A Cruise to Remember

I looked around the cruise center and something seemed off; it was all so familiar, yet somehow different, and then it hit me. I was alone, normally my wife would be at my side, but now she wasn't. This was the first time I'd taken the plunge and cruised again in the eighteen months since she had passed away after a short, yet devastating, battle with cancer. She died barely six weeks after her initial diagnosis. We had taken to the cruising lifestyle from the off, ever since we had decided that we could no longer ski because of the knee injury I picked up while playing rugby. Ironically, I'd more or less decided that I was going to retire at the end of that season. Since then we have had around twenty cruises under our belts. I'd traveled down to Southampton from Manchester the day before, breaking the journey at a Premier Inn in Didcot, just south of Oxford. We normally split the journey like that, as it makes it less stressful, and being in the early part of January took any potential weather delays out of the mix. I'd had a pleasant night enjoying a steak dinner and a couple of pints. That meant this morning was a leisurely breakfast, followed by a stress-free drive to the port. I was just about to make my way to check in when I noticed her. By any stretch of the imagination, she was attractive. Tall and slim, but certainly not skinny. She could have been anything between thirty and fifty. I was edging to the top end of thirty, so about five or so years younger than me. She had shoulder-length and stylishly cut platinum blonde hair that framed a slender face with a little turned-up nose. I later discovered her eyes were green. She was elegantly, but casually dressed in jeans, a cotton top, and a navy blue blazer, with trainers on her feet. That's why I'd been undecided about her age at first. The outfit was ageless. It's strange how some women can make an ensemble like that look elegant and sexy and others look, total slobs. She was not the slob variety. She looked lost, despite all the attendants and crew on hand to make check-in as easy and painless as it can be, and it is, it's a well-oiled and smooth operation. Taking the plunge, I walked over to her and said, "Hi, I'm Riko. You looked lost, can I help, or are you waiting for a friend?" I'd noticed there was no wedding band on her finger. "Oh! Yes and no." She was all flustered. "I'm sorry, I just don't know what to do and it all seems so busy and confusing." "First time cruising?" I asked. "Yes. Oh, by the way, my name is Isabel, but most people call me Isa or Bella." "So Isa, I'm Riko as I've said, now we need to know what cabin you are in and then you simply have to go to the check-in desk for that deck level." "Err." She stumbled as she reached for her ticket. "Cabin 4098, it's single." "Deck 4's a good location." "You've been on this ship before?" "Many times. It's our... my favorite ship in the fleet, despite the 2 new ones they've just added. Now, let's get you all booked in. You'll need your ticket confirmation, your passport, and a credit card." "Credit card? Why? I've booked the all-inclusive upgrade." "That covers drinks only. Any shopping and spa treatments, and I can recommend the hot stone massage there, by the way, are extra. They get charged to your cabin account. Also, anything you might have forgotten, toothpaste, things like that. And you'd be surprised how many people do forget things. Plus, of course, any shopping." "You seem to know your way around." "I suppose so. I've cruised with this company over twenty times now. All the crew is like a big family, but you'll soon get to know that yourself." So we got Isa booked in and then found a couple of seats. Isa looked after my carry-on bag as I went to check in myself. On the way back, I got a couple of coffees. Not long after that, I got the call to embark. "Sorry, got to go, that's one of the benefits of being in a suite. The higher the deck level you're on, the earlier you get to board, but more importantly, the earlier you get to disembark at the end of the trip. You shouldn't belong once they get things going. Just follow the signs and the crew's directions. Have a nice holiday." Isa looked a little apprehensive so I said to her, "Look, I hope I'm not being too forward, and there are lots of introduction tours etcetera. Plus the single travelers, and new cruisers program they run, but if you want me to give you a quick tour of the ship later on, it would be my pleasure." "Are you sure? I mean it would be such an imposition on your time." "It would be my pleasure. Let's say, meet me on deck 6 by the guest services