Category Archives: Travel Diary

Beautiful Bermuda!

Beautiful bountiful Bermuda!  Day one

We decided to meet our new friends Carolyn and Al Wade… Also from Victoria, after breakfast for a day of walking around the island of Bermuda.  The Captain and cruise director warn over the loud speaker that it may be cold and possibly rain today.  NOT!
It was a bit fresh early in the morning, however my dream of Bermuda includes sunshine and tropical heat.  With tall palm trees, greeny blue Caribbean looking water, pastel painted buildings with white trim, and historic old fortress walls around the port, we prepare for any weather.  Donning our hats and good walking shoes we disembark and catch a queue for the tokens to catch a ferry.  Every  hour a walk on ferry boat takes tourists from Kings Wharf dockyard, and takes us via a quick and scenic 20 minute ride to the larger city of Hamilton.  Off we go.
At the city of Hamilton we walk off the beaten track in search for a Saturday market which we never do find.  Even stopping to ask a local did not produce a market.  Back to town, some wandering through stores and on back streets, we also take pictures of large green parks.  The city is stunning, clean and upbeat.  Not seeing any visible signed of poverty, we walk and walk.  
Around two pm Al shows his identification and gains us entry to the Bermuda Yacht Club bar and lounge area.  I really want to sit outside and watch the white sail boats racing by, the large boats and yachts in the marina lined up.  It is a fabulous sight.  We imbibed in a few ciders made locally.  Deciding not to eat … Something about knowing the food on the ship is so amazing and no price tag!  
We drink, and decide to catch the four pm ferry back to the ship.  A quick jaunt to the local Goslings Rum, spirits and wine store, selecting some great items to purchase and have on board the ship.  Wonderful.  Cold coolers / ciders, prosecco, and a red wine … This will do for now.  Perhaps it will be enough to get us through until our next port of call in Portugal in six days.  We have a few laughs as we are the last to board the ferry …
Tomorrow Deb and I have arranged a tour of the whole island of Bermuda.  I am hoping for beach stops, to see the famed pink sand beaches and maybe a bit more shopping, a lot of vistas and scenic photo opportunities we believe will be revealed on our five hour tour. 

                 

  
 

These are a few of my favorite things 

Reflections of the day

What do I love about my cruiseship destination holiday today?
1.  The gentle rocking of the ship.  I feel like I am cradled in a glorious arms of the sea, being rocked gently.  It is peaceful, tranquil and energizing.  I feel grateful and my heart is full of kindness.
2. The warm and gentle breeze blowing my hair and touching  on my skin.  The tropical sun sparkling and dancing on the waters surface.  Last night the moon glow and almost surreal movement of the surface of the mighty yet welcoming ocean.
3.  The Concierge  lounge offered and open to the Concierge guests.  A space for ‘special’ guests, lounging, writing, coffee, tea, nibbles, library books, magazines, crossword puzzles.  The Concierge assists us with our selections for excursions for this fantastic voyage.  Computer access, big screen tv, comfortable couches.
4. The artist loft.  Fantastic works of art on display and special attention and instruction, inspiration from his great selection of books and pages.  Every day will be amazing with this extra offering.
5. The food.  Over the top in terms of selection, taste, freshness and creative options.  Order as I like it and with my gluten free specifics.  I always feel special.  Venues are twice the size as Regatta.  The service is fabulous as I am remembered by one waiter from previous ship.  Here the wait staff is serving all the food, keeping the hands of guests off the food!  Today French stew, bouillabaisse with large chunks of fresh sea food.  Wow … Two bowls.  Perrier water, peppermint tea.  Salad bar.  All amount to a decor that is elegant and classy.  Dinner in Toscana, gluten free pasta in lobster, with olives.  Lobster risotto … Oh my!  Coconut flakes on dairy free sorbet …  The smoothie bar.  
6. The service.  The crew remembering already our names, holding chairs, offering sparkling water, and with special attention to all the guests.  Our room steward and his special attention to our requests.  Extra extra extra, never a “no”.   The maitre d and chef coming out to talk with us every night at dinner … Just to make sure everything is good.  They want to make it right!
7. The Sanctuary.  Out doors, a salt water pool, heated tiled  lounge seats.  Spectacular vistas.  Individual lounge chairs with cushions and their own shelter without using umbrellas.  From here I can see the color of the sea, a blue green reflecting the sky only with much more color and different  hues.  Frothy white wake as our ship makes its way to our next port of call.  
8.  Friendly people everywhere.  Happy, smiling, enjoying, walking.  Sounds of music everywhere.  String quartet at tea.  Sounds of the sea and surf outside.  In the spa, zen sounds for relaxation and rejuvenation.  Dining with new friends and neighbours.  Friendly guests. 
9.  Shore excursions offered and fabulous suggestions.  Guest lectures with famous people.
10. Spa visit and consultation twice with Maja … Is she an angel?  Yes, she is kind, and patient.  She answers questions and is tall like me.  She provides a complimentary consultation of my stress points and recommendations for upcoming spa treatments.  Cool water to drink with a hint of fresh lemon.  Relaxing on hot tile bed, curved to provide relaxation to a human resting on same.  
11.  The washrooms.  Marble, spotless, bright and shiny … All the fixtures sparkle and glisten.  Lighting is perfectly situated for a beautiful experience.  Floor to ceiling mirrors, cloth towels.  The textures: table cloths, curtains, couches, fabric pillows.  
While not as quaint and personal as the smaller ships, this ship offers up class and spaciousness.  Elegant.
   

