From the desk of Gerald Bernhoft, Director of the Mariner Society of Holland America

Click title for his words. Below his article, view some Alaska pictures.

A man truly after my own heart. His favorite destination is Alaska too !

Customers ask me, Why do I love cruising

Wow, let me count the ways. Like the Cruise Line International Association states, there's 101+ reasons to choose from ! (Click title for CLIA's list).

My reasons:

My #1 reason, I'm a work-a-holic. To stop me from work, you have to literally take work away from me. I discovered 26 years ago, take me out of the country on a cruise, and I can't reach my work. Not by phone, not by computer (I don't take my computer on vacation, unless I want work to "win"). Of course, some of my creativity happens, related to work, while I'm on a cruise. But even so, I can't do anything about my ideas, till I get home, so that kind of working is ok for me.

There are only 2 things that clear my mind of work ... A cruise and a movie ! They're both hypnotizing and energizing for me.

Another reason I love cruising is for the food. I don't cook. I'm a microwave person. I'm a hurry up and get it done person, so I can get back to work. I eat while I'm at my computer, if I remember to eat at all. On a cruise, I sit for at least 1 & 1/2 hours, and this is part of the entertainment and relaxation for me. I love being served. I love seeing the happy faces when they feel happy in making me happy. I love having tea or hot coffee at my meal (rather than the cold I drink at my computer). I love the variety of foods I never see in my kitchen. I have no desire to learn how to cook the things I receive on a cruise, however, I love critiquing their food ! As mentioned, I may not know what the ingrediants are, but I know if it's good or not ! I would be a great food critique for the cruise lines !

I love going to the shows and having something different in my life. I don't have time to go to shows when I'm home, except when I force myself out to a movie, once every 6-9 months.

I love shopping. I don't have time for shopping when I'm home, other than to the grocery store, maybe every 6-8 weeks. I'm a junk buyer, so I love to buy things from the native countries, and I bring them home as gifts, for my folks/brother/his new wife, for Christmas and birthdays.

I love seeing sites. Not only where people live, but historical sites.

I use to always take naps each day, something I don't do at home. But last few cruises, I have not done so.

I love sitting on the pool deck; listening to the music; just being quiet.

Drinking and gambling is not my thing on a cruise, so unfortunately, I'm not helping in keeping the low cost for cruising down. Yet, I love watching others gamble, winning, and having a great time !

For me, cruising is vital to my health. I need to get away. I need change. I need new inspiration, new ideas. I need re-vitalization. When I come home, I feel like a new person, and ready to roll again, till the next time I can partake in my next cruise. And I like having the next one planned, so I have something to look foward to.

Now what is your reasoning for Choosing to Cruise.

Customers ask, do I buy Trip Cancellation Insurance and why ?

I do.

4 reasons:

1) I have a pre-existing medical condition
2) Being in this business, I see how many people, have to cancel, and use the insurance
3) I want 250,000 emergency evacuation insurance, in time of need (dead or alive)!
4) In case I get sick while onboard.

Insurance is all about the unforseen. If we knew nothing was going to happen, then of course, we would not buy it. We buy car insurance, right ? We buy house insurance, right ? We don't buy this because we want to, we buy it to protect ourselves. And yes, many of us, like me, are insurance poor.

The consumer is un-aware, that most often, their insurance might not cover their sickness while away. But even if it does, you have a deductible. So for nothing else, you're covering your deductible.

One can't imagine the cost it is, for a helicopter to be flown out to your ship to take you away. And if you don't have insurance, you might have to settle for being flown to the closest island or city , like Miami, veruses all the way home. An agent's customer, who did not have insurance, had to be flown to Miami for $19,000, versus all the way home for $70,000.

Just so you know, I have customers who buy it, because they solely believe, if they buy it, it will mean they won't need it. So that's another way of looking at it ... Ward off the "bad".

Remember, insurance is about protecting ourselves ... our money ... our vacation. The way I look at it ... 6 months down the road, you're not going to look at that $ 79 or $ 179 pp insurance that you had to put out. It will be behind you and forgotten !

Clients ask, Why do I go to my port of embarkation, one day early ?

Many reasons ...
1) The LYH airport reminds me to remind clients, every time I am in there, to ask clients to fly out a day early !
2) I would rather get there, a day early, and get the worrying, of not missing the ship, over with !
3) I like to rest, the evening and morning, prior to my cruise, than get up extra early to catch my flight ! Even if I am driving or taking the train.
4) Extra day of vacation !

Please note, I've had clients, who had direct flights, and luggage was lost. Go figure ! But another reason, to fly in a day early.

Once, I drove to a port, 7 1/2 hours away. I did leave day before. Good thing ! As soon as I crossed the bridge, heading into hurt, a dear came off the hill, and landed in my grill. Like I tell everyone, I've been around for a while, cruising, and there are many things that have already happened to me, that I don't want to see happen to you.

Once, a group of us was flying out of San Diego. We weren't going the day prior, but that was when, one bought flights from the cruise line, and you were guaranteed to get to the ship, if flight was delayed. Unfortunately, we were going on a Hawaii cruise, and you can Not fly to Hawaii to join the ship in an American port, so if we missed the ship, our cruise would have been null. Though we were late, I could see we were going to make it, but I kept my fingers crossed.

Reminder ... We are never promised, that all will run smooth, going to our cruise. My opinion, it's better to think the best, however, prepare for that unknown, by getting there a day early, and have that part over with !

For some reason, I find, some people, want to fight the idea of going early or paying the extra expense of a night hotel prior (my mother always fights me, but then thanks me, EVERY TIME I make her go early). Going the night prior is like buying an insurance policy ... You buy it in hopes of never needing it, right ? You don't buy insurance because you want to, you do it to protect yourself. It's the same reason, for going one night prior ... And insurance policy that you hope you don't need !

So many clients take my request, and come back, thanking me, that they did not have to rush anywhere, the morning of their cruise. Don't you want this same feeling too ?

2012 Cruises, to and from, Quebec City

Click title for list of cruises