Bermuda or Bust – Cruising tips for senior citizens

By Steven V. Dubin

My wife is threatening to arrange a surprise cruise from Boston to Bermuda this spring to celebrate my 70th birthday and my daughter’s 30th birthday. This will involve family and friends. Raise your hand if you are one of them.
Whoops! There goes the surprise.
If you haven’t been to Bermuda, put it on your bucket list. Scratch out the jumping out of an airplane, biking across Russia, hiking across China.
Bermuda is the prettiest place I’ve even been – flowers and modest homes of bright pastel colors, such as yellow, pink, coral, peach, and green. And Bermuda has the most beautiful beaches I’ve even seen.
If you love a never-ending buffet, sunning by the saltwater pool and lots of B-level entertainment nightly, cruising is the best way to get there.
Here’s a collection of tips just for seniors to make the most of a cruise vacation:

  1. Pack smart…ish
    Bring half the clothes and twice the medications. Nobody remembers what you wore, but everyone appreciates when you’re not asking if they’ve seen your antacids.
  2. The buffet strategy
    Pace yourself. Day one: Shrimp. Day two: Prime rib. Day three: Pants with elastic waistbands.
  3. Deck chair diplomacy
    Rise early to stake your claim. Your towel is your flag of victory – just don’t forget where you planted it.
  4. Elevator etiquette
    The elevators fill up fast. Make friends by saying, “I only panic in elevators occasionally.”
  5. Shore excursion wisdom
    When in port, always ask: “How far is it, really?” Get that in miles. A “short walk” in cruise guide-speak can mean “Bring your orthopedic shoes and a snack.”
  6. Navigating the ship
    If you get lost, just keep walking until you find either food or music. Bonus: You’ll rack up 10,000 steps before dinner.
  7. Dancing at sea
    Whether you’re busting out the cha-cha, or the slow sway while holding onto the railing, remember – you’re not clumsy, the ship is just “helping you freestyle.”
  8. Formal night secrets
    You don’t need tux tails or sequins. Just a big smile and a napkin to catch the lobster butter.
  9. The Golden Rule
    What happens on the cruise… becomes the story you tell your grandkids, slightly exaggerated, for the next decade.
    As my Irish friends say, “May the wind be always at your back and the sun shine warm on your face.”
    If you know of a senior who is doing something interesting with their retirement, I look forward to hearing from you! Please email me at SDubin@PRWorkZone.com.

Steven V. Dubin is the founder of PR Works, a lightly used public relations firm based in Plymouth which helps small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies navigate the overwhelming options of advertising. Steve lives in Plymouth with his wife, Wendy. He is a contributing author to “Get Slightly Famous” and “Tricks of the Trade,” the complete guide to succeeding in the advice business. He recently authored “PR 101,” an E-book.