Some of us remained on the ship over the holidays, enjoying a smorgasbord of onboard activities. Others scattered across the globe for a week or two. Some returned home to celebrate holidays with friends & family. Others used the Panama/Ecuador port stops as a jumping off point for multi-day excursions to Galapagos and Machu Pichu.

I joined a group for a 5-day birding tour in Ecuador, fit in a quick visit with a friend, then headed to the U.S. for a few days to take care of some things I had in storage and meet up with my sister on a long layover in Houston. It was a very productive trip.

Of those returning after our travels, virtually everyone I spoke to had the same reaction: coming back to the ship felt like coming home.

It especially made me appreciate the ease of traveling by ship. Spending hours confined sardine-style in an airplane seat with hundreds of people, worrying about delayed departures and lost luggage, organizing airport transfers, finding lodging – it all reinforced for me why I chose cruising. I looked forward to spending time in the luxury of my cabin while being effortlessly transported from one location to the next.

It felt good to be home.