Random Thoughts

This was a cruise that I was somewhat worried about.  We started this cruise as just the two of us....no past friends would be with us.  I was concerned that the trip might be too much for Charlie and we would be so far away from home.  My fears were baseless....Charlie did well and we had a great time despite the weather!

I had been corresponding with Mike Martin on Cruise Critic about excursions for quite a while.  When we met on board and I met his wife, Pam, we really seemed to "bond".  In addition to the excursions, we met every night for drinks and had dinner together most nights in Blu. Also, enjoyed our time spent with Linda and Jim Smith.  

The sea days pasted quickly.  We enjoyed the lectures, especially Marlene and Chet Solender. My Mah Jongg games were pretty much a bust.  Much better on Princess!

The ports on the first cruise were good but not new to us.  In LeHarve, we went to Mont St. Michel but the weather was so bad that it was a horrible day!  Dover was a great day...thanks, Mike, for arranging it.  Brugge was wonderful, as usual...especially the beer!

Most of the ports on the second cruise were new to us and I was really looking forward to them. 

Berlin was good, we had a great guide, but again the weather impacted our enjoyment.  Pouring rain at the Constentration camp may be appropriate but not fun! Our time in Berlin was rushed but we saw a lot.  I was so disappointed with Checkpoint Charlie...so tacky!  

Tallinn....again, cold, rainy.....couldn't really enjoy it much.

St. Petersburg...the first day getting thru Russian customs was awful! The weather was cold and dreary but no rain.  SPB is really a remarkable place to visit but you would definitely need more than two days to really see it.  All we really got was an overview but I'm happy for what we got.  Julia was a wonderful guide and you can tell she loves her city and her country....even Putin!!  We stayed off that subject!  The second day's weather was better and we continued at our hectic pace.  We ended our day with lunch in a Russian home.  That was truly wonderful.  I've tried to think about what I thought was the most impressive....I can't pick one site.  Each one was impressive but in a different way.

Helsinki was great....Stockholn OK but that was Charlie's fault!.....Copenhagen also was good.

All in all, we had a very good cruise. Charlie did so good.  I keep thinking that we won't be able to cruise much longer but maybe it won't be because Charlie' condition makes it impossible....it may be because we run out of $$$$$$s!!!!!