It is rare that Crystal’s two ships are in the same port; years can go by before these two worldly vessels meet up. We were fortunate enough to be on Crystal Serenity in November 2009 when the two ships were ported in the same destination, Grand Turks.
Here we are on the Serenity, saying farewell to the Symphony. It was a most exciting moment in luxury cruising history. Listen to how the two ships exchange friendly conversation.
By Ruthanne Terrero
Taormina in Sicily, a medieval town set high on a cliff is one of the best Mediterranean cruise stops I’ve visited.
Why? It’s authentic. Even though tourists flood its main boulevard, people live here. They stop and greet the gentleman who is sweeping the streets. Mothers walk up and down the streets with baby strollers and cars and motor scooters are everywhere. Everywhere as in, you and your traveling companion having to take turns telling each other to watch your back as vehicles navigate their way down narrow, archaic streets.
The town is filled with coffee shops, pastry shops, pizza shops, nightclubs and full-fledged restaurants. Our first stop was to a little place serving coffee. The host greeted us warmly, let us pick our seat out front and didn’t flinch when we ordered two cappuccinos at 1 p.m. The drinks were excellent. I don’t know how they get the froth at the top to be so creamy. Probably because their cappuccino machine cost a heck of a lot more than the one in my kitchen that I purchased 25 years ago.
In Taorimina, the cappucino is excellent.
By Ruthanne Terrero
Bari, in the Apulia (Puglia) region of Italy, has become an increasingly popular cruise port over the past few years. We stopped there on an itinerary that sailed out of Venice, first visiting Hvar, Croatia and continuing on its way along the coast of Italy.
For some reason, I thought Bari would be a small village, but it’s a big city divided into an old town and a modern area. It’s a university town of half a million people with a thriving commercial port. Our ship, the Seabourn Spirit, was able to dock right at the pier rather than using the tender transport it had to use in other ports we stopped in. Bari is, and always has been, ready for the big-time ships. If you’re looking for Bari on the map, it’s right in the heel of the boot, in the southwestern portion of the country.
Fishing boats in Bari
The woman who cuts my hair is not your typical cruiser. She is 31 and a
former break-dancer living in Brooklyn. When she has a cold, she takes homeopathic remedies. If she ever has a child, he/she will eat only organic foods. Her hair changes color frequently and she pretty much eschews the status quo. She’s just not the type to take a standard vacation of any sort.
Then she got engaged.
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