It was the best decision to do the cruise, and we made memories that we will have forever. The cruise was relaxing, with lots to do if we wanted to do things, and lots of R&R if we didn't. I needed some serious rest after the craziness of planning a wedding! We got room service for breakfast almost every morning, and enjoyed a few formal dinners in the dining room. One of the best parts for me was that I could be outside as much as I wanted to, because when we were outside I wanted to be bundled up (to keep warm,) so everything was covered, thus no problems with sun exposure. We ported in Juneau, Skagway & Ketchikan, Alaska; Vancouver & Victoria, B.C.; cruised in Glacier Bay National Park; and finally ported in San Diego. We were both too tired to really do anything in San Diego other than fly home, but it was a wonderful trip!
After a lot of debate, we decided to rent a wheelchair for the duration of the trip (www.carevacations.com, 877-478-7827) so that I would be able to enjoy the trip and see as much as possible, and also so that Bryan would be more in charge of the tempo of the trip...and well, not waiting for me everywhere we went. The decision to rent a wheelchair was also one of the best we could have made. I think it's one of the most effective ways to beat lyme fatigue (until I get better.) A wheelchair allows me to keep going for much, much longer than I would be able to if I was walking. I have had such a hard time with this over the past year. I don't like the idea of using a wheelchair for anything, and frankly, I know I don't look sick. I worry about what people think when they see a young, healthy-looking person sitting in a rented wheelchair.
Bryan says I worry too much. He has had a much easier time embracing the wheelchair option than I have, but I have to admit that it was the best thing for us to do. We made the arrangements several weeks before our cruise, and for about $75, it was in our stateroom waiting for us when we got on the ship. The $75 covered the 11-day cruise, and they came to pick it up on the last day. We brought a backpack (Bryan calls it my diaper bag...complete with all my meds, water & snacks to take them with,) and I bundled up each day with the wool plaid blankets provided by the ship. I would sit down in the chair in the hall outside our room, and then we'd be off. I did get tired a few times even with the help of the wheelchair, but we got to see everything we wanted to. Almost everything was wheelchair accessible, and the few things that weren't were prioritized...at Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, B.C., for example, we decided to brave the 5 flights of stairs in order to SLOWLY view the place. I had actually been there when I was 17, and loved it so much that I insisted Bryan see it...so we did it. It was worth it.
Holland America Line was wonderful, and we actually got an added bonus. We hadn't planned to book with HAL, but because it was so late in the season, we went with them because they had the LAST Alaskan cruise scheduled of all the lines we could find. It worked out perfectly with our wedding plans & schedule, too. Well, we didn't know that HAL actually caters to older clientele, so that Bryan and I were among the youngest on the ship, by about 30 years. One night in the dining room, the staff came out to sing to us and bring us a little cake that said, "Happy Anniversary." They also sang us an anniversary song, and then afterward explained that they don't usually get honeymooners...it was really funny. This actually worked to our advantage, because as slow and awkward as we were, we didn't feel out of place or in the way at all. The staff was wonderful and we didn't have any problems navigating the ship with the wheelchair either. If you are currently dealing with the disability associated with Lyme, I would highly recommend this option as a wonderful vacation possibility. We had a great time!
