“The dearest place to live
in all New England.” 
Herman Melville

I’m just guessing that Herman Melville didn’t have an opportunity to do much traveling around the New England states. “The dearest place to live in all New England.” New Bedford? Seriously?

I’ll admit that I have limited experience in the New England states. I’ve never been to Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. I’ve only been on the toll road in Connecticut on my way to Boston, Massachusetts, where I enjoyed brief visits in 1968, 1975, and 1983. This cruise is my first visit to Rhode Island. I mention this because I am unable to substantiate Herman Melville’s claim that New Bedford, Massachusetts is “the dearest place to live in all New England.” My limited experience in this part of our country has led me to believe otherwise. 

As I’ve mentioned in previous days, our cruise has taken us to Providence, Block Island, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and New Bedford. Our time in each location was quite limited, so I cannot speak with certainty about where these locations rank among the “dearest places in all New England.” This morning Kathy and I disembark the American Star here in Bristol, Rhode Island to spend a few days with our friends Steve and Karen Aveson. So I do not yet have any impressions of Bristol.

Of the places we’ve visited so far, Nantucket Island is my favorite. There was a vibe there to which I could easily relate. The bus tour of the island provided a glimpse of the terrain, while our brief walk through town left me wishing we could stay longer. Oh, and yes, that soft-serve ice cream at the Surfside Café plays a significant role in ranking Nantucket as my favorite — so far. With our visit to Bristol beginning today, my opinion may change.

Our day in New Bedford yesterday was a nice change of pace for us. With so little to see and do there, I took advantage of the opportunity to relax, take an afternoon nap, and socialize with a number of other passengers on our ship. After dinner, we were treated to an amazing performance by an international trio of musicians. The nighttime entertainment on this cruise has been excellent every night, but last night’s performance stands out as the best.

During the concert, we were treated to a distant lightning show to the southwest of our ship. Then, when the concert ended, the New Bedford Independence Day fireworks display lit up the night sky to the southeast of the American Star. So the highlights of our visit to New Bedford were our onboard experiences.

As Kathy and I prepare to disembark this morning, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the crew members on the American Star who provided such an enjoyable experience for us and the other passengers. On a small ship like this one, with only 87 or so passengers, it was easy to get to know a good number of the crew members who served us so well. Most of American Cruise Lines team have multiple responsibilities each day. I appreciate the hard work by housekeepers, food service workers, deckhands, the captain, the cruise activity director, and the cruise manager. They worked as a seamless team to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for all the passengers.

I am also tremendously grateful for the opportunity to have met a number of other passengers with whom Kathy and I hope to keep in contact after this cruise. Their presence contributed greatly to the positive experience Kathy and I have enjoyed these past few days. Our overall experience on the American Star exceeded all expectations.