Overview: Doherty Clan Baltic Adventure

 

When I discovered that another family at my bed and breakfast in Copenhagen shared the same family name as my family, I thought that was a strange coincidence. But when the coincidence turned uncanny, as in one of the family members was a retired firefighter (like my brother), and they were from Colorado, and they were going to be on the same cruise ship as my family and I, I knew the cruise trip was going to be full of awesome, happy surprises that we'd never expected. Since a lot of our conversations with these Doherty's centered around Ireland and the Doherty family reunion that takes places every five years, I figured the trip needed a good name as well. And so it was, the Doherty Clan Baltic Adventure began!

Below is a brief overview that highlights the family favorites from the trip. We had an excellent tour guide along for the whole time - Shannon - who had visited all of these places before. If you are thinking about jumping on one of the cruise's with Shannon, she will be happy to see you! She summarized the trip with these words: "It was a lot of fun showing my family the places I remember exploring from my past trips here, as well as experiencing new things! I love traveling with the Doherty (and Ford!) clan!!!!!"

Dad

Fave country: Russia
Fave site we visited: Peterhof Palace
Best food eaten: borsch
Best dessert: Cherries jubilee
Best place on the ship: Captain’s bridge!
Best part about being on a cruise: Eating all the food without having to make it, plus the entertainment!
Fave show: Night Life

Fave souvenir: Commie t-shirt

Mom

Fave country: Russia (I liked having our personal tour guide show and tell us about her home country. I enjoyed listening to her talk to other Russians in their native language.)

Fave site we visited: Peterhof Palace and Garden. WOW! Talk about living in style! Simply gorgeous setting!

Best food eaten: Tomato soup and an assortment of breads at a café in Copenhagen, when Tim and I were left to survive on our own in Europe:)  The restaurant overlooked one of the town squares where we watched a crepe maker create her crepes for the people going to and from the Jazz Festival! We went to the Jazz festival after dinner. We also returned to the crepe maker the next evening, for our final treat in Copenhagen before we flew home. Melanie had raved about the tomato soup from her travels to Europe, so I had to go with her recommendation.

Best dessert: An ice cream that Shannon and I pretty much devoured in record time! Sadly, Tim managed only a bite or two. This was in a favorite café/internet stop, for the dancers and cast members in Kiel, Germany.

Best place on the ship: Obviously, the theater, but after that, the Crow’s Nest. I liked playing games and looking out the massive windows at ports and being surrounded by the beauty of the ocean!

Best part about being on a cruise: Besides having Shannon and Sean in the same place at the same time, and there was no place to run…I loved the amenities: no cooking or washing dishes, no laundry, plus, somebody else ready and willing to drive us to our next destination! There was always something fun to do.

Fave show: Nightlife, because Shannon was highlighted with each male dancer and she rocked the boat!!!! This was followed closely in second place, by Sean’s Jive performance in the Dancing with the Stars at Sea competition!

Fave souvenir: The book, A Material Life, we bought for Ivan in Copenhagen. After marveling at the history and architecture which surrounded us in every port, we happened upon this resource. We hope it will inspire Ivan with his portfolio.

Shannon
Fave country: Sweden
Fave site we visited: Catherine’s Palace
Best food eaten: Russian pancake
Best dessert: Chocolate soufflé
Best place on the ship: Tamarind Restaurant
Best part about being on a cruise: Traveling the world with your family!
Fave show: Nightlife
Fave souvenir: Painting from St. Petersburg and the pictures with the family

Me

Fave country: Denmark
Fave site we visited: Hermitage Museum
Best food eaten: my daily breakfast: berries and granola muesli, with a Denver omelette, and a Sante Fe omelette
Best dessert: everything with chocolate!
Best place on the ship: The captain’s bridge
Best part about being on a cruise: chillaxin’ with family
Fave show: both of Shannon’s shows that I saw were awesome!

Fave souvenir: cruise ship jacket that dad and I both purchased