Crystal Symphony Cruise

Sept/Oct 2019

Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta

So excited to board the beautiful Crystal Symphony in Los Angeles! I’ve been on this ship many times and absolutely love it but have never cruised on it!

Symphony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Cruise

National Conference

October 19-26, 2019

Symphony of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s new ship, another World’s Largest Cruise Ship.

Pre-Cruise party in Miami was hosted by MSC Cruises.

We had a special early boarding this morning to get on and explore the ship.

Fun gifts in my cabin

Some pictures of my cabin

Sail away from Miami party in Christy’s Crown Loft Suite. It’s two floors and very comfortable.

See you next week Miami!

Royal Caribbean hosted an amazing welcome cocktail party for us. The food and drinks were plentiful and the music was the best. They brought in a great classic rock cover band, Phoenix. They kept the party going and people dancing

Sunrise from my cabin

Morning walk around the ship

Great to get back to my cabin after work all day to find a nice gift from Vicki Freed

Cocktail party tonight

Stroll through Central Park to dinner at Chops

Thank you Josh Fernandez from Disney for the wonderful dinner!

Beef Carpaccio

Wedge Salad

Side dishes, forgot a pic of my filet!!

Molten Chocolate Cake for dessert

Fun pic from outside the restaurant

Went to see Hairspray, it was so good, Broadway caliber!

Another full day of work and now a Glow Party hosted by Norwegian Cruise Line!

The ladies from Holland America

MSC Cruises and Viking Cruises

GOGO Vacations and David Crooks

Paul Gauguin Cruise Line

Rail oilers and CIE Tours

Beautiful dinner at Wonderland with Holland America Line

Good morning St. Maarten

Carnival, Celebrity and Royal

Spending the day at Bikini Beach on Orient Beach over on the French side of St. Martin

Dream Vacations in St. Martin

Nancy and I had a delicious lunch on the beach

Back on the ship for another cocktail party

New England style Seafood dinner at Hooked with AmaWaterways

Welcome to San Juan, Puerto Rico

Old San Juan is so beautiful

Had to stop and see the umbrellas

Barrachina is known as the birthplace of the Piña Colada

Local Puerto Rican food was so delicious

More of the old town near the water

As we seat sail it’s time to get ready for our Awards Ceremony!

Photos pre-awards ceremony

Debbie Fiorino was named the Godmother of AmaWaterways newest ship!!!

I was so excited to be named Top Producer for Disney Cruise Line, Paul Gauguin Cruises and Hurtigruten Cruise Line!

This was the most exciting, being named in the Top Ten Agents of 2018!

The After Party at Dazzles

Drew Daly

CEO Brad Tolkien

Another Top Ten agent, Naomi

Josh Fernandez from Disney

Another Top Ten Agent, Melissa

Diane Horan from AmaWaterways

Drew Daly and Don Graff, CFO

Some great women

Celebratory dinner with Drew

Late night fun!

Last day at sea and a full work day

Tonight’s cocktail party is Oktoberfest! 🥨🍻

My first dinner in the Main Dining Room did not disappoint

Perfect stop for our last day!

Breakfast Mimosas with the girls

Swimming with the pigs in the Bahamas was so much fun!

Time to relax in our cabana

More pictures around the island

I did it! The tallest water slide in North America.

It was funny to have the elevator doors open to someone playing the piano!

The end of another amazing conference!

Woke up to this beautiful sunrise in Miami

Lunch at the Centurion Club in Miami before my flight home. Until next year….

Dubrovnik, Croatia

June 24, 2019

Luggage update, I followed up this morning with Aeroflot and the Tivat Airport Lost & Found department. They were hoping it might arrive this morning on the 9:15am flight from Moscow…it didn’t…so back to the same clothes as yesterday. I did get an email later that day that it was on the same flight today that I took yesterday, arriving at 5:30pm in Tivat-I was excited.

My driver was supposed to pick me up at 10am this morning but that had to be put off. They didn’t know how long it would take to send it to me once I cross the country into Croatia, they couldn’t do that easily.

We arrived to the airport at 5:30pm on our way to Dubrovnik. I went in with a positive feeling and lost and found said is this your bag? It wasn’t, they said this is what they sent….I went out to the belt to look around for myself….nothing. I started crying because I didn’t know what we could do. They were figuring out a plan and planned them to send from Moscow to Zagreb then Split-where I’m cruising from. I was just so worried I wouldn’t have it in time for departure. So I walked out defeated, red eyes and head down. As I was walking down the steps the lost and found lady ran out to me, there’s another bag they just found. We excitedly ran in and the belt starts again and my bag appeared! I was so happy I hugged her! Fresh, clean clothes and all my stuff!!

