Many retired couples we know enjoy doing things together, and we found opportunities to do just that at each port stop. We strolled through the rainy streets of Montréal on a walking tour. We took shelter inside the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, marveling at its soaring arches. In Québec City, we rode the funicular to the hilltop Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, one of the most photographed hotels in the world. We marveled at the Bay of Fundy, home of the world’s highest tides. In Saint John, New Brunswick, we hurled hatchets in an axe-throwing club.
Then there were the lobster-themed activities. We ate chunks of the crustacean in rolls on Prince Edward Island, and in Maine we toured a processing facility in Eastport and enjoyed a lobster lunch in Portland at Luke’s Lobsters.
Of course, experts say that having separate hobbies is key for couples to get along as they age, so we also looked for things to do apart. Fortunately, Viking had us covered. While at sea, Janice joined a group of ladies making crafts. When she packed for the trip, Janice thought she’d be working on her pine-cone embroidery kit alone in her free time. Instead, she met on deck with about a dozen other women working on knitting and stitching projects. One of them even brought along watercolors to paint scenes. The women chatted for hours, comparing travel stories and becoming friends. It was one of Janice’s favorite parts of the cruise.
Meanwhile, I went to the ship’s fitness center and worked off breakfast on one of its several treadmills and stationary bikes. The gym’s large windows provided great views of passing lighthouses. My biggest challenge on the treadmill came one morning off Nova Scotia in heavy North Atlantic seas. As the ship rocked in the swells, I felt like I was ascending a steep mountain. I just held on and walked. Later, I relaxed at one of the many reading libraries with one of Louise Penny’s mysteries, which take place at sites our ship visited in Québec.
As we inched closer to Florida, we put away our long underwear and splurged for an onboard cooking class. After donning aprons and chef’s hats, our group of 12 was split into teams. Janice felt right at home with her group making couscous. My kitchen skills, however, were rustier. Luckily, I was linked up with four women from Texas who met years ago playing mahjong. We sliced veggies for a Greek salad while a third team prepared a ground lamb main dish. Afterward, we dined on our efforts and toasted our success with glasses of wine. It was another lesson to take into retirement: We can share experiences but do things at our own pace.