“Side-by-Side or Miles Apart - we are “Divas” connected by the heart”!
16 years. 18 trips, 15 cruise ship, 20 countries and counting. When 30 ladies boarded the Norwegian “Sun” Cruise ship for it’s Inaugural Voyage to Havana, Cuba, we got plenty of looks, and it wasn’t just because of the mountain of luggage we had just deposited at Port Canaveral, Orlando, Florida.
People wondered if we were attending a family reunion, sorority social or business trip, but they were wrong. Some of us had just met for the first time, while other friendships spanned over 25 years.
Loud and laughing as we waited in queue to board the ship, we were all attention magnets. We’re the “Traveling Divas” we announced to the brave passengers who asked.
It all started sixteen years ago at an Almaden Valley Women’s Club meeting. I invited fellow members to join me on the Inaugural sailing of Princess Cruise Line “Star Princess”. It was a quick trip of four days, three nights.
We were all working Mom’s and our travels involved school, grocery stores, sports practice and doctors appointments. Some had never been on a girls trip or even owned a passport. We’ll be “Divas” I said. There will be no cooking, cleaning, husbands, kids or pets to take care of just the “beautiful blue sea, being pampered in the spa and sleep, glorious sleep! Eight girls signed up for the first trip still called “The Original Eight”. It was everything I promised and more.
As mothers, we spent our time taking care of others, but as they discovered on that first cruise, it felt good when, the crew took care of us! It not only recharged the physical and emotional batteries, they had caught the “travel bug”. Traveling together became not only fun but an essential part of their lives.
When you travel with the “Divas” you become one through and through even taking on Diva as your new moniker like “Diva Kimberlie”, “Diva Janice”, “Diva Frances”, and of course myself “Queen Diva Doreen”.
Through the years the Diva Group expanded beyond Almaden Valley Women’s Club members to include girl-friends of girl-friends, sisters, family members and co-wokers. Our daughters longed to become “Divas”, but we longed to escape them during those early childhood years. So, I made one of our first Diva Rules: Diva Daughters can join when they reach drinking age of twenty one and not before. We’ve been together for so long the second generation of “Divas” have been welcomed and are now sharing in our annual adventures.
After our third or forth Diva Trip, the husbands asked if they could join. Negotiations began and a compromise was struck: each year, our Diva Group would continue to take at least one annual “girls trip” but we I would also organize a “Diva & Divo” couples trip as well...hence The Divo’s were introduced.
Last year 2017, the “Diva & Divo” Trip was a Rome to Venice cruise aboard Windstar’s “Legend”. Our itinerary included Amalfi, Kotor, Dubrovnick, Split, Rovinj and Venice. The 200 passenger ship was small and itimate with approximately two crew members to every one guest. The Captain and crew knew our names by the second day and if we preferred white over red wine with dinner. It was such a special experience to be with good friends from home while exploring ancient ruins in the Mediterranean or standing on the deck at sunrise sailing though the fiords of Kotor.
Each year I organize a trip as well as the themes: We’ve had a “Royal Rendezvous” abroad the Cunard “Queen Mary II”, “Babes in Boas” on Holland America “Oosterdam” and “Princesses and Palaces” on Oceania “Marina” where we sailed for 10 days between Barcelona, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal.
The samllest group was when four of us spent a spa weekend at The Sanoma Mission Inn, Napa Valley California and the largest being 40 traveling to an All-Inclusive Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
While we have done all-inclusive resort destinations, most of the trips have been cruises because of their value and flexibility. Onboard a ship, there are so many activities and choices to keep the ‘Diva’s” happy: Some relax at the spa, while others take adventourous shore excusions. You might find a Diva reading and relaxing poolside or even taking up a painting class on board. While Diva’s roam freely during the day we always dine together every evening. No grocery shopping, No cooking, No clean-up and of course, after dinner the “Divas are entertained by the nightly shows or kick up our heels on the dance floor.
Over sixteen years, we’ve navigated the globe, as well as the high and lows of life together, We’ve watched our children graduate grade school, high school and college, get married and even have children of their own. We’ve supported each other through good and bad times. Like our own virtual cruise crew, we take care of each other even when we're apart.
The “Diva’s” have become a “sister-hood”
“You should always have a trip planned to look forward to while returning home from your last one”
The Diva Group was started by Doreen Lipinski - Atlantic Travel Pacific Travel San Jose Agency of Excellence Recipient, Associate of the Year Award and Golden Legacy Recipient www.travelbettercalifornia.com TRAVEL LEADERS - [email protected]
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