CHARACTERS ON BOARD!

Up to 1,380 passengers (passenger capacity of ms Amsterdam) will soon depart on a common journey to circumnavigate South America, and the world. Who ARE these people, having in common both available time and money for a world cruise ("WC")? All I knew - from what my camping friends said - was that they’d be “older”. I found my first real clues on Facebook (“FB”). This Summer, Holland America Line (“HAL”) created a “public event” on FB, called the “112-Day Grand World Voyage”, so we could “connect with fellow travelers”. Clever as this was, it paled in comparison to the mass of information available on http://www.cruisecritic.com/ . I spent days reviewing Cruise Critic’s (“CC”) “roll call” of cruisers and its “board”, containing thousands of posts about our cruise. Amazingly, people started posting about our (2012) WC in October 2010!

           To my surprise, many have taken this "once in a lifetime trip" several times and list HAL as an "interest" or "activity" on their FB page!  There are some true-blue, die-hard cruising enthusiasts here, who will tell you it's "addictive"!  There are also a few brave souls making the WC their very first cruise ever!  Repeat cruisers often book less expensive cabins, so they can afford to take more cruises.  The "board" is replete with ideas for shore excursions which are better and less expensive than HAL's.  Entry signatures on the "board" commonly contain a "countdown clock":  DHMS (Days, Hours, Minutes and Seconds until we leave)!

          DEMOGRAPHIC

         The demographic appears to be primarily American (with Florida and California well represented), Canadian and Australian - with at least one man from Spain (Alex R.), one from Germany (Michael S.) and a lady from France (Monique B.). For privacy, I use only first names (on CC, user names serve this function). There are several solo travelers (particularly female), but most travel in pairs. Most seem to be retired, with many retired teachers. But there are some younger folks, too, like Erika (a 31-year-old teacher) and even an 8-year-old, who’ll be home-schooled on board! Here’s a “snapshot”, based on FB and CC: 
                    Americans
                              Arizona - Scott & Karen, and Al and Robert
                              Arkansas - Bill & Marge
                              California - Chuck & Marilyn D., Donna K., Dee & Wells W., Linda & Pete W., John & Diane, Bill & Mary Ann, Inge, Dave & Karen, and Sondra (me) & Bill
                              Colorado - Susan and Jim & Peggy M.
                              Florida - Ruth B., Brad E. & Gloria B.; Linda & Hans T., Lynne & Charles, Mike & Paulene, Sam & Sally, Ricki & David, and Ralph & Kay
                              Hawaii - Dee & Wells
                              Indiana - Richard & Claire
                              Illinois - Jean & Doug, Barb & Chuck, and Jim, Carol & Maggie,
                              Maine - Paul
                              Maryland - Mimi
                              Michigan - Connie
                              Missouri - Alan & Annie
                              New Jersey - Arlene K. and Geri & Tom O.
                              New Mexico - Richard & Susan Y.
                              New York - Thaddeus & Jessica and Janet & Mike
                              North Carolina - Judy & Glenn
                              Oregon - Darrel & Karen
                              Pennsylvania - Erika P-R & mom Lynn, and Jim S.
                              South Carolina - Don/”Lord Kay”, Joe & Perla, and Nancy & Rick
                              Tennessee - Jean & Doug
                              Texas - Mike & Diane
                              Vermont - Patty C. and Patty & Anita
                              Virginia - Linda & Ralph
                              Washington - Judy & Mike
                    Canucks: Pat & Mel G-S, Irma & Bernd M., Barry & Jane S., Louise & Brian, Jean & Klaus, Frank & Mike, Allan & Marlane, Norman & Kathleen, Loretta & Siu, Jane & Barry, Anne & Alan, and Bob & Leslee
                    Aussies: Ros & Gary, Eris & John, Wendy & H, and Joan & Declan


