Mediterranean Painting Cruise with Janet October 6 - 25, 2009

Our cruise went quite well, pretty smooth waters most of the way. All 10 of the classes were held on the top deck of the ship (on a dance floor) in the afternoons at sea. I did a demonstration and then everyone worked on their own, with input from myself. We had some lively discussions and supportive critiques. Amazing work came out of it! (Even with the gently rocking floor beneath us) And... I had very nice, fun students - so it was a totally enjoyable painting experience.

Mike and I had a balcony room (which I have to say is essential for a cruise) and we would invite people over to watch the waves, drink wine and reflect upon the day. Then we could walk to one of the fabulous restaurants onboard and have a gourmet meal. Every night - what luxury!

There were all kinds of entertainment on the ship, such as shows, dances, movies, lectures, gambling (didn't do), trivia contests (which we did do, and tied for 1st in the "classic rock trivia" quiz), dance classes, photoshop classes, bingo, bridge and of course LOTS to eat. The food was fabulous. And we did do enough walking to offset our feasting. We toured several cities on day excursions and took TONS of pictures.We could download and print any of out pictures on the ship (love those digital cameras!), so the class did that and used them for painting reference. It worked very well. We all got so many interesting pictures to work from that it was hard to decide which subject we most wanted to paint!

I especially enjoyed the wildly “organic” architecture of Barcelona and visiting the tile museum in Lisbon, Portugal. The medieval town of Lucca was charming and exploring the Isle of Capri was exilarating. Our last excursion was on the Azores Islands, which were much more beautiful than I expected... a cross between Hawaii and England. A breathtaking sight was when we pulled out of Venice mid-day and saw the spread of Venetian islands from high up on the ship passing slowly beneath us. Their ancient, elegant buildings were glowing terracotta, peach and gold in the afternoon sun. Andrea Boccelli was singing over the ship’s speakers and it was just beautiful! There are many places on this trip I’d like to return to.... so many places I still want to paint.

Janet

2009 Cruise details

Painting Classes - Janet has over 25 years of experience painting landscapes and cities “plein air” (outdoors) as well as from photos, and she will help you find an approach that works for you. The 9 classes onboard will emphasize seeing correct values, finding color harmonies and creating good compositions. And of course, capturing the beautiful light of the Mediterranean! Janet will begin most classes with a demonstration and then will give students plenty of helpful instruction as they are working. Some previous drawing or pastel experience is recommended, though beginners are welcome. Oil painters can partake of these classes also. For anyone who wants to try plein air painting, there may be opportunities to paint from the deck in the afternoon when we have a good view of a coastal city!

The Cruise—Princess will arrange our flight from Seattle to Venice, Italy on Oct. 6, 2009, arriving in Venice on Oct. 7, where you will board for an overnight, using the ship as your hotel. We will cruise for 18 days- from Venice to Rome, Florence, Capri, Marseille, Barcelona, Lisbon and the Azores Islands, then disembark in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where we fly back to Seattle. Your cruise fare, includes your berth on the ship for 18 days, ship amenities, meals, government fees, surcharges and taxes. The price is really good when you compare it to other European trips of this length!

Vicky Gianelli will be taking the classes and is our Master Cruise Counsellor. A travel professional for 35 years, she has specialized in cruises for the last 24 years. You can direct specific cruise questions to her at vickyfg@juno.com or 888-416-SAIL (7245).

Spouses and art lovers are welcome too, and there is much for them to enjoy on a cruise (besides watching us paint, of course!). Ruby Princess (Bermuda registry) is the newest Princess ship, debuting this fall. She is a floating resort and has a movie theater, gym, spa, hot tubs, 11 restaurants, dancing, swimming, golfing, card games, enrichment classes, library, boutiques (duty free), casino and so much more. While in port... there’s lots of sightseeing.

Cabins can be shared (two single beds or a queen size). This is the most economical way to go. We have limited space available. The cruise itself is already sold out.

We suggest taking advantage of the Cruise Sale Feb 23 - Mar 2, 2009. During that time you can deposit only $100 per person (instead of the usual 20% of your total fare) to confirm your cabin! Early birds get the best cabins, and you can choose yours when you sign up (Vicky says balcony staterooms are the best way to spend 18 days).

Rates below are per person based on double occupancy and include stateroom, meals, entertainment, taxes and government fees.
(Single rates and 3rd & 4th person rates available upon request)

Balcony room (view partially obstructed by lifeboat) Balcony stateroom Mini suite

$2064 $2348 - $2505 $3259

Additions to the above costs (per person)
Add -roundtrip air out of Seattle - $1097 (includes taxes)
Add -9+ days of painting classes - $300

We highly suggest purchasing travel insurance. We use TravelGuard and will supply insurance information. Everyone will receive a waiver to sign if declining insurance. Viaggi di Mare has a $150 cancellation penalty in addition to any vendor fees.

I think this trip will be a blast! We will return with some highly personal paintings and great memories of the Mediterranean coast.   ~ Janet

Regarding classes or Art related questions, please contact Janet for more information. And click here to see the ship and itinerary.