Which is more motivating? Alaskan Cruise or Hawaii Trip?
OK, which is more motivating? A week's trip to Hawaii (island of Oahu/Waikiki Beach, staying at the Hale Koa resort) or a 7-day cruise from Seattle-Alaska (and back.)
Hawaii comments ...
My wonderful DH took me there in Dec 2005 and in Dec 2006 and we had a blast. And I've been there about 5-6 other times when I was younger. We would have to stay on Oahu, because that's where the military resort is. And I hate that long plane ride from LAX or SFO.
I am not really a hot-weather sort of gal.
Alaska comments ....
I've never been to Seattle, or British Columbia or anywhere in Alaska, and I'd love the chance to see Alaskan sea otters, Orcas, whales, bears, wildlife. There are some nifty day excursions available for purchase from the Cruise. The Cruise Line is Holland America, and we loved them for our 3-week South American Cruise in 2004. The downside ... I get really, really, really, REALLY seasick, but figure that will probably just help me eat healthier on board the cruise. Food costs are largely included in the cruise price, but we would probably shell out $$ for the shore excursions. My DH has never been to Alaska or to British Columbia.
I am definitely a cold-weather sort of gal.
Decisions ... Decisions .... Any thoughts?
(Either trip would probably be in early May, unless DH gets re-deployed to Iraq)
=^..^= MOLLY
Lets see..I LOVE Hawaii, but my parents went on a cruise for their anniversary a couple years ago and the pictures made it look gorgeous. And they are going again next September to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Whats weird is my dad gets motion sickness really bad, but said he didn't get sick at all on their alaska trip...but my mom (who doesnt normally get sick) did.
If you decide to go with Alaska, here are some "home remedy" solutions to motion sickness...
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf /Books/47/95.cfm
oooo ... thanks!
=^..^= MOLLY
My best friend and her DH took their first cruise last year (Mexico) and she was deathly sea-sick. LITERALLY green around the gills. Couldn't walk, couldn't even stand up straight. The Dramamine "helped" by basically knocking her out. It made her sleep through most of her first day on the cruise. Her hubby went to the shoppette and bought her those pressure bracelets (I know, it sounds so homeopathic and hinky) and she says within 10 minutes she was able to sit up and move around the cabin like a normal person, and within 1/2 hour she was starving, and she knew being up on the higher deck and around the food would be the test ... after that, she had no problems the rest of the trip.
As for me, I would choose Alaska for two reasons. First, I'm a lily-white Magnolia blossom, so I am certainly no sun-bunny. Secondly, a guy I used to work with took one of the Alaska trips a few years ago, and I don't know what details you're checking into, but part of his trip after the ship docked was a passenger train day-trip into the mainland for an excursion. MY dream vacation has always been to travel by passenger train ... so even a taste of that would be heaven for me. Also, his pictures were breathtaking.
edit: I just re-read one of your responses, about the "wrist bands" - I'm not sure if we're talking about the same things, these bracelets don't go all the way around the wrist, they are the ones with the balls on the ends so they really only touch your wrist at those two points ... I hope you can find something that works for you!!! ALSO, my friend did say most of her problems were early in the trip, and that once they got out into the "big water" everything sort of calmed down and she was able to take off the bracelets and still be fine.
I would have to say Alaska, I'm not a hot weather girl either! And, since you've never been there....
But, considering how seasick you get, I'm don't think you want to take a cruise. I'm sure that there are land excursions you can do to Alaska.
If you're looking for a different type of land excursion, last fall my parents went to Churchill, Manitoba to see polar bears.
How about, instead of doing a cruise to Alaska... why don't you set up a "land" trip. Find some resort in Alaska you can stay at that does excursions and instead of being on a boat you can tour on the land. =)
A friend of mine did that because she hates boats and she loved it. Let us know what you decide.
Molly, your original question was which is more motivating. The idea of being on a beach is definitely more motivating in terms of weight loss I think.
But you sould like you want to see Alaska, and I say go on land. A train trip would be quite romantic, I think, if you got a sleeper car & all. How exotic!
