I suffer from manic holiday syndrome. My getaways go something like this: collapse on flight, arrive at airport, dump luggage in hotel room, set off to explore the sights and collapse on the plane again. It?s as exhausting as it sounds.
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Heavenly relaxation on board the Monterey cruise liner
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But now I?ve found a vacation that is just perfect for hyperactive holidaymakers like myself: a cruise. Now don?t get me wrong ? there is a lot to do on board a ship and if you participate in all the activities, you?ll be running up and down the decks from morning till night. But as far as sightseeing goes, until you reach your island destinations, you are surrounded by water, so there really is nowhere you can go, which is pure bliss for me.
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The magnificent Monterey
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Since watching The Love Boat on TV, I?ve dreamt of going on a cruise holiday (admit it, I?m, not the only one!). Now that I've done it, let me tell you, it's as good as it's portrayed on telly ? there's plenty of glitz, glamour, romance, excellent service, never-ending meals and dancing on the decks!
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More about the Monterey
The Monterey was 'born' in October 1953 and first operated in the USA as a luxury cruise liner. The treaty declaring Hawaii the 50th state of America was signed aboard the Monterey on August 21, 1959, hence the 20m high totem pole ? a gift from the King of Hawaii ? and the Hawaiian deck names. MSC bought the ship in 1990 and upgraded its facilities.
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The S.S Monterey is an Italian liner, owned by Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, and operated by Starlight Cruises during its six month stint in Southern African waters. It was the only ship that priced its voyages in rands and that had an extensive support base within South Africa.
Value for money
Best of all, the packages were all inclusive ? this means your accommodation, transport, food and entertainment are all included in the cost, which is very reasonable. The only things you have to pay for are your drinks, casino bets and tips. Work out how much it would cost to fly to your destination, add in the cost of hotels, restaurant meals, taxi rides and cover charges and I can guarantee you this estimate will come to way more than the once-off cruise price.
Convinced yet? No? Well read on.
All aboard!
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Buzz Car Rental's Fiat Palio flanked by the Monterey
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We boarded the S.S. Monterey cruise liner on a humid afternoon in the Durban Harbour. We?d flown into Durban International with the help of SAA two days earlier and manic holiday syndrome immediately set in. We rushed around seeing the sites in a luxurious air-conditioned, CD-equipped 1.6 Fiat Palio, made possible by the efficient staff at Buzz Car Rentals. So by the time we reached the embarkation ?N? shed in the harbour, I was so ready for a holiday.
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Up the gangplank
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Baggage check-in was a breeze while passenger check-in took a bit longer because of the rather long security checks. You wouldn?t want to mess with those scary looking bouncer-types, so take my advice and just wait patiently. I can?t remember feeling more excited walking up the gangplank and into the plush burgundy?carpeted welcoming area. Immaculately tuxedoed porters were all waiting in a line to whisk us away to our cabins.
The cabins
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Beds in our cabin
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I didn?t know what to expect. I had once spent five nights in a tiny train compartment with my partner and we didn?t have enough room to swing our arms, let alone a cat! But our cabin, situated on the main passenger Maile deck, was very spacious in comparison. The room was air-conditioned (the temperature settings can be adjusted) and sunrays were streaming into it through two portholes, the main benefit of having an outside cabin.
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Marble bathroom
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The room was simply furnished with two single beds, a small table, lounge chair, cupboards and a set of drawers. The bathroom, featuring stunning marbel ablution facilities, contained a his-and-hers toiletry cupboard (oh the space!), shower, toilet and all the basic vanity accessories.
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Our portholed cabin
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There are 14 categories of accommodation on the Monterey, ranging in class, price and position. The most expensive cabins are the suites, complete with baths, showers and a lounge. The cheapest on offer are the berth cabins, which usually contain a foldaway or sofa-bed. I would recommend an outside cabin as it really is wonderful to be able to open the portholes and breathe in the fresh sea air. These rooms are obviously the most popular, so try to book as early as possible.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE CRUISE (the romance and all the rest)
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