| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
13th Oct 2025 |
Monte Carlo Monaco |
Menton On My Own (OMO) |
 |
14th Oct 2025 |
Livorno Tuscany Italy |
Terrazza Masagni |
|
15th Oct 2025 |
Civita- vecchia Italy |
Bracciano Lake & Wine Tasting |
|
16th Oct 2025 |
Palermo Sicily Italy |
Palermo On My Own (OMO) |
 |
18th Oct 2025 |
Corfu Greece |
Town & Mon Repos Palace |
 |
19th Oct 2025 |
Kotor Monte- negro |
Kotor On My Own (OMO) |
 |
20th Oct 2025 |
Dubrovnik Croatia |
Riviera, Cavtat & Old Town |
|
21st Oct 2025 |
Split Croatia |
Split On My Own (OMO) |
 |
22nd Oct 2025 |
Koper sLOVEnia |
Lake Bled tour |
|
23rd Oct 2025 |
Trieste Italy |
Home by 10:35 |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I got up at six o'clock ready for my regular coffee pod from my new portable coffee machine. At 6:45 I put some laundry on to wash. I then had smoked salmon and cheese on two croissants al fresco a la terrazza, overlooking the Principality Palace in the dark. I then put my laundry on to dry. At 7:45 Leziel and May came to service the stateroom, so I went up to the top deck to photograph the sunrise. Back in my cabin, I updated this blog.
At 8:45 I left the ship and walked to the SNCF railway station. Here I caught the 9:16 train to Menton, paying €7.80 (about £6.50) Arriving in the lovely seaside resort, I found a worker's portaloo to use. I promenaded along the front to the fort and port. I climbed up to the two churches on the hill, before following the main street back to the station. Unfortunately I had to wait almost one hour for the next train back to Monaco. Later my friend Dr Alvin Cohan (ex Lancaster University), who lives in nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, wrote on FaceBook that this is the sunniest and most geriatric place in all France!
Back at the ship, I had a late lunch of the potage soup and the mixed grill al fresco a la terrazza, before sleeping for one hour. I then headed off to the huge multi-storey car park to take the escalators and lift up to the famous Oceanographic museum. I progressed through the cliff top gardens to the Principality Palace. I turned on tracking and came back through the old town. At Fort Antonie, I climbed down by the open air theatre to get back to the ship.
At six o'clock I spent ten minutes in an empty hot tub. At seven thirty (not six thirty owing to a Chinese meet up), I helped host the solo travellers with Social Hostess (SH) Sophie from Gloucestershire and Wardrobe Mistress (WM) Kathryn from Hawaii. We had newcomers Madeleine, Rene & Beverly, plus back-to-backers Maddy, Marlene, Grace (Alma lookalike), Eileen and Paula (Madge lookalike). I had one glass of champagne to drink.
At eight o'clock I led Rene, Beverly and Marlene down to the Grand Dining Room (GDR). I had the clam chowder soup, the Waldorf salad and the sirloin steak. We didn't have time for desserts as the Headliners show started at 9:30. Here I sat in the stalls with Beverly, Rene and Maddy, as Marlene went to sit in the gallery instead. I enjoyed the production show, which I was hearing for the third time on the Oceania Vista. I went to sleep at 10:40, having done twenty six and half thousand steps, nearly equal to eleven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke naturally at six o'clock ready for my regular coffee pod. At seven o'clock I had a ham and cheese continental breakfast with two croissants to eat. I had one glass of orange juice and one of sparkling water to drink.
I caught the 8:10 shuttle bus, which took ten minutes to get to Municipal Place (Piazza Municipio). I walked all the way to the famous Terrazza Masagni, before turning on tracking and heading back. I went in the Co-op supermarket on the way out to price their Nespresso compatible coffee pods. On the way back, I went in the Primark store and the Porta a Mare shopping mall. Back in the city centre, I managed to jump on the Vista shuttle bus, just as it was about to leave.
