Cruises are the BEST!
Our first Cruise was in 1994 for our Silver Wedding Aniversary. We flew to Florida to pick up the ship. We were so excited as it was our first time on a plane! We had saved for several years for this. Laurie had once worked in Shipping and since we met, in 1965, he has said " One day I want to take you on a cruise". This was to be a 'one off' experience, but we enjoyed it so much we have been on 20 other cruises to date, since then!
This is a map showing all the wonderful places we have been . The Red dots are where we have visited on our Cruises,the White dots are where Laurie has worked in the Bowling Industry - See Lauries Pages!
1994 - our first, was the Cunard 'Crown Jewel' - Caribbean East & West from Fort Lauderdale. We still keep in touch with friends we made on this cruise!
Itinerary- Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Cruise - Dominican Republic-Puerto Plata, Virgin Islands-St Thomas, Puerto Rico-San Juan, Bahamas-Nassau, Miamai-Fort Lauderdale, Jamaica-Ocho Rios, Grand Caymen, Mexico-Cozumel, Miami, Home.
Virgin Islands, Necker Island (Richard Branson's)
Itinerary- Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Cruise - Dominican Republic-Puerto Plata, Virgin Islands-St Thomas, Puerto Rico-San Juan, Bahamas-Nassau, Miamai-Fort Lauderdale, Jamaica-Ocho Rios, Grand Caymen, Mexico-Cozumel, Miami, Home.
Virgin Islands, Necker Island (Richard Branson's)
There was no cruise in 1995 as we had a Family holiday to 'Disneyworld' in Florida! Great fun!
'Kumba', the biggest, longest fasted ride ever - then!
'Kumba', the biggest, longest fasted ride ever - then!
1996 - We were on the Cunard 'Countess' in the Southern Caribbean
Itinerary- Puerto Rico-San Juan, Cruise- St Maarten-Phillipsburg, Dominica-Roseau, Grenada-St George's, St Lucia-Castries, St Kitts-Basseterre, Virgin Islands-St Thomas, Puerto Rico- San Juan, Tortola-Road Town, Antigua-St Johns, Martinique-Fort de France,
St Lucia-Castries, Virgin Islands-St Thomas.
St George's, Granada
Itinerary- Puerto Rico-San Juan, Cruise- St Maarten-Phillipsburg, Dominica-Roseau, Grenada-St George's, St Lucia-Castries, St Kitts-Basseterre, Virgin Islands-St Thomas, Puerto Rico- San Juan, Tortola-Road Town, Antigua-St Johns, Martinique-Fort de France,
St Lucia-Castries, Virgin Islands-St Thomas.
St George's, Granada
1997- was Thomson's' Emerald' - Mediterranean Island Gems
Itinerary- Malta-Valetta, Sicily-Messina, Italy-Naples for Pompei, Corsica-Ajaccio, Menorca-Mahon, Mallorca-Palma, Italy-Genoe, Livorno-Pisa, Itlay-Civitavechia, Sardinia-Porto Torres, Spain-Barcelona, Mallorac-Palma.
In Pompei
Itinerary- Malta-Valetta, Sicily-Messina, Italy-Naples for Pompei, Corsica-Ajaccio, Menorca-Mahon, Mallorca-Palma, Italy-Genoe, Livorno-Pisa, Itlay-Civitavechia, Sardinia-Porto Torres, Spain-Barcelona, Mallorac-Palma.
In Pompei
1998 - We had a wonderful Nile Cruise on the' Norma'.
Abu Simbel - Monument by and to Ramesses 2 and Queen Nerfititi
Abu Simbel - Monument by and to Ramesses 2 and Queen Nerfititi
1999 - Royal Caribbean's' Rhapsody of the Seas' - Panama Canal - we still keep in touch with friends we made on this cruise and have visited them in America! They have also been over to see us.
Itinerary - Stay in Porto Rico-San Juan, Cruise - Curacao-Willemstad, Panama Canal, Costa Rica-Caldera, Mexico-Acapulco, Mexico-Cabo San Lucas, California-San Diago, Drive to LA for flight home.
