Travel and Adventure by Various Travel Authors

By Marilyn Zeitlin

With our 50th anniversary approaching, my husband, Maurice, suggested a party. But some of our close friends lived on the other coast or abroad. And given my previous experience with parties, I knew who would do the work, even with hired help and catering.

I had a different idea: "Let's go on a cruise," I said. "Let's get away from everything, have a cake and bottle of champagne all by ourselves."

We signed up for the two-week Mediterranean Medley on the Queen Victoria, for what could be more romantic than Spain and Italy? We had visited those countries before, and were excited about returning. We would also be able to visit places we hadn't been to before, such as Gibraltar, a delightful country we had previously associated with a big rock and an insurance company.

We flew to London from Los Angeles, spent one night at a hotel and took an hour-and-a-half car ride to Southampton for boarding. We were glad to finally open the door to our stateroom — a well-planned all-in-one living-sleeping room. On the veranda were a small table and two chairs that we used each day for reading, talking, snacking and watching the sun rise and set over the water.

Everything on this American-owned, British operated, Italian-built cruiser was ship-shape — a spa area with heated tile lounges facing the sea, new gym equipment, polished wood and brass that recalled the Gilbert and Sullivan tune about polishing door handles leading to becoming captain in "The Queen's Navy." There was also a great library with 6,000-plus books and a librarian, a bookstore with the latest best-sellers, 13 bars or clubs, two pools with Jacuzzis, high tea every afternoon, dancing and entertainment every night.

The service was impeccable. The crew gave us all the information we'd need in case of an emergency — how to activate our light and the whistle on our floating vests, how to safely board the tenders that would transport us to shore in some ports and how to navigate customs. Best of all, knowing that we were celebrating a special occasion, the ship's personnel surprised us with a large vase of flowers and bottle of champagne.

We celebrated our anniversary with three British couples, our constant dinner companions, with a strawberry shortcake heavy on berries and whipped cream topped with a candle. This surprise was delivered one evening after dinner, and a photographer was right there with his camera. One couple was celebrating their 40th anniversary and one man his 60th birthday, so there were three festive cake evenings on our cruise.

Dinners with our new friends were a highlight of the cruise.

We didn't agree on some political issues, but we Yanks, as the others called us, held our own. Mostly we discussed the exceptional food and the service provided by the waiter, his helper and the sommelier. Another high point was the evening they wheeled in a cart to flambŽ our Cherries Jubilee.

The best part of cruising, of course, is that we unpacked only once during the voyage. We had decided not to overpack, so we occasionally did laundry in the ship's free washing machines. Another nice surprise was that the ship's laundry room is a great place for meeting people, sharing tips on shopping and restaurants at the next destination, or engaging in bits of ship gossip. Even ironing didn't seem like a chore when someone else was telling jokes. Another discovery was that men whose wives have always done their laundry were sometimes in the laundry room so that their wives could have a real vacation.

One question we've been asked a lot since we got home was whether we were bored or felt cooped-up on the ship. So many activities were available on the ship that my problem was trying to choose between a movie, a dance class, an aerobics workout or a lecture — all held at the same time. There were also passengers carrying passports from 30 different countries, so conversation was also a pleasure. My husband spent many hours on his laptop or in the library researching a new book he is writing, and then, of course, there were the various ports and the stores, restaurants, museums, architecture and locals we found there.

Returning to the ship, we found live bands playing Latin, calypso, disco and '60s music. Then after dancing the night away, we returned to our stateroom to find chocolates on the pillows.

It beat having a party any day!

IF YOU GO

To book a cruise on the Queen Victoria: www.cunard.com

We stayed at the Stafford Hotel in London before boarding ship. For service, comfort, location, understated design and an excellent restaurant, this hotel was a real find. www.thestaffordhotel.co.uk.

Marilyn Zeitlin is a freelance travel writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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