Back at the ship, I updated this blog, before having a fish burger with no bun (i.e. fish & chips) in the Waves Grill. At 12:15 I slept for an hour and a quarter. I spent the afternoon working on my laptop with my Juliet balcony door open.
At four o'clock I touched base with Destination Services, before checking out the hot tubs. Unfortunately both were full of guests, so I couldn't wallow in the warmth. At 4:45 I moved down to the Vista Lounge theatre, where Cruise Director (CD) Sammie was running the Trivia session.
At five o'clock John set me up ready for me to give my forty minute talk on Civitavecchia: the Port for Rome at 5:15. CD Sammie couldn't introduce me as she had to change for the Captain's cocktail party at 5:30. I only had thirty three guests in the audience as the Florentine tours hadn't yet come back and the Captain's cocktail party, with free drinks, was about to start.
At 6:15 I went to the competing event, where I had two glasses of champagne, sat with Maddy & Rene. At 6:45 I led them, plus artist Pat and her husband Angelo, down to the GDR, where we had a table for five. I had the cream of pumpkin soup, the baby spinach salad, the Maine lobster risotto and the Humphry Slocombe Fat Elvis ice cream of banana and bacon (sic) to eat.
At 9:30 I sat with Maddy, Marlene and WM Kathryn to hear pianist and vocalist Martin Kaye from Manchester. I had first heard him on the maiden voyage of the Silversea Silver Moon just after the CoViD pandemic was ending. He was still bursting with energy and sang super songs from the fifties and sixties. Unfortunately the huge and expensive LED back screen still had the wrong aspect ratio. I went to bed at eleven o'clock having done nearly fifteen thousand steps, equal to six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke just before my alarms at six o'clock, ready for my usual regular coffee pod. At 6:30 I had a bacon bap al fresco a la terrazza as the dawn broke. Just before eight o'clock, Leziel and May arrived to service my stateroom, so I went up to the top deck.
At 8:20 I met guide (Maria) Luisha and driver Valentino at bus number 24. She instantly recognised me and said we had worked together back in May when I had been on a Viking ship. I had to look her up in my blog which said: Tuesday 8th April 2025 on board the Viking Star going to the Etruscan necropolises in Tarquinia.
We had forty guests to care for on the Bracciano Lake & Wine Tasting tour ($159). Our first stop was at the charming lake side village of Anguillara, which means Eel town. I rushed around the promenade to the far side, before climbing up past the castle to the church on the top of the hill.
Our second stop was at a rustic retreat, Casale Poggio Nebbia, just north of Civitavecchia. Here we tasted one white wine and three red in the olive grove. There was lots of crusty farmhouse bread to eat with olive oil, with vegetable preserves like broccoli and artichoke, with fruit preserves and with honey. There was also some small cakes to be had. In the grounds was a small zoo including a large pig and a small wild boar with tusks.
Back at the ship, I slept for over an hour, before working on my laptop. At 5:30 John set me up ready to give my forty minute talk on Palermo: the Capital of Sicily. At 6:30 I went to the solo travellers meet up with the usual suspects, plus newcomers Joanna and Carol. I had one glass of champagne to drink.
At 7:15 SH Sophie led Rene, Maddy and Marlene down to the GDR with WM Kathryn, artist Pat, her husband Angelo and myself. Later singleton Beverly arrived making us up to nine people on the large round table in the circular apse. I had the parsnip soup, the BLT salad and the crusted salmon to eat, but there was no time for dessert. I had another glass of champagne to drink.
At 9:30 I sat with Maddy, Pat and Angelo to watch CD Sammie's excellent cabaret, which was replacing the sick vocalist from the production company. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done nine thousand steps, nearly equal to four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:30 having slept for seven and a half hours. Whilst abluting, I had my regular coffee pod from my brand new portable machine. At 8:15 I went to the Solo Travellers breakfast in the GDR with a round table for eight. There were five guests present: Marlene, Maddy, Grace, Beverly and Eileen, plus two hostesses: SH Sophie and WM Kathryn. I had one egg Benedict, one egg Florentine and one egg Royale to eat all on one plate, but the service was slow. I had one glass of tomato juice and one of sparkling water to drink.