desk at 3:30. You should have at least had time by then to unpack and settle into your cabin by then. We can grab some lunch, and then I'll show you around." "Are you sure?" "Yes I am, but only if you want me to. I don't want you to think I'm making a play or coming on to you." "I'm sure you aren't," Isa replied, although there was an inviting twinkle in her eyes as she said it. "So yes, please. I'm certain I can find where to meet you." "I'm in cabin 9015. You can call me if you need anything in the meantime." With that, I took my leave and boarded the ship. It was like coming home. The crew was super polite and friendly as always, and I was soon in my suite and unpacked. This was the first time I had ever had a suite, as my late wife always wanted to stay lower down in the ship, saying it was more stable for her to sleep in. For this first cruise after her death, I wanted something new so I plunged for a suite. And it was well worth it. Apart from a much bigger space and balcony, there were the added extras of a bathrobe and slippers and extra fluffy towels. I met Isa at the agreed time and place, and after a buffet lunch in the Palms Cafe, I showed her around the ship. Where all the bars and restaurants were, the theater and nightclub, the gym and spa, and finally, the shopping area. The thing that seemed to impress her the most was when a couple of the bar staff greeted me like an old friend saying, "Sir Riko, welcome back." I'm not a Sir, but that is how the crew greet you as Sir or Madam. I told Isa that they would even remember what I drank. So, a nice and pleasant introduction and start to the cruise. As we parted, I suggested that Isa might like to join me for a pre-dinner cocktail in the observatory lounge, which she agreed to. I had just settled down with my first drink when Isa joined me. She looked fabulous in a pair of mid-blue pants and a white silk blouse. I was in a pair of casual trousers and a short-sleeved open-necked shirt. "What's that you're drinking?" Isa asked, and then, without batting an eyelid, reached over and took a sip of my drink. "Whew, that's nice, what is it?" "A white lady; Gin, Cointreau, and lemon juice. I love it, and first tried one on this ship in this very bar. Want one?" "Yes, please." I ordered two more from the waiter and also some peanuts to nibble on. Thank God after Covid, things are now back to normal and you can get the little snacks they serve at cocktail hour again. The drinks came and we chatted for a while, learning a bit about each other, with Isa ordering another round for us later on. I had told her that cocktails, apart from the cocktail of the day, were extra on her account but that they would be half price. Soon it was time to go down to dinner. As we were at different tables, I left her with the Maitre-D to show her to her table. We had tentatively agreed to meet up afterward, but I had also told Isa that I didn't want to monopolize her time and that there would be plenty of other passengers for her to get to know. I took in the show and then moved to a bar for a drink before venturing into a supper club, and then the nightclub for a further drink to end the day. Regrettably, I didn't see Isa again that night. Isabel hesitated as if pondering her decision before replying, "Okay, but only if you're sure." "I am, and thank you." As soon as the door had closed, Isabel threw herself at me and we resumed our kissing, this time with more intensity and passion. The heat was building. Isabel's hands were roaming all over my chest as she undid the buttons on my shirt, pulling the tail from the waistband of my pants. My own hands had already undone the buttons on her blouse and I was delighted to discover that she didn't have a bra on. Her breasts were nice and firm, with a slight up-tilt that matched her nose. They were capped with delightfully small, deep cherry red n*****s that were already firm and pointed out. Soon, I had her blouse off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor as I kissed and sucked on the beautiful boobs in front of me. Isabel sighed and held my face against her. Her groin ground hard against me as she forced her leg between mine to rub it against the hardness of my c**k. I sensed that Isabel was a woman who knew how to make love and enjoyed it because of the sheer physicality of the act of lovemaking. The passion of s*x. I sensed an urgency in her, but despite my own longing for relief, I wanted to extend this first coupling of ours and to enjoy things. I was also going to make her wait. Returning to kissing her, I walked Isabel towards the bed until she fell backward onto it.