Panama Canal
Itinerary - Stay in Porto Rico-San Juan, Cruise - Curacao-Willemstad, Panama Canal, Costa Rica-Caldera, Mexico-Acapulco, Mexico-Cabo San Lucas, California-San Diago, Drive to LA for flight home.
Panama Canal
2000 - it was Star Cruise Lines, 'Superstar Gemini' this was renamed from the 'Crown Jewel' our first cruise ship, and this time we sailed to the Mallacan Straits.
Itinerary - Stay in Singapore, Cruise- Malaysia-Port Dickson, Malaysia-Port Klang, Malaysia-Penang, Thailand-Phuket, Malaysia-Langkawi, Malaysia-Port Klang, Malaysia-Malacca, Singapore, then week stay in Bali.
The Temple of The Reclining Budha, Penang, Malaysia
Itinerary - Stay in Singapore, Cruise- Malaysia-Port Dickson, Malaysia-Port Klang, Malaysia-Penang, Thailand-Phuket, Malaysia-Langkawi, Malaysia-Port Klang, Malaysia-Malacca, Singapore, then week stay in Bali.
The Temple of The Reclining Budha, Penang, Malaysia
2001 - Norwegian Cruise Line - 'SS Norway' Eastern Caribbean
Itinerary - Stay in Las Vegas, Cruise- St Maarten-Philpsburg, Virgin Islands-St John, Virgin Islands-St Thomas, Bahamas-Great Stirrup Keys (Private island) Stay in Miami.
Ceasars Palace, Las Vegas
Itinerary - Stay in Las Vegas, Cruise- St Maarten-Philpsburg, Virgin Islands-St John, Virgin Islands-St Thomas, Bahamas-Great Stirrup Keys (Private island) Stay in Miami.
Ceasars Palace, Las Vegas
2002 - Norwegian Cruise Line - 'Norwegian Star' to Hawaii
Itinerary - Stay in San Francisco, Cruise - Hawaii-Oahu and Hilo, Fanning Island, Hawaii-Maui, Kauai and Oahu, then stay in New York.
Native Children Dancing on Fanning Island
Itinerary - Stay in San Francisco, Cruise - Hawaii-Oahu and Hilo, Fanning Island, Hawaii-Maui, Kauai and Oahu, then stay in New York.
Native Children Dancing on Fanning Island
2003 - Norwegian Cruise Line - 'Norwegian Sky' to Alaska
Itinerary - Stay in Seattle, Cruise - Inside Passage to Alaska-Ketchikan, Juneau, Sawyer Glacier, Skagway, Outside Passage to British Columbia (Canada)-Victoria, Seattle, Stay in Vancouver then stay in Toronto.
Davidson Glacier receding fast every year. We took a canoe out beside it.
Itinerary - Stay in Seattle, Cruise - Inside Passage to Alaska-Ketchikan, Juneau, Sawyer Glacier, Skagway, Outside Passage to British Columbia (Canada)-Victoria, Seattle, Stay in Vancouver then stay in Toronto.
Davidson Glacier receding fast every year. We took a canoe out beside it.
2004 - P&O 'Adonia' - Pearls of the Mediterranian
Itinerary - Cruise - Southampton to Balearic Islands-Ibiza, Spain-Barcelona, France-St Tropez, Italy-Livorno for Florence, Gibralter, Southampton.
Florence
Itinerary - Cruise - Southampton to Balearic Islands-Ibiza, Spain-Barcelona, France-St Tropez, Italy-Livorno for Florence, Gibralter, Southampton.
Florence
Also 2004 - Another family Trip this time to Euro Disney Paris - it Rained!
2005 - Princess Cruises this time - 'Pacific Princess' and Taste of the Orient Bangkok to Beijing.
Itinerary - Stay in Thailand-Bangkok, Cruise - Malaysia-Kuantan, Malaysia-Singapore, Vietnam-(Phu My) for Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam-Nha Trang, Hong Kong, China-Shanghai, Japan-Nagasaki, South Korea-Pusan, China-stay in Bejing with visit to Xian.
