Page 42 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020 SPRING EDITION INTERACTIVE

HAPPY TRAILS

Our group connected daily at the Captains Club lounge for
happy hour where the laughs and cocktails flowed. Within a
few days at sea, our group expanded to include a half-dozen
shipmates who shared the gang’s fun-loving attitude. Several
times other curious cruises asked us how long we had known
each other, only to be amazed to learn we had just met.

The shore excursion in Portugal added to our bond as we vis-
ited Lisbon and Sintra and enjoyed a world-class seafood lunch
before boarding our van to return to the ship. All of the sudden
several bottles of wine and plastic glasses appeared. The post-
excursion party was on – and continued into Captains Club
where we revelled in our shared experiences a shore.

The night before disembarking in Amsterdam we had one
last gathering, hugging and laughing as we took pictures of
our cruise family. We toasted until we were toasted and then
toasted some more. We also said goodbye to the crew and
servers who also became part of our seagoing gang. It was a
cheerful, tearful farewell.

That is until the next evening when most of us got together
for a Captain’s Club-style happy hour at our hotel in Amster-
dam. Unbeknownst to each other we had booked the same
post-cruise accommodation there. For two more evenings we
shared cocktails and a meal. One of our dining spots, appro-
priately named Happy Happy Joy Joy, was even more fun than
the name suggests.

It all added up to a trip of a lifetime, made possible by lots of
sea days and the Celebrity Silhouette. 1

Clockwise from top. The ship pulls in to
Lisbon. Our Lisbon shore excursion group
enjoy a world class seafood feast for lunch.
Our final group dinner at Happy Happy Joy
Joy in Amsterdam.

42 WDT MAGAZINE SPRING 2017