Cruisin’ Into Retirement: A Travel Agent’s Favourite Alaska Story

For seventeen years, I’ve had the joy of helping people book cruises. I started with Expedia Cruises, learning the ropes one sailing at a time, and eventually moved to Maritime Travel, where I could offer full‑service planning. I’ve always loved it — not just the bookings, but the people. Many of my clients stay in touch on Facebook and Instagram, and I get to follow along as they share their sunsets, glacier photos, and celebratory cocktails. It’s a lovely way to see the world through their eyes.

Last spring, I got a call from someone retiring early. “I want to go to Alaska on the Star Princess. Book the cheapest inside cabin — but make sure I get the premium beverage package.”

I knew this couple enjoyed fine wine and good scotch, so that request made perfect sense. Easy enough. Done.

Two weeks later, an email arrived: two more couples wanted to join them. One wanted the cheapest inside cabin, and the other preferred a balcony. All three couples wanted the premium alcohol package. They were longtime colleagues, close friends, and — as I would soon learn — enthusiastic partiers.

The second couple asked about bidding for an upgrade from the cheapest inside to a balcony. I told her, “Put in the lowest bid plus four dollars and hope for the best.” She laughed and said she’d try it.

Then came the surprise: they added me to their group WhatsApp chat. Their group name? Cruisin’ Retired Bitches. They all worked together, all heading into retirement together, and all absolutely thrilled about this trip. They have t-shirts for the cruise!

For the last three months, I’ve been part of their chatter — the jokes, the planning, the excitement, the countdowns, and the daily “What are you packing?” debates. It’s been delightful watching their energy build as the cruise gets closer.

And yesterday, the best news arrived: The couple who booked the inside guarantee had their upgrade bid accepted. Not just any balcony — a deluxe mid‑ship balcony on the bump‑out, which means a huge private space with an incredible view. They were over the moon. The upgrade price was a total of $1,130.00 much cheaper than booking a balcony at the time they did but she took a chance and it worked for her. Then she showed a copy of her bottle return. She almost had enough bottles to pay for the upgrade. The post said "we party a lot"! I'm sure they will make good use of the Premium Alcohol Package!

That's one huge bottle refund!

I saw this online and thought they would love "Bar" bingo.  I gave it to them with their tickets

Moments like this remind me why I love what I do. Cruises aren’t just itineraries and cabin categories. They’re celebrations, friendships, new chapters, and shared joy. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get invited along for the ride — even if it’s only through a WhatsApp group full of retired cruisers who know how to have fun.

A Lifelong Love for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

My love for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo began in 1990, on a summer coach tour around the UK. It was August, and tucked into our itinerary were tickets to the Tattoo — something I knew was special, but I had no idea just how deeply it would stay with me.

That night, sitting outdoors beneath the towering walls of Edinburgh Castle, I was completely swept away. The music, the precision, the pageantry, the massed pipes and drums echoing through the stone — it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I enjoyed the show so much that I quietly promised myself: one day, I’ll come back.

It took nearly three decades, but I kept that promise.

In 2018, Cec and I — along with our daughter, son‑in‑law, and granddaughter — booked a UK cruise with Princess Cruises. And this time, we made absolutely sure our plans included tickets to the Edinburgh Tattoo. The date of our performance was August 11th, which happened to be my son‑in‑law’s birthday. With his Scottish ancestry and previous visits to Scotland, it felt like a meaningful way to celebrate.

The show was every bit as magical as I remembered. Watching it again, this time with our family, made it even more special. Everyone loved it — the music, the colours, the military bands from around the world, and of course the iconic setting. There is simply nothing like sitting outdoors at night, with Edinburgh Castle illuminated behind the performers, the sound of the pipes rising into the sky.

Whenever someone tells me they’re planning a trip to Scotland, I always mention the Tattoo. It’s not just a performance — it’s an experience. A tradition. A celebration of culture and history that leaves you feeling proud, moved, and thoroughly entertained.

Every year, the BBC broadcasts a special featuring highlights and most of the show. If you ever have an hour and want to be transported, watch the video below. It captures the spirit beautifully, but nothing compares to being there in person, surrounded by the music and the castle walls.

For me, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will always be one of the great joys of travel — a promise kept, a tradition shared, and a memory that continues to shine.

 

A great day to view large ships at Canada Place

Yesterday at Canada Place felt like one of those classic Vancouver cruise days—busy, bright, and full of anticipation. Three ships were in port, and two of them were true giants of the sea: Celebrity Edge, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, and the elegant Seabourn Encore.