HAL'S ms AMSTERDAM

          SERIAL CRUISERS AND INTERESTING TID-BITS
                    • Ruth B. (“oofroggie” on CC): She’s been on 2 other WC's
                    • Chuck & Marilyn D. (“Evolus” on CC): This is their 3rd WC; on HAL cruises for >300 days
                    • Bradley & Leslie E.: He’s been on 2 other WC’s; Brad’s “adopted” me as a WC new-bee
                    • Michael S. (“michaelfl” on CC): They’ve spent 60 days on HAL so far; his company (Siemens AG) built the San Diego Trolley; he was corporate counsel
                    • Jim S. (“Homeless” on CC): Was on 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 WC – he’s not “homeless”; he lives onboard cruise ships!!
                    • Roberta T.: This will be her 1st cruise ever (yikes - didn’t want to try a weekender first, huh?); she can think of nothing else
                    • Dee and Wells W. and “Flat S[.]”: Stanley “had such a great time in 2010" (apparently did this before)
                    • Linda & Pete W.: Were on the 2010 Grand Asia/Australia cruise; retired from SD Unified School Dist.
                    • “Johnny B” (John and Diane): This is their 3rd WC; went in 2008 & 2010
                    • “aussieoz” (Jean & Doug): Celebrating 40th wedding anniversary with cruise; they’ve been on 3 long voyages on MS Amsterdam, 2007-2009 and 5 grand voyages in the last 6 years (they’ve spent 2 months each year on the Amsterdam; “she’s like a second home to us.”)
                    • “WCB” (Bill & Mary Ann): Went on 2011 WC too
                    • “ajcruiser” (Alan & Annie): “avid cruisers but WC virgins”; cruise is Alan’s retirement gift to himself
                    • “CaveDiving” (Scott & Karen): Their posts come with a resume-like list of all their past cruises – this is their 4th WC with HAL

                    • "Thad2x" (Thaddeus & Jessica): Completed his dissertation for his doctorate on the 2010 WC on Pacific Princess
                    • "happyglobetrotter" (Louise & Brian): 4 prior WC’s (2007, 2008, 2010 & 2011); shoot, they’re on a 70-day cruise to Asia and Australia, starting 9/26/11 – apparently as a “warm-up” to our WC – and they’re already booked for the 2013 WC!
                    • "alsas":  This will be their 9th WC on ms Amsterdam -- THE Grand Poobah's of world cruising on HAL (not far behind are ""Homeless" and "happyglobetrotter")
                    • “ColombiaSC” (Don, “Lord Kay of Shandon”/DK): Has sailed on the SS France, then Cunard, and the 2008 farewell WC on the QE2
                    • “bet410" (Barb): Went on 2009 cruise to Australia, New Zealand and So. Pacific; this is their 1st WC; they’re also going on the 2013 WC
                    • “carosave” (Jim, Carol & 8-yr-old daughter, Maggie): Maggie’s “older parents” (our age) will be home-schooling her; bringing teacher/nanny
                    • “judithbiggs” (Judy & Glenn): Also took the 2011 WC; closing in on 1,000 cruise days with HAL - seriously, Judy?  You're a Co- Grand Poobah too!!
                    • “Judy 068" (Judy & Mike): Celebrating their 40th anniversary and semi-retiring
                    • “latpj76" (Joe & Perla): Cruised 107 days in 2010 and 121 days in 2011 on Pacific Princess; canceled 2012 Pacific Princess WC to go on HAL, because they liked the itinerary so much
                    • “Aussie Ros” (Ros & Gary): This is their 23rd cruise, but longest was 35 days
                    • “Pupsy” (Inge): Her H died 11 years ago, and she’s been “globetrotting” ever since; her 1st WC
                    • “c&c4me” (Darrel & Karen): Their 3rd WC (on the HAL WC’s in 2007 & 2008)
                    • Rosalyn D-B:  about to do cruise #23 in 11/11; 250 days on HAL already (and more other other cruise lines)
                    • “iTraveler” (Dave & Karen): They’ve traveled extensively and cruise 5 months/year
                    • “westcoastswing” (Robert): On 25 cruises; in the classical and opera music business and looking for a rest
                    • “Charleston Lady” (Nancy & Rick): Were on 2008 WC
                    • "Eriemermaid" (Connie): Her 1st cruise EVER; traveling solo - brave soul #1
                    • "Russ0Phile": His 1st cruise EVER - maybe he’ll meet Connie!?

                    • ME ("legallyblonde")? My 1st cruise was a 1-week trip to the Mexican Riviera on Royal Caribbean (loved it); my 2nd was a 4-day trip to the Caribbean on Carnival for my best friend’s wedding (loved being with my friend; hated the cruise line); this is my 3rd . . .