From Raleigh to the Mediterranean to Iceland: Our 35-Day Retirement Kickoff!

From Raleigh to the Mediterranean to Iceland: Our 35-Day Retirement Kickoff!

The wait is finally over! After a year of anticipation, We have officially traded the "daily grind" for the "daily swell." What began as a simple 14-night TransAtlantic crossing has ballooned into an epic 35-day expedition that will take us from the Florida coast to the volcanic shores of Iceland, with plenty of pasta and history in between.

The Great Airport Odyssey ✈️

We kicked things off with a classic "traveler’s anxiety" move: arriving at RDU 3.5 hours early to beat the crowds. Luckily, we breezed through security in under 20 minutes! With the quick security check we found ourselves with too much time on our hands. Then are flight was delayed by 53 minutes extending our time to kill. We got some lunch with drinks and before we knew it we were touching down in sunny Ft. Lauderdale (81°F and gorgeous!) for a final night on solid ground before boarding our new home.

Life Aboard the Enchanted Princess 🚢

She is a beauty! Hosting 3,500 passengers, the Enchanted Princess is our sanctuary for this 14-night ocean crossing. Our first few days were a mix of relaxation and unexpected drama—including a medical evacuation before we even left port (sending healing vibes to whoever that was!).

The trip started calm and beautiful...

...The Atlantic didn't stay a smooth ride. We’ve faced:

• The "Seasick Special": 16-foot swells that literally splashed the windows on Deck 5!

• The Windy Deck: Deck chairs sliding across the pool deck like they were haunted.

• The 1083' Rocker: Watching the crew drain the pools and net them up as the ship rocked and rolled.

• Thank goodness for seasickness meds and the cozy corners of the ship!

Card Games, Octopus, and New Friends 🃏🐙

When the seas were rough, we stayed busy! We’ve formed a "Card Game Coalition" with new friends from California and Ontario. We’ve even ventured out of our culinary comfort zones—Jeff and I tried Octopus for dinner. Verdict: It definitely does not taste like chicken, but it was an adventure for the taste buds! We also enjoyed a lively night at O'Malley’s Irish Pub, complete with "Lucky Charm" cocktails and lively folk music.

Our first taste of octopus

Lively folk music by Harpello

Foods and wines of Tuscany, A special dinner.

A Magical Moment at Sea ✨🐋

The absolute highlight so far? Our Ultimate Balcony Dinner. As we sat over a multi-course meal watching the horizon, I joked that the only thing missing was a whale. Moments later, a tail fin breached the surface! We scrambled for our cameras like paparazzi, and though the photos are mostly "white specks in the blue," the memory is crystal clear.

Our ultimate balcony dinner

See that white speck? That's a tail fin. Really, it is.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Next: The First Landfall - Ponta Delgada!