Submitted by ADeFrancesco on

The Celebrating America Cruise - Visiting Newport, Rhode Island

Lynn Young, President General

Arriving in Newport early on the last full day of the cruise, we again rode tenders to reach the pier.  It was another beautiful day and we all enjoyed being in historic Newport, founded in 1639 by Roger Williams.  In the 19th century, Newport was the home of many of the mansions of the Gilded Age in which the wealthy erected the elaborate summerhouses they called "cottages."  Many of the passengers enjoyed touring some of the great mansions like The Breakers, The Elms, Rough Point and Rosecliff.

Steve and I walked across the street to a restaurant where State Regent Barbara Watrous, some of her officers and several of the Honorary State Regents were waiting to greet us. Barbara was unable to attend Congress so it was a pleasure to present her State Regent’s pin and to return a historic gavel.

We walked through historic Newport and passed the base of the stone wind mill which Governor Benedict Arnold, ancestor of the traitor, built prior to his death in 1677. Nearly is Touro Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the U.S., built in 1673. We accepted a ride from a pedicab on our way to explore the Cliff Walk, a picturesque mile and a quarter of Newport's coast as we peeked into the backyards of some of the palatial cottages.  Near the gothic church where John F. Kenney married Jacqueline Bouvier, we had our last delicious lobster salad at a restaurant on the historic pier.

Others on the ship enjoyed sailing aboard one of the America’s Cup 12 Meter yachts and touring the estates of the Vanderbilts or visiting the lighthouses. 

That evening we celebrated the end of our cruise by expressing appreciation to those responsible for its success, particularly Joy Cardinal and Virginia Lingelbach.  Celebrate America! Chair LeAnn Turbyfill and Vice Chair Annie John gave last minute instructions for recording our steps walked for Ellis Island and other community service projects and Nicola Rowan, our Landry and Kling representative, gave disembarkation instructions.  All congratulated Nicola on recently becoming an American citizen. Carol Felsen, Commemorative Events Vice Chair for Ellis Island, provided information about the tour of Ellis Island on Saturday morning.

We gathered in the three story main Atrium of the Princess Cruise Lines’ newest ship for a group photograph.  Once again, Denise VanBuren led us in singing “God Bless America.”  All around us, other passengers joined in singing with us.  It was the perfect finale for a grand week!