Neil Young said “Rock and Roll is here to stay.”  Indeed it is, and the Decades of Rock and Roll Cruise, setting sail from Ft. Lauderdale on February 1, 2014, is proof positive.  A nine-day eight-night cruise packed full of music, Decades of Rock and Roll is bound for St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Royal Caribbean’s private island Labadee, with plenty of time for both island fun and music on the high seas.

Rocking the Caribbean since 2006, the Decades of Rock and Roll Cruise is popular across the board with all ages.  From Boomers to Generation X, grandparents to teens, senior citizens to high school and college students, the cruise is a magnet for music lovers from across the globe.  Unlike some of the other music cruises out there, the Cruise is drug-free and family-friendly:  one big safe party for all ages.  Decades of Rock and Roll is the perfect cruise upon which to introduce your brood to old-time rock and roll, and family bonding is guaranteed.

Setting sail on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, this year’s Cruise features the ever-popular vintage rock band Phil Dirt and the Dozers, along with the Hadden Sayers Band, McGuffey Lane, Decades Style (a 1970’s rock and roll show including covers by such bands as CCR, Chicago, Grand Funk, and more), and Dunning Shaw, “Man of a Thousand Voices.”

The cruise includes an offering of many extras:  private concerts, a pool party with Phil Dirt and the Dozers, “Rock Till You Drop” and “Time to Rock and Roll” dance parties, a sock hop, a crowning of the Prom King and Queen, a cocktail party, a “Rock and Roll Extreme” beach party, commemorative T-shirt, photo opps, and lots more.  Oh, and don’t forget the food.  The Independence of the Seas is known for the food, never-ending and scrumptious.  Don’t worry about the pounds; you’ll dance off the calories.

Phil Dirt and the Dozers

A marvel of maritime engineering, the Independence of the Seas is jam-packed with family fun:  the trademarked FlowRider surf simulator, a rock climbing wall, ice-skating rink, cantilevered whirlpools, a shimmering Royal Promenade, mini golf course, and much more.  Perfect for couples, families, groups, and lone cruisers, the ship is a floating city with something for everyone.

Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas ship has been quoted as saying that cruisers on Decades of Rock and Roll are the most fun group they’ve ever hosted.  Past cruisers agree.

Phyllis and Bill Dempsey of Columbus, Ohio say that “ . . . everything was extremely organized and went smoothly; thanks to Penny and her team. We are looking forward to that same experience in 2014. While we’ve not heard Dunning Shaw before we understand he does a “fat Elvis” impersonation that will leave you crying from laughter!  Can’t wait until we head to Florida in 2014!”

Pat McLoughlin of Columbus, Ohio says, “If you have never cruised before, THIS is the cruise you don’t want to miss. If you have cruised before, I bet you didn’t have as much fun as this cruise provides. Do yourself a favor and join us on our next Decades of Rock and Roll oldies cruise. You will love it.”

Phyllis Chase of Phoenix, Arizona, reports “What made this cruise awesome was the Decades of Rock & Roll; we’d been invited to participate before, but the timing was never right. Can’t believe we missed all this fun! LOVED the groups and their music, ready to go again! February is a perfect time to be in the Caribbean and the folks from snow country loved the great weather. When the band wasn’t playing, there were so many other fun things to do and fun people to do it with.”

Organizer Penny Greene reports that sales have been especially brisk and as of the week of June 10, all inside cabins have been sold out: “All we have left are (8) E1 BALCONY Cabins; and (11) D1 BALCONY CABINS. These will sell out soon. Call Penny Greene at 740-438-0382.”

Don’t delay!  Grab yourself a spot on a ship full of music, before more decades roll away like waves.  Party like a rock star, relax, and forget about all the problems of the world and work.  You’ll dig it: www.decadesofrockandroll.com.

Longtime Wild Violet contributor Linda Oatman High is doing PR work for the cruise organizers in exchange for a cruise ticket.

                                              Omu Axiu

I’m at the Convent of San Giuseppe, devouring a sinfully delicious meal, candlelight flickering upon castle-like marble and stone and beams. This is Sardinia, Italy, and today is my 50th birthday. It’s a luminous starry night in late April, and smells of simmering seafood, fresh bread, wine, garlic, and juniper mingle as a woman outside the open convent door twists dough into traditional ceremonial ornaments before an open fire. The Convent was constructed on the site of a Roman settlement, and the ghosts of those who’ve gone before seem to linger in the air.

The meal is wickedly divine, and I’m thinking that it just doesn’t get any better than this, but then the waiter brings a surprise: tall candles sparkling on a fresh-from-the-oven pear cake. I make a wish (as if it hasn’t already come true!) and blow out all of the candles with one big puff.

I eat every bite of the cake and then polish off the meal with limoncello: a lemon liqueur made right here in Sardinia. Not a bad way to celebrate half a hundred years of life: in Italy, in Sardinia, in the ancient capital city of Cagliari.

One of Italy’s best secrets, the island of Sardinia has not yet been discovered by the hordes of tourists swarming Rome. A superb side trip or a delightful destination, this magical place is one of peace and purity. An easy flight (Meridiana is one of several budget airlines that can get you there) from Rome, travelers can choose to land either at the south’s Cagliari-Elmas Airport or the Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport of the north.

The most known part of Sardinia (Sardegna to the Italians) is Costa Smeralda: the Emerald Coast of the island’s northeast. Glittering with lavish luxury yachts and opulent private villas, Costa Smeralda is one of the most renowned high-end destinations of the world. This Mediterranean mystique has drawn international jet-setters and celebrities like Rob Lowe, Courtney Cox, and Bruce Willis.

“Putin even has a house here,” a local cheese maker stated.

In Costa Smeralda, there is not only the enchantment of white sand and gleaming green sea, jagged rocks and cliffs and archaeological sites and pink flamingos, but there is also Pevero: considered to be one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. Surrounded by rocks, lakes, and trees of juniper and myrtle, Pevero is not only a golf course; it’s an experience.

Another wonderful experience to be had in Costa Smeralda is that of polo. And here, this prestigious sport isn’t just for rich people. Families and other travelers can enter the grandstands at the Costa Smeralda Polo Club and watch the match free-of-charge.

I’m sitting in the Sardinian sunshine, watching gorgeous horses gallop across the greenest of fields.

“Is this Paradise?” asks a visitor sitting beside me.

It is.

Sardinia, one of the most culturally diverse areas in Italy, is home to a unique music. Launeddas, a type of three-reed cane that has achieved international attention, originated and are still played in Sardinia. Here, too, can be found the art of polyphonic singing: a guttural form that dates back thousands of years. I don’t know how they do it, but I do know that it’s a sound that goes straight to the soul and stirs up the heart.

I’m sitting in the bleachers at the Sant’Efisio parade: a celebration that takes place each year on May 1. For three and a half centuries, this Festival of Cagliari has been happening with great fanfare. Of religious and folklore origin, the festival’s highlight is a colorful parade. More than 5,000 costumed villagers join the procession of ox-drawn wooden carts decorated with flowers, fruits, vegetables, and wheat. Bells ring and marchers play the three-reed launeddas as rose petals cover the streets. Bystanders munch on torrone, an Italian nougat candy concoction of honey, whipped egg whites, vanilla, and almonds or walnuts.

I chew on the ancient sweet, wave at the paraders, inhale deeply of the rose petals. All is well with the world… Or at least, with Sardegna.

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