A recent post started us remembering the wonderful sights we have seen on previous cruises - We love "first times" such as:-
Leaving San Fran on our first Alaska cruise on Sitmar, Fair Sea. The pristine Inland Pasage.
Leaving Leningrad on the Royal Viking Star past the Russian N. Atlantic fleet.
Sailing the Stockholm Islands.
Sitting on the stern of the RV Star leaving the Kiel Canal with the sight of beautiful Nordic ladies on sailbots following us.(Looking like the mermaid in Copenhagen,)
Sailing out of many ports on Royal Viking ships with the RV Music, "As we sail away" ringing in our ears. We still hum this as we sail, does RSSC have sail away music?
Leaving many ports with the sound of local bands bidding farewell. Bag pipes in Duneden, NZ, snake dance in Singapore, Luau music in Honolulu.
Sailing into Sydney Harbor early in the morning, anchoring in Padang Bei, Bali in an early morning mist.
Anchoring on the Song of Flower in Caen, Normandy on June 5th 1994 before enjoying a wonderful welcome en route to a re-enactmant of the parachute drop of D-Day in St. Mer D'eglise.
We are sure that many of you have similar "firsts" you would like to share with us. We look forward to reading them.
Happy travels, we are counting down to our 11/6 transatlantic - only 6 weeks and we will,hopefully,be en route.
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What lovely memories!

Brass bands met us and serenaded our departure at each Ukrainian port in the Black Sea. Other memories:

A sea of people watching us come into the port of Sevastopol.

Cruising the Bosporus, both during the day and at night. Breathtaking.

The nightlife in Papeete as seen from the Paul Gauguin on a Saturday night.

David and Betty, we wish you a wonderful upcoming cruise and loved hearing your experiences. Though not as seasoned travellers as you are or visiting such exotic ports, we still remember our first cruise as 23 year olds on an old tub called the Mardi Gras, the first Carnival ship. Lower and upper berth, inside cabin, with the toilet inside of the shower, and having to go down the hall to a special room to blow dry your hair. (which was a slightly different color back then! LOL) We were in heaven and thought we had truly arrived.

Another first was on the Crown Princess, having our very first balcony cabin. We sat in Charlotte Amalie Harbor sipping champagne on our balcony at sunset and thought, it doesn't get much better than this!

Then our first luxury cruise on Seabourn for our 25th anniversary. Having the deck barbeque under the stars as the band played Chicago's "You're my Inspiration". I sang it (along with the band that is) to the woman that I adore, totally entranced and totally oblivious to the fact that everyone was now watching our not so private exchange.

What Memories!

Being greeted by an elephant in Cochin, India, and the absolutely horrendous amount of poop it generated!

Sailing into Venice in the early morning sun. We were in one of the forward Vista suites on Oceania -- could see everything in every direction. It was spectacular!

I wish you safe, happy and healthy travels, 6 weeks is sooner than you think. I wish you a wondeful time.

Mrs.Moose

Sailing into Villetta, Malta past all the walls. We felt like we had been tranported back to the Middle Ages.

Although not in an exotic destination, sailing out of NYC past the Statue of Liberty is a very moving experience.

David & Betty: Your cruise will be here before you know it! Enjoy!

Babs

Sailing out of Venice..it looked like a movie set.

Sailing into Istanbul was very, very exotic. The commentary from the guides on the ship was a wonderful addition.

Being anchored outside of different islands in Polynesia and watching the scenery change as the boat turned and drifted. It was the best view we have ever had. No hotel with ocean view could beat it.

Celebrating my birthday on a skidoo in Bora Bora and the wonderful birthday party on the PG. The best 21st again birthday ever.

I have to agree with Babs that NYC is a moving experience.

For a literally "moving" experience, it had to be the wild ride into Rome during the storm at night while on the VOF.

The first time we met our "cruise critic" friends in the observation lounge. We were so scared that these folks might be folks we would not like.I will always remember Arlene's reindeer candy canes and how that broke the ice.

Seeing Ray and Todd talking at the LA airport for our PG trip and realizing they were one of us and beginning one of the most fun weeks we have ever had on a cruise.

