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Family Cruise from Boston to Quebec City, June 21 to 28, 2025
This trip which was planned over a year ago was on Holland America, with the route noted here. Our group had 11 peeps, and the cruise line staff were all great
Though the cruise started in Boston on 6/21, we arrived two days early to visit with fraternity brother Marty Green and his fiancee Roseanne in Plymouth, MA. They took us to a really nice French themed place, Mirbeau.
They even had lilly pads and a bridge like in the famous painting by Monet. One of the pictures below is the real painting.
Next day, 6/20, we went with Roseanne on a walk around their area with some local residents. It was a gorgeous day and we even made it over the hill!
After walking and some lunch, we went to do some local sightseeing, including of course the famous Plymouth Rock. They said it was a little underwhelming and ... they were right!!
Check out that rock, baby!! They even had a replica of the Mayflower.
That evening, Marty and Roseanne took me and Merle to Rye Tavern for a lovely dinner including a pre BD dessert.
Here is some evidence that I DID know Marty from back in the day, when men were not afraid to run around together in their underwear (circa '82), not that we were ever that young.
Now on to THE CRUISE!!!
We were actually some of the last people to board on 6/21, and the first order of business:
FTM!! (feed The Merle)
Our group met up at the welcome party on the rear pool deck as the ship backed out of Boston Harbor.
Clockwise from bottom left: brother David, cousin Wynne, cousins Steve and Brenda Manos, MW, sister Lori, Aunt Gloria, and Merle.
Here we are taking advantage of the excellent lighting, as we watched many smaller boats maneuver around the cruise ship and we didn't even run over one of them!
And you know, when they start the line dancing, we can't resist. Gotta kick, kick, kick, kick, and walk it all around....
At dinner on 6/21, which happened to be my 65th BD, they made me feel like a king. The staff sang a version of the HBD song (I presume) in Indonesian, but for all I know, the translation could have been "We hope you get drunk and fall off the ship!" (full disclosure: an Indonesian passenger said it was wishing long life...so they're good. Whew!)
Here is a closer view of the crown made by my Aunt Gloria with pictures from throughout my life.
Can't get more pesonalized than that!!
Well, here's a scandal for you: The ship people have their photographer take pictures of the tables (for sale) but someone (it wasn't me!!) took a picture of the picture.
Resolution: I promise I will send to Holland America 100% of all royalties earned in any manner by use of this image.
6/22: Our first port city, Portland, Maine. Quick stop, only about 4 hrs, to allow time for the ship to get to next place. We took some pics to get an idea of the size of the boat. Reportedly, there were over 1700 passengers on this cruise, and the ship weighs over 89,000 tons, for those who are fans of numbers.
We arrived at 7am, and much of the city was still asleep, but we got a good view of the downtown until it started raining.
Back on the ship, after a lunch including ice cream, w Lori's bf Art, Lori, Aunt G, and two others.
Our first night in the dining room without hearing the Indonesian BD song.
6/23, our second port city, Hallifax, Nova Scotia
Evidence that we were actually in Canada...along with the French signs, the exchange rate, the accents, and access to health care....
We visited the Public Garden. We would have done more walking but I had a little blister issue with some new shoes treated later with a bandaid. In the meantime, Merle had a chance to play mahjongg and I had a chance to swim some laps while there were no chillins in the pool.
6/24, third port city, Sydney, Nova Scotia. They had a giant fiddle at the dock.
First order of business, I went out with cousin Wynne to find a phone repair store. Her iPhone was locked, and none of us with all our online research could figure it out. We found a repair store and he just held the buttons a little longer and...Voila! Got it working again!! Yipee!!!
Then...it started raining and we all hid on the ship for a spell.
When the weather cleared, we went back out, we took another pic by the fiddle w another of our elder co-passengers in the background.
As Mr. Rogers would say, it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
They had a monument to the soldiers who were lost at sea during WWII in the icy Atlantic that was so realistic, it made Merle cold.
That night, after din din, we all had a chance to observe a beautiful sunset.
That evening, there was an Orange party on the main pool deck, and we had a chance to party with the lovely hostesses who sat us in the dining room every night. They rocked!
Merle held up the phone for a pic, so of course I jumped in front, not realizing I had just photobombed the others in our group!!
Okay, back to my place.
6/25, fourth port city, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI). It was another very pretty day, sunny, scattered clouds, cool breeze...definitely different from the heat down South.
Here taking a little break in the shade.
6/26 and 6/27 were days at sea, which meant only one thing: more crowds in the dining areas. BUT...we survived.
6/26: Lori and I did some laps around the ship, and since it got quite chilly, we dressed as Russian peasant women.
Since some had some fine dining credits for 6/27, this was our last night all dining as a group. Clockwise from 7 o'clock, cousins Terry and Chagit, Art...and you know the rest. Someone told them it was my BD again, so I got another Indonesian song and more cake! Woo hoo!
On the am of 6/27, Merle and I hit the gym early. How's that for a view from the treadmill!!??!! Beats a bunch of TV screens.
Later, we hung as a group, with some playing mahjongg, and some just watching, absorbing the together time. Then, of course, time for another snack. :-))
6/28: Disembarcation day, when we have our final chance to be well nourished before packing up and getting back to our lives.
And one final shot from cousin Brenda capturing our moment in the taxi line on the way to the Quebec City airport.
At the airport, right near the gate, there was a piano, just sitting there. David started playing. Some flute players were nearby, and we got a mini concert, captured below by videographer Lori!
How 'bout them apples!!!
Thanks for looking.
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