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 targets have to be centered 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 enduring 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 submit a query on Fb’s vibrant Windstar Passengers-Yacht Membership group. And that query is and was: Do you have got a journey decision (or resolutions) for 2024 and can you share it with us?
For me, my large decision within the new yr is to journey extra slowly, be current for extra moments, and survive journey mishaps with some state of grace. Vacation spot-wise, I positively wish 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, wish 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 building of the storied canal.
This yr, the journey experiences that mattered most – and perhaps 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) – have been to locations exterior of my consolation zone. I beloved visiting Korea and Poland whilst 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 below 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 vehicles 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 properly.
Our adventures? Issues we’ve not seen. We found Windstar by 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 mates Alison and Niki Malkin. In early 2018 we took our first journey to Costa Rica.
Then the pandemic hit, and we have been benched for practically 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 lodge common managers of Windstar. This yr was Italy, and we met PJ of the leisure group, Elise and Marie from Los Angeles as properly.
So, half of our adventures are assembly different great folks, typically of Windstar, typically passengers! –John Perkowski
Why touring otherwise issues a lot
My decision is to actually immerse myself right into a vacation spot fairly than taking approach too many journeys. I do know that sounds loopy, however I used to be truly grateful when one in every of our journeys was canceled final yr. Going to the Holy Land for 12 days and Istanbul for 3 was the spotlight of final yr. If I’d waited one other yr, it simply wouldn’t have occurred. This yr I’ve a three-week journey to Hawaii (Maui, Kauai, and Oahu). I’m pondering this will probably be my final time to journey there, so I actually wish to soak it in. I solely have a few shorter “ladies” journeys deliberate for the remainder of the yr. I went to Tahiti throughout Covid and plan to return in 2025 with a 17-day Windstar cruise. This time we’ll convey just a few mates with us. It will likely be good to not put on masks and fear about all of the testing. Resulting from 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 at the least the elements I’m keen on) and can benefit from the reminiscences and haven’t any regrets.—Barbara Ann Fuller Crisler
Trying to the previous to maneuver ahead to the future
I used to sail tall ships within the Caribbean (anybody keep 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 great crew of Windstar. Since then I’ve solely sailed on Windstar, and have been to lots of the locations on my “life listing,” together with Iceland, Alaska, Australia, Singapore….some I beloved and wish to revisit (Australia), and a few not a lot (Monaco). The pandemic shut down my long-planned and prime life listing journey to Amsterdam for SAIL Amsterdam and the British Isles. Sadly, Windstar isn’t doing SAIL Amsterdam in 2025, so I’ve figured a approach 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 yr outdated solo girl traveler. –Patricia Jackson
When life weighs in additional closely than ordinary
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 listing vacation spot annually. I’m beginning with a Panama Canal cruise on Star Pleasure in March 2024, my first submit transplant journey. Life is brief—time to make issues occur! –Carlye Lehne
Wanting on the world’s large image
On the danger of sounding tacky/a bit Miss Universe-ish, my decision is to do my greatest for world peace by cruising. Has a conflict 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 pal from one other nation or a wholly 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 yr on Windstar within the Greek Islands. It was fabulous and we at the moment are dedicated to a Windstar Cruise yearly and perhaps two! A repositioning cruise, Tahiti and the Panama Canal are on the Bucket Listing by the tip of 2025! –Kris W. Anderson
I problem myself with regards to journey
My decision is to keep up my private journey objective: “The variety of international locations visited should all the time exceed my age.” I’ve met that objective yearly since I used to be in faculty, 50 years in the past. I’m at the moment 10 international locations forward of my age. –Kim Hackett
And from the “you possibly can’t probably argue with this” viewpoint
My 2024 decision is to spend as a lot time in, on, and close to the ocean as attainable. It’s the blissful treatment for nearly all the things. –Melinda Crow
Share your journey decision with us under, within the feedback! And happiest of New Yr’s to you.