         

Painting instructions

Painting introduction

I slept in, exhausted still and so tired.  Up for breakfast, filled in my food order for the next two nights, turned it in on deck five.  What else do I have on my list today?  
Artist loft 10 am.  Room filled and so unable to start a project.  I love the artists work, his fabulous work space.  Note to self, come VERY EARLY if I want to paint!  First come first served, so I can’t start today.  Sigh.  I am watching the process and lots of others who came early are diving in.  We start today with drawing our project.  Acrylics, watercolour or oils … All products needed are provided.  Pastels, pencils and more.
Later:  I jump in when a gal leaves, she offers me her place.  I find an artist I like, a landscape.  I draw.  I decide to try my hand at acrylic … My first.  I struggle with the idea of mixing color.  I struggle with all the usual struggles I have at the start of a creation.  I am done with struggle … I am seeking fun and confidence.  
Free Spanish lessons, I miss the start so decide not for me this time.  I miss needlepoint and the enrichment lectures.  I miss spa presentation.  I am now meeting Deb at noon to regroup.  
Reflections:  lighten up, loosened up and let play create!

Expectations for this cruise 1-15 April 2015

Expectations for this trip 1-15 April 2015
Indulge and enjoy the luxury of the ship experiences, sanctuary, spa, artist loft, library, balcony, room, lounges, food, and so much more

Hot sunny weather.  Smooth seas and wildlife sightings on the sea and land

Brilliant articulate writings. Mine to express, listen to audible, read in library, share 

Stay present to the moment. As many moments as I can hold
 Express gratitude in the form of kindness to everyone I meet, write notes
Successful shopping for treasures in ports of call and on the sea
Healthy vibrant and photogenic, feel and look my best, attention to details
Expand women’s travel club, talk it up, give out cards.  Share the passion.
Fantastic spectacular vistas in every port and out at sea
Moments that take our breath away
Artistic expression, freedom and enjoyment
Belly laughs, fun, fun, fun
Enjoy and encounter the brilliance of our Sunday morning calls, every day for 15 days.

Riviera

Riviera.  I am in awe.

