Rome – Transatlantic 2009 – Wrap Up
December 15, 2009
The cruise/vacation is officially over. Yesterday we returned home. Our day in Fort Lauderdale was restful and uneventful. None us wanted to do anything but relax, so about all we did was swim in the pool at the hotel and eat. With a 4:30 AM wake up call for our flight back home, we turned in pretty early too. Both flights home were also uneventful and on time with no issues whatsoever.
This was an absolutely wonderful vacation. We ran around like idiots in Rome, Italy for 4 days at the start. I think we averaged over 6 miles walking a day touring the town and seeing the sights. The kids were glad to have been able to see Rome and experience the history there. For me, it was nice to finally get back there too since its been like 7 years since I have been to Rome.
Before the cruise, we were a bit worried about the Celebrity Solstice and its size. We have always sailed on smaller Celebrity (and other lines) ships. We were a bit worried about getting lost in a swarm of people. Now, this cruise was not nearly full, but still had many more folks than our previous cruises. And the end result is, So What? It was a complete non issue. In fact, the Celebrity Solstice is now my favorite cruise ship that I have sailed on. I found quite a few places where I could be alone with the ocean and do my stare time.
I also have to admit that I thought the Lawn Club and the Hot Glass Show would be a bit gimmicky, but I found them to be the best parts of the ship. Its amazing how immaculate they keep the lawn and how accessible it is. I do wonder if on a completely warm weather cruise, say the Caribbean, if the Lawn Club might be more jammed with people. I am guessing not since those cruises are more port intensive and we tend to not get off the ship on all ports. The Hot Glass Show was thoroughly entertaining. I thought it might be a very simplistic show and quite redundant. However, every show was different as the artists tried different pieces and techniques keeping it very fresh and entertaining. And the artists didnt just try simple pieces. They actually were experimenting to learn new techniques from the other artists and using the ‘free’ studio time to grow themselves. I think this show will just continue to get better and better with more and more artists discovering the benefits of participating.
The transatlantic cruises continues to be a favorite of ours. After running around Rome, and having 5 ports in 6 days, we were most definitely ready for 6 days at sea. I go on vacations to relax and recharge from work. While heavy sight seeing vacations are fun, one tends to come back more tired than when you left. Not having had a real vacation of any length this year, I need a recharging vacation and this turned out to be it. Perfect timing and the perfect vacation.
We are also presented with a dilemma for our future cruises. The kids missed two weeks of school for this vacation/cruise. The school has been really understanding about this and working with us on homework and stuff for the kids. Their philosophy has been that the kids will learn more on the vacation/cruise than in those two weeks of school. I think that is quite true, but not a prevalent thought in our society. Next year, Sean starts high school. Our plan has always been to not take the kids out of school for a cruise once they go to high school and school was ‘more important’ in prepping for the future. So our yearly family vacation over Thanksgiving will either need to shorten or be moved to a time of year when the kids have school off. They of course have time off in the summer, so we could adjust to then. But, thats not far away, so do we not take a cruise this year? Or do we take another soon? So of course, finances come into play with a cruise so soon. Or perhaps Suzanne and I go on the next cruise alone? Lots to think of on cruise planning! And we have begun already.
And where to cruise? We have never taken a cruise to the Caribbean. Perhaps its time? But the weather (we like colder weather over hot and humid) and the sheer number of boats and people in the Caribbean are a drawback. The Panama Canal cruise still beckons to us. We really want to do that one, but its usually one of the most expensive cruises. We also have our eye on an Arctic Circle cruise in the Iceland, Finland, Norway, etc area. So lots to think about!
Celebrity has done another great job. Except for the one bad meal and the communication issue on the shore excursion when our port was changed, they did an outstanding job. The cruise staff was their usual jovial, helpful and outstanding crew. Its a pretty safe bet that our next cruise will be on Celebrity once again.
I will close in saying that I hope you have enjoyed following our cruise adventure on my blog. Its been fun with the daily updates and its a great place for me to jot down my thoughts. Suzanne will begin processing all the photos from the cruise/vacation soonest and I hope to get them up here within the week.
Rome – Transatlantic 2009 Day 19 – Atlantic Crossing Day 6
December 13, 2009
Yesterday was the last sea day of our transatlantic cruise from Rome, Italy to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Thus far it has been an absolutely fabulous cruise. The weather finally turned against us as it pretty much rained all day. The temperature remained warm and the seas remained calm at 2 – 3 foot sea state. Actually, I rather enjoyed the rain. It was rather calming and relaxing. It didnt really keep me from doing much and it was rather cool looking to look out from the boat and see only fog, rain or clouds.
Being the last sea day (and day of the cruise), it was also the last day for the hot glass show. Two more shows were on tap and Sean was certainly hopeful of winning one of the raffles for a piece of glass. He really wanted to win the clown one of the gaffers had created. He has really taken a liking to the hot glass show and wants to take a vacation to New York to see the Corning Museum of Glass. The show normally holds a raffle for glass made previously at the end of the show.
After the first show, Sean was still empty handed. But he was still hopeful as the clown was being raffled off after the second show. Fairly early in the second show, they did the raffle. Attendance was down slightly because of the rain (the little show area is outdoors). They normally draw a ticket and you get to pick one of the two or three pieces they were raffling off. So, with the clown on the line, you really needed to be first. When the ticket was drawn, Sean’s hopes were dashed as his ticket wasnt selected. The ticket was actually 2 away from my ticket. The person who one did indeed select the clown. Now, Sean was just hopeful of winning any piece of glass. They raffled off two more pieces but our numbers weren’t called. He was a bit disappointed but settle in to watch one last piece of glass get created.
Shortly after starting, the gaffer doing the play by play came over and asked Sean his name. She then handed him a very nice paperweight they had made between shows and said they wanted to give him something since he had attended almost all the shows. It was a very nice gesture and Sean was pretty happy. When they finished the piece they were working on, they normally would have done one more piece (three gaffers so three pieces in 2 hour show), but time was short with only 10 minutes left. So instead they decided to do one last raffle of three more pieces. The first number drawn was Sean’s. So he was able to select a very nice vase (estimated by the artist to be worth $500 – $700). Boy, was he excited now. So basically, we now had three handcrafted, wonderful pieces of hand blown glassware to get home to Arizona. Think we will fine a Fed Ex in Fort Lauderdale and ship them home.
Sean and I then went to the Martini Bar to celebrate our success while Suzanne began packing up our clothes. It was a very nice close to the cruise.
We then went to our last dinner of the cruise. I enjoyed one of my favorite meals of the cruise. It was a 2 inch thick veal chop. It was very, very good. Suzanne and Savannah enjoyed the beef wellington and Sean had chicken kiev. It was a wonderful last meal of the cruise. Near the end, the Cellar Master came over to our table with a bottle of Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes and poured us each a glass. Oh my, what a great late harvest wine.
After dinner, we spent time visiting all the staff and friends we had met on the cruise and got them to sign our atlas. On every cruise we go on, we take an atlas and have the folks we meet sign their name by their hometown with their position and the cruise name. Its a great way to remember some of the past cruises. Also, since we normally cruise Celebrity, we run across many of the same staff and folks who know some of the previous staff we have had. Its always a great discussion starter.
After dinner and the signature hunt, we retired to the cabin for the night and went lights out about midnight since we had a 7:00 wake up call since we would be off the ship by 8:30 and our wonderful cruise would be over. We have already begun discussing the next one.
-
Subscribe via Email
Sign up to receive the latest Mr Papa's World site updates! -
Subscribe via RSS
