Stingrays Vacation like princesses

From February 18-25, four Sun City Stingray Swim Club members and one Sun City husband enjoyed a seven-day Southern Caribbean cruise aboard the Grand Princess. Their itinerary included Aruba, Curacao, and Princess Cruise’s own private island, Princess Cays.

The four swimmers were Lisa Yost, Margarete Liedtke, Joanie Koplos, and Sandy Sterling, who was accompanied by her husband, John. Lisa’s three friends from Germany completed the group of eight sailors.

While at sea, the comrades enjoyed such activities as swimming in the ship’s five swimming pools, walking the ship’s deck, participating in numerous trivia games, wine and rum tasting parties, line dancing classes, art auctions, lectures on alternative medicine and hypnosis, and viewing a food demo and taking a tour of the kitchen (galley). The meals were extraordinary and the nightly shows and dance parties were phenomenal! Curacao was great for shopping, while Aruba’s and Princess Cays’ beaches gave our swimmers all that they could ask for!

When asked what were some of the group’s outstanding memories, Lisa stated, “Being able to spend some good time with friends from home in a different environment from the normal one of Sun City.”

She also enjoyed good food and swimming in the Caribbean, as well as the warm weather and the different cultures of the Lesser Antilles.

Sandy liked “the outstanding beaches the islands had and swimming laps in the ocean and seeing the colorful fish (while snorkeling) at the Princess Cays.

“Another (memory) is us all getting together at dinner and sharing our experiences,” Sandy said. “We went in different directions during the day and shared our different stories at dinner.”

Agreeing with Sandy, Margarete also enjoyed telling and listening to nightly stories with her Sun City teammates.

Ms. Liedtke also loved the way she was able to “swim, eat, and dance like crazy in excellent Stingray company!”

“When Sandy, John, and I swam 20 feet (Aruba and Princess Cays) from shore, we discovered what an adventurous and bold swimmer Joanie Koplos is,” Margarete said. “In fact, my fellow daredevil swimmers (Sandy too) empowered me to swim out and around huge rocks to see lots of fish (while snorkeling) in the warm ocean waters of Princess Cays.”

“I plan on traveling whenever I need a little love,” Margarete added. “My Stingray traveling companions and their kindnesses put a smile on my mind each day of the cruise. Yes, we swam but we also allowed ourselves to get totally crazy and happy, dancing at the pool.”

“[It’s] so good for the soul! We had wonderfully entertaining formal dinners together,” Margarete said. “For seven days the waiter, unexpectedly and quickly, placed a cloth napkin on our laps. I do not miss this ceremony, but I could get used to it and [being] spoiled like a billionaire! Thank you to Lisa who helped me make decisions based on her travel experience, judgment, and clarity of communication,” continued Margarete.

In conclusion, Joanie agreed with all that her shipmates had said. She also mentioned, “I enjoyed getting to know our three companions from Germany. My fondest memories (which will stay with me always) were the beautiful sunsets, the warm saltwater-filled breezes, the sights and sounds of the sea’s waves crashing against the boat’s sides, and the rocky shores of the islands. I enjoyed the extraordinary feeling of being one with nature as I swam in the Caribbean with my fellow Stings and snorkeled enjoying the sea’s own delicate inhabitants. My senses were filled with nature’s beauty! Thank you, Margarete (and Lisa) for a wonderful trip!”

Lastly, Sandy summed up the way we all felt about our trip: “I think it was a great Stingray activity; after all, it was water based!”

Joanie Koplos
Stingray Swim Club Member

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