WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE
We're Robert Ferre and Linda Ricketts. Now retired, out favorite pastime is cruising. Our budget is modest, but our enjoyment and appreciation -- of both cruising and each other -- know no bounds. Robert is the webmaster, so we're keeping things pretty elemental. When you read the pronoun "I" in some of the writing, it refers to Robert. This isn't a blog (yet), but we welcome your emails and comments. Write to robertferre@retiredgonecrising.com.
DATELINES
March, 2013: Book progress
My first cruise book is almost ready to publish . . . . (more -- see Dateline).
December, 2012: Transatlantic cruise from Venice to Galveston
We completed the 20-day cruise on Crown Princess, December 2-22. We loved Venice. See our two reports:
Our three days in Venice:
Venice Postcard
About the cruise:
Crown Princess.
April, 2012: Cruise from Australia to Hawai'i
Good on 'ya. mate. Having spent two months in Australia, we decided at the last minute to take a cruise back to the United States. . . . (more -- sse Dateline).
November, 2011: Our soon to be famous cruise
We completed the transatlatic cruise that is the basis for my book. . . . (more -- see Dateline).
Below, under Mariner of the Seas, are links to a photo essay of the above cruise.
September, 2011
I have one message: Let's go cruising. There is no convert
more enthusiastic than a new one -- which would describe me, talking
about the joy of going on cruises. Why did it take me 65 years to discover
it? Well,. . . (more -- see Dateline)
CRUISE NOTES
Click on the links below for a description of our cruises.
Crown Princess
Crown Princess from Venice to Galveston, December, 2012 (20 days).
Rhapsody of the Seas
Rhapsody of the Seas from Sydney, Australia, to Honolulu, HI, April, 2012 (17 days).
Mariner of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Galveston, October, 2011 (17 days). The description of this cruise is in my book (see right column), plus the photo essay below. Each part is a pdf file. Be patient, they might take a minute or two to download.
PREVIOUS CRUISES
Holland American Line, one week cruise in the Caribbean.
Princess Cruise Line, two weeks cruising from L. A. to Hawaii and back.
Our honeymoon cruises, one week each, on the Queen Mary 2.
My first cruise, on Voyager of the Seas.
BETA READERS NEEDED!
My cruise book memoir love story is now in manuscript form. It's a combination of genres, written in my casual (if somewhat distracted) style. I'm looking for first readers to give me feedback and make suggestions -- especially those who have never cruised before.
I have a number of ideas for titles. Here are two of them. What do you think?
Below are links to several chapters. Read one or more of these to see if you are interested in receiving the manuscript. If you want to receive the whole kaboodle, please contact me by email (robertferre@retiredgonecruising.com) and I will send a pdf file.
our honeymoon cruise on Queen Mary 2 left from pier 95 in Manhattan.
I have seen historic photos of these piers in the 1930's, with eight or nine ocean
liners in a row, spaced along the docks -- Normandie, Isle de France,
Comte di Savoia, and others. That was the golden age of cruises, they tell me. I think
they're wrong. This is the golden age of cruising. Or maybe the platinum age. It has never been more glorious.
even on Queen Mary 2, but we still enjoy getting spiffed up a bit.