Nautical Connection to Boxing Day

BOXING DAY

In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated December 26th, the day after Christmas. However, strictly speaking, Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas.

Behind the Tradition

December 26th was the day to share the Christmas Box with the poor. Traditionally wealthy people and homeowners in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants. Today Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday which is observed in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations.

To protect ships

During the Age of Exploration, when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land, A Christmas Box was used as a good luck device. It was a small container placed on each ship while it was still in port. It was put there by a priest, and those crewmen who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box. It was then sealed up and kept on board for the entire voyage.

If the ship came home safely, the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the voyage. The Priest would keep the box sealed until Christmas when he would open it to share the contents with the poor.

A Man and His Donkey

Mykonos Town

Along the Harbour

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon as we stroll along the harbour front of Mykonos Town.   This is our final installment, at least for now, in our series about our visit here during our Star Princess 12 Night Greek Isles and Mediterranean Cruise.

Mykonos is one of the most popular islands in Greece, and it is also one of the most famous islands. Many people think that the pictures from Mykonos Town are the symbol of Greece: tiny narrow alleyways lined by whitewashed houses with blue doors and windows. 

The Greek Tourist Office often use photos from Mykonos when they promote Greece. Many of the photos we've shown you thus far could entice you to visit Mykonos.

 

In reality, Mykonos needs little sales promotion. People from all over the world come here to swim and sunbathe at the fabulous beaches, shop in the boutiques, eat in the tavernas and cafes along the waterfront, or enjoy the high-energy night-life.

A Man and His Donkey

But for us, this Greek man riding upon his donkey, dressed in his Sunday best, is one of the images we want to remember.  We've told you about Petros the Pelican and the tradition surrounding him.  Here is another tradition that is still alive today in Mykonos.  We might have seen this same gentleman, with his donkey, selling vegetables in the alleyways early in the morning.   Now he is enjoying the fruits of his labors, along with his donkey, by the harbour.   He is happy to stop for tourists that want to take a photograph.   

This is the true Greece - a land rich in history and tradition, still carried out by its inhabitants and shared with the people from all over the world that explore its shores.   Come explore the shores of Mykonos yourself and spend some time learning about this beautiful country and its people.  We are glad that we had the chance to visit.

Our adventure continues in the ancient city of Athens, Greece.   Continue your virtual cruise through the Greek Isles via our blog and Facebook Fan Page photo albums.   We truly hope you are enjoying the journey thus far and perhaps will be able to visit yourself some day in the future.

Additional photos can be found on our Facebook Albums.




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The Bon Voyage Experience

THE BON VOYAGE EXPERIENCESM

Princess Cruises revives a nostalgic cruising tradition with the new Bon Voyage Experience, allowing family and friends to come aboard and wish passengers a wonderful trip before they sail!

As a Princess Commodore, I've received advanced information about an exciting new program starting this spring aboard many of Princess Cruise Ships.

If you are a long-time cruiser, you may recall the bon voyage experience when family and friends joined you onbaord for a send-off on your cruise journey.

Reviving a signature tradition from the early days of cruising, the Bon Voyage Experience is an innovative new program giving passengers the opportunity to invite their friends and family aboard their ship on embarkation day to share the fun and excitement of sail-away day. The program allows booked passengers four hours to show off their stateroom and other signature Princess innovations.

For just $39 USD per person, participants will enjoy priority embarkation, a guided ship tour, a souvenir photo, and a delectable four-course lunch (wine included) in one of the ship’s beautiful main dining rooms. In addition, each participant will receive a $39 Future Cruise Credit (FCC) to be used on a Princess booking made within 3 months of the Bon Voyage Experience.

To ensure that guests are able to get the most of their visit onboard, program participants will be allowed priority embarkation. If participants are friends or family of booked passengers, this benefit will be extended to their sailing friends so they can enjoy the day’s festivities together.

Depending on the ship and itinerary, participants should be able to enjoy up to 4 hours onboard (until approximately 3:00 pm on most itineraries). When making a reservation, exact times for embarkation and disembarkation will be shared.

The Bon Voyage Experience will debut in March in the ports of Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale and roll out to New York, San Francisco and Seattle. The schedule for the launch of the Bon Voyage Experience is:

• Sapphire Princess on March 6 in Los Angeles
• Crown Princess on March 6 in Fort Lauderdale
• Coral Princess on March 7 in Los Angeles
• Emerald Princess on March 7 in Fort Lauderdale
• Island Princess on March 10 in Los Angeles
• Ruby Princess on March 10 in Fort Lauderdale
• Golden Princess on March 14 in Los Angeles
• Royal Princess on March 27 in Fort Lauderdale
• Star Princess on April 10 in Fort Lauderdale
• Caribbean Princess on May 18 in New York
• Sea Princess on June 1 in San Francisco

During the Alaska season, Sapphire Princess, Golden Princess and Royal Princess will also offer the program from Seattle, beginning in May.

Have your family and friends come aboard

and wish you a wonderful trip before you sail!

I am happy to see the return of an old tradition. Cruising was meant to be a special vacation, originally afforded only to the "well to do". Thankfully it is now an experience that can be enjoyed by most people. The return of this old tradition allows an opportunity for friends and family to briefly experience life onboard a cruise ship, and perhaps take away some of the mystery about what it's like to take a cruise vacation.

For more information about Princess Cruises, Click HERE