The terminal buzzed from early morning onward. You could see excited passengers rolling their suitcases along the promenade, pausing to take photos of the ships towering over the harbour. The Edge and the Ovation, both large and modern, dominated the skyline with their sleek lines and colourful hull art. In contrast, the Seabourn Encore brought a quieter kind of luxury—smaller, refined, and unmistakably upscale.

For ship watchers, it was a perfect day. For travellers, it was the beginning of something special: new adventures, new ports, and that familiar thrill of stepping aboard. Canada Place has seen countless cruise days over the decades, but when three ships arrive together—especially ships of this calibre—it becomes a little celebration of travel right in the heart of the city.

The orange lift is a bar.  When you tender, it rolls down to the waterline so people in wheelchairs have great access!

This ship has the nicest tenders!  You can see they are proper chairs with a high back.  So comfortable.

The North Star is a mechanical arm with a glass observation capsule

I couldn't get a good picture of the Seaborn Encore as the pier was crowded.  I got this picture online.  It's an ultra luxury ship with an all suite, all verandah design.

A lovely Thank You letter

I read this and liked it so much, I thought I would share.

A Thank You Letter to President Trump, From a Grateful Canadian.

Somebody had to say it. Might as well be a real estate agent in Charlottetown.

Mr. President, on behalf of a country that has spent 158 years being pleasant, apologetic, and largely unnoticed , thank you. You have done more for Canadian self-awareness in a few years than a century of Heritage Minutes ever managed.

Thank you for reminding us there is an entire world out there that wants and needs what we produce, and for the shove, not always gentle, toward broadening our trade beyond one large, conveniently close customer.

Thank you for elevating the stature, the awareness, and the significance of Canada in the minds of Americans who, respectfully, were overdue for some education about their neighbour to the north.

Thank you for taking Canada from an occasional footnote or moose in a pool closing story in your news broadcasts to the lead story in many of them. Nothing sharpens a national identity quite like being talked about.

Thank you for reminding Canadians, and, to an even greater extent, Americans , that a democracy works best when its people are informed and educated enough to tell the difference between competence and an undeliverable promise.

Thank you for helping the world see that we matter, and for positioning us, almost by contrast, as a case study in good governance, fair trade, and ethical political practice.

Thank you for uniting Canadians from Victoria to St. John's around something we can all agree on, which, frankly, only ever happens on rare occasion during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thank you for the great national rediscovery of the grocery store aisle, turns out reading the label on a jar of pickles is a patriotic act now.

Thank you for accelerating our exit from the habit of keeping all our eggs in one very large, unpredictable basket.

Thank you for the sudden, unusual spectacle of provincial premiers agreeing with each other, and occasionally with Ottawa.

Thank you for reminding snowbirds that a Canadian dollar buys rather more in our own stores in February than it does in Florida.

Thank you for helping us to remind ourselves that Canada is an exceptional place to travel and explore. You’ve also enlightened growing numbers of your own people to this fact.

We remain, as ever, your polite, and thanks to you, considerably harder to overlook neighbour to the north.

Surrey Deserves Better: Two High‑Risk Offenders Released Here in Just 48 Hours

Surrey residents woke up this week to two separate public safety warnings — each announcing the release of a high‑risk violent offender into our city. According to the Surrey Police Service, Jonathon Anders Muzychka and Skylar Wayne Pelletier, both designated high‑risk offenders with histories of serious violent offences, will now be living in our community.

Two releases. Two days. One city expected to absorb the risk.

This is not acceptable.

Surrey is home to more than 700,000 people — families, children, seniors, and workers who deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhoods. Yet once again, Surrey is being asked to accommodate individuals who pose a significant risk to public safety.

Both Muzychka and Pelletier are subject to:

• Extensive court‑ordered conditions

• Electronic monitoring

• Curfews

• Ongoing police oversight

These conditions exist because authorities believe these individuals present a real and ongoing risk. And still, Surrey is chosen as the placement location — twice in two days.

Residents have every right to ask: Why Surrey? Why again?

Rehabilitation Matters — But So Does Fairness

I fully support rehabilitation. Successful reintegration must be part of any responsible justice system. But rehabilitation cannot come at the expense of community safety, nor should one city be repeatedly selected to house offenders who pose elevated risks.

Surrey is not a dumping ground for high‑risk placements.

Reintegration must be shared fairly across jurisdictions, not concentrated in a single community that is already managing rapid growth, complex policing challenges, and significant demands on social services.