Great Wall
Itinerary - Stay in Thailand-Bangkok, Cruise - Malaysia-Kuantan, Malaysia-Singapore, Vietnam-(Phu My) for Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam-Nha Trang, Hong Kong, China-Shanghai, Japan-Nagasaki, South Korea-Pusan, China-stay in Bejing with visit to Xian.
Great Wall
2006 - Princess Cruise Lines - 'Tahitian Princess' -Hawaiian Haydays - French Polynesian Islands.
Laurie was crowned 'Mr Tahitian Princess' on this cruise, voted for by the passengers after completing several challenges!
Itinerary - Stay in Los Angeles, Cruise - French Polynesian Islands, Leave from Papeete to Moorea, Raiteaa, Bora Bora, Christmas island, to Hawaii-Hilo, Maui, Kauai and Oaho, stay in Honolulu, then stay in New York.
Laurie was crowned 'Mr Tahitian Princess' on this cruise, voted for by the passengers after completing several challenges!
Itinerary - Stay in Los Angeles, Cruise - French Polynesian Islands, Leave from Papeete to Moorea, Raiteaa, Bora Bora, Christmas island, to Hawaii-Hilo, Maui, Kauai and Oaho, stay in Honolulu, then stay in New York.
2007 - Cunard 'Queen Elizabeth 2', just before her last year - Mediterranian Odyssey
Itinerary - Cruise - Southampton, Malaga, Messina, Aghios, Crete-Nikolaos, Turkey-Marmaris, Malta-Valetta, Gibralter, Southampton.
Queen Elizabeth 2
Itinerary - Cruise - Southampton, Malaga, Messina, Aghios, Crete-Nikolaos, Turkey-Marmaris, Malta-Valetta, Gibralter, Southampton.
Queen Elizabeth 2
2008 - Princess Cruise Line - 'Royal Princess' - Classical Europe
Itinerary - Stay in Rome, Cruise - Italy-Livorno, France-Cannes, Portugal-Lisbon, France-Le Havre, UK-Harwich, Netherlands-Amsterdam, Germany-traverse the Kiel Canal, Finland-Helsinki, Russia-St Petersburg, Estonia-Talin, Sweden-Stockholm, Home.
St Petersburg
Itinerary - Stay in Rome, Cruise - Italy-Livorno, France-Cannes, Portugal-Lisbon, France-Le Havre, UK-Harwich, Netherlands-Amsterdam, Germany-traverse the Kiel Canal, Finland-Helsinki, Russia-St Petersburg, Estonia-Talin, Sweden-Stockholm, Home.
St Petersburg
2009 - Princess Cruise Lines - 'Star Princess' Sydney to Los Angeles
Itinerary - Stay in Sydney, Cruise - New Zealand-Fjiorland, Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland, Fiji-Suva, Samoa-Apia, Western Samoa, French Polynesian Islands-Moorea, Papeete, Bora Bora, Hawaii- Honolulu, La Haina and Maui, home from LA.
Photo taken in Suva, Fiji.
Itinerary - Stay in Sydney, Cruise - New Zealand-Fjiorland, Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland, Fiji-Suva, Samoa-Apia, Western Samoa, French Polynesian Islands-Moorea, Papeete, Bora Bora, Hawaii- Honolulu, La Haina and Maui, home from LA.
Photo taken in Suva, Fiji.
2010 - Royal Caribbean - 'Vision of the Seas' Holy Land Cruise - Venice to Venice
Itinerary - Stay in Venice, Cruise - Israel-Haifa, Israel-Ashdod, Egypt-Alexandria, Turkey-Kusadasi, Venice, home.
The Library, Kusadsi
Itinerary - Stay in Venice, Cruise - Israel-Haifa, Israel-Ashdod, Egypt-Alexandria, Turkey-Kusadasi, Venice, home.
The Library, Kusadsi
2011 - Two this year!
