Toss Your Cane and Play Ball!

I didn’t know what surprises were in store when I boarded Oceania’s Riviera in Miami for its voyage to Central America. The “Atolls to the Yucatan” cruise from February 10 to March 2, 2023, appeared to be the same kind of luxurious, enlightening trip I’d previously experienced with Oceania. That it was. And more. It was lavish, but the enlightenment, which I’ll explain, lifted my spirits.Our 20 days proved to be as charming as my companion and I had anticipated, what with the pampering from the staff, the warming of the sun and the uplifting of the Caribbean breezes. “It’s pillow-chocolate kind of pampering,” said one fellow cruiser. “There’s a lot not to do, and I love that,” said another. “I come to eat. I have lobster every night,” said a third. The cruise’s theme seemed to be: “Your wish is our command.” Our first stop was St. Kitts. The reggae music whipped up our spirits as we wandered ashore in Basseterre to explore former sugar plantations. On the next stop, Kingston, Jamaica, we meandered through the 19th century buildings. On Dominica, it was encouraging to witness how the community recuperated after the 1995 hurricane. Contests and ContentmentThe islands were enchanting, but we had an itch for physical activity, so we decided to join some friendly competition. The staff awarded points for merchandise to encourage passengers to take part. Among the many choices for activity: golf, table tennis, bocce ball, beanbag tosses, and shuffleboard, all available indoors when the wind was blustery. Sports enthusiasts could schedule rallies of paddleball and pickleball. There were mental competitions as well: Daily trivia sessions, crosswords, sudoku, and Mensa quizzes helped rack up those prized points. The biggest point-gatherer was the art scavenger hunt. We worked from a sheet featuring cut-out sections of the art aboard the ship. The challenge was to identify the art from those tiny pieces. We trekked all over the vessel and compared our exasperation as well as victories with fellow art lovers.There were other ways to socialize, of course. Dancers took classes from line dancing to merengue, while all passengers could dance the night away to live music. The creatively inclined enjoyed crafts like bracelet-making and needlepoint, and acrylics class lured those even more artistically inclined. Riviera is one of only two ships afloat with dedicated art studios for classes. People gathered in various cubbyholes to do puzzles, play bridge, or play mah-jongg. Serious foodies took classes from Julia Child’s former assistant (there’s a dedicated cooking-class kitchen aboard too). Passengers flocked to the historian’s presentations to learn the islands’ history. Elaborate entertainment and numerous excursions integrated adventurers, and sessions on the deck to observe wildlife created a gallery of binoculared enthusiasts. The activities were entertaining, but the opportunity to get to know our fellow travelers was even better.Joy in the JourneyThe powerful allure of finding (and playing with) new friends was universal, but one moment was truly remarkable to witness. There were some mobility-challenged passengers rolling by in wheelchairs or leaning on walkers or canes. I saw first one, and then another actually toss their apparatuses aside to.… By  Marcia LewisEXCERPT ONLY. CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.This is an excerpt from the latest issue of Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine. To continue reading, click above for a digital or print subscription.
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