October 18, 2026 — Dubrovnik, Croatia: A Close Shave, Croatian Cooking, and Good Friends

A little morning pampering, a taste of the Croatian countryside, a well-earned nap, and an evening with friends who are always ready for another adventure.

Starting the Day in Very Good Hands

I woke up around 6:20 this morning, got myself dressed, and headed off to the spa. Anyone who thinks retirement means sleeping in has clearly not seen my cruise schedule.

By 7:00, I was sitting in Ritee’s barber chair, letting her work her magic. Along with a good, close shave, she treated my face to an assortment of creams and oils that left me feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

I have to admit, this is a very civilized way to start a morning. After years of getting up early, shaving myself, and heading off to work, I am quite comfortable with this arrangement. Ritee does the work, and I sit there looking increasingly presentable.

When I walked out, I felt good. Croatia, I was ready for you.

Breakfast and a Few Familiar Faces

At 8:15, I made my way across the ship to Chops Grille for the Pinnacle breakfast. This is a special breakfast for guests who have accumulated at least 700 cruise points. With more than 800 points now, I have certainly been putting in my time at sea.

The food was tasty, but the company made the morning.

I sat across from fellow Ultimate World Cruise travelers, and before long, we were talking about our time sailing around the world together. There is something particularly enjoyable about sitting down with people who shared that experience. The conversation comes easily, and one memory usually leads straight into another.

That voyage gave us an extraordinary collection of places and experiences. It also gave us friendships that continue well beyond the ship we first met on.

Here we were, aboard Explorer of the Seas, enjoying breakfast in Croatia and picking up the conversation again. Apparently, one trip around the world only gets you started.

Into the Croatian Countryside

By 9:30, I was down on Deck 3 at the Palace Theatre, ready to gather for my shore excursion. At 10:00, it was time for “Ljuta and Its Culinary Traditions.”

An excursion involving the countryside, an old water mill, and something to eat sounded like a very reasonable use of my morning.

We traveled in an air-conditioned coach through the Dubrovnik Riviera toward the little village of Ljuta, in the Konavle region. It was an opportunity to spend some time in the countryside and learn about the everyday traditions that helped sustain the people who lived there.

Our destination was Mlinica Dvori, an old water mill that is still functional.

We learned how river water powers the stone machinery used to grind grain into flour. I enjoy seeing practical things like this—systems built around what people had available, doing a job their community depended on.

After a career in logistics, I can appreciate the importance of getting food from its source to the people who need it. Here, that process involved flowing water, grinding stones, and generations of knowledge.

There was plenty to admire in the simplicity of it.

A Little History, with Something Good to Eat

The culinary part of the visit introduced us to the traditional foods of Konavle and the ways local villagers once prepared their meals.

We learned about grinding flour, kneading and baking homemade bread, and preparing corn polenta—a staple made from coarsely ground yellow cornmeal. These were ordinary foods that helped feed families, and learning how they were made offered a glimpse into daily life in the region.

I enjoy this side of travel. A meal can tell you something about a place: what people grew, what they had available, and the traditions they carried forward.

Of course, after learning about the food, I was quite willing to assist with the next part of the program.

Eating it.

We enjoyed bread, polenta, and smoked ham before another scenic drive through the countryside brought us back to the ship. It was a pleasant combination of local history, traditional cooking, and a chance to see a little more of Croatia.

My kind of education.

An Essential Appointment with My Pillow

By about 2:30 p.m., I was back in my cabin, ready to change out of my clothes and settle down for a good, long afternoon nap.

The last few days had kept me moving, from Venice to Ravenna and now Dubrovnik. I had thoroughly enjoyed myself, but it was time to give the traveler a little maintenance.

I decided Croatia could carry on without me for a couple of hours.

There is a great deal to be said for an afternoon nap. I woke up refreshed and much better prepared to enjoy the evening. At this stage of my traveling career, I consider that sound itinerary management.

Saving the Stories

Around 7:00 p.m., I spent some time at my computer, working on my blog and updating the record of my travels.

This has become an important part of the journey for me. I want to remember how a day felt, the people I spent it with, and the little moments that might otherwise get lost as one port follows another.

A visit to an old mill. Breakfast with familiar faces. A conversation that brings back a memory from halfway around the world.

Those details deserve to be saved.

And with this much traveling ahead, I had better keep up with my homework.

Dinner with Judy and Carl

At 8:00, I headed back to Chops Grille for a lovely dinner with my good friends and travel companions, Judy and Carl Kunhardt.

Judy and Carl are experienced world travelers, adventurers, scuba divers, and two of the nicest people you could hope to meet. They are wonderful company, and I always enjoy spending time with them.

We talked about our Ultimate World Cruise experiences and the adventures ahead of us in 2027. It is funny how easily a conversation can move from remembering a place you have already visited to getting excited about somewhere you have yet to go.

Naturally, Antarctica came up.

We are all looking forward to heading down there, seeing the penguins, and sharing another extraordinary adventure. We are approaching what I would describe as “go hug a penguin” levels of enthusiasm. I suspect my camera is going to earn its keep on that trip.

For someone who usually prefers warmer weather, I am surprisingly enthusiastic about traveling somewhere with that much ice. Apparently, good friends and penguins can be very persuasive.

More than anything, it was simply a pleasure to sit down together, enjoy dinner, and talk. I am grateful that the friendships we made on one voyage continue to be part of the next.

Another Good Day in the Travel Journal

Around 10:30 p.m., I returned to my cabin, did a little reading, cleaned up, and got ready for the next day.

Tomorrow will be a sea day, with activities celebrating our former Ultimate World Cruise and more opportunities to spend time with the people who helped make that journey so memorable.

Today had given me a little pampering, a taste of Croatian life, good food, good conversation, and enough rest to appreciate all of it.

As I settled in for the night, I thought about how fortunate I am to keep having these experiences—and to have friends like Judy and Carl to share them with.

Tomorrow, we will make a few more memories.