Trip of a Lifetime – PRT 220

Trip of a Lifetime

Victoria Jones

PRT 220 (001)

Professor Ines Palacios

Due June 20, 2012

If I were planning the trip of a lifetime for a companion and I, there would be a few factors that we would consider before choosing a destination. I am a shore-lover and I enjoy nature, so my automatic draw would be toward a tropical location. I also enjoy entertainment and participating in activities, so a cruise would be perfect for my lifestyle and preferences. For these reasons I decided that if I were go to on a vacation, it would be a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

However, after further contemplation of my wants and needs in the ideal vacation, I realized that I also embrace culture and enjoy learning about the way other people live. I am fascinated with the various cultures within Europe, but have never been. I love bright colors and fun environments, and would love to visit a coastline within the Mediterranean and/or Aegean Sea. This realization resulted in the decision regarding a second destination in my dream escape- the city of Santorini, located on the island of Thira in Greece.

Packing for two different destinations across the globe can be a challenge. I would go during the month of October, simply due to the varying temperatures and experiences available at both destinations during this time of year. The average temperature in the Caribbean during the month of October is approximately 83F. However, the weather in Greece is about 20C (~68F). The difference of these temperatures during the fall in these two destinations is 15F, a vital consideration when deciding what to pack for this trip of a lifetime. Shorts, T-shirts, light blouses, and bathing suits are necessary in order to participate in activities in the Caribbean. However, one might need a light sweater or cardigan in Greece due to the weather dropping during evening hours. In addition to clothes, I would bring grooming tools such as toiletries (toothbrush/paste, shampoo/conditioner, face wash, etc), makeup, and a hairdryer. Other vital items to pack for both destinations include undergarments, sunglasses, sunscreen, a book to read, passport, and a camera (of course).

In order to cruise from any port off the coast of the United States (even to US territories), guests are required to obtain a passport from the US Department of State. Visitors are also required to “ensure that they are medically and physically fit for travel“ in order to cruise. Passports are also needed to fly overseas, including Santorini. Due to the Visa Waiver travel program, a visa is not required for US citizens to travel to Greece for less than 90 days. Other documentation (as explained later) may include boarding passes/plane tickets, driver’s license, or other forms of identification.

One last issue that must be resolved before traveling is changing currency. In Europe, the currency used is Euros. According to the XE currency converter website, one US dollar is equal to .78 Euros, meaning the value of one dollar in the United States is less than the value of one euro in Greece. Another conclusion we can make from these numbers is that it will cost visitors more US dollars to equal what may be required in Euros in order to buy products in Europe. In order to travel to Greece, I would need to go to the currency exchange desk at the airport before my flight embarks for Santorini so that I can change the needed US dollars into Euros. I would also carry a small satchel around my body at all times to keep my money safe and at my disposal.

My trip of a lifetime begins at Raleigh/Durham International Airport (RDU) on Saturday, October 5, 2013. From this location my companion and I will then fly via Delta Airlines to Orlando MCO International Airport, an approximate two hour flight from 9:00am-10:40am. From the airport, Royal Caribbean will provide a motorcoach that will pick us up and transport us to the port of departure in Port Canaveral, FL for our 7 night cruise on the Freedom of the Seas. At 12:00pm, the cruise ship will embark on our trip to the Eastern Carribbean. After spending our day getting settled into our room, we will dine at Windjammer, Café, a complimentary buffet-style restaurant on the ship. Arrival at our first stop the will be next morning, CocoCay, a private island owned by Royal Carribbean located within the Bahamas.

Our adventure at CocoCay will contain activities such as a glass bottom boat tour and a kayaking adventure. After a busy day of activities, it is only fitting that the next be a cruising day, full of simple relaxation and soaking in the sun on the pool deck. On day three of our journey we will arrive at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas- capital of the US Virgin Islands. Activities that we will enjoy include exploring the beach, as well as a “Tree Limin’ Extreme Zipline Tour” on the island, an extreme ropes course and ziplining adventure run by the staff of Royal Carribbean. From Charlotte Amalie, the next day we will travel to Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Here we will participate in a “Discover Scuba Diving” activity, a program designed for beginner scuba divers who would like to discover the underwater world of St. Maarten.

From this island we will simply cruise for two days back to Port Canaveral, FL. Freedom of the Seas contains many activities on the cruise ship offered to guests including many Broadway-style shows such as Chicago, an indoor ice-skating rink, and an adults-only solarium for some peace and quiet. One of these nights we would also enjoy a fine dining experience at the Chophouse, a grille steakhouse located on deck 4 of the boat. Once we arrived back at Port Canaveral after a week of busy activities, we will be ready to travel to Santorini to relax.

