Go Sailing with the ABA
A little apprehensive to set sail with 350 some folks they never met before Jan and Hal, the only members to represent ONCJC packed their bags, boarded a jet headed to California and got ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Enjoy as you read about their experience!
We boarded the Golden Princess in Los Angeles for our first American Bop Association (ABA) cruise to the Mexican Rivera with three ports of call, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Let’s just say, Dance! Dance! Dance! Fun! Fun! Fun! Food! Food! Food! Dance! Dance! Dance!
The ABA had scheduled two one-hour dance lessons a day (9:00 am and 12:00 pm) followed by an hour of practice or social dancing. Every night (7) they sponsored open dancing around the pool from 9:00 to midnight.
All of the instructors were great, giving personal help whenever necessary. We learned one waltz line dance and three excellent, fun swing dance moves, which could be incorporated into East or West Coast dances.
Our fellow ABA members were all extremely friendly and helpful and we made new friends every day.
But, that’s not all. There were five separate lounges on board that had live groups playing great music from 5:00 pm until 2 am every night. The variety of music was outstanding; everything from waltz, night club 2, salsa, rumba, east coast, west coast swing and everything in between. We were amazed at the number of excellent dancers not attached to the ABA. It seems ballroom dancing has become a national past time!
We also experienced shore excursions on each port of call which were very enjoyable and it was enlightening to learn about the local culture.
Needless to say, food on board was continuous and exceptional. You needed to dance constantly in order to maintain any possible weight control.
The ship’s staff was unbelievable. You wanted for nothing. They couldn’t do enough for you.
All in all, it was one of the most enjoyable vacation cruises we have ever experienced. We are certainly looking forward to sailing with the ABA group again in February 2009 to the Caribbean with St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and St. Kitt as our three ports of call.
If you would like to hear more specific details of our cruise, feel free to ask either one of us.
We definitely encourage all of you to start saving your pennies for next year’s festivities on the high seas!! It would be great to have a significant contingent from the ONCJC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your friends,
Hal Ashcom
Jan Martin
