Cruising With Captain Cliff

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Cruising With Captain Cliff

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🌍 95 Countries, 40+ States, 6 Continents 🛳️ 88 Cruises, 765 Days at Sea 🌟 5 World Wonders 🍽️ Foodie 🎭 Adventure Seeker ✈️ Exploring the world one trip at a time!

12/09/2025

From Cruise #1 to Cruise #88 — The Journey That Saved Me

Do you remember your first cruise?

I remember mine like it was yesterday — August 8, 2015, a 5-day Caribbean sailing on Carnival Elation out of New Orleans. This reel shows the moment we sailed toward the bridge… and honestly, that moment changed everything.

That first cruise sparked a wanderlust addiction — one that kept me moving, dreaming, and healing. I’ve been to some dark places in life… and cruising & traveling became part of what pulled me back into the light.

Fast forward to today:
I just completed Cruise #88 aboard the Sapphire Princess, departing San Pedro, CA on Nov 16, 2025 and ending in San Antonio, Chile on Dec 6, 2025. A full-circle moment I’ll never forget. 🌍✨

In my 88-cruise journey, I’ve sailed six cruise lines:
⚓ Carnival — Diamond
⚓ Royal Caribbean — Diamond Plus
⚓ Celebrity — Elite Plus
⚓ Virgin Voyages
⚓ MSC — Diamond
⚓ Princess — Elite

Every ship, every sunset, every port… they all became part of who I am.
“Travel doesn’t just show you the world — it shows you yourself.”

Fun Fact: Cruise #1 was supposed to be a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip… and here I am at 88. Oops. 😅❤️

So tell me…
👉 Do you remember YOUR first cruise?
👉 How many cruises have you taken so far?

11/16/2025

🚢 Day 1 - Walkthrough: My “Premium Oceanview”… that’s actually a BALCONY on Sapphire Princess! 😄

Booked this last-minute and no available balcony. Therefore, booked as a premium ocean view, but surprise — it’s a full forward-facing balcony cabin! 🙌

Gotta love these early-2000s Princess quirks… and that’s part of the charm.

After spending over 60 days on the brand-new Sun Princess and Star Princess, stepping onto Sapphire feels like visiting a classic, elegant relative — familiar, warm, and full of stories. ⚓

I chose this cabin especially for this epic itinerary: 20 days from Los Angeles → San Antonio (Santiago), Chile, with incredible stops in:

🇲🇽 Manzanillo
🇨🇷 Puntarenas
🇵🇦 Fuerte Amador
🇪🇨 Manta
🇵🇪 Callao/Lima & General San Martín/Pisco
🇨🇱 Coquimbo/La Serena

The adventure officially begins November 16, 2025 — and I’m ready for every sunrise, every sail-in, and every unforgettable memory!

If you enjoy the walkthrough, like, follow, and share — more cruise fun on the way!

Fun Fact: Sapphire Princess was originally meant to be “Diamond Princess,” but after a shipyard fire, the hulls were swapped — giving Sapphire a unique birth story.

💬 “Old ships carry the wisdom of every wave they’ve crossed.”

10/11/2025

🇺🇸⚓ Shoutout to Captain Gennaro Arma, master of the new Star Princess, for hosting U.S. veterans & allied forces on Oct 10, 2025. Forever grateful, Captain! 🙏

“Leaders inspire service beyond self.”

10/07/2025

📣 Attention All Veterans Aboard the Star Princess! 🇺🇸⚓

This message goes out to all veterans currently sailing on the Star Princess (October 4, 2025 voyage) — our Captain Gennaro Arma is personally inviting you to a Veterans Gathering on October 10, 2025 (Sea Day) at 11:00 AM, ship time.🎖️
📍 Venue to be announced — it’s a surprise! 🎉

Please contact Paul Stead, Charles David, or myself (Clifford “Cliff” Lopez) through Guest Services, and they’ll connect you by phone. When you call, kindly leave:

Your full name
Branch of service
Cabin number

Additionally, Mr. D’Souza, our Hotel General Manager, has generously offered a venue for another special gathering — tentatively on October 12, 2025 (Sea Day) — to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Navy! ⚓🎂🇺🇸

Let’s make these moments unforgettable and celebrate the bond we share as veterans sailing together on this incredible new ship.

Thank y’all for your service and dedication.
— Clifford “Cliff” Lopez

Photo taken last night Captain Toast

10/05/2025

🚢 Day 1 Countdown: Sail Away on the New Star Princess!

What a way to kick things off — one lucky passenger got to pull the lever and sound the horn to start the party as we sailed away from beautiful Barcelona, Spain! 🇪🇸 The energy, the excitement, and that first blast of the horn — pure cruise magic!

What do you think of this new way to start the celebration? Have you ever sailed from Barcelona? Drop your thoughts below! ⛵

💡 Fun fact: Barcelona’s port is one of the busiest cruise ports in Europe, welcoming millions of travelers each year. ⚓

“The best journeys begin not when the anchor lifts, but when your spirit does.”

10/03/2025

✨🌍 Aloha Spirit Meets the Balkans! 🌍✨

What a blessing to experience the Primeclass Lounge at Skopje International Airport 🇲🇰 today. Out of respect, I asked if I could just film the sign — but the supervisor smiled and said, “Why not include our wonderful team?” 💙 Just like Captain Kate says about her ship, a lounge is only as good as its cheerful staff.

Even though I was the only passenger inside, I got to witness the heart of this place: from the cleaning personnel to the manager, everyone was working with pride, preparing, tidying, and welcoming. The lounge may be small, but its hospitality is huge. 🙌
I even left a survey and snapped a photo with the team, all of us flashing the 🤙 Shaka sign to spread a little aloha spirit across the Balkans.

