Hello – Hola – Bonjour – Caio – Hallo! 

WOW WOW WOW!

What an experience … my first Stampin’ Up! Incentive Trip was simply AMAZING!!!

Our first cruise experience as well!

I’ve said these statements before – but I just have to say them again

1. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine earning one of these trips! I felt they were way out of my league – but I did it!
2. I couldn’t have done it alone – so thanks again to all those who supported me – family, upline, downline, fellow demos, customers and Stampin’ Up!

It’s incredible what goal setting can lead to!

This hop is all about the Cruise Highlights – well it was ALL a highlight! But let me highlight a few specific things. “In no particular order”!

The generosity of Stampin’ Up! throughout the cruise – and I mean the intangible as well as the tangible

Amazing pillows gifts with incredible quotes!

Friendly staff at the Hospitality Room

The Gardner family and Stampin’ Up! Board of Directors and Country Managers were outstanding – stopping – chatting – sharing their time with us. Bowling ANZAC style with Emma and Aaron was … “fun” – well the night was undoubtedly great – but my bowling was not so hot!

On another evening we got to sit with Rich Jutkins and his charming wife at the Cirque Dreams Dinner & Show – what a fabulous evening we had!

We were made to feel very special at every turn.

If you’d like to see all of the gifts we got in more detail – I posted some live Facebook feeds in an event I held recently. They are public so you can check them out if you’d like to.

Celebrating the Catty the Mediterranean Way

Getting to meet and mix with some of my Stampin’ Up! idols.

Since returning home, “Did you see / meet ….?”  has been one of the most common questions I’ve been asked by customers. And to be able to say “yes” was soooo cool!  And even better when I could also say that we chatted, or shared lunch, or got a selfie with was even better.

Hubby, Roy, had cautioned me not to be a “groupie” – and it was a little hard not to be somewhat awestruck – but all the demos were so friendly! Some I saw once and then never again through out the Cruise – while other I seemed to bump into every day – isn’t that right Allison Okamitsu!

A highlight for me was meeting and talking to Ronda Wade. Here’s one of those selfies!

I’d have to say that when I first thought about trying to earn the trip about 18 months ago, I didn’t really think I would actually get there. But I thought if I tried, it would have to help my business right? I’d done a one-off training session of Ronda’s a few months earlier and so decided to sign up to some more. I decided that paying for some training would mean I’d make more effort to do the Homework! Breaking things down into practical – doable –  steps meant that I could meet my short term goals – which then put me on track for the big goal!

Meeting and Mixing with demos I’d never heard of before!

it was great to meet some of the “big names” – but it was also fabulous to meet and mix with a huge range of demos. It was great that we all had Stampin’ Up! lanyard which meant we could join a table with fellow demos at a meal or quickly work out who was a stamper around the ship – or on shore! Very handy!

I loved sitting with some demos from other countries while doing the Make’n’Takes

Sharing the Incentive Trip with my Upline and fellow New Zealanders

At the last convention (April 2015) my Upline Kristine and I decided we were both really going to try to earn the trip. Kristine had not earned it before either. There were just four demonstrators in New Zealand that earned the trip – two that had been on previous cruises – and two newbies! Kristine and I were the two newbies! We had a blast! Here we are after the Priscilla show!

The Captain’s Cocktails

We still not sure how or why we got an invite to the Captain’s Cocktails on our second evening onboard – but we were delighted to attend and that event was another highlight.

Not only did we get to mix and mingle with the Captain and the ship’s Officers, a conversation at the cocktails lead to an amazing treat! Before we returned to our cabin that evening – our cabin had been decorated and we were left champagne to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary!

The Places we visited – Italy, France and Spain

On our three Italian shore days we toured with several other Stampin’ Up! demos and the partners and families. Mixing and mingling was such fun and certainly made me realise all the demos had to work to earn the trip  but were all testimony that it is a possibility for any and all demos. Don’t get me wrong – it won’t just happen because you want it to – it takes works – but oh it was so worth the hard work!

How else would we get to visit places like Naples, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Cannes Marseilles and of course Barcelona.

We really loved the architecture and the history of the places we visited – some serious ticks were done on our bucket list!

Pompeii has held a fascination for many years – especially after seeing a 3D animation of the eruption of My Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii.

The Colosseum and the Vatican were particular highlights of Rome – which was a huge day packed to the brim with highlights! While very crowded – the Sistine Chapel was breath-taking.

Florence and Pisa were fabulous!

We were rather taken with worn stone work throughout our travels.

… how many millions of feet have climbed these stairs over the centuries?

Swaps

Can’t forget these!

I joined three swaps – a card one, a 3D item one and a Project Life one.

These are the Gaudi inspired 4×3″ cards which was a South Pacific swap. Going to love putting these through my cruise album.

All the swaps are on the right side of the photo below. This also shows all the incredible Pillow Gifts and Wheel Prizes we received throughout the week aboard the Norwegian Epic.

Sharing the trip with my husband

We weren’t originally sure that Roy would be able to make the trip – an International Hockey tournament withe the New Zealand Masters Team almost had him – lucky for me (and in fact for him too) an injury stopped him participating which meant we could do the Incentive Trip together.

Earning the trip also meant that we could take a holiday in Europe and cross some more things of our bucket lists.

Visiting family in Austria and going to Paris!

When we knew we were finally going to visit Paris we arranged to renew our wedding vows while we were there – very romantic.

And all because I decided to give earning the Incentive Trip a go – never really expecting it was possible – but it was!

Set the goals, make a plan and work the plan towards the goal.

I found voicing my goal out loud to a couple of people was hugely empowering! Daunting – but empowering!

So you can see my highlights were a lot about the people.

Don’t get me wrong – the places, sights, sounds and food were all incredible too – but the connections – and those moments with amazing people – they’re both personally and professionally priceless!

Thanks again!

I was already aiming for our next Incentive Trip – Thailand – before I went on the cruise. After being away I sure don’t want to miss the next one! I have until September to earn it – that’s the goals – and I’m working the plan! The only thing better than me earning the trip will be when one of my team earn it too and we can enjoy the amazing experience together!

You can set the goal too! It may be too late for this year – but maybe next year.
Here’s the link to check out the cruise highlights from some other Achievers. Enjoy – we did!

Until next time

Jackie

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