antmaril

A little background -- My best friend (Nancy) and I have been best friends for 60 years. Yes, you read that right. When our parents moved in next door to each other, I was three years old and Nancy was two. I am also close to her husband, as we all went to school together and they have been married for almost 44 years. My husband passed away six years ago.

I like to travel, but it is hard because I am a fairly young widow. Most of my friends are married, older than me or have some physical limitations. I was thinking about taking a cruise by myself, but that really doesn't appeal to me. I got to thinking about that and decided that because I would be paying the single supplement anyway, that I should take someone with me. Nancy and her husband have had some financial difficulties and she would not be able to do this with me unless I pay for it. We are having lunch on Friday and I am going to offer a cruise on the Gem in September to Canada/New England. I would pay for everything except her gratuities and, of course, her spending money. We would have the UBP and would eat in the complimentary dining rooms.

So, if you were my best friend, would you accept this gift from me? Would you be insulted? That is the last thing I want. The way I see it is the trip is a gift for both of us. She is giving me the gift of her time and companionship and I am giving her the gift of travel.

What do you think?

I was on a Princess cruise to Alaska and we took this excursion. We just loved it. We took the bus up and the train back. Our bus driver pulled over a couple of times, so we could see bears on the side of the road. We stopped on the way for some photo opportunities. Lunch was included and very nice -- a BBQ. Got some wonderful photos on the train. We were gone about 7.5 hours or so.

Sit on the right side of the bus (facing front) and the right side of the train (facing the engine).

I have stayed at the Hotel Sorrento and the Sheraton Downtown. Both hotels are very nice, but the Sheraton's location was more convenient to Pike Place Market.

My late husband and I took our first cruise in 1982 on the NCL Starward. We stopped in Nassau and St. Thomas. We didn't cruise again until we went on the Big Red Boat in 1991 with our then four year old son.

My late husband and I took our first cruise in 1982 on the NCL Starward. We stopped in Nassau and St. Thomas. We didn't cruise again until we went on the Big Red Boat in 1991 with our then four year old son.