By Hope Miller, Guest Blogger My husband and I, along with a couple of close friends and about 2,000 others are fresh off the ship from Entertainment Cruise Production’s “The 80’s Cruise” and what a totally awesome adventure it was! I was asked by MyVirtualVacations.net to guest blog about our experience and so here are some fun facts and tips about our trip and things to know about going on a theme cruise. We cruised on the Holland America Line m/s Eurodam, and were on a 7-day journey that left from Ft. Lauderdale, FL and traveled to Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and The Bahamas before returning to port in Ft. Lauderdale. We have been on other cruises before, but none were for 7 days, and none had been themed so the experience was certainly very different. Here are some things to know about being on a themed cruise like The 80’s Cruise: When in Rome… If you think you can get away with not dressing up in the theme nights, you are mistaken. This is complete and total immersion. If you are not dressed up in the night’s chosen costume, know that it is you who will be the odd man out. Get into it and have fun! When else can you dress up like your favorite 80’s movie character or relive your prom from 1986? Overpacking = thumbs down… Alyson from MyVirtualVacations.net has said it before and too bad I did not heed her advice. I am here to tell you I definitely over-packed and I definitely will not make that mistake again. 7 days (really its 8) seems like a long time and in my mind that equaled the need for a lot of options. This turned into two huge suitcases and an overstuffed carry-on filled with way too much wardrobe. My suggestion is to plan to take half as much as you think you will want, but don’t forget that it’s a themed cruise so make sure you are accounting for your formal and casual nights. We only had ONE formal night on our themed cruise. All other nights, even in the main dining room, were casual because of our themed dress-up parties. Excursions are a must… Because we had never been to any of the ports of call that we visited on The 80’s Cruise, we definitely wanted to do some excursions to see the local areas. Traveling with friends, we picked and chose which ones each of us wanted to do, and we booked them well in advance of our cruise. Upon the advice of other regular cruisers we booked our excursions about three weeks prior to the cruise, but frankly we should have done it before then, as much of what we would have wanted to do was already full. Booking in advance and with the cruise line was very safe, predictable, and easy to access. Never a dull moment… Take advantage of all of the opportunities you have to meet and chat with entertainers and their associates. In addition to plenty of Q & A sessions, we also had the chance to participate in activities with the artists on the cruise, including going on excursions, playing trivia, and hanging out at the pool! We had a blast meeting our favorite rock and roll personalities as getting to know them as well. Let’s get physical… We were already in a good routine of working out regularly and it was great to be able to enjoy the beautiful facilities on the m/s Eurodam. We had to make it a priority because, good lord, we were up late every night and certainly were not going without frosty beverages that might make it difficult to wake up each morning. We did it though. We worked out for an hour or more for five of the seven days, and it was worth putting in the extra effort. It made us feel awake and alive and we didn’t feel as guilty consuming the mass quantities of great food and delicious drinks all day while lounging or exploring. And, bonus, we got to take a spin class with a couple of the entertainers! As a note - on our cruise, some of the organized fitness classes cost a little, but it was worth it for a couple of days we did it. The 80’s Cruise folks also had morning wellness programs each day to enjoy. When the cat’s away… Leaving the kids at home for over a week was challenging to prepare and it was hard to be away from them but they were with grandma so it was okay. I will say that as a note of advice, know what theme cruise you are signing up for and think about whether it is appropriate for kids. People really did not have kids on this cruise at all. I never saw any person younger than about 16-17 years old, and that was rare even. We really enjoyed the week together and with all of the other adults so don’t allow fear of being away stop you from having some fun. It just takes some preparation. We had a fabulous time on the Holland America Line m/s Eurodam for The 80’s Cruise 2016 and we are looking forward to next year! Hopefully we’ll see you there!
8 Comments
Brenda
3/8/2016 07:03:33 pm
Just an FYI - this was an adults only cruise so hopefully you didn't see anyone under the age of 18. :-)
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Melissa
2/13/2017 10:51:15 pm
My husband and I were also on this last year and hope to go again in 2018. We had such a great time...surreal, but great.
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Alyson (My Virtual Vacations)
2/14/2017 12:03:04 pm
Hi Melissa,
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Mike Mx
3/24/2017 09:50:03 am
Steve Spears writes for The Tampa Bay Times and founded the Stuck in the 80s blog over a decade ago. He's done over 300 podcasts during that time, frequently interviewing some of the era's biggest music stars. Suffice to say I'm a fan of his work.
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Mike Mc
3/24/2017 09:54:29 am
Any concert reviews? I heard Berlin really kicked ass.
Reply
Alyson (My Virtual Vacations)
3/6/2021 05:10:08 pm
I appreciate that! Thanks very much!
Reply
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My Virtual Vacations BlogAbout the AuthorThanks for cruising by!
I'm the creator behind this blog, where I share our family’s love for travel, especially cruising. By day, I work full-time in an office—and all the time, I'm a proud mom to two amazing young men. We took our first cruise when they were energetic little boys, and I’ve included plenty of tips for traveling with kids in tow. With our packed work and school schedules, we cherish every holiday break and make the most of our time off. We gravitate toward cruises and luxury hotel stays, always on the lookout for family-friendly experiences that offer comfort, elegance, and a touch of indulgence—think spacious suites, gorgeous décor, excellent service, and memorable dining. When we're not traveling, you’ll find me enjoying local restaurants or getting creative in my own kitchen with cooking and baking. Start dreaming—and planning—your next luxurious getaway, whether by sea or on land, with My Virtual Vacations. I'm always happy to answer questions or offer personalized recommendations to help you make the most of your travels. Be sure to check back often for new blog posts, travel tips, and inspiration—there are always more family adventures on the horizon!
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