Page 49 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2023 SPECIAL CRUISE EDTION
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A RELAXING 14-NIGHT VOYAGE FROM CHARMING QUEBEC CITY TO SUNNY FLORIDA
s several longtime friends with tive. And yet another friend was quaran-
continuing COVID concerns tined in a tiny porthole cabin for 10 days
have been canceling recent in May on a cruise from Miami to Mon-
A cruises—one couple saying that treal after testing positive.
they have no idea when they'll travel But that didn't discourage us. In Octo-
again—my husband Carl and I (who have ber 2021we took our first cruise since
not yet had COVID—knock on wood!-- 2019, from our San Diego hometown to
and are fully boosted) just completed our San Francisco, Catalina, and Ensenada—
fourth cruise within a year. on Celebrity Millennium for eight
Our friends had second thoughts after nights—with only 950 passengers (capac-
hearing horror stories from others. One, ity 2,400). This past April we booked a
following a back-to-back Mediterranean 12-night Hurtigruten Expedition inaugu-
cruise, came down with COVID in May ral British Isles cruise from Dover, Eng-
and had to quarantine at a London airport land, with only 222 passengers (capacity
hotel for 12 days. Still testing positive— 500), including only 17 Americans. Pas-
and with COVID tests back then neces- sengers had to wear masks except for
sary to enter the U. S.--her husband can- outdoors--or in the dining room, where
celed their return flight to San Diego and our temperature was taken each evening
rebooked via Mexico City and Tijuana— prior to seating. In August we did a re-
where they peat of our
walked across 2018 all-time
the U. S. border favorite
(with no re- cruise—14
quired COVID nights on
tests) and Viking Ocean
caught a ride Cruises from
home. Another Bergen, Nor-
couple was way, to Mon-
stranded in treal (about
Scotland (not a 900 passen-
bad place to be gers), with port
stuck!) for 10 stops in the
days until they Shetland Is-
tested nega- lands, Faroe Is-
WINEDINEANDTRAVEL.COM 49
