Genealogy cruises
So, people ask, why should we consider going on a genealogy cruise?
It’s a question that leaves The Legal Genealogist completely baffled.
Why wouldn’t you consider going on a genealogy cruise?
Consider, for example, the Alaska cruise offered just a month ago by the Federation of Genealogical Societies. It departed from and returned to Seattle, and the ports of call were Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, British Columbia.
The genealogy part of the cruise was amazing:
• Elizabeth Shown Mills speaking on Finding Females: Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Paramours; Okay, I Got the Neighbors: Now What Do I Do with Them?; Using Evidence Creatively: How to Spot Clues and Demand Answers from Run-of-the-Mill Records; Smith & Jones: Problem-Solving with Families of Common Names; and Margaret’s Baby’s Father & the Lessons He Taught Me: Illegitimacy, Name Changes & More.
• D. Joshua Taylor speaking on Tracing Eastern Origins of Western Families; Beyond Belief: The Wealth of Genealogical and Historical Societies; Treasures in the Archives: Using Archive Grid; and Society Management: Creating a Website for Your Society.
• David E. Rencher speaking on Society Management: How Will Our Society Survive?; Tracing Immigrant Origins for Irish Ancestors; Documenting a Nation’s History Using the Resources of FamilySearch; Framing the Problem for Overseas Research; and a two-part workshop, Reconstructing the Neighborhood for Rural Dwellers In Ireland and Reconstructing the Neighborhood for City Dwellers In Ireland.
• The Legal Genealogist speaking on Beyond X and Y: The Promise and Pitfalls of Autosomal DNA Testing; Making a Federal Case Out of It; The Gentlemen Judges: Justices of the Peace; and then a two-part workshop, Order in the Court – Hands-On with Court Records.
• Cherie Bush not only speaking on Society Management: Partnering with Public/Private Libraries but gamely bringing the spouses and newbies along with a terrific overview of an Introduction to Genealogy.
Beyond that, there’s the cruising. The chatting with others who share your interests. The shows. The music. The food. Oh… the food…
And then there are the days you’re not at sea… or if you’re at sea, you’re at sea staring at some of the most amazing scenery the planet has to offer. Don’t believe me? Let me offer just a few examples from my own photos (you can find the whole gallery here):
Guess where we were…
Sawyer Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord
“Thar she blows”: an orca near Victoria, British Columbia
The tail of a humpback whale near Victoria, British Columbia
The whole trip was amazing, and we as genealogists have some terrific options. Heritage Books offers cruises, one coming up later this month through the Panama Canal. Legacy Family Tree has an annual cruise and its 2016 cruise is to Alaska. Unlock The Past cruises has an amazing line-up of cruises around the world, and I’ll be one of the speakers on its 10th cruise, to New Zealand and Australia in early 2016.
And, I sure hope, there will be more in the future from FGS.
So when people ask why they should consider going on a genealogy cruise, you now know the answer: why wouldn’t you consider going on a genealogy cruise?
I LOVE the idea of going on a genealogy cruise! But I get Motion sickness. A trait I share with my great-great-great grandparents. That is a fact I discovered in a letter he wrote back to the home parish that was published in the newspaper in 1837!
Ah, but there are medications now that your great-great-great grandparents didn’t have!! But I sure love the idea of that letter!
If you try a cruise and you know you have motion sickness… Be sure to get a room as near as possible to the center of the ship… midpoint from bow to stern and midpoint from port to starboard. That will GREATLY reduce your rocking motion. 🙂
And there’s medication, worn as a patch behind the ear, that is very effective.
I have motion sickness, too, but I discovered if you go on the larger ships, most of the time you never know you’re moving. I went on a week-long Royal Caribbean cruise and never once had a problem.
It’s rare that you’re aware of any motion on the big ships, for sure.
Contrariwise, some people find it hard to adapt to stepping back on dry land! Their balance system expects ship movement and keeps adjusting for it for a day or two.
Looking forwards to hearing you speak when you step off at Brisbane next year.
Judy, I was delighted to see your lovely photos of the Alaska Cruise. Not only are you a terrific writer and speaker, but create wonderful photos, as well. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words!
I’d love to go on a cruise some year… I’ve made a list, and am letting my kids know what a fabulous ‘gift’ it would be for me. (well, one or more could come with me if they really wanted!)
Love your photos, Judy – excellent eye and composition. A pleasure.
I also was on this cruise and my pictures were
Ok, but yours were fantastic. What camera did
you use if you don’t mind sharing that info.
I use a Canon 7D, and different lenses ranging from the 17-55, the 70-200 and the 100-400.
Your photos are just fantastic! You’re always liking mine on Facebook. I’m glad to finally see some of yours!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Lisa!