Wow!  Now this ship is the most beautiful cruise ship I have ever seen.  My mouth has been hanging open since our arrival this afternoon and my first glance at the staircase in the center.  The elevators are glass and the artworks, the artist loft, the spa and spa terrace … Heated tiled lounge chairs ….. Larger pool deck than the smaller cousin ships Insignia and Regatta.  More and larger and more elaborate specialty dining venues.  Crystal glass lights in Martinis bar where we muster for safety drill at five pm.  
Bigger, bolder, brighter, shinier.  She glides out of Miami harbour and out to sea … As if it is not moving.  Our balcony view tells me we are ….  I cannot feel the motion.  There is no movement that I can feel, at all!
When we arrived in our concierge verandah stateroom I see my welcome bottle of champagne, a bottle of red chianti, a large floral arrangement and fruit basket … Many thanks from Oceania for my loyalty and training I have taken with them.  I am speechless.  Our room steward comes to visit, takes my wrinkled clothes to be pressed … Brings an extra Oceania bag and exchanges slippers to fit my feet.  Soft fluffy robes.  
I have never seen such a magnificent bathroom on a cruise ship!  Marble counters, tiles and  big bathtub … Separate shower with two kinds of shower heads …  Lovely lights … Bulgaria  toiletries.  Pinch me!
Movie on tonight in the Riviera lounge is Hundred Foot Journey … 9 pm.  after exquisite formal dining in Polo Grill … Which we found after the sail away party.    Already we can’t fit everything in … I am going from one thought to the next and next … I want to see and do it all!  What a magnificent ship!
The waiter greets me by name .. It is Roger …  One of the friendly happy waiters from Regatta just a few days ago!  He is my wait staff in Polo tonight.  He remembers my diet, my hot water to drink … He remembers my name and treats myself and my friend like royalty.  I will be writing a letter of appreciation to his supervisor … Who I also met tonight.
We enjoy a chilled bottle of Prosecco … Some remaining for tomorrow.  I have a virgin Caesar, extra spicy, with olives … Janie and Adrienne and I discovered them on the last cruise.  
Deb met a couple from Victoria and she used to work with him years ago in the Provincial government.  Friendly and fantastic.
We found the library …  I am speechless.  Seating areas, books in large wood shelves sorted by category … Large picture windows with a view of the sea.  
Over 800 staff for a maximum of 1200 guests.  This ship does not appear full for this sailing.  So far the service has been the best I have ever experienced, EVER!
There is an artist in residence!  Graham Denison is painting and hosting art events every day.  His works are exquisite.  We see the large boutiques only from a distance … I can hardly wait to discover  them another day!

Excursions and plans for this cruise

Excursions …. Narrowing the search.  I am looking for vistas, beaches, wine and walking through time.  

First stop, two days in Bermuda.  April 4 and 5.   I would like to see the island and also check out a beach, of Bermuda fame.  
Perhaps day two might be Quintessential Bermuda and St George’s.  KWF-003. A scenic coach ride passing botanical gardens and a Georgian mansion, followed by coastal drive to see swirling riptides and great views.  A visit to UNESCO world heritage sight of St George’s with cobblestone streets through historic old town.  Following a walk about, a drive by and stop at some pink beaches..  A five hour tour.  
The  previous day I think it would be great to return to a beach if the weather cooperates, and following a walk through the craft market and other shopping areas within walking distance of the ship. 
Funchal Portugal, 11 April another exotic island that I have never been to.  I think I would like to take the panoramic island tour in the morning.  Sights will include rugged picturesque shoreline, banana plantation, fishing village and the Cabo Girao escarpment
 more than 1900 feet above the sea promising spectacular views from Europe’s highest cliffs.  Fnc-016.  I would like to see the thatched roof quaint homes that dot the country side on this island.

Gibraltar, United Kingdom.  Arrival 8 am 13 April and planned departure 6 pm.  The Rock is the famous sight in this location.  Four years ago I was on the Rock and I remember it still.  Deb will likely want to see this sight.  I might pass on this excursion and just walk around town.  I remember not liking the feeling of large guns and cannons sticking out from the fortress walls throughout the city.  A violent place, with history warring. I see a picture of a sandy beach on this location, so perhaps I can find that on my day, and have a wee swim in the sea!  There is a cork farm and several famous wineries.  Shopping will be interesting and walking in town sounds like a peaceful way to coexist with this historic and vital entrance to Europe.
No time in Barcelona as we depart and head back to my beautiful home in Victoria.  

