A trip on a cruise ship, the Noordam, is just what I need. The beautiful blue water, looking forward to visiting many ports, and not least of all, the feeling of being pampered is wonderful and should last a lifetime...but it won't, so I'll enjoy the week I have! Rich and I arrive on Saturday afternoon. The ship is leaving from Tampa, Florida for a 7 day trip. We are early so we check to see where we will board then go out to a great restaurant nearby. Our vacation has begun!!!! Not only are we looking forward to a great cruise, but it is to be our honeymoon!

We are a widow and a widower who have known each other for 20 years! In fact, the four of us were best friends. I lived in florida for the past 10 years and he lived in Massachusetts all of his life...until now, that is. Every time my late husband and I would go back to Massachusetts to see the kids and our old friends, it was Richard and Pat we would call first. My husband died in Massachusetts on June 22. Pat, Rich's wife, died on July 21st, same year.

Not only did each of us lose a spouse but our best friends too. We comforted each other and finally decided we would get married.

So here we are! Ready to start life over again. Since hurricane Mitch destroyed much of the islands we were scheduled to visit, we spent a lot of time aboard ship. Grand Cayman with the seven-mile beach, (white sand as far as the eye can see and beautiful blue water) is certainly worth the trip. The ship docks the next day at Cozumel, Mexico. Rich and I love that island. He sings with the strolling guitarists. Rich has a beautiful baritone voice. Everyone in the immediate vicinity stops what they are doing and listens to him with smiles on their faces. It's fun. They give the guitarists generous tips (I doubt if it would have been so much if not for Rich's singing (and Mexican songs...no less!).

Back on the ship we have wonderful entertainment. Ken Lucas and his friend, Casey (a duck puppet)are delightful. The mentalist act by the Eversons, is superb. In fact, we will see tham later on the television show, "The World's Greatest Magic Show." The dancers in georgeous costumes are "Las Vegas" type performers. The dinners are exceptional. All meals aboard ship are excellent. The waiters are the most polite people we have seen in a long time.

We dress for dinner nearly every night, but especially two special nights. The ship's bulletin lets us know which nights. Rich wears a derby one of those special nights and is an instant HIT. He also is a member of the entertainment night put on by the staff and guests. Rich was Tiny Tim. Very funny since he is 6'1 and weights about 250. I sit in the audience and take a video of the show.

One of the highlights of the trip is when we join a special party of honeymooners all much younger than we are, but fun just the same. A photographer takes our picture cutting the cake. The captain stands beside us. I won't soon forget this trip.

Honeymoon or vacation...taking a cruise ship is the best time you can have. Trust me.

by: Elaine

Caribbean cruise and travel magazine