And last, but not least, finally reaching the ship with Denise in Malta!! We never thought we'd get there before it sailed away with our husbands...we could see it, but couldn't find the road to it.

A cruise revolving around Carnival Rio. What a colorful pageant with some beautiful and scantily dressed women. Whoa!

Tahiti....well, it was just magical.

Voyager visiting stunning Norway and Capt. Dag's hometown and being met by a flotilla of local residents in their boats; local high school band playing for each tender and visiting Capt. Dag's home.

Cheers! Ray
So live that your memories will be part of your happiness.
(Author Unknown)

Going through the Panama Canal - and knowing I have a photograph of my Grandmother STANDING on the floor of the unfinished Canal, in front of the Gatun locks.

Seeing our ship waiting for us to reboard in the Bay of St. Tropez after Diana had spent a couple days in the hospital in Perpignan, France. It was really a great sight to see.

We are really enjoying the reminiscences. We are sure that those reading them are prompted to think about other wonderful, and maybe not so memorable, experiences.
Another "funny???"
We had a spare day in Aukland, NZ before our Auk-LA cruise, and really enjoyed the ferry to Devonport and to an extinct volcano, can't recall the name. Having recently had heart sugery I was rather reluctant to climb to the top but decided that I should really "give it a go." I reached the top and enjoyed the magnificent views. My heart worked very well and I was full of praise for my surgeon. However, in the middle of the night, I awoke, unable to move!!. I had manged to do something bad to my hip. Luckily there was a medical center next to the hotel, and $25 later I was x-rayed, given a shot and was relatively comfortable. I boarded the ship in a wheel chair and enjoyed the masseurs and a wonderful ship's doctor. Ahhh!, happy memories. David.

Andi,
I wholeheartedly second what you posted that we experienced together! How about the evening we saw Stromboli erupt (while wearing our towel pashminas)? Shopping in Corfu?

Sailing out of Venice was magical. Alan and I will hold that beautiful memory forever!

Our day trip to Moscow. An incredible experience that we will never forget!

As strange as it may seem when I try to pin it down to a few magical moments it is hard. I seem to picture people or animal encounter moments more than scenery moments.

The experiences in Africa have to be first, the lioness rejoining the pride and all her sisters running to greet her, the two male elephants challenging one another. The leopards. So many great moments.

The penguin in Antartica that pooped his pink poop right on my face. The zodiac ride around giant icebergs like modern art sculptures

Of the people memories probably the memorable was Tom Matassa with a rose in his teeth and Erika dancing to Bolero on DDD. That was something I will never forget. Also the gift exchange on that trip was hillarious.

Meeting so many wonderful people. My afternoon drink with Suzanne, Sheri and John in Dubrovnik. That day John told his Bruce Willis stories and volunteered to work on my web and transformed it. Later he created this board. What a wonderful moment that was meeting John.

The icebergs, brilliant sunshine and the sea like glass at 3.00 am in the morning on the Navigator in June this year was pretty special. Sailing from Spitzbergen to Norway.

Each trip has its magical moments whether it is the people you are with or the things that you see. We are so blessed to be able to experience these things.

David and Betty that was Rangitoto that you climbed. That is SOME climb.

Ah..those lovely pashminas....I have since replaced them with the REAL thing. Watching that volcano erupt with you and our giggles are wonderful memories, Denise.

While I already posted my thoughts on some other (non-related) thread that started at about the same time, I am loving reading these posts! David and Betty, thanks for starting this thread. Makes me want to go to more places! Ngaire, you're right, we are truly blessed to have the opportunity to visit so many lovely places in the world.

More funny experiences.

Visiting Bali with friends we were told NOT to feed the monkeys. Our friend Sam Yellen, chose to ignore the warning and was bitten by a monkey, much to everyones amusement. He had a tetenus shot on the ship and we "special ordered his dinner for him - a bunch of bananas! The same Sam, a few days later was stung by a sea urchin, the beach attendants from the ship, The Ocean Pearl, "beat" his lower leg and advised him to "pee" on it to take away the sting. Of course all of his male friends offered to help!!!