Thought you all would enjoy this......

[JuniorCruiser]

No Nursing Home For Me!

>

> About two years ago my wife and I were on a cruise

> through the western

> Mediterranean aboard a Princess liner.

>

> At dinner we noticed an elderly lady sitting alone

> along the rail of the

> grand stairway in the main dining room. I noticed

> that all the staff,

> ship officers, waiters, busboys, etc. all seemed

> very familiar with this

> lady.

>

> I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be

> told she owned the

> line, but he said he only knew that she had been on

> board for the last

> four

> cruises, back to back.

>

> As we left the dining room one evening, I caught

> her eye and stopped to

> say

> hello. We chatted and I said, "I understand you've

> been on this ship

> for the last four cruises." She replied, "Yes,

> that's true." I stated,

> "I don't understand" and she replied without a

> pause, "It's cheaper than

> a nursing home."

>

> So, there will be no nursing home in my future.

> When I get old and

> feeble, I am going to get on a Princess cruise

> ship. The average cost

> for a nursing home is $200 a day. I have checked on

> reservations at

> Princess and I can get a long term discount and

> senior discount price of

> $135 per day. That leaves $65 a day for:

>

> 1. Gratuities which will only be $10 per day.

>

> 2. I will have as many as 10 meals a day if I can

> waddle to the

> restaurant or I can have room service (which means

> I can have breakfast

> in bed every day of the week.)

>

> 3. Princess has as many as three swimming pools, a

> workout room, free

> washers and dryers and shows every night.

>

> 4. They have free toothpaste, razors, soap and

> shampoo.

>

> 5. They will even treat you like a customer, not a

> patient. An extra $5

> worth of tips will have the entire staff scrambling

> to help you.

>

> 6. I will get to meet new people every 7 to 14

> days.

>

> 7. TV broken? Light bulb need changing? Need to have

> the mattress

> replaced? No problem! They will fix everything and

> apologize for your

> inconvenience

>

> 8. Clean sheets and towels every day and you don't

> even have to ask for

> them.

>

> 9. If you fall in the nursing home and break a hip,

> you are on Medicare.

> If you fall and break a hip on the Princess ship,

> they will upgrade you

> to a suite for the rest of your life.

>

> Now hold on for the best! Do you want to see South

> America, the Panama

> Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Asia or name

> where you want to

> go?

>

> Princess will have a ship ready to go. So don't look

> for me in a nursing

> home, just call shore to ship.

>

> P. S. And don't forget, when you die, they just

> dump you over the side

> at no charge!

[almitra]

Love it! Thanks for sharing. :)

[almitra]

Love it! Thanks for sharing. :)

[MidtheNight]

Actually my in-laws have met a couple of those elderly people "cruising into the sunset". One had actually been onboard for almost a year! They all had the same attitude...As long as they can still walk and get around without round the clock care they want to be surrounded by people, lots of people - old, young and younger.

 

That's the way I want to do it....

[inai]

Several years ago on one of our cruises we met an elderly woman while dining who was doing just that. She said it was cheaper to live on a cruise ship than pay for NYC rent or a nursing home. She had made 135 voyages.

[newmexicoNita]

thanks for sharing this with us. NMnita

[Pumbaamd]

Nita,

Could you book that retirement cruise for us?

Rick and Deirdra

[newmexicoNita]

Nita,

Could you book that retirement cruise for us?

Rick and Deirdra

Nope, you are way to young!!!! But I would book a cruise for you on the Jewel if you go the same time as my DD and I go. NMNita

[Pumbaamd]

Nita, are you talkin' NCL Jewel or RCCL Jewel of the Seas?

[Pumbaamd]

P.S.

And I saw elsewhere that a new rail service is planned for your area. Will they be of any help to you and DH?

[newmexicoNita]

Nita, are you talkin' NCL Jewel or RCCL Jewel of the Seas?

what do you think? LOL, the NCL Jewel, but the RCI Jewel is a great ship. We just like the freestyle cruising. Yes, the new rail should be open in Belen around the first part of March. Originally it was to open in November: all of us know how that goes. It may not help us personally as we just drive into Albuquerque but should be a feather for our little town. Of course, like everything else it will take time to catch on and people here do not take to change to easily. Many have lived in the area for generations and wonder why things have to change. NMNita

[Pumbaamd]

Hey, Nita. . .

Freestyle dining was also a big change and it caught on quite well. We love NCL, and RCCL as well. We hold RCCL stock (getta discount) and the RCCL C&A program has us hooked. If RCCL had Freestyle dining, it would be the perfect world. And if NCL had a program like C&A, who know's? But RCCL has Chop's and Portifino's (what's another $20 when you're cruising?). NCL has the edge on Hawaii, where we would like to go next (after Grandeur '06). Someday, we'll catch up to you and the County Commissioner.

Rick and Deirdra

[Onessa]

Hey, Nita. . .

Freestyle dining was also a big change and it caught on quite well. We love NCL, and RCCL as well. We hold RCCL stock (getta discount) and the RCCL C&A program has us hooked. If RCCL had Freestyle dining, it would be the perfect world. And if NCL had a program like C&A, who know's? But RCCL has Chop's and Portifino's (what's another $20 when you're cruising?). NCL has the edge on Hawaii, where we would like to go next (after Grandeur '06). Someday, we'll catch up to you and the County Commissioner.

Rick and Deirdra

 

Give me East-meets-West (at $10 a head) and Little Italy (free if you can book the reservation) on RCCI - and I'd be thrilled. Like RCI ships a bit more than NCLA, but both make for a great cruising experience!

[blueinspades]

I always thought a ship would make a better nursing home than the land variety. They do all the cooking, cleaning, and take care of your daily needs. Hope I am well enough when I reach that age to cruise for life.