Thank you, Skopje Primeclass Lounge and North Macedonia (Country #90!), for the outstanding service and warm memories. Next stop ➡️ Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸 to board the brand-new Star Princess 🛳️ for 30 days of adventure — cruises #84, #85, and #86 — adding to my 729 total days at sea. ⚓

And of course, none of this possible without my Priority Pass via Capital One Venture X. 🙏 Another gem unlocked!

Fun Fact: Primeclass lounges are known for going above and beyond with personal touches — it’s the staff that makes the magic.

“Hospitality is not about the size of the space, but the size of the heart that welcomes you.”

Hawaii News Now

10/01/2025

😷 Flashback to When Masks Were the Hottest Cruise Fashion Statement!

Back in August 2021, cruising was just slowly making a comeback after the long pause. I sailed a 7-day cruise on the Carnival Panorama with my awesome friend , and let’s be real — masks weren’t just for safety, they became part of the outfit of the day!

It’s wild to look back and realize how far cruising has come since then — from masked-up sailaways to packed pool decks today. Grateful for the memories, the laughter, and the resilience of the cruise family.

Fun Fact: Carnival Panorama was the first new Carnival ship homeported on the U.S. West Coast in 20 years when it debuted in 2019.

“We travel not to escape life, but so life doesn’t escape us.”

09/27/2025

All Aboard the Star Princess: Sailing Into History! 🚢

The countdown is ON — luggage tags just landed, and I’m set to join the brand-new Star Princess on her inaugural sailing October 4, 2025 from Barcelona, Spain!

Even better? I’ll be sailing with fellow veterans Bill and Leslie 🇺🇸 — couldn’t ask for better shipmates on this adventure across continents.

This is truly special for me: I just wrapped cruise #83 on Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas (Sept 7, 2025)… and now I get to be part of the history of not one, but two new ships.

🗓️ Star Princess Inaugural Itinerary

Oct 4 – Nov 5, 2025 | Barcelona → Fort Lauderdale

10/04 – Barcelona, Spain

10/05 – Marseille, France

10/06 – At Sea

10/07 – Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

10/08 – Naples, Italy (Capri & Pompeii)

10/09 – Palermo, Sicily, Italy

10/10 – At Sea

10/11 – Cartagena, Spain

10/12 – At Sea

10/13 – Gibraltar

10/14 – At Sea

10/15 – Barcelona, Spain

10/16 – At Sea

10/17 – Malaga, Spain

10/18 – Gibraltar

10/19 – Cartagena, Spain

10/20 – At Sea

10/21 – Marseille, France

10/22 – Barcelona, Spain

10/23 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain

10/24 – At Sea

10/25 – Gibraltar

10/26 – At Sea

10/27 – At Sea

10/28 – Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

10/29 – At Sea

10/30 – At Sea

10/31 – At Sea

11/01 – At Sea

11/02 – At Sea

11/03 – At Sea

11/04 – At Sea

11/05 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Celebrity Xcel Preview Itinerary

Nov 9 – 13, 2025 | Fort Lauderdale Roundtrip

11/09 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Depart 4:00 PM)

11/10 – At Sea

11/11 – Cozumel, Mexico (7:00 AM – 8:00 PM)

11/12 – At Sea

11/13 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Arrive 7:00 AM)

Special Note: Veterans Day (Nov 11) falls during this journey — the perfect reminder of gratitude and service. Thank y’all for your sacrifices and inspiration 🇺🇸.

📍 See the full map of ports & routes here:
👉 Google Map of Itinerary https://tinyurl.com/Star-Princess-Inaugural

Your turn!

Have you visited any of these ports?

What’s your favorite can’t-miss dish, hidden spot, or shore excursion?

Drop your tips below so I can experience them along the way!

09/23/2025

Chic Night & Ribbon Cutting Magic with Captain Kate!

Back on August 8, 2022, aboard Celebrity Beyond for a 10-night Greek Isles adventure, I had the honor of seeing Capt Kate prep for another ribbon cutting! I wore my US Army Mess Dress Blue, and she even complimented me—truly a memorable moment.

Now, Captain Kate is set to debut the new Four Seasons ship. Wishing you all the best, Captain Kate, and thank you for the amazing memories! 🚢

"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” – Anonymous

Who do you think could play her if Hollywood makes a movie? I’m voting Sandra Bullock!

09/21/2025

to my very first MSC Cruise on board the stunning MSC Seashore. On June 10, 2023, I set sail from Genoa, Italy, making MSC my 5th cruise line!

I’ll never forget walking on board as a Diamond loyalty-tier guest — even though it was my first MSC sailing. Thanks to the loyalty match program (before the new Blue Diamond tier rolled out), my black card stood out right away. The guest service team even whispered, “Wow, black” when they saw it 😎.

One of the most memorable parts was hearing the Captain deliver his welcome speech in multiple languages. It truly showed MSC’s international heart.

Fun fact: MSC cruise directors are often polyglots — seamlessly switching between languages to connect with the diverse mix of European guests.

This cruise wasn’t just about the itinerary; it was about people too. I even reconnected with a former crew member from another cruise line — proof that the cruise world is a small, special family. With 83 cruises completed so far, I feel incredibly blessed that MSC Seashore is part of my story.

Thank you MSC Seashore for the wonderful memories.

“Collect memories, not things.”

Address

Boerne, TX
78006

Website

http://cruisingwithcaptaincliff.com/

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