We are Back and We Plan to Stay

So much has happened since our last post.  We were on the Transatlantic cruise aboard the Celebrity Millennium from November 24 to December 02, 2006, where we were informed of the death of my mother on November 29.

While her passing was not unexpected, it was none-the-less traumatic, especially when we were in port in Rome and couldn't do anything about it.  We purchased a block of 200 minutes of Internet time on the Celebrity, and using it and the VOIP services provided by VoiceStick were able to stay in touch with the family. 

Using the VoiceStick VOIP meant that our communication cost was the 50 cents per minute charged for Internet plus 2 cents per minute charged by VoiceStick.  Using the Millennium in-room satellite telephone would have cost $5.95 per minute.  Something you might want to keep in mind for your next cruise.

The Celebrity Transatlantic cruise in all other respects was perhaps the best cruise we have ever taken.  The food was excellent, the entertainment was outstanding, and the shore excursions, although arranged privately, were some of the finest;  the most informative, and most scenic we have ever experienced.

Then in February of this year, Julia and I went on a 7 day cruise aboard the Carnival Glory.  It was as bad at the Celebrity cruise was good.  The food was unimaginative, the selection was narrow, and there was no hot food served via room service.

In addition, the dining ambiance was more diner than restaurant with the lack of the complete place setting we have come to expect on previous cruises.  And following what seems to be a trend becoming more common on all cruise ships, the interpretation of formal gets pretty broad.  On this cruise, a young woman wore white "hot pants" and heels.  A man, let's not say gentleman, wore a jacket and a cowboy hat, which remained on his head throughout the meal.  Other examples were visible everywhere.

We have much to tell about the two cruises listed above, and we have much to tell you about the cruises and activities we have scheduled for the future. I don't think we would be treating you, our reader, fairly by trying to catch up, writing about the past and ignoring the present.  What I have in mind is to accept this gap in our documented journey, continuing the story from today.

We will as time and memory permit, write about the prior events and post them in the time they would have appeared naturally.  You can check on newer posts to either the November or February cruises by clicking the appropriate tab in the navigation bar.  Whit that said…

In addition, we plan to include other activities that occupy a portion of our time.  Life isn't just about cruising although we do have two cruises booked toward the end of the year and will be writing about them in the coming days.

With that said, let's continue the adventure.