Day 1 – All aboard, we're off to paint the Mediterranean black and blue! The Inter Cruise has set sail, Civitavecchia - our port of departure - soon just a mere dot on the horizon as the Navigator of the Seas rode across the waves.
Our first port of call is Messina, where more fans will climb aboard to
swell the Nerazzurri crowd who took no time to start enjoying
themselves. The first evening's entertainment was a success, with Inter
Channel's Roberto Scarpini leading proceedings in his usual role of 'anchor'.
Soon after the boarding procedure was complete on Sunday 16 June, passengers set about exploring the ship that will host Inter's world for the next seven days. A week's worth of stories, games, experiences, discoveries, day trips and also a little pampering of the sort that only a cruise holiday can offer.
"We're here to let our hair down after a long season that was anything but easy. To recharge our batteries and set off towards destinations that we Nerazzurri want to reach again. In the meantime we have a week all for us where Inter is at the centre of everything, where we can talk about what we love, about us. It's always a joy to spend time with other Interisti. Thanks for the warm affection you always give us." Those are the words Bedy Moratti wished to share with the fans, those of her Inter Clubs and others besides, as the ship departed from Civitavecchia. Heading off into the vast ocean, engulfed by our mutual love. Inter.
As the ship steered away from the port, Roberto Scarpini, 'the voice of Inter', ran through all the activities our guests will be involved in. The entire staff climbed up on stage at the Metropolis theatre on deck 3: stars of yesteryear, promising young goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro, people who work with commitment and passion to inject energy into the Inter Clubs, coaches from our youth academy, and all the other club representatives who will help bring the cruise to life.
The fans also received a special invitation: to colour every destination in black and blue, from Messina to Crete via Athens and Ephesus. And inter.it will publish the best snaps taken by Interisti during the course of this fantastic Mediterranean voyage.
Of course everyone is in expectation of Javier Zanetti, Inter's flag bearer, who will board the ship at Athens to fly the Nerazzurri flag at sea. In his own unique style, just as he's carried it on the pitch all these years.
So, as we wait for the real captain's log later in the week, let's sit back and enjoy the first part of the cruise and our last Italian stop, Messina, before we veer towards Greece. Soon to become a Nerazzurri colony!