At 10:15 I went to Glenn's soft shoe tap dance class. He began with a quick warm up, but some guests were late arriving. He taught facing us, which rather threw me, so after ten minutes, with yet more late guests arriving, I slipped away. Back in my stateroom, I worked on my laptop with my Juliet balcony door open to the hot sunshine.
When we had berthed at eleven o'clock, I slipped ashore and walked to the old port, before turning up the main drag. I circled the Praetorian Place (Piazza Pretoria) and jostled with the crowd at the Four Corners (Quattro Canti). There was a big peace demonstration going on outside the Cathedral (Cattedrale) with people holding white balloons. When I got to the Palace of the Norman Kings (Palazzo dei Normanni) I turned off tracking and started back. I cut behind the Cathedral (Cattedrale) to find the top end of Saint Augustine's Road (Via Sant Agostino), which is a pedestrianised lane full of souvenir stalls.
Back at the ship just at 1:15, I had the lentil soup and another mixed grill from the buffet al fresco a la terrazza. I then slept for another hour and a half, before heading out again. I followed their directions along Via Emerico Amari to one of the two Opera Houses. I then headed along Via Ruggero Settimo to the second of the Concert Halls. I went in the foyer here, but the Tourist Information Office (TIO) desk was unmanned. I returned to the ship by Via Cavour at 4:30, ready to spend ten minutes in the hot tub with a rich lady from Malibu.
At 5:30 John set me up, ready to give my forty minute lecture on Corfu at 5:45. Afterwards I chatted to Maddy, Rene and Beverly, who all had dinner plans, so I went to the GDR to seek a sharing table. I was soon joined by Cheryl and Jerry from Urbana-Champaign in Illinois. He was brought up a Roman Catholic and she was an Evangelical Lutheran with a German father. They were liberals, as the Evangelical tag is plainly wrong, what with their gay bishops and female pastors! I had the lentil soup again, the chicken tikka masala salad, the steak au poivre and the bananas Foster to eat.
At 9:30 I sat with Kathryn (who offered to hem my trousers), Marlene and Maddy to hear Martin Kaye's second show featuring the hits of Elton John. He began with "Benny & the Jets", followed by "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". Next came a medley of songs, one sung acapella. He continued with "Candle in the Wind", "Rocket Man" and "Crocodile Rock". He finished with "Your Song" and "I'm Still Standing". I went to sleep at eleven o'clock, but it was now midnight on Greek time, having done twenty one and a half thousand steps, equal to over eight miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at quarter to six on Greek time, ready for my usual regular coffee in my cabin. At seven o'clock I put some washing on in the launderette, before having the full English breakfast in the Waves Grill. When Leziel and May came to service the stateroom at 8:30, I went up to the Horizons observation lounge to watch the passage through the Strait of Messina.
At nine o'clock I got the updated tours availability for both Kotor and Dubrovnik from Destination Services. At 9:30 John set me up, ready for me to give my forty minute talk on Kotor: the Port of Montenegro. At 11:30 I had a Swiss cheeseburger and fries as an early lunch, before sleeping for an hour.
At 1:30 John set me up again, ready for me to give my forty minute lecture on Dubrovnik: the Pearl of the Adriatic. At 3:30 I helped host the solo travellers afternoon tea with SH Sophie and WM Kathryn. I gave the latter my blue trousers, which she had offered to hem for me. Guests present were: Maddy, Marlene, Grace, Beverly and newcomer Teresa. I had one roast beef roll, one almond tart and one pistacio nut slice to eat. I had two cups of decaff English breakfast tea to drink.
At 5:30 I went to the string quartet's concert in the Vista Lounge theatre, not their usual spot in a corridor. The played Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, the Meditation from Thais by Massenet, the Bolero by Ravel and a Hungarian dance by Brahms. I didn't know a couple of their American pieces, except for a piece from West Side Story by Bernstein.
