I'm going on a cruise. What can you tell me?

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41. In 2018 I cruised Barcelona to Rome

and it was fabulous. Smaller ship of 450 passengers and loved it. In 2019 I cruised NYC to Newfoundland and back to NYC for fall color on ship of 2500 and will never do a large ship again if I ever go back to cruising again, which I doubt. I've done a Baltic cruise on a ship of 450 and enjoyed it very much. Have done quite a few Caribbean cruises and enjoyed them. I've never gotten sick on any of them and do not get sea sick, but pack immodium and Pepto in your carry on, just in case.

If you can do it, add an extra day or two in Barcelona. I came two days prior to departure of the cruise and it wasn't enough. I just happened to be there during a taxi strike and was left with getting around on the subway. I was using a cane at the time and it was hot, which compounded the problem of walking very much. So if you can, give yourself more time in Barcelona. I would love to return, but doubt it will happen.

Book the restaurants on your ship and avoid the buffets. The food will be better and you'll be less exposed to crowds. Eat at the on deck restaurants for the view and breeze.

Wear a mask when you are inside and around crowds, and wash your hands or use sanitizer frequently. My son and his partner were in Scotland for two weeks in July and both came home with Covid which they think they contracted on the train three days before flying home. His partner was still testing positive after three weeks at home, still with mild lung congestion.

Check the travel insurance policy that comes with your cruise. You may want to buy an additional policy that allows you to cancel for any reason and also covers cost of getting off the ship and staying quarantined--if needed or for medical care--or delayed overseas if any part of your trip is cancelled for any reason once you're on it. I've never booked additional travel insurance pre Covid, but I wouldn't go anywhere on an expensive trip now without it. I debated booking a cruise next April from Brussels to Amsterdam and looked into travel insurance to estimate the cost, so if you Google best travel insurance companies, you can research the information.

Have fun!