I got in the car and Zoran and I headed up to Croatia! Since it was after 6pm and he knew the tricks, we went to the less popular border crossing and got through in about 10 minutes.

The approach into Dubrovnik was spectacular as the sun was setting! So we stopped at a high vantage point and admired the beauty of the walled city.

Since the Old Town is completely surrounded by a wall, I was dropped off at one of the gates. As I navigated through Dubrovnik, it was already starting to hop, music, people, cafes, a lively scene. I couldn’t wait to get out and experience it.

Dubrovnik’s riches came from shipbuilding and the salt trade and has a beautiful old port, Stara Luka nested behind St. John’s Fort.

I am right on the famous Stradun or Placa-the main thoroughfare through town. The place to see and be seen. It was very busy but the cruise ships left so the crowds weren’t as bad at night.

Dubrovnik is the “Pearl of the Adriatic” and flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries. Luckily it never developed that socialist dullness like many of the other cities did during the Tito years of Yugoslavia. It was always the the glittering tourist destination bringing in money. Until 1991 when it was the only coastal city in Croatia to be dragged into the war and the city was devastated and tourism gone. Today it is back and better than ever albeit too many tourists!

I went to Dalmatino on recommendation for great seafood and atmosphere and it didn’t disappoint!

I ordered cold dry glass of local Rose to start, Local Tuna Sashimi with Mixed Salad, Spring Onions and Black Risotto with Cuttlefish-made with the ink from the cuttlefish-it had a very distinctive briny taste, I loved it. The dinner was even better than I expected.

I don’t mind going out to dinner alone at all, I actually enjoy it once in a while. I like to read and enjoy my food slowly plus the waiters always talk to me so I enjoy learning about new people.

Probably the hardest part after dinner was where to go?! Every door in every alley was spilling with music and people. Outdoor cafes lined the streets too and every seat was full. Groups of friends were laughing and having fun going from place to place. Dubrovnik has a great nightlife!

The views from my window were pretty and right on the Stradun so I could hear all the fun but it was so hot I had to close the windows and put on the air conditioner.

The best time to enjoy Dubrovnik’s Old Town is early morning before the day trippers and cruise ship guests descend upon the town. I really enjoyed seeing the town like this!

Same view from my window in the day.

I don’t watch Game of Thrones so all I know is that Dubrovnik is King’s Landing? I think?!

Quick breakfast-Burek with beef!

Norwegian Pearl to Alaska

June 2013

We took a cruise to Alaska on the Norwegian Pearl in June and the weather was perfect!

So excited to cruise Alaska with the family.

Day at sea, fun evening exploring the ship.

Red Onion Saloon, Skagway

White Pass Railroad

Bowling on the Norwegian Pearl

Halibut Fish & Chips on Creek Street

Swimming in the pool while sailing in Alaska.

Enjoys some relaxation onboard.

Victoria is absolutely charming! I loved the city, had high tea at the Fairmont, bought chocolates and wandered the quaint streets.

Last morning of the cruise….he couldn’t even stay awake for breakfast!

Exploring Seattle means Pike Place Fish Market first.

Rowan kept asking to eat all the fresh seafood we saw.

The famous Piroshky Russian Bakery was a required snack stop in Seattle!

Seattle from the Space Needle

What a great trip!

Norwegian Gem

June 2016

New England & Canada from

New York

We cruised to celebrate my parents 50th Anniversary! Eighteen of us, all five kids and grandkids, celebrated for a week and had an amazing time.

Starting the cruise off right!

Lunch the first day.

Enjoying the gorgeous day with the NYC backdrop behind us.

There is no better sail away than from New York on a sunny day.

Going under the Verrazano Bridge never gets old!

Lots of excitement and fun on the first night!

Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia was so beautiful! But it was a chilly day so chowder and lobster were in order!

We always met back up on deck and talked about our day.

Dinner in one of my favorite NCL restaurants, Le Bistro! Excellent French Cuisine and a sumptuous setting.

Woke up to beautiful lighthouses in Portland, Maine.

It’s such a typical New England town.

Of course a stop at a Lobster Pound was in order.

Back to the ship to relax and enjoy the pool.

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

The kids

The whole family

Enjoying the evening onboard.

Sailing into NY at sunrise is another favorite of mine!