At 6:30 I sat with Maddy in the Horizons observation lounge, but no other solos appeared, so we had a table for two in the GDR. I had the lobster bisque, the Caesar salad and the roast turkey, but was too stuffed to have any dessert.
At 9:15 I moved up to the Horizons observation lounge, where I joined in the Electric Slide. I went to sleep at 10:45 having done less than five thousand steps, equal to less than two miles of walking during the sea day.
I awoke at 6:45 having slept for eight hours. I had two croissants with ham and cheese al fresco a la terrazza as the dawn broke over the Albanian hills. I left the ship at 7:45 and walked the two miles into the town. When I got to the shuttle bus drop off point, I switched off tracking, but continued walking. I proceeded past the main sights to the outdoor market.
I then walked back to the ship, where I had a message from SH Sophie asking me to hold the fort at that evening's solo travellers dinner party. I picked up my next escort assignment, before having a Swiss cheeseburger with sweet potato fries for lunch in the Waves Grill.
At 12:40 I met guide Yolanda and driver Costas at bus number 25, which was on my Escort ticket. However it wasn't my first choice 4x4 jeep tour, but the town and palace one. Since it was shorter and getting back to the ship well before my lecture, I stuck with it. We headed for the famous Canoni viewpoint overlooking the two islands with churches and the airport runway, but with FIVE ships in port the road was heavily congested. Instead we went to the Mon Repos palace where Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh had been born. I had not been here before, so I was pleased to go here in place of the advertised Achilleion palace, which was closed for renovation.
Back at the Canoni viewpoint, Costas was able to find a parking space this time and so we were all able to photograph the famous French canon, which gives the place its name. Back in Corfu Town, Yolanda led us to the view of the St Spiridon's church, before giving us some free time. Everyone was back on the coach in time for the return to the port.
Back at the ship I spent ten minutes in a hot tub, before John set me up. At 5:45 I gave my forty minute talk on Split with two videos at the end as my batteries ran out. I also had a couple of problems with my microphone, owing to the enormous MSC ship alongside us interfering.
At 6:45 I joined the solo travellers with WM Kathryn in charge. She handed me my trousers which she had kindly hemmed. I gave her a bag of the ship's chocolates in return. I had one glass of champagne to drink with my potato crisps (chips). When SH Sophie arrived from a renewal of vows ceremony, she announced that WM Kathryn had been promoted to be a Social Hostess (SH) herself!
At seven o'clock we moved down to the GDR, where Sophie hosted seven singletons on the large, round table in the apse, whilst artist Pat, husband Angelo and myself hosted Marlene on a table for four. I had the asparagus soup, the Caesar salad, the rack of lamb and the no sugar added raspberry dessert to eat. I had one glass of Rene's prosecco and one glass of the chosen red wine to drink, so I had to stay hydrated during the night.
At 9:30 I went to the Anchor Inn production show, but had trouble keeping awake, not having had my siesta that afternoon. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock, having done over twenty five thousand steps, equal to over ten miles of walking during the day.
I got up at a quarter to six to watch the sail-in to the majestic Gulf of Kotor in the dark. At seven o'clock I had the full English breakfast in the Waves Grill. I then did one load of laundry in the launderette on my deck.
Just after eight o'clock, I headed into the town, which was deserted. I turned on tracking for the two sides of the triangle which had ramparts. I also tracked walking in both directions along the water's edge, including going into the Camelia shopping mall. Unfortunately I hadn't twigged that Montenegro, despite using the euro, isn't in the European Union (EU), so I ran up a mobile phone bill for £54, before they cut me off.
Back at the ship at 11:30, I had the fish burger, minus the bun, with sweet potato fries also in the Waves Grill. I then slept for half an hour, before heading out again. I followed the river to the old hydro-electric power (HEP) station, before climbing up the steep zig-zag path to the ruined chapel.
Back at the ship again, I sat with my Juliet balcony open working on my laptop. At 5:30 I spent ten minutes in a hot tub, before dressing for dinner. At 6:30 I met Maddy in the Horizons observation lounge, but she had a reservation at the Polo Grill steak restaurant.