1st- Fred Olson - 'Braemar' - Amazon Cruise from Barbados
Itinerary - Barbados, Cruise - Santarem, Parintins, Manaus, Boca Do Valeria, Alter Do Chaos, Bridgetown-Barbados, home.
Living on the River Amazon
1st- Fred Olson - 'Braemar' - Amazon Cruise from Barbados
Itinerary - Barbados, Cruise - Santarem, Parintins, Manaus, Boca Do Valeria, Alter Do Chaos, Bridgetown-Barbados, home.
Living on the River Amazon
2011 - 2nd Cruise
Holland America 'Veendam' - Santiago to Rio De Janeiro
Itinerary - Stay Santiago-Chile, Cruise - Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Ushuia, Round Cape Horn, Falklands-Stanley, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Stay in Rio De Janiero.
Gentoo Penguin in The Falklands
Holland America 'Veendam' - Santiago to Rio De Janeiro
Itinerary - Stay Santiago-Chile, Cruise - Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Ushuia, Round Cape Horn, Falklands-Stanley, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Stay in Rio De Janiero.
Gentoo Penguin in The Falklands
2012 - No cruise, We visited a friend we met on our first cruise in 1994, in Miami instead, and we took a trip to The Kennedy Space Centre.
The Launch Pad
The Launch Pad
2013 - Two this year also! We are getting greedy!!
1st - Fred Olson, Boudicca - 'In Search of the Northern Lights - We only saw a glimmer!
Itinerary - Portsmouth, Cruise- Molde, Tromso (2 nights), Alta (overnight), Kritiansund, Bergen, Portsmouth.
The Norwegian Fjords in February
1st - Fred Olson, Boudicca - 'In Search of the Northern Lights - We only saw a glimmer!
Itinerary - Portsmouth, Cruise- Molde, Tromso (2 nights), Alta (overnight), Kritiansund, Bergen, Portsmouth.
The Norwegian Fjords in February
2nd, P&O Azura - 'Strictly Come Dancing' Themed Cruise
Itinerary - Southampton, Cruise - Madeira, La Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarotte, Cadiz, Lisbon, Southampton.
Just one of the dresses as worn on the Television Show
Itinerary - Southampton, Cruise - Madeira, La Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarotte, Cadiz, Lisbon, Southampton.
Just one of the dresses as worn on the Television Show
2014 - No cruise or holiday this year. Norma had a Cancer scare but was caught in time and recovered after an operation.
2015 - January.
Away from a cold Southampton on a lovely longer cruise to Dubai on Fred Olsens' m.v. Balmoral.
Itinary - Southampton, Malaga, Valetta, Port Said, Safaga, Sharm el Sheik, Aqaba, Muscat, Fujairah (cancelled), Abu Dhabi + 2 nights stay.
2015 - January.
Away from a cold Southampton on a lovely longer cruise to Dubai on Fred Olsens' m.v. Balmoral.
Itinary - Southampton, Malaga, Valetta, Port Said, Safaga, Sharm el Sheik, Aqaba, Muscat, Fujairah (cancelled), Abu Dhabi + 2 nights stay.
Petra, Jordan.
2016 - January. Away again from Southampton to Durban on Fred Olsens' m.v. Boudica. Itinary - Southampton, Leixoes (Portugal), Funchal (Madeira), Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Mindelo (Cape Verde Islands), Praia (Cape Verde Islands), Jamestown (St.Helena), Walvis Bay (Namibia), Luderitz (Namibia), Cape Town (South Africa), Port Elizabeth (South Africa), Durban + 2 nights stay. |
Sleepy Lions. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
2016 - July.
A Viking river cruise on the Danube on the Viking Njord. Itinary. - Fly from Edinburgh to Budapest via Amsterdam, Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria), Krems (Austria), Cruising the Wachau Valley, Passau (Germany), Regensburg (Germany), Main - Danube Canal, Nuremberg (Germany) then fly from Munich to Amsterdam, overnight Amsterdam (Flight full), then fly to Edinburgh. |
Viking Ve and Viking Njord in Regensburg
2017 - March/April. Celebrity Constellation from Singapore to Abu Dhabi.