We'd signed up for yet another transatlantic cruise on Oceania and just found out the cruise line would like to sell our cabin to somebody else.
They offered to move us to our choice of three other cruises, a Baltic cruise (we've already cruised the Baltic), an Eastern Mediterranean cruise, with stops in Egypt and Israel en route to Istanbul, and a classic Western Mediterranean cruise, starting in Venice and ending in Barcelona.
We chose the Western Mediterranean cruise on Oceania's brand new Riviera. The itinerary will be very similar to our November 2001 cruise on Holland American's Rotterdam with two of Kathy's brothers and their families.
On top of that, we've received a complimentary upgrade to one of the suites, which includes all sorts of nice little goodies.
We like transatlantic crossings - we've completed quite a few - but we enjoy the Mediterranean and there was no way we'd pass up this offer.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.