After Royal Caribbean’s motor shuttle takes us back to the airport, we will exchange currency into Euros and then depart MCO for Santorini National Airport in Thira, Greece at 12:30pm. Unfortunately, there are no nonstop flights departing from MCO to this destination, so there will be a necessary 6 hour layover in JFK Airport, NY, resulting in an eventual arrival in Santorini at 8:00am on Monday, October 14. Upon arrival in Greece, we will rent a car from Hertz and drive it to our accommodation at Oia Mare Villas.

We will stay in the Cave Suite with the view of Caldera Village and spend our days relaxing poolside and exploring the cliff. Activities in the city of Santorini include visiting the volcano, visiting local shops, and simply learning about local tradition and eating the delicious Mediterranean food. After our calm week in Santorini, we will be ready to embark to head home.

Our final flight back to RDU will depart on October 19 at 9:35am with an expected arrival in Raleigh at 9:12pm (via Delta Airlines with short layovers in Athens and JFK). Unfortunately, the IATA regulates allowable souvenirs allowed when US citizens are returning from vacations overseas. The term duty refers to “a tax collected on imports and some exports by the customs authorities of a country” (Investopedia). Citizens are allowed to return with souvenirs duty-free (meaning free of taxes) up to $800 value in US dollars, provided that the stay was longer than 48 hours. However, this does not include duty-free allowances such as a reasonable amount of tobacco products, a quart of alcoholic beverages (for those of age), perfumes, and a few other items for personal use. (IATA)

In conclusion, this trip of a lifetime would be altogether culture enriching, exciting, and beneficial. However, it would also be expensive. In terms of finances, total airfare for this vacation would cost $11,934 for both people. Other transportation costs, including bus fare and rental car, would total $356. For the cruise, we would allocate $150 for spending money per person due to most of the food and beverage already covered in pre-paid packages (beverages $55 per person, per day; food complimentary). However, spending money for Santorini would be $400 per person due to the need to pay for food and drink at the local restaurants. Total trip would cost $19,104.06 at a cost of $9,552.03 per person. Although expensive and financially exhausting, vacations such as these are well worth their while and every person should have the chance to experience a full-on vacation once in their lifetime.

BUDGET

$ Per Person

Total Cost

Euros

Transportation

 

 

 

Airfare RDU to MCO 10/5

$116.00

$232.00

Bus Fare Airport to Cruise Ship 10/5

$75.00

$150.00

Bus Fare Cruise Ship to Airport

included in ^

Airfare MCO to Santorini National (layover at JFK)

$2,570.00

$5,140.00

Hertz Rental Car Santorini

$103.00

$206.00

From Santorini National to RDU (layovers at Athens and JFK)

$3,281.00

$6,562.00

7 Night Cruise to Eastern Carribbean

 

 

 

Pre-Cruise Expenses

 

 

 

Junior Suite

$1,543.02

$3,086.04

Beverage Package

$385.00

$770.00

Cruise Ship Activities

 

 

 

Chops Grille Steakhouse

$30.00

$60.00

CocoCay, Bahamas

 

 

 

Right Choice Glass Bottom Boat Tour

$35.00

$70.00

Kayak Adventure

$38.00

$76.00

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

 

 

 

Tree Limin' Extreme Zipline Tour

$99.00

$198.00

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

 

 

 

Discover ScubaDiving

$119.00

$238.00

Cruise Spending Money

$150.00

$300.00

 

Santorini, Greece

 

 

 

Oia Mare Villa Cave Suite with Caldera View

$608.01

$1,216.02

948.50€

Santorini Spending Money, including Food

$400.00

$800.00

624€

TOTALS

$9,552.03

$19,104.06

References

Curley, R. (n.d.). October travel in the caribbean. Retrieved from http://gocaribbean.about.com/od/monthlytravelguides/a/OctCaribTravel.htm

Expedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.expedia.com/?rfrr=Head:Nav:Multi:Home

Greece. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.greece.climatetemps.com/

IATA. (n.d.). Usa customs, currency, & airport tax regulation details. Retrieved from http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/US-United-States-of-America-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm

Investopedia. (n.d.). Import duty definition. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/import-duty.asp

Oia mare villas. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/oia-mare-villas.html?aid=314342

Regula, D. (2012, April 25). Greece visa requirements. Retrieved from http://gogreece.about.com/cs/practicalinfo/a/greecevisareqs.htm

Santorini volcano/introduction. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.santorini.com/santorinivolcano/

Travel documentation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/travelDocumentation.do?cS=NAVBAR&pnav=4&snav=5

Xe currency converter. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=EUR

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