Martin Lessem

This was a seven-night cruise leaving from Galveston, Texas, going to Cozumel, Mexico (where we stayed for two days) and Roatan, Honduras (where we were in port for one day), before we returned to Galveston. Along the way we had three sea days. The cruise had some Love Boat-themed activities, including a drinks mixing session with Fred Lange, Love Boat-themed trivia with Jill Whelan, and a special performance by Charo. In addition to those events, episodes of the Love Boat played on the Movie Under the Stars screen, and they had Love Boat karaoke. It was the third Love Boat cruise run by Princess.

The Royal Caribbean seven-day (eight-night) Western Mediterranean cruise was a wonderful experience. During this cruise, we made stops in Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos, and Naples. Each of these has so many unique and wonderful things and the memories you will bring home from these locations are worthwhile and will stay with you for a long time. Getting a chance to see historic postcard settings and experience local cuisine and customs make this a worthwhile trip.

Båstad is a small Swedish town, which during the months of July and August comes alive with the Nordea Open Tennis Tournament. It has, in the past seen such esteemed players as Björn Borg, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams. The town, in it's modern state, was created by Ludvig Nobel, the brother of Alfred Nobel, of the famous Prize, in 1858, from the original fishing village, which dates from 1513. The oldest street in the town, Aghardsgata (Aghard’s Street) is named after Carl Adolph Agardh, a famous botanist, born in the town in 1785. Today, Båstad is known for tennis, the various golf courses in the area (six around Båstad and 11 more within a 1-hour drive), it's classic car show, it's 15th century church (St. Mary’s), and Norrviken Garden. It is an idyllic place to spend a few days during the autumn/fall and spring, and an exciting place during the summer with all the activities in the area.

Stockholm is a beautiful Nordic capital. It has a history dating back to Viking times, and much of that is on display throughout the city. The clean Nordic designs mix the classical and modern aspects of this vibrant city, which has something for everyone. It is a good destination for families, business travelers, foodies, cultural tourists, and history lovers, as well as those looking for an active vacation. Stockholm is a city with many possibilities.