At seven o'clock I dined with Beverly from Maryland in the GDR. I had the cream of potato soup, the Caesar salad, TWO Oscar veal medallions and Rocky Road ice cream to eat. At 9:30 I sat with Beverly, Grace, Marlene, Maddy, Angelo and artist Pat in the Vista Lounge theatre for the excellent music triangle (New Orleans, Memphis & Nashville) production show. However, I kept nodding off after a strenuous day walking.
In the back office, I had to re-enter my tour escort requests for the final three ports. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done twenty seven and a half thousand steps, equal to eleven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke naturally at 6:15, when we were berthing at the Gruz cruise terminal. At seven o'clock, I had two croissants with ham and cheese to eat al fresco a la terrazza, as the dawn broke over Gruz. Just before eight o'clock, Leziel arrived to service the stateroom, so I departed.
On the windy quayside, I met guide Marija and driver Baldo, who wasn't bald, at coach number twenty. We had just twenty four guests to look after on my second choice Riviera Cruise, Cavtat & Old Town tour ($329). We had a short drive along the coast to the pretty seaside resort of Cavtat, where we had half an hour of free time. I walked the length of the prom and along the corniche pathway, before doubling back.
We then got on a boat for the one hour cruise along the coast back to Dubrovnik. Here we began a walking tour of the old town, including the disappointing Cathedral Treasury and the Franciscan Monastery, neither of which I had been in previously.
During the nearly one hour of free time, I went through the city wall twice to get on to the sunny cliffside with swimmers and colourful kayaks. From the fountain meeting place it was a short walk through the Pile Gate to the lovely restaurant with views of the old town. I sat with Marija for the meal of courgette soup, cheesy aubergine, THREE veal medallions and creme caramel. I had two glasses of red wine and one small cup of coffee to drink.
Back at the ship, I slept for one hour, before updating this blog. At five o'clock, John set me up ready for me to give my forty minute port talk entitled "Koper: the Port for sLOVEnia" at 5:15.
At the end I said thank you to the usual people, including technicians Leon from South Africa and John from the Philippines. I then updated this blog, before moving up to the Horizons observation lounge as the dusk darkened. Here I sat with Maddy and Rene, but the latter had a dinner reservation in the Polo Grill. The former gave me a glass of champagne and I had another of pink prosecco left over from the previous loyalty club do.
At seven o'clock Marlene, Pat & Angelo joined us and I did one dance with Marlene and one with Pat. Marlene had a dinner reservation elsewhere, so the rest of us went down to the GDR, carrying our complimentary drinks. Here we met up with John & Pat from Colorado Springs, so we had a table for six. He had been in the United States Air Force (USAF). I had the corn soup, the Parisian salad, the salmon and the no sugar added peach ice cream to eat.
At 9:15 I gave the magician a miss and went to my stateroom instead. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done thirteen thousand steps, equal to over five miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:20 having slept for nearly eight hours. Just after seven o'clock, I had two croissants with smoked salmon al fresco a la terrazza overlooking Split harbour. At eight o'clock I left the ship walking all the way around the large harbour to one of the two archaeological museums, but it was closed for renovations. I turned on tracking and then walked back to the ship.
At 11:30 I had a Swiss cheeseburger with sweet potato fries in the Waves Grill, before sleeping for an hour and a half. In the afternoon, I again walked around the harbour, this time going up the many steps to the Marjan Hill viewpoint. On the way back I went through both the Venetian and Roman quarters of the old city taking pictures, but it was overcast most of the day.
Back the ship, I did 2 x 10 = 20 minutes in one of the hot tubs, with a view of the Cathedral bell tower on one side and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, on the other. I also backed up my photographs from this cruise so far. At 6:15 I adjourned to the Horizons observation lounge, where I watched Rene dancing on her own to the singer. She had a dinner reservation, so I went down to the GDR on my own. Here I sat with Dennis & Marlene from Ontario. I had the cream of chicken soup, the Lebanese salad, the Maine lobster risotto and the Humphry Slocombe Harvey Milk Honey Grahams ice cream to eat.