Muzychka and Pelletier are not welcome in Surrey, and residents are justified in saying so.

Skylar Wayne Pelletier

Jonathon Anders Muzychka

Wearing White After Labour Day? Absolutely.

That isn't me.  I'm learning to use AI and it's a lot of fun!

I’ve lost enough weight that my white pants are finally comfortable again — and I’m wearing them.

Yes, it’s after Labour Day. And yes, I can already hear that old voice in the back of my mind saying, “You can’t wear white after Labour Day.”

Well… who said so? And more importantly, why did we ever listen?

Labour Day weekend always arrives with that bittersweet feeling: summer’s unofficial farewell. The last barbecues, the final dips in the pool, and then suddenly everyone is talking about cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice, and baking season. It’s lovely, of course — but it also comes with a handful of “rules” that never made much sense.

The biggest one? The idea that white clothing must be packed away the moment September rolls in.

I’ve heard it my whole life. You probably have too. White jeans, white pants, white linen — all supposedly destined for storage until next June. But honestly, that rule is so outdated it should come with a museum plaque. Even Ree Drummond jokes about it, saying the whole “no white after Labor Day” thing is right up there with “no casseroles before Labor Day.” In other words: nonsense.

And here’s the real truth. I’m going on a cruise in less than two weeks — to warmer weather, sunshine, and sea breezes — and my white pants are coming with me. I don’t care what the calendar says. They fit, they feel good, and they make me happy. That’s reason enough.

Fashion should never be about following dusty old rules. It should be about confidence, comfort, and joy. If white makes you feel bright and fresh in September, October, or even January, wear it. Pair it with a cozy sweater, a denim jacket, or a fall scarf. White isn’t a season — it’s a mood.

So here’s my little declaration as we head into autumn: I’m keeping my white pants out, and I’m packing them for my cruise. The rule is gone, the myth is retired, and the suitcase is staying open for anything that makes me feel good.

After all, life is too short — and too colourful — to let an old fashion rule tell us what to wear.

Celine Dion in Paris 2026

 

On the evening of September 12, 2026, a black car pulled up outside the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, on the western edge of Paris. Michelle Obama stepped out. She had crossed the Atlantic to attend the opening night of Céline Dion's residency, her first full concert in six years. The former first lady entered the arena discreetly, according to Le Parisien, which first reported her presence. She was not alone. Oprah Winfrey was seated beside her. The two American figures took their places in the pit, on folding chairs close to the stage, not in a VIP box. Shania Twain was also in the audience. Around them, some 30,000 fans filled the arena. The crowd wore sequined dresses and glittered cheeks. Many had traveled from across Europe and beyond. Some had flown in from Tahiti. The doors had opened hours earlier. The air was warm with anticipation. Inside, a stage shaped like a rocky landscape waited. The lights dimmed. A figure in a long pink coat stepped onto the stage. The room erupted. The show had begun.

Céline Dion opened with On ne change pas, a French ballad from the 1990s. She was visibly moved. Tears streamed down her face. "I promised myself I wouldn't cry," she told the crowd, according to the German Press Agency. She did not keep that promise. "Tonight, I want to sing for you, sing for myself, sing for life," she said. The performance lasted two and a half hours. She moved through her biggest hits: My Heart Will Go On, J'irai où tu iras, Pour que tu m'aimes encore. She sang a cover of Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams. She performed the operatic aria La Wally while snowflakes fell from the ceiling. Between songs, she spoke about the condition she lives with, a rare autoimmune disorder that causes stiffness and cramps. "I learned to live with this fragility," she said. "By living alongside it, I learned to tame it. I turned it into my strength to live." The crowd listened. The former first lady listened. The arena held the sound. The night continued.

The concert was the first of 26 shows at the Plenitude Arena, a residency scheduled to run into the following spring. The demand for tickets had been extraordinary. More than nine million fans entered a lottery for early access, according to Le Parisien. That figure surpassed the previous record in Paris, held by Taylor Swift. The arena holds roughly 30,000 people per night. Only about one in 164 lottery entrants could secure a seat. Michelle Obama was among the fortunate few. She had entered the pool, like millions of others, and she had won a place in the room. On this night, she sat in the pit, close enough to see the tears on the singer's face. When the show ended, the lights came up. The crowd filed out. The former first lady left the arena. The residency had begun. The record shows what happened next: 25 more shows, a city that had waited six years, and a singer who had kept her promise to return.