Exotic Cruises On Attendees' Bucket Lists

Hoping to cross a cruise to Australia off her bucket list, Renee Kaplow attended the Tuesday’s travel lecture series at the Wall Library on “Cruising … Be Inspired to See the World by Ship.”

Kaplow and her husband, Stewart, both 69, are veterans of cruise ships who have enjoyed 36 cruises together throughout their 47-year marriage. The most memorable was a 16-day cruise around Tahiti aboard the original Love Boat, The Pacific Princess, in March of 1995, according to Kaplow.

“We came tonight to ask some questions about cruising Australia versus a land tour,” said Kaplow, of Aberdeen. “If we don’t do the trip to Australia now, I don’t know if we ever will.”

The one-hour lecture, led by Ira and Helene Kaplan of Cruise Holidays of Marlboro, included a review of the upside of cruise-ship vacations, such as the all-inclusive price and the ease of travel.

“When you go on a cruise, you unpack once,” Kaplan said. “In addition, today’s cruise ships offer a great value.”

A 7-day cruise today costs about the same as it did 10 years ago, according to Kaplan.

“I am inspired to look into a cruise to South America,” said Gail Predham, of Edgemere Road. “I have always wanted to see Peru and visit Machu Picchu. It's on my bucket list.”

The Wall Library travel lecture series is expected to continue on at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, with the topic “Toad Scholar/Elderhostel: Adventures in Lifelong Learning” and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, with “The Hawaiian Islands: History and Culture.”

For more information, call 732-449-8877, visit www.monmouthcountylib.org or stop by the Reference Desk in the Wall Library.