Inaugural Cruise December 2019
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!
Carnival Inspiration I
November 2013
We took a short cruise to Mexico on the Carnival Inspiration in November 2013. While it was chilly, we still had a fun time.
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!