At 9:15 I sat with Maddy, Pat and Angelo in the Vista Lounge theatre, but had to give up my seat when Marlene arrived. Later Beverly turned up, but she had to sit elsewhere as I had had to do. I enjoyed the excellent Our World production show for the third time and managed to stay awake throughout. It featured songs from: Argentina, France, Japan, India, Mexico, Greece, Australia, Ireland, Spain and Italy. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock, having done twenty two and a half thousand steps, equal to nine miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:40 ready for my regular coffee pod from my portable machine. At 7:50 I had my final full English breakfast of this cruise al fresco a la terrazza. Back in my stateroom, I updated this blog. When Leziel and May came to service the stateroom at nine o'clock, I went up to the Horizons observation lounge, where I had a decaff coffee, to watch the sail-in to Koper. Back in my suite, I worked on my laptop, with my Juliet balcony door open.
At eleven o'clock, I moved out to the quayside to meet guide Zoran and driver Jadranko. I had worked with the former back in March, when I was on a Viking ship and he was guiding us through the famous Slovenian caves. We had twenty four guests to look after on bus number twelve on my first choice Lake Bled Cruise & Island Visit tour ($279).
It was a two and a half hour run out to Lake Bled, with a twenty five minute comfort break at the motorway service station. We were then rowed across to the central island. We climbed up the ninety nine steps to the church, clock tower and museum at the top, before returning the way we had come. Our next stop was at the impressive Bled Castle on the hilltop. This involved another steep ascent to the various building around the central courtyard. The views across Lake Bled to the Slovenian Alps were spectcular!
At 4:30 we had a very late lunch of chicken noodle soup, chicken with potatoes and mixed vegetables, followed by a cream dessert. I had one glass of red wine to drink at the lakeside restaurant.
Surprisingly I didn't sleep on the two hour run back to the ship. Here I went to the Terrace Cafe buffet at 7:30, where I had some Thai curry soup, the salmon & shrimp appetiser, Caesar salad and creme brulee to eat al fresco a la terrazza. On the way out, I said goodbye to Eileen, Ruthie, Grace and Paula, who were sat with another couple at a table for six.
Back in my stateroom, I updated this blog, but was unable to back up my day's photography. At 8:45 I went to the Vista Lounge theatre to say good bye to artist Pat and her husband Angelo, to Wardrobe Mistress Kathryn and to guest Marlene. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Maddy.
Back in my suite again, I started packing. I went to bed at ten o'clock, having done ten thousand steps, equal to four miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke twenty minutes before my six o'clock alarm, ready for my usual regular coffee. At 6:30 I had two croissants with smoked salmon for breakfast and also prepared two rolls with ham and cheese for lunch. Back in my stateroom, I worked on my laptop with my Juliette balcony open as the dawn broke over Trieste.
I left my suite at 7:45 just five minutes before purple tag number one was called ten minutes early. I didn't get to say goodbye to anybody as I departed the ship. I was ensconced on the coach by eight o'clock and we departed at 8:20. The run to Trieste airport took fifty minutes, but my check-in didn't open until 12:45. I therefore went walkabout along the long, elevated corridor to the railway station.
Back in the terminal, I found a charging point with a great view of the taxiways, so I was able to update this blog, back up my photographs and charge up my phones. At 12:45 check-in only took five minutes as did security. The 'plane was late arriving, but they turned it around quickly. On the flight we got given a single, small biscuit to eat. Over Germany we had some of the worst clear air turbulence I have ever encountered. I managed to bash the knee that I had hurt when climbing into the hot springs at the Santorini volcano.
When we landed we were bussed to the huge terminal complex of Frankfurt airport. I rushed through the long corridors and had to queue for ten minutes at the passport control. When I got to the gate they hadn't even started loading. Apparently when the 'plane had arrived earlier there was no-one to attach the pier. We took off half an hour late, but made up the time. On the flight we got given a biscuit and a piece of chocolate to eat and a bottle of water to drink.