April 1 2015 and en route to Oceania Riviera

April 1, 2015 and I am on route again to board a cruise ship.  I seem to be living the dream of exotic world travel.  Yahooooo

After two brief sleeps at home in Victoria, I find myself back at the Toronto airport onmy way back to Miami.  Westjet has been the flight of choice this time, and because I have a brilliant Westjet MasterCard I don’t have to pay for luggage check in.  As well I was able to score leg room in emergency exit rows all the way from Victoria to Miami.  It has been awesome so far.  I slept the last flight, head down, blow up pillow and leg room.  Nice.
I have some selections to make for my June cruise, dining reservations and some shore excursions.  I know I have complimentary wifi while on this cruise so I can access the information and emails needed for my next trip to Europe in 8 short weeks.  It has been quite the year so far!  And still more to come.
  Later tonight or perhaps tomorrow.tonight I will explore the new ship, press some clothes and then specialty dining in the Polo Grill.  Large shrimp cocktail, lobster … Yumm.
My friend Debbie and I have a Concierge Veranda stateroom, so room service nightly will be fabulous.  I am hopeful to pick up a few bottles of wine before boarding this afternoon, just to have in the stateroom.  I believe I can expect champagne upon arrival and a bottle of chianti!  In addition I have some ship board credits so happy hour might be in order for tomorrow night.  For some reason they don’t offer happy hour on embarkation day, I learned on the last cruise.  
I am looking forward to relaxing, enjoying the new larger Oceania Riviera ship, the spa terrace, the concierge lounge, artist loft and other common entertainment venues.  

Cruises I have known

Cruises I have known: 208 days on the seas
Ncl cruise may 2004?  12 days Hawaii
Carnival Mexican riviera, 13 women, 7 days
Holland America alaska with Steve 14 days
Holland America alaska with mom 7 days
River cruise with Scenic River Cruises 7 days Europe 
Carnival Hawaii 12 days with mom 
Princess 7 days Caribbean with Cari
Princess one day to Seattle
Hal one day from Seattle to Vancouver
Holland America 21 nights Hawaii, 30 guests, hosted
Azamara 5 days, five women Womens Travel Club Italian riviera
Azamara ten days with Steve Europe
Azamara with mom ten days Greece
Royal Caribbean 7 days Med with Steve / Greece and Turkey 
Cunard 12 days Greece with Penny
Cunard transatlantic with Steve 7 days
Cunard back to New York, 8 days with Steve
Cunard Baltic 12 days with Women’s Travel Club and Steve
Oceania 17 days transatlantic
Oceania 10 days Caribbean 
Oceania Regatta 21 days from 7 to 28 March 2015 women’s travel club / Amazon
PLANS FOR NEXT CRUISES: Oceania etc 2015-2016 
Oceania 15 with Deb from Miami to Barcelona starts 1 April 2015
Oceania Italy 15 days with Womens Travel Club 1 June 2015 
Oceania 8 Greece Women’s Travel Club 27 Sept 2015
Oceania 10 day Caribbean November 2015 Women’s Travel Club
Oceania Marina 14 days New York to Lisbon / May 2016 with Women’s Travel Club
Azamara 17 night cruise October 2016 Rome to Dubai with Women’s Travel Club
Oceania 7-8 night October 2016. Barcelona to Rome, Women’s Travel Club

Anticipating the next cruise

Anticipation of next cruise adventure while on flight home from Amazon cruise, 28 March 2015.

I am imagining my next cruise adventure with Oceania.  The cruise begins on 1 April 2015, just two short days after I arrive home from the Amazon cruise.  Back to the tropical heat of southern Florida.  
The cruise will set sail from Miami and head to Hamilton, Kings Wharf, Bermuda on our way to Barcelona Spain.  Two more weeks, this time aboard Oceania Riviera.  My first time on this larger and newest of the Oceania cruise ships.  Up to 1200 guest, I expect many of the cabins remain vacant as the single supplement has been reduced for the cruise.
I have been upgraded to a Concierge Veranda this time, so will have free internet access, as well as access to the spa deck, with thalassotherapy pool, priority embarkation and more dining options.
On Riviera there are four different specialty restaurants, so I will get to try each one.  As well, I will enjoy seeing the Artist loft and having a chance to do some painting on board this time.
This is the same ship I will cruise on again come 1 June 2015 with the Women’s Travel Club in Europe.  Sounds very exciting to me, another cruise adventure and new ship to explore.  This will be my fourth Oceania cruise.  The cruise in June will be my fifth and I will advance to a different color card to commemorate my experiences with cruises loyal to Oceania.