I never thought I will do it, but here we are, ready to pack and go on a cruise!
The pretext is giving ourselves a prize after 50 years of marriage bliss, which we celebrated earlier this year.
We will travel together with our best friends, who will have their Golden Anniversary later this year, in about one month or so. Josette and her friend M. were students together at the Conservatory and best friends since music high school, and they were still in high school when I met and fell in love with Josette, so this goes way back, this friendship. And R. is my best friend ever; I met him when he started courting M. and our friendship never wavered.
The four of us travel, but not quite in the same way, so we thought a cruise will make it very democratic for all four: we will stay together on the same ship, we will have similar accomodations, we will have the same destinations, use the same restaurants.
We will leave on the 24th of September.
The cruise line is Oceania and the ship's name is Insignia. We pampered ourselves at the best category we could afford so we will have cabins (they call them "staterooms": so funny...) with veranda.
The cruise starts in one of my very favourite and loved cities, in Venice, and will then go to Dubrovnik, Corfu, Sorrento, Amalfi, Civitavecchia, Portoferraio (Elba), Livorno, Portofino, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Palma de Mallorca and end in Barcelona. Two weeks.
We did not plan shore excursions with one exception: we arranged with a guide and car who will pick us up on arrival in Sorrento and will take us on an Amalfitana tour plus a 2-hour visit of Pompeii with, we are assured, a very competent local guide.
We will decide on the rest as we go along.
I just received a laptop, present from my older son, with WiFi capability, and I may report as we go along.
I am not sure yet whether to try to blog. Kim has encouraged and pushed me a lot and has set one up for me but I am a bit blog-shy and really, if I do it, it will be more like a trip report, and pretty darn detailed because this is how I write, so we will see.
I will check from time to time the website, but I heard Internet time cost is quite astronomical on the ship and, while for the expensive wine there is the cheaper equivalent of house wine (Yes, they have house wine on luxury cruises, as I was quite happily astonished to find out), there is no corresponding poor-guy's house Internet time. It is all at Premier Cru-level prices.
I'm still around for a few days, but I thought I'd tell you now.
Doru, have a wonderful trip. We hope to hear from you from time to time.
We have never taken a cruise either because we prefer slow travel on firm ground. But would be really interested in your take of cruising. We are considering a Baltic cruise sometime....we'll see.
Congratulations on your 50th.
And happy travels.
Posts: 475 | Location: san francisco but so excited being in Venezia for the holidays!! | Registered: 22 April 2005
I spent 24 days onboard the Pacific Princess which is one of her sister ships as Oceania, Azamara cruiselines along with Princess cruises purchased the old Renaissance fleet.
Dear Doru, Although I have never met you I feel as though I somehow know you through your warm and informative messages on these boards.
Congratulations and best wishes to you and your lovely Josette. The cruise plans sound really wonderful and such a memorable way to celebrate with friends that have such a shared history with you both.
I hope that you will plan to share your travels through posts and photos when you have time. I wish you the best of times. Buon viaggio e Buon Anniversario!
Barb Cabot
Posts: 587 | Location: Long Beach, California | Registered: 27 August 2007
Having had the privelege to have heard some details of this trip back in May when we met for lunch in Toronto, I am so glad that the big day is almost here. It sounds like a wonderful trip and I look forward to hearing more about it, either from the high seas, or when you return.
I remember talking about how this was not independent travel, but I truly think that you and Josette have worked out a great way to spend time with dear friends who have a different travel style than yours. After all it is about the celebration of marriage and friendship; and I am convinced without a doubt that this will be a wonderful adventure.
I shall picture you and Josette having a wonderful and relaxing time. And I will lay odds that you will be so wound down that you will not even miss being online.
Doru, cruise schmooze, whoever is in your company can only have an uproarious good time, even in a parking lot. (Saw your idol - a teenage Marina Vlady - in a movie on TV a few weeks ago. The camera does eat her up ! When I met her, she had the same permanently teasing-mocking smile à la Mona Lisa.)
Have a wonderful time Doru and Josette. Actually, a stateroom with a veranda sounds rather appealing. I will look forward to reading about your experiences and impressions.
Posts: 688 | Location: Toronto | Registered: 18 February 2006
Doru, Fred and I treasure the time we spent with you and your bride in the Luberon. This cruise sounds so delightful. But I'm sure the greatest delight will be in sharing the celebration with dear friends. I hope that Venice charms you once again. Cheers!
cubbies
Posts: 318 | Location: California | Registered: 29 December 2005
May you and your lovely bride have an exquisite time of it on the high seas. Your planned cruise sounds delightful. May it be joyful and filled with adventure...
Happy Anniversary, Doru and Josette! I'll be looking forward to your trip reports, your blog or just a note here and there. What a lovely way to get together with best friends and celebrate such wonderful times!
"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." ~ Mignon McLaughlin Brenda
Just wanted to add my congratulations to you and Josette on your wedding anniversary - such celebrations really warm my heart . All the best to you and hope you and your friends have the best of times on your cruise. Oh, and congratulations to your friends too
Doru and Josette, what a wonderful way to spent this special occasion. Congratulations!!
I have never had a desire to cruise but we have also decided to take the plunge and will be taking our first one next June on a Crystal 7 day Mediterranean cruise. We'll be doing the Greek Islands and this seems like the most stress free way to go.
Looking forward to hearing all about your adventure.
Carole
Posts: 1107 | Location: Laguna Beach, CA | Registered: 09 February 2006
Doru that was a beautiful opening post. You maintained privacy whilst sharing with us your love for Josette and your friends. I am sure that if you do ever decide to blog it will make wonderful reading - you write from your heart.
I add my congratulations to you and Josette on your anniversary and best wishes for a memorable relaxing cruise.
Sheena
Posts: 2271 | Location: West Vancouver, B.C. Canada | Registered: 28 February 2004
Doru, Congratulations on your anniversary and have a wonderful time on the cruise. My father and his wife just did the same trip in June (same ship) and they said it was magnificient. They had more fun on the ship than they did at each port! My father said the food is too good (those pants he boarded with, didn't fit when he disembarked!)
Have a wonderful time
Nancy
Posts: 119 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 28 September 2006
Liz & I were visiting Steve in Toronto last weekend - looked for you & Josette at Roy Thompson Hall on Saturday evening (TSO/Mahler's 3rd symphony) - but I guess you were packing.
Slow Travel Talk 
!
. All the best to you and hope you and your friends have the best of times on your cruise. Oh, and congratulations to your friends too 
on my mind...