When a dream becomes a reality…

Ever since I joined college in 2010 to study my diploma in Travel & Tourism I began to realise just how big our beautiful planet is. I enjoyed lots of different music at that time in my life, none more so than that of Celine Dion.

Yes, the multi-award winning, platinum selling megastar, was a huge draw during my teens and I listened to her dulcet tones every single day. I discovered more than just ‘My Heart Will Go On’ and started to learn more and more about who she was as a person and what she stood for. I bought every DVD, I bought every CD, I watched hours and hours of documentaries and  YouTube clips to really understand her life and all she had been through.

As with any idol, to any young person, the dream? To see them perform live, in the flesh, in the same room as you. For me, it just wasn’t feasible, I worked 2 days a week as a checkout boy at my local supermarket and spent all my money on days out, DVD’s etc, I had no money for holidays, I just tagged along with Mum & Dad wherever they went, still young enough to get away with them paying for me!

Then came one blissful morning in January 2013. The winter blues were well and truly bloomed and I woke feeling, aghhh another day in the cold! (I love the sun!). I scrolled my newsfeed as you always do when you wake up to see what had happened in the last 7 hours I’d been semi-conscious. One of Celine’s promo photos caught my eye…

CELINE DION ANNOUNCES EUROPEAN TOUR – TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY.

I immediately sat bolt upright in bed and shouted at the top of my lungs ‘MUM – COME HERE QUICK!’, no regard for what time it was, or if my parents were still asleep two doors down the landing! She rushed in, thinking the worst, I’d died, I’d broken a bone, I’d split my head open, as all mothers do (bless them). I saw immediate relief when I blurted out the headline I’d just seen. She said to me, ‘no way!, when? where?’, knowing just how much I’d wanted to see Celine live – with no possibility of getting to Vegas to see her show any time soon.

10 months later Mum & I flew to Paris and watched our gracious lady Celine perform some of her best hits, along with some really enjoyable French songs that I ended up knowing off by heart, not knowing what I was saying or what they meant. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life and I won’t ever forget it.

Life moved on and I grew up, still holding Celine close to my heart as she released new music, had twins and lost her husband and brother in the same week.

January 2017 came and Celine announced a mini-European tour which included London! I was thrilled and dissapointed at the same time as I realised I could only fit in 1 date. I settled for it of course, and a fantastic show she put on, new direction, new music and new love all on display.

January 2018 came, my dear friend alerted me to a smashing deal for a quick city break to Las Vegas this coming November, the first thing I did was check the Residency dates for Celine’s show this year… nothing announced. Elton had finished, Mariah was on a break – so who would fill the gap? I booked the trip not knowing if Celine would be there.

June 2018 came. Celine Dion announces next leg of Las Vegas Residency. November 2018 dates click here… the email said. My heart immediately jumped to twice the rate it was beating just thirty seconds earlier. I was there in November 2018! I scrolled through the dates, praying for our stars to align, for my dream of seeing Celine Dion in her home theatre… ‘Please’ I said under my breath as I scrolled further, and there it was. November 13th 2018, 7:30pm. I yelped with excitement and instantly  clicked the link titled ‘Book Tickets’. I called my travel companions and they agreed to join me.

It was happening, I’m going to see my musical idol, in her home, in Las Vegas, with some of my best friends in the world.

Best of all? I’m in the fourth row, carefully coordinated to reach out for her hand when she sings her virtual duet in the aisle I’m sat on.

I am counting the days.

Now that I’ve explained myself, I of course need to tell you how this relates to cruising. It’s simple! Did you know we have many different itineraries that take in Las Vegas before flying you on to the likes of San Francisco, New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles to board a beautiful cruise ship to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the strip?

Call me, let’s chat about finding you your dream ‘vacation’ as they say Stateside.

Happy Cruising!

Ed x