At LHR terminal two, I didn't have far to walk and didn't need to queue for the passport machine. My bag arrived quickly and in the Central Bus Station an earlier coach to Poole was late loading. I used the machine to buy a ticket for the next National Express service at eight o'clock (£36). This was nearly full with people who had gotten on in London, but I nabbed a reserved seat when no-one took it at terminal five. During the journey I updated this blog, but we had a slow diversion at Winchester. I got to Bournemouth at 10:30 and home soon after.
Guest Maddy (Madeleine) from New Jersey wrote:
"As we continue to cruise on the beautiful Oceania Vista,
I want to reiterate my appeciation for,
and compliments for, both your hosting companionship
and enjoyable, informative enrichment presentations."
"Many thanks for sending these blogs.
I feel as if I've relived our entire 20 days,
as well as the prior cruise on which I didn't even travel.
Your skill in capturing detail and observation is truly astounding!
I know you take notes in your little book, but even so.
I can't recall when I've seen my own name mentioned so many times in so many circumstances.
And thank you for including the lovely picture of Marlene and me."
Guest Marlene from Queensland wrote:
"Loved all your presentations!"
"Thank U for your interesting talks. Well done."
"A pleasure to meet U with your knowledge talks and company."
CD Sammie wrote:
"Thanks for a great cruise, guests have loved and thoroughly enjoyed your presentations."
The highpoints of the cruise were:
* A first visit to the Mon Repos mansion where Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was born.
* Three veal medallions in a posh Dubrovnik restaurant.
* A picnic in the olive grove near Civitavecchia.
* A first trip to Lake Bled in sLOVEnia.
Score card:
213 Cruises 56 Cruise ships (see below) 16 Cruise lines (see below) 10 Day cruise 8 Dancers 7 Port talks given 6 Continental breakfasts 5 Musicians 4 Singers 4 Tours ecorted 4 Production shows 4 Classical musicians in the string quartet 3 Lunches on tour 3 Cheeseburger lunches 3 Full English breakfasts 2 Fish lunches 2 Salmon dinners 2 Lobster dinners 2 Mixed grill lunches 2 Guest entertainers (Martin Kaye & Kristian Grey) 1 Guest speaker (Martin P. Lee)
1) "Civitavecchia: the Port for Rome 2) "Palermo: Capital of Sicily" 3) "Corfu: the Door to the Adriatic" 4) "Kotor: UNESCO World Heritage Site" 5) "Dubrovnik: the Pearl of the Adriatic" 6) "Split: the Big Town" 7) "Koper: the Port of sLOVEnia"
0) "Livorno: the Port for Tuscany" 8) "Trieste: Austo-Hungarian Port"
I have done four previous Oceania cruises:
1) Western Med
2) Canaries
3) Biscay
4) Adriatic on the Riviera
* Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines * Saga Shipping Company * Voyages of Discovery * Seabourn (Carnival) * Princess (Carnival) * Cunard (Carnival) * P&O (Carnival) * Celebrity (RCCL) * Silversea (RCCL) * Regent SS (NCL) * Oceania (NCL) * Marella (TUI) * Ambassador * Azamara * Crystal * Viking
Black Prince Black Watch Boudicca Balmoral Braemar Borealis Bolette Silver Whisper Silver Spirit Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex Oceania Vista Oceania Sirena Oceania Marina Oceania Riviera Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Saturn Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure (Old SofA) Spirit of Adventure (New SofA) Spirit of Discovery Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) Queen Elizabeth (QE) Queen Victoria (QV) Queen Mary 2 (QM2) P&O Arcadia P&O Aurora P&O Oriana P&O Iona Azamara Quest Azamara Journey Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Ambassador Ambition Regent Seven Seas Mariner Regent Seven Seas Splendor Caribbean Princess Sapphire Princess Marella Explorer VoD Discovery