Donna
Sherf
writerworks@webtv.net
Itinerary: Mexican Riviera
Sailing Date: November 30th, 2009
Age: 70+
Occupation: Retired Travel Agent
Number of Cruises: 35+
I don't make resolutions! Not on New Year's Day or any other
day of the year. However, while sailing on Radiance of the
Seas, with eight family members made me rethink my rules. We
sailed out of San Diego, all nine of us standing at the
railing on the bow of the ship. What an exit! A moment that
takes your breath away as we sailed past the famous hotel in
Coronado. Less than two days later the Radiance would anchor
in Cabo San Lucas, the first stop on a Mexican Riviera
itinerary. This sailing was perfect for our family as the
most southern port would be Acapulco. We vacationed there
for more than 30 years and some of us hadn't been back in a
number of years.
Radiance of the Seas is eight years old and she has been
beautifully maintained like an old house in an upscale
neighborhood. The Centrum, which was decorated for the
holidays, with evergreen garlands wrapping the balcony
railings, and a two-story tree complete with lights and
ornaments. Children, who instinctively knew not to touch,
were in awe. Their eyes twinkling at the sights. On a deck
that could be seen from the floor of the Centrum was a large
table laden with gingerbread houses, mechanical santas,
nutcrackers, reindeers and signs sporting, "Do Not Touch".
Every time I was near the Centrum there was always live
music and people laughing and talking and dancing. It was
the place to be!
On the starboard side of the ship is a bank of six
elevators. Four facing the sea and two the Centrum. The
first two days of the cruise everyone crowded into the lifts
with wheelchairs, walkers and canes that were used to keep
the doors from closing. There were unhappy people but by the
third day you could ride an elevator without pushing or
shoving. The problem had been solved by the passengers
either walking the stairs or using the elevators in the
forward of the ship.
I didn't mention, this cruise was our annual family reunion.
Five year's ago, someone suggested, we cruise and leave the
cooking and cleaning to the staff! Capital idea. Our
criterias are clean ships, quality meals and superior
entertainment. The ports-of-call are incidental.
The cabins were white-glove clean. Adequate closet and
drawer space. The downside was the bathroom. Not the size or
the circular shower but the odor; like my parents' outdoor
latrine in Northern Minnesota. I used a lot of perfume to
mask the smell! Also, I wish that the hallways weren't
always cluttered with carts and vacuum cleaners but then the
cabins may not be white-glove clean!
The meals in the Cascades Dining Room were, some kind of
good! In eleven nights not one dish was repeated and if
someone at our table, mentioned a dish that was to die for,
it mysteriously appeared on the center of the table for all
of us to savor. The food in the Windjammer Cafe was also
good with many stations to choose from. I especially liked
the idea of no trays. By filling a plate, you don't eat as
much (?) and food isn't wasted.
What can I say about the entertainment? Grand, splendid,
awesome.....There are not enough adjectives to describe the
shows we saw from tango dancing to Motown to magicians to
jugglers to the cruise director belting out a song! We had
it all.
There were so many good things about this cruise but one
factor, I did like, was the dinner seating at 6:15 and the
show at 9:00. We didn't have to rush through dinner to get
to the Aurora Theater. Accolades, to whomever, listened to
that suggestion!
Well, at the beginning of this epistle, I noted that I don't
make resolutions. But the Radiance sails into the Port of
Tampa (where we live) in the fall of 2010 and I resolve to
sail on her again during the "snowbird season"!
