with coincidental arrival and departure schedules that would permit such rapid ship exchanges. We found it amusing to experience three sets of greetings, three sets of farewells, and three times as many new friends in 27 days of cruising. Additionally, more direct ship comparisons were possible with so many features being presented in a tight time-frame.

We are now booked for a "run-of-the-mill" back-to-backer in early 2004, Holland America's Zuiderdam followed by a very special voyage on Cunard Line's new Queen Mary 2. We can't wait!

Donald Smith, Crystal Lake, IL

COPYRIGHT 2004 World Publishing, Co. (Illinois)
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group