Saturday, December 7, 2013

Highlights of my 27 day Adriatic and Transatlantic back to Back cruises


Spectacularly beautiful scenery in such places as Kotor, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Mostar Bosnia, Taormina, Sicily, Venice, Italy and more
 
Kotor, Montenegro

Catania, Sicily

Tenerife, Canary Island

 


Mt Etna, Sicily



Sites that are rich in millennia of history: Florence, Venice, Former Yugoslavian Republics, Aix en Provence, Pompeii,




Beautiful, modern ship
Our balcony


Our balcony room






Toured the ship's unique art collection w. I-pad guided tour



 



Had breakfast here most days













A very funny Captain, Dimitrios Kafetzis.  He even conducted a kick-boxing class, one morning, poolside



Ride up Venice’s Grand Canal in Vaporetto, sitting up front:
 












Excellent Customer Service on Celebrity Cruises

Escargots on the menu nightly


 

Indulged in a fish spa on Corfu, Greece



 
 
 
 

Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik





Being elite (some free internet/laundry, drinks nightly, afternoon tea, elegant daily breakfasts, special parties and more)

Great Tours in: Florence/Pisa, Catania/Taormina, Venice, Kotor, Bosnia, Aix-en-Provence, and Barcelona (missed Sienna and Ravenna due to bad weather conditions)
Kotor, Montenegro

I added Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia to my countries visited list (I have reached 67, thus far!)

Pre-cruise hotel stay in large room overlooking the sea

Hotel De Ville -Suite 306


Pleasant dinner mates on both segments

John and Josie Reardon from Bristol, CT


Don and Shirley Kaplan from Bethesda


Dave and Diana Mc Call and Les and Jody Soliday from Corona, CA

Dave and Diana

Reconnected with friends I met on previous cruises (Mike and Linda-toured Luxor with); Miami and Jason (toured Rome and Ephesus with), Eddie and Marshall (met on Queen Victoria transatlantic) Emile and Susan Baladie (lectured on Solstice Suez Canal cruise and Spring Equinox TA)
Marshall, Karla, Eddie








Susan, Joel, Karla, Emile








Participated in flash mob and performed on stage. Best to view enlarged.  I am on the left.  First is rehearsal.  Second video is final performance.




Won art history trivia from Park West Gallery

Took public transportation in Venice, Barcelona, and Naples

Enjoyed walking tours
 in Venice; Florence; Pisa, Mostar, Bosnia; Kotor, Montenegro; Barcelona; Aix-en-Provence, France; and Taormina, Sicily.  Missed Ravenna and Sienna due to poor weather (for docking) conditions.













 

Smooth sailing and warm, sunny weather on transatlantic









Gained time many days on the way back to Florida

Great meals on the ship and in ports














Chocolate dipped pineapple at champagne brunch









No jet-lag upon arrival back home

No logistics issues (hotel, flights, luggage, transfers, etc)

Places Where I Have Traveled *=more than once

  • India
  • China
  • Dubai
  • Israel
  • Russia*
  • Iceland
  • Cuba Aug 2016
  • Egypt*
  • Indonesia
  • Tahiti Feb 2016
  • Northern Ireland
  • Cook Islands Feb 2016
  • New Zealand Feb 2016
  • Australia Feb 2016
  • Belize
  • French Polynesia Jan 2016
  • Mallorca
  • Shetland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Brunei
  • Morocco*
  • Brazil*
  • Philippines
  • North Borneo
  • Crete*
  • Ionian Islands*
  • Singapore
  • Hong Kong
  • Azores*
  • Norway
  • Dodecanese Islands (Rhodes)
  • Bosnia
  • Palestein
  • Croatia
  • Romania
  • Argentina
  • Ecuador
  • Tunisia
  • Corsica
  • Bulgaria
  • Columbia
  • Peru
  • Montenegro
  • Columbia
  • Chile*
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uruguay
  • Jordan
  • Gibraltar
  • Turkey*
  • Bermuda
  • Estonia*
  • Viet Nam
  • Finland*
  • Malta*
  • Thailand
  • Guatemala
  • Crete*
  • Jamaica*
  • Panama*
  • Grand Canyon
  • Scotland
  • Niagara Falls
  • Greece*
  • France* lived there
  • Japan*
  • Bilbao, Spain*
  • Canada*
  • Costa Rica
  • Bahamas*
  • Banff Hot Springs
  • Hawaii*
  • Italy*
  • Catalina Island
  • Luxembourg*
  • St Johns
  • St Marteen/St Martin
  • St Thomas
  • South Padre Island Texas
  • Mexico*
  • Vatican City*
  • Austria*
  • Denmark*
  • Monaco
  • Portugal*
  • Belgium*
  • Holland*
  • Ireland*
  • Alaska
  • England*
  • Sweden*
  • Switzerland*
  • Spain*
  • Germany*
  • Madeira

