When my husband finally retired at age 76, we discovered music cruises. The Star Vista group charters Holland America ships and holds seven-day music parties at sea. There are eight different genres of music. In January 2026, we enjoyed our second New Orleans Jazz and Blues cruise, called The Big Easy Cruise. Live music on several different stages at the same time from noon until 1:00 AM. We boarded the ship in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida after flying from Rochester, New York. During the week, there was a 24-hour stop in New Orleans and later a 12-hour stop in Cozumel, Mexico, before returning to Lauderdale. Of course, we had to fly back to Rochester.
While in New Orleans, my husband and I were exploring the French Market near Jackson Square when we saw our Rochester friends who were also on the cruise, so we called out to them by name. We realized that it wasn’t often that one could do that in another city.
In Cozumel, we went on a submarine excursion. It was a small, white submarine that held about fifty people with windows lining each side. We did have to enter it by climbing down the ladder through the hatch on the top while it bobbed in the ocean. There are only a handful of these subs in the world. After being amazed by the underwater trip, we were back on land in Cozumel in search of an authentic Mexican restaurant. What we get in our home locale is too Americanized. Walking through the shopping center, we heard our last name called from afar. How often does that happen in a foreign country? It turned out to be the parents of Michael Christie, who plays trumpet in our favorite NOLA band led by John “Papa” Gros. Harold and Pam gave us a good recommendation.
At the end of cruise week, we arrived back in Fort Lauderdale to find the East Coast had been blasted with a snowstorm two days prior, so the airports were in chaos. American Airlines emailed us suggesting we stay an extra day in Florida. We did that on our own nickel, then decided we wouldn’t stay a second day even though they offered us cash; it wasn’t enough to cover the cost of another hotel night. We made it out of Lauderdale and landed on time in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the runways still had small but noticeable snow banks along the edges. Then the “fun” began. Delay after delay after delay, then a cancellation and rebooking. Five hours later than scheduled, we had a gate change. Ugh! At the new gate, we wondered what was to come next and heard our first names, Bob and Sue, called from within the waiting area. Turns out it was a musician friend, Jim, who had been to Vegas and was also trying to get back to Rochester, New York.
So I’m standing, talking to Jim, telling him about being called by name in the most unusual settings, when the gentleman at the podium announces he would like to talk to one of the Spitulniks. I probably gasped out loud, and my husband and I looked at each other, ready to explode if we were told we wouldn’t be getting on this particular airplane. I went to the podium, and the attendant said, so only I could hear, “I have two seats open in first class, but they’re not together. Would you and your husband like them?” Well, of course we would. Why not? At that point we felt like we deserved them, but so did everyone else. We did learn later they were offered to us because of our American Airlines credit card status. We thoroughly enjoyed feeling like the elite.
It was quite the trip, and you are probably wondering why this was posted on a writing group’s blog page. Well, you just read a memoir essay. It wasn’t full of dark family secrets, trauma, or bad news. I hope you found it interesting, and the lesson is that memoir does not have to be self-introspection. It can be a good experience that is fun to share with others.
Note: we’re booked on The Big Easy again in January 2027. starvistalive.com
Lilac City Rochester Writers 