<p>We’re celebrating our 30 year anniversary next spring and we’re having trouble making up our minds on how to celebrate. Right now the choices are:</p>
<p>Cruise: Mediterranean with interesting ports and lots of time in the ports. Convenience of traveling and covering a lot of territory. Easy for packing and eliminates a lot of transportation issues. Maybe see some out of the way less touristy places. But - it could also eliminate some of the fun exploring on our own and having a more relaxed schedule.</p>
<p>Trip: Most likely Italy, maybe a short time in France, surrounding areas. Good for museums and sightseeing but travel would be all on us. Would it be stressful or relaxing?</p>
<p>If all else fails - remodel the kitchen.</p>
<p>So what would you do - our interests are art, photography, coffee, history, and adventure. </p>
<p>GREAT choices!
Congrats on 30 yrs. Quite an accomplishment especially these days.</p>
<p>We are 31 years, solid relationship but not much on travel.
I’d vote for a house remodel anytime. Something to enjoy for many more years together.</p>
<p>One thing you could do on the trip is to rent a house/condo for a week or so in one area, no frantic racing from place to place, but time to enjoy one area.</p>
<p>DH and I did a trip - Disney World - for our 30th. It was wonderful!! We were supposed to go there for our honeymoon, but the travel agent screwed up.</p>
<p>Now, 3 years later and both kids done with college and employed, we are planning to remodel the kitchen. Met with a designer yesterday.</p>
<p>Was just talking to someone at a Graduation party yesterday and they just took a cruise that sounded quite interesting. Don’t know if this fits in your time frame, but…
I guess the cruise lines move the ships from North America to the Mediterranean during certain times of the year. They got on the ship in Florida and sailed across the Atlantic (said the waters were very calm) to Spain and then stopped in Gibralter, South of France, and then several ports in Northern and Southern Italy. They flew home from Rome. Said it was one of the best trips of their lives (and they were an older couple…). Because the cruise lines were moving the ships and you spend a few days at sea, they got a huge discount that allowed them to book a fabulous suite. They had a wonderful time.
Also have friends who have done a Mediterranean Cruise that stopped at several ports in Italy and then to Greece. Sounds fabulous.
I say go for the cruise. In a few years, the kitchen will still be there :)</p>
<p>My favorite is Regent Seven Seas … small all suite, all balcony ships with just about everything included. Nice itineraries for Italy and the Mediterranean – I was looking at these the other day. Note that shore excursions are included. At first glance it looks pricey, but when you add in everything, it’s not. We cruised on Regent to Alaska – and would do it again!</p>
<p>But … this summer we are hopefully remodeling the kitchen! We have one, but it needs a lot of help after 20 years. We are married 29 years this month!</p>
<p>DD did one last year w/other family members. (I stayed home and worked. ) She loved the itinerary (except for Turkey); didn’t care for the cruiseline that much (Norwegian). Ports were Barcelona, Pisa, Istanbul, Mykonos, and Venice.</p>
<p>Check itineraries on Royal Caribbean, Disney, Celebrity, and Princess. They all have European cruises. Go on the Cruise Critic website, and you can read reviews/see what you might like best.</p>
<p>We’ve gone on cruises before to the Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean - all fun and family adventures. This one will be just the two of us. </p>
<p>I like the idea of out of the way places and covering more territory but I also like the idea of art museums (the Lourve, Musee D’Orsay and the Trevi Fountain and museums in Italy). </p>
<p>So cruise or plan a trip on our own - give me the pros and cons please…</p>
<p>“I guess the cruise lines move the ships from North America to the Mediterranean during certain times of the year. They got on the ship in Florida and sailed across the Atlantic (said the waters were very calm) to Spain and then stopped in Gibralter, South of France, and then several ports in Northern and Southern Italy.”</p>
<p>My sister and I gave that cruise to my parents for my dad’s 80th b’day, except the crossing was at the end of the cruise.</p>
<p>We were faced with the same dilemma for our 20th! Our choices were go to Hawaii (first time for us) or remodel the master bathroom.</p>
<p>Many friends and cousins told us to take the trip…it was really a wonderful trip to remember our special anniversary with an album full of pictures and memories. </p>
<p>We did remodel our bathroom @2 or 3 years later!</p>
<p>But we are very glad we took the trip to Hawaii for our anniversary and I would suggest the same to you!</p>
<p>On our 25th we also took a cruise…headed out to Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba…nice! Going to the Mediterranean sounds wonderful!</p>
<p>Rightfit - on these longer cruises (think this one was 3 weeks) the age of the cruiser tends to be on the oldish side as it’s hard for people our age to take that many weeks off in a row from work.</p>
<p>thumper, I have a different angle, as I’ve lived with cr*ppy kitchens all my married life. If I had the OP’s choice, I’d take the remodel in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Having recently lived through a kitchen remodel - go to Home Depot, buy a 2x4, hit yourself over the head every 15 minutes. That’s what a remodel is like. Multiply by four to six months.</p>
) She loved the itinerary (except for Turkey); didn’t care for the cruiseline that much (Norwegian). Ports were Barcelona, Pisa, Istanbul, Mykonos, and Venice.</p>
Going to the Mediterranean sounds wonderful!</p>