I've actually done both, and each was wonderful in its own way. However, if you're looking for it as a weight loss motivator I'd opt for Hawaii. There are a number of reasons starting with the obvious of the swim suit, but more importantly you are much more likely to stay active doing things like swimming and snorkeling, etc. The Alaska cruise is great, but you tend to be fairly sedentary and there is copious amounts of food everywhere you turn. Not sure if any of that matters to you, but you did ask.
Cheers!
Original Post by mollymouser:OK ... I've cut and pasted all your comments and sent them in an email to my wonderful DH ... who said that HE will decide what he thinks will be best for me. Of course, there are pros and cons to both, but part of me is just masochistic enough to put up with seasickness to see orcas, otters, whales, bears, sea lions, seals, moose, etc.
(DH is especially entertained by the thought of me on a smaller, whale-watching boat since the LAST time I went whale watching in 1982, the whale bumped my boat and it capsized! Poor, wonderful man that he is, how did he ever get stuck with such a crazy wife as me!?)
Then again, when I was in Hawaii in 1986 a volcano erupted AND a Hurricane flooded the place. Hmmm ... maybe traveling with me is dangerous!?
Of course, the weather was beautiful last December in Hawaii, but he kept having to drag me out of the water because they kept spotting sharks in the area ... and a surfer got chomped about 100 yards from me.
Ahh ... who knew diet motivation could be so much fun, huh?
=^..^= MOLLY
Oh my goodness gracious I cannot stop laughing Miss Molly!!!! Okay, I suppose if you want to lose a lot of weight on your vacation (throwing up the entire time) then you should go to Alaska. Otherwise, Hawaii it is! Plus, think of the beautiful leis and the new floral print dresses!!!
I hate cruises (I have been on 6 of them, with my family). I love Alaska. Fly to Alaska! Rent a car! Go to Denali! Go bear watching! Don't be seasick the whole time. You don't hardly get to see anything on a cruise anyway.
Edit to add: Have been to Hawaii a few times too (that was one of my cruises). Alaska is much more exciting in terms of wildlife. I went to Denali and did their half-day bus tour thing and saw 13 different bears in 4 hours. I was only there 2 weeks and I really, really want to go again! And not on a boat.
Oh, I forgot, there's a pressure point on each wrist (the inside) about three fingers up from the wrist that if you hold, you can hold both at once if you're flexible, helps relieve nausea.
From cancerpage.com for Nausea & Vomiting:
Acupressure has shown some natural antiemetic benefit. To control nausea, apply pressure to the inner wrist three finger-breadths above the skin crease of the wrist. This particular pressure point is identified as P6. Many pharmacies carry wrist "bands" that put pressure on the P6 point which you can purchase. Another acupressure point is located below the knee. Identified as point St36, it is located four finger widths below the kneecap, one finger width outside the shinbone. (A muscle flexes in this spot when you move your foot up and down) Pressure applied to St36 reportedly aids digestion and relieves nausea, stomach disorders and fatigue.Herbal Remedies such as ginger, chamomile, or peppermint may also help.
Original Post by smwhipple:I believe these may the pressure points that the metal bracelets with the balls on the ends are meant to handle for you. At the very least you could get a set that are a little too big for your natural wrist and slide them up your arm until they hit that point!Oh, I forgot, there's a pressure point on each wrist (the inside) about three fingers up from the wrist that if you hold, you can hold both at once if you're flexible, helps relieve nausea.
Of course Miss Molly Mouser it all depends on WHEN you're planning to come. It's been a wet December so far. Alaska would be gorgeous too, they built the cruise ship terminal in my hometown of Bellingham but I moved to Kauai and never tried to do a trip there yet. I would like to go but now I'm a cold weather wuss. I'm sitting here cold right now at work. haha.Good luck and let us know what you decide.
OK, my wonderful DH thinks that a May Alaska Cruise followed by a December 2008 trip to Hawaii would probably be the MOST motivating, so I think that's what we're going to look into.
(Don't you love how he makes decisions!?!?) 
=^..^= MOLLY
wow. That's just an awesome solution! I'll be hoping that Oahu isn't as rainy next December as it is right now!
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