Events/Experiences

  • Pyramids at Giza
  • Taj Mahal
  • Climbed Great Wall of China
  • Western Wall-Jerusalem
  • Transited Panama Canal 3X
  • Rode Camel in Tunisia
  • fathom Adonia--1st US cruise ship to Cuba--Aug 2016
  • Old Town in Havana
  • Burj Kalifa in Dubai
  • Saw Kangeroos, Wallabees, and Koalas in Australia
  • Kayaked in Bay of Islands, New Zealand
  • Vaparreto # 1 in Venice
  • National Museum in Brunei
  • Saw Geysers Erupt in Iceland
  • Drink at Raffles Hotel-Singapore
  • Fish Spa in Greece and Philippines
  • The Peak in Hong Kong
  • Pedicab Tour in Manilla Philippines
  • Road Amalfi Coast, Italy
  • Chewed Gum in Singapore
  • Marched in St Pat's Day Parade in Dublin
  • Sailed Kotor Bay
  • Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia
  • Smithsonian Museums-DC
  • Toured Ancient City of Petra, Jordan
  • Transited Suez Canal
  • Rio for Carnivale 2X
  • Cruised along Cinque Terre, Italy
  • Fish Spa in Corfu, Greece (teeny fish scrubbed my feet!)
  • Subway in Russia
  • Flash Mob (dance) on stage on several cruises
  • Visted 21 Countries on 5 long cruises in 2012
  • Ceviche in Peru
  • Cremation Service in Bali
  • Saw Lamas in Lima
  • Vasa Museum-Stockholm
  • Buddhist Monastery in Viet Nam
  • Drove Amalfi Coast
  • Queen Mary 2
  • Berlin Wall
  • Mummies In Cairo Museum
  • Jordan River; Sea of Galilee
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Luxor at Sunrise
  • Transited the Pirate-Infested Gulf of Aden
  • Ski Dubai
  • Fellucca Ride on the Nile at Sunset
  • 16-day Europe/Transatlantic on Queen Victoria
  • Tahrir Square-Cairo
  • Toured Pompeii
  • In Fashion Show Aboard Queen Victoria
  • Rode Elephants in Thailand and India
  • 7-Country Baltic Cruise
  • Hermitage Museum
  • Checkpoint Charlie
  • Transatlantic Crossing on QM2
  • Climbed Tikal in Guatemala
  • Mediterranean Cruise 6 countries
  • Audience with Swami in Rishikesh, India
  • Poetry Class in France
  • Kissed Blarney Stone
  • Pike's Fish Market in Seattle
  • Photo with Snake Charmer in India
  • Dacau near Munich
  • Hitchhiked from France to Scotland
  • Climbed Washington Monument in DC
  • Oktoberfest in Bavaria
  • Toured Panama Canal
  • Wine Country in France, California and many others
  • Guest of Placido Domingo in Chicago
  • The Alamo
  • United Nations
  • San Diego Zoo
  • Helicopter over Grand Canyon
  • Club Med in Cancun
  • Eurailpassed Twice Thru Europe
  • Hollywood
  • Albuquerque Hot-Air Balloon Festival
  • Rodeo in Dallas/Ft Worth
  • NCAA Playoffs in Charlotte and New Orleans
  • Cucchi Tunnels in Viet Nam
  • Grammys in New York
  • Paella in Spain
  • Rain Forest in Costa Rica
  • Xmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on 5th Avenue
  • Niagara Falls
  • Disney Land & Disney World
  • Voodoo Museum New Orleans
  • Cancun Jazz Festival
  • Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica
  • Las Vegas for Trade Shows
  • Key West for Hemmingway Festival
  • Art Classes in Louvre
  • Black Ski Summit in Vail and Colorado Springs
  • Texas State Fair
  • Mardi Gras in New Orleans
  • Italian Class in France
  • Nude Sunbathing in St Marteen
  • Danish Pastry in Denmark
  • Palace of Knossos Crete
  • Anne Frank House Amsterdam
  • Karaoke in Japan
  • Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Lobster in Maine
  • Belfast Black Cab Tour
  • Dozens of Transatlantic Sailings