No elaborate story here, just a series of ingredients which when mixed together produced the best child-free vacation we’ve had since Courtney and Kelsey were born.

Here are the ingredients:

1. - Eight days on Holland America’s cruise ship Westerdam.
   

2. - Four ports-of-call: St. Barth’s, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay, and Samana.
   

3. - Dozens of renown contemporary jazz artists sequestered on the ship.
   

4. - Multiple concerts, a myriad of activities, and wonderful food every day.
   

5. - 1,800 jazz fans with whom to share the entire experience.
   

Best of all? This trip was shared with my best friend of 25 years ... Beth.